Not so nice weather out there.  Brrrrrrr!  It’s cold and windy.  Winter can’t be far off now.

Let’s see, we have the winter solstice and the Mayan end of the world to look forward to.

Is anyone making plans?

What are the hot toys to buy this year?  HELP!!!

 

Full Beaver Moon – November This was the time to set beaver traps before the swamps froze, to ensure a supply of warm winter furs. Another interpretation suggests that the name Full Beaver Moon comes from the fact that the beavers are now actively preparing for winter. It is sometimes also referred to as the Frosty Moon.  Nov. 28

 

94 Thoughts to “Open Thread…………………………………………………..Saturday, Nov. 24”

  1. Wishing Cargo good luck as his academic term draws to a close. He is working on major projects.

  2. Elena

    I second that good luck to Cargo 🙂

  3. Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving.

    Now…back to the studies….where DID I put that bourbon?

  4. Emma

    Just checking in to say hi and Happy (belated) Thanksgiving.

    1. Happy T-day. I haven’t seen you since you know what day. Did you do it and then chase with vodka?

  5. Elena

    and to you too Emma 🙂

    We have a nice warm fire going, gotta love those wood inserts, they really take the chill off the house!

  6. TWINAD

    Go see Anna Karenina…beautiful movie. Not for everyone, but I loved it!

  7. Read Tolstoy! What better way to pass the winter.

  8. Lyssa

    Richard III supposedly locked his little nephews in the Tower of London.

    Someone is captivated by Count Vronsky’ s character…….

  9. Emma

    I loved reading Anna Karenina. The best books are the ones where you’ve entered a world you don’t want to leave when you turn the last page. Pop fiction depresses me. For an awesome winter read, also try “The Count of Monte Cristo.” I read that over the summer and absolutely loved it.

    Moon, I will “fess up that when it came to the end, I just couldn’t do it. But I still needed vodka after making that choice, and then after some of the cringe-worthy things he was saying post-defeat. Whatever. The people spoke. And I was too bogged down in writing a paper to blog about it, which was probably a good thing.

    1. I just couldnt see you pulling the big D lever. I am not surprised. I thoguht about you at various times throughout Nov. 6 and wondered if you were somewhere behind a tree gnawing your arm off.

  10. Lyssa

    Somerset Maugham and John Galsworthy are work a look…

  11. Starryflights

    Inquiry into Savita’s death to be finished by Christmas: Ireland WORLD,
    Posted on Nov 25, 2012 at 11:29pm IST

    London: The probe into Savita Halappanavar’s death will be completed before Christmas, Ireland’s Health Minister has said, even as her distraught husband was considering lodging a complaint with the Ombudsman to assert ownership of his wife’s medical notes. “I’ve made it very clear this investigation must be completed as expeditiously as possible and I now understand that will happen before Christmas and I may have an interim report in a matter of weeks,” James Reilly, the Health Minister, was quoted by the Irish Times as saying.

    “I equally understand now that the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) have become involved and they will do that as expeditiously as possible but until I get the report I can’t say what the next step is. The report will certainly inform our next actions,” he added.

    Savita, 31, died from blood poisoning at the Galway University Hospital on October 28 after doctors allegedly refused to perform an abortion stating “this is a Catholic country”. Reilly made his comments at the Mid-Western Regional Hospital in Limerick on Saturday, having earlier met Halappanavar’s husband Praveen in a Galway city centre hotel.
    VideoPhotoGallery
    Savita, 31, died from blood poisoning on October 28 after doctors allegedly refused to perform an abortion.

    http://ibnlive.in.com/news/inquiry-into-savitas-death-to-be-finished-by-christmas-ireland/307374-2.html

    This is appalling and disgusting that a western country, modern in every sense, allows a woman to die because they refused to perform an abortion. Their actions done lost both the mother and the child. I am appalled and disgusted.

  12. TWINAD

    I agree Emma…nothing like a classic. It’s the best way to escape. I looked all over for my copy of AK last night and came up empty. I must have lent it or given it to someone. So I picked up Dangerous Liaisons to re-read. Should be gone for awhile!

  13. @Emma
    Find books by Rafael Sabatini. Captain Blood, Scaramouche, etc. You’ll like them.

  14. Emma

    @Cargosquid Thanks, Cargo! I just loaded up my Kindle with them–all freebies.

  15. Emma

    @Lyssa I’ve never read “The Forsyte Saga”. Just downloaded it, thanks!

  16. Lyssa

    @Emma

    Great. My idea of a book club is sharing titles.. I’m going to check out Sabatini.

  17. Book on tapes can be found in the library with Sabatini. When read aloud, that old fashioned english is wonderful.

  18. @Emma

    There is a series of movies about it also. Netflix and Amazon. Fabulous!!!

  19. Oh dear God, the toadies have started a rumor that the Sheriff of Nottingham has been exiled from Moonhowlings. That is simply not true.

    In fact, no one is banned from Moonhowlings. Everyone has to go by our rules is the only caveat. See Guidelines tab upper right hand tab at the top of the page. Cussin’ is even allowed here. I do plenty of that!

    Get it right, toadies!!!!

  20. Ivan

    It appears that the Sheriff is getting a tad bit paranoid. I wonder what the bounty is now for his I.D.?

    1. Good way to get your knee caps broken I think. 👿

  21. Wendy

    Ivan :
    It appears that the Sheriff is getting a tad bit paranoid. I wonder what the bounty is now for his I.D.?

    Not to big a secret anymore who he/ they are. Who cares – they’re not doing anything useful. “Real HousePoor of Prince William”.

    It’s cyber Monday!

  22. Ivan

    @ Wendy

    You got that right. Nothing more than a little comic relief.

  23. Starryflights

    Warren Buffett calls for a minimum tax on the wealthy
    Reuters – 1 hour 29 minutes ago

    (Reuters) – Warren Buffett, the legendary investor who changed the debate about U.S. tax reform in 2011 with a call for the rich to pay more, is now calling for minimum tax rates for millionaires.
    In a New York Times editorial printed on Monday, Buffett suggested Congress move immediately to implement minimum taxes of 30 percent on incomes of $1 million to $10 million and 35 percent above that.

    “A plain and simple rule like that will block the efforts of lobbyists, lawyers and contribution-hungry legislators to keep the ultra rich paying rates well below those incurred by people with income just a tiny fraction of ours,” Buffett wrote.

    “Only a minimum tax on very high incomes will prevent the stated tax rate from being eviscerated by these warriors for the wealthy,” he added.

    http://finance.yahoo.com/news/warren-buffett-calls-minimum-tax-143453682.html

    I think that’s an excellent idea.

  24. THE Rottingham Reporter

    Hi everybody, its me, the Reporter. I am picking up side work.

    It looks like your friend The Sheriff is out of town. No action over there so I thought I would stir stuff up. The dark master has also been a tad lazy.

    What will THE Sheriff attack someone over next? Does anyone want to place a bet?

  25. @Starryflights
    I agree. We need to tax the wealthy like him. Tax the assets, not the income. Tax the tax sheltering foundation where he parked his money so that his family will live off it without paying estate taxes. Get him to pay the billion dollars that Bershire Hathaway owes. He’s been fight that for years.

  26. Lyssa

    @THE Rottingham Reporter

    The weather? Might rain or something.

  27. Someone recommend a good plumber to me? I used the same people for many years. They sold out and retired. I got ripped off big time by the new company who bought them out. Time to move on.

    Unfortunately, when you need a plumber, you need a plumber. I won’t be going back.

  28. Mom

    Shoot me an e-mail telling me what you need.

  29. Morris Davis

    The Cooch is making news, this time arguing Obama stole the election before his spokesman said that is not what he meant.

    http://www.mediaite.com/online/republican-attorney-general-of-virginia-suggests-president-obama-stole-the-election/

  30. Censored bybvbl

    Uh oh. Someone’s going to have to work a bit harder. Pete Snyder has thrown his hat into the lieutenant governor’s race. It’s getting crowded out there!

    1. they are going to have to start using elbows if they don’t watch out.

      Maybe Corey will back out and just run for gov. Forget LG.

      how about it Corey?

  31. Mmmmm end of the world! That’s what happens when you run out of Twinkies.

  32. Prince William County is going to run out of civilization. Corey and Pete Candland are advancing a flat tax rate. Corey is doing it to advance himself. I think Candland actually believes the people of PWC are poor and need his help. Maybe he needs to look around Gainesville. Lots of wealth out there.

    Sadly, if the flat taxers have their way we will become a third world county.

    To keep the tax amount the same, some draconian cuts would have to be made. I haven’t worked my entire life in this area to settle into south western Virginia mentality and services.

    Corey, Pete, stop doing this. Talk like you have some pride in this county. Both of you are Carpetbaggers. I can hear it in your accents. We don’t need to go on the cheap just so both of you can advance your political careers. Just because we are in the sorta south, doesn’t mean we have to live like poor folks. Throttling back services to the health department. Jesus Christ, Corey!

    Weren’t you the one whining about Mrsa and TB few years ago? Don’t be stupid.

    Pete, stop having anonymous men who cut everyone down to size following you about. Its really beginning to look funny. I don’t run in bird circles but I do walk amongst people who can read and write. They tell me it is starting to look mighty funny. These anonymous bloggers are going to start sticking to you in ways you aren’t going to welcome. —-sort of like toilet paper to the bottom of a shoe.

    I know you are trying and I appreciate SOME of your efforts but get rid of the pitbull who backs your every move and drop back and get the lay of the land. Some of these things are going to be hard to defend come election time, especially the pitbulls.

  33. Richard Petrie

    People who have pride in the county want to enhance it, not put it on the cheap to see where you can cut pennies.

    Many of us have huge investments in the county. We didn’t move thinking it wasn’t going to cost us.

    Are Republicans now catering only to poor people? My BS screen is bleeping like crazy now.

    1. Welcome Richard. I hope you have county pride. It sounds like you do.

  34. Elena

    Agree Richard! Welcome 🙂

  35. Censored bybvbl

    My husband and I moved to this county over 30 years ago because we liked our unique neighborhood. Had it been in Fairfax, we’d not have left Fairfax. We expect Prince William County to offer the types of services that one would find in the ‘burbs of the nation’s capital – decent schools, decent parks, good libraries, good public transportation, etc. I don’t want to live on the cheap just so that some two bit politicians can be re-elected. I’ve made an investment in my house and my community. I don’t want some malcontents and the laptops to which they’re glued to harm that investment.

  36. So, who is following the “fiscal cliff” scam? You know, the situation that was planned back during the last debt ceiling farce? I love how all the usual suspects are decrying the situation and blaming the Republicans even before any negotiations have begun. Last time, the Democrats were PRAISING the deal and it was those that voted against settling for this dog and pony show that was criticized. Apparently the Tea Party criticism was right.

    As soon as it was feasible, the Democrats were going to blame the GOP for things that they praised earlier…..so it wasn’t worth it to “compromise” with the Democrats. The GOP gets the blame anyway.

    http://datechguyblog.com/2012/11/28/the-bipartisian-joy-terrible-threat-of-sequestration/

    The GOP can’t win on this. If they stand on principle, the low info voters that vote for the Democrats, and by that I mean the press, will butcher them

    I think, since Bohner has no spine anyway and want’s to cave, the conservatives should communicate with their constituents and tell them that, because of political conditions, because they are in a lose lose situation, they will temporarily allow the Democrats to pass their tax raises and vote “present” or abstain. I think that the Democrats should get everything that they want. And they should own it like they own the upcoming ObamaCare disaster.

  37. punchak

    @Cargosquid
    Cooperating is NOT caving!

  38. Starryflights

    @Cargosquid I says let sequestration come. Let the Bush tax cuts expire! Let the spending cuts, especially to the Defense Department, come! Bring It on! You guys wanted austerity, well, here comes an avalanche of austerity! Obama should stand firm and let it come to pass!

  39. THE Rottingham Reporter

    @Moon-howler

    Sadly, there doesn’t appear to be any commitment to the future of PWC.

  40. @Starryflights
    I see that you’ve been reading my previous posts from before the election. Remember, I’m the one that called for across the board real 10% cuts in spending.

    But that was before I saw the light.

    @punchak
    So, the Democrats should cooperate and start cutting spending. Or would that be caving?

    1. Cargo, I believe this time it is time for the REpublicans to start working with the President. No one wants to raise taxes on the 98%. So Republicans should look at this as they are getting 98% of what they want. That isnt a bad return when you think about it.

      They need to stop the sequestration. Then after Jan 1, they need to seriously look at where some cut backs can be made. However, first things first….stop the cliff situation. Of course, the same set of “patriots” could hold out for Grover Norquist and just say no, paying little attention to the fact that most people with investments lost thousands of dollars because of their brinksmanship.

      Cargo, I know you don’t like hearing that but anyone who handles finances knows what caused the stock market fall out in Late July 2011.

    2. Across the board cuts are absurd. Some areas can obviously absorb cuts better than others.

      What’s more important, extra paper clips or a flak jacket? Services for vets or some stupid ass report some congressman wants?

      Air traffic security? don’t cut it back Leave the air traffic controllers alone too.

      You can even shave off some of those services…if someone with a mild disorder comes in once a month, stretch it out to 6 weeks or ever other month. If someone with combat wounds needs a doctor, dont cut their services.

      I think I am suggesting common sense and need. Across the board cuts disregard need and importance.

  41. @Moon-howler
    If the sequestration is so bad, then why did the Congress and the President applaud the idea and design it?
    I’ll answer it. Because its all games.
    So, after the tax raises go in…. we need to look at cuts after Jan 1. Even though the Senate has stated that there will be no serious cuts. The House has put tax raises on the table, but the Democrats are refusing to deal in good faith. They have presented no written plan or budget.

    Of course, recently, I’ve advocated that the GOP work with the President. The House is waiting to see what cuts he will make to join in the new revenue offered by Bohner. I believe that the system is set up to make the GOP look bad no matter what, so they shouldn’t play the game. They should explain to the constituents that the Democrats have them trapped, politically. And since the voters want more taxes….they will cooperate during this national emergency and not stand in the way of the President. Vote ‘present” on the tax votes. Let them raise taxes on the “rich.” And then when the economy starts dropping… the Democrats own it.

    Personally, I’ve changed my mind. Its the conservative thing for taxes to be raised. Everyone pays. Its only fair. The voters want more spending, then they should pay for it. We cannot afford to borrow and spend. The citizens need to feel the pain of their spending. Don’t get me wrong. I believe lower, flatter taxes or a nat’l sales tax would be better for growth. But the voters didn’t vote for growth. They voted for a supposed “safety net.” So, let them pay for it.

    I was advocating a straight cut…if only 1% because politicians are cowards and don’t want to be seen cutting a favored program. Their “cuts” are only slow downs in spending increases.

    1. The senate didnt say jack. Harry Reid said that the entitlements weren’t up for negotiation. Big difference.

      You know how the sequestration came in to being. Why beat it to death. It needs to be dealt with. You might not give a crap but people up here are very concerned about it because of the number of govt jobs and defense dept jobs. if it kicks in, it retarts a housing crisis, brings huge unemployment, and bankrupts local jurisdictions.

      I dont think all programs can be cut or cut evenly.

      An interesting question came up in our BOCS meeting. If services are cut, will the unfunded mandates be relaxed?

  42. Cargo, I know you don’t like hearing that but anyone who handles finances knows what caused the stock market fall out in Late July 2011.

    Well, according to the internet, it was the volatility of Europe’s debt and oil prices that cause the down turn. I know that you hate to hear that…but, that’s what the economists were saying.

    What we disagree on is why we were downgraded. You believe that it was because of the ceiling debt negotiations that the Democrats refused to budge on, refusing meaningful budget cuts, while I believe it was due to the uncontrolled spending. And since the rating agencies have threatened us again due to our spending….. I think that I’m right.

    1. I think I am right as to many financial folks in this country. I am speaking only to the drop in the stock market that causedd many people once again have their portfolios cratered.

      You can read any malarky in the world in the internet.

      European finances didn’t make our dtock market pull the plug on a given day. No one is going to believe that one.,

  43. @Moon-howler
    Oh…ok. Possible credit default of entire nations like Greece won’t do anything to our markets….
    The August 2011 stock markets fall was the sharp drop in stock prices in August 2011 in stock exchanges across the United States, Middle East, Europe and Asia. This was due to fears of contagion of the European sovereign debt crisis to Spain and Italy, as well as concerns over France’s current AAA rating,[1] concerns over the slow economic growth of the United States and its credit rating being downgraded. Severe volatility of stock market indexes continued for the rest of the year.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/August_2011_stock_markets_fall

    1. I never said that the European markets haven’t affected our stock market at all. What I said was the day that the market tanked and continued tanking was a direct result result of brinkmanship over the debt ceiling.

      You can put up any bull snort you want. I like Wikipedia for quick fact checking. However, I don’t do my market trending off of it.

      We came very close to a default on our debts because of our own leadership, not because our credit looked like Greece. Big difference.

  44. Pat.Herve

    oh, if it were just so simple – if Romney was elected, the Republicans would be patting themselves on the back saying – what a great strategy to set up this Fiscal Cliff – now we can fix it. Sequestration – was something to force Congress to do something, as, no one wants Sequestration – the Republicans did not think they had to do anything because they thought Romney was going to win. Why don’t we just eliminate taxes all together – Newt was proposing something along those lines.

    Where are all the jobs that were created since 2001/2003 based on the current tax rates?? What has happened, is that the wealthy has gamed the system to pay themselves differently in order to avoid paying taxes – but when there is talk of a flatter, fairer tax system, both sides get their feathers ruffled.

    Social Security should be off the table – yes, because it is funded by the FICA Tax, and should not be part of the discussions around other things pertaining to the Fiscal Cliff. If SS needs to be fixed, it should be a separate conversation. Same as Medicare. And those conversations need to take place, just not part of the same conversation as the tax rates. They are separate issues – and they need to take place to insure both are solvent.

    Funny that the most vocal to cut spending, voted for ALL the unfunded spending the 8 (sometimes longer) years before Obama came into office. Just look at Paul Ryan’s record – voted for every DOD spending bill, Part D, Two Wars, Stay in Iraq, against Simpson-Bowles (he was on the commission), create DHS, farm subsidies, etc. But now, he says, we spend too much – he voted for all the spending he created, but now wants to gut SS in order to pay for it.

  45. @Moon-howler
    We had the tax revenue to pay any bills. Of course, that means that Obama would have had to lead and prioritize. No default would have happened….unless Obama and Congress are completely incompetent…which is also likely.

    @Pat.Herve
    I actually agree with you. I was against the sequestration when it happened because its just games as usual. Congress refused to do their damned job.

    Congress won’t separate SS because they want that cash cow, just like Clinton used it to get a “surplus.” Since we’ve been using the SS fund for general funds, its nothing but IOU’s. Now…we should “repay” it. But, then, that money comes from the general fund…we still have to account for that.

    I like the idea of separating out SS. Even Gingrich said that. Wasn’t there a “lock box” somewhere? Your concerns about Ryan are valid. That’s why many Tea Party types stayed home. The ticket was not conservative enough on fiscal matters.

    I also agree with you about the flatter, fairer tax system. Lower tax rates and no deductions…..

    but, since that’s not what Americans want, I say raise the taxes and pay for all of the spending. Separate out SS, Medicare, etc and make sure that those taxes cover everything….raise them if need be. NO general funds from income taxes should be allowed. We need a separate budg…oh. Wait. The Senate refuses to write a budget.

    Never mind.

  46. This is why I think that all of Congress and Obama are too busy playing games to fix the “cliff.”

    http://washingtonexaminer.com/morning-examiner-were-going-over-the-cliff/article/2514662#.ULdrQlHdtQI

    As I said…the GOP should not die on this hill and if they can’t explain to their constituents why..then they should not be in office. They should just abstain and let the Democrats vote yes on raising taxes on the job makers. They say that it won’t hurt anything. Let’s find out.

  47. blue

    Eureka!, I have it. The sequestration problem can be solved simply and easilly enough… all they have to do is create a bi-partisan commission and give the commission 6-9 months to come up with some recommendations! Then they can fereeze all spending and all borrowing in the interim.

    In the meantime, the state and local goovernments with balanced budgets and balanced budget requirements are getting serious.

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