European Tribune - Community, Politics & Progress.

Friday Open Thread

by Fran
Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 10:55:32 AM EST

It's Open Thread time again - enjoy!

. Home
. About
. Contact
. New User Guide
. FAQ
. ET Editorial Guidelines
. Search
. Search (Google)

Username:
Password:

. Make a new account
. Reset password

Friday Open Thread | 52 comments (52 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 1)

We had heavy rain today, or what we call in German Wolkenbrüche and it looks like the riverboard will be flooded soon.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 10:56:44 AM EST

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0)

Two thunderstorms back to back last night with lots of rain. But it's been dry today. More rain tomorrow supposedly.

Bad weather in Wales for InWales tho', she'll be nearly drowned on her course

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 11:02:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 1)

Well, I hope she will enjoy nice weather next week.

Here we are down to 15°C after 27° yesterday and 32° Wednesday. Sometime I think I could use a little "global warming". This is the third lousy summer in a row.

by Fran (fran at eurotrib dot com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 11:05:32 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0)

Solar minimum coupled with el Nina in Pacific means bad news. Or so I understand.

I hear it's flipping to an el Nino so next year will be hot hot hot.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 11:14:58 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 1)

Two days of high temps (35°+) and humidity, then storms all last night and cold and heavy rain today. La Nina and the solar minimum ees no good!

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 03:46:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 1)

We've had pretty brutal heat for a couple days here. Went to the grocery store yesterday, and my little temperature gauge said it was 99F. Can't gripe too much, because summer has been pretty cool this year. And we have thunderstorms coming in that will drop us down into the 60s and 70s in a couple days.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 11:08:35 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 1)

Cloudburst! Hard. Followed by absolutely clear skies and strong sun. Within 7 minutes. Tropikal Bremen is heaven. ('til tomorrow.)

Skennah Kowa

by Crazy Horse on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 11:48:00 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 1)

We have had over 3 1/2" (9cm) of rain in the last five days. This has been accompanied by a mid-day heat index ranging from 95F to 101F (35C-38.3C). Wed. morning I sat outside on a log watching a hired crew grind up two large cedar stumps in my yard. The temperature was in the mid 80s (~29.5C) when I came in and there had been a breeze, yet I was soaked with sweat. I'm thankful for air conditioning.

Between midnight and noon on Thursday alone we must have recieved an inch and a half (3.5cm) of rain, with lightning and thunder claps that shook the house for hours. I would have slept through most of it but for the fact that the wife twitched as though shocked with the louder thunder claps. Last night before retiring we noticed a wet spot on the ceiling in our bedroom, beneath the location where the biggest limbs had hit the roof in the Februrary ice storm. This was by far the most intense rain we have had this year. Now I get to talk to an agent for my homeowner's insurance.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer at eurotrib.com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 01:40:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 1)

Last night we finally got some cool, dry air behind a cool front. The low was 67F (19.4) and the high today is predicted to be no more than 83F (28.3). Time to get some work done outside.

As the Dutch said while fighting the Spanish: "It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer at eurotrib.com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 01:43:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0)

I'm still not used to summer in the North of France (that's where Paris is): to me summer starts at 30C and above, so are we there yet? (mmm, not quite...)

Europeans think a hundred miles is a long way. Americans think a hundred years is a long time.

by Bernard on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 04:14:14 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 1)

sat under a thunderstorm for the last twenty minutes, huge rolling rumbles of thunder keeping going for far longer than expected.

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 11:14:17 AM EST

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0)

Today's been ok, but the weekend weather is going to turn to crap.

Oh well, I have a warm, dry desk to work at...

Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine - Patti Smith

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 11:28:15 AM EST

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

So yeah, I paid bribes today, both in "legalized" form on paper and of the "it will cost you 100 lira for me to hand you these forms" variety.

Yeah, it was almost worth it. Lulz. Train to Greece tomorrow night. I hope they have Ayran there.

you are the media you consume.

by MillMan (millguy at gmail) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 11:56:24 AM EST

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 1)

Hot Air » Blog Archive » ACU puts conservatism up for sale?

When we said that conservatives needed to do a better job selling the philosophy of limited government and fiscal responsibility, this isn't exactly what we meant. According to Politico, the American Conservative Union attempted to get Federal Express to pay millions of dollars to engage the ACU on their behalf over a political fight with UPS on legislation under consideration on Capitol Hill. The ACU's executive vice-president Dennis Whitfield told FedEx that the ACU stood foursquare against the bill, which would have made it easier for unions to organize at individual FedEx facilities. When FedEx took a pass on the offer, the ACU reversed itself and aligned with UPS instead:

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 11:59:34 AM EST

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

I am now licensed to sell protection.

Boo, ja.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 12:17:19 PM EST

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

Let me guess: Blackwater sales rep? ;)

Jesus died for somebody's sins but not mine - Patti Smith

by dvx (dvx.clt ät gmail dotcom) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 12:20:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

If I answered yes or no, I'd have to...

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 05:02:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 4)

Yeah, you and about 40% of the metro area. :)

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 12:26:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 1)

Yes, it is lach a dweem come twoo.

Wooo.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 05:03:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Keep commin' around here with that thing and you're gonna need it. ;-))

Skennah Kowa

by Crazy Horse on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 01:10:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

and we wouldn't want our website to have an accident? ;-)

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 01:20:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 5)

...all of that spamming was just a warning.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 01:45:54 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 4)

Words like that young lady, and you'll end up with a horses blog in your bed.

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 01:56:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 1)

and we're not talking the Copolalyptica cinematic version either. We're talking real horses blog.

Skennah Kowa

by Crazy Horse on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 03:29:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0)

Unh, that would be Coppolalyptica, mit zwei P's.

Skennah Kowa

by Crazy Horse on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 03:31:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Oh No the Acoppolypse!

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 03:47:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 1)

Still, I suppose, it's not the end of the world ;)

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 04:01:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 1)

and i feel fine

Skennah Kowa

by Crazy Horse on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 04:37:59 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 1)

with arthritic naes, quite tender to the touch.

mweh he he

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 05:06:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Benvenuti alla famiglia...

"Pretending that you already know the answer when you don't is not actually very helpful." ~Migeru.

by poemless on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 01:45:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.

by Cat on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 05:36:57 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Minority Report and Precrime arrives via a Facebook events page - for a BBQ

Although we now have multi-touch interfaces via the handy iPhone, it appears the rest of the world promised by the Minority Report movie and its "Precrime" concepts has arrived sooner than we thought.
Brit Andrew Poole organised a simple barbeque to celebrate his 30th birthday party. He expected a total of 17 guests, so he bought a lot of burgers, rented a marquee and put some batteries into the portable MP3 player, as anyone with an impending significant birthday and an unused BBQ stove would. But his first mistake was to create an events page on Facebook. His second was to send out invitations to join the BBQ in a Devon field owned by a friend.

If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 01:45:13 PM EST

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Well known fact terrorists, Rave Plotters®, and other hooligan types gather into small groups to partake of the Hamburger whilst planning their nefarious deeds.

No one could have predicted

by ATinNM on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 02:09:48 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

I can't has cheezburger, apparently.

Maybe they should have stocked up on doughnuts.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 07:33:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

This is what you get for electing a guy who tucks his shirt into his underwear.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 08:25:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Good. (none / 1)

Houses committee passes Kucinich amendment to allow state-level single-payer.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 02:21:53 PM EST

Re: Good. (none / 1)

...adding: Even better, it attracted bipartisan support. Vote was 25-19.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 02:22:55 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Good. (none / 1)

25-19 ?? doesn't that suggest a lot of empty seats, especially on the Dem side for something this important ?

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 02:42:50 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Good. (none / 1)

The actual vote on the health care bill was 26-22. Sounds like a few abstained on Kucinich's amendment. I'm surprised his amendment would get more votes than the overall bill, since he's clearly aiming to built a single=payer system in the way Canada did (slowly at a provincial level and eventually at a national level).

The nurses groups on our side were really pleased.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 04:08:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Good. (4.00 / 2)

methinks helen didn't realize it was a committee vote

Skennah Kowa

by Crazy Horse on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 04:38:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Good. (none / 0)

Ah no. I thought it was a Senate vote.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 05:35:28 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Good. (none / 0)

You thought 44 senators showed up to vote on health care?

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 08:26:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Are Zell Miller and Pat buchanan in some sort of competition for the tackiest racial slur of the week award ?

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 02:41:51 PM EST

Re: Friday Open Thread (4.00 / 2)

Someone reassure me that this is Photoshop.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 04:37:33 PM EST

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 1)

the sign was stolen from Hong Kong, the brit elements were shopped.

Skennah Kowa

by Crazy Horse on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 04:39:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0)

What about pigeons? You guys got pigeons out the wazoo.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 04:51:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0)

You're kidding, I wouldn't let anything eat a pigeon. Diseased winged rats.

keep to the Fen Causeway

by Helen (lareinagal at yahoo dot co dot uk) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 05:34:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0)

Oh, you coddled Brits. Can't be any worse than squirrel cooked in a popper, can it? ;)

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (myfriends@thisispancakes.com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 06:10:08 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Friday Open Thread (none / 0)

Like slimy chicken, if I remember.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Fri Jul 17th, 2009 at 07:34:40 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Which reminds me... (none / 0)