149 Thoughts to “Open Thread……………………………………..January 31, 2011”

  1. Black Velvet Reporter
    January 31, 2011 at 12:30 am

    Great balls of fire!!!!!! Its dueling bibles on the dark side.

    Someone is forgetting that Jesus didn’t write the Bible.

    Of course it could all be solved with Matthew 7:12.

  2. Starryflights
    January 31, 2011 at 3:58 am

    Gates: Helping world’s poor is a good investment

    By DONNA GORDON BLANKINSHIP, Associated Press Donna Gordon Blankinship, Associated Press – 50 mins ago
    SEATTLE – Bill Gates says he feels a responsibility to speak up for the world’s poorest because they’re likely to be hit hard as economic woes force governments to reduce contributions to foreign aid.

    In his third annual letter, issued Monday, the co-chairman of the world’s largest charitable foundation expressed concern about budget cuts to the programs that transfer dollars from rich nations to poor ones, providing medical assistance, food aid, vaccines and other help.

    The Microsoft co-founder and chairman says in the 24-page letter that not only is helping the poor with their medical needs and giving them the tools to be self-sufficient the right thing to do, it’s also a good investment.

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110131/ap_on_re_us/us_gates_letter#mwpphu-post-form

  3. Moon-howler
    January 31, 2011 at 6:41 am

    Class Act [NOT]

    Carol Moseley Braun has accused one of her opponents of being strung out on crack during a debate. 20 years ago she behaved a little better or at least faked it better.

    Moseley Braun is running for mayor of Chicago. Good thing she didn’t say that about Rahm Emanual. He would have cussed her out.

  4. Pat.Herve
    January 31, 2011 at 7:54 am

    a very interesting read – http://sociology.ucsc.edu/whorulesamerica/power/wealth.html – on where the wealth is in America. It is surprising to see how wealth is really distributed.

  5. Moon-howler
    January 31, 2011 at 9:51 am

    Very interesting, Pat. So tell me, why do we have our violins out boo-hooing over these people? 20% of the people own 85% of the nation’s wealth?

    THESE are the people who are protected from tax increases? Give me a break!!!

  6. marinm
    January 31, 2011 at 10:31 am

    My better half is pregnant with twins. It’s been a very, very long road for us and we feel very blessed to be this far along. We’re a few days north of 12 weeks and have already have one scare but so far all signs are pointing positive. 🙂

    The wife is still refusing to name a girl (she thinks the “active one” is a girl) Sarah Palin Marin. I’ll keep working her over. 😉

    1. Moon-howler
      January 31, 2011 at 10:47 am

      @marin, congratulations again Marin. Tell Mrs.Marin that I am on her side. If she needs help, give her my number!

      What does PRMA mean?

  7. Raymond Beverage
    January 31, 2011 at 11:48 am

    PRMA? depends in relation to what…. one example is Public Risk Management Association. It’s also shortand for Big Pharma – Pharmaceutical Research & Manufacturing Association.

    Also a geek one that I know of: Packet Reservation Mulitple Access.

  8. Big Dog
    January 31, 2011 at 12:42 pm

    http://www.manassaspatch.com/articles/panel-oks-crackdown-on-illegal-immigrants-4

    “The subcommittee voted 5-1 for HB-1430. Hope was the lone dissenter.”
    A rough day for “Hope”.

  9. Cargosquid
    January 31, 2011 at 12:57 pm

    The Art of the Gun: http://ifitshipitshere.blogspot.com/2011/01/shoot-thats-fun-bullet-hole-art-of-walt.html

    Yet another reason not to ban large capacity magazines…..

  10. punchak
    January 31, 2011 at 2:26 pm

    Hey Cargo, that’s beautiful!

  11. Steve Thomas
    January 31, 2011 at 4:11 pm

    Federal Judge in Florida just struck down Obamacare.

  12. e
    January 31, 2011 at 4:33 pm

    america 1, obama 0

  13. Moon-howler
    January 31, 2011 at 4:50 pm

    @Steve, I guess it will move on to the Supremes now. I guess I don’t have an opinion at this point. Something is needed. Perhaps a new plan that more people can buy in to?

  14. Steve Thomas
    January 31, 2011 at 5:13 pm

    Moon-howler :@Steve, I guess it will move on to the Supremes now. I guess I don’t have an opinion at this point. Something is needed. Perhaps a new plan that more people can buy in to?

    Moon,

    It certainly looks that way, and I am going to predict the law gets struck down there as well. The individual mandate and lack of severability doomed this law from the start.

    I was always in favor of what GW proposed back in 2004, allowing individuals to buy into the same plan that covers Federal workers. I also like the High deductible catastrophic plans with HSA as an option for those young folks or hourly folks who want something to cover the big events, and the preventative stuff.

  15. Lafayette
    January 31, 2011 at 5:20 pm

    I believe the case will go through the Appelate Court, then on to the Supreme. There’s no doubt it will eventually make it’s way to the SC.

    The judge didn’t sign the injunction today, because the law doesn’t take effect until 2014. There was no immediate need for the injunction according to the judge because, the law isn’t going into effect anytime soon.

  16. Cargosquid
    January 31, 2011 at 5:41 pm

    @Lafayette
    Well, except for the taxes to pay for it….

  17. juturna
    January 31, 2011 at 6:34 pm

    Reminds me of the sealt belt law. No one really cared about the benefit – just the cost in case of an accident.

    Insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies have so much control and influence. Halliburton snapped up the rest.

  18. juturna
    January 31, 2011 at 6:35 pm

    I forgot Vanguard.

  19. DB
    January 31, 2011 at 7:33 pm

    So yet once again in less than 5 months my daughter’s paycheck bounced. Sure she’s sixteen, but has her own account and uses her paycheck to pay my husband and I for her car insurance. Today she got a letter from her bank that her 247 dollar paycheck bounced. So the money she deducted to pay us (on 1/21), the fees she has to pay her bank for a returned check (on 1/26), and the subsequent overdraft charges are adding up. And I’m incensed but she’s afraid if I go into her place of employment and “make a big deal” they’ll fire her. But I’m thinking that this is ridiculous, and there is no excuse. What should i do? Suggestions anyone?

    1. Moon-howler
      January 31, 2011 at 7:51 pm

      DB,

      I would go speak to the CEO or whoever the boss is and tell them how it impacted my life and how if they fire her you are going to light up their lights by going to the press. Meanwhile, get her check coverage.

      That is inexcusable. If they are bouncing checks they might not be around for much longer anyway. That is a good sign of things to come. My son’s ex girlfriend had that happen several times with a restaurant out in Haymarket. They folded.

  20. Emma
    January 31, 2011 at 7:51 pm

    Americans should run for the hills whenever someone proposes “comprehensive” anything. This ridiculous behemoth of a healthcare “reform” was bound to be flaw-ridden and unconstitutional in at least some respects. Why not start by allowing folks to buy insurance across state lines? I can’t imagine that the premiums wouldn’t drop significantly.

  21. Disgusted
    January 31, 2011 at 7:55 pm

    Black Velvet Reporter :
    Great balls of fire!!!!!! Its dueling bibles on the dark side.
    Someone is forgetting that Jesus didn’t write the Bible.
    Of course it could all be solved with Matthew 7:12.

    Dark….Side …too…strong…….
    …Must….go….back…..in….to….thwart……evil……..
    …tell……..Yoda…….

  22. Disgusted
    January 31, 2011 at 7:59 pm

    By the way, loved the Northern Lights!

  23. juturna
    January 31, 2011 at 8:07 pm

    Back to the important stuff—- baaaaaadddd Bill. He duped Barb.

  24. Disgusted
    January 31, 2011 at 8:07 pm

    DB :
    So yet once again in less than 5 months my daughter’s paycheck bounced. Sure she’s sixteen, but has her own account and uses her paycheck to pay my husband and I for her car insurance. Today she got a letter from her bank that her 247 dollar paycheck bounced. So the money she deducted to pay us (on 1/21), the fees she has to pay her bank for a returned check (on 1/26), and the subsequent overdraft charges are adding up. And I’m incensed but she’s afraid if I go into her place of employment and “make a big deal” they’ll fire her. But I’m thinking that this is ridiculous, and there is no excuse. What should i do? Suggestions anyone?

    One summer during college I worked at a moving company. I deposited my paycheck in my account and the same thing happened. So every payday I started taking their paycheck straight to their bank and cash it for the full amount. The I took the cash and deposited it in my account. You gotta do it ASAP. This assumes she has it handed to her at work. Keeps the fees down.

  25. DB
    January 31, 2011 at 8:12 pm

    They’re not only bouncing paychecks, but the paychecks of part time workers. Ridiculously small amounts…181 the first time, 247 the second time. The owner is the person who signs the checks btw, and the paychecks are nothing more than something you’d pull out of your personal checkbook. A check imprinted at the top with the business name written and signed by an owner, no stub. My daughter has called other friends who also had their paychecks bounce this week (at the same place). I told my daughter that at least she’s lucky that she didn’t need the check to pay for rent. Talked to my sister ( a CPA) also and she suggests that I walk in and demand remittance for pay and fees in cash and make sure to report this company. In the meantime she’s researching the company Hibachi Buffet & Sushi, Inc. and wondered aloud why such nickle and dime pay checks bounced.

  26. Emma
    January 31, 2011 at 8:13 pm

    @juturna What a bomb Margene dropped! And Alvy is getting dangerous again.

  27. Posting as Pinko
    January 31, 2011 at 8:23 pm

    @marinm
    CONGRATS to both of you! Are these your first kids?

  28. Posting as Pinko
    January 31, 2011 at 8:24 pm

    @Cargosquid
    Best use of a gun I’ve ever seen. 🙂

  29. juturna
    January 31, 2011 at 8:26 pm

    She’s still just a child and this makes Bill another Warren Jetts. Agree, AlvyAlbie is such such a werido…. Nikki makes the most sense to me. How many shows left? Do you know? Last year was a rip off.

  30. Steve Thomas
    January 31, 2011 at 9:00 pm

    @Lafayette,

    In his opinion, the judge wrote that he was not granting the injunction, because he had injoined the entire law by declaring it Unconstitutional, and he expects the Fed to cease implementation of the law, immediately. Now, the Fed can appeal, but they must comply, or risk contempt.

  31. Moon-howler
    January 31, 2011 at 9:22 pm

    @Emma and Juturna,

    I think Alvey is going go postal and kill someone.

  32. Lafayette
    January 31, 2011 at 9:27 pm

    Steve,
    Thanks for the clarification. It’s still beyond me how it ever got passed to begin with. I’ve been fortunate to have excellent insurance provided by my employers, and I think I might take for granted how bad it could at the snap of finger.

  33. marinm
    January 31, 2011 at 9:27 pm

    I love it that the 2A and the rulings based on it (Morrison and Lopez) are what’s being used to defend against the tyranny of HCR. Legen…wait for it…dary!

    Still reading the ruling but very awesome news. Makes up for getting a flat, replacing it with a spare, not being able to find a place with a replacement in stock and then on the way back home having my battery fail. ALL worth it because of the ruling. 🙂

  34. juturna
    January 31, 2011 at 9:27 pm

    Bill

  35. juturna
    January 31, 2011 at 9:30 pm

    Albie will go after Bill. End of marriage.

  36. Lafayette
    January 31, 2011 at 9:42 pm

    I thought Bill was eyeing #4 when he dropped her and the kiddos off at the shelter.

  37. juturna
    January 31, 2011 at 9:45 pm

    Not to mention Cara Lynne… that crossed my mind as well. I haven’t gotton over him throwing his partner Don to the wolves.

  38. Lafayette
    January 31, 2011 at 9:48 pm

    Poor Don, indeed. I was creeped out by the teacher giving the gift to Niki’s daughter. Creepy*

  39. juturna
    January 31, 2011 at 9:50 pm

    so which is worse our world, their world – our world that takes advantage of their world???Guess wrong is wrong and children should not be wives.

  40. Lafayette
    January 31, 2011 at 9:52 pm

    I’ll take our world anyday. How about Niki’s mom saying they’ll give me $350 a month to stay off of welfare. Grr..Who’s taking care of who?

  41. Lafayette
    January 31, 2011 at 9:52 pm

    Children should not be wives or mothers!

  42. juturna
    January 31, 2011 at 9:56 pm

    Money always prevails – welfare seems to be the bigger complaint about polygamy. Not really the kids 🙁

  43. Emma
    January 31, 2011 at 9:59 pm

    Did anyone catch Lora pulling off fake eyelashes when she was sitting in the shelter? What was that about?

  44. Emma
    January 31, 2011 at 10:04 pm

    And Bill was watching her do that.

  45. marinm
    January 31, 2011 at 10:27 pm

    Ok, this made me almost spew ice cream all over my keyboard.

    “I note that in 2008, then-Senator Obama supported a health care reform proposal that did not include an individual mandate because he was at that time strongly opposed to the idea, stating that, ‘If a mandate was the solution, we can try that to solve homelessness by mandating everybody to buy a house,’” Judge Vinson wrote in a footnote toward the end of his 78-page ruling Monday.

    That’s full of epic win!

  46. Emma
    January 31, 2011 at 11:01 pm

    @marinm You just made my day.

  47. Moon-howler
    January 31, 2011 at 11:32 pm

    @Lafayette

    Its easy. They had the votes.

    There are many people, millions in fact, who make too much to go on medicaid and don’t have enough money to have health care insurance.

    I never thought about it either until I had to pony up and pay my own. Think real nice car payment and mine is still in group so no age penalty.

    I am convinced the people opposed to it never thought about those who don’t have it through their employer, those who have pre-existing conditions, or those who lose their insurance between jobs.

  48. Moon-howler
    January 31, 2011 at 11:37 pm

    @marinm

    marin, what would you do if you lost your job with a pregnant wife? You don’t even want to think about it.

    I have a friend whose husband got cancer between jobs. They are probably still paying it off. This was over 16 years ago.

    Remember that 3 month waiting period also, even if you go from one job to the next. Unless things have changed, COBRA can be extremely expensive.

    Tyranny? Tyranny is private health care costing more than people can afford.

    It is real easy to get on a high horse when you are playing with a few aces. Chris said it can all change with the snap of one’s fingers. She is right.

  49. Moon-howler
    January 31, 2011 at 11:39 pm

    I checked with my brit friend Roger. He lamented that their health care system is deteriorating to be like our current one.

  50. Moon-howler
    January 31, 2011 at 11:42 pm

    @Emma

    What was that eye lash thing all about? I didn’t know what she was doing.

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