Friday, October 17, 2008

End-Mid-Week Open

Here is your open thread for the next 7 days.

That which is not a thread topic, goes here. Also, any topic you want to bring back from the dead or any suggestions for a new topic, goes here.

caveat: the usual rules apply.

24 comments:

L.Douglas Garrett said...

11 games played and our local heroes H.C. Nikkou IceBucks have gotten...

3 wins, all in regulation.

3 players on the DL (and we started with the league minimum 23 man roster)

We've played more games than any other Asia League team this season to date, too. *sigh*

*link text in Japanese, sorry.

Mr. Bill said...

*link text in Japanese, sorry.


Well, maybe it is at first glance, but there's this cute little "English" link in the upper right corner. Maybe it's only visible to people viewing from IP addresses outside Japan.

L.Douglas Garrett said...

Hey, waddyaknow... The new web site design for this season does have an English page.

Good eyes, mr. bill!

Patty said...

just a FYI observation. LDG..it cracks me up when you do this >> "waddyaknow"... its so out of character, but sure makes me giggle!

L.Douglas Garrett said...

@Patty

Hehhehheh. Always a pleasure to provide amusement.

Once in a while, things like that still come to voice. Must have been an echo of my misspent youth... ((grin))

Patty said...

;-)
I miss my misspent youth!

Will said...

I miss the days when I was nostalgic.

Well the Red Sox are still down 3-2 in the ALCS, but they managed to come back from 7-0 in the seventh. We might actually get to game 7. I know who TBS is pulling for Saturday...

Of course I'm terribly glad the Phillies spanked LA in the NLCS. Stupid Dodgers.

Karl Reisman said...

Umm...
Houston has a lousy Football team.

Visiting the San Jacinto monument and he U.S. Texas was a highlight of the trip for me. Lots of pics, and a very interesting book dealing witht he withdrawl of Mexican foces after the battle of San Jacinto on April 21's 1836.

L.Douglas Garrett said...

@will

Always more fun when the series goes 7 games (unless it is *your* team, then you want to win in 4, eh?)

Beautiful fall weather here today, would be great to just get out and throw the ball around with you, like old times.

@karl

Welcome back, Scott!

I thought you'd like San Jacinto. What is the title of the book you came upon?

L.Douglas Garrett said...

political announcement

I am not Joe, but for this campaign I'll make an exception.

I AM JOE

It is not the person asking, it is the question that matters.

Will said...

I find this fascinating, exciting and disturbing in equal parts:

Laundromat as bomb screener

This is very clever counter-terrorism, which is pretty rare in these days of "security theater." At the same time, it points toward further gov't intrusion into our formerly private lives.

KC-Fresno, Ca. said...

LDG
I am going to try and leave a comment here and hope it posts.

I love your IAM JOE link. I think most of us are Joe and it is such a shame that the media, etc., are trashing him. All he did was ask a simple logical question, and because Obummer gave the wrong answer, it is poor Joe's fault.
This certainly explains why Obummer does not ever ask audience questions after a rally like McCain does, and also why he always wants to see asked questions first!!! Hope the American people really think about this before they vote!!!

And I love your "waddyaknow". I am with Patty - it seems so out of character for you and it does make one giggle. Glad to know you take the starch out of your collars every once in awhile!!!

It feels sooooooo good to be back

KC-Fresno, Ca. said...

LDG
Forgot to tell ya
CUTE PICTURE by the way

L.Douglas Garrett said...

@will

heh, I had heard about the laundrette, but the "bugged all new cars" ploy is a new one to me.

I'd like to believe the way things could be done in the U.K. in those troubles doesn't apply in the U.S., but sadly you are also right about 'formerly private lives'.

@KC

Welcome Back!!!

Glad you liked what you found here on your return.

Mr. Bill said...

@kc-fresno

All he did was ask a simple logical question, and because Obummer gave the wrong answer, it is poor Joe's fault.


So, it had nothing to do with McCain referring to Joe the Plumber 21 times during the debate, and repeatedly for the next six days? It had nothing to do with the fact that Joe the Plumber is a general contractor who made $40k last year, not the licensed plumber out to buy a business he said he was? It had nothing to do with the fact that Joe the Plumber has an outstanding $1100 tax lien, suggesting he has trouble paying taxes levied against him by a Republican administration? And it has nothing to do with the fact that Joe the Plumber walked up to Senator Obama to ask the question?

I don't think Joe the Plumber, aka Joe Wurzelbacher would have gotten his fifteen minutes of unwelcome fame if it weren't for Senator McCain's constant highlighting of him.

L.Douglas Garrett said...

@mr. bill

((grin))
Something tells me you aren't buying the "message, not the messenger" argument.

It certainly was a gift to McCain's campaign for that incident as recorded to have occurred, and they sure jumped on it.

Would you care to present an argument that the incident was anything other than chance, or a defense of the manner in which major media conducted their 'background investigation'?

...'cause otherwise I suspect we are talking past one another on two separate tracks.

KC-Fresno, Ca. said...

Mr. Bill
My Friend,
I think the crucial point has been missed.
It does not mattter if "Joe" isn't licensed, owes a tax lein, or anything else. He said he was thinking of buying a business, he did not say he owned one. And, I believe it is still his right along with yours to ask a question.
Whether, it is Joe the Plumber who wants to buy a business, Maggie the hair stylist who wants to buy a salon, Mario the chef who wants to buy a restaurant - you get the idea- it is the point that if they succeed in their dreams and happen to make more than $250,000.00 per year they are going to be taxed and taxed.
The point was Obama stating "we are going to spread the wealth" - that is how "Joe" became the talking point. And then for Obama to state over and over "How many plumbers do you know that make $250,000.00 a year??? What a slap in the face to the American people.
I could name a gazillion small business owners who make that amount annually. My goodness, just look in the yellow pages of your telephone directory. A lot of small business owners hire college students, senior citizens, etc., giving them an income to help with their expenses. This is what America is suspose to be about. If Obama taxes their business, like he wants to, and spreads their wealth, how many people are going to be laid off and how many businesses will be forced to close their doors? Very scary indeed.
So, my friend, as I love my country with all of my heart, I am casting my vote for John McCain, as I want a leader for my country, not a ruler.

Mr. Bill said...

The point was Obama stating "we are going to spread the wealth"

Please explain to me how taxation in any form isn't "spreading the wealth".

Mr. Bill said...

A lot of small business owners hire college students, senior citizens, etc., giving them an income to help with their expenses.

My experience is far different from yours. In my experience, small businesses hire college students and seniors because they can or will only work part time. In most states, part-time workers are not eligible under the law for health insurance. Sure, altruistically, it puts money in the pockets of those workers who might need it, but the small business owner cashes in on the labor without having to insure it.

Mr. Bill said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mr. Bill said...

If Obama taxes their business, like he wants to, and spreads their wealth, how many people are going to be laid off and how many businesses will be forced to close their doors?

Not many. The tax rate on small businesses making $250k+ under an Obama administration would revert to where it was under President Clinton. I don't recall a lot of small businesses failing during his administration from tax burden.

L.Douglas Garrett said...

re: taxes - redistribution

Heh, I can think of lots of cases where tax collection results in the concentration of wealth at the top, if that counts as redistribution.

Redistribution "downward", a.k.a. socio-economic intervention or "social welfare" is a more modern application of the power of taxation, though.

re: 22Oct 3:32pm

I'm with Mr. Bill on this one. Temporary, Part-time, and contract labor plays the role of a means of avoiding obligation by the employer, and that is how it is used to a great extent these days (both in the U.S. and Japan; look at our "freeter" problem here).

Purr said...

In reference to Joe--

personally, I am tired of him-- he became a loved/hated celebrity overnight- He has been on networks et al!

I am with Bill- McCain has even had Joe rallies! Let's move on and have a Susan rally! LOL Distribute your wealth to me!

And no disrespect to the McCains but given how wealthy they are, I don't see them really living the middle class life- but this does not take away from me voting for him...

L.Douglas Garrett said...

thanks for playing here, folks!

New Open thread is available *here*, so let's wrap up any open items and roll forward to the new thread, please.