Batten down the hatches. It’s another windy weekend.

Don’t forget about the 1- year anniversary bash at Mama Mia’s in Gainesville Sunday from 1-4.

Lafayette promises red velvet cake–plus, you can drink beer, wine, meals, sandwiches, pizza.  

 

 

Mama Mias Pizza

7669 Limestone Dr # 110
Gainesville, VA 20155-4038
(703) 753-4605

150 Thoughts to “Open Thread………………………………………….Friday, February 25”

  1. Cindy B

    Thanks for the reminder. I’ll be bringing a few door prizes from my favorite shops in Old Town Manassas. 🙂

  2. Morris Davis

    A report by the CBO last month assessing military pay and benefits contains the following statement:

    “In earlier work on military pay, CBO estimated that the combination of noncash and deferred benefits is about equal to regular military compensation. DoD has reached the same conclusion. In other words, the value of noncash and deferred benefits adds 100 percent to cash compensation.” http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/120xx/doc12042/01-20-Compensation.pdf

    You can go to militarypay.defense.gov and find a military pay calculator in the tools section. It shows that an E-6 (a junior enlisted member) with a family of 4 and 10 years of service living in Milwaukee gets $62,418 in compensation (pay + food allowance + housing allowance + benefit of no tax on the allowances). If the CBO and DOD are correct, then adding the cost of benefits (which would include, among other things, medical care and retirement) doubles that amount to $124,836. That does not include any reenlistment bonuses or specialty pay the individual might receive. To make the comparison closer to a Milwaukee school teacher, military officers are required to have a college degree. An O-3 (a junior officer) with a family of 4 and 10 years of service living in Milwaukee gets $92,724 in compensation, so add benefits and that’s $185,448 a year. (A Colonel with 30 years of service in the same scenario earns $165,000 and costs $330,000 a year).

  3. Big Dog

    http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/breaking/wb/278274

    Follow up on an earlier posting.

    What other views/documents could be shared the same way at the same locations?
    That is where more legal fun begins.

  4. @Moe, it sounds to me like the teacher went in to the wrong line of work.

    Those teacher housing allowances just can’t be beat! [sarcasm button on]

    What do you suppose would happen if, gasp! the governor made the same remarks about any of the ranks you mentioned? He would be tarred and feathered by the GOP Patriots.

  5. Wolverine

    (1) Liberal WTDY radio show host John “Sly” Sylvester about Wisconsin GOP Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch: She has performed “fellatio on every talk show host in Milwaukee.” He then proceeds to mock her battle against colon cancer, asking if she is wearing a wig or just has a bad hairdo. News reports in Wisconsin, including refusals to apologize.

    (2) At an AFSCME rally in Providence, RI, in solidarity with the Wisconsin workers. On video. Rally participant to public access cameraman while striking him: “I’ll f**k you in the a**, faggot!”

    (3) At a teacher protest in Denver. RedWhiteBlue news on tape. Rally participant in the crowd to Black limousine driver and Tea Party supporter Leland Robinson: Do you have any children? That you claim?”

    (4) AlterNet liberal writer about Black Tea Party supporter Herman Cain: “monkey in the window” and “black garbage pail kids” inter alia. Article available on the internet.

    Civility. Ain’t it so nice?

    1. Wolverine, I am trying to figure out what your post means.

      Do you think we can all agree that some people aren’t very nice human beings? I believe they come in all political persuassions.

      Not sure I get the ‘Do you have any children’ comment but I did smile. I have been known to tell my own that I don’t claim them at times.

  6. ci·vil·i·ty (s-vl-t)
    n. pl. ci·vil·i·ties
    1. Courteous behavior; politeness;
    2. A courteous act or utterance.
    3.required to be used by conservatives when addressing liberals or expressing any opinion.
    4. Automatically assumed to be present in all utterances by liberals.

    😉

  7. Big Dog

    http://www.roanoke.com/extra/wb/277512

    Darth Vader walking down the hall of a Roanoke motel today must mean his work
    for the Republicans in Richmond is over for another session. Thank goodness.

  8. @Moon-howler
    The “do you have any children” comment comes from a woman that walked up and asked the TP member if he had children that he claimed, stating that having children was a perquisite for having a valid opinion. The “that you claim” was pure insult and may be racially motivated as the member was a black man.

    http://www.lookingattheleft.com/2011/02/racism-incivility-union-thugs/

    Link has photo of the encounter and a later interview.

  9. “you can drink beer, wine, meals, sandwiches, pizza. ”

    MMMMmmmm….beeeeer…….D’oh! I may have to travel unarmed.

    @Big Dog
    LOL.

    But, wouldn’t Darth be in favor of bigger government? HE wouldn’t be in favor of privatizing the liquor. Must be one of those statist Republicans. They do exist, ya know….

  10. @Cargosquid

    I could do the tea party thing and just deny it happened….but I prefer to just admit that some people are hateful, rude, sob’s. I think that is more realistic. :mrgreen:

  11. George S. Harris

    @Morris Davis
    Wow Moe–I didn’t realize we were worth so much! Federal poverty level for a family of 4 = $22,050.

    CBO Opinion = Male Bovine Merde.

  12. @CARgo, I sure missed the racial part of that insult.

    I guess we can’t all agree that some people have very bad manners and were raised in a barn, and should not kiss their mother with those lips?

    Cargo, a person’s decorum is not measured by political belief. I have seen rude pigs that were conservative (and usually trying to beat my brains in) and I have have seen rude liberal pigs. The people in those examples are pigs. So what? Are you and Wolverine just finding out that people can be intolerably rude, especially when mob mentality abounds?

    The comments I questioned appeared out of no where and I had been away from the blog. They seemed random. Basically, some people are rude, tasteless, and ignorant. This is not a news flash.

  13. Wolverine

    I think, Moon, that your basic premise about “all political persuasions” is a correct one. This is just my little generic payback for over a year of hearing accusations about Tea Party spitting and racial epithets allegedly being hurled at certain congresspersons. Clearly we have a kettle and pot situation now to which future reference can be made if needed — although I cannot recall hearing a Tea Party person threaten someone with putting his Tab A in the other guy’s Slot B. Also, I think that “monkey in the window” (just another way of saying “Uncle Tom”) is a bit more literal than that famous macaca moment of Virginia fame.

    Also applies, I would posit, to those signs at the Madison protest which depicted Gov. Walker as virtually every political tyrant in the last 100 years. Kettle and pot once again.

    Am I just finding this out? No. You forget that we are contemporaries from the Vietnam Era. I just like it when someone hands you the verbal ammunition for future return salvos —- just in case the subject is ever raised again in the future. Hopefully there will not be a future occasion to do so. I will say, however, that I noticed in the videos that some were smart enough to realize what had happened and tried to shush up the malefactors. Good. The kettle and pot situation has been recognized.

    1. @Wolverine, I didn’t see that going on in a video anywhere, but that certainly doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. I have full confidence that mob mentality ruled the day in many situations.

      The big difference on this blog, as I see it, is that I believe it happened, unlike the spitting and racial epithet situation which was denied. Human nature being what it is, I totally believe all the situations happened.

      Perhaps I don’t feel the ownership with those described. I am supporting the people in Winconsin because I don’t like union busting. I don’t feel I am one of them. I figure many of this could become one of them if a stop isn’t put to what is going on, however.

      Is it fair to say that the tea party is anti union?

  14. Big Dog

    http://www.roanoke.com/politics/wb/278298

    An interesting, and from my view, accurate profile of Delegate Marshall.

    Add that if you confront him on an issue, you better have carefully studied all sides
    of the issue and the know the facts. Like his views or not, Bob is smart, articulate
    and dedicated to what he supports and always does his homework.

  15. Censored bybvbl

    And then there’s always the possibility of the “rude people” being political plants by the opposition, but then I’d guess you guys already knew that but wanted to score some political points anyway.

  16. Elena

    Big Dog,
    I have two words for you regarding Bob Marshall………………”love canal” When it comes to a women, I beg to differ, I’ll debate Bob anyday, he thinks birth control should be illegal. To me, that demonstrates someone who does NOT know his facts.

    Calling Lafayette….Calling Lafayette…..have a “love canal” video to post for Big Dog!

  17. Elena

    Wolverine,
    What are your thoughts on Shep Smtih calling union busting for what it is, a means to break the democratic party?

  18. Lafayette

    Calling Lafayette….Calling Lafayette…..have a “love canal” video to post for Big Dog!

    I just saw this. I’m usually right on top of that request. Ask and you shall receive. 😉
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6k4RrKNk7s

  19. Cindy B

    Something tells me we are going to thrown out of Mama Mia’s by the third hour of our reunion.

    Just returned from the county’s half-day neighborhood conference. Good information on difficult HOA boards, hoarding, graffiti abatement, legislative issues. Great speech by county resident Connie Moser, the State Neighborhood Advocate of the Year on how to just get out there and make change happen.

    Happy to see at least seven city residents there from GTS, Point of Woods and Weems, taking advantage of the learning opportunities. Missed you, Lafayette!

  20. BoyThreeOne

    I just returned from a pro-union rally here (NYC) that was large but not mob-like. It was brimming with good will, actually, excepting a notable disturbance near where we were standing. A man was waving a large, hand-written sign with a pro-Wisconsin workers affirmation on one side and a seriously wrong message on the other. The bad side said something like: “Wisconsin, where is the Arizona shooter when you need him?” The people surrounding this man were trying to persuade him to hold his sign down, and he was belligerently refusing to do so. It was an instance of discovering an ass among your ranks. He was eventually ignored and went away. We had our little dog with us, who is a good will ambassador and spreads love wherever he goes, so we were in a sea of love in our section.

    There was also a Planned Parenthood rally nearby. We left early, but I think the pro-union rally people were headed for the Planned Parenthood rally.

  21. Lafayette

    Cindy,
    I know I wanted to be there. I had kid stuff to tend to.
    Elena/Moon,
    I just noticed the comments have been disabled on the ole love canal youtube.

  22. @Cindy B

    Lafayette better be home baking her red velvet cake!!

    I think that we should declare a moratorium on discussion of anything to do with 1. reproduction or 2. unions.
    I have specifically told Mr. Howler to stay home. He won’t do well with #1. He just turns into an A.H. I, who have never defended unions, don’t trust myself on Wisconsin.

  23. @BTO, There is nothing like a dog to be a good will emmissary. Thanks for the report.
    I didn’t realize you were in NYC. Bear is also from NY. He is about an hour out of the city.

    I don’t have a problem at all with admitting there are asses amongst the ranks, regardless of what the issue is. I have never been involved in any political activity that there weren’t a handful (or more ) of asses. I don’t mind admitting it. Just because I agree with them politically isn’t fairy dust. They would be asses if we were talking about feeding the poor or hanging axe murderers. An ass is an ass.

    Hint hint: I am sure there is at least one in the Tea Party, somewhere.

  24. BoyThreeOne

    @Moon-howler
    Yes, I live in East Harlem (Spanish Harlem), which is one of the reasons I have such a personal investment in immigration reform. Most of my neighbors are from Mexico and are undocumented. I love them and need them in my life. I found your blog because of the 9500 Liberty film, which I saw a screening of here.

    1. BTO, neat. Then you definitely live in the most interesting spot, compared to us ‘burbanites.

      I am glad you found us. Were Annabel and Eric at the screening?

  25. On the subject of the protests–The Teamsters are there now. Just out of curiosity, who ever thought the Teamsters were kind, gentle pussy cats?

    The signs are colorful, to say the least. I laughed when I saw some of them.

    Huge rallies often have a less then polite element. Those folks are always good for a laugh but you just hope you aren’t walking close to them.

    There was a pro choice march many years ago where I ended up walking next to the topless lesbian corp. I dropped out for a few minutes. Distance can be a good thing.
    🙄

  26. Wolverine

    Censored — Look again at my original post. There is no way that the Tea Party could plant a Sly Sylvester or that known liberal commentator on AlterNet. I don’t know about the gal in Denver, but the chap in Providence looked rather genuine to me. I watched the entire video over again with him in mind and, in my opinion, he was part and parcel of the protest crowd. Looked to me that he was one of them. He hadn’t been acting up at all before that, not even carrying a protest a sign. The photog was right behind him at work for awhile before this thing suddenly exploded. To give credit where credit is due, those same people around him and with whom he had been chatting certainly looked embarrassed when the public access TV photog was slapped and the epithets were hurled, and they didn’t protest a bit when the cops came and escorted the guy away. Good on ’em. That’s an encouraging thing. But that is also what many Tea Party people have been saying about our side. We don’t like the way-out-there jerks in our midst anymore than you do. As far as I am concerned, a plague on the jerks on both sides.

  27. Juturna

    Anyone else having a chill down their spine? And I used to be concerned about a Chinese or Saudi takeover. Well, as I’ve been told, domestic terrorism is of larger concern……maybe the answer to our deficit and the economy is to just dismantle Congress and turn the whole country over to the Koch Bros to run…..I’m sure they would tax us at a very low rate for the responsibility.

    “The New Hampshire House passed HB 519 by 246-104 on Wednesday, repealing its membership in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), after a successful robocall campaign fronted by Koch-funded Americans for Prosperity, one of the national Tea Party groups created by the oil billionaires. New Hampshire was one of the founding members of RGGI, a carbon market between 10 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states and the first mandatory emissions trading plan in the country. RGGI requires power plants in participating states to cap CO2 emissions at 188 million short tons per year through 2014, with additional annual reductions of 2.5 percent from 2015 to 2018”

  28. BoyThreeOne

    @Moon-howler
    The person at the screening was Chris Rigopulos.

    Go topless lesbians! I feel extra self-conscious next to them, though.

    1. @BTO, they were young and were acting out. It was amusing but I still didn’t want to go prancing down the street with them. I think many things are amusing that I don’t want associated with me. 👿

  29. Wolverine

    What Moon did not tell us is whether Mr. Moonhowler also dropped out of the line of march. Hmmmmmmm?

    1. He didn’t go to that one, Wolverine. I was with chix that times.

  30. Big Dog, how about an update on Osbourn HS basketball?

    Will you be joining us Sunday?

  31. Emma

    “There was a pro choice march many years ago where I ended up walking next to the topless lesbian corp. I dropped out for a few minutes. Distance can be a good thing.”
    🙄@Moon-howler

    Oh, Moon, the images you put in our minds X_X

  32. Emma

    ok, well, that smiley didn’t work out…

  33. Lafayette

    Emma,
    We’ll we be seeing you today?

  34. Lafayette

    Need my first cup of coffee… WILL we be seeing you today?

  35. Emma

    Waiting to hear from hubby–might have to pick him up at the airport in the middle of it all–should know soon.

  36. Someone last week made mention of the fact that they didn’t think teachers and I assume other people on the public dole should get compensated for having a masters degree.

    If one is an educator, don’t we assume that they get more proficient as they acquire new knowledge and skills? Is this anti public employee sentiment part of an anti intellectual movement?

    Why not just bring in people off the street to teach? Certain professions are associated with having degrees. (social work, librarians, doctors, registered nurses, architects, commissioned officers, CPAs, financial officers, etc. Do we just gut all the work people have done to attain a certain knowledge and skill level if they have the misfortunate to work for state, local or federal govt?

  37. That was me but what I said was…how does having a Master’s translate into a better educational experience for a 3rd grader? Why the extra compensation?

    It’s not anti-intellectual at all.

  38. Bubberella

    In some states, attainment of a masters is a requirement for tenure or continued work as a teacher. That’s a fairly expensive proposition both in time and money.

  39. Elena

    Marinm, as one who holds a masters degree in school counseling, if one is working upon the premise that certain professions require a college degree in order to be prepared for a job, than a masters degree simply says one has even more education in their particluar profession. It’s no different than the masters degree my husband has in engineering. One should be compensated for taking the additional cost and time to further one’s career. Does having a masters automatically make you a better anything, well, not necessarily, but I also would not simply suggest it is meaningless either!

    I have never been a teacher, it was too tough of a job and actually, the thought of being responsible for educating another human being was just too daunting. I also could not stand the thought of standing up in front of an entire room of people, even if they are kids, and having everyone stare at me! Too nerve racking! When I was a counselor I was responsible for bullying/harrassment lessons in the classrooms, it always stressed me out.

  40. Elena

    buythreeone,
    You have been a wonderful addition to the discussion here and I am glad you found us!

  41. @Elena

    I hear ya. I make no value statement on having a Master’s or not. Overall I think it’s a positive thing but in the context of an K-12 teacher does it make financial sense for the district? When looked at from the individual’s POV – absolutely – especially if the district will pick up the tab of the schooling AND increase pay after the fact. From the District’s POV — not so much. I guess the arguement you can make is that it may bring in new ideas, new ways of thinking, new something — but couldn’t we get the same from a 2 day seminar?

    1. Not even close, Marin. A masters degree is 30 graduate hours.

  42. Cato the Elder

    @marinm

    Think about it like this – your people are your assets, human capital if you will. I expect that people in your field get paid a bit more if they hold a CISSP or a CCIE (or whatever), or at least they should. Same thing with teachers, they are assets of their districts. After I as a taxpayer make an investment (like helping to pay for that master’s degree) I also want to protect or hedge that investment so they don’t jump ship to greener pastures, and one of the ways I can do this is by paying them more money.

    So can we draw a straight line between education level and results? No, but sometimes evaluation metrics are imperfect and do not bear immediate fruit. For lack of a crystal ball, the attainment of an advanced degree shows, at the very least, the desire for self improvement. I’m willing to pay up to keep people like that, at least until they prove otherwise.

  43. @Cato the Elder

    That makes sense to me. Thank you.

  44. Big Dog

    M-H, Big Dog is a little under the weather and won’t make the gathering today.

    May have cheered and whooped too much at last night’s great see-saw
    b-ball battle between my OHS Eagles and the Potomac Panthers. It
    didn’t turn out the way I hoped -by one basket- but both teams move
    on to the state tournament.

  45. Lafayette

    @Big Dog
    Sorry you won’t be able to join us today. I hope you feel better soon.

    The “Lady” Raiders lost by two points last night too. Not a good night for the Manassas high schools(City of Manassas and PWC) 🙂

  46. Cindy B

    If there’s any door prizes left over, I will make sure you get one, Big Dog 🙂

  47. Had a great time and was good to fix some names to faces. My wife was surprised that I wasn’t shot at. 🙂

    For those that didn’t hear we found out yesterday the genders for the twins. A boy and a girl.

    With Angela giving me a son now I have an heir to inherit my lands, wealth, and titles.. And I have a daughter to dote on and to fetch me a good bride price.

    Did I mention I’m blogging from my new home on the sofa????

    TY to everyone that made today happen and HI to those we met. 🙂

  48. Cindy B

    And you were so polite in public, marinm. The shackles didn’t even show…

    I had a wonderful time with all present. Delicious red velvet cake, great company. We were laughing about how we tell our children not to meet strangers from the Internet…but I sat next to the mother of one of my former Girl Scouts, who delighted in telling me she is now a police officer….and a woman who knew my beloved first husband, Martin Cross. I still love hearing his name said out loud. Small world!

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