Overrated: GA-6's importance as an electoral bellwether.
Underrated: GA-6's impact on whether AHCA gets passed.https://t.co/JIJnRLShgV— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) June 20, 2017
… Here’s the thing, though: Sometimes dumb things matter if everyone agrees that they matter. Congressional Republicans could use a signal of any kind right now to coordinate their strategy around two vexing issues: first, their health care bill, and second, their behavior toward President Trump and the investigations surrounding him. Whatever direction Republicans take on these questions, they will find some degree of strength in numbers. Republicans would probably be less afraid of publicly rebuking Trump, for instance — and becoming the subject of a @realDonaldTrump tweetstorm or Trump-backed primary challenge — if other GOPers were doing the same.
The Georgia 6 outcome might trigger some herd behavior among Republicans, therefore, changing the political environment in the weeks and months ahead. A loss for Handel would probably be interpreted by the GOP as a sign that the status quo wasn’t working. If even a few members of Congress began taking the exit ramp on Trump and the American Health Care Act, a number of others might follow. A win, conversely, would have a morale-boosting effect; Republicans would probably tell themselves that they could preserve their congressional majorities by turning out their base, even if some swing voters had abandoned them…
In either case, the narrative that emerges from the Georgia 6 runoff will lack nuance and will oversimplify complex evidence. While special elections overall are a reasonably useful indicator in forecasting upcoming midterms, their power comes in numbers. A half-dozen special elections taken together are a useful sign; any one of them is less so. But we’re at a moment when Republicans have a lot of decisions to make now, and the story they tell themselves about the political environment matters as much as the reality of it. The narrative will probably be dumb, but it might matter all the same.
Gonna be a long night for the results-watchers, regardless.
Apart from that, what’s on the agenda for the evening?
Ossoff: "It's all going to come down to turnout." pic.twitter.com/Oz5jIjTFiq
— Gabriel Debenedetti (@gdebenedetti) June 19, 2017
.@JasonKander, in town for @Ossoff, to volunteers: "You know the whole country's watching." No pressure!
— Gabriel Debenedetti (@gdebenedetti) June 19, 2017
GOP chair in #GA06 thinks the Scalise shooting will "win this election for us." What a warped way to think. https://t.co/4Yn7OunpSH pic.twitter.com/S2Zgul3nHL
— Emily C. Singer (@CahnEmily) June 19, 2017
The lesson for future Dems: Run on moderation and deficit reduction and be called a black bloc terrorista anyway https://t.co/i25l5mGEh4
— Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) June 19, 2017
Karen Handel tells the reporter who was assaulted by a politician that the press is to blame for lack of civility https://t.co/aG5oYPCzTm
— Pema Levy (@pemalevy) June 20, 2017
TenguPhule
Drinking. Again.
Villago Delenda Est
I mean, duh, Jon. Turnout is pretty much the whole shebang.
JPL
Areas in Chamblee and Doraville which are democratic received four to five inches of rain today, which has cause some localized flooding.
piratedan
Jon Ossoff could have cured cancer and the GOP would have spun it as detrimental to health care jobs. You gotta D as you’re party affiliation, you might as well run as Satan, Incarnate because that’s who they think you are.
Major Major Major Major
It’s not even 2:30 over here, don’t taunt us left coasters with an ‘evening’ open thread.
Yutsano
I’m nervous because I don’t trust the Georgia election system worth a damn. I especially don’t trust that the current Secretary of State won’t put thumbs on scales wherever possible for the former one.
Having said that, if Osoff does score a win, no matter how narrow…BOOM.
lamh36
Alright, if the Lord says the same, next summer, I’m gonna go overseas to London and maybe Paris. Gonna start planning next month and in March, I’m gonna pay for everything then. Gonna try to take my nephew as a graduation present!!! My sis acting funny bout it, but I told her…no one says she can’t come too, but I’m paying for me and the nephew, and if she wants to go, then she needs to save her funds too…
He shouldn’t miss out, just cause she can’t go.
Time to plan, and then to start saving!!!
Cool…next month, I’ll be doing some research, ya know VISAs, whatnot, pricing (I know the summer is a busy tourist season), hotels (it’ll be his first overseas tour, and I’d like reasonable spending, but I do love a GOOD hotel. By planning in advance and saving money now…I’m hoping to get as much comfort for my buck…
In March, I’ll be getting a 2nd sign on bonus, and it’s a good bit of funds, so it plus whatever I save until then…will go a LONG way.
I may even put off my yearly November birthday vacation…maybe…depending on money and time…
rikyrah
He should feel no shame, because he’s run a helluva campaign, top to bottom.
rikyrah
@lamh36:
You are a good Auntie, lamh :)
JPL
@lamh36: Sweet!
tobie
@JPL: Oh c’mon, Spaghetti Monster. You can’t hate Dems that much! Why can’t it pour where the Repugs live?
JPL
According to the AJC on makeup of early voters
That’s not good.
SatanicPanic
@piratedan: That would be rad. I want to do that.
JPL
@tobie: Since I voted early, it would have been quite lovely to have that much rain fall on the precincts near me.
MisterForkbeard
I’m skeptical of GA-06. Mostly because there’s been a ton of time for republicans to ratfvck Ossoff and the election apparatus in general.
Would love to see an Ossoff win, but honestly I just don’t think it’s likely. In some areas (and apparently the whole country for Presidential votes) it doesn’t matter how amazing the Democrat is and how awful the Republican is, people will vote for the Republican Just Because.
eclare
@lamh36: Awesome! I’m sure you’ll get lots of recommendations and advice from people here!
SatanicPanic
If he loses I am moving to Canada because we are doomed. DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMED
ETA- truthfully though we shouldn’t make jokes- I know it’s going to hurt a lot of people if the AHCA is repealed. I just don’t really buy that they’ll stop the vote if Ossof loses.
Mnemosyne
@lamh36:
Nice! G and I have started tossing around the idea of a trip to London. Neither of us has ever traveled overseas, and his aunt said it was a good “starter city” for noobs like us. ☺️
JPL
@MisterForkbeard: With the events today and the last week in general, I’m beginning to think that it’s not close. I mentioned that he could lose by ten, or win by two.
Now the good news in my thinking, was when I was working the polls in the first race, I wasn’t sure he would get forty percent, so the forty-eight percent was a shock.
eclare
@Mnemosyne: Just remember to look the other way first when you cross the street….
Mnemosyne
@MisterForkbeard:
People seem to forget that it’s not just Democrats who see this race as a possible bellwether. It’s national Republicans, too. That’s why they’ve spent something like $12 million on Handel’s campaign.
It would be nice to win, but counting coup by making it a squeaker and making the Republicans sweat is not without value.
zhena gogolia
@Mnemosyne:
Just looking at that woman’s face makes me wish I’d sent Ossoff more cash.
dmsilev
@eclare: London helpfully has signs painted on a lot of the street crossings telling tourists which way to look. And yes, it’s a great city to visit. Can be expensive though; worth looking around for deals on lodging (if you’re within walking distance of a Tube station, you can go just about anywhere, which helps; you don’t need to stay right in the city center).
eclare
@dmsilev: Used to live there a gazillion years ago…still was hard to break that habit. And it is a great city to visit because once you get to the city center, most of the tourist sites are close together.
Tilda Swintons Bald Cap
I got nothin’
ksmiami
Handel is repulsive. If people vote for her they get what they deserve. I’m tired of coddling stupid weak willed white people. I will help those who have no voice, who did not vote for our current predicament, but for the moron salt of the earth guys who voted GOP. Fuck you with a rusty cheesegrater. Just die off already
David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch
Bernie Wouldna Retired
Major Major Major Major
Today over lunch I picked up a cheap flight to New York for the week around labor day, and discovered also that I have an extra week of vacation I seem to have forgotten about, so I’m feeling pretty good. Definitely hoping for an Ossoff win!
Enhanced Voting Techniques
The last three special elections showed a massive blue shift in the last few months and the GOP could care less. Why is this one any differant? As was shown in California – the GOP could get hounded by the voters out of even being a significant minorty party in congress and they will still try the same old shit, reality doesn’t matter to them.
David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch
R.I.P. Chuck McGill
Mnemosyne
@Enhanced Voting Techniques:
Oh, the GOP cares. That’s why they’re fighting tooth and nail and spending money like it’s water.
I fully expect several red states to pass new voter suppression laws between now and 2018 as well.
Betty Cracker
@lamh36: How exciting! And what a great auntie you are!
Tom
What is this left wing extremism of which Mr or Ms Carver speaks?
Yutsano
@Mnemosyne: They’re spending money hand over fist. They’re worried. And rightly so.
Mnemosyne
Has anyone made Miss Bianca and any other Colorado musical fans aware that the out-of-town tryouts of the Frozen musical start in Denver on August 17th?
I am a little sad that the Mighty Oak did not retain his part as Kristof through the final casting (he was apparently part of the workshopping) but they stayed committed to nontraditional casting for the show and that role. Yay!
ThePandemoniac
This is the house seat that spawned Gingrich. ctrl-C from steve kornacki: GOP margins in GA-6 House races:
1992 +16, 94 +28, 96 +16, 98 +42, 00 +50, 02 +60, 06 +45, 08 +37, 12 +30, 14 +32, 16 +24
This has been a SOLIDLY red district for almost 40 years. This is through Iran-contra convictions, GHWB’s lip reading, GWB’s first recession and war, GWB’s Ginormous recession, They went +37 DURING the greatest recession EVER. I’m supposed to worry if this seat doesn’t flip? REALLY? really? LMAO.
? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?
@Mnemosyne: Which is stupid on their part. All this and the continued mendacity of Trump and the GOP in general is going to continue to piss people off. What do they think is going to happen when people can’t vent their frustrations at the system through fair democratic means? If they make voting and protesting nearly impossible then more incidences like last week will sadly happen. This isn’t even taking into account when the effects of the AHCA come home to roost.
All these weak-tea half-measures by them at playing at being a police state are only going to cause more instability. Either go the full jackboot or go home, because it won’t work (indefinitely).
Yutsano
@ Goku (aka Junior G-Man) :
It doesn’t have to be indefinite. Just until the next election cycle. The Repugs honestly can’t see anything beyond that these days.
D58826
as we wait for the election returns a moment of levity that only Twitter can deliver. There is a tread that is discussing all thing Texas a&m. At one point the topic turned to Rick Perry and his degree.
to which Paul Begala responded
And I might add from personal observation that as a kid we had a tank full of guppies with PHD’s in animal breeding
https://twitter.com/PaulBegala/status/877276794617028608
Mnemosyne
@? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?:
They think that liberals and leftists are too weak and cowardly to protest.
Yes, I used that word on purpose. But they’re still bitterly clinging to that assumption.
frosty
@lamh36: We went to London Normandy and Paris 3 years ago with our 2 sons. Stayed in air bnbs which worked out well. Good locations, kitchen, and separate bedrooms for the price of one hotel room.
Major Major Major Major
@Tom:
Well, one time somebody punched a Nazi, you see.
cosima
@lamh36: Come to Scotland. It’s epic. A few weekends ago Little Cosima was swimming in the ocean near Pennan and I was thinking she has to be the luckiest kid around. We’re not rolling in money by any stretch of the imagination, but just getting out & about in Scotland we’ve had the most amazing adventures. Scotland is wild in ways that you cannot find in England. Wales is amazing — wild, and the castles are astonishing (I have castle fatigue here in Scotland — they’re everywhere — but Wales, wow).
It’s wonderful that you’re willing to give your nephew the opportunity. Travel is magic.
Icelandair is a fabulous way to get between the US & the UK — do check them out. If you can be flexible about when you come (end of May or end of August) you can squeak in before or after the most expensive times. It is so expensive to come here May, June or July — completely nuts, and so many more people.
tesslibrarian
@lamh36: That is great! You will love it, and so will your nephew!
Due to my husband’s work, we have been in Paris once or twice per year for several years now, so let me know if you’d like any tips. (He doesn’t always work in Paris, but somehow, that’s where we end up, because he’s not allowed to go to conferences in Europe without me. :-) We often stay overnight for a day or two in London before going on to Paris, sometimes by Eurostar, sometimes flying.
The biggest tip I have for Paris is the Museum Pass. It covers 2, 4, or 6 days (starting the date you put on the back of the pass), and while it does save money if you want to hit all the major sites (d’Orsay, Arc de Triomphe), it more importantly puts you at the front of the lines at all these places. Musée d’Orsay, for example, has a separate entrance if you have the pass. It’s useful when we’ve travelled there, typically off season or on the edges of it, so I suspect it will be of even greater value if you plan a summer trip.
Major Major Major Major
@lamh36: I keep my eyes on The Flight Deal when I’m looking for cheap airfare. If you’re willing to be flexible on exact dates (and for that matter exact locations) you can get some amazing deals there. Highly recommended.
ljt
@lamh36: I highly recommend the London Pass–one card that gets you access to virtually all major museums & attractions, with option to add unlimited tube travel within a certain range. Also gets you ‘fast-pass’ access at certain places, and food & shopping discounts. There is also a Paris version. What a great gift for your nephew! (Tried to insert link, but messed it up. Google London Pass.)
JPL
Win or lose, Thursday I should be able to watch TV again and listen to the radio. Since I don’t have cable, my escape channels have been limited, although, PBS create comes in handy.
? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?
@Major Major Major Major: It took only one confirmed left-wing terrorist for them to start shrieking about “leftist violence”. What about Dylan Roof? Or that Portland jackass? There’s tons of them out there! The Oath Keepers, the 3%ers. The whole “patriot” movement, while mostly full of hot-air now won’t have stay that way.
Forgive me for freaking out a little, but all it would take is someone just a little more competent to lead them, the blessing of the government, and a big enough disaster with a scapegoat to blame to turn these misfits into something scary
Quinerly
@TenguPhule:
Vodka from the freezer?
? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?
@Mnemosyne: You would think what happened to Scalise and the other goopers would send a wakeup call.
Hey! You’re not the only ones who can pick up a gun!
Major Major Major Major
@? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?: Fortunately for us, for now at least, they’re all idiots.
MisterForkbeard
@JPL: What’s the news today, other than the early-vote makeup?
But anyway, I’m not getting my hopes up. It would be really fantastic to win this one, but the Republicans have spent a huge amount of time and money on it, including trying to attach Ossoff to the Scalise shooting. There’s a certain amount of idiots out there who are susceptible to that kind of thing.
Quinerly
@eclare:
I had the most problems with that 20 years ago with a boyfriend who had lived in London in the ’70’s. On the third day he pointed out that directions on which way to look were painted at the crosswalks. Duh…I still struggled with it the entire month.
Sherparick
@MisterForkbeard: Looking at the he last polls at 538, I will let my pessimistic freak flag fly. Since 2009, everything has gone the Republicans & plutocrats way so I expect the worse in +8 Republican district.
Timurid
In other news, the cop who shot Philando Castile was apparently crazier than a shithouse rat…
lamh36
@Betty Cracker: naw…in general, I hate travelling alone. This way, I don’t have to, and I get to give my nephew a great gift in the process
? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?
@Major Major Major Major: Yeah. I think stupidity and incompetence is what is saving us from the worst of Trump. It’s still early, but I thought back right after the election we would have had the libel laws changed by now and Trump would still be popular
? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?
@Timurid: Gotta love how he tried to make himself out to be the hero, caring SO much for those little girls. Apparently smoking MJ out in the open is grounds for summary execution in his eyes. What a freak.
mskitty
An appeal to the institutional wisdom of the jackaltariat: I am taking my first-cousin-once-removed on a trip to Europe, any time, anywhere, query: by what airline? And what’s the latest we can go touristing around without freezing toes off? (Warm-weather girls, here.) Suggestions entertained as to “where” will be entertained – it’s her first trip; I spent 6 months there on a bicycle – 40 years ago.
trollhattan
@? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?: Their wake-up call after running through the Republican translator was “See, we told you everybody needs to pack at all times!”
They want this.
Mike in NC
@lamh36: Been to London three times but never for more than a day. Would really like to spend a whole week there and am thinking of springing the idea on friends.
Aimai
@lamh36: airbnb has been great but don’t know about the experiences of AA people in London and Paris. Travelling with family snd needing ttwo bedrooms made hotels too pricey. We had incredible apartments is Paris, Rome, Bruges and Florence. Ok in london.
lamh36
I”m planning to try to plan/book things on my own, but I’ll admit, that since it’s his first, and my 1st booking on my own, if it gets to aggravating trying to do it all myself, I’m open to just going through a travel agency, and taking the hit for the extra fees…just to make sure everything is in order.
My sister is already having fits about me taking her baby without her (although, she has been invited, but as I say, it’s unfair to my nephew to not be able to go just cause his mother can’t get shit together), so going with an agency, may be the best option…more money, but better option.
Air travel, I will be doing by myself, and I also plan to do try to book hotels on my own as well. As I said, I’m not a “budget” traveler, per se, I like a bit of “upgrading” esp when it comes to hotels…so no hostels/backpacking hotels/dorm-like rooms, etc.
Anyway, like I said, I’ll start deep diving into research next month (I’ve already bought some travel guides) and by my birthday in Nov, I can look at my travel savings and with the info I’ve gathered, I can be ready to book in March or even sooner if I have the funds saved I think I will. The March bonus, will be just that bonus travel funds for a trip I may have actually already booked.
So woo hoo, I’m excited…
Yutsano
@mskitty: Spain. Portugal. Italy. Greece. Croatia.
Airline: most of the Scandinavian ones are pretty good. Just remember: smoking allowed on international flights.
delk
@lamh36: We took our niece to London for a graduation present. If I had to do it again, I would have bought a ticket for one of her friends to tag along. We rented an apartment so there was already enough room. She had a good time, but I think she would have had a better time with a friend her age.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Mnemosyne: They do speak English there, sort of.
ETA: The kid announced at Father’s Day dinner that she’s going on a trip in early September, I suggested that Seattle might be nice. It’s either that or Philly and Chicago.
,
London is an exciting city. History, current happenings, diverse food/drink/fun – and it’s all available in English.
bystander
Today’s close for the Euro was $1.11 and the pound was at $1.27. Might think about hedging your trip now.
Miss Bianca
@Mnemosyne: Don’t make the mistake of presuming I’m a fan of musicals per se, just because I made approving noises about Hamilton, m’dear. ; )
Particularly Frozen – couldn’t stand that shit. Sorry, I know you work for GEC, but I thought movie just sucked. The only way I got thru’ watching it was drinking heavily and muting the sound when the musical numbers came on.
Patricia Kayden
@rikyrah: That’s a better attitude than the “we’re doomed if Ossoff loses” one that I keep hearing. We have to keep our heads up and keep fighting even if we lose some battles.
? ?? Goku (aka Junior G-Man) ? ?
@trollhattan: I know, which is crazy. Some Rep or Senator said they wanted to pack at a town hall, thinks the protesters are “dangerous”. They have police protection, going along with the “dangerous leftist protesters” canard for the sake of argument. What do they need a gun for? I think these dudes fantacize about mowing down “liberals” (anybody that stands in their way) like Rambo.
“Do you feel lucky libtards? Well do you?”
Yes I know it’s Dirty Hairy
cosima
@mskitty: Icelandair. Take advantage of their deal that allows you to stay in Iceland for ??? days (we stayed 4) at no extra cost (like a really long layover), because Iceland has some really amazing places to visit, and the northern lights are stunning (I’ve seen a lot, and theirs really are special).
My favourite places in Europe: Crete & Ronda, Spain. Both will be nice & warm in October, but do a little detective work to try to ensure that you don’t overlap with the UK fall break for students. We like Myrtos in Crete — tiny village, big hearts. Florence is at the top of my list — loved it. Pretty much anywhere in Tuscany or Umbria will be beautiful and warm into October. And then, of course, you could also go to Venice (never bothered with Rome, myself). Barcelona & Sevilla…
Scotland is always wonderful to visit, but freezing toes off is mostly guaranteed October thru April. May, August & September are the best months for off-season (tourist-avoiding) times, but often September can be getting cool. Last year our September was warmer than most of June & July, but that was unusual.
I’ve travelled a lot, but certainly not as much as most people who were born & raised in the UK. So my list isn’t comprehensive, by any means, but the places I’ve mentioned above are those that have stayed in my heart for various reasons.
Patricia Kayden
@ksmiami: My sentiments exactly. I’ve given up worrying about the precious WWC a long time ago. My empathy will be saved for those who worked hard for a President Hillary Clinton but now have to suffer through one of the worst presidencies in our lifetime.
ruemara
@cosima: Good to know.
A Ghost to Most
@Miss Bianca:
You are my hero.
Patricia Kayden
@lamh36: Good for you. I’ve always wanted to visit Paris. It looks so beautiful in photos and friends who have visited have nothing negative to say except that the food is expensive. What a lovely Aunty you are.
,
@cosima thank you! might just compile several – she said wistfully that she’d never done any traveling, so just in-and-out of airports would probably be a charge!
bystander
@Yutsano:
No, smoking is not allowed on international flights.
MomSense
@lamh36:
That sounds fantastic.
Mnemosyne
@Miss Bianca:
Well, if you hated Frozen, don’t waste your money on Book of Mormon or Avenue Q. Same songwriter. ?
,
I have a couple of comments stuck in durance vile – won’t someone please immoderate me please?
stinger
@lamh36: That sounds just wonderful! Lucky nephew!
Patricia Kayden
@Timurid: And he got off scot free with murder so it doesn’t matter that he was deranged, I guess. Oh well.
eclare
@mskitty: Went to Croatia two years ago and loved it! Relative to other places in Europe, it is dirt cheap, we felt rich! Also, very few Americans go there (in two weeks we maybe ran into 10 before we got to Dubrovnik), and we saw no Starbucks and only one Mickey D’s. Beaches, culture, history, one day in a gorgeous national park filled with waterfalls…highly recommend. Also tons of GoT sites if you’re a fan.
frosty
@lamh36: We stayed at a nice hotel at Heathrow the night before we left. Highly recommend that option.
Mingobat f/k/a Karen in GA
@lamh36: I was last in London this past October. We stayed not far from both Euston and St. Pancras Stations, which gave us easy access to the Tube, the Eurostar for our overnight trip to Paris, and, funny enough, Speedy’s (if you’re a Sherlock fan).
If you find yourself at the Russell Square station, take the elevator to street level otherwise you’ll be climbing something like eleventy billion stairs.
Since we only spent one night in Paris, we stayed at the Hotel St. Honore. Small and basic, but inexpensive, clean and perfectly located.
You’ll have a great time, and your nephew is a lucky young man.
Miss Bianca
@Mnemosyne: I imagine that Trey Parker had a great deal to to do with the fact that The Book of Mormon’s songs aren’t the treacly slop that Frozen’s are.
Mnemosyne
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
Chicago is great in early September — like January in California. ? The Big Cold doesn’t start until October.
Major Major Major Major
@Miss Bianca: Given that Avenue Q is also not treacly slop, your beef is probably actually just with children’s musicals.
Mnemosyne
@Miss Bianca:
Nope. Because Bobby Lopez also did Avenue Q.
I’m just saying, you probably didn’t give the songs enough credit. You realize that “Love Is An Open Door” is the villain song of the piece, right?
Miss Bianca
@Mnemosyne: Honestly, I don’t give a shit. That’s probably where this conversation ought to end. You like Frozen, I don’t.
@Major Major Major Major:No, my beef is with Frozen.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Mnemosyne: I’m advocating more for Seattle.
Major Major Major Major
@Miss Bianca: And that’s totally legit, I just wanted to make sure your angst was pointed in the right direction.
Bokonon
The real signal the Republicans are looking for from the GA-6 race is whether they can bury their elections in so much money that they can overcome the headwinds provided by Trump and the AHCA.
So far, that bet seems to be working.
Mnemosyne
@Miss Bianca:
Well, nobody’s saying you have to. I don’t like most of Stanley Kubrick’s movies, and most people consider him a film god.
I’m just pointing out that the songs in Frozen are not standard kids’ musical songs. Yes, even That Song that we’re all sick of.
Omnes Omnibus
@Miss Bianca: Let it go.
Yutsano
@Mnemosyne: Also the first Asian and first Filipino to win an Oscar.
Mnemosyne
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
I’m just saying, if she wants to visit a different time zone, Chicago is a great city as long as it’s not winter. Museums, theater, extremely walkable. The Art Institute has the best collection of French Impressionists outside of Russia — France comes in a distant third, at best.
Laura
@lamh36: I firmly in the Lamh36 European Graduation Getaway camp.
Please keep the progress towards lift-off on topic for a reason to cheer, and hear about others’ trips and recommendations and remeniscences and the like. And wow! To give the gift of travel, is to open up the world and cause and itchy foot for life. That’s not nothing, and the memories! Deep family lifetime memories.
Mnemosyne
@Yutsano:
Only in that specific category, and only if you specify Asian-American or Filipino-American, since an Indian musician won Best Song for Slumdog Millionaire.
James Wong Howe probably counts as the very first Asian-American to win an Oscar since he won for Best Cinematography in 1955.
Major Major Major Major
@Omnes Omnibus: I see what you did there.
I heard an interview with the songwriter one time, he told the story of going to the Disney shop and using his employee discount for the first time to get some presents for his family. And the cashier asked him what he does, and he says he writes songs, and she asks what songs, and he tells her he wrote Frozen, and she grabs him by the shirt and glares at him and says “whyyyyy…..“
Mnemosyne
@Major Major Major Major:
The co-director and screenwriter of Frozen does say that she started apologizing to people about three months after the movie opened. Especially people with kids.
TenguPhule
@Quinerly: I store mine at room temperature. I may go for a whiskey sour though, its been raining cats and dogs here on and off.
TenguPhule
@mskitty:
International, because its not much more then domestic US carriers (maybe even cheaper), better seating and much better food.
SgrAstar
@lamh36: you are such a good Aunt! Your nephew will never forget how great it was to be in London with you.
,mary b todd
@TenguPhule That’s starting to look like IT, and also – looking around, Icelandic allows stopovers. Northern Lights (with luck) as well as European whatever.
Quinerly
@TenguPhule:
Didn’t you learn anything last night? Geez……
TenguPhule
@Quinerly:
Yes, that I obviously have more liquor and less freezer space then you do. A lot more liquor.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Mnemosyne: I remain blissfully ignorant of the Frozen thing you speak of.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@TenguPhule: I just keep mandu(aka wontons) in the freezer.
TenguPhule
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Mandu are the korean ones, Wontons are the Chinese ones. Completely different types of dumplings no matter how similar they are.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@TenguPhule: They’re the same thing, it’s just called mandu in Korean.
satby
@mskitty: definitely second the rec for the Icelandair long layover, they have good prices to Europe anyway and it really breaks up the transatlantic flight.
Second Barcelona, Spain too!
@lamh36: I took my nephew to Ireland for his graduation back when I had that good job. I had a hard time telling if he was enjoying it (18 year olds!) until the last evening, when he told me he loved it and it was “life changing”. So worth it!
TenguPhule
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Missed the joke, did you?
?BillinGlendaleCA
@TenguPhule: Yup, guess it must have not been all that good.
ETA: Most of the people I spend time with are Koreans.
TenguPhule
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Koreans and Chinese are infamous in general for not wanting to be confused for the other. Many consider it a personal insult. And the Gods help you if you confuse them for Japanese.
/And for the records, yes I am very familiar with this.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@TenguPhule: Chinese and Koreans co-exist pretty well, in my family there are two marriages between Chinese and Koreans. You’re spot on about the Japanese, there’s plenty of justification for that in the past millennia(to say nothing of the past century).
Mnemosyne
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
Yes, but you hate all movies equally.
JR in WV
@Yutsano:
No smoking, not on Air France or Delta. Air France isn’t the least expensive, but is the most posh, even in economy. Premium Economy is a little better, more room, better meal. Air France has the best food crossing the Atlantic.
I would be shocked if smoking was allowed, and demand my money back for the hazard to my health.