Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Nothing says ‘pro-life’ like letting children go hungry.

The unpunished coup was a training exercise.

All hail the time of the bunny!

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

These are not very smart people, and things got out of hand.

“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.”

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

Jack Smith: “Why did you start campaigning in the middle of my investigation?!”

The current Supreme Court is a dangerous, rogue court.

Radicalized white males who support Trump are pitching a tent in the abyss.

Republicans in disarray!

Tick tock motherfuckers!

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

Sometimes the world just tells you your cat is here.

Fight them, without becoming them!

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

… gradually, and then suddenly.

When tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty. ~Thomas Jefferson

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

People identifying as christian while ignoring christ and his teachings is a strange thing indeed.

If you can’t control your emotions, someone else will.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Wednesday Morning Open Thread: Let the Games Begin

Wednesday Morning Open Thread: Let the Games Begin

by | 79 Comments

This post is in: ,


… with the ever-popular prologue event, Journalistic Carping. Strong opening contender Dan Wetzel, from Yahoo Sports:

… One of the great things about the Olympics is how the entire world comes together and immerses itself in the culture and way of life of the host city. This is a global community. It’s not supposed to be three weeks of opulence and seven-star hotels – unless you’re an IOC official or LeBron James, of course. It’s, hey, you’re in China, you’ll live a little like the Chinese.

Well, old Mother Russia has a treat for everyone.

You want a Soviet snapshot? How about a brilliant testament to soulless central planning, federal inefficiencies, widespread corruption and inexplicable architecture, such as the now famous double toilets…

Besides, a lot of the construction here is beyond spectacular and will play exceptionally well on global television broadcasts, which is the point of the entire operation. It stands to reason the competition facilities (which are what matter) will be fine. The Games will go on…

Right now everyone is laughing at Russia. From the photos going viral around the world to the snickering about an overambitious construction project falling short to the likelihood that posing in double toilet stalls will become the Sochi version of planking or Tebowing.

The only bright side for Putin is no one is talking about gay rights anymore. Or terrorism. Yet….

The Washington Post also helpfully collects a series of journalists’ “hilarious and gross hotel experiences“, such as:


***********
Apart from staring at our own mountains… of snow-melting chemicals, dammitIamsotiredofthiswinter… what’s on the agenda for the day?

Reader Interactions

79Comments

  2. 2.

    NotMax

    Have to admit that, unlike certain past Olympics, some of the mascots pass the cutesy-wutesy test.

    From the linked piece:

    The finalists were pared down from the first round of 24,000-plus submissions that was open to everyone.

    Among the more notable entrants that gained popularity in the blogosphere was “Pila,” or “Saw,” which poked fun at the rampant corruption that critics expect to plague Olympic construction. In Russian, stealing state money is described literally as “sawing the budget.”

  3. 3.

    Anne Laurie

    @ulee: Going to bed, very soon, thank you. I’m not employed (for money) so I can keep vampire hours (c2pm-6am).

  7. 7.

    geg6

    What a shit show the weather us here in Pittsburgh. We got about six inches of snow overnight and just in the last hour, it’s turned to freezing rain. Campus is closed until 10am, but I don’t think the guy will be here to plow the driveway by then. Thinking about just blowing off the whole day. I have at least 20 vacation days accumulated and I think I’ll use one.

  11. 11.

    MrSnrub

    Got laid off yesterday. Working on resume and contacting recruiters while hoping that we don’t lose power in the ice storm.

  12. 12.

    MattF

    Freezing rain here in the DC area this morning, so I’m pretty much stuck at home. As luck would have it, I’m just getting over a brief-but-intense cold, so I might not have gone to work anyhow.

  13. 13.

    NotMax

    Managed to sneak in a full mowing of the property on Tuesday between the rainstorms. Grass was 8 to 10 inches high.

    2+ hours on the riding mower leaves the arms with sympathetic vibrations for about 4 hours afterwards.

  14. 14.

    Schlemizel

    For some reason heroin dealers like to label their merchandise. The envelopes often have cutesy or clever logos and names on them and they change regularly so its not like they are trying to build brand loyalty. The label really tells you nothing about whats inside, it could be completely different from the last batch with the same label and/ot just the exact same crap as something with a different label.
    Its one of the odder things about the drug and its marketing.

  17. 17.

    Schlemizel

    @MrSnrub:

    Good luck. If headhunter calls to me are any indication the job market is the best its been in years. Not as good as it should be but better then a earlier in the decade.

  19. 19.

    OzarkHillbilly

    One guy seemed disturbed by a sign that said, “Please do not flush the toilet paper down toilet. Put in bin provided.” What, he thought they would replace the entire sanitary sewer system in Sochi just for a 3 week extravaganza? Grow up. Some places in Mexico the floor is the used toilet paper receptacle. At least they gave you a bin.

    I’m gonna hunker down these next few days: 4 inches of snow yesterday, 20 today, 0 tonight, 13 tomorrow, wash rinse repeat. Dog I am glad I don’t have to work outside anymore.

  23. 23.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @Schlemizel:

    Not as good as it should be…

    I’ve been watching Morning Joe, the obvious solution is more tax cuts and less regulation. Business doesn’t want to hire folk cause ObamaCare. The CBO shows that people will quit their jobs and live on the dole because of ObamaCare.
    /Morning Joe Idiocy

    Of course it can’t be the reason that businesses are not hiring at the rate we all might like to see is because people aren’t buying what they’re selling. Of course not.

  27. 27.

    NotMax

    @Ozark Hillbilly

    If it is a fogged windshield and not actual ice and frost, and the regular defroster is on the fritz, turn on the A/C and use the defroster setting for aiming where it will be blowing.

    Seems counter-intuitive, but by gum, it works. Two years living in St. Paul did teach me at least one thing.

  28. 28.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @raven: Yeah, a Wisnewski or something like that. Followed links from AL’s to a picture gallery. One pic was of a series of diagrams for the proper position for use of a toilet with an “X” thru all the improper positions. Truth be told, we need some of those signs over here, especially the one with an X thru someone squatting on top of the toilet.

    Can’t count the times I walked into a public bathroom in desperate need only to find that the seat of the one available toilet was covered in sh!t.

  29. 29.

    MrSnrub

    @Schlemizel: Thanks. I’m mostly optimistic, with a few minutes of all-out muppet panic mixed in every now and then.

    One recruiter is trying to get me an interview by Friday or Monday, so fingers crossed.

    They were assholes anyway.

  30. 30.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @NotMax: DOUBLE FWCK YOU!!!! Not actual ice grumble IT’S BELOW ZERO grumble TURN ON THE AC???? IT’S BELOW ZERO!!!! grumble grumble grumble

  31. 31.

    NotMax

    Didn’t see it mentioned, so:<blockquote Emerging from his lair on Super Bowl Sunday, groundhog Punxsutawney Phil couldn't predict the winner of the big game but his handlers said he was sure of his weather forecast: There will be six more weeks of winter. SourceFrom the same article (file under ‘No sh*t, Sherlock’):

    The National Climatic Data Center has put Phil’s forecasts to the test and found them sorely lacking, declaring the groundhog has “no predictive skill.”

    “It really isn’t a ‘bright’ idea to take a measure such as a groundhog’s shadow and use it as a predictive meteorological tool for the entire United States,” the data center says on its website, helpfully if somewhat obviously.

  32. 32.

    NotMax

    Darn, darn, darn. Format fix.

    Didn’t see it mentioned, so:

    Emerging from his lair on Super Bowl Sunday, groundhog Punxsutawney Phil couldn’t predict the winner of the big game but his handlers said he was sure of his weather forecast: There will be six more weeks of winter. Source

    From the same article (file under ‘No sh*t, Sherlock’):

    The National Climatic Data Center has put Phil’s forecasts to the test and found them sorely lacking, declaring the groundhog has “no predictive skill.”

    “It really isn’t a ‘bright’ idea to take a measure such as a groundhog’s shadow and use it as a predictive meteorological tool for the entire United States,” the data center says on its website, helpfully if somewhat obviously.

  33. 33.

    kindness

    California here. Could we borrow a cup or two of your winter please? We seem to have run out.

  35. 35.

    Phylllis

    The South Carolina system for responding to state agency request for bids/services is a nightmare to navigate.

    It’s not that I’m surprised, mind you. More the need to make my first rhetorical statement of the day.

  36. 36.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @NotMax: If Adam Wainwright sees his shadow on Pitcher and Catcher’s Day, does it mean 6 weeks until opening day?

    Yessss!

  37. 37.

    Tommy

    @OzarkHillbilly: Seeing some of the pitcher contracts in the off season it makes me wonder what the Cardinals are going to have to pay their young arms when their rookie contracts come up.

  38. 38.

    Tommy

    My gosh Russia looks like idiots. I mean the 60 Minutes story on the state of things was bleak. But the stories coming in are just sad. Watching ESPN and they are talking to somebody there and he said something like, “I just walked in my hotel, and that is a bold term for where I am.”

  39. 39.

    Tommy

    @kindness: You can have my winter, wish I could send you some. Foot of snow last night and 17. I like the fact I live in a place where I get summer, winter, spring, and fall. All four seasons in full force. But I want winter to end …. NOW!

  40. 40.

    gene108

    @Tommy:

    Seeing some of the pitcher contracts in the off season it makes me wonder what the Cardinals are going to have to pay their young arms when their rookie contracts come up.

    They will pay nothing.

    Let them go.

    Tap the farm system, which seems to be the best in the NL.

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    Truth be told, we need some of those signs over here, especially the one with an X thru someone squatting on top of the toilet.

    I guess not everyone has been properly potty trained, which I realized with my nephew is not intuitive.

    Squat toilets are still the norm in Asia, so people coming from Japan, China, etc. need to be reminded not to squat. I can understand that part of the sign.
    I
    The bottom two I don’t get. No fishing and no sitting and playing with toy airplanes near the toilet (what I interpret it to mean) are what I don’t get.

  41. 41.

    IowaOldLady

    @MrSnrub: Getting laid off is always painful. Most people wind up there at one time or other. I hope the new job hunt goes quickly.

  42. 42.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @Tommy: In all likelihood, for most they won’t. Who knows how well any one of them will pitch over the next 3 or 4 years but I suspect only one or two will get 5 year or less contracts before they hit the free agent market. As long as the rest are cost controlled and healthy they will be kept. But when the time comes they will be traded or given qualifying offers so the Cards get a draft pick when the Yankees or Red Sox or Dodgers give them the big money.

    The Cards are a small to medium market team. They will never get the big TV deal so they have to be smart with the money. Smart meaning bring players up thru the minors and save the money for the linchpin guys like Yadier Molina, and letting go guys hitting the big money that are almost past their prime, like Albert Pujols.

    Cost control is the name of the game for DeWitt and Mozeliak is good at it.

  43. 43.

    IowaOldLady

    We were on a river boat cruise in Russia a few years back, and ahead of time, the info said each room had its own “shower toilet,” which sounded much scarier than it turned out to be.

  44. 44.

    Tommy

    @gene108: I wouldn’t say the Cardinals are cheap. We have a $100M + payroll. But you head to ESPN and look at the salaries and many of our players are making less than $500,000 a year. Now agree that plays to what you said, our farm system, but you got to pay some of them.

    I mean Clayton Kershaw is a total stud, but the Dodgers are paying him a million dollars a start. I am all for players getting paid but my gosh that is out of control.

  45. 45.

    PurpleGirl

    @geg6: Good idea. Even before my back problems, I had trouble with winter mix (snow, sleet, freezing rain). At the non-profit I was able to keep one week of vacation time unused for bad weather. If I didn’t use those days before March I took them as vacation in March. It worked out just fine.

  46. 46.

    Tommy

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    Cost control is the name of the game for DeWitt and Mozeliak is good at it.

    Very good at it. Folks thought I was crazy when I said the Cardinals wouldn’t pay Albert. A forgone thought we’d pay him whatever he wanted. For a year I said nope and people laughed at me. Lucky I was right (which is rare I am right) and he has underperformed (to say the least) for his contract. You just can’t pay a quarter billion for the guy. Well any player.

  48. 48.

    MomSense

    I fucking hate our media. Are they incapable of reading comprehension? The CBO report doesn’t say what they fucking think it says.

    I don’t feel like mocking. I feel like throwing a trash can through their window.

  49. 49.

    Aimai

    @Schlemizel: sounds like typical marketing behavior to me. If you want to keep your customer base 1) keep creating new brands to differentiate an otherwise homogenous product. Make the consumer depend on your access and your supposed knowledge — drug sommelier crossed with taster–to guarantee the product is safe.

  50. 50.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @gene108: I wasn’t able to see the bottom 2 as they were partially blocked by some kind of BS. No fishing???? What is this world coming to?

  51. 51.

    Elizabelle

    @MomSense:

    They don’t live in the same world that needs Obamacare.

    The pendulum will swing back well before the midterms. All they have is obfuscation.

  54. 54.

    Elizabelle

    Amazing news that CVS will stop selling all tobacco products by October.

    …While the company’s decision will cost it an estimated $2 billion in sales from tobacco buyers, that is a mere dent in its overall sales of $123 billion in 2012.

    “We have about 26,000 pharmacists and nurse practitioners helping patients manage chronic problems like high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease, all of which are linked to smoking,” said Larry J. Merlo, chief executive of CVS. “We came to the decision that cigarettes and providing health care just don’t go together in the same setting.”

    …And as for driving away customers to competitors, Troyen A. Brennan, the executive vice president and chief medical officer for CVS, said: “It’s obvious that the average person will just find somewhere else to buy cigarettes. What we’re thinking about is if others want to emulate this business decision we’ve made, then over time that will make cigarettes less available — and scientific literature does suggest that a reduction in the availability of cigarettes reduces smoking.”

    I applaud courage, and this might be a very good business decision for them.

  55. 55.

    Elizabelle

    @MomSense:

    We’d have a better press if the laid-off ones got to report on healthcare and economic issues.

    Rest are a sack of Maria Bartiromos.

    People were surprised when Scott Pelley of CBS got the CBO/ACA story right.

    That’s effing pathetic.

  56. 56.

    Tommy

    @Elizabelle: No they do not. I always had healthcare, like from the womb until now. But it cost me an arm and a leg in the last few years when I started to work for myself and didn’t have employer insurance.

    I will keep saying this. I am paying almost $100 less per year and have better insurance.

    Let me say that again I am paying less for better coverage.

  58. 58.

    NotMax

    @Elizabelle

    Likely the decision is also related to the growth of online sales.

    Much as I prefer to support local businesses, the local chain here where I got my little filtered cigars (which was bought out by CVS not all that long ago, although kept the original name) lost my trade when I discovered that – including shipping cost – could buy a carton online for $45 less than what CVS was charging.

    Had it been a difference of five bucks or so, probably would have continued purchasing them locally. But saving forty-five smackers on each carton is simply too good a deal to pass by.

  60. 60.

    gene108

    @Tommy:

    I never meant to imply the Cards are cheap. They just have a really strong farm system, probably the strongest in the NL, so they do not need to overpay talent and get locked into long term deals that hurt the team as a player starts to break down in years 4-7.

    But you head to ESPN and look at the salaries and many of our players are making less than $500,000 a year.

    I think that’s the case with most teams. You have a few guys making $15M-$20M a year and bunch of guys making not so much.

  63. 63.

    Schlemizel

    @raven:
    I know some of the blotter came with cute designs but it didn’t seem to be a consistent thing. There have been runs of E that are unique shapes & colors so that is similar too. I just thought it was more consistent through the heroin trade & just a really odd thing to do.

  65. 65.

    Soprano2

    @gene108:
    Watching Kolten Wong play for the Springfield Cardinals two years ago I thought I would be seeing him play for the big Cards team. I’m looking forward to seeing what he can do.

    Whoever said the Cards have one of the strongest farm systems is right, I know that in watching the Springfield Cardinals this year I’m watching some players who will be in the majors two years from now. When I listen to the games sometimes I think I’m listening to Springfield because they have so many players I saw in preceding years. It’s quite fun.

    And yes, I want to use the hashtag #iamsosickofthiswinterdammit

  66. 66.

    rikyrah

    Super-Bowl Champions Russell Wilson and The Seattle SeaHawks What Does Black Crow Taste Like boys?
    By Desi Cortez Updated: February 4, 2014

    Being a Black man, I have to ponder if my charges and claims of 1967 type Alabama racism being but an inch beneath the collective skin of million upon millions . . . upon millions of Euro-Americans, WASP . . . i.e. White people all across America still today are valid and legit. Internet sports media websites and sports talk radio seem to more-than confirm the hostility and anger bubbling beneath the surface.

    Super Bowl 48 validated and confirmed what I’ve contended for most of my adult life . . . there’s little love for Black folks in this country. “Like” is even a term I’m reluctant to toss-around when it comes to “how” I believe most White folks honestly. truthfully, generally speaking feel about Black people. The term ‘respect” as in mutual respect is a concept I don’t believe most White folks, specifically Conservative (sexist/racist/ elitist) males refuse to entertain in relation to Blacks.

    There’s virtually nothing we can do to , dig this . . . earn their respect.

    Russell Wilson became the first QB to pass for at least 200 yards, 2 TDs and complete 70 percent of his passes, 3 runs for 26 yards, over 8 yards a carry on average . . . in a Super Bowl win without being named MVP. He had a 121 Qb rating . . . . Russell Wilson is the fourth quarterback to win a Super Bowl in his second NFL season, joining only Kurt Warner, Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger. Wilson, who has an NFL-record 28 wins in his first two pro seasons, and he threw no interceptions in the playoffs – nonetheless it’s as if he’s a sidebar/side note.

    http://blackathlete.net/2014/02/super-bowl-champions-russell-wilson-seattle-sea-hawks-black-crow-taste-boys/

  69. 69.

    Jebediah, RBG

    @rikyrah:

    The term ‘respect” as in mutual respect is a concept I don’t believe most White folks, specifically Conservative (sexist/racist/ elitist) males refuse to entertain in relation to Blacks.

    Somewhere under the surface, they recognize that they and their lives are pathetic. They have to find a way to feel superior to somebody – if you are morally and intellectually challenged, racism probably seems an easy way to get that.

  70. 70.

    CaseyL

    @rikyrah: I understand his angst, but Wilson did a terrific job, not a game-changing job. Smith is a better choice as MVP, with two interceptions making a critical difference (one he ran back for a touchdown). And Smith, as has been noted, is also black.

    Personal note: Here it is, one day before I start a new job, and I have come down with a cold. Of course. So my choice for tomorrow is: go in with a head full of snot and feeling miserable, or a head full of cold medicine and feeling high. (It is, so far, a mild cold – knock wood.)

    After I read those articles about how taking daily vitamins does no discernible good, I stopped taking them. Caught two colds in two months – I used to catch maybe two colds per year. So I think I’ll go back to taking the daily vitamins.

  72. 72.

    Tone In DC

    @rikyrah:

    The Wilson MVP snub wasn’t lost on me. Thing is, a long time ago, the Raiders’ Fred Biletnikoff won the Super Bowl XI MVP with four catches. No touchdowns.

    Only good thing I can say now is this… As I recall, Doug Williams won the MVP (against the 1987 Elway Broncos) way back in the day.

  74. 74.

    Mnemosyne

    @CaseyL:

    I think a lot of the angst is because the post-SB stories were all Peyton Manning’s stats were better! even though Manning’s team got frickin’ creamed. So I can understand why people would be like, Can’t a black QB get any respect around here?

  75. 75.

    Trollhattan

    @CaseyL:
    The ‘Hawks are my team, have been by team since entering the league. Hard to follow from sunny California unless they’re doing well enough to get airtime, but that’s not been a problem the last two seasons.

    And with that out of the way, as somebody steeped in all things Seahawks the likelihood of the SBMVP being a defensive player looked overwhelming going in and the way the game unfolded, became a certainty. The team revolves around relentless defense, elite special teams and an offence that takes care of the ball (as few turnovers as earthly possible). Wilson, his line, his receivers and the running backs took good care of the ball and importantly, didn’t struggle on third down. But the defense delivered the win. My MVP was Kam Chancellor, but what whadda ya gonna do?

    Wilson was solidly in the running for league MVP before slipping a bit the last four regular season games. Manning’s season made him the inevitable choice, regardless. Wilson’s now statistically the most successful second year QB in league history. He’ll get his shot at both crowns, believe it, because this team is probably returning at least once in the next two seasons. You know what else? He’s happy as hell for undrafted Malcolm Smith.

  77. 77.

    Yatsuno

    @CaseyL: Wait: Did I miss this happy news? I consider that entirely possible as I’ve been busier than a bee in summertime but CONGRATS!!! Now I feel kinda bad about moving away. Well not really, cause it is a HUGE step up in my career and it gets a damn telephone out of my ear. My co-workers are gonna hate me when I drop that bomb.

    Incidentally I’m going to a convention over there on the July 4th weekend. Meet-up?

    @Trollhattan: My personal choice was Cliff Avrill. He was up in Peyton’s face pretty much the whole damn game and also had a pick that changed the game. But honestly, it was over from the first snap. Which is good for the Seahacks…and kinda sad too.

  78. 78.

    Trollhattan

    @Yatsuno:
    I wouldn’t have argued against Avril–he’s been a great addition all season. Can you imagine coming from the 0-16 Lions to this?!? Holy crap.

  79. 79.

    Central Planning

    Anne Laurie:

    How about a brilliant testament to soulless central planning

    I’ve been called lots of things, but soulless? Ouch! :)

Comments are closed.