Archive for June, 2010
Another Open Thread
I was lucky enough to remember to put the camera on the end table next to the chair, and caught these snaps. For those of you wondering what the wild and crazy decadent nights at Balloon Juice HQ look like, this is it: I can’t believe it was just a little over a year ago [...]
June 30, 2010
· 
John Cole · 
94 Comments
Posted in: Cat Blogging, Dog Blogging, Open Thread, Pet Rescue
Wednesday Night Open Thread
I have deemed you worthy: I think that sums up the general mood around here. We’ve had several beautiful days in a row- mid 70’s, sunny, no humidity, beautiful breezes. I’m loving it, and I love being able to have all the windows open with the ceiling fans on. Had a really good dinner- I [...]
June 30, 2010
· John Cole · 139 Comments
Posted in: Open Thread
Essential Ipad Apps
I’ve been tinkering around with the ipad, and I can’t quite figure out what it is supposed to do. Meaning- why an Ipad rather than a Macbook? Or, why an Ipad rather than an Ipod? Is it a size thing- because I just don’t mind carrying around a 17” macbook, which has so much more [...]
June 30, 2010
· John Cole · 228 Comments
Posted in: Science and Technology
Why Was This Ever Legal?
The title to this post says it all: The Securities and Exchange Commission on Wednesday tightened restrictions against “pay-to-play” practices in the municipal securities market. The measure was another attempt to close loopholes that agency officials said have allowed political influence to corrupt aspects of the $2.6 trillion public pension business. The five-member commission voted [...]
June 30, 2010
· John Cole · 49 Comments
Posted in: Free Markets Solve Everything
Please Explain
Can someone explain this reaction from Emptywheel: After prompting Kagan to deliver the standard justification for detaining enemy combatants during war and rewarding her with a condescending compliment, Lindsey starts by getting Kagan to agree that the war on terror will never end. Lindsey: [Speaking of her rote recitation of the basis for indefinite detention] [...]
June 30, 2010
· John Cole · 197 Comments
Posted in: Activist Judges!
Like I Said
Just got around to reading the Gerson piece DougJ linked to earlier, and I want to repost the part DougJ highlighted plus a little: But the Internet is also a permanent record, as Weigel found. His reaction to exposure was honest and admirable. He admitted to being “cocky” and “needlessly mean”—the kind of introspection that [...]
June 30, 2010
· John Cole · 56 Comments
Posted in: Clown Shoes, Our Failed Media Experiment
Kagan Hearings
Is anyone paying attention to these? Also, I just caught Tunch trying to escape again. Apparently he jumps up on a laundry hamper in my bedroom, and then pushes a screen open and jumps out the window. Devil.
June 30, 2010
· John Cole · 76 Comments
Posted in: Activist Judges!
But He Uses Pretty Words
Yesterday, Glenn Greenwald responded to Jeffrey Goldberg’s ridiculous “think about the Kurds” post hoc justification for the war in Iraq (which itself was Goldberg changing the topic from the accuracy of his pre-war reporting, which then led to the ridiculous spectacle of Eli Lake guest-posting for him to continue to attempt to make the Al [...]
June 30, 2010
· John Cole · 104 Comments
Posted in: Blogospheric Navel-Gazing, Our Failed Media Experiment
Well, We Did Do the Nose. And the Hat.
This never gets old: Reversing its oft-repeated position that it was acting only on behalf of its clients in its exotic dealings with the American International Group, Goldman Sachs now says that it also used its own money to make secret wagers against the U.S. housing market. A senior Goldman executive disclosed the “bilateral” wagers [...]
June 30, 2010
· John Cole · 33 Comments
Posted in: Assholes, Free Markets Solve Everything, Goldman Sachs
So wrong but so right
If I could turn this Michael Gerson idiocy into a post category I would: The Grown-Up Party, in my experience, is more like a seminar at the Aspen Institute—presentation by David Broder, responses from E.J. Dionne Jr. and David Brooks—on the electoral implications of the energy debate. Supporting torture is fine, as long as it’s [...]
June 30, 2010
· Angry DougJ · 63 Comments
Posted in: Burkean bells, We Are All Mayans Now
A Centrist Solution
Here’s Ezra’s gloss on the financial regulation compromise: So rather than a bank tax, which Scott Brown worried would take capital out of the banking system, we’re going to drop part of the TARP program that was … putting capital into the banking system. And rather than making big banks and big hedge funds foot [...]
June 30, 2010
· mistermix · 84 Comments
Posted in: 59-41 Senate Minority, Democratic Stupidity, Republican Stupidity
Late Night Open Thread: Vuvuzela!
This one’s for Randinho. (And thank goddess for subtitles.)
June 30, 2010
· Anne Laurie · 36 Comments
Posted in: Humor, Open Thread
Some Thoughts on Tuesday’s Games 6-29-10
Prior to today, I had watched all fifty-six games contested in their entirety. Unfortunately time constraints prevented me from watching any of the Japan v Paraguay game. Having followed it on The Guardian, it doesn’t appear I missed much. Please feel free to tell me what, if anything, I missed. Regardless of how one feels [...]
June 29, 2010
· Randinho · 57 Comments
Posted in: Sports
Open Thread
I contend there is nothing finer than fresh tomatoes with salt and pepper. Except maybe pets: I’d post a picture of Tunch, but I left the storage room in the basement open so I probably will not see him until tomorrow morning when he decides to wake me up for breakfast and has cobwebs strewn [...]
June 29, 2010
· John Cole · 134 Comments
Posted in: Open Thread
Funnier Words Were Never Spoken
So the Republicans succeeded in removing 19 billion in taxes on the banksters from finreg, which led John Carney to write this: The Republicans are expected to accept this deal. So funny.
June 29, 2010
· John Cole · 96 Comments
Posted in: Domestic Affairs
