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Email Print posted by desertpear 08/21/2008 02:26:43 PM EST

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Open Thread | 29 comments (29 topical, 0 hidden)
What? (none / 0)
You ran out of mythological creatures?

by Spencer on 08/21/2008 02:31:53 PM EST

I know, I'm sorry!! (none / 0)
I have to run to Portland today, and didn't have time to look through my photos.  Hopefully, this will give everyone a little perspective on the importance of this presidential race in the larger scheme of things.  I promise another creature next open thread ;) 

by desertpear on 08/21/2008 02:42:16 PM EST

[ Parent ]
How is Portland by the way? (none / 0)
It seems like a great place to live but I just can't get past the 222 days of cloudiness pear year...that's just insane.

Denver gets snow but at least they get sun (as Spencer will agree, even though he likes clouds).

Oh, and I should add that I think storm clouds are cool...they have personality. But the light gray definitionless winter sky? It sucks the life out of everything. Very depressing.

by ihavenobias on 08/21/2008 03:06:30 PM EST

[ Parent ]
pear year (none / 0)
Portland is GREAT!  yes, rains a lot, but summers are really wonderful.  There are four distinct seasons.  Olympia is much worse.  Check and see how many cloudy days we get.  Our sky is often white--it's like living inside a ping-pong ball. 

by desertpear on 08/21/2008 03:22:59 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Well (none / 0)
I love the summers here in Chicagoland to, even though it can be humid. 

May up until November 1st is great. December up until April (sometimes mid-April) sucks.

How are rates of seasonal affective disorder out there? I'd imagine pretty damn high although people eating a lot of fish might cancel it out from the omega 3 fatty acids.

by ihavenobias on 08/21/2008 03:38:03 PM EST

[ Parent ]
7 days in Lacey and I was calling uncle (none / 0)

by jazzchic on 08/21/2008 06:29:03 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Lacey? (none / 0)
Cut it out with this Pacific Northwest jargon. You're in America, speak English!

by ihavenobias on 08/22/2008 10:48:01 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Lacey (none / 0)

It's right near Olympia, but has more strip malls and white trash.  Same shitty weather, worse surroundings.

Yes, the Pacific Northwest feeds the entire antidepressant and full-spectrum light industries.  

by desertpear on 08/23/2008 12:33:10 AM EST

[ Parent ]
Let me set this piece off. (none / 0)
I enjoyed this.

by Spencer on 08/21/2008 02:59:07 PM EST

I'm scared (none / 0)
What if this scary black man takes over and tries to repatriate the rest of us back to Europe??1!!

by desertpear on 08/21/2008 03:04:10 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Don't be scared, we may be better off in Europe (none / 0)

As I was driving to work the other morning, I heard on NPR how residents in Flagstaff are being nudged out that have lived there for years.  It was noted that multimillion dollar housing projects are still going on there big time for the mega wealthy to move there or at least have one of their homes there.  Residents were interviewed saying they could no longer afford to live there because of the higher property taxes and of course can't afford the type of houses being built now.  One interviewee said he considered moveing 50 miles away but because of gas prices he could't afford the commute to his work.  NPR noted that even Medical Professionals, Professors and other fairly good paying jobs could not even afford to live there.  The middle class is literally being pushed out... literally.

After hearng this, I stopped for morning coffee at a convienient store.  The dude in front of me in line just kept standing there with his head down.  Couldn't figure out what he was doing. He then dropped a penny and I picked it up and gave it back to him.  He then said "2 dollars sixty two cents right?'  Lady behind the counter acknowledged. When he turned to walk out I saw a $1 bill and one dollar and sixty two cents in pennys.  As he walked out I heard him say to himself "hope thats enough gas to get me to work"  ($2.62).

I told the lady I felt sorry for the dude.  She then said "that ain't nothin... I've seen people buy 61 cents worth of gas and say they hoped it would get them to their house."  

Maybe the "scarey black man" would be doing us WASPS a favor sending us to repatriate Europe.  

Now talking about scared, what if McCain wins the election and his economic policies are enacted.  I know it can't be much worse than the failed Bush "supply side" assholes modified Reaganomic 'trickle down' theory,  But it could be.  I can remember the Ronnie Reagan days.  He almost succeeded in doing away with the middle class.  Bush has come even closer. 

Hope this isn't too depressing. 

by psyche2 on 08/21/2008 05:24:30 PM EST

[ Parent ]
It's so true!! (none / 0)

I have a very well-paying professional job relative to most people I know, and yet it is very hard for a single person to afford to own a home near their place of work. 

Now if McCain wins, I probably will consider leaving for a few years--just until the next cold war with Russia and Iran has subsided of course.  

by desertpear on 08/23/2008 12:38:49 AM EST

[ Parent ]
I've been overeating for the last couple of days (none / 0)
I think I've sunk through the galaxy and hangin' with the globular clusters.  :(

by blueheartinaredstate on 08/21/2008 03:04:30 PM EST

please note (none / 0)
McCain's arms are too tiny to show up in this photo.

by desertpear on 08/21/2008 03:25:30 PM EST

that's cooold (none / 0)
but accurate.

by hazmat on 08/21/2008 03:28:38 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Location, location (none / 0)
I somehow have the feeling that the Turks is a Midwest to Western phenomenon. But I could be wrong. I live in Boston. Anyone else who reads this live in the Northeast?

by ashbul on 08/21/2008 04:55:09 PM EST

Not the northeast, but not the south either. (none / 0)
Any given night in the live chat there are several people in Florida.

by jazzchic on 08/21/2008 06:31:57 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Germany or Florida? (none / 0)
Adam Carolla's favorite game. 

by schmoab on 08/21/2008 06:44:34 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Location: Maryland (none / 0)

South of the Mason-Dixon line, but close enough to examine the border markers. It's a blue state in central Maryland, but very 'midwestern' in western Maryland, and very 'southern' on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay where I live.

Thank goodness for the high population that's smart enough to be Democrats in the Baltimore-DC-Annapolis region. Carries the entire state. Idiots on the eastern shore voted out one of the most powerful and well-liked state senators and replaced him with a Republican junk bond dealer who everyone in Annapolis hates.

Glad I live in the stupid section of a smart state instead of the smart section of a stupid state! At least we got rid of the Republican crook who was governor and replaced him with a smart Dem.

by zenie on 08/21/2008 09:00:45 PM EST

[ Parent ]
DC here (none / 0)
I'm usually a day or two behind but I watch/listen to all the shows.

by dclawyer06 on 08/22/2008 01:19:25 PM EST

[ Parent ]
mccain has supporters? (none / 0)
My 21 year old hairdresser girl told me she is voting for McCain.  I asked why and she said she just doesn't like Obama.  And she's worried that Obama will just pull out of Iraq and leave a mess.  On the other hand she really liked Kerry, so I guess his pullout plan was preferable.  Or maybe she doesn't like black guys.  Actually I don't think it's any of the above, I think the most likely explanation is that her boyfriend/family/friends is filling her head with nonsense.  Last time I talked to her before the caucus she told me Obama is a MOOSLEM.  Anyway just had to vent... thx

by schmoab on 08/21/2008 06:11:38 PM EST

the great thing is (none / 0)
She is probably so stupid and wishy washy that she might not go vote.

by desertpear on 08/23/2008 12:41:12 AM EST

[ Parent ]
MY NEW FAVORITE SONG (none / 0)
East Coast Avengers -Kill Bill O'reilly
http://blog.wired.com/music /2008/08/east-coast-aven.ht ml

by kshears on 08/21/2008 06:51:41 PM EST

Very nice. (none / 0)
And I don't really even like anyone in that group.  Political rap seems to be the thing now.

by Spencer on 08/21/2008 07:10:36 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Also (none / 0)
Prepare for the litany of comments that say "I don't like O'reilly but I don't agree with this.  Blah blah whiney Maoist pre-apology."  But honestly, if you listen to right wing radio, people like O'reilly, Savage, and Beck say this kind of shit about us all the time.

by Spencer on 08/21/2008 07:14:12 PM EST

[ Parent ]
That's just stupid (none / 0)

The "East Coast Avengers" are just the Avengers.

There are West Coast Avengers.  There are Great Lakes Avengers.  But no "East Coast" Avengers.

Reeeee-diculous.

by ProfRich on 08/21/2008 11:52:54 PM EST

[ Parent ]
just listening to tuesday's show (none / 0)
the interview with matt stoller is depressing. I think this guy is hitting the nail on the head. he's saying that Obama is failing to link mccains corrupt policy to some motive. there's also the disloyalty to wes clark and the caves post primary. I'm getting pretty nervous.

by hazmat on 08/22/2008 01:25:40 AM EST

back from Obamagon. (none / 0)
Just returned from Portland, Oregon tonight.  Had a little overnighter with my 81-year-old leebral Catholic mom.  She lives in an ultra-rich suburb outside of Portland, with million-dollar homes and not many people of color outside of landscapers and that's no joke.  Guess what?  The only political yard signs and bumperstickers were Obama's.  Woot.  I slapped a sticker on her Volvo after convincing her they were removable ;)  This was not a huge surprise actually, because Portland is soooo progressive.  Man, I may have to move back.  The Portland Oregonian newspaper is full of news about land conservation and rapid transit and wind power and other 21st century topics.  Portland itself is very multicultural now, which is great.  Of course, it's always nice visiting in the summer when all is green and it's nice and balmy at night.  Back to chilly Oly.  ;p  Now I'm jacked on caffeine and waiting for the VP announcement.

by desertpear on 08/23/2008 12:49:12 AM EST

Like I said (none / 0)

Cut down the cloudiness in Portland and we'll have a conversation.

 :)

by ihavenobias on 08/26/2008 10:49:40 PM EST

[ Parent ]
Open Thread | 29 comments (29 topical, 0 hidden)
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