well now sonny, I can remember the days when we’d get one thread a day. And be thankful for it! Engraved every letter in marble with a toothpick and it was uphill both ways!
3.
J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford
Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin Live – Go!
4.
Sentient Puddle
ARAAARGGHHHAHGHHH
WTF was up with Cheryl Bernard’s last throw?! All she had to do was take out that yellow and Canada wins gold. But…no.
Now you got an 11th end, and probably lost it!
5.
General Egali Tarian Stuck
The bullshit piles up so deep out there, we need to grow threads to stay above it.
If you are a lover of Bach, you should check out a new album of unaccompanied violin music (sonatas and partitas) by Alina Ibragimova. Really nice stuff.
@asiangrrlMN: Despite how little snow there is here in NJ, there was actually less in Toronto so I did not bother to bring any home. If it makes you feel better, I also did not bring home the red Olympic mitten that my sister wanted. But again, it was not my fault that all the places I checked had sold out the week before. The most frustrating thing about the faux storm is that kennel closed early today so I have to wait til tomorrow to go get Ellie. Being dogless in ,y apartment is a very weird feeling.
10.
burnspbesq
When does NBC start showing Canada – Slovakia?
11.
Comrade Mary
@MattR: Matt, we have snow in Toronto now. Trust me.
12.
SiubhanDuinne
@burnspbesq
Bach makes life worth living. Many thanks for the lead, I’ll check it out.
13.
gbear
I spent the last two days driving solo for 14 hours to attend two 1 1/2 hour long meetings. Spent last night in a far NW MN town where everyone wears snowmobile jackets and the second song I hear on the restaurant jukebox was ‘Freebird’. I would have choked on my food but it hadn’t arrived yet.
Time to go catch up on the back threads…
14.
J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford
The Ricky Gervais Show and Real Time with Bill Maher are on HBO.
15.
rob!
I think from now on, any time John McCain enters a room, it should be preceded by someone yelling “Release the Kraken!”
16.
MattR
@Comrade Mary: What time did it finally start? I finally took off about 2:30 or so and there was still nothing. And, yes, I know I really should not be complaining that I managed to avoid the bulk of this massive storm and was able to fly home around it somehow.
Anyone try Bioshock 2 yet? I’ve played Bioshock and completely dug it, not only for the graphics and gameplay but also for the whole Randroid dystopia vibe and the cool and very well thought-out retro-future setting.
21.
El Cid
@J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford: When that podcast first came out, and was free, I thought I’d die laughing from those first 3 episodes.
Hyperion Records upgraded their website recently. You should be able to check it out there, and buy it as a set of CD-quality FLAC files if you like it.
23.
Morbo
@J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford: I will cross my fingers that HBO puts ep. 2 on Youtube as well. Ricky’s laugh is just hysterical.
EDIT: Shit, it is 9:30. Tomorrow’s bronze game is 10. Thanks for the correct, i would have missed the first period.
29.
Comrade Mary
@MattR: I woke up to heavy snow, more fell today, and I shovelled a foot off the front sidewalk an hour ago. Now that’s hardly the record setting snow a lot of the States has been getting, but by usual climactic standards, we call that a snowfall.
Still, I shouldn’t bitch. I’ll take a couple of small test rides on my usual tires before deciding about swapping to studs for Monday. Much of North America had to make that decision weeks or even months ago.
Still, I shouldn’t bitch. I’ll take a couple of small test rides on my usual tires before deciding about swapping to studs for Monday. Much of North America had to make that decision weeks or even months ago.
I would guess that most of North America doesn’t own snow tires.
@MattR: I hate grooming days when the 2 canines are absent. Makes me kind of tiptoe around the house mournfully. Woofie, our little big man terrier mix, gets very horny after a grooming session and tries to get ‘im some. Maggie, (who we lost last September) allowed it for a bit, but Sgt Mickey says no fuckin’ way. https://balloon-juice.com/2008/12/18/a-breather/
As an aside why is it that umlaut isn’t spelled with an umlaut? It just seems that it would be more appropriate if it were spelled ümlaut, or maybe ümläut, or perhaps even ümläüt.
40.
gbear
Oh God. I’m catching up on the internets and this is one of the first things I find. Is this old news? Gotta love those family values republicans…
I was pondering a question recently, and thought you folks might have some insight into it.
I have conservative friends, but none of them are full-blown bull-goose Glenn Beck loony. They’re pretty easygoing conservatives, folks who think Reagan was pretty keen and that taxes suck, folks who might have a bit more of a boner for the military than I do, but who generally share the same worldview. Thing is, they’re not very politically involved or aware. I’ll tell them “Oh, did you hear [Republican politician] said [outrageous bullshit]?” and they’ll reply “Geez, no, hadn’t heard about that. Boy, that’s a load of crap. Glad I’m not in his district.” Similarly, I’ll tell them about actual Democratic policy details, and they’ll shrug and go “Sure, that all sounds pretty reasonable, I just don’t want my taxes going up.”
Now, it’s not a requirement that people be political nerds like… well, most of us here. But is there an equivalent of people like us on the right? Let’s face it, most of us are not wild-eyed smash-the-system radicals, not 9-11 truthers or tree-spiking vandals. We’re politically aware and involved, we track voting records and keep up with the news, but we’re basically pretty moderate in our recommendations and grounded in consensus reality.
Everyone I see on the right is either like my friends, moderate but unaware, or… well, bugfuck Palinite crazy as shit. So the question is, are there people I’m not seeing? Are there blogs arguing for modest and reasonable conservative policies, and I’m just not aware of them? I mean, the easy answer is “No, the American right wing has gone so far around the bend that their policies can only be supported by the ignorant or the insane” but heck, I’m a liberal. I don’t trust easy answers.
47.
robertdsc
@eemom:
And they’re the ‘smart” people who have ALL the answers. Yeah.
Unless some kind of stupid miracle happens, no one is going to pull out the nuclear option right now. We’re stuck with things as they are.
Larison. Bruce Bartlett. And that’s pretty much it for consistently sane and sensible conservatives. Andrew has his lucid moments, but he can also bug out pretty comprehensively.
@Brad Hanon: I think the answer to that is twofold:
— The political center has moved so far to the right in this country in the last 40 years (and has been reinforced by a cowed media that doesn’t want to deal with shrieks of “bias”) that, while many of us consider ourselves “liberals,” and we are in the modern sense, our positions really aren’t that far “left,” so to speak.
— What we would perhaps see as “modest and reasonable conservative policies” are seen by the majority of the American right as “librul soshulizm.” The people proposing “modest and reasonable conservative policies” are considered moderates.
Friction is everything, but does not exist in outer space, as there is nothing there. Friction is curling. Friction is nuclear power. Friction is a healthy adult relationship. It’s everything man.
@RareSanity: You have The Flying Biscuit and Everybody’s dude. You’re pretty much set.
@wmsheppa: I think RedKitten is wishing for the final results as much as the opponents. And honestly if it was US-Slovakia I admit I’d be a bit let down. I want a rematch on the men’s side as well.
South Carolinians are breathing a sigh of relief that it wasn’t one of theirs.
63.
Yutsano
@RareSanity: Oh dude do I have stories about my trip to Georgia. One of them involves getting lost with the bride in the back hills of northern Georgia in a small white Chevy and having no idea where we were going. It’s pretty involved and I may be leaving here shortly so I’ll save it for now but it was quite an adventure.
64.
WaterGirl
@ajr22: I had the same thought about Get Smart when I was watching a couple of weeks ago! You are braver than I am, I almost posted that but was sure the idea would get shot down.
you’re not referring to THE Vienna Inn here in my own very Vienna, are you….?
69.
wmsheppa
@Yutsano: Oh I know RedKitten is rooting for final results more than for opponents. US/Slovakia would be a let down for sure.
I’m just thrilled the US is guaranteed to Medal… going into the Olympics a bronze sounded like a dark horse chance, so a shot at a Gold sounds amazing.
Besides I’m a Penguins fan, so if US/Canada rematch, as much as I’m rooting for the US, how bad is it for me if Canada wins?
I was going to embed a link with a photo, but I thought, “Nah…they’ll get it.”
That DID crack me up after our women won, and you could see the guys’ team looking on, and you could practically hear them doing the nervous “gulp!” from here.
71.
MattR
I was very surprised to learn how much more difficult it is to get a Canadian passport than it is to get one in the United States. Kinda interesting that the country that is supposedly so worried about terrorism only requires a birth certificate and a driver’s license. On the other hand, I can’t even remember all of the requirements for a Canadian passport but I know they include having an adult who has held a Canadian passport for five years and has known you for two years vouching for you. I was thinking about getting a Canadian passport but it really seems like too much of a hassle.
72.
Yutsano
@wmsheppa: I wouldn’t mind the Us-Canada gold game myself, as I’m American now but my family is Canadain going back well over 500 years. It’s the curse of being related to half of Quebec. And to RedKitten: this does NOT make me responsible for Bloc Quebecois!
@RedKitten: I admit it: I looked at the shot of the men’s team a bit more carefully after you said that and I laughed my ass off. Yeah that ain’t pressure right there noooo. This also makes me happy I dated a semi-pro hockey player from Canada once. He’d laugh off the pressure then swear like a sailor afterwards no matter how well he played. Oh and somehow he loved to tell me about the fights he got into, but he’s a big defenceman so he could handle it.
73.
RareSanity
To all of the Canadians, I must apologise.
I have to root for Slovakia because, honestly, I don’t think the U.S. can beat you guys twice…
Looks like Canada’s going to wreck these guys’ worlds worse than they did to the Russians.
76.
Sentient Puddle
@RedKitten: I don’t know, from where I was sitting, it looked like they totally choked in the 10th end. They had a good thing going for them…knocking all the Swedish stones out while keeping theirs in the house…and all they had to do was knock their second-to-last out and they win. And it looked like a pretty easy shot to me.
I don’t know, I might be wrong…everything I know about curling came over the course of the last two days. But still…
I wouldn’t mind the Us-Canada gold game myself, as I’m American now but my family is Canadain going back well over 500 years.
Yep. USA-Canada is a win-win for me too. Mom is from Winnipeg and Dad from North Dakota.
It’s the curse of being related to half of Quebec. And to RedKitten: this does NOT make me responsible for Bloc Quebecois!
At least you don’t have the shame of having common relatives with folks who used to own The New Republic, though they did have the common sense to sell it to Peretz.
I guess we’ll chalk the mother-in-law shtuppin’ to the heat.
Hate the football, though. I was a Midwest transplant to MS; left my football heart at Ohio State.
79.
wmsheppa
@RedKitten: Serious question: What would be worse, losing now and playing in the Bronze game (winning, let’s assume) or making it to the Gold game and losing to the US? Hypothetical of course… I’m really not sure which I’d be more upset at.
Umlauts! You had umlauts? Luxury, sheer bloody luxury!
I forgot to mention that we were living in a shoebox in the middle of the road at the time.
Heh. I knew instantly what clip you were linking to as soon as I saw “sheer bloody luxury!” One of my all-time favorites.
And, yeah, I have often wondered why umlaut is not spelled with an umlaut. It feels like it violates some “show and tell” rule.
81.
Yutsano
@MattR: I can at least say with confidence that I am NOT related to Celine Dion. I am, however, related to the Dionne quintuplets, so I guess there’s that at least.
@wmsheppa: It may be a serious question, but if that result happens you migt not be welcome north of the border. Just sayin’.
82.
ajr22
@WaterGirl: It has the goofy spy who always get the job done. Also the fake turrist cell bad guy “control” and “circle”
On the other hand, I can’t even remember all of the requirements for a Canadian passport but I know they include having an adult who has held a Canadian passport for five years and has known you for two years vouching for you.
It used to be even tighter. Up until 2007, your guarantor had to be from a list of approved categories of people, like clergy, doctors, notaries, etc.
And Yutsano, no problem. I’m probably related to half of Quebec as well, and definitely refuse to take any responsibility for the Bloc.
@RedKitten: I don’t know, from where I was sitting, it looked like they totally choked in the 10th end. They had a good thing going for them…knocking all the Swedish stones out while keeping theirs in the house…and all they had to do was knock their second-to-last out and they win. And it looked like a pretty easy shot to me.
No, I think you’re right. My husband was watching the game more closely than I was, and at one point he muttered, “For crissakes, how many chances do you NEED?”
85.
lamh31
This is cool, but I’m an HBCU alum, so I love this kinda stuff
@RedKitten: Serious question: What would be worse, losing now and playing in the Bronze game (winning, let’s assume) or making it to the Gold game and losing to the US? Hypothetical of course… I’m really not sure which I’d be more upset at.
Worse to me? Losing now. There’s really no shame in losing to you guys — you’ve got a good team, and one serious fucking brick wall of a goalie. Losing to you is a piss-off, but going in, we know it’s a distinct possibility. And even losing to the Russians is acceptable, because traditionally, they’re a hell of a tough team. But losing to anybody else is a serious blow.
I’m still surprised at the Swiss — they were some tough little nuggets, weren’t they?
You have the Flying Biscuit and Everybody’s, dude.
Man, I just got a twinge there. Moved out of Atlanta in ’05 and have been back only once. But I have lots of good eatin’ memories of the town. I’ll add El Torero, Jalisco and Rocky’s Brick Oven Pizza just off the top of my head. And Jagger’s over by Emory.
88.
Yutsano
@RedKitten: I’m trying to decide if it would be creepy or cool if we were distant cousins. Leaning towards very cool cause that would mean I’m related to SamKitten, and that would beyond rock.
My husband was watching the game more closely than I was, and at one point he muttered, “For crissakes, how many chances do you NEED?”
Considering that you’ve implied your other half is rather reserved, I take it your had whipped around when that came out?
@lamh31: The band geek in me considers that all kinds of awesome. Plus the HBCU band shows are nothing short of amazing. If I could have one wish it would be that other universities would be less stiff and do some more of the athletic stuff the HBCUs do. It really makes halftime a show not an extended bathroom break.
@RareSanity: I’m an Atlanta girl myself, as are several here. But you have to admit GA doesn’t exactly have a stellar reputation in politicians: Newt Gingrich, Phil Gingrey, Paul Broune, Zell Miller, Jack “Flag Pin” Kingston, Cynthia McKinney, that mayor we had that the FBI took away, Lester Maddox etc etc. Plus the double-blackguard Saxby Shameless Chambliss. Even living in town as I do, I cross paths with a lot of knuckle draggers. But yes, Atlanta is another world from the rest of the state.
93.
MattR
@RedKitten: Yikes. And yet the moron customs agent made it sound like I could just waltz into the consulate in NYC and take care of it. The only reason I really want the passport is to have proof of citizenship with an up to date photo instead of one with a photo from when I was 5.
94.
wmsheppa
@RedKitten: Fair enough. For what it’s worth, I would feel absolutely no shame in losing to you guys. I had also never realized how terrifying it is to have Crosby bearing down on your goalie until last Sunday… glad he plays for my guys normally.
The Swiss were absolutely terrifying. No one ever gives those guys enough credit. What they might lack in offensive talent they make up for in defensive discipline and amazing goaltending. I honestly would have rather played a team like Slovakia, the Czeck Republic, or the Finns in the quarters. The last two Olympics the Swiss have flown under the radar and caused/nearly caused some serious damage.
@Yutsano: Not at all. The man can curse like a sailor. He’s just reserved when one first meets him. Once you get to know him, you realize how incredibly warped he is.
And you never know about the cousins part. Hell, the Acadians and the Quebecois DID all originate from the same country way back when, so anything’s possible when you go back far enough.
97.
Brick Oven Bill
Light travels straight in outer space because there is no friction. But here, on earth, it bends because we have friction. This is why, if you want to spear a fish, one must aim low.
Refraction comes to us from the Greeks, namely Ptolemy. The Greeks were very smart to have come up with all of this stuff.
So it is perhaps fitting that the Greeks again lead the world into the next phase of the human experience, the 21st Century bankruptcy of Western democracies. Should be very interesting. Hold on to your cream puffs!
Yeah, I know. I thought things were cool with Shirley Franklin as Mayor…I don’t think it will be long before one of the alphabets starts looking at her.
99.
Yutsano
@Steeplejack: Oops. Guess that caused a couple of head turns. Terrible English, my bad. The bride in question wasn’t mine, but she is a very dear old friend from college who I’ve known and stuck by forever. In fact it was funny making her future husband sweat after the wedding after the reception. It was me and four of her male friends (one was a huge Marine who was unfortunately straight) and we surrounded him and gently reminded him that if he didn’t treat her right there would be consequences. I have very dark hair and can get very creepy when I want to, so it was like I was a Mafia don telling a suitor to take care of his daughter. He sweat pretty heavy at that. It was hilarious.
@Brick Oven Bill: Physics called. They want their facts back please. Kthxbai.
@RedKitten: Fair enough. For what it’s worth, I would feel absolutely no shame in losing to you guys. I had also never realized how terrifying it is to have Crosby bearing down on your goalie until last Sunday… glad he plays for my guys normally.
We’re pretty proud of our boy here in N.S., that’s for certain. :)
101.
MattR
@RareSanity: At least y’all don’t live in New Jersey. (You can even add Fred Armisen doing his David Patterson impression if you want.)
102.
Admiral_Komack
Republicans Shut Down Transportation Dept.
I just got word from a source on the Hill (yes, I have sources) that Jim Bunning’s obstructionism has blocked the release of Highway Trust Fund money for the next 30 days, consequently, the Department of Transportation will have to basically shut down and its employees furloughed.
This is all just breaking now. Stand by for updates.
Adding… This on top of Bunning blocking the extension of unemployment benefits. What the hell is going on? And why aren’t the Democrats screaming about this?
I’m just a few miles from the Biscuit – mmmm. Everybody’s I don’t get – mediocre pizza and the place smells like stale beer. Mojo’s in Oakhurst has great pizza. Love Fontaines in VaHi. There’s some good food in the south for sho.
BTW I want the long version of your Deliverance-esque experience in North GA! :)
Yeah, “The Marching Machine” doesn’t quite get down like y’all. I would give our band the grade of “respectable”.
However, you cannot take my MEAC over SWAC pride…bitches! LOL
109.
Parole Officer Burke
Are there blogs arguing for modest and reasonable conservative policies, and I’m just not aware of them?
Wait, I thought that this blog did that . . .
110.
Yutsano
Okay I’m tired of waiting for my damn brother to get home. I need sustenance. Be back soon.
111.
Comrade Mary
Holy shit, did anyone else see the trainwreck that was the men’s 500m short track skate? Let’s just say that the winner went across the finish line spinning like a top, the silver medallist slid through on his belly, and the bronze medallist careened into the stands well before the finish line.
“When we talk about the speed of light, we’re usually talking about the speed of light in a vacuum, which is 3.00 x 108 m/s. When light travels through something else, such as glass, diamond, or plastic, it travels at a different speed. The speed of light in a given material is related to a quantity called the index of refraction, n, which is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to the speed of light in the medium.”
These men look at the outcome, which is all well and good. But what makes light slow down? It is the same thing that slows you down as you run through the swimming pool, chased by perhaps someone’s mom. This thing is friction.
Electromagnetic friction is more complex than mass-on-mass friction, but the effect is the same.
@RareSanity: Ah well, don’t fret. GA still produced Allman Brothers, Dixie Dregs, R.E.M., the B-52’s, James Brown, Otis Redding, Black Crowes. Now those names we can be proud of.
ETA: oh! I was referring to Bill Campbell – the guy before Shirley. Hope she’s not in trouble – I thought she was a pretty good mayor!
You ever eat at R. Thomas, late night? Great food, especially after drinking all night. It’s right by Rocky’s.
Been there for sure. We used to have a “Movie Night” group that would meet every Wednesday to see some indie/foreign movie, and if we went to the Peachtree Hills Cinema we would often end up at R. Thomas for late-night eats drinks, eats and cinematic deconstruction.
Man, I am getting homesick for Atlanta. Got to get down there this year.
@burnspbesq: The link didn’t work but I listed to part of the album Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin. Very very beautiful. I’m buying the album on ITunes. Thanks burnspbesq.
ETA: oh! I was referring to Bill Campbell – the guy before Shirley. Hope she’s not in trouble – I thought she was a pretty good mayor!
Different sides of the same coin…
Campbell’s indiscretions were mostly financial, Franklin’s were a little bit more damaging to the community. I still hear the radio commercial she did with John Lewis and Al Sharpton awhile back extolling the return of Jim Crow and the KKK if, FSM forbid, a white person was elected Chairman of the Fulton County Commission.
I’m pulling for Slovakia — not because I have anything against Canada, but because I tend to like underdogs. Aslo Budaj, the back-up goalie, is the Av’s backup goalie. (Avs are my team)
Besides how can you not pull for a team with a player named Satan? I seriously want a Satan Bruin’s jersey.
131.
scav
bah! Clearly a bunch of elitist liberal arugula-smoking fascist monarchists round here. Umlauts! Cedillas! REAL ‘mercans got poorly whittled and mispelled aeious under their darned burlap stockings, not these fancy nancy diacriticals.
132.
Comrade Mary
@Steeplejack: Ha! He had a sheepish smile on his face as he crossed the finish line just behind the winner. I think he knew how this was going to work out.
E-mC^2 equates energy and mass, which makes sense. But bending light? Not really. It for sure will not help you spear a fish.
136.
wmsheppa
@jacy: Yeah, I have mixed feelings on Satan… had flashes of brilliance and flashes of suck with the Pens. Hard to root against an underdog like the Slovaks, but I really want the rematch and unless I have a really good reason I can’t root against Crosby…
Slovaks could get some lucky bounces though and get back in this. We’ll see what happens in the 3rd.
Don’t nobody I know use no words wit dat many vowels
‘zackly. Thaz why dem REAL ‘mercans gonna only leave us wid IOUs cauz datz all we-uns need!
138.
Yutsano
@Brick Oven Bill: It’s official: BoB is off his meds. There’s a little Jewish man with wild hair who would like to have a very long lecture talk with you.
Just to add, the grad student is an idiot as well, so it follows that you would reference him.
How the hell can you take seriously someone who is using Newton’s assumptions about gravity to disprove Einstein, when the basis of Relativity is that Newton’s assumptions were wrong?
143.
MattR
@RareSanity: I believe that is called the “I’m rubber, you’re glue” argument.
One thing is for sure, BoB is either certifiably insane, or the undisputed heavyweight champion of spoofs…
145.
scav
RareSanity, that way danger lies. You’re attempting to interact with RarerSanity, perhaps HypotheticalSanity, or to give it chapter and verse, NeverBeenObservedSanity. Do not follow BoB down that wormhole.
146.
Andrea
RedKitten
I’m still surprised at the Swiss—they were some tough little nuggets, weren’t they?
Every time I saw them, I’d go into Sharks season ticket holder mode and think, “Hiller’s doing to (insert other country name here) what he and the Ducks did to the Sharks last spring.”
Satan HAS to end his NHL career with the Devils. And someone at Yahoo has a sense of humor with the URL for his profile
The hilarious thing is that the guy actually even LOOKS like a movie version of Satan. Stick a pair of horns on the guy and he’d be spot-on.
Well, we won, but that was a little too close for comfort. That’s a little nerve-wracking, but maybe it’ll serve to remind our guys not to be complacent.
151.
wmsheppa
@Yutsano: I think the pressure on the Canadian men’s team is going to be insane after the women won yesterday. I think the US pulls it out as the more balanced (offense and defense) team, but it’ll be a hell of a game. If Finland doesn’t get its act together Slovakia is going to walk to the Bronze tomorrow though…
@RedKitten: It is a crime that Satan never played for the Devils… any way we can make that happen?
152.
Yutsano
@RedKitten: I expect tomorrow to be a spirited hard-hitting game. There may or may not be a few cheap shots, it would be irresponsible not to speculate after all. I sure hope the Canadians come in hungry, if for no other reason than they would have a very hard time living it down if the women beat the US and they don’t. Yeah I think I’m psyched here. I may go get a milkshake now.
The hilarious thing is that the guy actually even LOOKS like a movie version of Satan. Stick a pair of horns on the guy and he’d be spot-on.
Cause or effect? If you went to a foreign country and found out your last name meant “devil” in their language wouldn’t you go the extra mile to look the part.
155.
burnspbesq
That was nearly a collapse for the ages.
156.
Yutsano
I know it’s a replay but watching Ohno skate is like watching a master paint. I’m really glad he decided to come back for these games, he’s been hella fun to watch.
157.
Morbo
Agh, the new Atlantic design forces me to look at their personalities’ ugly mugs now!
158.
Anne Laurie
@lamh31: My blue-veined-pasty Scottish ancestors thoroughly APPROVE of your drumlines, ma’am. Throw in a couple sets of bagpipes, and you’ll never need buy your own drinks again!
This on top of Bunning blocking the extension of unemployment benefits. What the hell is going on? And why aren’t the Democrats screaming about this?
Used correctly this could really point out how crazy the rules of the senate are, and why reform is needed. Sadly is, I doubt that the democrats will be able to do that.
160.
Yutsano
@Peter J: The ironic point is the concept of unanimous consent was designed to get Senate business moving even smoother. Otherwise there would be cloture motions and thirty hour debates on, well, everything.
So I’ve been wondering when we expect the next movement on health care. Wonkette links this remarkably clear-headed and spin-free article from the WSJ that seems to indicate it could be earlier than I would have expected. It cites Robert Gibbs as saying that the White House will put up “a way forward” on health care on Monday. I assume this means “the White House comes up with a schedule for doing the reconciliation thing, because up until now the House and Senate have just been pointing at each other and saying ‘no, you go first'”. Since no Republicans have stepped forward to trade a vote for a tort reform plan, if a plan’s being put forward as early as monday then it basically has to include a timetable for a reconciliation bill. The article also contains this interesting bit:
Gibbs would not say whether the president would support the use of reconciliation to pass the legislation, but said the procedure has been used repeatedly, including for health care legislation. He pointed to Cobra, which allows people to keep employer-sponsored coverage after leaving a company, which was passed through reconcilation. The acronym Cobra stands for Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconcilation Act. “So the notion that health care hasn’t been done this way … is not accurate,” Gibbs said.
This comment is interesting to me mostly because of how specific it is, it seems to indicate someone on the Democratic communication staffs has been thinking a lot about how to sell this.
I am not convinced that light is affected by gravity.
I’m not convinced that you and Glenn Beck are affected by gravity. I think we should confirm whether or not you are by dropping you from the roof of a very tall building to confirm whether or not my hypothesis is correct.
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MikeJ
Canuckistani women’s curling!
scav
well now sonny, I can remember the days when we’d get one thread a day. And be thankful for it! Engraved every letter in marble with a toothpick and it was uphill both ways!
J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford
Glenn Beck and Sarah Palin Live – Go!
Sentient Puddle
ARAAARGGHHHAHGHHH
WTF was up with Cheryl Bernard’s last throw?! All she had to do was take out that yellow and Canada wins gold. But…no.
Now you got an 11th end, and probably lost it!
General Egali Tarian Stuck
The bullshit piles up so deep out there, we need to grow threads to stay above it.
eemom
Hey, FDL, Why Don’t You Shut The Fuck Up?
http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2010/02/26/hey-new-york-times-why-dont-you-tell-the-senate-to-just-pass-the-house-health-bill/
Just a thought.
burnspbesq
If you are a lover of Bach, you should check out a new album of unaccompanied violin music (sonatas and partitas) by Alina Ibragimova. Really nice stuff.
jeffreyw
Getcher hot dressing heeyuh! Hot dressing heeyuh!
MattR
@asiangrrlMN: Despite how little snow there is here in NJ, there was actually less in Toronto so I did not bother to bring any home. If it makes you feel better, I also did not bring home the red Olympic mitten that my sister wanted. But again, it was not my fault that all the places I checked had sold out the week before. The most frustrating thing about the faux storm is that kennel closed early today so I have to wait til tomorrow to go get Ellie. Being dogless in ,y apartment is a very weird feeling.
burnspbesq
When does NBC start showing Canada – Slovakia?
Comrade Mary
@MattR: Matt, we have snow in Toronto now. Trust me.
SiubhanDuinne
@burnspbesq
Bach makes life worth living. Many thanks for the lead, I’ll check it out.
gbear
I spent the last two days driving solo for 14 hours to attend two 1 1/2 hour long meetings. Spent last night in a far NW MN town where everyone wears snowmobile jackets and the second song I hear on the restaurant jukebox was ‘Freebird’. I would have choked on my food but it hadn’t arrived yet.
Time to go catch up on the back threads…
J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford
The Ricky Gervais Show and Real Time with Bill Maher are on HBO.
rob!
I think from now on, any time John McCain enters a room, it should be preceded by someone yelling “Release the Kraken!”
MattR
@Comrade Mary: What time did it finally start? I finally took off about 2:30 or so and there was still nothing. And, yes, I know I really should not be complaining that I managed to avoid the bulk of this massive storm and was able to fly home around it somehow.
MattR
@gbear:
Heh. The first song I heard when I finally made it to the gate and sat down was “Every Rose Has It’s Thorn”. I just barely managed to avoid laughing.
kommrade reproductive vigor
This week Doug Gansler (Maryland’s Attorney General) and the D.C. Court of Appeals made the fReichtards cry.
Oh dear! I sure hope this doesn’t make local bigots flock to Virginia!
Heh.
MikeJ
@J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford: But those will both be on on demand, and comedy is better appreciated after dinner and magic comedy enhancement.
Wile E. Quixote
Anyone try Bioshock 2 yet? I’ve played Bioshock and completely dug it, not only for the graphics and gameplay but also for the whole Randroid dystopia vibe and the cool and very well thought-out retro-future setting.
El Cid
@J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford: When that podcast first came out, and was free, I thought I’d die laughing from those first 3 episodes.
burnspbesq
@SiubhanDuinne:
Hyperion Records upgraded their website recently. You should be able to check it out there, and buy it as a set of CD-quality FLAC files if you like it.
Morbo
@J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford: I will cross my fingers that HBO puts ep. 2 on Youtube as well. Ricky’s laugh is just hysterical.
Sentient Puddle
I’d like to note:
@Sentient Puddle:
I FUCKING CALLED IT.
Elisabeth
@burnspbesq:
9:30 is whatever hockey calls the kick-off. :)
(edit: face-off?)
MikeJ
I wonder if there is anybody here who can compare and contrast Vienna Inn and Po Dogs?
gbear
@MattR: Ooohh Yes, that song is a groaner too.
wmsheppa
@burnspbesq: Canada/Slovakia is 10 PM eastern.
EDIT: Shit, it is 9:30. Tomorrow’s bronze game is 10. Thanks for the correct, i would have missed the first period.
Comrade Mary
@MattR: I woke up to heavy snow, more fell today, and I shovelled a foot off the front sidewalk an hour ago. Now that’s hardly the record setting snow a lot of the States has been getting, but by usual climactic standards, we call that a snowfall.
Still, I shouldn’t bitch. I’ll take a couple of small test rides on my usual tires before deciding about swapping to studs for Monday. Much of North America had to make that decision weeks or even months ago.
Morbo
Obligatory repost of Hammerfall curling video
harlana peppper
Shameless plug:
For anyone in the western NC/upstate SC area who needs guitar repair, custom made guitars or antique restoration. . .
Steeplejack
@scav:
I still remember the Christmas when I got a set of vowels and an umlaut in my stocking.
ajr22
Watched a few episodes of Chuck per Mr. Cole’s req. Kinda entertaining, sorta reminds me of get smart.
AhabTRuler
@kommrade reproductive vigor:
Way too fucking late, my friends, as that ship has sailed.
J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford
@MikeJ:
I already ate dinner…
Comrade Mary
Oh man, I thought we had women’s curling in the bag. Fuckitty …
(One consolation: I was amazed to find out tonight that if I enter “curling” in Google, the first hit was the current score of tonight’s games.)
MattR
@Comrade Mary:
I would guess that most of North America doesn’t own snow tires.
SIA
@MattR: I hate grooming days when the 2 canines are absent. Makes me kind of tiptoe around the house mournfully. Woofie, our little big man terrier mix, gets very horny after a grooming session and tries to get ‘im some. Maggie, (who we lost last September) allowed it for a bit, but Sgt Mickey says no fuckin’ way. https://balloon-juice.com/2008/12/18/a-breather/
Wile E. Quixote
@Steeplejack:
Umlauts! You had umlauts? Luxury, sheer, bloody luxury!
As an aside why is it that umlaut isn’t spelled with an umlaut? It just seems that it would be more appropriate if it were spelled ümlaut, or maybe ümläut, or perhaps even ümläüt.
gbear
Oh God. I’m catching up on the internets and this is one of the first things I find. Is this old news? Gotta love those family values republicans…
J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford
@Morbo:
Monkey News
Elisabeth
@Wile E. Quixote:
But can you pronounce the multiple umlauted umlaut? (I’m too lazy to put umlauts in.)
Comrade Mary
@MattR: Fine. “Most of North America that keeps riding their bikes in the winter when they are in an area that usually gets snow.” All 23 of us.
Yutsano
@Elisabeth: I think it’s mock Finnish. Or something like that.
SIA
@gbear: Of course it had to be a GA politician.
Brad Hanon
I was pondering a question recently, and thought you folks might have some insight into it.
I have conservative friends, but none of them are full-blown bull-goose Glenn Beck loony. They’re pretty easygoing conservatives, folks who think Reagan was pretty keen and that taxes suck, folks who might have a bit more of a boner for the military than I do, but who generally share the same worldview. Thing is, they’re not very politically involved or aware. I’ll tell them “Oh, did you hear [Republican politician] said [outrageous bullshit]?” and they’ll reply “Geez, no, hadn’t heard about that. Boy, that’s a load of crap. Glad I’m not in his district.” Similarly, I’ll tell them about actual Democratic policy details, and they’ll shrug and go “Sure, that all sounds pretty reasonable, I just don’t want my taxes going up.”
Now, it’s not a requirement that people be political nerds like… well, most of us here. But is there an equivalent of people like us on the right? Let’s face it, most of us are not wild-eyed smash-the-system radicals, not 9-11 truthers or tree-spiking vandals. We’re politically aware and involved, we track voting records and keep up with the news, but we’re basically pretty moderate in our recommendations and grounded in consensus reality.
Everyone I see on the right is either like my friends, moderate but unaware, or… well, bugfuck Palinite crazy as shit. So the question is, are there people I’m not seeing? Are there blogs arguing for modest and reasonable conservative policies, and I’m just not aware of them? I mean, the easy answer is “No, the American right wing has gone so far around the bend that their policies can only be supported by the ignorant or the insane” but heck, I’m a liberal. I don’t trust easy answers.
robertdsc
@eemom:
And they’re the ‘smart” people who have ALL the answers. Yeah.
Unless some kind of stupid miracle happens, no one is going to pull out the nuclear option right now. We’re stuck with things as they are.
burnspbesq
@Brad Hanon:
Larison. Bruce Bartlett. And that’s pretty much it for consistently sane and sensible conservatives. Andrew has his lucid moments, but he can also bug out pretty comprehensively.
SIA
@burnspbesq: I am, and will. Do you have a link to any cuts?
wmsheppa
@burnspbesq: Really at everyone else too… who do you like? Slovakia or Canada?
Yutsano
@wmsheppa: GOOOOO CANADA!!
Kobie
@Brad Hanon: I think the answer to that is twofold:
— The political center has moved so far to the right in this country in the last 40 years (and has been reinforced by a cowed media that doesn’t want to deal with shrieks of “bias”) that, while many of us consider ourselves “liberals,” and we are in the modern sense, our positions really aren’t that far “left,” so to speak.
— What we would perhaps see as “modest and reasonable conservative policies” are seen by the majority of the American right as “librul soshulizm.” The people proposing “modest and reasonable conservative policies” are considered moderates.
RedKitten
Ah, that’s a damn shame about the women’s curling, but Sweden just played smarter, so what are you gonna do? No shame in losing to them.
Now, let’s hope that our men’s hockey team plays like a bunch of girls. ;)
Yutsano
@RedKitten: I saw what you did there. :)
Brick Oven Bill
Friction is everything, but does not exist in outer space, as there is nothing there. Friction is curling. Friction is nuclear power. Friction is a healthy adult relationship. It’s everything man.
Friction.
RareSanity
@SIA:
I wanted to be offended by this…since I live in Atlanta, I guess I could be.
Georgia is just different, Atlanta is one of the most progressive cities in the country. But everywhere else, not so much.
wmsheppa
@Yutsano: If for no other reason, a US/Canada rematch on Sunday in the Gold Medal match? That would be a great game…
burnspbesq
@SIA:
Try this.
http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/a.asp?a=A1677
Yutsano
@RareSanity: You have The Flying Biscuit and Everybody’s dude. You’re pretty much set.
@wmsheppa: I think RedKitten is wishing for the final results as much as the opponents. And honestly if it was US-Slovakia I admit I’d be a bit let down. I want a rematch on the men’s side as well.
RareSanity
@Yutsano:
Don’t forget J. Christopher’s…
I don’t venture far outside of the metro area…it’s scary.
burnspbesq
Back in a while. The kid must be chauffeured.
Elisabeth
@RareSanity:
South Carolinians are breathing a sigh of relief that it wasn’t one of theirs.
Yutsano
@RareSanity: Oh dude do I have stories about my trip to Georgia. One of them involves getting lost with the bride in the back hills of northern Georgia in a small white Chevy and having no idea where we were going. It’s pretty involved and I may be leaving here shortly so I’ll save it for now but it was quite an adventure.
WaterGirl
@ajr22: I had the same thought about Get Smart when I was watching a couple of weeks ago! You are braver than I am, I almost posted that but was sure the idea would get shot down.
RareSanity
@Elisabeth:
It’s the curse of the South.
Great weather, great football and mother-in-law shtupping politicians….
CalD
Ezra Klein just zinged George Will…
…like a fish in a barrel.
RareSanity
@Yutsano:
Sounds like a script for “I Shouldn’t Be Alive!”…
eemom
@MikeJ:
you’re not referring to THE Vienna Inn here in my own very Vienna, are you….?
wmsheppa
@Yutsano: Oh I know RedKitten is rooting for final results more than for opponents. US/Slovakia would be a let down for sure.
I’m just thrilled the US is guaranteed to Medal… going into the Olympics a bronze sounded like a dark horse chance, so a shot at a Gold sounds amazing.
Besides I’m a Penguins fan, so if US/Canada rematch, as much as I’m rooting for the US, how bad is it for me if Canada wins?
RedKitten
@Yutsano:
I was going to embed a link with a photo, but I thought, “Nah…they’ll get it.”
That DID crack me up after our women won, and you could see the guys’ team looking on, and you could practically hear them doing the nervous “gulp!” from here.
MattR
I was very surprised to learn how much more difficult it is to get a Canadian passport than it is to get one in the United States. Kinda interesting that the country that is supposedly so worried about terrorism only requires a birth certificate and a driver’s license. On the other hand, I can’t even remember all of the requirements for a Canadian passport but I know they include having an adult who has held a Canadian passport for five years and has known you for two years vouching for you. I was thinking about getting a Canadian passport but it really seems like too much of a hassle.
Yutsano
@wmsheppa: I wouldn’t mind the Us-Canada gold game myself, as I’m American now but my family is Canadain going back well over 500 years. It’s the curse of being related to half of Quebec. And to RedKitten: this does NOT make me responsible for Bloc Quebecois!
@RedKitten: I admit it: I looked at the shot of the men’s team a bit more carefully after you said that and I laughed my ass off. Yeah that ain’t pressure right there noooo. This also makes me happy I dated a semi-pro hockey player from Canada once. He’d laugh off the pressure then swear like a sailor afterwards no matter how well he played. Oh and somehow he loved to tell me about the fights he got into, but he’s a big defenceman so he could handle it.
RareSanity
To all of the Canadians, I must apologise.
I have to root for Slovakia because, honestly, I don’t think the U.S. can beat you guys twice…
Evelyn
I’m in the middle of running tech for a show, and I probably shouldn’t be on the internet, reading political blogs, and missing my cues. Sigh.
Kobie
Looks like Canada’s going to wreck these guys’ worlds worse than they did to the Russians.
Sentient Puddle
@RedKitten: I don’t know, from where I was sitting, it looked like they totally choked in the 10th end. They had a good thing going for them…knocking all the Swedish stones out while keeping theirs in the house…and all they had to do was knock their second-to-last out and they win. And it looked like a pretty easy shot to me.
I don’t know, I might be wrong…everything I know about curling came over the course of the last two days. But still…
MattR
@Yutsano:
Yep. USA-Canada is a win-win for me too. Mom is from Winnipeg and Dad from North Dakota.
At least you don’t have the shame of having common relatives with folks who used to own The New Republic, though they did have the common sense to sell it to Peretz.
Elisabeth
@RareSanity:
I guess we’ll chalk the mother-in-law shtuppin’ to the heat.
Hate the football, though. I was a Midwest transplant to MS; left my football heart at Ohio State.
wmsheppa
@RedKitten: Serious question: What would be worse, losing now and playing in the Bronze game (winning, let’s assume) or making it to the Gold game and losing to the US? Hypothetical of course… I’m really not sure which I’d be more upset at.
Steeplejack
@Wile E. Quixote:
I forgot to mention that we were living in a shoebox in the middle of the road at the time.
Heh. I knew instantly what clip you were linking to as soon as I saw “sheer bloody luxury!” One of my all-time favorites.
And, yeah, I have often wondered why umlaut is not spelled with an umlaut. It feels like it violates some “show and tell” rule.
Yutsano
@MattR: I can at least say with confidence that I am NOT related to Celine Dion. I am, however, related to the Dionne quintuplets, so I guess there’s that at least.
@wmsheppa: It may be a serious question, but if that result happens you migt not be welcome north of the border. Just sayin’.
ajr22
@WaterGirl: It has the goofy spy who always get the job done. Also the fake turrist cell bad guy “control” and “circle”
RedKitten
It used to be even tighter. Up until 2007, your guarantor had to be from a list of approved categories of people, like clergy, doctors, notaries, etc.
And Yutsano, no problem. I’m probably related to half of Quebec as well, and definitely refuse to take any responsibility for the Bloc.
RedKitten
@Sentient Puddle:
No, I think you’re right. My husband was watching the game more closely than I was, and at one point he muttered, “For crissakes, how many chances do you NEED?”
lamh31
This is cool, but I’m an HBCU alum, so I love this kinda stuff
First Ever Drumline at the White House from Virginia State University
RedKitten
@wmsheppa:
Worse to me? Losing now. There’s really no shame in losing to you guys — you’ve got a good team, and one serious fucking brick wall of a goalie. Losing to you is a piss-off, but going in, we know it’s a distinct possibility. And even losing to the Russians is acceptable, because traditionally, they’re a hell of a tough team. But losing to anybody else is a serious blow.
I’m still surprised at the Swiss — they were some tough little nuggets, weren’t they?
Steeplejack
@Yutsano:
Man, I just got a twinge there. Moved out of Atlanta in ’05 and have been back only once. But I have lots of good eatin’ memories of the town. I’ll add El Torero, Jalisco and Rocky’s Brick Oven Pizza just off the top of my head. And Jagger’s over by Emory.
Yutsano
@RedKitten: I’m trying to decide if it would be creepy or cool if we were distant cousins. Leaning towards very cool cause that would mean I’m related to SamKitten, and that would beyond rock.
Considering that you’ve implied your other half is rather reserved, I take it your had whipped around when that came out?
@lamh31: The band geek in me considers that all kinds of awesome. Plus the HBCU band shows are nothing short of amazing. If I could have one wish it would be that other universities would be less stiff and do some more of the athletic stuff the HBCUs do. It really makes halftime a show not an extended bathroom break.
RareSanity
@Elisabeth:
Looks like just the opposite, I think you took Ohio State’s heart with you.
…zing!
Just a little southern football humor… :-p
eastriver
@Wile E. Quixote:
Ah, I remember the Christmas I got my first cedilla. Took me hours to find it because Santa left it UNDER my stocking! That sçamp.
Steeplejack
@Yutsano:
The bride? Your bride? [Jon Stewart voice] Do tell.
SIA
@RareSanity: I’m an Atlanta girl myself, as are several here. But you have to admit GA doesn’t exactly have a stellar reputation in politicians: Newt Gingrich, Phil Gingrey, Paul Broune, Zell Miller, Jack “Flag Pin” Kingston, Cynthia McKinney, that mayor we had that the FBI took away, Lester Maddox etc etc. Plus the double-blackguard Saxby Shameless Chambliss. Even living in town as I do, I cross paths with a lot of knuckle draggers. But yes, Atlanta is another world from the rest of the state.
MattR
@RedKitten: Yikes. And yet the moron customs agent made it sound like I could just waltz into the consulate in NYC and take care of it. The only reason I really want the passport is to have proof of citizenship with an up to date photo instead of one with a photo from when I was 5.
wmsheppa
@RedKitten: Fair enough. For what it’s worth, I would feel absolutely no shame in losing to you guys. I had also never realized how terrifying it is to have Crosby bearing down on your goalie until last Sunday… glad he plays for my guys normally.
The Swiss were absolutely terrifying. No one ever gives those guys enough credit. What they might lack in offensive talent they make up for in defensive discipline and amazing goaltending. I honestly would have rather played a team like Slovakia, the Czeck Republic, or the Finns in the quarters. The last two Olympics the Swiss have flown under the radar and caused/nearly caused some serious damage.
RareSanity
@lamh31:
Me too…
NC A&T, you?
@Steeplejack:
You ever eat at R. Thomas, late night? Great food, especially after drinking all night. It’s right by Rocky’s.
RedKitten
@Yutsano: Not at all. The man can curse like a sailor. He’s just reserved when one first meets him. Once you get to know him, you realize how incredibly warped he is.
And you never know about the cousins part. Hell, the Acadians and the Quebecois DID all originate from the same country way back when, so anything’s possible when you go back far enough.
Brick Oven Bill
Light travels straight in outer space because there is no friction. But here, on earth, it bends because we have friction. This is why, if you want to spear a fish, one must aim low.
Refraction comes to us from the Greeks, namely Ptolemy. The Greeks were very smart to have come up with all of this stuff.
So it is perhaps fitting that the Greeks again lead the world into the next phase of the human experience, the 21st Century bankruptcy of Western democracies. Should be very interesting. Hold on to your cream puffs!
RareSanity
@SIA:
**(hangs head in shame)**
Yeah, I know. I thought things were cool with Shirley Franklin as Mayor…I don’t think it will be long before one of the alphabets starts looking at her.
Yutsano
@Steeplejack: Oops. Guess that caused a couple of head turns. Terrible English, my bad. The bride in question wasn’t mine, but she is a very dear old friend from college who I’ve known and stuck by forever. In fact it was funny making her future husband sweat after the wedding after the reception. It was me and four of her male friends (one was a huge Marine who was unfortunately straight) and we surrounded him and gently reminded him that if he didn’t treat her right there would be consequences. I have very dark hair and can get very creepy when I want to, so it was like I was a Mafia don telling a suitor to take care of his daughter. He sweat pretty heavy at that. It was hilarious.
@Brick Oven Bill: Physics called. They want their facts back please. Kthxbai.
RedKitten
@wmsheppa:
We’re pretty proud of our boy here in N.S., that’s for certain. :)
MattR
@RareSanity: At least y’all don’t live in New Jersey. (You can even add Fred Armisen doing his David Patterson impression if you want.)
Admiral_Komack
Republicans Shut Down Transportation Dept.
I just got word from a source on the Hill (yes, I have sources) that Jim Bunning’s obstructionism has blocked the release of Highway Trust Fund money for the next 30 days, consequently, the Department of Transportation will have to basically shut down and its employees furloughed.
This is all just breaking now. Stand by for updates.
Adding… This on top of Bunning blocking the extension of unemployment benefits. What the hell is going on? And why aren’t the Democrats screaming about this?
http://www.bobcesca.com/blog-archives/2010/02/gop_obstruction.html#comments
SIA
@Yutsano:
I’m just a few miles from the Biscuit – mmmm. Everybody’s I don’t get – mediocre pizza and the place smells like stale beer. Mojo’s in Oakhurst has great pizza. Love Fontaines in VaHi. There’s some good food in the south for sho.
BTW I want the long version of your Deliverance-esque experience in North GA! :)
lamh31
@ RareSanity
Southern University at Baton Rouge, home of the Southern University Marching Band, the Human Jukebox! and the Baddest Band in All The Land
eastriver
@Brick Oven Bill:
You, sir, are a dolt.
Cream puffs, indeed.
MattR
@eastriver:
More like pie.
J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford
You know, Reihan Salam is horseshit. Christ almighty does he suck ass.
RareSanity
@lamh31:
Yeah, “The Marching Machine” doesn’t quite get down like y’all. I would give our band the grade of “respectable”.
However, you cannot take my MEAC over SWAC pride…bitches! LOL
Parole Officer Burke
Wait, I thought that this blog did that . . .
Yutsano
Okay I’m tired of waiting for my damn brother to get home. I need sustenance. Be back soon.
Comrade Mary
Holy shit, did anyone else see the trainwreck that was the men’s 500m short track skate? Let’s just say that the winner went across the finish line spinning like a top, the silver medallist slid through on his belly, and the bronze medallist careened into the stands well before the finish line.
Brick Oven Bill
Well, my friend Yutsano, consider these amateurs:
“When we talk about the speed of light, we’re usually talking about the speed of light in a vacuum, which is 3.00 x 108 m/s. When light travels through something else, such as glass, diamond, or plastic, it travels at a different speed. The speed of light in a given material is related to a quantity called the index of refraction, n, which is defined as the ratio of the speed of light in vacuum to the speed of light in the medium.”
These men look at the outcome, which is all well and good. But what makes light slow down? It is the same thing that slows you down as you run through the swimming pool, chased by perhaps someone’s mom. This thing is friction.
Electromagnetic friction is more complex than mass-on-mass friction, but the effect is the same.
Heat. Excited atoms.
And eventually a spent beam of light.
RedKitten
@Comrade Mary: No, I didn’t see that! Crazy!
SIA
@RareSanity: Ah well, don’t fret. GA still produced Allman Brothers, Dixie Dregs, R.E.M., the B-52’s, James Brown, Otis Redding, Black Crowes. Now those names we can be proud of.
ETA: oh! I was referring to Bill Campbell – the guy before Shirley. Hope she’s not in trouble – I thought she was a pretty good mayor!
Elisabeth
@RareSanity:
heh. Tim Tebow still sucks.
JaMarcus Russell, too.
:)
RareSanity
@Brick Oven Bill:
Albert Einstein and his Theory of Relativity would disagree…you tool.
Steeplejack
@RareSanity:
Been there for sure. We used to have a “Movie Night” group that would meet every Wednesday to see some indie/foreign movie, and if we went to the Peachtree Hills Cinema we would often end up at R. Thomas for late-night eats drinks, eats and cinematic deconstruction.
Man, I am getting homesick for Atlanta. Got to get down there this year.
Steeplejack
@Brick Oven Bill:
You’re still a douchebag. Ptolemy would neck-punch you in a
New YorkAlexandria minute.RareSanity
@SIA:
Don’t forget Outkast…that makes me feel better…
@Elisabeth:
Oh my goodness, you can NOT speak ill of St. Timothy…await your lightning bolt! /snark
JaMarcus does suck, fat bastard. I’m surprised he hasn’t eaten Al Davis by now.
RareSanity
@Steeplejack:
If you ever do, we’ll have to round up @SIA and @Micheal D and have a meet up.
Sentient Puddle
@Brick Oven Bill:
Gravitation is still an acting force in space. Ever hear of black holes?
SIA
@burnspbesq: The link didn’t work but I listed to part of the album Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin. Very very beautiful. I’m buying the album on ITunes. Thanks burnspbesq.
ETA wrong comment, should be #7 @ 8:53
kommrade reproductive vigor
@eastriver: Now that, was brilliant.
Steeplejack
@Comrade Mary:
“Show me on the doll where Apollo Ono touched you.”
Steeplejack
@RareSanity:
I’m down wid dat.
SIA
@Steeplejack: @RareSanity: Yes, and S. Duinne, demo woman, maybe mom anon? We have a pretty good gaggle of Atlanta folks here at BJ.
Elisabeth
@Steeplejack:
He’s a little young for me but I’m game.
RareSanity
@SIA:
Different sides of the same coin…
Campbell’s indiscretions were mostly financial, Franklin’s were a little bit more damaging to the community. I still hear the radio commercial she did with John Lewis and Al Sharpton awhile back extolling the return of Jim Crow and the KKK if, FSM forbid, a white person was elected Chairman of the Fulton County Commission.
jacy
@Elisabeth:
dropping of the puck :)
jacy
@wmsheppa:
I’m pulling for Slovakia — not because I have anything against Canada, but because I tend to like underdogs. Aslo Budaj, the back-up goalie, is the Av’s backup goalie. (Avs are my team)
Besides how can you not pull for a team with a player named Satan? I seriously want a Satan Bruin’s jersey.
scav
bah! Clearly a bunch of elitist liberal arugula-smoking fascist monarchists round here. Umlauts! Cedillas! REAL ‘mercans got poorly whittled and mispelled aeious under their darned burlap stockings, not these fancy nancy diacriticals.
Comrade Mary
@Steeplejack: Ha! He had a sheepish smile on his face as he crossed the finish line just behind the winner. I think he knew how this was going to work out.
RareSanity
@scav:
hmph…nice try librul! Don’t nobody I know use no words wit dat many vowels…
Elisabeth
@jacy:
Thanks! I was going to go with “puck-off” but figured that wasn’t it. :)
Brick Oven Bill
I am not convinced that light is affected by gravity.
E-mC^2 equates energy and mass, which makes sense. But bending light? Not really. It for sure will not help you spear a fish.
wmsheppa
@jacy: Yeah, I have mixed feelings on Satan… had flashes of brilliance and flashes of suck with the Pens. Hard to root against an underdog like the Slovaks, but I really want the rematch and unless I have a really good reason I can’t root against Crosby…
Slovaks could get some lucky bounces though and get back in this. We’ll see what happens in the 3rd.
scav
@RareSanity:
‘zackly. Thaz why dem REAL ‘mercans gonna only leave us wid IOUs cauz datz all we-uns need!
Yutsano
@Brick Oven Bill: It’s official: BoB is off his meds. There’s a little Jewish man with wild hair who would like to have a very long
lecturetalk with you.AhabTRuler
Don’t we all…
</best name evar>
RareSanity
@Brick Oven Bill:
You are using as proof that light does not bend in space, an “answer” from some random website, posted by a grad student?
You are ten kinds of stupid…
wmsheppa
@AhabTRuler: Wow, I sure walked into that one.
RareSanity
@Brick Oven Bill:
Just to add, the grad student is an idiot as well, so it follows that you would reference him.
How the hell can you take seriously someone who is using Newton’s assumptions about gravity to disprove Einstein, when the basis of Relativity is that Newton’s assumptions were wrong?
MattR
@RareSanity: I believe that is called the “I’m rubber, you’re glue” argument.
RareSanity
@MattR:
One thing is for sure, BoB is either certifiably insane, or the undisputed heavyweight champion of spoofs…
scav
RareSanity, that way danger lies. You’re attempting to interact with RarerSanity, perhaps HypotheticalSanity, or to give it chapter and verse, NeverBeenObservedSanity. Do not follow BoB down that wormhole.
Andrea
RedKitten
Every time I saw them, I’d go into Sharks season ticket holder mode and think, “Hiller’s doing to (insert other country name here) what he and the Ducks did to the Sharks last spring.”
Satan HAS to end his NHL career with the Devils. And someone at Yahoo has a sense of humor with the URL for his profile
http://sports.yahoo.com/nhl/players/666
wmsheppa
@jacy: One out… Slovakia is at least making this interesting. After what they did against the Swiss, are you really surprised?
Yutsano
@Andrea: He’s kind of an ugly mug too. Not someone I would leave my hottie blond cousin alone with for sure.
@wmsheppa: And with that, the parallel with the women is complete. Suddenly I can’t wait until tomorrow!
mr. whipple
“I am not convinced that light is affected by gravity.”
LOL.
RedKitten
The hilarious thing is that the guy actually even LOOKS like a movie version of Satan. Stick a pair of horns on the guy and he’d be spot-on.
Well, we won, but that was a little too close for comfort. That’s a little nerve-wracking, but maybe it’ll serve to remind our guys not to be complacent.
wmsheppa
@Yutsano: I think the pressure on the Canadian men’s team is going to be insane after the women won yesterday. I think the US pulls it out as the more balanced (offense and defense) team, but it’ll be a hell of a game. If Finland doesn’t get its act together Slovakia is going to walk to the Bronze tomorrow though…
@RedKitten: It is a crime that Satan never played for the Devils… any way we can make that happen?
Yutsano
@RedKitten: I expect tomorrow to be a spirited hard-hitting game. There may or may not be a few cheap shots, it would be irresponsible not to speculate after all. I sure hope the Canadians come in hungry, if for no other reason than they would have a very hard time living it down if the women beat the US and they don’t. Yeah I think I’m psyched here. I may go get a milkshake now.
jacy
@wmsheppa:
Well, they made it a game in the end at least. Thought for a split second that last shot went in.
Now I’ll have to switch allegiences again and root for Canada :)
MattR
@RedKitten:
Cause or effect? If you went to a foreign country and found out your last name meant “devil” in their language wouldn’t you go the extra mile to look the part.
burnspbesq
That was nearly a collapse for the ages.
Yutsano
I know it’s a replay but watching Ohno skate is like watching a master paint. I’m really glad he decided to come back for these games, he’s been hella fun to watch.
Morbo
Agh, the new Atlantic design forces me to look at their personalities’ ugly mugs now!
Anne Laurie
@lamh31: My blue-veined-pasty Scottish ancestors thoroughly APPROVE of your drumlines, ma’am. Throw in a couple sets of bagpipes, and you’ll never need buy your own drinks again!
Peter J
@Admiral_Komack:
Used correctly this could really point out how crazy the rules of the senate are, and why reform is needed. Sadly is, I doubt that the democrats will be able to do that.
Yutsano
@Peter J: The ironic point is the concept of unanimous consent was designed to get Senate business moving even smoother. Otherwise there would be cloture motions and thirty hour debates on, well, everything.
mcc
So I’ve been wondering when we expect the next movement on health care. Wonkette links this remarkably clear-headed and spin-free article from the WSJ that seems to indicate it could be earlier than I would have expected. It cites Robert Gibbs as saying that the White House will put up “a way forward” on health care on Monday. I assume this means “the White House comes up with a schedule for doing the reconciliation thing, because up until now the House and Senate have just been pointing at each other and saying ‘no, you go first'”. Since no Republicans have stepped forward to trade a vote for a tort reform plan, if a plan’s being put forward as early as monday then it basically has to include a timetable for a reconciliation bill. The article also contains this interesting bit:
This comment is interesting to me mostly because of how specific it is, it seems to indicate someone on the Democratic communication staffs has been thinking a lot about how to sell this.
Wile E. Quixote
@Brick Oven Bill:
I’m not convinced that you and Glenn Beck are affected by gravity. I think we should confirm whether or not you are by dropping you from the roof of a very tall building to confirm whether or not my hypothesis is correct.