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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Open thread

Open thread

by DougJ|  November 17, 20111:02 pm| 77 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Readership Capture

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If it feels good, do it.

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Next Post: We’re Hopeless »

Reader Interactions

77Comments

  1. 1.

    cleek

    November 17, 2011 at 1:03 pm

    if it’s gonna be that kind of party, i’m gonna stick my…

  2. 2.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    November 17, 2011 at 1:08 pm

    If it feels good, do it.

    Even if I’m in the middle of teaching math to a bunch of 6th graders? Ok, here it goes…

  3. 3.

    Villago Delenda Est

    November 17, 2011 at 1:12 pm

    From the previous thread:

    We might even create a new federal position to accommodate him, sort of like party ideologist in the old Soviet Union, except that the U.S. job would be the opposite of what it was in the U.S.S.R. Instead of imposing orthodoxy, the party idea-ologist—ideology is so un-American—would propose unorthodoxy.

    The problem here of course is that with someone like Newt (or Jokeline himself) it would be EXACTLY like it was in the old Soviet Union. You see all this VSP nonsense which is completely about imposing orthodoxy on the discourse. It’s what vile pieces of courtier shit like Broder lived to do.

    These people LIVE to push the prearranged storyline on everything, regardless of what actual events on the ground may show. The coverage of the utterly illegal and immoral war of aggression against Iraq demonstrates just how apparatchik the vermin of the Village can be.

    The way you deal with people like this is they way we dealt with Julius Streicher.

  4. 4.

    Mike Goetz

    November 17, 2011 at 1:13 pm

    My three-year-old has a new catchphrase: “Save a pretzel for the gas jets!” Blurts it randomly.

  5. 5.

    Montysano

    November 17, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    After the recent demise of our central heat/air unit, we’ve installed a wood stove. Can we endure the brutal Alabama winter with only wood? Time will tell. I already know this: it’s way cheaper than pushing a button on a thermostat, and way more hassle. And… the search for firewood (“You got the good stuff?”) is reminiscent of similar quests in my younger years.

  6. 6.

    Brachiator

    November 17, 2011 at 1:14 pm

    Do it til you’re satisfied

    Whatever it is…

  7. 7.

    The Ancient Randonneur

    November 17, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    If it feels good, do it.

    A Gingrich/Cain 2012 campaign slogan?

  8. 8.

    Commenting at Balloon Juice since 1937

    November 17, 2011 at 1:15 pm

    If it feels good, do it.

    Didn’t Bobo think that was what created Sandusky?

  9. 9.

    sharl

    November 17, 2011 at 1:16 pm

    Just a rerun of my comment in the previous post…

    Update on the situation with finding homes for Rumpoast front-pager StrangeAppar8us’ cats:

    UPDATE 2 Looks like we have definite homes for two of the cats. Still looking for a good home for Zero, a big, black, dopey, sweet neutered male. Sorry we don’t have pics – would post them if we did.

  10. 10.

    Villago Delenda Est

    November 17, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    @Mike Goetz:

    I understand OvenMitt has called and offered him a staff position?

  11. 11.

    debit

    November 17, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    In that case, I’ll be in my bunk.

  12. 12.

    Commenting at Balloon Juice since 1937

    November 17, 2011 at 1:18 pm

    http://www.mediaite.com/online/save-a-pretzel-for-the-gas-jets-viral-video-comedically-dubs-over-rick-perry/

  13. 13.

    Samara Morgan

    November 17, 2011 at 1:19 pm

    you might enjoy this, Mastertroll.
    i finally understand why the right is so desperate to get rid of Obama.

    The other Republican candidates (Ron Paul always excepted) draw from the same shallow and stagnant pool of ideas. To judge by what we might call the C Wright Mills standard of leadership – “men without lively imagination are needed to execute policies without imagination devised by an elite without imagination” – all are eminently qualified for the presidency. Nothing is wrong with the US or the world, they would have us believe, that can’t be fixed by ousting Barack Obama from office, thereby restoring the rightful order of things.

  14. 14.

    MariedeGournay

    November 17, 2011 at 1:19 pm

    Way ahead of you.

  15. 15.

    Comrade Colette Collaboratrice

    November 17, 2011 at 1:19 pm

    California Supreme Court sez Prop 8 backers have standing to defend their bigotry in court. Crap.

    On the other hand, given how absurd their “defense” of the law was in earlier court rounds, maybe this is not such bad news.

  16. 16.

    Loneoak

    November 17, 2011 at 1:20 pm

    Anyone else getting the Change.org Target petition on the left encroaching on the rest of the page? The format of the photo is too wide. Fwiw, I’m on Chrome on OSX.

  17. 17.

    Villago Delenda Est

    November 17, 2011 at 1:21 pm

    OK, change.org with one of their petition links (about Target) is pissing me off. It’s not properly sizing to fit in the margins, and you can’t make the stupid thing go away.

  18. 18.

    Eric S.

    November 17, 2011 at 1:21 pm

    If it feels good, do it.

    Right here? At work? My cube doesn’t even have a door.

  19. 19.

    Winston Smith

    November 17, 2011 at 1:22 pm

    I’ve always wanted to run naked through the Balloon Juice comments section. Here I go:

    wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

    Awesome.

  20. 20.

    Mike Goetz

    November 17, 2011 at 1:22 pm

    I would just like to say, the quality of the signage at the Occupy Boston compound is outstanding. There was a big one this morning about AIG that actually had subordinate clauses. Informative, grammatical, neatly lettered, and asked people to do something both easy and concrete: call their Senators, complete with phone number.

    Good show.

  21. 21.

    Comrade Colette Collaboratrice

    November 17, 2011 at 1:24 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est: @Loneoak: Yup, me too – with Firefox.

  22. 22.

    Villago Delenda Est

    November 17, 2011 at 1:25 pm

    @Comrade Colette Collaboratrice:

    In my case, it’s Chrome running on top of XP.

  23. 23.

    Koch Brother from Another Mother

    November 17, 2011 at 1:26 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    I think modern “progressives” have more in common with Soviet ideology than Newt Gingrich ever would.

  24. 24.

    deep

    November 17, 2011 at 1:26 pm

    egg.

  25. 25.

    RossinDetroit

    November 17, 2011 at 1:28 pm

    I had to ctrl minus to zoom out and read the text under the ad. It works, but no fun on a tiny old laptop screen.

  26. 26.

    Koch Brother from Another Mother

    November 17, 2011 at 1:29 pm

    After all, the Bolsheviks were quite fond of getting frenzied mobs of thugs to shout abuse at “the top 1%”.

  27. 27.

    Trinity

    November 17, 2011 at 1:30 pm

    @Loneoak: Yes. Also using Chrome – Windows 7

  28. 28.

    Schlmizel

    November 17, 2011 at 1:32 pm

    @Montysano:

    I spent a few years in an old farm house in Northern Minnesota that was heated with wood. I clearly recall some particularly cold January mornings where ice had formed in the toilet. Probably won’t get that cold in your neck of the woods but it certainly makes you appreciate gass heat.

  29. 29.

    Loneoak

    November 17, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    This website sucks. Remind me why we pay Cole to run it?

  30. 30.

    Poopyman

    November 17, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    @Loneoak:

    Anyone else getting the Change.org Target petition on the left encroaching on the rest of the page? The format of the photo is too wide. Fwiw, I’m on Chrome on OSX.

    Yes, on FartFox on Win7.

  31. 31.

    RossinDetroit

    November 17, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    If it feels good, do it.

    I’d better not. It just started snowing and I’m responsible for the grounds machinery for a dozen buildings. Time to load up the tools…

  32. 32.

    Uncle Clarence Thomas

    November 17, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    .
    .
    How dare Glenn Greenwald praise firedoglake.com for its efforts “with very little attention or self-promotion” to provide warm clothes to OWS participants across the country for free by raising donations (aka, “grifting”). That’s like one fucker complimenting some other fucker, isn’t it? How long will balloon-juice.com tolerate living in the shadow of that bony-ass website, which rarely focuses on the important issues facing our Great Nation such as pets, football, and the proper burnishing of President Obama’s reputation?
    .
    .

  33. 33.

    redshirt

    November 17, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    Is this another Spinal Tap reference? I know this was Viv Savage’s life philosophy.

  34. 34.

    Mike Goetz

    November 17, 2011 at 1:33 pm

    @Samara Morgan:

    They don’t want the Iraq model to turn into the Libya model, even though it will be the only possible way for the U.S. to act in the coming years. They can’t face that.

  35. 35.

    Samara Morgan

    November 17, 2011 at 1:34 pm

    AceofSpades and AL heartthrob Dave Weigel are having a twitter war over the definition of “soft”.

    AceofSpadesHQ Ace of Spades
    …this statement that Americans have gotten a little soft over past decades. He’s comfortable with his false report. weeklystandard.com/blogs/obama-am…
    7 minutes ago

    AceofSpadesHQ Ace of Spades
    the hack @daveweigel claims Obama’s statement that americans have gotten lazy over the past several decades is v. different than…
    8 minutes ago

    daveweigel daveweigel
    by AceofSpadesHQ@
    @AceofSpadesHQ I just don’t get your point. Obama said something at one event, then something different at another event.
    14 minutes ago

    daveweigel daveweigel
    by AceofSpadesHQ@
    @AceofSpadesHQ Different situations, audiences, words. Otherwise identical.
    10 minutes ago

    AceofSpadesHQ Ace of Spades
    Jesus Christ you’re a goddamned arrogant lying partisan shit, aren’t you? I’ll just rt your claims, @daveweigel.
    9 minutes ago

  36. 36.

    Rosalita

    November 17, 2011 at 1:34 pm

    @Loneoak:

    Anyone else getting the Change.org Target petition on the left encroaching on the rest of the page? The format of the photo is too wide. Fwiw, I’m on Chrome on OSX.

    Ditto. And I’m using Firefox.

  37. 37.

    Bubblegum Tate

    November 17, 2011 at 1:34 pm

    If it feels good, do it.

    Is that a reference to Chanson’s “Don’t Hold Back”?

  38. 38.

    The Dangerman

    November 17, 2011 at 1:35 pm

    If it feels good, do it.

    @Montysano:

    Can we endure the brutal Alabama winter with only wood?

    I fear for this thread…

  39. 39.

    Schlemizel

    November 17, 2011 at 1:35 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    Nope – not seeing it. FF 8.0 on NT

  40. 40.

    Koch Brother from Another Mother

    November 17, 2011 at 1:35 pm

    Didn’t the Bolsheviks whip up frenzied mobs of thugs to shout abuse on “the top one percent”? Sounds like modern “progressives” have more in common with them than Gingrich.

  41. 41.

    Trentrunner

    November 17, 2011 at 1:36 pm

    My favorite OWS sign is still

    Hooray for Our Side

    /sixties music

  42. 42.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    November 17, 2011 at 1:36 pm

    @Loneoak: Yep, IE7 on XP.

  43. 43.

    Samara Morgan

    November 17, 2011 at 1:36 pm

    @Mike Goetz: zactly. being conservative means never having to say you were WRONG.

  44. 44.

    Cris (without an H)

    November 17, 2011 at 1:38 pm

    @cleek: dick in the pie?

  45. 45.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    November 17, 2011 at 1:39 pm

    @redshirt: This would be an Ayn Rand reference, I believe.

  46. 46.

    redshirt

    November 17, 2011 at 1:40 pm

    @Belafon (formerly anonevent): Oh yeah, you’re right. Viv Savage’s Life Philosophy was: “Have a good time, ALL the time.”

  47. 47.

    Professor

    November 17, 2011 at 1:41 pm

    Just so that you know! Today (17 Nov 2011) is the 400th anniversary of the publication of the King James’ Bible. The Queen will be at Westmenster Abbey to commemorate this awesome occasion. Why aren’t the Christianistas celebrating?

  48. 48.

    passerby

    November 17, 2011 at 1:42 pm

    @Loneoak:

    Me too. I’m using Mozilla/Windows 7.

    Glad to know its not just my settings (which is the first thing I blame for screwed up page views).

  49. 49.

    Argive

    November 17, 2011 at 1:42 pm

    This NYT story about the current doings a-transpirin’ in the Sandusky case is awfully infuriating.

  50. 50.

    Samara Morgan

    November 17, 2011 at 1:42 pm

    @Samara Morgan: i luff that.

    im going to retweet your claims Dave Weigel! take that!

  51. 51.

    redshirt

    November 17, 2011 at 1:43 pm

    It’s close in theory to the Joseph Campbell maxim: “Follow your bliss”.

  52. 52.

    Gex

    November 17, 2011 at 1:44 pm

    I’m going to Q-tip my ears.

    AND I DON’T CARE if medical professionals and the underwriting on the package tell me not to stick ’em in my ears.

  53. 53.

    Xenos

    November 17, 2011 at 1:46 pm

    Open thread? Then, Happy Polytechneio day, everyone.

    Here’s to the hope we never end up with such a holiday ourselves!

  54. 54.

    geg6

    November 17, 2011 at 1:47 pm

    Well, I have my first financial aid night at a local high school tonight. Just a general information session, but my first since all hell broke loose. I’m never nervous about public speaking and, in regard to these financial aid nights, I could do the presentation in my sleep I’ve done it so many times, but I’m very nervous about this evening. I simply have no idea what kind of reception I’ll get from the parents.

  55. 55.

    Omnes Omnibus

    November 17, 2011 at 1:49 pm

    @ Gex: Follow your bliss.

  56. 56.

    burnspbesq

    November 17, 2011 at 1:52 pm

    @ Colette:

    Let them take their best shot in the Ninth Circuit. They will go down to ignominious defeat.

    I do kinda miss the old Supreme Court rules, where some cases went up on direct appeal rather than everything going up on cert. This case would have gotten the ultimate smack down: “Appeal dismissed for want of a substantial Federal question.”

  57. 57.

    SiubhanDuinne

    November 17, 2011 at 1:53 pm

    I’m remembering “If it feels good, do it” as a mantra of the (original!) (real!) (honest-to-FSM!) hippies of the 1960s and early ’70s. Not sure it was ever attributed to anyone in particular; it was just a saying that we all said and knew and, not infrequently, acted upon.

    Yes, I am that old. Old enough that my baby brother today becomes eligible for Medicare.

  58. 58.

    daveNYC

    November 17, 2011 at 1:55 pm

    @geg6: Better have something prepared concerning the impact that civil suits will have on school tuition and scholarships.

  59. 59.

    Brian S

    November 17, 2011 at 1:59 pm

    “if it feels good, do it” probably came from somewhere else first, but it’s also a line for
    Better Than Ezra song, “Teenager.”

  60. 60.

    geg6

    November 17, 2011 at 2:02 pm

    @daveNYC:

    Well, it’s not a session to really talk about PSU, specifically. It’s a “here’s how federal and state financial aid works and what kinds are out there.”

    And to be honest, no one knows what the impact of civil suits will have on tuition or scholarships. The only thing I know for sure is that none of my specific campus’ scholarships will change or decrease. All of our donors have said they still support the campus. And I only know this because I had a meeting with our development officer yesterday.

  61. 61.

    Professor

    November 17, 2011 at 2:03 pm

    Do you know that Slavery and Servitude became illegal in the UK on the 6th April 2010? This came about by the enactment of the Slavery and the Servitude Act 2010. Why the 6th April date? Because it is the beginning of the tax year 2010/2011. The Taxman has got morals!

  62. 62.

    David in NY

    November 17, 2011 at 2:03 pm

    @Mike Goetz:

    the quality of the signage at the Occupy Boston

    Unfortunately, we always win the battle of the signs (compare, Tea Party signage). In fact, if signs counted, we’d never have been in the Iraq War. But still, they are wonderful …

  63. 63.

    shoutingattherain

    November 17, 2011 at 2:03 pm

    @Brian S:

    “if it feels good, do it” probably came from somewhere else first…

    The “Laugh-In” wall. Possibly.

  64. 64.

    Poopyman

    November 17, 2011 at 2:04 pm

    @geg6: Well, I was in Pgh for a wedding last weekend talking to some cousins. The oldest is trying to get through Pitt in 3 years (straight A’s) and living at home and still going into debt. Her younger (smarter) sister doesn’t want to go into debt and sees Pitt or CC as her only hope.

    There are thousands like those two out there, and they need you to give them the information. You’ll do great, I know.

  65. 65.

    Svensker

    November 17, 2011 at 2:09 pm

    @geg6:

    Hope it goes well for you. That’s rough.

  66. 66.

    FormerSwingVoter

    November 17, 2011 at 2:12 pm

    NYPD barricades protestors into Zucotti Park, preventing anyone from entering or leaving. Oh, and then they start hitting people with batons for coming too close:

    http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/breaking-nypd-raid-and-barricade-occupy-wall-street-protestors-in-zucotti-park/politics/2011/11/17/30346

    At some point, people need to acknowledge that the police in this country are in a state of open warfare on the fellow citizens they’re paid to protect.

  67. 67.

    TooManyJens

    November 17, 2011 at 2:17 pm

    Hey, look, it turns out Obama never secretly killed the public option. Of course, to the conspiracy theorists, this will just mean that Jonathan Bernstein is in on it.

  68. 68.

    debit

    November 17, 2011 at 2:19 pm

    I have no words. Seriously.

    Former Arizona gubernatorial candidate found homeless in Ukraine

    http://news.yahoo.com/former-arizona-gubernatorial-candidate-found-homeless-ukraine-165953172.html

  69. 69.

    geg6

    November 17, 2011 at 2:19 pm

    @Poopyman:
    @Svensker:

    Thanks for the good thoughts. I know if I get through one, the rest will be fine. I have over a dozen more of these up until March 1, so I should get over the nerves over time. It’s the not knowing that makes me nervous.

  70. 70.

    Brachiator

    November 17, 2011 at 2:23 pm

    @geg6:

    Well, I have my first financial aid night at a local high school tonight.

    I’m sure you’ll be fine. Best of luck to you.

  71. 71.

    Platonicspoof

    November 17, 2011 at 2:29 pm

    If it feels good, do it.

    Occupy the Justice Department?

    H/T Jesse

  72. 72.

    R-Jud

    November 17, 2011 at 2:32 pm

    @J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford:

    Schaumburg. Figures.

  73. 73.

    Jay in Oregon

    November 17, 2011 at 2:36 pm

    From Elon James White, on the police reaction to OWS protests:
    http://twitter.com/elonjames/statuses/137241989417668608

    “Oh? The NYPD are treating you badly? Violent for no reason? Weird.” – Black People

  74. 74.

    Paul in KY

    November 17, 2011 at 3:40 pm

    @debit: I like how the poor guy says this woman he was never actually corresponding with wants to ‘continue their relationship’ when the first time she ever interacted with him in any way, shape, or form was when she met him at the hospital.

    She says he’s not really her type. Maybe he’ll find another one.

  75. 75.

    trollhattan

    November 17, 2011 at 3:40 pm

    It looks like CA’s Prop 8 will live on longer than expected. Another opportunity for Mormons to shovel money at lawyers.

    http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/11/california-supreme-court-issues-blow-to-gay-marriage-advocates.html

    [whoops, I see this farrr upthread @#15]

  76. 76.

    Gravenstone

    November 17, 2011 at 3:49 pm

    @Montysano: My stepfather has been heating our family home in NW Ohio with a woodstove alone for at least 25 yeears now. I forget exactly when our coal fired furnace crapped out (think I was still in HS, so late 70’s?). Wood stoves work fine, aside from the upkeep (cleaing ash). You have to try and pick your spots for cooling them down to allow for that.

  77. 77.

    4jkb4ia

    November 17, 2011 at 11:33 pm

    The legend of Tim Tebow continues.

    (I can read “#OWS Open Thread”)

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