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Thursday Night Open Thread

Congrats to the TL kid who just got a not guilty verdict for a client on all charges in a domestic violence case. He's so excited, the jury came back a few minutes ago. His client testified and said he acted in self-defense.

American Idol showcases the 12 male finalists tonight. Tomorrow night, the results are announced. And, the Olympics are ongoing. Lindsay Vonn broke her finger today.

I'm writing a brief tonight, so this is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Atta Boy TL Kid... (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by kdog on Wed Feb 24, 2010 at 09:39:33 PM EST
    obviously the apple didn't fall far.

    And with the path we're on in this joint, we're gonna need all the quality defense attorneys we can get.  Knowing Jeralyn and her son are out there fighting the good fight, along with untold others, is most reassuring to this knucklehead...know your work is most appreciated.

    I just got home from my niece's 5th grade play, a Peter Pan adaptation.  I was impressed, some of those kids had real acting and performance chops, the little girl who played Peter Pan especially...what a ham!  And of course my niece was adorable in a supporting role as a Never Never Land mermaid.  Good stuff.

    I can't hear about Peter Pan (none / 0) (#4)
    by ruffian on Wed Feb 24, 2010 at 10:00:13 PM EST
    productions without thinking of this episode of This American Life. Download it and listen to the first act, Opening Night. I swear the first time I heard it I nearly had to pull the car over, I was laughing so hard.

    Glad your niece's production went much better! I'm sure it was adorable.

    Parent

    Cued it up... (none / 0) (#17)
    by kdog on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 07:49:58 AM EST
    and fell asleep...I'll check it out tonight...ty ruffian, could always use some medicinal laughter.

    Parent
    Had to log in to announce (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Radiowalla on Wed Feb 24, 2010 at 10:53:56 PM EST
    WaPo kills Quinn's print column

    "The Washington Post has decided to no longer run Sally Quinn's "The Party" column in the print edition of the paper, following an uproar after she used it to weigh in on a family spat last Friday.

    In the column, Quinn wrote about her "dysfunctional family" while addressing a report of "dueling weddings."  Quinn wrote not only about the nuptials of her son with former Post editor Ben Bradlee, but also the daughter of Ben Bradlee Jr. -- his son from a previous marriage -- and ex-wife Martha Raddatz, an ABC News correspondent......"
    Link

    Ha ha ha ha!  Oh, Sally!  You trashed the place!

    AWESOME (none / 0) (#11)
    by ruffian on Wed Feb 24, 2010 at 10:55:49 PM EST
    Now I can go to bed happy.

    Parent
    I don't get what was so bad (none / 0) (#12)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Feb 24, 2010 at 11:03:11 PM EST
    about her article. She took the blame and praised everyone. Her column is in the lifestyle section, no? (I've never read it until today.)

    Parent
    It's not anything she said in this column, (none / 0) (#13)
    by Radiowalla on Wed Feb 24, 2010 at 11:36:40 PM EST
    but my long standing  distaste for her pearl-clutching during the Clinton years.  She was an infamous finger-wagger who never missed an opportunity to point out what rubes the Clintons were.
    Her most infamous column is here .

    Parent
    The fact that she felt that she needed the WP (4.50 / 2) (#19)
    by Kent Allard on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 08:49:56 AM EST
    to air out her family's dirty laundry demonstrates what an airhead she is in the first place.

    Parent
    It was his 11th jury trial (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Jeralyn on Wed Feb 24, 2010 at 10:55:10 PM EST
    in a year and a half -- that's astounding considering how most cases are plea bargained. Some were on little things like DUI's, and one was a murder he second-chaired. Last week he did a felony theft trial on his own.

    He's got a great presence and speaks really well -- no "ums" or "ahs" -- must be all those years of high school debating. I watched one of his closing arguments a few months ago and was really impressed. He didn't use notes, he told the story,  argued his points, didn't lose his train of thought and was totally invested in it. (He didn't win that one.) He's going to be a great lawyer.

    He's also writing a lot of federal court motions and doing appearances -- no federal trials yet. He'll be in federal court in Nevada next week. He's really lucky to be getting such varied experience so soon.

    congrats to your son (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by beowulf on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 12:29:47 AM EST
    Though the way you saved "client" till the last sentence, you reminded me of that great line from Arrested Development:

    Barry: Sorry, sorry, sorry I'm so late. I had another hearing. Here's the good news: I think I'm going to get off, huh? I have a good lawyer.

    Maybe I better add (none / 0) (#15)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 01:06:01 AM EST
    "for a client" in the first sentence. Thanks for pointing that out.

    Parent
    140-year old... (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by desertswine on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 11:47:40 AM EST
    HOT DOG!! found at Coney Island.

    That's crazy. To me, that's crazy," said Antonio Velez.


    Obama's Healthcare Plan B (none / 0) (#1)
    by Dan the Man on Wed Feb 24, 2010 at 08:57:58 PM EST
    Link

    President Barack Obama will use a bipartisan summit Thursday to push for sweeping health-care legislation, but if that fails to generate enough support the White House is working on a more modest Plan B.

    The alternate approach would provide health insurance to perhaps 15 million Americans, about half what the comprehensive bill would cover, according to a person familiar with both plans.

    It would do that by requiring insurance companies to allow people up to 26 years old to stay on their parents' health plans, and by modestly expanding two federal-state health programs, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, this person said. The cost to the federal government would be about one-fourth the price tag for the broader effort, which the White House has said would cost about $950 billion over 10 years.



    WCBS uncritically reports (none / 0) (#5)
    by andgarden on Wed Feb 24, 2010 at 10:15:36 PM EST
    a "study" from the Manhattan Institute about how "Obama's healthcare taxes" will disproportionately impact New York. Senator Gilibrand disappoints by giving a soundbyte about preferring "across the board" taxes.

    Watching the aerials (none / 0) (#6)
    by ruffian on Wed Feb 24, 2010 at 10:28:25 PM EST
    This is the most amazing sport to me. How do they do it? At least I can see how other sports can at least be learned. How do you launch yourself 40 ft in the air and do all the flips and twists and spins? I have the same reaction to the high diving in the summer Olympics. I obviously have no spatial skills and quite paralyzing fear.

    Hippocampus deficit. Me too. (none / 0) (#7)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 24, 2010 at 10:31:26 PM EST
    APs list of members of Congress (none / 0) (#8)
    by oculus on Wed Feb 24, 2010 at 10:32:27 PM EST
    invited to tomorrow's HCR summit at WH:
    link


    Ah, young lawyers. (none / 0) (#16)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 07:42:44 AM EST
    My nephew is taking the Texas bar right now.  Even though he's a Republican and working for the DA's office in Houston, I still love him and hope he passes!

    don't u think the people ... (none / 0) (#46)
    by nyrias on Fri Feb 26, 2010 at 09:44:44 AM EST
    need quality representation too? Not just the accused?

    Parent
    Maryland to recognize same-sex marriages (none / 0) (#18)
    by jbindc on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 08:12:45 AM EST
    performed in other states

    Gansler: Effective immediately Md. recognizes same-sex marriages performed elsewhere
    UPDATE 2:50 P.M.: Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler (D) says effective immediately the state recognizes same-sex marriages performed elsewhere and state agencies should begin giving gay couples the rights they were awarded elsewhere.

    UPDATE 10:25 a.m.: Sen. Richard S. Madaleno Jr. (D-Montgomery), who requested the opinion from Gansler, said in a brief interview that he was unsure whether there would be any immediate ramifications.

    "It's reaffirmation of what we thought, that Maryland can recognize gay marriage," Madaleno said.

    He said that changes in state policy could result from a court ruling, legislation or administrative action.

    Original Post: A long-awaited opinion by Maryland Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler (D) out Wednesday morning concludes that the state's highest court is likely to rule at some point that same-sex marriages performed in other states are valid in Maryland.

    The policy implications of the opinion are not immediately clear, and Gansler says in a one-page summary that his conclusion "is not free from doubt."



    Since new sh&t has come to light... (none / 0) (#20)
    by kdog on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 09:05:32 AM EST
    we need to free Mr. Lee...yesterday.

    Now this is how you deal.... (none / 0) (#21)
    by kdog on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 09:13:37 AM EST
    with a whiney complainer...I like how you operate, Mr. Movie Theater Vice President.

    Whats wrong with this complainer lady?  When I have a bad experience with a business, I just stop patronizing the establishment.  The last thing I'd do is write a whiney email.  Get a life lady.

    Link? (none / 0) (#27)
    by jbindc on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 10:15:37 AM EST
    Your link is about Toyotas and a man in jail tht might be freed now that their many quality problems are finally getting looked at.

    Parent
    Oopsie Daisy... (none / 0) (#29)
    by kdog on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 10:24:10 AM EST
    here ya go...but you might have to deal with whiny customers on the regular to truly appreciate the email reply...made my morning:)

    Parent
    I was a retail manager (none / 0) (#30)
    by jbindc on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 10:29:45 AM EST
    Many lifetimes ago.  I've dealt with them - I think everyone should be forced to work in a customer servie position for a year so they can see what it's like.

    Parent
    It's best described.... (none / 0) (#32)
    by kdog on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 10:34:57 AM EST
    as eating sh*t for a living...but there are good reasonable customers who don't take joy in feeding sh*t to others, though too few and far between.

    Just this morning a customer calls to try and weasel out of a freight bill when we shipped exactly as requested, and same customer was warned at time of order that the next day air would be buku bucks...I so wanted to tell this guy to please go buy from the other guy if he doesn't want to pay his bills...some people got no shame.

    Parent

    I hear ya (none / 0) (#34)
    by jbindc on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 10:41:15 AM EST
    Customers actually believe the old "The Customer is Always Right" bull.  In my experience, usually, the customer isn't right - they are confused, or more often, lying and scamming.  The problem is, they've learned that the louder you scream (usually at someone who doesn't make the decisions), then they will get their way, even if their way is a scam.

    I can't tell you how many people would bring back clothes with other stores' labels on them and try to return them and then claim, "Those labels were on there when I bought them."  Sure they were.

    Or my favorite -  a woman who brought back 5 pairs of the same brand of jeans - ranging in sizes from 2 to 24 and said she changed her mind because they didn't fit, but of course she didn't have a receipt. (No woman buys clothes in 20 different sizes)  Duh - shoulda thought about that before she stole them.

    Parent

    Actually (none / 0) (#31)
    by jbindc on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 10:33:46 AM EST
    She has a point about them interrupting the movie without pausing it - I would be ticked too.

    And of course, the VP's response was totally inappropriate (even though I understand and appreciate the sentiment). Those are things you think to yourself when you are in that kind of business.

    For the record, I also hate it when places who charge so much don't take plastic either (like parking garages).  It's ridiculous that you charge $20 / day and don't take plastic.

    Parent

    That's fine... (none / 0) (#33)
    by kdog on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 10:39:29 AM EST
    but don't complain, life is too short...go to a garage that takes plastic, or find a better theater.  Thats how I respond to bad service...take my money elsewhere.  You get one shot with me.

    Now if only I could take my money elsewhere when it comes to government, I'd never complain:)

    Parent

    Shutter Island blew.. (none / 0) (#56)
    by jondee on Wed Apr 25, 2012 at 01:44:16 PM EST
    (in the parlance of our times..) Maybe that was the real, underlying problem.

    Parent
    The Hummer (none / 0) (#22)
    by lilburro on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 09:22:18 AM EST
    has been discontinued and I am laffing.

    Oh... (none / 0) (#24)
    by kdog on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 09:30:19 AM EST
    that Hummer...I got nervous for a second:)

    Good riddance...I always equated driving a hummer with supporting the terrorists anyway.

    Parent

    Apparently (none / 0) (#26)
    by lilburro on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 10:07:25 AM EST
    they've been around since the 90s.  I didn't know that.  I associate them of course with Cheney and Bush.  Funny that that car will live on as an artifact from a totally absurd and horrible period.  We'll look at it in museums one day.

    Parent
    Schwarzenegger's Baby (none / 0) (#42)
    by squeaky on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 06:27:48 PM EST
    "I'm very proud of the Hummer, because I created that industry."
    Arnold Schwarzenegger, The O'Reilly Factor, 9/11/2003

    "The Humvee, originally a military vehicle that saw
    action in the Gulf War, developed a cult following
    when Schwarzenegger convinced AM General to
    sell a consumer model, the Hummer, in 1992."
    CBS News.COM, 8/7/03

    link (PDF)

    Parent

    Wish I'd had him for an attorney (none / 0) (#23)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 09:30:19 AM EST
    in Florida. I got railroaded on "domestic violence" charges in JAX. I was married to a violent alcoholic who had been arrested for those same charges twice before, slapped on the wrist and told not to do it again. A third time down the road, I call the cops, and of course, it's always the big bad man's fault. They arrest her, FOR THE THIRD TIME, send her home. Me, the big bad man, gets it up the proverbial rear. My first attorney sold me out to the state's attorney, the second went to bat for me and got less of a railroading. Now, I wouldn't call a cop if I found a dead body on my front porch. I'd roll it in the street and let someone else deal with.

    Live and learn Chuck.... (none / 0) (#28)
    by kdog on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 10:18:07 AM EST
    apologies on behalf of a tyrannized nation.

    These are certainly words to live by in my book...

    Now, I wouldn't call a cop if I found a dead body on my front porch.


    Parent
    Two reasons to laugh today (none / 0) (#25)
    by DancingOpossum on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 09:56:46 AM EST
    The WaPo ditching Sally Quinn's column and the death of the Hummer. Dang, things are starting to look up.

    Congrats to the TL kid. 11 trials in a year and a half? That is astounding! Great experience for him.


    Anyone watching (none / 0) (#35)
    by jbindc on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 11:21:40 AM EST
    the healtcare summit?

    Watching/listening as I can, (none / 0) (#37)
    by Anne on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 12:10:42 PM EST
    but have been too busy to do so for any extended period of time.

    It seems like Obama is just legitimizing the GOP point of view, and the result will be even more movement to the right - kind of like their total cave on the voice-voted extension of the Patriot Act last night.

    Lots of talk about these Republican ideas, and Obama acknowledging how both bills contain an abundance of them.

    Heard Max Baucus touting the bi-partisan SHOP plan - that's the one that wold let insurance companies sell insurance across state lines to avoid the more stringent regulations in some states by setting up "shop" in states with miminal regulation.  More proposals that benefit insurance companies - just what we need.

    It's all just such a sideshow.

    Parent

    Hate to say it, but Sen. McCain has a (none / 0) (#38)
    by oculus on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 12:15:39 PM EST
    a point in confronting the Pres. with their mutual promise during the campaign to do business differently.  WH deals with big Pharma and insurers.

    Parent
    I think there were a lot of people (none / 0) (#41)
    by Anne on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 12:29:02 PM EST
    interested in a real answer from Obama other than, "the election is over," which was a gratuitously cheap shot from a guy who convened this summit to allegedly discuss all the issues and ideas.

    I was vaguely aware that Obama waded into the weeds to "clarify" his position on drug reimportation, but I think he avoided the deal with Tauzin; he really has no answer for that one.

    If he addressed it, someone can correct me, please.

    Parent

    The primaries are over too (5.00 / 2) (#43)
    by jondee on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 08:18:51 PM EST
    and for reality's sake, I dont see how you can characterize as a "gratuitous cheap shot" a comment that was obviously in response to an equally gratuitous bit of content-free grandstanding for the cameras on the part of Pops McCain.

    Parent
    Really? (5.00 / 1) (#44)
    by squeaky on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 08:41:30 PM EST
    I dont see how you can characterize as a "gratuitous cheap shot"...

    Sock puppets always are predictable. Defending poor McCain is no surprise here considering he was blown off by the evil one.

    If Obama could cure cancer with a wave of his hand, he would be criticized by many here for robbing insurance companies, doctors, hospitals and big pharma of their fair share.

    Think of all the children those industries support. Obama is taking food from their hungry little mouths.


    Parent

    oh, squeaky, I wasn't defending John McCain, (5.00 / 1) (#45)
    by Anne on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 11:35:25 PM EST
    but I know it works better for you to pretend I am...

    "Sock puppets?"  Really?  That's just kind of desperate of you, isn't it?

    It's quite obvious that there is no love lost between McCain and Obama, and it's too bad Obama's thin skin didn't allow him to rise above whatever pettiness he perceived from McCain, and just answer the question as if it had been asked by many of the ordinary citizens who would have liked an answer; that would have been a much better way to show how presidential he is capable of being, but I guess it was more important for him to put McCain in his place.

    And - just a suggestion - maybe once in a while, instead of just going after those who criticize Obama, you could actually offer some support for why you believe Obama is conducting his presidency in such a stellar fashion.

    Parent

    Sock Puppets & Dogwhistles (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by squeaky on Fri Feb 26, 2010 at 12:31:05 PM EST
    And - just a suggestion - maybe once in a while, instead of just going after those who criticize Obama, you could actually offer some support for why you believe Obama is conducting his presidency in such a stellar fashion.

    Sorry I am not a sock puppet, never was a Obama or Hillary cultist either.  And as far as criticizing Obama you have no standing, just because you are correct sometimes speaks more to chance than political acumen: think stopped clock.

    Obama and Hillary were always the same for me, save for stylistic differences. Unlike you, and your pals, I do not doubt for a second, that were Hillary in charge, we would be in a similar place and I would be just as disappointed with her as I am with Obama.

    I was disappointed when Bill was in charge, a sentiment that has become blasphemous around here. It still amazes me that many here believe both, that Hillary was a messiah, and imagine themselves 100% different that the Obamabots, because they were right, and the Obamabots were deluded, lol. Comments based on a secret bond, a wink, are no different from Aspen worship, as they wind up being little more than sockpuppets sending out their dogwhistle.

    Parent

    Customers (none / 0) (#39)
    by DancingOpossum on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 12:21:57 PM EST
    I can't tell you how many people would bring back clothes with other stores' labels on them and try to return them and then claim, "Those labels were on there when I bought them."  Sure they were.

    My favorite was the woman who brought back a party dress claiming it had a ripped zipper so she was returning it. And look, it wasn't worn yet, it still had a tag on it! When she opened up the box you could smell the B.O., booze, and cigarette smoke on the dress from 10 feet away, but she swore angrily and self-righteously that she'd never worn it. We had to take it back even though we obviously couldn't sell it to anyone else. (One of my coworkers took it home to wash/ salvage for herself.)

    Then there were the folks who would eat 3/4 of the personal pan pizza and then complain that the crust was uncooked.

    Yep. Seen'em all.


    Oh yeah (none / 0) (#40)
    by jbindc on Thu Feb 25, 2010 at 12:29:00 PM EST
    I had more sympathy for the people who drank the whole gallon of milk except for a tiny bit, then brought it back because "it was bad" - it was still wrong, but I think most of those people were just feeding themselves.  And frankly, I thought the woman who stuck a VCR under her skirt and walked the length of the store with it between her knees earned the right to keep it!

    Another one of my favorite bold criminals came in one night, walked to the footwear department, picked up a pair of $50 steel toe boots and walked up to the customer service desk and got a refund.  He only got caught because he came in later that night to try it again (in the wee hours of the morning - we were a 24 hour store), thinking the people at the customer service desk had changed shifts - but it was the same person!

    We didn't require receipts and the local cops (San Antonio) told us on numerous occassions that we played a large part in fueling the drug trade in town, since people were stealing stuff, bringing them back and getting cash to buy their drugs with. And frankly, as a manager, it was easier for me to tell the employees just to give them money "back" because it wasn't worth the argument.

    Parent

    LOL... (none / 0) (#47)
    by DancingOpossum on Fri Feb 26, 2010 at 10:47:32 AM EST
    Good times, good times in the retail biz. It actually used to be fun work, what with the discounts and the ease of promotion, not to mention the daily challenge of outsmarting your usually-hated managers. Fun times! But I think working some place like Wal-Mart is a far cry and rather soul-deadening.

    SITE VIOLATOR (none / 0) (#51)
    by shoephone on Wed Apr 25, 2012 at 12:21:20 AM EST
    SPAM

    SITE VIOLATOR (none / 0) (#55)
    by shoephone on Wed Apr 25, 2012 at 12:34:54 PM EST
    SPAM