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Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

Republicans don’t want a speaker to lead them; they want a hostage.

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Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

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In my day, never was longer.

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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Saturday Night Open Thread

Saturday Night Open Thread

by John Cole|  November 6, 20107:54 pm| 183 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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Birds have been fed, dogs have been bathed and had their Heartguard, Tunch has been furminated, and the carpet has been vacuumed. Now on to our entertainment options for the evening. HBO has Avatar on, which I’ve never seen, but which looks boring as hell and is three hours long. I picked up Ninja Gaiden II and Assassin’s Creed for Xbox 360 for dirt cheap, so I may just roll with that. Decisions.

BTW- Rosie is no longer fooled when it comes to bath time and trickery and subtlety no longer work, and I have to resort to brute strength. I foolishly bathed Lily first this time, and Rosie knew what was going down, so I couldn’t pretend I was going to the basement garage and it was time to go for a ride, and I couldn’t do the “Who wants to go for a walk” and then take her to the downstairs tub. She knew what was up, and I had to lift the bed and pull her out. Damned Jack Russell terriers.

Next time, Rosie goes first.

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Reader Interactions

183Comments

  1. 1.

    aimai

    November 6, 2010 at 7:57 pm

    Why does this evening’s entertainment sound like it was written by Hannibal Lecter?

    aimai

  2. 2.

    Moses2317

    November 6, 2010 at 7:57 pm

    Query – how do the Michigan Wolverines have such a crappy defense this year?


    Winning Progressive

  3. 3.

    General Stuck

    November 6, 2010 at 8:03 pm

    The weather has just incredible here the past few weeks, and especially the past week. It is our spring, the fall, with circa 75 degree temps, plenty of sunshine, no wind or humidity. And the nights have cooled off for good sleeping. So I have all but forgotten the hellish summer heat.

    Going to watch The Package on nf, I think, unless I change my mind. Doggie walked and snoozing on the bed, and for some reason, I am relaxed as I’ve been in a long time. Like since about 1999. No Bush, Wingnuts out in the open again, and mostly lack of contempt for the liberal ideologues present for the last two plus years. I suspect that will change at some point, but not today.

  4. 4.

    morzer

    November 6, 2010 at 8:06 pm

    So what happened with the Brazilian lady? Silence doesn’t sound golden.

  5. 5.

    JenJen

    November 6, 2010 at 8:07 pm

    Avatar, “boring”? Hardly. I absolutely loved it and until you told me it was three hours long, had no idea. Flew by in the theaters.

    Of course, it does look a little flat even in high-def. The 3D in this movie rawked.

    ETA: By the way, Cole, Monday’s a-comin’. Time for our annual NFL wager, isn’t it?

  6. 6.

    Console

    November 6, 2010 at 8:07 pm

    The first assassin’s creed starts out great, and has some beautiful views, but it gets old quick. However, don’t let that discourage you from playing the sequel, which is amazing. (also the third game comes out in 2 weeks)

  7. 7.

    John Cole

    November 6, 2010 at 8:07 pm

    @morzer: Had a really good time, ate some Mexican and had some drinks, and went home. It was fun.

  8. 8.

    John Cole

    November 6, 2010 at 8:07 pm

    @JenJen: 3d makes me seasick.

  9. 9.

    Dee Loralei

    November 6, 2010 at 8:09 pm

    My beloved Sooners are having a hell of a time against A&M. I’ve been cussing something fierce.

    John, you might want to stream Neverwhere sometime. Oh and I recently watched Not the Messiah; He’s a Very Naughty Boy, the chorale of Life of Brian and it was pretty amusing.

    Also anyone not watching Masterpiece’s Sherlock seriously needs to. Dr Watson played by Arthur Dent and the future Bilbo Baggins, just all sorts of win.

    ETA: The win is it just gives my geeky heart all sorts of warm fuzzies and dare I say it, giddiness?

  10. 10.

    Fuzz

    November 6, 2010 at 8:10 pm

    It’s an open thread so I guess I can put this here. I found out I failed the NY bar exam on Friday. I see a Facebook link to this blog called abovethelaw, and it turns out the NY board actually posted a list of everyone who passed by accident, and they copied it before it got taken down. My name was not on the list. I held out hope though, but then a few hours later I got the official confirmation. The reason I’m burdening you innocent bystanders with my annoying self pity is because none of my friends want to hear it (seeing as they all have careers or passed the test) and you’re what amounts to a captive audience. I’m surprisingly not despondent, but then again, I am telling random anonymous blog readers about it.

  11. 11.

    Cat Lady

    November 6, 2010 at 8:11 pm

    @Moses2317:

    how do the Michigan Wolverines and the Fighting Illini have such a crappy defense this year?

    I started watching that game at the gym, saw 4 turnovers before the end of the 1st quarter, left when it was 21 to 14, did a bunch of errands, got a 45 minute pedicure, and on the way home heard the final score. Fucking defense – how does that work?

  12. 12.

    MaximusNYC

    November 6, 2010 at 8:11 pm

    Avatar is not worth watching in 2D. Without the stereo, it’s Pocahontas in Space.

    As someone who dabbles in 3D photography myself, I will say that Cameron did a superb job with the technical aspects of 3D.

  13. 13.

    General Stuck

    November 6, 2010 at 8:12 pm

    @aimai:

    Ninja Gaiden II and Assassin’s Creed for Xbox 360

    Considered wholesome entertainment for Genx’ers. That and what is it. “War Crack”. Jeebus, no wonder the country is fucked up.

  14. 14.

    JenJen

    November 6, 2010 at 8:12 pm

    @Fuzz: Fuzz!! I’m so sorry. :-( You must feel awful.

    Wish I had something comforting to say that wouldn’t sound dopey or contrived. But I feel for you and wish I could give you a hug and buy you a drink or seven. Disappointment is such an awful emotion.

  15. 15.

    Cat Lady

    November 6, 2010 at 8:14 pm

    @Fuzz:

    Do you really, REALLY want to be a lawyer?

  16. 16.

    Moses2317

    November 6, 2010 at 8:14 pm

    @Cat Lady: True, but I am used to the Fighting Illini have a crappy defense. They usually have a crappy football team. But the Wolverines used to pride themselves on playing great defense. I am all for the higher power offense that Rodriguez is trying to bring to Ann Arbor, but he seems to have forgotten that defense wins championships.


    Winning Progressive

  17. 17.

    morzer

    November 6, 2010 at 8:14 pm

    @John Cole:

    You ate a Mexican? Cole, your Republican roots are showing in the most worrying way!

  18. 18.

    Omnes Omnibus

    November 6, 2010 at 8:16 pm

    @Fuzz: Sorry to hear it. New York is tough.

  19. 19.

    miwome

    November 6, 2010 at 8:17 pm

    Assassin’s Creed is freaking great. I once stayed at a friend’s place until 3 am or so watching two of my friends play the game–I wasn’t even playing. They were close to the end of the game and I wanted to see how it ended. (I’d been in one room or another with them when they were playing, off and on, for two years at that point, so I was pretty familiar with the storyline and the capabilities of the character. We were all backseat driving by the end of it.)

    Granted, this was the spring of our last year of college; we were easily entertained.

  20. 20.

    Annie

    November 6, 2010 at 8:17 pm

    @Fuzz:

    If it’s any consolation, NY bar is one of the hardest. Next time you will pass. Don’t give up! Remember JFK, Jr. failed twice. Finally passed on the 3rd try.

  21. 21.

    Solwezi

    November 6, 2010 at 8:17 pm

    Gig’em Aggies!

  22. 22.

    Mnemosyne

    November 6, 2010 at 8:17 pm

    @Fuzz:

    That sucks! Isn’t the NY bar one of the hardest ones in the country? I think JFK Jr. had to take it three times before he passed.

    At least you have the cold comfort of failing at something that’s really hard to do.

  23. 23.

    Fuzz

    November 6, 2010 at 8:20 pm

    @Cat Lady:
    This made me lol. At the time I started school (2007) it wasn’t completely unreasonable. I agree with you though, anyone who’s starting now is likely making a very bad decision. Thanks Jen and Omnes, its appreciated.

  24. 24.

    quaint irene

    November 6, 2010 at 8:23 pm

    Rosie is no longer fooled when it comes to bath time and trickery and subtlety no longer work, and I

    Not to go into all the details but, short form, my Katie had a slight accident, stiches needed mainly on her cheeks and she’s on an antibiotic and anti-inflamatory for 2 weeks. Getting the pills down her has been dicey. I think she’s the only dog I’ve ever known who doesn’t like peanut butter. Hiding a pill in a nice juicy piece of chicken didn’t work. She has almost forensic skill in seperating the chicken, then swallowing it while spitting the pill out at the same time.
    Today I finally found the food that she’ll let slide down with pill intact.
    Italian sausage. My kitchen smells like I’m making stuffing for the Thanksgiving turkey.

    Whatever works.

  25. 25.

    General Stuck

    November 6, 2010 at 8:25 pm

    @Mnemosyne:

    At least you have the cold comfort of failing at something that’s really hard to do pass.

    fixed a little

  26. 26.

    suzanne

    November 6, 2010 at 8:26 pm

    @Fuzz: That sucks donkey balls. I’m sorry. New York’s is the hardest, right? Have a drink. Then have another one for me.

    I stupidly embroiled myself in a comment thread on Pandagon yesterday. Good LORD. Remind me not to do that again.

  27. 27.

    JCJ

    November 6, 2010 at 8:28 pm

    Saw my beloved Boilermakers look decent for a half. Or maybe Wisconsin was still on their bye week. Second half, not so good. Hadn’t been to a game at Purdue for six years. Oh well, maybe the Badgers will keep it up. Going to see them against IU next week at Camp Randall. I will have to practice my Jump Around!

  28. 28.

    Yutsano

    November 6, 2010 at 8:29 pm

    @suzanne: Don’t embroil yourself in a comment thread on Pandragon. And I hope you ate cookies afterwards.

  29. 29.

    And Another Thing...

    November 6, 2010 at 8:31 pm

    @Fuzz: And Yes, you want to be a lawyer. You don’t have to be a flesh eater. Ask yourself why Republicans hate trial lawyers and unions so much. So mourn tonight, pass next time and go be one of the good guys.

  30. 30.

    ant

    November 6, 2010 at 8:31 pm

    I liked avatar, and recommend watching the movie.

  31. 31.

    suzanne

    November 6, 2010 at 8:31 pm

    @Yutsano: No. But I just had some of my daughter’s Halloween candy. But I feel like I need some Jager shots, for fuck’s sake.

  32. 32.

    JenJen

    November 6, 2010 at 8:31 pm

    @quaint irene: Ever tried those Greenies Pill Pockets? Only way I’m ever able to sneak a pill past Strider’s discriminating nose.

    Although your way sounds much more delicious. And who doesn’t love a kitchen that’s as fragrant as Thanksgiving?

  33. 33.

    Steeplejack

    November 6, 2010 at 8:31 pm

    Crabby techno-weenie note:

    Daylight Saving Time ends at 2:00 a.m., and, unless it has been fixed in the site makeover (has that even happened yet?), there will be farkling of the threads as comments get out of order, which is what happened last year. WordPress appears to sort comments by the time stamp, which seems stupid, because it makes more sense to keep the comments in the order entered/created in the database, which gives you (true) chronological order anyway. FYWP.

    (I also seem to remember that the Balloon Juice server’s clock didn’t get reset automatically and was off for maybe as long as a day after the time change. Can’t remember how that mixed with the other problem, but it wouldn’t help.)

    Shorter version: this is why your 2:03 a.m. reply to a 1:58 a.m. comment will be marked 1:03 a.m. and will appear above the 1:58 comment. Using the “reply” hyperlink gizmo will minimize the damage.

    Not saying for sure this will happen–it may have been fixed since last year–but if weirdness does occur this is the reason.

    /Database geek rant

    Other than that, I’m good. Just starting my weekend after a rare Saturday day shift. Yee-haw.

  34. 34.

    Cat Lady

    November 6, 2010 at 8:31 pm

    @Fuzz:

    If you’re up to your eyeballs in law school debt, then keep taking the bar exam and go change the world. If you’re not, then ask yourself whether keeping track of every day of your life in 6 minute increments and justifying it to ungrateful clients sounds appealing to you.

  35. 35.

    General Stuck

    November 6, 2010 at 8:33 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    I plan to be sawing logs on distant worlds at that hour

  36. 36.

    Alan

    November 6, 2010 at 8:35 pm

    @Fuzz:

    Don’t sweat it, Fuzz. Get up, brush the dust off, and give it another go. It’s one of those ordeals that’ll make you a better person. As others noted, it took JFK Jr. three times to pass–and he had to suffer through all the media attention.

  37. 37.

    Steeplejack

    November 6, 2010 at 8:35 pm

    @JenJen:

    I’m putting Avatar on the DVR, will give it a go later. I also missed it in the theater. For now I’m getting caught up on Balloon Juice and halfway paying attention to college football in the background.

  38. 38.

    jl

    November 6, 2010 at 8:36 pm

    Tunch is observing all this nonsense from his undisclosed secure location, one presumes?

  39. 39.

    matoko_chan

    November 6, 2010 at 8:37 pm

    i LOVED Avatar but it should optimally be watched in IMAX 3D with preteen cousins and other small people.
    Watching my cousins reach out to touch the spores floating in front of their faces was magical….i tried to touch them too.
    I really liked the dire horses.

    it sounds like you are now somewhat resigned to being owned by a JRT.
    didn’t the Bad Dog Talk knock the scales from your eyes?

  40. 40.

    Alan

    November 6, 2010 at 8:39 pm

    There’s that other movie on Starz with Lily Cole. She’s awesome.

  41. 41.

    JenJen

    November 6, 2010 at 8:40 pm

    @Steeplejack: Yay!! Would love to hear your thoughts after you see it. I saw it in 3D, and although I tend to be a cynical person, I was thrilled to join in the raucous applause when the credits came up in the crowded theater. For me, “Avatar” was completely enthralling. I’d spend another three hours in that world anytime.

    By the way, this would be a good time to mention that I received my Balloon Juice Pet Calendar today, and it is FRAWESOME.

  42. 42.

    Yutsano

    November 6, 2010 at 8:40 pm

    @suzanne: Jager? Dear God woman NOTHING in life justifies swallowing down that sludge! I will get you pure agave tequila to satiate your nerves first dammit!

    And I only have cookies on the brain because I’m formulating a peanut butter-nutella cookie recipe in my head at the moment. Still trying to figure out how to keep them from being overly sweet but still have the structure from the sugar. Culinary science iz hard!

  43. 43.

    Steeplejack

    November 6, 2010 at 8:41 pm

    @General Stuck:

    Point taken. That comment was mainly for the benefit of the night shift–me, AsiangrrlMN, Yutsano, Anne Laurie and the trolls.

  44. 44.

    suzanne

    November 6, 2010 at 8:46 pm

    @Yutsano: Tequila doesn’t get me fucked-up enough. For some reason, it’s like I have a superpower that makes me immune to it. Tastes good, though.

    Check out that book “Ratio” for help with your cookies. And I will be happy to be your taste-tester. :)

  45. 45.

    Brian S (formerly Incertus)

    November 6, 2010 at 8:46 pm

    I’ll spare you all my many objections to Avatar and only say this–how you’re going to make 2 sequels out of that movie is beyond me, given that the only sensible sequel is five minutes long and involves the earth people nuking the shit out of the planet and then taking the Unobtanium at their leisure. You’d think that given the coin they dropped on making the movie, they could have paid for a second draft of the screenplay.

    On the plus side, I’m going to pick my daughter up at the airport in 15 minutes. She’s in town for my birthday tomorrow. We’re doing a Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy themed party because I’m turning 42, of course. I’m going to be the answer without a question.

  46. 46.

    Jean

    November 6, 2010 at 8:47 pm

    Hi,

    You may be bathing the dogs too often — have you checked with the vet? They need the oil for their skin and coat to be healthy — too many baths make their coat dry and their skin itchy. Save the baths for when they roll in stuff! (Seriously, bathe them a couple of times a year….)

  47. 47.

    Maude

    November 6, 2010 at 8:47 pm

    @Fuzz:
    Not to worry. A lot do fail it the first time and it doesn’t matter as far as employment goes.
    Just take it again so that you don’t become one of those geezers saying if only I had taken that test again. Your geezer friends will poison you.

  48. 48.

    And Another Thing...

    November 6, 2010 at 8:50 pm

    @JenJen: I was primed to not like it – all the hype turned me off and Unobtanium? sheesh, but felt it was one of those cultural things you need to do to keep up. Plus I have serious trouble sitting for long periods of time. I saw it in 3D IMAX in the recent re-release and it’s just stunning film making. I had some vertigo from it but you figure out how to look at it, and it is just an amazing theatrical experience. It’s film making watershed stuff in the way that the first Star Wars film was.

  49. 49.

    Alan

    November 6, 2010 at 8:51 pm

    @Alan:

    The movie I was referring to on Starz is “The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus.”

  50. 50.

    General Stuck

    November 6, 2010 at 8:52 pm

    In his weekly address Saturday, Obama said that Democrats and Republicans not only agree on middle-class tax cuts but the need to rein in spending, and used this to try to drive his position on the tax cuts.

    “At a time when we are going to ask folks across the board to make such difficult sacrifices, I don’t see how we can afford to borrow an additional $700 billion from other countries to make all the Bush tax cuts permanent, even for the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans,” the president said. “We’d be digging ourselves into an even deeper fiscal hole and passing the burden on to our children.”

    Obama noted the importance of extending the tax cuts in the lame-duck session, but focused the address on digging in against the full extension sought by Republicans and some Democrats.

    And the battle lines are set. Told ya Obama wouldn’t budge on making the Bush rich tax cuts permanent. You are going to see a thorny new Obama in the next two years. He won’t bang the lecturn, but there will be some very clear lines drawn in the sand.

  51. 51.

    Brian S (formerly Incertus)

    November 6, 2010 at 8:55 pm

    @General Stuck: I tweeted yesterday that while I’m middle class and could use the money a tax cut would provide me, if the price I have to pay for it is giving the wealthy a tax cut, then I don’t need it. If I can suck it up, those rich fuckers can too.

  52. 52.

    Dee Loralei

    November 6, 2010 at 8:58 pm

    @quaint irene: I hope your Katie heals quickly and you can keep her eating the antibiotics.

    And I want to thank you for turning me on to Mapp and Lucia. One night a few months ago you and someone here had a convo about your sn, and you mentioned getting it from the books and well I went to Netflix and finished watching the first season a few weeks ago and have been meaning to thank you since then. I’ve got the second series on my list as well.

  53. 53.

    Maude

    November 6, 2010 at 8:58 pm

    The Marine’s leader has said in public that now is the wrong time to repeal DADT.
    Gosh, why do I want this Marine fired ASAP?

  54. 54.

    suzanne

    November 6, 2010 at 8:58 pm

    I thought “Avatar” was stupider than a matoko_chan comment.

  55. 55.

    Mike Kay

    November 6, 2010 at 9:02 pm

    even if the tax cut expires, all the Senate has to do is immediately present a bill cutting taxes for the middle class and dare the repugs to vote against it.

    talk about an cutting election issue, one party wants to cut taxes for 98% of voters, and the other party is obstructing.

  56. 56.

    Steeplejack

    November 6, 2010 at 9:03 pm

    @JenJen:

    I will try to remain fair and balanced, but I have to admit that I think James Cameron is one of the biggest Hollywooden douchebags ever. Hard to let go of that baggage sometimes when I’m watching one of his movies.

    In happier news, the entire Criterion DVD catalog is 50 percent off at Barnes & Noble right now, so you can get Seven Samurai (trailer here) for $24.99. Jules and Jim (trailer here) for a mere 10 bucks! What a country.

  57. 57.

    Zuzu's Petals

    November 6, 2010 at 9:04 pm

    @Fuzz:

    Don’t fall into the trap of thinking this had anything to do with your smarts or diligence…it’s just a tough, crappy test. If you made it through law school, you have the ability to do this. Identify where you can improve- maybe re-take the study course, hire a tutor if writing was your weak point.

    Keep the ol’ chin up, you WILL pass.

  58. 58.

    KG

    November 6, 2010 at 9:05 pm

    @Fuzz: sorry to hear it. I had to take the Cal bar twice… four years later, I kinda wish I’d only taken it the one time. In all seriousness, take some time to consider whether you really want to be a lawyer. In my experience, it’s not all it’s cracked up to be.

  59. 59.

    Yutsano

    November 6, 2010 at 9:06 pm

    @suzanne: So what you’re saying is that tequila doesn’t make your clothes fall off? Gotcha.

    And I’ll get the cookies to work out somehow. I need to go to the store tonight anyway, but I was planning on doing that after getting Thai food. Of course kitteh would much prefer I continue laying around being lazy and scratching her upon command.

  60. 60.

    Steeplejack

    November 6, 2010 at 9:08 pm

    @General Stuck:

    You are going to see a thorny new Obama in the next two years. He won’t bang the lecturn, but there will be some very clear lines drawn in the sand.

    Your words to Ceiling Cat’s ears. (No offense intended to pastafarians.)

  61. 61.

    JenJen

    November 6, 2010 at 9:08 pm

    @And Another Thing…: Almost verbatim how I went into the film, and how I came out. Sometimes, stuff just really lives up to the hype, no matter how much you convince yourself it won’t beforehand.

    @Steeplejack: Oh, no doubt. But, geniuses tend to be douchebags. I can overlook it; it’s not like I have to work with the guy or be/stay married to him. Most of my favorite music was written by complete and utter tools too, it would seem. :-)

  62. 62.

    Zuzu's Petals

    November 6, 2010 at 9:09 pm

    @KG:

    I dunno, I had to take it twice too. I think if I had quit after the first time, I’d always wonder “what if…” .

  63. 63.

    PurpleGirl

    November 6, 2010 at 9:13 pm

    @Fuzz: I’m sorry that you didn’t pass.

  64. 64.

    KG

    November 6, 2010 at 9:13 pm

    @Zuzu’s Petals: understandable… I honestly wasn’t keen on taking it the first time, part way through law school I’d thought of not practicing. But I took it, and swore I’d only take it once. Unfortunately, I so narrowly missed that I felt obligated to take it again (something like 6 MBEs or bringing one essay up to my average).

    Off topic, but I’m watching the Back to the Future trilogy at the moment and want to know where the fuck my flying car and hover board are.

  65. 65.

    General Stuck

    November 6, 2010 at 9:14 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    LOL, thanks for that.

  66. 66.

    MikeJ

    November 6, 2010 at 9:14 pm

    @KG: I was gonna make one, but I live in Seattle and hoverboards don’t work on water. So I bailed.

  67. 67.

    KG

    November 6, 2010 at 9:18 pm

    @KG: Let me clarify (FYWP for not letting me click to edit)… it was basically a matter of principle, taking it the second time. I also have a few friends that had to take it more than twice, who are now practicing and seem to enjoy it. I’m just going through something of a third life crisis.

  68. 68.

    scav

    November 6, 2010 at 9:19 pm

    @Steeplejack: well, as a frustrated database geek, I’m almost deciding to stay up and watch the charming details of how the system decides to shred itself this year. Reverse-engineering weird output is cheap giggles. Random order comments in BJ? sometimes, how could we tell?

  69. 69.

    J. Michael Neal

    November 6, 2010 at 9:20 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    I will try to remain fair and balanced, but I have to admit that I think James Cameron is one of the biggest Hollywooden douchebags ever.

    It was very entertaining to watch his ex-wife (one of them) beat him for the Oscar.

  70. 70.

    J. Michael Neal

    November 6, 2010 at 9:21 pm

    @Yutsano:

    I will try to remain fair and balanced, but I have to admit that I think James Cameron is one of the biggest Hollywooden douchebags ever.

    Oh, yeah, like you care.

  71. 71.

    And Another Thing...

    November 6, 2010 at 9:22 pm

    @KG:@Fuzz: I hear you, but after the time and money invested in school pass the test and get the credential. Over the years, I’ve worked with a lot of people who had the training AND the credential and then moved on to other things based on aptitude and taste. (exhibit A – Clive Davis who started a Columbia Records as a lawyer and went on to be one of the most successful music moguls of the last 40 years) Law school without the license is problematical on the resume, even if you’ve never practiced law.

  72. 72.

    Yutsano

    November 6, 2010 at 9:23 pm

    @J. Michael Neal: I don’t care. More to the point, I never even said that.

  73. 73.

    KG

    November 6, 2010 at 9:24 pm

    @MikeJ: you could’ve worked on the flying car… think of how much time that’d’ve saved you in commuting?

  74. 74.

    Steeplejack

    November 6, 2010 at 9:30 pm

    @scav:

    Random order comments in BJ? Sometimes, how could we tell?

    Touché.

    What offends the database purist is that the comments are already in chronological order based on their order of creation in the database. Comment 10,281 comes before comment 10,282, which comes before 10,283, etc. So to re-sort them by the time stamp (which doesn’t seem to be GMT-based or DST-protected) not only screws you up this one time of the year but is essentially redundant all the time.

    Grumble, grumble, grumble.

  75. 75.

    Steeplejack

    November 6, 2010 at 9:31 pm

    @Yutsano:

    Hee-hee-hee.

  76. 76.

    Steeplejack

    November 6, 2010 at 9:31 pm

    @General Stuck:

    De nada.

  77. 77.

    fasteddie9318

    November 6, 2010 at 9:37 pm

    @Console:

    The thing is, you really have to get through Assassin’s Creed for the sequel to make sense. But I agree with you, AC II is a fucking great game. AC I was good, but didn’t blow me away. I have a beef with free roam games where the player can’t freaking swim.

  78. 78.

    maye

    November 6, 2010 at 9:39 pm

    @Fuzz: My husband flunked the Calif. bar exam the first time. Passed it on the re-run. If he can do it, you can too. Don’t lose hope. Did you take a bar prep class? If you did, take a different one for the second go round. Cheers.

  79. 79.

    ChrisNYC

    November 6, 2010 at 9:39 pm

    @Fuzz: That’s tough but not as big a deal as it may seem right now. I know two people who didn’t pass NY the first time. One at firm — kept his job and passed the second time. The other was at a public service agency. While she waited out the time to retake, she did advocacy work that you don’t need to be admitted to do. If your LS grades are ok, not passing the first time won’t matter to employers. When I took the test, the lady behind me in line to get in was on her sixth try — taking it two times is nothing.

  80. 80.

    scav

    November 6, 2010 at 9:42 pm

    @Steeplejack: well, that explains it, I’m a geographical database geek so chronological order is only one of a myriad of natural options in my eyes and I spend a lot of time transferring from one system to another (“OK, all comments are now ordered North/South by point of origin!”). But what if what we’re looking at is a behavior stub so that owners can opt for more complex ordering rules such as nested reply-to threading? That could account for the apparent redundancy in ordering rules.

  81. 81.

    Johannes

    November 6, 2010 at 9:48 pm

    @Fuzz: That truly sucks, Fuzz. It’s a rite of passage, and has no relationship at all to how you’ll do when you are admitted–and you will be. Take some time to be good to yourself, and then get through the damn fool ordeal, and on with your life.

  82. 82.

    You Don't Say

    November 6, 2010 at 9:48 pm

    @Fuzz: Sorry Fuzz. My lawyer husband tells me the NY bar is one of the hardest so I am sure many take it multiple times. Like John Jr.! ;-)

  83. 83.

    SiubhanDuinne

    November 6, 2010 at 9:52 pm

    I saw “Fair Game” today — has anyone else seen it? I thought Naomi Watts and Sean Penn were stunning as Valerie Plame and Joe Wilson (obvs not the “You lie!” Joe Wilson) (although come to think of it, *this* Joe Wilson spent a fair amount of time saying just that to the Bush-Cheney-Rove-Libby crew). Good performances all around. A lot of times the whirling, quick-panning cameras made me feel rather queasy, but I understand why the director wanted to invoke that feeling. I can’t remember who played Libby, but he was the embodiment of sleazy corrupt evil — in other words, pretty much the whole of 2001-2008. All in all, highly recommended.

  84. 84.

    Anoniminous

    November 6, 2010 at 10:00 pm

    Avatar got me into a theater for the first time since Return of the King. A thrilling exhibition of technical film making. Weta Digital turned in Yet Another masterpiece of computer generated graphics. Their Art Department showed their mastery.

    Too bad Cameron didn’t spend more than $1.25 on the script. Not that he needed more since he ripped-off Michael Blake (Dances with Wolves) and Poul Anderson (Call Me Joe.)

    Oh well, what the hell.

    If you’re going to steal, steal from the best.

  85. 85.

    Steeplejack

    November 6, 2010 at 10:03 pm

    @scav:

    But what if what we’re looking at is a behavior stub so that owners can opt for more complex ordering rules such as nested reply-to threading? That could account for the apparent redundancy in ordering rules.

    The first rule of Database Club is don’t talk about Database Club. The second rule of Database Club is don’t talk gibberish. “Behavior stub”? “Nested reply-to threading”? Geek, please. This is WordPress we’re talking about.

    Yes, there are other ways to order threaded conversations, but none of them that I can think of is enhanced by the ordering attribute being mutable (and unreliable) based on what “rule” is in effect when it is created.

    God, I think I just broke Rule 2 myself. Must get another drink.

  86. 86.

    Christin

    November 6, 2010 at 10:06 pm

    John Cole – I so wish you would have a better commenting thread system. Along the lines of DailyKos has theirs set up. It makes it easier to read, easier to comment, more fun to read, more fun to comment, etc. I despise Daily Kos though, and refuse to read or post there anymore. It’s the direction the site took. Firedog/baggish and whiny. Nothing to do with the way the comments are set up.

    I know it may cost too much money. But I also know if you were set up like that, your site would go off the charts. Which is why you may not want to do that i guess. Server issues.

  87. 87.

    Steeplejack

    November 6, 2010 at 10:08 pm

    @Anoniminous:

    That’s pretty much my beef with Cameron. Production values out the wazoo, all the money spent is clearly visible on the screen, but all too often the gorgeous spectacle is in service of a story that would have been rejected by the Saturday Evening Post 50 years ago. Ugh.

    ETA: And I always get a cynical, “I’m manipulating the rubes” vibe from Cameron.

  88. 88.

    scav

    November 6, 2010 at 10:10 pm

    @Steeplejack: drinks are always in order. alas I’ve none immediately available, but despite not speaking your brand of gibberish, I can see a few logical reasons for the despised behavior. Prosit!

  89. 89.

    Bedbugsandballyhoo

    November 6, 2010 at 10:17 pm

    Jack Russells always know when shit is going down. If there ever was a creature that needed Xanax, it is a Jack Russell.
    The best way to keep a Jack Russell in check? Get 2 cats.

  90. 90.

    lamh32

    November 6, 2010 at 10:18 pm

    I’ve been out all day, but just wanted to share some “Obot porn” (as some friends like to call it)

    First Lady Michelle Obama visits a school in India, and does a little dancing

    I don’t really have to say it, but I just love the FLOTUS!

    Now I have at least 2 things in common with POTUS, the 1st is obvious, the 2nd is travel to India!

  91. 91.

    JCT

    November 6, 2010 at 10:24 pm

    Head up Fuzz and a virtual beer to you — next time around the added familiarity of having sat through the exam will give you a boost. I didn’t pass my boards the first time around, mortifying (and expensive) — had idiotically figured I could get by without a course.

    At least when you pass you’re done — I have to re-take mine (2 different versions no less) every 10 years. Sheer brutality as my memory isn’t close to what it used to be.

    You’ll get them next time.

  92. 92.

    General Stuck

    November 6, 2010 at 10:24 pm

    @Christin:

    Few here will agree with you on the basic format of this blog. It is one of the reasons I stick around, as to my personal preference, having commented on a lot of liberal blogs, including Dkos, this is the best imo.

    This platform has more than it’s share of bugs, and ornery spirits, that sometimes eat our comments and do other spooky shit from my time here, but most every regular loves this basic format, I think. I hate the tiered replies, and the comment grading and all that other fancy shit. And if Cole ever decided to drastically change the format, I suspect there would be blog war and much red pixels spilt.

  93. 93.

    Steeplejack

    November 6, 2010 at 10:24 pm

    @scav:

    Well, wait four hours and then ‘splain it to me.

  94. 94.

    John - A Motley Moose

    November 6, 2010 at 10:27 pm

    @Christin: I’m with you. Love the frontpage posters here. Lots of great comments. Minimal amount of trolls and the ones you do have are bearable. But the way the comments work is atrocious. FWP

    @Dee I’m with you. Just finished watching the second Sherlock episode on Masterpiece. Came across the first one by accident and then set up a series recording on the dvr. Definitely better than most of the dreck on tv.

  95. 95.

    Dee Loralei

    November 6, 2010 at 10:29 pm

    @lamh32: I love her too. I don’t know why, but I actually go to HuffPo to see what great clothes Michelle is wearing. And I’m not in to clothes at all! It’s very weird to me. But I admire the heck out of her and the President and think they are the most beautiful first family since the Kennedys.

    And my beloved Sooners are fucking losing in College Station!

    If any of you read Mudflats, there’s a good article over there about the Moloch of money in this past election.

    Sigh, I’m just gonna drink more beer, watch the end of this game, walk my dogs and watch a movie.

  96. 96.

    TooManyJens

    November 6, 2010 at 10:31 pm

    @General Stuck: I agree with you. I like this format, and find that it’s really pretty easy to follow conversations as long as people use the reply-to links.

  97. 97.

    Steeplejack

    November 6, 2010 at 10:33 pm

    @General Stuck:

    We are in remarkable agreement tonight. I feel the same way about the Balloon Juice format. Once you take a little time to understand it, it is miles ahead of the other formats I have seen in the blogosphere.

    One of my big ongoing disappointments is that I love Ta-Nehisi Coates’s blog but I hate his nested comment structure. Really hard to follow the flow.

    The key to Balloon Juice is the “reply” gizmo-tron. You can follow the chronological flow in real time, and if you need to refresh yourself on what someone is replying to you just click the
    @I’m replying to this link at the head of the comment. It’s really easy to step back (upward) through multi-comment “conversations” without breaking the essential flow of the blog.

    Having said that, I really, really hate blogs where they still use the archaic mode of putting new comments at the top, so to read in chronological order you have to go to page 36 of 36 and then scroll up. Damn, baby.

  98. 98.

    Anoniminous

    November 6, 2010 at 10:35 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    Had to go check on imdb to be sure …

    The only other film of his I’ve seen was The Terminator. (A good, circa 1955, Analog story.) So I really can’t say.

    What got me about Avatar was the wonderful story lines that COULD have come from humans exploiting a world with, what is essentially, a planetary neural network with mind control/sharing. Whatever the inhabitants would be they almost certainly wouldn’t have been The Noble Savages — and after 200+ years that’s getting moth worn — Cameron made them out to be. Cameron made the old blunder of assuming low technology equals primitive. Mucking Clarke’s Law: a sufficiently high technology can disappear.

  99. 99.

    General Stuck

    November 6, 2010 at 10:36 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    One of my big ongoing disappointments is that I love Ta-Nehisi Coates’s blog but I hate his nested comment structure. Really hard to follow the flow.

    Yes, “nested” was the term I couldn’t remember. I am like this with Steve Benen’s place. I love his blogging and read him, but the comment platform makes me crazy and I rarely comment there any more. I love the big black letters here for aging eyeballs too.

  100. 100.

    Anoniminous

    November 6, 2010 at 10:40 pm

    @General Stuck:

    If you use Firefox hitting the “=/+” key while holding down the control key makes things bigger.

  101. 101.

    You Don't Say

    November 6, 2010 at 10:42 pm

    @lamh32: I made this photo my laptop wallpaper cuz I just love it.

  102. 102.

    General Stuck

    November 6, 2010 at 10:44 pm

    @Anoniminous:

    yes, I never have to use that here, but other sites I do. Finally bought some reading glasses, but I hate wearing them and only use for reading print on paper.

  103. 103.

    Steeplejack

    November 6, 2010 at 10:44 pm

    @Anoniminous:

    The Abyss? Fucking Titanic?! Both great-looking movies with a lot of spectacle and visual “chrome and tail fins” going for them, but, when you step back and take a close look, the underlying stories are basic two-dimensional crap. It’s like the joke about Chinese food: tastes great but you’re hungry again an hour later.

  104. 104.

    cmorenc

    November 6, 2010 at 10:45 pm

    @MikeKay

    even if the tax cut expires, all the Senate has to do is immediately present a bill cutting taxes for the middle class and dare the repugs to vote against it.
    talk about an cutting election issue, one party wants to cut taxes for 98% of voters, and the other party is obstructing.

    The astounding thing is: why the hell did the dems not do exactly this six to eight weeks before the election? It might have timely snapped enough middle and working-class stiffs out of their GOP propaganda-induced befuddlement (especially in the Midwest) to have made a tremendous difference.

    I know, I know. Had they brought it up to a vote, there were too many Blue Dog dems in the House all too eager to publicly attempt to undermine the effort and help out the Repugs by insisting on amendments to extend the Bush tax cuts to the wealthy as the price of agreeing to the package – and look what good playing republican-lite did for them in the election. And there’s always Ben fucking Nelson and the (now-defeated) Blanche Lincoln to shit on their own party’s core message in the Senate.

    But I’m still astounded the Democratic leadership didn’t go with the tactic anyway, forcefully riding herd on their reluctant members, threatening to withhold campaign support for their reelection if they undermined the gambit.

  105. 105.

    Allen

    November 6, 2010 at 10:46 pm

    @John Cole: Although it’s too late now, Avatar’s 3D would not have made you seasick. I was honestly shocked at how much better this 3D was than any I’d ever seen before–it was absolutely amazing. And if the others haven’t convinced you, Avatar is not boring, probably not even in 2D.
    I can’t bring myself to watch it in 2D, but only because the memory of the 3D is so vivid, and I’d know what I’m missing. You don’t have that liability.

  106. 106.

    Anoniminous

    November 6, 2010 at 10:48 pm

    @General Stuck:

    Same here. And Ditto.

    I have a pair of regular glasses (worn since I was 7) to correct for distance and NOW I have to wear reading glasses to be able to see up close.

    grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

  107. 107.

    Zuzu's Petals

    November 6, 2010 at 10:48 pm

    @KG:

    Yes, my score was close enough to mean either that I would pass it the next time or was jinxed to keep missing it by a few points forever. You get almost superstitious about it.

    However, it’s a good thing I’m retired. Because if I end up moving to another state to be close to family, I will never ever ever take a bar exam again.

  108. 108.

    Mike Kay

    November 6, 2010 at 10:49 pm

    @Christin: Hi Christin!

    Love the way you fought the good fight.

  109. 109.

    suzanne

    November 6, 2010 at 10:51 pm

    @Allen: I dunno. I’m with John—I’ve never seen a 3D movie that didn’t give me a headache. I often wear glasses, though, so wearing the 3D specs over the top might have something to do with it. I’m not buying a 3D TV, I can tell ya.

  110. 110.

    Martin

    November 6, 2010 at 10:51 pm

    @You Don’t Say: Well, lookit her pallin’ around with terrorists. And we’re paying $2B per day for this!?

  111. 111.

    You Don't Say

    November 6, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    @Martin: Those are anchor babies.

  112. 112.

    Mike Kay

    November 6, 2010 at 10:55 pm

    @cmorenc: I know, I know.

  113. 113.

    Anoniminous

    November 6, 2010 at 10:56 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    Yeah.

    I haven’t and am now not doing my duty by watching crud in a nice shiny wrapper thus helping to keep the Amurka Film Industry in profit.

    I did purchase the episodes and follow-up movie of Firefly, Whedon’s wonderfully excellent science fiction TV series. We are doling them out so we can savor the ‘first run’ experience. Whoever canceled that series was a dolt.

  114. 114.

    bago

    November 6, 2010 at 10:56 pm

    So assasin’s Creed 1 was exploring an idea, but wasn’t fully cooked. You can thank Charles whenever you pull off a flying assassination, because he took 2 weeks to implement it. AC1 is an exploration of ideas, and delightfully subversive by having the narrative put you in control of an Arab fighting off an invasion of Catholics, using a Templar conspiracy theory theme.

    AC 2 is simply brilliant, in almost every way, for experienced gamers. I have heard complaints about the tutorial, but remember you can climb wherever you see handholds. The tombs and glyph puzzles are awesome to figure out, but be prepared to do some base 12 math.

  115. 115.

    Fuzz

    November 6, 2010 at 10:57 pm

    Just wanted to say thanks for all the people here who wished me well with the whole exam situation, you guys are a very welcoming and compassionate bunch and I appreciate it. thanks!

  116. 116.

    Martin

    November 6, 2010 at 10:57 pm

    @You Don’t Say: I’ve tried it. They float. Terrible anchors.

  117. 117.

    General Stuck

    November 6, 2010 at 11:00 pm

    @Martin:

    You have to burp them first. sink like a rock after that.

  118. 118.

    Emerald

    November 6, 2010 at 11:03 pm

    @Christin:

    I so wish you would have a better commenting thread system.

    Agree agree agree.

    I read this site all the time, but I don’t comment much because it’s such a pain. Just now, for example, I lost this whole comment and am having to retype it because I forget to plug in my email info (am using a different compter tonight).

    It’s just so difficult to follow a conversation here. On DKos I just check my comment page to see if anyone replied to me, and frequently have carried on conversations there for several days (under a different screen name).

    In this antiquated system you have to remember the posts you commented on, then scroll down them to find out if anyone has replied. If you don’t have good eyes you miss it.

    Really, the Disqus system is pretty good. It threads and has like and dislike buttons. Deaniac83 is using that on The People’s View.

    But I gotta say that the DKos system beats ’em all, which probably is why it, alas, is the top Democratic site. It’s because of its engine. With all the Firebaggers posting over there trying to squash the Democratic President, it doesn’t deserve to be.

    In my humble opinion.

  119. 119.

    Steeplejack

    November 6, 2010 at 11:05 pm

    @Anoniminous:

    “Crud in a nice shiny wrapper.” You may have nailed his whole oeuvre with that. The McRib of modern moviemaking?

  120. 120.

    blink

    November 6, 2010 at 11:06 pm

    Just a question about DougJ’s comment about Netflix in his previous post. Would it even be legal for an ISP to block access to Netflix? It’s a subscription service. Blocking access to subscribers would effectively be stealing from them. For that matter, wouldn’t that make them unable to block Hulu either, since it would effect Hulu Plus subscribers in the same way. Does any one with more knowledge on this than me have an answer?

  121. 121.

    THE

    November 6, 2010 at 11:10 pm

    @matoko_chan:
    I loved Avatar too matako, but I watched it on BluRay, I brought the child in me to the show and enjoyed the fantasy of Pandora.

    I will shortly buy the extended edition. That will be an excuse to watch it again.

  122. 122.

    Steeplejack

    November 6, 2010 at 11:11 pm

    @Emerald:

    The difference may be that Balloon Juice is, or seems to be, more “community discussion” than one-on-one conversation, which tends to happen more in a threaded set-up.

    And don’t get me started on like/dislike buttons. Ugh.

    Seems like we had a massive thread about all these issues a year or so ago, on the occasion of previous site redesign. I’m too lazy to look it up, so you’ll just have to take my word for it.

  123. 123.

    Mark S.

    November 6, 2010 at 11:12 pm

    I didn’t care for Assassin’s Creed; it was really repetitive and I lost interest in it halfway through. From what everyone is saying, though, maybe I’ll check of the second one. It should be pretty cheap by now.

    Just finished Fable 3. A little odd; some bad gameplay imbalances. Looks really pretty. The much hyped kingdom maintenance was really rushed and a big bust.

  124. 124.

    arguingwithsignposts

    November 6, 2010 at 11:12 pm

    I like TBogg’s comment thread, which has both nesting and chronological built into one. Yes, it’s an FDL property, but it seems like a cool functionality, and he’s funny, so suck it.

  125. 125.

    ruemara

    November 6, 2010 at 11:13 pm

    @Fuzz:

    It don’t mean much, but I’m sorry you failed and hope you take it and pass with flying colours soon. fuck anonymous, we’re all peeps.

  126. 126.

    Yutsano

    November 6, 2010 at 11:15 pm

    @Fuzz: Ganbatte kudasai good sir. Not passing you first time around is no shame, and no prediction about your future legal career. You will be much better prepared, less nervous, and more determined when you take the test again.

    BTW is anyone else thinking about Picard talking to Wesley about him bombing out the first time he took the Starfleet exam? Or is my inner Trekkie showing again?

  127. 127.

    Kilkee

    November 6, 2010 at 11:18 pm

    @Fuzz: So sorry to hear. As it happens I’m rather deeply involved on the Board of Bar Examiners for my state, so I can tell you that, however much we try to make it otherwise, there’s a significant degree of randomness in any such exam. Next time is likely to be different. And lots of folks (oh, Hillary Clinton, for example?) had trouble the first time around. A lot of the lawyers I know took more than one shot to pass, including a recently retired and rather distinguished Federal District Court judge hereabouts.

  128. 128.

    arguingwithsignposts

    November 6, 2010 at 11:20 pm

    @Fuzz. Hang in there. you’re not Orly Taitz, and if she can be a lawyer, you can too. ;)

  129. 129.

    BethanyAnne

    November 6, 2010 at 11:24 pm

    @Mark S.: Hmm, that’s a shame. I’m trying to decide between Fable 3 or Mass Effect 2 for my next game. I haven’t played the earlier versions of either.

  130. 130.

    Mark S.

    November 6, 2010 at 11:24 pm

    @Christin:

    Ugh, I hate threaded comments and I hate the rating. I think the Reply button works great.

  131. 131.

    Mark S.

    November 6, 2010 at 11:25 pm

    @BethanyAnne:

    Fable 2 is a blast. I highly recommend that one. I’ve never played Mass Effect.

    ETA: And I was being a little harsh. Fable 3 isn’t terrible. I just had real high expectations after 2.

  132. 132.

    Yutsano

    November 6, 2010 at 11:26 pm

    @arguingwithsignposts: C’mon AWS we’re supposed to be encouraging the child here. Now if he wanted to be a dentist…

  133. 133.

    BethanyAnne

    November 6, 2010 at 11:31 pm

    @Mark S.: Part of me is tempted to get the earlier versions first. Might be good cheap fun :)

  134. 134.

    Svensker

    November 6, 2010 at 11:34 pm

    @Fuzz:

    Sympathies. Try again.

  135. 135.

    morzer

    November 6, 2010 at 11:34 pm

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    Bit of a low.. bar, shall we say?

  136. 136.

    Console

    November 6, 2010 at 11:35 pm

    You do yourself a disservice by not playing through the mass effect games in order.

    Fable 2 you could just start playing and not really lose any perspective without having knowledge of the first. Although i’m not really a fan of the Fable series.

  137. 137.

    BethanyAnne

    November 6, 2010 at 11:38 pm

    @Console: I had wondered about that. Plus, I’m not all that intense about a game having the latest graphics, so that works in older titles’ favor as well.

  138. 138.

    Original Lee

    November 6, 2010 at 11:38 pm

    Sorry for the drive-by, but it’s been a hectic weekend:
    Voter fraud in MD.

  139. 139.

    Console

    November 6, 2010 at 11:41 pm

    @BethanyAnne:

    The original mass effect is also really cheap now. But definitely get the first one. Your saved game carries over to the second. The decisions you made, the character you created, all of that. You could conceivably play the 2nd without the first, but it would be a really incomplete game. Plus you’d have a lot of reading to do to catch yourself up on the game’s universe, which is very very well developed.

  140. 140.

    Mornington Crescent

    November 6, 2010 at 11:42 pm

    I was at another blog a couple of years ago when there was a temporary timestamping problem so that some of the later comments were inserted before some of the previous ones.

    We just made fun with it, in a Monty Python “I’d like to complain about the next letter” kind of way. The earlier comments took on different meanings when you inserted certain later comments.

  141. 141.

    xyzxyzxyz

    November 6, 2010 at 11:42 pm

    @Fuzz,

    You got a lot of support, but I wanted to add something else. This week my wife and I were confronted with a serious medical/legal issue regarding a parent. The solution to this problem required that we find very skilled legal and social worker help. We found one of each, and I can’t tell you how much they helped to diffuse a situation that was literally rendering us useless. Unfortunately, lawyers and social workers are some of the most maligned folks in our society….but just wait until you need their help. At that time, they’re worth their weight in gold.

    So, as someone else said earlier…..hang in there, and go be one of the good guys. I promise you you’ll have the opportunity to make a significant, positive difference in someone’s life.

  142. 142.

    Steeplejack

    November 6, 2010 at 11:43 pm

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    I really like TBogg, too, but I rarely read the comment threads, so the structure doesn’t bother me. The first few comments are never half as funny as TBogg’s original post, so why bother? I’m sure I’m missing some occasional gems, but that’s the vibe I get at his place.

  143. 143.

    Steeplejack

    November 6, 2010 at 11:47 pm

    @Yutsano:

    Yeah. Trekkie showing. The communicator brooch above your pocket protector was a dead giveaway.

  144. 144.

    Anne Laurie

    November 6, 2010 at 11:47 pm

    @John Cole:

    3d makes me seasick.

    Me too. In my case, the pills (meclazine hydrochloride, aka Bonine) don’t work, but the SeaBands (mostly) do.

    The Avatar ‘story’ was deeply seriously meh, but the 3D visuals were just about worth the price. Although Cameron’s animators should’ve been forced to pay royalties to Frank Frazetta’s estate. But I love IMAX National-Geographic technogeekery, and will gladly put up with the vertigo for spaceships or megafauna.

  145. 145.

    Anne Laurie

    November 6, 2010 at 11:52 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    The difference may be that Balloon Juice is, or seems to be, more “community discussion” than one-on-one conversation, which tends to happen more in a threaded set-up.
    __
    And don’t get me started on like/dislike buttons. Ugh.

    THIS, ten thousand times. Cole ever switches to a threaded system, I’m outta here. Of course when we had this discussion last year (you were right, it was just before the last annual ‘site upgrade’), Cole said that if the only choice was a threaded system, he was outta here, too.

  146. 146.

    suzanne

    November 6, 2010 at 11:54 pm

    WHY do I keep commenting on Pandagon? I hate Amanda Marcotte, and half of her commenters are the most smug, superior assholes.

  147. 147.

    Yutsano

    November 6, 2010 at 11:59 pm

    @suzanne: Ahem. You cannot say I didn’t warn you. Especially after you left me explicit instructions TO warn you. Now close the Pandragon tab now. That’s it. You can do it. Or I’ll talk the kidlet into giving you indigestion.

  148. 148.

    J. Michael Neal

    November 7, 2010 at 12:11 am

    @suzanne:

    WHY do I keep commenting on Pandagon? I hate Amanda Marcotte, and half of her commenters are the most smug, superior assholes.

    And we aren’t?

    Edit: Ah. I get it. You’ll only comment at a place where at least 75% of the commenters are smug, superior assholes.

  149. 149.

    suzanne

    November 7, 2010 at 12:34 am

    @Yutsano: I did, I did, I closed it. Seriously, I don’t know why I tortured myself.

    @J. Michael Neal: In comparison, this place is a loving, happy, supportive, functional family.

    The main complaint I have is that that blog, with the exception of Jesse and a few commenters, JUST ISN’T FUCKING FUNNY. I dunno about all y’all, but I’m the type of person that has to snark on shit. Which is why I’m so glad to have matoko_chan around.

  150. 150.

    J. Michael Neal

    November 7, 2010 at 12:54 am

    @suzanne:

    In comparison, this place is a loving, happy, supportive, functional family.

    I don’t have to take that kind of language from you.

  151. 151.

    asiangrrlMN

    November 7, 2010 at 1:05 am

    @Fuzz: So sorry to hear. And, to find out like that…yeesh. Sulk a bit and then take the damn thing again.

    @suzanne: ‘coz you’re a masochist? I just unloaded a rant on the Nancy SMASH! thread. The stupid, it sometimes burns. And, you are right. Funny will make almost anything palatable.

  152. 152.

    freelancer

    November 7, 2010 at 1:09 am

    Oh my God what an ugly win by Nebraska today. But you go on the field with the 3rd string QB you have and not the 3rd string QB you want. Also, thank FSM for the best secondary in the country.

  153. 153.

    freelancer

    November 7, 2010 at 1:23 am

    Also, I’m really liking the BBC reboot of Sherlock Holmes. I never would have given it a look if not for people having mentioned it here. This, and the general intelligence, compassion, and humor of the front pagers and commentariat is why I love this place.

  154. 154.

    frosty

    November 7, 2010 at 1:31 am

    @Fuzz: One of my colleagues at work failed the PE license exam 5 times before finally passing it. So hang in there and keep trying.

  155. 155.

    Cain

    November 7, 2010 at 1:40 am

    @lamh32:

    I’ve been out all day, but just wanted to share some “Obot porn” (as some friends like to call it)

    First Lady Michelle Obama visits a school in India, and does a little dancing

    I don’t really have to say it, but I just love the FLOTUS!

    Hey the POTUS did too! I’m sitting here in India.. I beat Obama to Mumbai by 8 hours or so. (hey I go where the president goes! j/k) The dancing was pretty cool..

    Indians are emotional people so that probably went over well with them. But they aren’t happy with Obama so much as he didn’t explicitly blame Pakistan for the terrorist bombings.

    They are bursting firecrackers here (what would be illegal and banned firecrackers in the U.S. eg cherry bombs) and what not. Happy Diwali! (someone front page that man!)

    When I landed in mumbai we had huge firecrackers bursting in teh sky at 2:00am.. good times..

    I’ll report more on Obama’s trip here and Indian reactions which is fun and interesting. The press here is way better than the American press. At least they attempt to see both sides of the issue even though emotional they have a hard time dealing with the other side even as they acknowledge Obama’s position.

    cain

  156. 156.

    Cain

    November 7, 2010 at 1:42 am

    Obama is planning on a town hall with young people. They are all goign to ask him about outsourcing and stuff like why he didn’t mention Pakistan as the main country behind the attacks on 26/11. (november 26.. looks like we all need to ahve a ??/11) It’ll be an interesting townhall I think.

    cain

  157. 157.

    freelancer

    November 7, 2010 at 1:53 am

    @Cain:

    Also, Pakistani ISI worked in concert with AQ and OBL to plan and shelter those that perpetrated the attacks of 9/11. Worth noting.

  158. 158.

    Cain

    November 7, 2010 at 2:18 am

    @freelancer:

    Also, Pakistani ISI worked in concert with AQ and OBL to plan and shelter those that perpetrated the attacks of 9/11. Worth noting.

    Absolutely, but the indians are angry that he’s not calling out the Pakistanis and also the whole $2 billion dollars to Pakistan and free weapons also pisses them off while U.S. is asking for more market access in more sectors in India. It feels like they aren’t getting out of this relationship especially since Pakistan is using the money to foment chaos in India.

    cain

  159. 159.

    freelancer

    November 7, 2010 at 2:33 am

    @Cain:

    Seriously, we’re kind of fucked when it comes to Pakistan. They are simultaneously our worst enemy and the ally that keeps the pin inside the grenade. Given our global economic competition and need for trade agreements with India and China, and our military complications with Islamic extremism and nuclear arms, I just don’t see any good options on the table Re: foreign relations in Asia Minor over the next 20 years. I only have the hope that I’m just a smart guy with and office job and a sense of humor speculating on the internet, and that much smarter people are working to solve this problem and can see it coming from more than 5 minutes out.
    Hope is one thing, and the CIA’s track record in failure doesn’t really bolster my confidence.

  160. 160.

    NobodySpecial

    November 7, 2010 at 3:33 am

    @Console: All I can say about ME2 is the word ‘Chafing’.

  161. 161.

    Cain

    November 7, 2010 at 3:43 am

    Well Obama’s townhall I think went pretty good. The big O, impressed a lot of people with his oratory and I think real genuine personality. My uncle was praising Obama and was really irritated with the U.S. people saying they don’t deserve Obama. I think places like India are starving for leaders of Obama’s caliber. So it makes them completely flummoxed that when the U.S. generates one that he isn’t accepted as readily as they would have.

    India’s own leaders do not have townhalls and allow students to question their politicians. The lack of transparency and debate is particularly galling here, because I think students want to be able to have access to their leaders rather than them pontificating in a one way speech most of the time.

    cain

  162. 162.

    Cain

    November 7, 2010 at 3:50 am

    @freelancer:

    Seriously, we’re kind of fucked when it comes to Pakistan. They are simultaneously our worst enemy and the ally that keeps the pin inside the grenade. Given our global economic competition and need for trade agreements with India and China, and our military complications with Islamic extremism and nuclear arms, I just don’t see any good options on the table Re: foreign relations in Asia Minor over the next 20 years. I only have the hope that I’m just a smart guy with and office job and a sense of humor speculating on the internet, and that much smarter people are working to solve this problem and can see it coming from more than 5 minutes out.

    India is very concerned with Pakistan.. but Pakistan still sees India as a huge rival. When the disastrous flood happened in Sind, India offered aid money and Pakistan refused to get it directly from India, they wanted it channeled through some other country or organization. That’s the mentality we are dealing with.

    I’ve been reading of more bombs going off inside Pakistan as religious extremism targets innocent Pakistanis. Shiites targeting Sunnis, Al Qaeda targeting Sunnis, Sunnis targeting Shiites. This stuff was non existent until Pakistan invited Al Qaeda into the country in order to create chaos in Kashmir. They’ve allowed the devil in and it is here to stay courtesy of the ISI. These fools are planting the seeds of destruction of their own country. I hope that Sind would at least join India… (it’s mostly Punjabis/non-muslims)

    cain

  163. 163.

    Yutsano

    November 7, 2010 at 3:53 am

    @Cain: Remember good sir, not even Gandhi could solve the issue of Pakistan. It even cost him his life.

  164. 164.

    Cain

    November 7, 2010 at 4:14 am

    @Yutsano:

    @Cain: Remember good sir, not even Gandhi could solve the issue of Pakistan. It even cost him his life.
    Reply

    Well, his death was caused by a crazy Hindu who didn’t like the fact that he was going to divide his time between Pakistan and India. All I can say it was a very good thing it wasn’t a Muslim because there would have been an enormous blood bath.

    Pakistan’s problem is that their obsessed with India and Kashmir. I haven’t yet figured out why, and combined with a rotating civilian and military govt it has never gotten its legs under her. Pakistan needs to stop worrying about India and concentrate on her own problems.

    cain

  165. 165.

    Yutsano

    November 7, 2010 at 4:19 am

    @Cain:

    Pakistan’s problem is that their obsessed political leadership can make hay with India and Kashmir.

    Fixed for more accuracy. Pakistan justifies most of its fucking its own populace on having a bugaboo just to the southeast. So convince your population India will invade any second et voila, instant foil to do whatever will enrich your elite. And you show up the shining example of a still unsettled and unsettling Kashmir and you’re set.

    Pakistan needs to stop worrying about India and concentrate on her own problems.

    Agreed 1000 percent.

  166. 166.

    Anne Laurie

    November 7, 2010 at 4:47 am

    @Cain:
    __

    Pakistan’s problem is that their obsessed with India and Kashmir. I haven’t yet figured out why…

    I would guess the word “Partition” might enter into the ensuing discussion. As an outsider whose immediate ancestors came from Galway Bay, asking Pakistan to just get over it already, dudes seems like telling Ian Paisley the same thing about Derry… if the entire British Isles had been taken over by the fookin’ papists, with the Scots forming their own rump nation shortly thereafter. What with the whole “displaced up to 12.5 million people in the former British Indian Empire, with estimates of loss of life varying from several hundred thousand to a million” issue, at a point within living memory, it’s not really surprising that the Pakistanis are still techy about their ex-fellow-countrymen. Doesn’t mean they (at least the leadership) aren’t being tremendous dicks about the whole “nuclear-armed rivalry” thing, but shoot, there’s a lot of Americans who are never going to forgive the entire Muslim world for the death of a mere 3,000 people.

  167. 167.

    Cheryl from Maryland

    November 7, 2010 at 8:41 am

    @Fuzz: Don’t give up hope. The NY bar is very difficult. JFK Jr. didn’t pass it until his third try. Depending on what type of law you wish to practice, several states, such as Pennsylvania, accept a pass on the multi-state part of the test as a pass to their bar. Give it some thought.

    Also, I know lawyers rank just below bankstas in many people’s estimation, but there are those who are not rich blood suckers. My spouse spent 8 of his twenty years in the FDA trying to stop the Bush political appointees from gutting drug regulations — with mixed results, but, as he says, I can sleep at night knowing I worked to do the right thing.

    Good Luck.

  168. 168.

    Cain

    November 7, 2010 at 8:12 am

    @Anne Laurie:

    I would guess the word “Partition” might enter into the ensuing discussion. As an outsider whose immediate

    Sure it might, but the partition happened because of Jinnah wanting their own country and as such India itself never asked to be divided. Hindus have been pretty bitter about the partition.

    I didn’t immediately get the parallel with Derry, but I think I understand. I’ve had some exposure with the Irish when I lived in the Ireland for a time. People have long memories.

    cain

  169. 169.

    matoko_chan

    November 7, 2010 at 9:16 am

    @suzanne:

    I thought “Avatar” was stupider than a matoko_chan comment.

    that is because you are an old person in a young person suit.
    Avatar is PG-13.

    Better you should watch Cocoon with Omnes and Morzer.

  170. 170.

    Christin

    November 7, 2010 at 10:17 am

    @matoko_chan:

    hi Mike – :-) is that what it was? The good fight? Thanks. I have yet to accept my warning from Tim about some downrating a troll who called O some teabag name, and never will. Which is why the entire game of ratings is a cesspool of silliness. And what I love about BJ – that it’s not here. I never put much thought into it, which is why I guess Tim continually emailed me.

  171. 171.

    Christin

    November 7, 2010 at 10:19 am

    @Mike Kay:
    woops – my comment went to the wrong person. Hi Mike – my comment is above this one :-)

  172. 172.

    Christin

    November 7, 2010 at 10:19 am

    @Mike Kay:
    woops – my comment went to the wrong person. Hi Mike – my comment is above this one :-)

  173. 173.

    matoko_chan

    November 7, 2010 at 10:25 am

    @Anne Laurie:

    never going to forgive the entire Muslim world for the death of a mere 3,000 people.

    which America caused her bigself by meddling and proselytizing Jesus-democracy on people that utterly reject it.

  174. 174.

    Christin

    November 7, 2010 at 10:27 am

    @Emerald:

    I read this site all the time, but I don’t comment much because it’s such a pain. Just now, for example, I lost this whole comment and am having to retype it because I forget to plug in my email info (am using a different compter tonight).

    “It’s just so difficult to follow a conversation here. On DKos I just check my comment page to see if anyone replied to me, and frequently have carried on conversations there for several days (under a different screen name).

    In this antiquated system you have to remember the posts you commented on, then scroll down them to find out if anyone has replied. If you don’t have good eyes you miss it.”

    thanks for expanding upon what i wrote in a much more clear manner that makes sense. i was not even going to reply because i doubt anyone will see it, and like you i don’t comment because will it make sense in the chronological order in which it posts? No.

    It is almost impossible to follow a conversation here for me, which really annoys me. I love the front page posts here, I love the comments, I love the everything about this place. This is what Daily Kos was to me back in 2004, minus the drama queens, the badzillion of trolls, firedoglakemorans, and naderites galore, and those who will only accept purity.

    So I kinda just read and nod my head a lot.

    I love Andrew Sullivan’s site, and he must hate the comment crap because he will not have it.

    And I guess when I see what happened to DK, which though it may still attract a some attention, has fallen out of the top 4500 web sites, maybe that’s why John leaves it like this.

    I dunno. But thanks guys. And John. For injecting sanity back into some conversations.

  175. 175.

    Corner Stone

    November 7, 2010 at 10:34 am

    @Christin:

    I love Andrew Sullivan’s site, and he must hate the comment crap because he will not have it.

    He can’t suffer comments because he would get absolutely ripped to shreds. For all the world to see. That is what he can’t stomach, not the format.
    He’s a self-absorbed coward.

  176. 176.

    CynDee

    November 7, 2010 at 2:40 pm

    @ John Cole:

    I had to lift the bed and pull her out. Damned Jack Russell terriers.

    Now yer gettin’ the hang of being a Jack Russell dad.

  177. 177.

    Anne Laurie

    November 7, 2010 at 4:05 pm

    @Cain:
    __

    Sure it might, but the partition happened because of Jinnah wanting their own country and as such India itself never asked to be divided. Hindus have been pretty bitter about the partition.

    Yeah, cuz the Hindus remember it as “The blasted Muslims couldn’t be satisfied living in a multicultural society, so they tore chunks off our common nation and got a lot of people killed for their obsession.” The Pakistanis, from what I understand, remember it as “The One-god-damned Hindus couldn’t starve and torture us into submitting to their barberous customs, so we had to withdraw to the outposts of the nation we used to be in charge of, and even then they kept the nicest parts for themselves.”

    Might be my own prejudices, but whenever Americans start talking about how it’d be a good thing if we sane blue-state people would just secede from the benighted Heartlanders(tm) and give the Confederate sympathizers the third-world nation they’ve been dreaming of, I think of India and Pakistan as a counter-example.

  178. 178.

    matoko_chan

    November 7, 2010 at 4:19 pm

    @Anne Laurie:

    The Avatar ‘story’ was deeply seriously meh,

    SRSLY?
    i thot you were a shaman.
    The Avatar “story” is the triumph of eastern universalism and mysticism over prosaic protestant individualism. I mean….grace AUGUSTINE gets converted to Tree sap.
    The mytho-poesis of Pandara is rife with religious symbology and scifi literary tags….like unobtanium, lawl, which is a scifi tradition featured in many classics…..but i guess if you are not well read on world mythology or scifi (or a teabagger), you might find it ‘seriously meh.’

  179. 179.

    matoko_chan

    November 7, 2010 at 4:24 pm

    @Anne Laurie:

    if we sane blue-state people would just secede from the benighted Heartlanders™ and give the Confederate sympathizers the third-world nation they’ve been dreaming of,

    In Richard Morgan’s Thirteen the confederacy secedes from the rim states. That is far more likely IMHO.

  180. 180.

    Christin

    November 7, 2010 at 5:06 pm

    @Corner Stone:

    really? you think andrew sullivan is a self absorbed coward?
    i think i would have agreed years ago when he supported the war and Bush. he’ still a conservative, but he voted Kerry, apologized for the fifth col. comment, huge huge supporter of BO, and just such a calm, rational voice. very fair.

    i must be getting old. i’m now looking for nuance, no one sided opinions. many left blogs i used to love are only far far far left viewpoints now. i can’t take that anymore for some reason. i felt like i lived in a bubble for too long that way. i need opposing viewpoints. but intelligent ones. not screeches.

  181. 181.

    Morfydd

    November 7, 2010 at 8:07 pm

    @matoko_chan:

    oh, please. I’m well-read in world mythology and SF and Avatar’s plot was insultingly stupid for that very reason.

    The characters acted like two-dimensional idiots, the battle strategies could only have been thought up by leaders willing to ignore the entirety of human warfare, and the final resolution flies in the face of even the half-baked cosmology Cameron had mangled in setting up.

    I still enjoyed it as a movie. The acting was capable and the effects were really magical.

    But the plot was a screaming insult to SF. I can’t believe you’ve ever read good SF, or there’s no way you could defend that crap.

  182. 182.

    matoko_chan

    November 7, 2010 at 11:30 pm

    @Morfydd: how was the plot an insult? i presume you know the unobtainium joke if you have read scifi. downloading consciousness into a synchronized blank genetically engineered clone is a standard.
    one sub- plot was the theme of separated lovers from different tribes, Romeo and Juliet, Majnun and Leyylah.
    pretty standard.
    Cameron’s objective was for the viewers to fall in love with Pandora.
    Jake was a translator-device, so that the audience could see Pandora through his eyes.
    Avatar II is already in work….some hypothesize that it will show the creation of Pandora, possibly as an escape pod for a failed post-industrial cilvilization.

    im afraid you will have to be more specific than “the plot was a screaming insult”.
    Which plot? nature vs machines? Eastern religious thought (hinduism, buddhism and islam) triumping over western xianity? The Two Trees and the Betrayal and the Temptation?
    colonialist capitalism vs aboriginal natives?

    But the reason i am most excited about Avatar….is Cameron bought the rights to Ringworld years ago.
    If Pandora can be brought to gorgeous mytho-poetic 3D life…..then the Ringworld can be also.
    :)

  183. 183.

    matoko_chan

    November 7, 2010 at 11:38 pm

    and pleeez.
    what has human warfare got to do with a battle with a sentient planet?
    What shape would those battles even take?
    your complaints are sillie.
    You sound like Reihan bitching about Avatar disrespecting Holy Capitalism.

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