Prime Time Thread

Ahh NIMBY, the buzzword of the day. Makes me really miss the old days of “Foggy Bottom”, “taint” and “peeance freeance”.

You’re telling me the Republicans are balking at the idea of giving Halliburton, et al, a few billion more dollars to build some more torture cham- uhm, I mean, “high security” prisons? Why that’s not the warm, cute and fuzzy Republicans I’ve come to know and love…And the next time John McCain opens his mouth, maybe someone could say two words to him:Sarah. Palin.

When I was coming up, NIMBY (at the time) referred to public housing. Ahh, everything old is new again…and yet, it’s always about The Scary Brown People.

NIMBY, huh? Thus spake the Great George Carlin:If a prisoner escapes, what is he going to do? Hang around? Check out real estate prices?

Everything I Need To know, I Learned From A Comedian In The 70s or 80s.I would *so* buy that book for my family.

Jane, I’m about to write that book. Is this phrase outdated? I’d never heard it before today. I had to look it up, I initially thought it was some obscure reference to a government program.

I sense you may be teasing theo, but if you ever do write a book, let us old farts here know about it. I know I’d certainly be interested in reading it.

Perhaps, too, if we are going to protect the rest of the nation from the perils of prison bad guys, we can offer those communities that already have prison in their back yards the option of getting rid of them.I’m sure the fine Americans living in Florence, Colorado would love to send Supermax packing and happy to be rid of the constant fear of terrorist attack. Since we’re so worried about folks, and all, such as, also.

Alan: I actually am a novelist (supernatural realism) and have finished two books. Nothing’s readable-by-others though, not yet, I’ve reopened their cases and am now editing the shit out of them.OTOH, I should totally write “Everything I Need to Know, I learned from a Seventies Comedian.”

i am doing the same thing theo, except with screenplays…i keep my writing 100 pages or less and that is “conversational” one hundred pages! hehe…

Don’t feel bad, Theo, I had to look up NIMBY too!! And if you’re looking for comedic wisdom to add to your upcoming book, may I suggest the wit & wisdom of Bill Hicks (every thing except his “Goatboy” stuff–that was truly gross)?

gyps: for some reason, I get the feeling you’re writing porn.Minx: NIMBY sounds like some teletubbies character, doesn’t it?

Theo,Though George Carlin gained fame in the 60′s, his humor was timely right up to the end.He will always be one of my heroes, for having the balls to “call bullshit” on anything.

I can’t help but wonder what George Carlin or Bill Hicks might have to say about all that has happened since November…

Theo– Does Nimby have a touch of The Gay? Or perhaps she’s Bisexual??

Isn’t NIMBY the Gay Teletubbie™ that pissed Falwell off so much?(Not that that’s a bad thing. In fact, anything that pissed Falwell off was no doubt a good thing).

Okay, never heard of NIMBY? I’m feeling old! Got to see Carlin once in the 90′s, though. He wasn’t as controversial then, but still had it. As you said, Packy…to the end.

Bill Hicks would still be pissed off about Denis Leary stealing his material.

Add Cheech and Chong to the 70′s comic list. I know I learned something from them – then I forgot it. But it was cool, ’cause you could learn it over and over.

Dave’s not here.

Dont forget about Richard Prior.

I think the gay teletubbies was the blue one, who, to be fair, was a total queer.

theo, “nailin’ palin” has nothing on what i am writing! hehe…

Trustno1 – Nothing is as controversial as it was 40 years ago, I think.Except for The Taint™.

did anyone watch the clips of blago on tv today? what an ignorant douche!

Richard (“That N****r’s Crazy!”) Pryor was another amazing comic.

Gypsy… fortunately, I don’t watch daytime TV. But the Reader’s Digest version is on HuffPo, and that’s enough to make me scratch my head and say, “WTF?”

Honestly, Theo, The Gay Teletubby was Tinky-Winky–the purple one, of course!!Packster–Did Dennis Leary really steal Bill’s material?? I know that comedians did that to each other, but that is teh suck!!

i just caught clips of it too packy so did he really ask oprah to be senator?!

NIMBY has been used for everything from nuclear plants to detox centers, but this is very strange. “We don’t want our sex offenders, murderers, and thieves to share space with suspected, unconvicted,terrorists”??? WTF?I know they want to be knee jerk contrary to everything the president does, but they are coming across as a bunch of wimps! I never thought I would see the day when Repubs would become a bunch of whiny weenies. Waaah! Big scary Muslims in our prisons! I just wet myself!Those manly, Camel smoking, ex Marine, fiscal conservative Republicans of my childhood have become as extinct as a sound stock portfolio.

Oprah claims she didn’t know anything about it until this morning. I’d tend to beleive her on this. I’m guessing Blago was a Cheech & Chong fan too, and still is.

Richard Pryor’s “N***** with a seizure” is one of the best! Gets drunk,tries to fight, gets his ass kicked, then starts puking and puking. “Please God, I don’t have anything left to throw up but my nuts!” Also “Black Exorcist”…”Girl, get downstairs and help yo mama with dinner. We got company coming! And get that cross outcha pussy!”

Minx – It’s a huge controversy among fans of both.Hicks and Leary were good friends at one time. Leary’s career took off after his “No Cure for Cancer.”Hicks claimed that most of that material was HIS, and that Leary stole it. Leary said that was bullshit.Hicks career never did reach the “star” level that Leary’s has. Probably, because, ironically, Hicks died early of (pancreatic ) cancer.Here’s some fuel for the argument:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=INarE1WraFAIt may be coincidence. Every day, I read a bunch of political cartoons, and every day, there are usually two or three cartoons that are virtually identical in theme and punchline. Only the artwork is different.I think that’s what happens when you try to be topical.Personally, I preferred Hick’s style, even if the similarity between their material was purely coincidental. Leary forces it too much.

Hmmm, Oprah for senator would just be a stepping stone to Oprah for President!! Now THERE’S someone we can all get behind!!Gyps, Admit it, you’re writing porn!

Looks like Blago is on Larry King Live tonight, if anyone is interested in seeing more of his shitheadery.

Gyps, he apparently was “considering” Oprah.Something was also apparently news to Oprah.

Oprah for senate? How about Angelina Jolie, too?

Go! Rachel! Calling the GOP on the bullshit about the stimulus package. “Republican ideas got the Democrats elected” “They got laughed at and then they got whomped” “Americans’ opinions on McCain’s economic ideas is why he’s SENATOR McCain and not the president” Pretty much telling McBush to sit down and STFU.I love it

AND she’s pointing out that the CBO report that the GOP is touting DOES NOT EXIST. And quoting the WSJ’s editorial about it…which apparently used the word embarrassing, but not in relation to the report non-existence.

BTW, re: Carlin. I have the link to his final interview. If anyone wants it I can dig it up.

It’s good to see nut bag politicians on both sides of the spectrum, or in Blago’s case, inide the spectrum, bouncing around with bees in his head. It’s amazing what democracy can produce!

Hey Chris..put that link up on your myface page.Thanks!

I luv George Carlin so much. When my conservative parents stopped making sense to me, I sought out folks who did. Carlin was one of ‘em.One of my favorite lines is Carlin talking about how being anti-abortion is being anti-woman, and how the conservatives make no sense when it comes to the sanctity of life. Said Carlin: “If you’re pre-born, you’re fine. If you’re pre-K, you’re fucked!”

I agree, Packy, Leary does force it too much. I just wish that Bill Hicks had been around to see all of this– esp. Booosh Jr. & the election of Obama. He did believe though, that politicians were puppets on different hands of the same ruling entity. Sometimes I wonder if Hicks was set up somehow. I know it sounds weird, but I wonder…

Actually, back to the NIMBY topic – my guess is that any Gitmo transferees would have to be placed in some sort of closed confinement.They can’t let them out in the general population of a Supermax prison.There are some real badasses in the GP that would think it very cool to kill them some “suspected terrorists.”

Hello? Is this thing on?

Quiet in here tonight, isn’t it?

hey, gyps, howzabout you post some of your porn and give us something to talk about?

According to reports, 71,000 jobs were lost just today. That’s pretty fucking brutal.

oh – CM – I read that wrong. I put it on your page

Anybody got good news?

I know, Alan. The jobs report for this month is going to be horrendous

wow, I just led myself to a gun-nut blog. there was a font where the letters were guns (downloadable for Mac OS X and Windows!) called the “Second Amendment Font.”Wow.

what about the people here? how stable are your jobs? my dad works for Sacramento County, there’s going to be some massive layoffs soon.

Blagojevich: Proof positive that the U.S.A. is a wonderful country where even the criminally insane can grow up to be the Governor of Illinois.In other news: Rep. John Conyers (D MI) issues new subpoena for Karl Rove to testify before the House Judiciary Committee. Subpoena includes cover letter warning Mr. Rove that a Judge has ruled that Rove does not have executive immunity allowing him to ignore congressional subpeonas.If I were Conyers, I would warn Karl the Rove that I have have a 12-gauge Mossberg loaded with alternating 00-buckshot and rifled slugs and if he doesn’t show up I’ll be coming after him. But that’s me.Conyers wants to talk to him about the politicization of the DoJ and the politicallly inspired prosecution and incarceration of Gov. Siegelman (D) of Alabama.The used car salesman Norm Coleman’s legal team gets slapped on the wrist for submitting ‘doctored’ evidence to court hearing their complaint about the recount. Doctored evidence gets tossed. Wingnuts still screaming about the joker Al Franken stealing the election.Iceland’s government completely collapses.Scientists in discussions concerning using Elizabeth Hasselbeck’s head as a low cost vacuum source.Rachel Maddow proves again that she rocks.

Dick Cheney is no longer Vice President!

And Rachel DID rock tonight!

Hey Git and anyone else interested – not sure you know this already but there is Facebook group for the GDAB commenters if your interested in joining. Just search for GDAB Cescans and request to join.This has been a public service announcement..Now back to regular programming..

I’m ok – one of my jobs just increased my hours. One on it’s last legs. One needs someone to do what I do, so that one’s pretty safe, toothanks for your concern, tho, Theo. It is not fun times in the work world

>>>Dick Cheney is no longer Vice President!I second that emotion!!

The uncertainty is a pisser. I was laid off for several months a few years ago, and it was agonizing. I have a good position now, and make a good salary.My 25th anniversary is next week. My wife and I have been looking forward to this for, well 25 years or so, and had plans to treat ourselves to a week on a beach on a tropical island. And maybe new rings to commemorate our achievment. Not going to happen now, because we’re afraid we’d need that money to survive another couple of months if my job was cut.My company seems safe. I have no reason to be scared. But I am. And I suspect a good percentage of those 71,000 folks let go today didn’t think they needed to be worried either.

I just re-read what I posted, and it sounds pretty damn selfish. I’ve read plenty of posts from you all here. No health care, turning off the heat, multiple jobs, etc. And here I am complaining about not being able to loaf on the beach.Well, I’m sorry, but I have worked my ass off for a long time. I’m going to feel sorry for myself for a while anyway.

All of those stories are true.(Except for the Hasselbarf one. I made that one up.)Iceland is really fucked up. It’s not normal for Icelanders to be rioting. And I thought things were bad here.Does anyone here know what Iceland’s major businesses are?

You don’t need to apologize Alan. I just hope your job doesn’t disappear.

Iceland businesses are primarily fishing and tourism. They are being hit particularly hard now because they got into finance and banking in a huge way in the last couple of decades. They bought into American debt and had been making a killing until the farce evaporated.

no Git but I did hear about Bjork, a few months ago, she and some friends were investing in Iceland’s ecomony….guess it ddn’t turn out so goodAlan, you enjoy yourself….and get some sand and a big umbrella, make you some drinks with little umbrellas and enjoy yourselves in the backyard, unless you live somewhere cold. Then you should have a picnic in your living room, romantic and cozy

Thanks git.Off to bed for me… G’night all.

nite

How long before the mass suicide events start?

TY Alan. I wondered if they got themselves embroiled in our financial insanity. Unfortunately for them, they did.

Hey Alan, I do understand. 25 years of loving someone is an amazing thing– So you can feel sorry for yourself for a while, it’s okay. Everyone’s situation is different and it’s all a matter of perspective–at least that’s what I keep telling myself. Perhaps a shorter trip? Or commission rings with unique stones from a local artist? Just thinking. You are so lucky to have such great love for 25 years. Wow!!

Boobies!!! Where are the silly folks?? I am hoping for some thing– giggles, maybe??

SillyGit channels The Captain ObviousNearly one hundred years ago, a fellow named Henry Ford shocked the conservative robber barons of his age by paying his auto workers wage that allowed them to be able to afford to buy the products they were making. He told them (paraphrased) – When employees can not afford to buy the products that they are making, you do not have a long term sustainable economy.One hundred years later we live in a world where the products on the shelves in the U.S. are made overseas by people who can not afford to buy these products. Since because these production jobs have been moved overseas, too many people in the U.S. can no longer find a job and thus only a very few can afford these products here as well.Looks to me like Henry knew what he was talking about.

Oy vey. I may need to ramp up my Prozac dosage!For some happy news, I was able to join a Medicare Drug Program. The pain patches that cost us $436 last month, cost… Wait for it….$8! This plan costs $23/mo but is a life saver!!

Minx – that’s great news but this fucked up system is amazing to me.Last month, my 78 year old aunt was diagnosed with Stage 3 Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. She was started on an agressive treatment of chemo and has to take seven different medications for the next six months. One med alone was $4000 a month. Her only income is Social Security but luckily, besides Medicare she was enrolled in two different prescription insurance programs (AARP and one other that escapes me). Her price now? A $20 co-pay per med for a total of $140 per month.How the FUCK does this system work?! “Okay this med is $200 a month. You pay $20. This med is $4000! You pay… $20!!! And I get the fact that others pay into the system and they make up for it blah blah blah. What I wan’t to know is what makes a medication so fucking expensive that it costs $4000? I don’t care what anyone says, that is arbitrary Big Pharma bullshit.

Nearly one hundred years ago, a fellow named Henry Ford shocked the conservative robber barons of his age by paying his auto workers wage that allowed them to be able to afford to buy the products they were making. He told them (paraphrased) – When employees can not afford to buy the products that they are making, you do not have a long term sustainable economy.

You know things are bad when a Nazi sympathizer is the progressive voice.

The congress is wholly owned and operated by The Corporations in general, and Pharmaceutical Corporations in particular. The Pharm. industry has been given a license to print money by gouging the U.S. public. We are not supposed to notice since Health Insurance is supposed to hide the real costs from us.In 1986 the insulin I use cost $8 a vial, now it is $40. I have to use a new long duration insulin called Lantus that is $95 dollars a vial. This is to replace some long duration insulins that cost $40/vial that were discontinued.Most Pharmaceutical companies operate with profit margins in excess of 50%. Dell’s profit margin is about 1.25%.I’m not holding my breath waiting for this to get fixed. Drug related patents should only last for 10 years. Those profit margins have to come back to earthly levels.

Travis – Yeah. I should have pointed that out too.

He believed in paying a man a fair wage for a day’s work. As long as that man was not a Jew.

hey, did you guys know that Prescott Bush (dubya’s grandfather) was the head of IBM for a while? and that he gave the Nazi’s proprietary technology that allowed them to make a database of all the Jews in Germany? And that Prescott attempted to overthrow FDR?History must never forget.

In case anyone didn’t know about Henry Ford

Prescott was dyed in the wool conservative robber baron (who are all corporatist/fascists) which is why they were Nazi sympathizers/enablers. Now you understand why H.W. and W. are the arrogant fratboy twats that they are. The acorn did not fall far from the tree.Henry Ford was a prick. But he is proof that even an asshole can be correct once or more.In Henry’s case the quote I used is about the only thing he *ever* said that I agreed with. As Travis points out the man was a notorious antisemite.

Hey, since I’m in China do I get to be last? Good change will never come to the US health care system by tinkering with what we have now. I’m not holding my breath. We have insurance and pharmaceutical companies with all kinds of politicians in their hip pockets, including (I fear) our new president. His health care proposal did not bowl me over as anything that would bring universal affordable health care to all. It just seemed like keeping the insurance sharks a little more under control while continuing the ridiculous notion that employers should shoulder the burden of providing insurance to everyone. The USA will suck at health care unless the government takes over. Period.Then there is the fat assed population that is killing themselves with bad food and no exercise, which is a personal responsibility issue.The difference between Wal Mart in China and Wal Mart in the USA is that there are no obese people riding the poor little handicapped carts.