European Tribune - Community, Politics & Progress.

Sunday Open Thread

by Fran
Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 11:15:01 AM EST

How about an early Open Thread?

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Sunday Open Thread | 170 comments (170 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

First real day off in a long time and the weather was just great - almost spring. Some snowdrops and crocus are already blooming.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 11:16:12 AM EST

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

We've had lots of sun here this weekend. I spent the afternoon stomping through very muddy fields with my camera. I must start cooking dinner and then I will see how the photos turned out.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 12:31:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

And I thought you were in your bed after celebrating rugby...! :-)
Looks like it might be an interesting finale...!

"What can I do, What can I write, Against the fall of Night". A.E. Housman

by margouillat (hemidactylus(dot)frenatus(at)wanadoo(dot)fr) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 12:42:43 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

I watched with friends (and without alcohol) yesterday. What a game!! Incredible.

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 01:07:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Eh hem. Great? I think not! What about the snowboarding season? Everything was melting in the mountains the end of this week. It was quite tragic, as we got some good snow the days before. Nice powder that then just turned into slush a few days later.
Though, I'll give you a few weeks of warm weather as I have a few cracked ribs now, and should probably not be doing any snow sports for a bit.

by someone (s0me1smail(a)gmail(d)com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 12:55:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

What happened, someone?? I hope you can at least function normally outside of sports.

I´m patting myself on the back for taking out my bike for the first time this year and came back without a single emergency landing. Had a nice lunch outdoors in between rides, too.

Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. --Charu Saxena.

by metavision on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 01:25:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

Oh, it is all due to snowboarding, of course. I had a bit of a bad landing midway through my snow vacation last week. So I had to spend the remainder skiing very carefully, as the snowboard was just too painful. I think I still function 'normally', besides sports, coughing, sneezing or laughing.

Congratulations on your biking success.

by someone (s0me1smail(a)gmail(d)com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 01:38:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

I'm glad you can move around even if it sounds painful to me. It triggers memories of ´the mother of a son´ with cracked ribs, vertebrae, nose, teeth, etc. and still not giving up sports... (:

Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. --Charu Saxena.

by metavision on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 02:13:02 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

Hope your rip improves real fast and afterall, it is not even mid-February, so there is still the potential for some good snowboarding-snow!

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 03:01:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Psst, don't tell Jérôme! (4.00 / 5)

Just for some smiles:

Astrological Light Bulbs

Astrological Light Bulbs
How many members of your astrological sign does it take to Change A Light Bulb?
Aries: Just one. You want to make something of it?
Taurus: One, but just "try" to convince them that the burned-out bulb is useless and should be thrown away.
Gemini: Two, but the job never gets done - they just keep arguing about who is supposed to do it and how it's supposed to be done!
Cancer: Just one. But it takes a therapist three years to help them through the grief process.
Leo: Leos don't change light bulbs, although sometimes their agent will get a Virgo to do the job for them while they're out.
Virgo: Approximately 1.0000000 with an error of +/- 1 millionth.
Libra: Er, two. Or maybe one. No - on second thought, make that two. Is that okay with you?
Scorpio: That information is strictly secret and shared only with the Enlightened Ones in the Star Chamber of the Ancient Hierarchical Order.
Sagittarius: The sun is shining, the day is young and we've got our whole lives ahead of us, and you're inside worrying about a stupid light bulb?
Capricorn: I don't waste my time with these childish jokes.
Aquarius: Well, you have to remember that everything is energy, so...
Pisces: Lightbulb? What lightbulb?
Author Unknown

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 11:17:22 AM EST

Re: Psst, don't tell Jérôme! (4.00 / 3)

Oddly enough, I know the person who wrote half of those.

It seems to have been one of their more successful net meme experiments, still doing the rounds thirteen years later. :)

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 11:32:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Psst, don't tell Jérôme! (4.00 / 2)

Funny!

by The3rdColumn on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 12:46:41 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Psst, don't tell Jérôme! (4.00 / 2)

No wonder why I live in the dark... I'm a Sagittarius! :-)

But then I may also be waiting for LED technology...!!!! Or the one after that...

"What can I do, What can I write, Against the fall of Night". A.E. Housman

by margouillat (hemidactylus(dot)frenatus(at)wanadoo(dot)fr) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 12:51:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Psst, don't tell Jérôme! (4.00 / 4)

That list made me laugh actually because the ceiling lights in my living room need replacing because the bulbs blow all the time (I don't think they are suitable as ceiling lights) and I have been without lights for a number of weeks because I have too many other things I'd rather do than buy new ones or replace the bulbs.

However, today I got new ceiling lights at a bargain price. Now place your bets to decide how many weeks it will take for me to install them...

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 01:14:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Psst, don't tell Jérôme! (4.00 / 3)

You need to make friends with an Aires.

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 01:50:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Psst, don't tell Jérôme! (4.00 / 3)

And never ask a Leo ;-)

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 02:23:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Psst, don't tell Jérôme! (4.00 / 3)

Why not? We are very good at directing work. Now, get on that chair and get screwing!

by someone (s0me1smail(a)gmail(d)com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 02:32:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Psst, don't tell Jérôme! (4.00 / 3)

Doesn't it take two to do that?

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 02:35:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Psst, don't tell Jérôme! (4.00 / 2)

Depends on your star sign ;-)

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 02:41:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

"In a bunch, in a bunch!" (4.00 / 2)

That's enough of that....

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 02:56:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Psst, don't tell Jérôme! (4.00 / 4)

Yes, we are ;-) my brightness.

You can't be me, I'm taken

by Sven Triloqvist on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 02:55:05 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Psst, don't tell Jérôme! (4.00 / 2)

Careful with that back, Sven!

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 03:12:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Psst, don't tell Jérôme! (4.00 / 3)

We can even do things for ourselves if we're really pushed. Well, if...

<rolls over, scratches mane, goes back to sleep>

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 03:14:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

Lots of travels in and out Barcelona for work stuff.. I donot have an everyday conection.. so I can not check up everysingle day... the day I ahve connection I feel in ahurry to check everything....

But the thing I like less is not being able to say hello to the newcomers.. i ahve noticed some people new around here.. and I coudl nto say hello!!!!

Argghh..
Other than that.. Did I miss soemthing???? during the week I mean, i was here yesterday polishing the catalan version.

A pleasure

I therefore claim to show, not how men think in myths, but how myths operate in men's minds without their being aware of the fact. Levi-Strauss, Claude

by kcurie on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 11:18:53 AM EST

Stop Blair! Petition (4.00 / 3)

Update: 11706

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 11:19:20 AM EST

Re: Stop Blair! Petition (none / 1)

Hey, not bad! What's the goal again -- 1m by June?

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 11:24:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

First 5 days, top 10 countries (4.00 / 3)

Region	    05/02/08 06/02/08 07/02/08 08/02/08 09/02/08
--------------------------------------------------------
UK		 373	  832	  1415	   1281      447     
Belgium 	  19	  416	   653	    295      121     
France		  55	  100	   490	    457      155     
Austria 	   4	    6	     9	     10     1024     
Portugal	   5	  102	   169	     97       50     
Germany 	  38	   49	   102	     87       77     
Netherlands	  12	   59	    86	     93       21     
Italy		   5	   24	    62	     49       33     
Spain		  20	   65	    51	     64       23     
USA		  33	   46	    29	     35       21 
--------------------------------------------------------    
Total		 662	 1895	  3388	   2795     2191

We have met the enemy, and he is us — Pogo

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 11:53:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: First 5 days, top 10 countries (none / 1)

That's odd, Skype is converting the Spain line into an international phone number. all the other lines in the table are ok though

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 02:43:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: First 5 days, top 10 countries (none / 0)

How does that affect Spanish signers, or the petition? Only need to know if we have to make ´campaign´ adjustments.

Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. --Charu Saxena.

by metavision on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 03:38:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: First 5 days, top 10 countries (none / 1)

it's only doing that on Migerus comment, not on the petition.

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 03:40:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Stop Blair! Petition (4.00 / 4)

12000

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 03:14:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

My addiction is getting worse. Where are those bastards in Maine with their caucus results?!

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 11:24:00 AM EST

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

How many hours is it going to be? 8? 12? 16?

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 11:39:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

I think the last caucus will end by 9.30PM, but I assume we'll get reports on the ground beforehand. It's apparently a bit like Nebraska, where you have caucus times varying by county.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 11:46:17 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 5)

It's very sad when stat-freaks start to 'lose it.' Their eyes glaze over, they start mumbling, they walk into walls, they confuse Chi-squares with Cheetos.

Being a member of a caring community, here at ET, I offer:

Here is a list of counties in Maine. (By going through the lists you can assemble the start, end, and reporting times for all the precincts in Maine.)

to alleviate Drew's suffering.

Och nu den svenska kocken bakar en Alaskan älg jägare. Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!

by ATinNM on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 12:29:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

I appreciate that, AT.

Although, I don't need to lose it in order to walk into things like walls, as any of my friends can tell you. My amazing clumsiness is usually more than sufficient.

I'm still struck by the margin in Washington. I figured he'd take Seattle and Tacoma by healthy margins, but this was completely unexpected to me.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 12:50:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

The Obama people are a fervent lot, willing to engage in active politics to push their guy along.

Clinton seems to be depending on the 65+ demographic who are a little more disengaged. They will throw the lever but not get heavily involved in the scrum.

At least that's how I read it.

Och nu den svenska kocken bakar en Alaskan älg jägare. Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!

by ATinNM on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 12:57:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

There's a rumour going around that HRC is putting all of her effort into Texas, winning the pretty well and then calling a group of "concerned senior Dems" together and saying that the campaign is hurting Democratic chances, so why don't they just crown her champ and chuck the other guy under a bus.

Whihc might just be the interesting thing to happen to the Democratic party in a long lot of years.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 01:01:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Well, she's heavily favored there, so no surprise. But I don't think that's going to impress the party elders. Pelosi's deputy supports Obama, and the inside-the-Beltway consensus seems to be that it is as close to a Pelosi endorsement as a candidate will get (not that a back-door Pelosi endorsement is impressive to those of us who don't particularly like Pelosi).

And, if that's her plan, it means she's got to win Texas and Ohio convincingly. She's raising expectations behind the scenes, and that may well spill over into the chatter on the talk shows. I don't know why the source, if he/she really supports Clinton, would do that. If she loses both, she'll be damaged beyond repair.

She's betting on Latinos in Tejas. But take a look at the polls: Obama's been closing that gap, barely losing Latinos in AZ and NM, and winning them in CT, and he's picking up key endorsements in the more Latino-dominated areas of Texas. She needs those areas to offset areas like Austin, where the college-town/liberal/young-professional lot should give Obama a huge advantage (or that's at least what I'd guess Austin looks like).

I'm not sure how Dallas-Ft Worth and Houston line up.

Texas is an open primary, too, and with the McCain nomination all but a mathematical certainty, Indies and moderate/liberal Reps could play a big role. The odd thing, to me, is that Clinton is winning with moderate Dems, while Obama is winning liberal Dems and moderate Indies/Reps.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 01:12:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 0)

kubla000 has a diary up on Kos stating:

State Rep. Pete Gallego, chairman of the Mexican American Legislative Caucus, has announced he is endorsing Barack Obama for president.
The Alpine Democrat had earlier supported his near neighbor, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
The non-partisan Mexican American Legislative Caucus comprises most Hispanic members of the Texas House of Representatives. Gallego said he was in the process of contacting other Democrats in MALC to see who they are lining up for in the presidential election.

Och nu den svenska kocken bakar en Alaskan älg jägare. Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!

by ATinNM on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 01:20:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 0)

There ya go. He needs to grab some mayors and city council members in these towns and cities, too, though. Getting a foothold in the local-government machinery is supposedly key in Texas.

I doubt he'll get the Richardson endorsement, but it's telling that Richardson didn't endorse Clinton, given the history. Obama-Richardson, perhaps?

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 01:26:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

Richardson is shrewd.

He has nothing to gain by endorsing either candidate. By not endorsing he keeps the potential for being the VP nominee of the winning campaign.

His presence on the ticket opens some space for the Democrat by putting Arizona, Florida, and Texas into doubt, forcing the GOP to throw money and clout into those states.

Och nu den svenska kocken bakar en Alaskan älg jägare. Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!

by ATinNM on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 01:36:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

I'm not sure how large a role it'd play in Texas and Arizona, since we tend to win the Latino vote overwhelmingly anyway. What he might do in Florida is throw a wrench into the heavily-Republican Cuban vote, but that's doubtful.

I don't think we're going to win Florida, simply because of the fact that it's more conservative than people tend to think. To win Florida, you need to come out a few hundred thousand votes ahead in Greater Miami, which is tough. And you also need to win swing cities like Orlando and Tampon Bay by decent margins.

Clinton's strength would be with older women showing up big, potentially, while Obama potentially brings large black turnout in key GOP areas like Jacksonville and perhaps shaves some anti-war military votes from McCain. The last poll I saw showed soldiers were even more anti-war than the general public, so there's potential to capitalize on it, breaking the typical 80/20 GOP advantage.

But, even with all that, Florida would be a dogfight. McCain will get huge turnout in the panhandle, between Tallahassee and Mobile. (Tallahassee, itself, will go 2/3s for the Dem no matter what, but it's everything to the West that will be solidly McCainiac territory.)

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 01:50:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Our Archbishop is one conservative jerk and had the priests read a letter during Mass the Sunday before the election denouncing the evil Democrats and their evil support for abortion. This caused Kerry, narrowly, to lose New Mexico from the Hispano vote up north. Richardson cruised to victory.

Och nu den svenska kocken bakar en Alaskan älg jägare. Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!

by ATinNM on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 05:24:45 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

Yeah, I knew that was going to be a problem for Kerry. Good on Richardson fo beating it.

I guess maybe the church was afraid to go after Richardson for fear of losing Latinos?

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 05:42:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

(Did you see my response to you in the Salon?)

If that's their strategy, they are getting increasingly delusional.

In my experience - admittedly it has been a while, the majority of PLEO (Political Leaders and Elected Officials) delegates are more concerned to protect/advance their own careers. Anything and everything else is secondary. Obama, by winning the elections on/in their turf is going to be a large factor in his favor. Clinton can say she will do this or that for them; Obama can deliver votes.

Och nu den svenska kocken bakar en Alaskan älg jägare. Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!

by ATinNM on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 01:17:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

Don't forget money, too. The local officials are likely have dollar signs in their eyes when looking at Obama's fundraising machine. Clinton nabbed most of the big donors early on, so Obama had to build a small-donor base, and he did so with surprising success. Clinton is bragging about getting 100,000 donors in 2008. That's impressive, until you consider that Obama has 360,000 for the year.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 01:31:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Per CNN, 11% reporting in Maine:

Obama 50%
Clinton 48%

No idea where those are from. The Maine thread at dKos apparently has on-the-ground reports showing a good day for Obama elsewhere.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 04:04:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Also, Clinton demoted her campaign manager.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 04:05:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

This is, by the way, utterly stupid. Kos is right. Doyle wasn't responsible for the failures. Penn's idiotic micro-targeting (and the associated dog-whistling from surrogates), Bill Clinton's unbelievably large mouth, and the entire strategy of "inevitability" are the main causes of their problems.

Doyle's getting canned primarily for the incompetence of Clinton's inner circle.

Fire Penn, Hillary.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 04:54:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

At 44% Reporting:

Obama 57%
Clinton 42%

Told you so :-)

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 05:26:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

You did, indeed. You've got me on Maine, and, so far, TBG is beating me on the bets for the nomination.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 06:00:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 0)

Obama is now 56 pledged delegates ahead in CNN's count. 28 delegates from Washington still have to be alotted, along with today's 24 from Maine. Plus a few leftovers, left and right. I guess my estimate of 50-60 pledged delegates ahead after the weekend was... conservative. He's going to be 70 ahead going into the Virginia, Maryland, and DC.

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 06:31:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

I think he's actually going to be in the lead on delegates even when you take her big lead among superdelegates into account now.

I just got a text from MSNBC. Maine is being called for Obama. Clean sweep for the weekend.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 06:33:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Breaking:

Bush has offered to endorse McCain.

"McCain is a true conservative."

Might be useful in the primaries. Doubt it will be of good in the election.

Och nu den svenska kocken bakar en Alaskan älg jägare. Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!

by ATinNM on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 05:10:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Bonus ;-)

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 05:15:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

He also went after Obama on Faux News this morning, apparently.

(shrug) He's welcome to endorse McCain. I hope St John has to pander non-stop to the religionists between now and the conventions, because it's simply going to out him, in the public eye, as the extremist we all know he is.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 05:18:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

[Bush] also went after Obama on Faux News this morning ...

That's very strange.

Normally the sitting President doesn't play attack dog during the primaries. It too often backfires and gives the attacked more support within their party.

You'd have to be a dumb, ignora.....

Oh. Yeah. This is Bush we're talking about.

Never mind.

Och nu den svenska kocken bakar en Alaskan älg jägare. Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!

by ATinNM on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 05:32:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

I read what he said earlier. It seemed pretty weak, all things considered.

He was defending Bill Clinton's behavior in South Carolina and saying Obama would ruin our relationship with his bff Musharraf.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 05:41:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

Bush is also saying that if the Dems win, peace and prosperity could be at stake.

Just another day in the life of Captain Surreal. [shrug]

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 05:55:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Yeah, but that was the CPAC convention, which always brings out the nuttiest of nutjobs and sparks extra awesomeness in even the "mainstream" Republicans. I say, "Please continue, Mr President." Bush is our bestest buddy in this race.

Captain Surreal. Love it.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 05:58:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

44% reporting in Maine:

Obama 57%
Clinton 42%

One of the Maine blogs has a rundown by city and town. It seems Obama won the vast majority, and by wider margins generally.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 05:20:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

Going to be a long day.

IIRC, some of the caucuses won't be over until 8:00 PM Right Coast Time. Only the FSM knows when the results will be tabulated, reported.

Och nu den svenska kocken bakar en Alaskan älg jägare. Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!

by ATinNM on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 05:27:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

Results tossed together in a messy way (but with cool map!) here.

Looks like an advantage to Obama in the big areas with scattered Clinton and Obama support in rural towns. Obama seems to have won the coast and the NE portion of the US-Canadian border.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 05:38:00 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

58% to 41% with 69% in.

NBC is calling it for Obama.

Clinton just got creamed. I don't think she would have expected this in her worst nightmares.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 06:34:44 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

Last poll had her ahead by some obscene amount. This is bigger than simply a caucus advantage for Obama. This is a massive shift, and I think it probably explains Doyle getting fired.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 06:42:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

Mark Penn is the one who should be out on the streets.

I think Clinton is going to hang in there now at least until Texas. But Texas will be closer than she expects.

Oh - and Obama won a grammy today.

It's going to take more than Clinton's got to turn this around now. My guess is some party grandees will be lining up to have a word with her soon.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 06:52:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

Agreed. Jabba's gotta go.

Obama has swept all of the big Texas newspapers, too.

It's not entirely impossible to imagine Obama winning there, especially if he's making inroads among the working-class whites and Latinos. And he may be. If he closes the gap with those two groups, it's over.

There's also perhaps a certain rally-to-the-leader-to-stop-McCain factor that may play in the next several contests. The fact that he may be leading her even if you count superdelegates has got to have Camp Clinton freaking out.

And, yeah, Grammys don't hurt, especially when the press will be talking of how he beat out Bill Clinton for it.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 07:00:21 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

So now you can win a Grammy in the "best spoken word" category by reading your autobiography?

We have met the enemy, and he is us — Pogo

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 07:01:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

They had that one for years. Bill Clinton's won three of them, and Hillary won one for It Takes a Village.

It wasn't the biography one, though, I believe. It was the recent one.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 07:04:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

Sure, but a spoken word grammy for an audiobook recording is an insult to true spoken word artists like, say, Sherman Alexie (to name just one I have had the plleasure to see live).

We have met the enemy, and he is us — Pogo

by Migeru (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 07:06:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

You lived in Southern California, center of the Bizarro World that is the entertainment industry, for a few years and yet you really think these Hollywood award shows decide based upon actual merit?

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 07:14:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 0)

I will totally concur with Migs about Sherman Alexie. Brilliant writer, very funny. He became a friend during the development of "Smoke Signals," directed by Chris Eyre, which won Sundance. Being on set for last days of shooting was one of the high points in my life. The wrap party was over the top.

Sherman was always great at readings, and he sparked many Native kids to develop their writing.

Skennah Kowa

by Crazy Horse on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 07:34:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

The Potomac Primary is looking bad for her, too. And at last night's Jefferson-Jackson dinner in Richmond, they each gave speeches. Even my mother, a pretty militant Clinton supporter, had to admit Obama shredded all of Clinton's arguments.

He seems to be hitting his stride just when she stumbles, but I'm still hesitant to call it that way, since I'm still spooked from New Hampshire.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 07:03:42 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

The CNN headline is "Clinton shakes up staff after Obama sweep" which is better than "Clinton Campaign in Turmoil After Obama Sweep."

But not much better.

Looking at the polls for Tuesday:

DC:

Clinton: ?
Obama: ?

Note: I can't believe O isn't going to take this one big.

Maryland:

Clinton: 33%
Obama: 52%

Virginia:

Clinton: 37%
Obama: 52%

So things are looking grim for Senator Inevitable from New York.

Och nu den svenska kocken bakar en Alaskan älg jägare. Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!

by ATinNM on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 07:31:47 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

And those are among the more favorable polls. Others had him up 20pts in Maryland and Virginia.

She'll get delegates in DC, but Obama will easily beat her. Go with me on this when I say, it's only the chattering class that's voting for her there -- the West of the Park crowd. Beyond them, it's all black folks, students and young professionals in the District.

She's trying to push up her score in the DC exurbs in Virginia, like Manassas and Woodbridge. Obama will dominate Alexandria and Arlington, I'd guess, as the party machinery has bailed on her for fear of being voted out.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 07:39:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Go with me on this ...

OK, but only because it's you. ;-)

...the party machinery has bailed on [Clinton] for fear of being voted out.

Kee-rist!

Och nu den svenska kocken bakar en Alaskan älg jägare. Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!

by ATinNM on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 07:59:31 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Oh, it's been one embarrassment after another for her in NoVa. She held a rally in Arlington the other day, and a class from the local high school attended as a civics lesson. One of Clinton's warm-up people shouted, "Who's going to be the next president?" The response from the kids was, of course, to immediately begin the "O-BAM-A" chant.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 08:02:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

ROTFLMAO!

Och nu den svenska kocken bakar en Alaskan älg jägare. Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!

by ATinNM on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 08:22:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

You know, I want to know, too: Apparently Clinton's campaign was effectively bankrupt after New Hampshire after raising $150m (part of the reason Doyle got canned). My question is this:

How in Christ's name did they spend $150m and only make it to January 8th?

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 08:14:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

A picture of Clinton's campaign management:

Running a campaign the Old Fashioned Way has a major burn-rate.

Penn, all by hisself, has gotten - what? - five million or thereabouts?

Och nu den svenska kocken bakar en Alaskan älg jägare. Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!

by ATinNM on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 08:21:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

Exactly. I'd almost feel bad for her if not for all the crap that's gone down in this campaign. Win or lose, it's pigs at the trough in Camp Clinton. And now she's falling against McCain, nationwide and in critical states, while Obama's got a 7-8pt lead (and growing).

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 08:33:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

Now it's 59-41% with 79% reporting. this one might get into Nebraska/Washington territory.

So who will they blame it on this time? The blacks? The "latte liberals"? The kids? The press? The money? The caucus system? I want to see how Jerome Armstrong and his little minions at MyDD explain this one away.

Nothin' but a bunch of rich, young Negroes in Maine after all.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 07:33:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 0)

The thread on MyDD is shockingly rational until about 75% of the way down.

Och nu den svenska kocken bakar en Alaskan älg jägare. Bonk! Bonk! Bonk!

by ATinNM on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 07:51:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 0)

It's all the fault of the caucus system, of course -- a system that was perfectly fair in their minds when conventional wisdom held that Clinton would have the superior organization on the ground. Then those little brats in Camp Obama whooped'em, and caucuses were suddenly OMG, it's so teh Da Devil!

I love that Taylor Marsh, that psychopath, is spinning the Doyle firing as a good thing.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 07:58:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 0)

The Obama campaign seems to have pulled a good one on the press with those delegate projections, too.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 08:00:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

It's unchanged at 59% reporting.

by nanne (zwaerdenmaecker@gmail.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 05:57:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

59% reporting:

Obama 57%
Clinton 42%

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 05:55:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Song Text Juxtaposition!! (4.00 / 7)

Bittersweet edition. And because more people need to know about Neko Case.

Tracy Chapman | Fast Car lyrics

You got a fast car
I want a ticket to anywhere
Maybe we make a deal
Maybe together we can get somewhere

Anyplace is better
Starting from zero got nothing to lose
Maybe well make something
But me myself I got nothing to prove

You got a fast car
And I got a plan to get us out of here
I been working at the convenience store
Managed to save just a little bit of money
We wont have to drive too far
Just cross the border and into the city
You and I can both get jobs
And finally see what it means to be living

You see my old mans got a problem
He live with the bottle thats the way it is
He says his bodys too old for working
I say his bodys too young to look like his
My mama went off and left him
She wanted more from life than he could give
I said somebodys got to take care of him
So I quit school and thats what I did

You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so we can fly away
We gotta make a decision
We leave tonight or live and die this way

I remember we were driving driving in your car
The speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arm felt nice wrapped round my shoulder
And I had a feeling that I belonged
And I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone

You got a fast car
And we go cruising to entertain ourselves
You still aint got a job
And I work in a market as a checkout girl
I know things will get better
Youll find work and Ill get promoted
Well move out of the shelter
Buy a big house and live in the suburbs
You got a fast car
And I got a job that pays all our bills
You stay out drinking late at the bar
See more of your friends than you do of your kids
Id always hoped for better
Thought maybe together you and me would find it
I got no plans I aint going nowhere
So take your fast car and keep on driving

You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so you can fly away
You gotta make a decision
You leave tonight or live and die this way

NEKO CASE LYRICS - That Teenage Feeling

"That Teenage Feeling"

Now that we've met
We can only laugh at these regrets
Common as a winter cold
They're telephone poles
They follow each other
One, after another, after another
But now my heart is green as weeds
Grown to outlive their season

And nothing comforts me the same
As my brave friend who says,
"I don't care if forever never comes
'Cause I'm holding out for that teenage feeling
I'm holding out for that teenage feeling"

All the loves we had
All we ever knew
Did they fill me with so many secrets
That keep me from loving you
'Cause it's hard, hard

by Nomad on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 11:27:15 AM EST

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 16)

I finally got my first article published!

How psychosocial sport & play programs may help children and youth manage adversity

I am pretty thrilled about it...it took a long time!

Half the population is under the age of 18. Tanzania's future is NOW...join the 50% campaign!

by whataboutbob on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 11:29:19 AM EST

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Congrats, Bob. Nicely done.

Where's your motherf*%&ing flag pin?

by Drew J Jones (blahblahblah@blahblahblah.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 11:31:49 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

Excellent! Congratulations whataboutbob! Am printing it now to be able to read it better.

by The3rdColumn on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 12:48:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Great work !!! So important !
I see that Winnicott is still there... I worked on several hospital services for children years ago, and he was quite inspiring in those times !

There has been some french work on space and form as an approach for resiliency, specially among autists... I'll try to find them (the references) and send them to you... If you're interested :-)

"What can I do, What can I write, Against the fall of Night". A.E. Housman

by margouillat (hemidactylus(dot)frenatus(at)wanadoo(dot)fr) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 01:00:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 0)

Did it have to do with spatial layout and habitual movements, tracks, parcours?

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 03:49:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 0)

Yes, but also about perceived form and visual barriers...!

"What can I do, What can I write, Against the fall of Night". A.E. Housman

by margouillat (hemidactylus(dot)frenatus(at)wanadoo(dot)fr) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 07:27:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 0)

I remember reading something in the '70s. A site in Provence or the Cévennes. By a well-known French name I can't remember...

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Feb 11th, 2008 at 04:12:26 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

Well done Bob, it must be a great feeling!

Ad astra per aspera

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 01:11:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

Great goin' Bob!

I told Bush; don't play chess with the freakin' Russians.

by LEP (rafifoon@yahoo.com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 02:42:04 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

Bob, you rock.

by Metatone (metatone [a|t] gmail (dot) com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 03:46:19 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Sunday Open Thread (none / 1)

Great, Bob, congrats!

When locusts move on, they leave nothing behind

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 03:50:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Decompressing in Frisco (4.00 / 3)

Pretty warm yesterday, about 20 grad, though it felt warmer in the high direct sun. More of the same today. So one of the talk shows was interviewing Karl Rove on the lobby plasma screen this morn, and that makes me sick. This man is treated with credibility?

So he puts up whiteboard stats showing McCain taking a greater number of rethug votes than either Clinton or Obama take from Dem votes. Which as a stat means something if the sample is exactly equal, which we know it's not. But he's allowed to get away with such obvious spin, unchallenged.

Taken together with the congress' scuttling of the windpower Production Tax Credit while giving tax breaks for coal, any wonder why i'm perversely hoping for an economic meltdown here? Is that wrong?

Skennah Kowa

by Crazy Horse on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 12:02:47 PM EST

Re: Decompressing in Frisco (none / 0)

That's not decompressing, is it?

Now go to Columbus? Ave for fire-like Chinese,
have an specialty coffee at Tosca and
kiss the bay for me!

Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. --Charu Saxena.

by metavision on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 01:42:03 PM EST
[ Parent ]

NATO & Afghanistan (4.00 / 4)

Useful diary by Lithium Cola. I've requested that he crosspost here.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 12:20:53 PM EST

Re: NATO & Afghanistan (none / 1)

I've already posted it in the Salon. :-)

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 12:28:12 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: NATO & Afghanistan (none / 1)

In whihc case I'll re-post my re-posting

This goes back to the comment I made a few days ago where I said this;-

At some point somebody is gonna have to deal with the question of what NATO is for. It's an alliance...but for what ? Right now it seems that the USA is working under an assumption that all NATO forces should ideally be enfolded into an American Foreign Legion. Subject to direct American command and for the explicit intent of enforcing American Foreign Policy.
This is because most NATO member states haven't had the spine to assert policies that run separately, let alone counter to, American interests. So it has been natural for the US to assume that what they want to happen, we will naturally agree to. Hence Gate's confusion when some countries appear unenthusiastic. From an American viewpoint, Albright's question can be re-phrased "what are NATO forces for if we can't use em ?"

They can easily strongarm the UK and probably Germany and Poland as well. However, even with Sarko, I doubt France will play ball and a lot of other NATO countries would probably coalesce around a French position if it were pushed through.

As with so many things, American bullying may actually prevent what they want from taking place.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 12:58:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

fútbol (4.00 / 5)

African Cup of Nations final, going on right now.

Egypt v Cameroon

Egypt is the defending champ and five-time winner of the trophy, hoping to take it home for a record sixth time. The streets of Cairo are BUZZING right now, huge traffic jams as people try to get somewhere to watch the game, lots of horn-honking. Also many flag-waving young men running around, and a large group of people walking thru all the side streets of my neighborhood banging on drums and chanting MASR! MASR! (which is the Egyptian pronunciation of the Arabic name for Egypt).

Will note that Egypt tends to identify itself as an African country only when it's useful to do so, which is usually during sporting events such as this one. At least one American friend who lived with me south of the Sahara for many years has already chided me for supporting the "pseudo-African" team. And the other night an Egyptian friend was expressing his annoyance that all the publicity stuff from the tournament shows only dark-skinned Africans, not lighter-skinned North Africans, and then we got into a big argument about how racist it is here... So anyway, maybe I'm supporting Egypt, but maybe I secretly want Cameroon to win.

I'm outta here, off to watch the match. I expect no sleep tonight from the ruckus if they win. Maybe that's another reason to want Cameroon to win. ;-)

Although I'm not sure what the reaction will be here if Egypt loses....

by the stormy present (stormypresent aaaaaaat gmail etc) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 12:29:17 PM EST

Re: fútbol (4.00 / 4)

Egypt wins 0-1, goal by Abu Trika in the 77th minute.

Egypt completely dominated the match, totally outplayed Cameroon. It's a well-deserved win.

It's already completely insane outside, with fireworks and drums and car horns and whistles and cheering. I won't be getting any sleep tonight.

Also, I would like Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary to marry me.

by the stormy present (stormypresent aaaaaaat gmail etc) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 02:05:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: fútbol (none / 1)

OK, the fireworks just cranked up a notch. It sounds like artillery out there.

by the stormy present (stormypresent aaaaaaat gmail etc) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 02:06:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: fútbol (4.00 / 2)

On the Africa North-South rivalry, it seems to be going strong. I was trading text messages all thru the game with a friend who's sitting in a bar full of very depressed Nigerians.

by the stormy present (stormypresent aaaaaaat gmail etc) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 02:08:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: fútbol (4.00 / 2)

the stormy present:

Also, I would like Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary to marry me.

but by about three in the morning you'll want the entire team and every single supporter killed if there's another single firework let off. ;-)

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 02:50:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: fútbol (4.00 / 2)

Right now it's the sexual assaults of women on the street outside my house that's pissing me off. There have been at least two that I know of, and a friend in another section of town says there are scary things happening in her neighborhood too.

Tomorrow may tell whether these are just a few incidents or a widespread phenomenon.

by the stormy present (stormypresent aaaaaaat gmail etc) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 04:07:25 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: fútbol (none / 1)

It is repetitive, but I gotta say it: Stay angry, but take extra precautions, please.

Our knowledge has surpassed our wisdom. --Charu Saxena.

by metavision on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 04:23:56 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: fútbol (none / 1)

Thanks. I am not going outside.

by the stormy present (stormypresent aaaaaaat gmail etc) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 04:27:13 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: fútbol (none / 1)

Stay Lucky.

Life should consist in at least fifty percent pure waste of time, and the rest doing what you please.

by ceebs (bunchofwankers (at) gmail (dot) com) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 04:28:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Wind statistics (4.00 / 6)

I missed that the final European stats for 2007 came out early last week, and that the final global statistics were updated.

Europe's performance is mixed, with Germany, UK and Portugal declining, while Spain set a new record (a likely one-time boost due to a change in law for projects completed after the end of last year), Italy and France going strong and, at lower levels, Belgium, Poland and the Czech Republic taking off.

The most interesting numbers in the EWEA press relese are these:

Wind power continued to be one of the most popular electricity generating technologies in the EU in 2007, making up 40% of total new power installations.
(...)
Net capacity additions (and net reductions) 2007:
Wind power 8,504 MW; Gas 8,226 MW; Coal (-750 MW); Nuclear (-1,203 MW)
Source: Platts PowerVision and EWEA
(...)
Since 2000, the EU has installed 158,000 MW of new power capacity. New gas installations totalled 88,000 MW; wind energy 47,000 MW; coal 9,600 MW; oil 4,200; hydro 3,100; biomass 1,700 MW; and nuclear 1,200 MW over the eight-year period, according to figures from Platts PowerVision and EWEA.

In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes

by Jerome a Paris (jeromeguillet@yahoo.fr) on Sun Feb 10th, 2008 at 12:46:30 PM EST

Blair Petition, on going viral (4.00 / 4)

So, I've been saying that we should get some 'tell your friends' feature for sending out emails on the Blair petition site (if technically feasible). To get the muliplication going. The gopetition site already has this, but it's neither very good (no message) nor very prominent -- and as far as I can tell we're still planning to move?

Here's a draft Dutch text:

Hallo,
Ik heb net een petitie ondertekend tegen het benoemen van Tony Blair tot 'President van de Europese Unie'. De petitie is hier te vinden: