Time for another open thread. There are too many topics floating about out there.
There is a Jobs Bill, Charlie Rangel fighting for his political life, the death of Senator Ted Stevens, the injury of former NASA chief O’Keefe and his son who are in critical condition following that plane crash that killed Sen. Stevens, the fed is buying back some US debt, and a host of primary elections that pretty much mean nothing to me. The local politicians seem quiet for a change.
I hope that Wolverine will bring us up to speed on this serial killer type in Leesburg. That is all very mysterious.
Thanks Cargo for the reminder. I think it is supposed to be cloudy here also, I am sorry to say. There are almost no places around here to look at meteor showers. Skyline Drive is good but not all that close.
Marin, is that sort of like when people get asked about their gender and the question is sex? Instead of writing male or female they write yes?
All kidding aside, there are some reason to ask about a person’s race. Identifying missing people or suspects pops into my mind.
“He was trying to establish that the Republican party really offered nothing for Latinos. I don’t know that I agree or disagree with that statement. He gave an opinion. Just Is. ”
My opinion is that when this is the kind of thing coming out of your Senate Majority leader’s mouth, you are an intellectually and morally vacuous party.
PAP, the Minerva I’m thinking of is in Chantilly, not Centreville. It’s at 14513 Lee Jackson Memorial Highway, same center as picante which is another favorite place of my wife and myself.
The prices are pretty much as you’d expect, and the lunch buffet is something around $10 and has many choices in it.
@Rick, why do you set the bar high for only him? I think a mountain is being made out of a mole hill. He is a democrat. He was addressing Latinos. What do you expect him to say? Or for that matter, if the shoe were on the other foot, I would expect the same thing out of Republicans. Life’s too short.
You keep expecting politicians not to behave as politicians. Remember the dog and the fire hydrant? Why do you expect different behavior?
While I was conducting census interviews, I interviewed MANY immigrants from countries to the south of the US. Every time I asked what race they would claim, from a list, I received blank looks. Hispanic is not considered a race according to the census. And “hispanics” don’t think that way either. From my travels and experiences with my mother, a spanish teacher and knowledgeable traveler of central America, the citizens of those countries consider themselves either spanish or mestizo, or indian. And one cannot tell which from the color of the their skin. Its all about social position, money, and education.
Cargo, we talk about this in my office a bit since I’m fortunate to work with a few latinos (in IT you just don’t see too many of us) and we were discussing much of what you said. what’s interesting and may not be well understood by those that are not latino is that were VERY racist against other latinos based on what country that person is or even what city that person came from. You can get a taste of that from some of the humor you’ll get from George Lopez, Carlos Mencia or John Leguizamo. There is almost a hierarchy based loosely on proximity to the US, legal status and skin color.
It’s interesting. I’m surprised social scientests haven’t looked into documenting it.
In full disclosure as an anchor baby I ‘rank’ my co-workers. 🙂 🙂 🙂
http://hamptonroads.com/2010/08/mcdonnell-asks-feds-grant-state-police-immigration-enforcement-powers?cid=ltst
I can see this being a topic pretty soon..
@cargosquid
Yep, my daughter is coming back from “Shcool” in Argentina – tonight – actually – and said the same thing. Her comment was that its different but not really better.
Marin, too funny. I actually knew that but I learned it from Latinos and I would never attempt to explain it. There are just places Anglos should not tread. I don’t think I would call it racist though. I don’t know what I would call it. I guess it isn’t mine to call anything.
Hey Guys, things are really getting predictable with the comments. Why don’t people try something? How about if everyone reverses roles and people seriously argue the view opposing them.
It would be a hoot to see if people can actually put themselves into opposing viewpoints. It could actually be revealing as well. 😉
I’m thinking of a different game. “I can get myself banned in one post!”
Slowpoke you know it doesn’t work that way. You just get put in moderation. Only a couple people have been banned.
Just out of curiosity why do you want to be a PITA? Have we done something to you? I think Elena and I have both been very tolerant each in our own way. There really is no reason to try to get us to ban you.
Rez that would be pretty easy. I could just start doing sound bites. 🙄
Did anyone get storm damage? Things weren’t bad at all in my neighorhood. Lots of rain the second go-round.
I was just kidding. What would be the point of doing what I suggested?
When my mother traveled in Central America and Mexico, she could always pass. When in Guatemala, she appeared to be from San Salvador, and vice versa. When she really wanted to get “respect”, she spoke pure “Castillian” spanish, especially in Mexico. When she wanted to get away with something, she acted as the dumb American, especially during the 70’s. Everyone KNEW that Americans didn’t speak spanish. This was especially useful in Guatemala, one time, when she was shopping with the daughter of a friend who was on the “communist” watch list. The daughter, that is; a college student. Long story, but the end of it has the poor soldier, dealing with the “rich,dumb American” that can’t drive, handing his rifle to the student so that he can back the car out of a restricted zone for the American……..
I think, sometimes that my mom worked for the CIA……
@Moon-howler
I drove through the first one this morning just south of the beltway. Lordy, did it rain! Didn’t last too long, but it was mighty impressive for a while!
Here’s something different:
What gun for zombie?
I favor low recoil, high ammo capacity, so AR-15
@slow, I have no idea. That’s why I asked.
re rain. did you have to stop under a bridge? It didn’t do anything in Manassas this morning. It waited until this evening to block out the Pleides.
The real deluge didn’t start until I was very close to work. I couldn’t get out of the car for a while because there was a river, and I wear Allen-Edmonds, which I love dearly, and won’t destroy them if I can help it. Thing was, it was dark as night outside. The brain says “it’s morning”, the eyes are telling you “it’s night”.
I have two for Zombies, a Kel-Tec PLR-16, but my go-to gun is controversial, a Marlin 1894CP .357 lever gun. I also have a Swamp Rat Rodent Waki and a Busse Combat Killa Zilla for Zombies.
Yeah, Squid, this ain’t the “zombie gun” crowd! 🙂
Slow,
You have a Swamp Rat? Cool. Saw the video on that. Tough blade. Heavy on the covet.
Found out about it at either Knife Forums or Blade Forums, I forget.
So why do you say that your Marlin is controversial? .357 for both rifle and back up pistol.
Have you checked out Oleg Volk? Photographer and gun rights activist that shoots advertising for Kel-Tec. Just google him.
Of course, I forgot about the rocket powered chainsaw. Never leave home without it.
@cargosquid
Well, it’s not considered a “Main Battle Rifle” I want a vz58, but I don’t want another caliber. Oleg is active on KTOG forums, I believe. The Rodent Waki is nice, but the Busse Test Team Killa Zilla is the single most impressive piece of steel I’ve ever put my hand upon, with my Fallknivens a distant second (but beautiful in their own right). The Killa Zilla is just shy of too thick and heavy for me to swing with authority.
No pump shotguns? How about the classic M1? Don’t forget melee weapons in case your position is overrun and you need to switch to non-raged CQC.. cricket bat, k-bar, etc.
Any opinions of fixed battlements vs. staying mobile and agile? Of course if you move you have to avoid malls, Crystal Lake, military bases, etc.
I have to say something about Charlie Rangel. I’d bet my life savings that he’s guilty of wrong-doing and deserves to be expelled for it, but I could no sooner dislike Rangel than I could Santa Claus. You just KNOW that this is one cool guy. No matter how hard I try, I can’t dislike Rangel. He’s just that cool a guy. Maxine Waters, on the other hand. I just wanted to say that Rangel, just like Michael Jackson……the guy may have done some really shady things, but you have to give the guy the credit he deserves.
@marinm
Shotgun a much better choice than anything I got!
I almost hydroplaned into the lane next to me this afternoon! We all sort of laughed nervously when I was able to gain control of the car. I asked my son, sitting in the back of course, if “he would be so kind as to hand me back my heart as I think I left it in the back seat” ! SCARY driving in it but I have to say, other drives actually behaved sanely and took it slow.
How is the baby Slowpoke? Is Mamma getting any sleep?
@Elena
Baby, in one week, put on all his weight back plus an ounce. He lets the wife get some sleep at night, and he breastfeeds almost like a pro. Well, and I gotta hand it to my wife, she’s a pro at it, too. I don’t talk about this to really anyone, but I think the whole breastfeeding thing is just as astounding a miracle as the birth itself. I am in awe of how perfect things work when you follow nature.
@Elena
Oh, what do I do? I do the diapers…..never bothers me one bit.
I have always said that I look at my wife and my two boys and I think that no matter what kind of bastard I might be, I must have done something right in my life!
Good story on Newt with candid comments from wife #2 (who he was shagging while wife #1 was in the hospital undergoing cancer treatment) about his hypocracy in giving the Christian conservative family values rant while having an affair with eventual wife #3. Between Newt, Rush and Beck that’s 9 trips down the aisle to swear before God and friends until death us do part (or I meet someone hotter, whichever comes first). http://www.esquire.com/features/newt-gingrich-0910
@Slowpoke Rodriguez
I wish you could talk to my husband about the miracle of breastfeeding, he never really saw it that way. After my son was born via c/s, it was such a struggle to breastfeed, my husband was like, just give it up, a bottle is so much easier. Let me tell you, I was a warrior breastfeeder, determined to make it work….and I did. My daughter was so much easier, of course, she was also born naturally so that was a huge difference.
I think it is very sweet that you clearly love your wife and are in awe of the whole process of it all. I hope you tell her what you just shared, us new moms needs lots of positive words.
My son was sooooo disappointed in the cloud cover tonight. He was up late (9:30) and you couldn’t even see one star. I am debating about waking him up if the sky clears so he can finally see the “show”.
Moe,
Are you suggesting that the sanctity of heterosexual marriage is not being upheld by these holier than thou blowhards?
I say, why not let gay people be as miserable as many married people are, what do I care!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh, come on, people. Divorce is now the American way!!
Moe thanks for bringing that up. I thought about doing a post on it. She really let him have it. Of course she said she predicted it since that is what happened the last time.
I guess she who lives by the sword dies by the sword. I wouldn’t mind that people like Gingrich and Limbaugh practice serial marriage (sequentially of course). I do mind their hypocrisy and holier than though attitude about everyone else. They need to admit that they have feet of clay like everyone else and step off the soap box.
As for Newt you can’t be an Uber Christian when you treat not one but 2 wives like he has done.
Slowpoke, I agree about Charlie Rangel 100%. He is just a likeable guy. And you are right…probably guilty as sin but disliking him would be like disliking Santa Clause or Walt Disney. I feel real sorry for him.
In fact, I Jon Stewart is on my you know what list for making fun of him in a way that I feel was mean-spirited. (having to do with his appearance) Good grief, the man is in his 80s.
@Elena
Btw, over at http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/glenn-beck-gay-marriage-no-threat-to-me-or-america/
Glenn Beck says:
O’REILLY: Do you believe — do you believe that gay marriage is a threat to the country in any way?
BECK: A threat to the country?
O’REILLY: Yeah, it going to harm the country?
BECK: No, I don’t. Will the gays come and get us?
O’REILLY: OK. Is it going to harm the country in any way?
BECK: I believe — I believe what Thomas Jefferson said. If it neither breaks my leg nor picks my pocket, what difference is it to me?
O’REILLY: OK, so you don’t. That’s interesting. Because I don’t think a lot of people understand that about you.
BECK: As long as we — as long as we are not going down the road of Canada, where it now is a problem for churches to have free speech. If they can still say, hey, we –
O’REILLY: Oppose it –
BECK: — we oppose it –
O’REILLY: Right.
BECK: — but we’re not trying to kill anybody or trying to –
O’REILLY: In Sweden they have that too. OK, so gay marriage to you, not a big a threat to the nation.
To the zombie fans: static if you think you can outlast them. Mobile if you have a place to go.
The problem is that, in the movies, no one ever has a gun early on. Heck, if the zombies showed up here, go find them and shoot them before they spread. So Mobile, early on, with periods of static defense.
Halberd for melee weapon. Axe with a spike. You want to keep them back and destroy the brain.
Way too much thought’s been put into this. You KNOW some college student is getting a dissertation out of the zombie phenom. Heck, there’s probably grant money available…..
Reports indicate that 40 meters were seen per hour from the Perseids in places where there was no cloud cover.
I am trying something new. I have pinned the open thread (this one) to the top position. Hopefully it will keep me from having to put up a new one every other day, or so it seems.
Your opinion please. Good idea or not? Too much of a good thing?
@Moon-howler
Comment list too long to get through. But then again, I am easily confused 🙂
@marinm
Heh heh. Hubby is a gamer and probably would have put some weird things down.
@Rick Bentley
Oh wait–I think we have been there. Buffet. Good food and like you said, reasonable.
@ Cargo http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33130861 No joke: College removes zombie plan from site. All set for hurricanes? Check. Pandemics? Check. Living dead? Check.
Halberds are nice but do require some strength and space to wield. My wife’s barely 4’11 so she may have to sport a machete and cricket bat. Obviously the hope is to engage at range and use of natural or manmade choke points to bottle them up. That reminds me. Note to self; but ALICE gear for wife and check water stores.
I’m more concerned about the ability of a Judge to overrule the will of the People versus the end-game of marriage. But, if we’re going to expand 14A lets go full monty and get rid of gun permits, registries and requirements for classes and background checks.
Marin, let’s take a major change in American history: desegregation of the schools. Do you think for one minute that Georgia would have EVER voted to desegregate the schools? I don’t. for that matter, probably Virginia wouldn’t either. Remember, no one looks over your shoulder in the voting booth.
The will of the people doesn’t always guarantee everyone equal rights. There must be checks and balances. the minority must be protected from the majority.
I don’t think you’d get any state today to segregate schools now. People may naturally change and move towards what may be ‘right’ but my belief is that they should come to that conclusion on their own rather than by decree of a person that is tenured for life.
It’d be totally differnet – in my mind – if this was a legislative initive from our representatives but when the people are directly asked, they vote, and then that vote is discarded because the govt doesn’t like the answer… That’s wickedly dangerous precident.
Even with the CA vote.. All they really have to do is convince a few more percent of people to get that simple majority they need. It’s not like they’re asking for a super majority.
If the minority gets what it wants can we (the 21 states that don’t want ObamaCare) as the simple majority get rid of it because we need to be protected from the majority?
It’s disturbing that the rules tend to change to allow for ‘progressive’ decisions. If it’s based on law. Great. But the idea of putting something to vote by the People is to have the People weight in and make that decision. To flip the coin on them invites open rebellion.
Voting segregation back in after 50 plus years is a little different than voting to DEsegregate schools and other places.
I am fairly confident if we still had segregated schools, and it was up to the people in the state to vote to get rid of it, it would never happen.
At what point in a plural society can you say let the will of the people prevail in all cases? I can think of 100 reasons right off the bat why that might not be such a good idea. Mob mentality is not a good thing.