halloween housesfall-leaves-th

Fall here.  Most of us have a yard-full of leaves that have fallen much earlier than usual.  29 and 66 are lined with leaf watchers, many headed to the skyline drive to observe Mother Nature at her very best.

Its time to plant bulbs.  Iris, daffodils and tulips all get planted in the fall.  In spring we are always surprised and treated to the joy of our efforts.

Where are you leaf-watching?  What are you planting?

 

184 Thoughts to “Open Thread……………………………………………..Sunday, October 12”

  1. Ray Beverage

    @Moon-howler
    Moon, agree there should be fairness to the hospitals. I don’t blame that hospital in Texas as there is a nasty little Staph bacterial infection called MRSA. Many times, someone comes into a hospital with that infection, and it is not known for sure they have it until lab results are back…which can be two days. It can be a skin, lungs, or other body infection. It is not as life threating to most as Ebola; however, if you have a weak immune system, it can cause death. It is one of the “Super Bugs” resistent to most antibiotics.

    So I don’t blame the hospital. If you had to blame a hospital for not knowing about high risk, then Inova would be blamed constantly since they have the highest MRSA infection rate in NoVA, especially Mt. Vernon Hospital.

  2. Pat.Herve

    I do blame the hospital (a private not for profit hospital…..) for not having procedures in place once the patient was diagnosed with ebola. Telling nurses to tape their necks with medical tape and not ensuring gown change entering/exiting his room is just not acceptable. Also, his (initial patient) team of 50 people seems excessively large.

  3. Furby McPhee

    Just a suggestion to everyone. Do not read Stephen King’s The Stand while Ebola or any other contagious disease is in the news. You’ll go paranoid every time somebody coughs or sneezes.

    Good book though. Kind of a weird switch of the story but interesting characters at least.

    1. Totally agree, Furby. Not sure if I said that here or thought it. The Stand is a very terrifying book on many different levels–probably King’s best.

  4. Pat.Herve

    What a thin skin Rick Scott has – refusing to take the stage at a debate because Christ had a fan at his feet. Really, over a fan blowing air around….and he refused to take the stage. After a few minutes, he did come out, probably out of embarrassment as to the pettiness of the whole thing.

    1. That was pretty childish. Isn’t he known for childishness?

  5. Wolve

    Pat.Herve :Warmest September on record. But I am not a scientist.

    Mmmm….Lake Michigan water temps were in the low 60’s this summer, about ten or so degrees below normal. Many people declined to go in swimming because of the cold water. US Coast Guard is currently warning boaters about rapidly falling water temps and telling everyone to start wearing protective clothing based on water temp vice air temp. And predictions are that another polar vortex is going to hit us this year.

  6. Wolve

    Pat.Herve :What a thin skin Rick Scott has – refusing to take the stage at a debate because Christ had a fan at his feet. Really, over a fan blowing air around….and he refused to take the stage. After a few minutes, he did come out, probably out of embarrassment as to the pettiness of the whole thing.

    Crist always demands to have a fan so he won’t sweat during debates. He probably fears what happened to Nixon during the televised Nixon-Kennedy debate in 1960, when Nixon looked like he was sweating too much in the heat of the stage lights and also needed a shave. TV audience gave the debate call to Kennedy. Radio audience gave it to Nixon.

    I understand that Crist agreed during pre-debate negotiations to dispense with the usual fan, then reneged at debate time. Typical of Charlie “What-Party-Am-I-Today?” Crist, I would say.

  7. Pat.Herve

    @Wolve
    ummmm, no, the request for the fan was clearly stated in the debate agreement. I would think they would both want a fan.

  8. Pat.Herve

    @Wolve
    A good observation – Lake Michigan is about 6 degrees cooler than normal – probably due to the polar vortex over the winter time, although the ambient air temperature was above average this summer. The cold lake will have an impact on the ambient air temperature over the winter.

  9. Starryflights

    Obama is right that it’s best to fight Ebola over there in Africa than have to fight it here at home – just as Bush and the neocons fought terrorism

  10. Friar Tuck

    Once again the Sheriff of Nottingham is over the top with disrespect. Sheriff, you do know that Penance is one of the 7 Catholic sacraments? You do know that sacraments are pretty important? Why would you be so disrespectful as to make fun of Corey and Marty, both Catholics, with your fake confessional?

    How about if I tried to talk Moon and Elena into putting up disrespectful pictures of the angels Moroni and Nephi delivering messages to Pete and the Sheriff about being respectful of other people’s religion?

    From here on out that blog needs to careful about offending those of a particular faith.

    1. It’s bad karma to ridicule other people’s religion. Neither confessionals nor Special angels would be allowed here as mockery.

      I looked and I don’t see the point of the confessional other than to make light of something very sacrosanct in Corey and Marty’s religion.

      Maybe the Sheriff needs to walk that one back.

  11. Cargosquid

    @Starryflights
    You are absolutely right, Starry. Except for the small fact that he’s not stopping flights from there…which allows it to much more easily arrive here.

    So…nice try.

  12. Cato the Elder

    Starryflights :
    Obama is right that it’s best to fight Ebola over there in Africa than have to fight it here at home – just as Bush and the neocons fought terrorism

    Obama wants an outbreak here, as well as the rest of the Dems and their slobbering, evil advocates. That’s why they’ve refused to take any measures whatsoever to stop the spread.

    1. Bwaaahahahahahahahahaha. Oh surely you can also blame Obama because he was born in Africa and it followed him here.

      Yea, that’s the ticket.

  13. Pat.Herve

    What does “stopping the flights from there” actually entail? What should the plan be?

    1. Good question. That’s why we need an Ebola Czar. Who would want THAT title?

      The flight ban would have to include a way for Americans to return home.

  14. Starry flights

    Cato the Elder :

    Starryflights :
    Obama is right that it’s best to fight Ebola over there in Africa than have to fight it here at home – just as Bush and the neocons fought terrorism

    Obama wants an outbreak here, as well as the rest of the Dems and their slobbering, evil advocates. That’s why they’ve refused to take any measures whatsoever to stop the spread.

    The repugs are hoping for a massive Ebola outbreak so that they can blame it on Obama and win next month’s elections.

  15. Cargosquid

    @Moon-howler
    We HAVE an EBOLA CZAR. We’ve had one for years.

    “The flight ban would have to include a way for Americans to return home.”

    Yes it would and could be done on a case by case basis.

    Stopping the flights?

    Stop all flights originating from there or passing through there from coming here. That’s part of it.
    Restrict people with visits there, within a certain time frame, as shown on their visas/passports from entering this country.

  16. Furby McPhee

    If you liked The Stand and post-Apocalyptic fiction in general, watch the movie Children of Men. If you like the movie, then read the book. (The book is better than the movie, but it has a lot more Christian allegory in it than you’ll probably like. The movie also has a subplot about refugees/illegal immigration that you’ll like better.)

    Both are very good and are about a world about 18 years after the last baby was born. The cause of universal sterility is never explained. It’s about what the world would be like as it grows older and starts to die.

    Michael Caine plays one of his best roles as an aging hippy for a small dose of comic relief.

    1. Thanks for the recommendation. I don’t mind Christian allegory. I want to chose it rather than having it shoved down my throat. Netflix have it?

  17. Wolve

    Let us hope that the falling leaves and the coming cold help the trackers to capture that cop killer in the Poconos.

  18. Wolve

    They say that the commander of the Kurdish forces fighting with ISIL for control of Kobani is a woman — “beautiful, innocent, and strong.” Her nom de guerre is “Narin Afrin.” Myth or not? Don’t know. But there are Kurdish women among the fighters on the front line. They reportedly have their own battle cry, which they say lets the ISIL fighters know that they are going to be killed by women and, therefore, will not go to Paradise.

    1. That just made my day, Wolve!

  19. Cargosquid

    https://twitter.com/pmarca/status/523255185670287360?refsrc=email

    What’s that about a picture being worth a thousand words?

    😉

  20. Cargosquid

    @Wolve
    Since the Turks are bombing the Kurds now……
    What should we do about their membership in NATO? I don’t see a need for them in there anymore.

    Then again, I don’t see a need for NATO anymore. It’s not like the organization is going to do anything.

    If we decide to go into big…we should support the Kurds….. arm them, organize them, and fight with them. They seem to be the only ones not running away.

  21. City Slicker

    Verrra interesting. Have the locals picked up on the fact that both a local blogger famous for his character assassinations and a city council candidate are both dropping the term “venture capitalist” around a lot?

    What is the connection here? Ask those birdies.

  22. Oscar de la Renta has died at age 82. What on earth is Maureen McDonnell going to do for an outfit. Oh wait, Jonnie is out of the picture so the spending sprees stopped.

    MEOW.

    RIP Oscar.

  23. @City Slicker
    Welcome City. I understand that one of the candidates used “venture capitalist” during the candidates forum quite a lot.

    Many people feel that there is a strong connection there…if you get my drift.

    Someone sings like a bird from one’s job to advance one’s politics…is popular thought.

    ¿Quien sabe?

  24. Rick Bentley

    Decided definitely not to vote for Warner or for Gillespie. Each is a completely unpalatable choice to me. I encourage others to stop validating the two parties; don’t vote.

  25. Cargosquid

    @Rick Bentley
    I’ve been thinking the same thing……

    Did you seen that John Warner endorsed Warner?

  26. Cargosquid

    Missouri state senator, Jamilah Nasheed, who advocated for more riots if the officer in the Ferguson shooting was not indicted as per the wishes of the rioters……

    who is also an anti-gun politician who has sponsored gun control bills……

    was arrested at one of the riots, appeared to be intoxicated…….and…wait for it…… was carrying a pistol.

    She DOES have a carry permit. But if she was intoxicated….she did refuse a breath test…… she broke the law. AT least in regards to the weapon….she broke other laws.

    Just a wee bit hypocritical. Orwell was right. Some animals are more equal than the others…..

  27. Wolve

    Bring Asia Bibi to America as a refugee — before it is too late. Bring her whole family.

  28. punchak

    @Rick Bentley
    Lotta good that’ll do.

  29. Censored bybvbl

    @punchak

    People would make more impact if they would stop joining and financially supporting only two parties. Find rational independent candidates and support their campaigns.

  30. Furby McPhee

    I really shouldn’t do this, but a University of Texas poll has Gregg Abott leading Wendy Davis by only two points. Oh wait, that’s among women. Abott leads by 16 points among likely votes. The only groups he doesn’t lead in are Hispanics (down by 2) and blacks (down by a ton)

    Davis ran a very poor campaign and made several unforced errors. But when the candidate who is running almost entirely on “women’s issues” is losing among women, perhaps there is a problem with the message and not just the messenger.

    Between Davis’ routing and Sen. Uterus in Colorado, I think the War on Women theme will be retired. I will guarantee that Hillary doesn’t use it in 2016.

  31. Wolve

    Republican candidate in Illinois goes to vote early. He punches his own name and that of other Repubs into the computer voting machine. He double checks the result. All his votes are registered for Democrats. He tries it again. All Democrat, even for his own race. He complains to the poll officials. They claim that the machine has been misaligned and will be taken out of service.

    Cook County never lets you down.

    Meanwhile, in Maryland and Georgia, Dem candidates are trotting out outlandish race themes in a desperate effort to boost the Black vote. And the feminists have released a video of little girls yelling F bombs to show that women should be liberated.

    Must be election season.

  32. Wolve

    Ebola case confirmed at Bellevue Hospital in NYC. Fellow just came back from Guinea where he was with Doctors Without Borders. Said he was self-isolating himself but actually went out bowling at local lanes and possibly went out elsewhere in the city. Began feeling ill after awhile and came down with 103 degree temp. EMT’s took the door off his apartment to get him to the ambulance.

    1. That’s not good news at all.

  33. Emma

    And it’s amazing how everyone declares that the DWB doctor did not break protocol, but of course the nurses did. Just amazing. Eyes are just everywhere.

    It takes an extraordinary act of selfishness to come home after giving direct care to Ebola patients in a much less controlled environment than an American hospital, and then go bowling, running, ride the subway and get cozy with your girlfriend, all the while saying you’re feeling “sluggish.” Great, take care of the Africans, but don’t bother to protect your fellow Americans/loved ones. Inexcusable.

  34. Wolve

    Well, well, well. Judicial Watch, denied an FOIA request for DOJ files on Fast and Furious, got a court to shake loose from DOJ the Vaughn index of documents in that file. They report that the index shows Valerie Jarrett from the White House was involved in the cover-up after AG Eric Holder was found to have lied to Congress about when he was informed personally of the existence of Fast and Furious. What a tangled web we weave…………

  35. Cargosquid

    @Wolve
    I’m SHOCKED! Shocked, I tell you…….

    I’ve always thought that she was the one actually running things…..

  36. Cargosquid

    You know….with all this talk about a need for a Surgeon General….why don’t they just confirm the ACTING Surgeon General.
    http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/about/biographies/biosg.html

    Take a look at HIS resume.

  37. Wolve

    @Cargosquid

    Agreed. What more do you need to qualify officially for the No. 1 spot? Politics maybe?

  38. Pat.Herve

    @Cargosquid
    cargo – good question – just have a vote on the current nominee and move on. Tell Rand Paul to take all his holds off of the nominee’s.

  39. Cargosquid

    @Pat.Herve
    OR…. the nomination can be withdrawn and the President can nominate the acting SG.

  40. Pat.Herve

    @Cargosquid
    no, he should not withdraw the nomination. The Senate needs to either qualify or disqualify him. He is not the only nomination the Senate is doing this to. Around 50 ambassadorships and 11 state department people are in the same boat.

  41. Response to allegations made on The Sheriff of Nottingham in PWC BlogSpot:

    I seem to smell a bit of divide and conquer in the air. Let’s set the record straight I have never said anything on a blog about The Derecho. I know the Derecho and if I have something to say to him I will say it to his face or email him and he will do the same to me.

    A previous comment did not go through so I will post this response on my own blog, as a matter of record so in case there is another mechanical failure.

  42. Furby McPhee

    There’s a launch tonight at Wallops Island. 6:45 PM launch time and it’s supposed to be visible throughout the Mid-Atlantic area. The sky should be clear so we might get a show.

    1. Thank you very much, Furby. There is also an android app for Wallops Island.

      I love watching the launches. You can see them very well from my house. I would have missed it if you hadn’t said something.

  43. Antares launched scrubbed 8 minutes from launch. Some ahole in a boat wouldn’t get out of the way. The safety zone was violated.

    I would be fining those idiots big time. I hope the coast guard has them by this time. Perfect weather. Great time for a launch. I had a launch party at my house even.

    GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

  44. Cargosquid

    @Moon-howler
    I just heard that it is scheduled for 6:20pm tonight.

    1. Actually 6:22. I heard 5:22 last night but it changed. I am glad it will be closer to dark.

    2. There is an WFF app for androids. Not sure about iphone.

      It tells the time etc. Launch info, trajectory.

  45. Furby McPhee

    South Carolina governor Nikki Haley called a ‘whore’ by her male, Democratic challenger. He encouraged supporters to ‘escort whore out the door’. He later claimed he misspoke and was trying to say ‘escort her out the door’ He defended his gaffe with: “Listen, sometimes when you’re speaking 5 to 10 times a day, your words get a little bit garbled”

    I guess he must be so used to calling her a whore, it just rolled off the tongue.

    War on women, indeed.

    1. Is there a link? If that is what he intentionally said, that is unacceptable.

  46. Cargosquid

    @Furby McPhee
    Did you see the smirk on his face when he “realized” his “gaffe?”

  47. Cargosquid

    Well SHUCKS!

    Booooom!

    Rocket blew up.

    1. Antares exploded. No loss of life. Significant property and vehicle damage. It looks like all of Wallops Island is on fire.

      At first I thought the clouds were blocking my view. I was out there with the android app, nasa tv on the ipad and by bare eyes. Then I looked at the TV. Ugh.

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