Althouse: At the Big Rock Café...

August 11, 2010

At the Big Rock Café...

... keep things afloat while we hit the road again.

54 comments:

ricpic said...: Superior's waters are very green,
Superior's waters are very mean;
No matter how seemingly peaceful the scene
Remember at all times to use your bean.; 8/11/10, 12:00 PM
jamboree said...: This place is just gorgeous.; 8/11/10, 12:00 PM
mesquito said...: water temp?; 8/11/10, 12:03 PM
Palladian said...: Can you boat into the little caves? I really want to boat into the little caves.; 8/11/10, 12:07 PM
Phil 314 said...: why is the water so green?

It reminds me of this; 8/11/10, 12:08 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: .. while we hit the road again.

On The Road Again - Willie Nelson From "Outlaws and Angels" DVD; 8/11/10, 12:09 PM
The Crack Emcee said...: Damn - it's that kind of rock.

I'm outta here.; 8/11/10, 12:09 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Palladian you cant run away from Crack in those little caves ;); 8/11/10, 12:10 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: There is a Bullying Summit on CSPAN.; 8/11/10, 12:13 PM
chickelit said...: Heh. The title instantly reminded me of a popular depression era song that went something like this:

On a summer day in the month of May a burly bum came hiking
Down a shady lane through the sugar cane, he was looking for his liking.
As he roamed along he sang a song of the land of milk and honey
Where a bum can stay for many a day, and he won't need any money

Oh the buzzin' of the bees in the cigarette trees near the soda water fountain,
At the lemonade springs where the bluebird sings on the Big Rock Candy Mountains

There's a lake of gin we can both jump in, and the handouts grow on bushes
In the new-mown hay we can sleep all day, and the bars all have free lunches
Where the mail train stops and there ain't no cops, and the folks are tender-hearted
Where you never change your socks and you never throw rocks,
And your hair is never parted

Oh the buzzin' of the bees in the cigarette trees near the soda water fountain,
At the lemonade springs where the bluebird sings on the Big Rock Candy Mountains; 8/11/10, 12:15 PM
kjbe said...: Yes, Palladian, in many you can. You can explore them in the deep of winter, too, if you're so inclined.; 8/11/10, 12:54 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Wisconsin really does look like Arkansas. See?; 8/11/10, 12:56 PM
AlphaLiberal said...: Sure are a lot of people going to vacation up north there this year.; 8/11/10, 1:16 PM
Unknown said...: Drive safe, you crazy kids. Glad you had a good time.

Ann Althouse said...

The lawyerly human little boy was perhaps 3 years old.

Perhaps the young man's middle name is Althouse.

AlphaLiberal said...

Sure are a lot of people going to vacation up north there this year.

The lousy economy. Now, who created that?; 8/11/10, 1:31 PM
A.W. said...: off topic, but i figured it might be of interest. i have said several times that the judge in the prop 8 trial should have recused himself.

now in the SF Chron no less, an op-ed columnist says the same.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/08/11/ED591ERJID.DTL; 8/11/10, 2:51 PM
Fred4Pres said...: Prop 8 judge's ruling too radical even for gay marriage proponents?

I agree with this.; 8/11/10, 3:35 PM
Triangle Man said...: I agree with this.

@Fred4Pres

You think that ultimately sanctioning gay marriage is the right thing to do but that this decision violated principles of gradualism and short-circuited popular sovereignty?; 8/11/10, 4:16 PM
jungatheart said...: Does anyone else feel dejected when Althouse leaves us to our own devices?; 8/11/10, 4:44 PM
Anonymous said...: A.W., Triangle, Fred: I wrote something along the same lines (that, as a gay marriage supporter, this decision is not good news), here

-Lyssa; 8/11/10, 5:00 PM
jungatheart said...: Lake Huron rolls, Superior sings
In the ruins of her ice water mansion
Old Michigan steams like a young man's dreams,
The islands and bays are for sportsmen.

And farther below Lake Ontario
Takes in what Lake Erie can send her
And the iron boats go as the mariners all know
With the gales of November remembered.

-Gordon Lightfoot; 8/11/10, 5:25 PM
AllenS said...: I went to the Gitchee Gumee
when the weather was gloomy

I stuck my foot in the water
and thought, why did I bother

It was cold
that I should have knowd

So I'm going back to Madison

-- Ann Lighthouse Foot; 8/11/10, 6:13 PM
Pastafarian said...: mesquito asked: "water temp?"

About 400 degrees F. According to NOAA, at least:

http://www.climatechangefraud.com/climate-reports/7479-us-government-in-massive-new-global-warming-scandal-noaa-disgraced

(Sorry about no hyperlink, blogger keeps spitting them up on me for some reason).

I'm sorry I ever doubted your Global Warming claims, AlphaLiberal. 600 deg F in Egg Harbor, Wisconsin. That's damned hot. Makes North Carolina look like Norway.

Alpha said: "Sure are a lot of people going to vacation up north there this year."

Why in God's name would they go up to that sweltering hell-hole? Even if it's a few miles from Egg Harbor, that 400 deg F lake must be full of rotting boiled fish. Jesus, the stench must be overpowering.

I mean, they're climatologists, all scientifical and all. They can't be wrong, can they? Not about something so important as this. Couldn't be. I mean, that would probably throw the mean temps off by a degree or two. And that would account for the entire warming that required us to wreck our economy to reverse.; 8/11/10, 6:38 PM
jayne_cobb said...: NBC is really using Top Chef to kiss D.C's ass this season aren't they?; 8/11/10, 9:06 PM
bagoh20 said...: "Bureau of Economic Analysis reports that in 2009, for the first time since World War II, Californians made less than they did the year before."

Woohoo! We are kickin' ass out here. Anybody want to move on out. We're liberal, we're open, we're international; and we're screwed, bankrupt, and a one party state of enormous proportions. Can you smell us yet?

The Weather and natural wonder is still awesome. Come on, we need taxpayers. Welcome former Arizona illegals. We got bad schools and everybody speaks Spanish. You'll love it. No racist cops here. Woohoo!; 8/11/10, 9:08 PM
LonewackoDotCom said...: Let me give a couple examples of tea party stupidity:

1. No 'partier is smart enough to show how Huck is wrong, nor are they smart enough to even understand why pointing out that Huck was wrong (and the interviewer is a hack) would help them: link. Instead, because 'partiers are useless idiots, I'm going to have to spend my time posting a Youtube vid and writing about that. It deserves a response, but no 'partiers are mentally or emotionally capable.

2. Virtually every 'partier would have to agree that Harold Meyerson isn't their friend. And, making a link like that on their sites would help discredit him and that would help them. The link isn't that great (just a few items), but it's more than anyone else. Instead of helping me help them, any 'partiers who respond to this will no doubt discourage that. And, of course, that's because no 'partiers are mentally or emotionally capable of much of anything.; 8/11/10, 9:36 PM
bagoh20 said...: "No 'partier is smart enough...

". Virtually every 'partier would have to agree..."

Oh yea, I wanna read more. Please lead me to the wisdom of your lame, self-promoting obsession.

If you don't like the Tea Party, stop trying to make a name for yourself sucking off their juice. It's pathetic. Same crap every time. Only a fool would go to your site after reading your tease. BTW, sue me.; 8/11/10, 9:52 PM
sunsong said...: tortoise helps tortoise; 8/11/10, 10:07 PM
MamaM said...: Superior sings in the ruins of her ice water mansion.

Thanks Deborah, for the connection. These posts have given that line new context.; 8/11/10, 10:31 PM
HT said...: jayne_cobb said...

NBC is really using Top Chef to kiss D.C's ass this season aren't they?
---
What do you mean Jayne? (I never watch reality shows). All I can say is that DC ain't a food town. No way, no how. Food sucks there. Unless you are in the 'burbs, unfortunately.; 8/11/10, 10:35 PM
Irene said...: A surprise from President Bush, after a little presidential "father-daughter" vacation.; 8/11/10, 10:38 PM
Rialby said...: jayne_cobb said...

NBC is really using Top Chef to kiss D.C's ass this season aren't they?
---

Without a doubt. Ask yourself if they would have done that with Bush in office. Lame.; 8/11/10, 10:48 PM
Fen said...: LonewackoDotCom: blah blah blah

Disclaimer: Lonewacko is a Soros-funded Concern Troll out to discredit the Tea Party movement. He claims to share their goals but spends every post bashing them, instead of promoting the ideas he claims to "share" with them.

He's also been kicked off of 5 sites for threatening to sue those who out him.; 8/11/10, 11:45 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Thanks for the tip Fen.; 8/12/10, 12:27 AM
A.W. said...: Lyssa

Actually the point of my article doesn't have alot to do with yours. It is just another citation for the idea that this judge shouldn't have presided over the case, at all.

I have a track record on picking up this sort of thing. Remember a few years ago when the 9th circuit struck down the pledge of allegiance? I looked at it and said, "um, guys, how does a divorced father who has no custody over his daughter have standing?" People all over the place said i was being ridiculous. Then, what do you know the SC honed in on that exact issue and vacated the entire ruling.

This judge was ruling on his own rights. That is in pretty direct violation of federal statute requiring a judge to disqualify himself if his impartiality might be reasonably questioned. At the very least, he should have disclosed that he was gay to the parties, and disclosed frankly whether he was in a relationship serious enough to be impacted by this ruling. What if we find out tomorrow that the judge had proposed to his boyfriend and was waiting on the answer at the time he made the ruling.

Btw, i also have come to doubt that the 9th circuit would definitely uphold the ruling. besides the danger it might be vacated due to a biased judge. i will post another time, but on another site a guy convincingly makes the case that there really is precedent on this, and the SC found against gay marriage. so no one but the SC can overturn it. But its late, so another time.; 8/12/10, 1:13 AM
Ann Althouse said...: The water was 70°. We enjoyed swimming in it, and, for kayaking, we didn't need to put on the wetsuits.; 8/12/10, 2:30 AM
Revenant said...: It is just another citation for the idea that this judge shouldn't have presided over the case, at all.

I don't buy the argument. In short, it is that since the judge is gay and in a relationship, he may want to get married. So the case affects him.

But the anti-gay-marriage argument is that gay marriage harms heterosexual marriage. Should we, therefore, force any judge who is or may one day be in a heterosexual marriage from hearing the case? Who does that leave who CAN hear the case?; 8/12/10, 4:37 AM
Revenant said...: Lonewacko is a Soros-funded Concern Troll

I'm pretty sure he's just a fruitcake, Fen. I've never seen any evidence that Soros funds him.; 8/12/10, 4:38 AM
Opus One Media said...: @Ann

water temp in the Atlantic on Long Island beaches was in the middle 70s yesterday...equally as odd as 70 in Superior. I remember camp as a kid and having to do the early morning jump in and I think it hindered my reproductive life forever.; 8/12/10, 5:51 AM
Opus One Media said...: PS...I strongly urge a day trip east to Lake of the Clouds in the UP..just in case you have a sense of meaningless adventure.; 8/12/10, 5:53 AM
Unknown said...: Irene said...

A surprise from President Bush, after a little presidential "father-daughter" vacation.

I saw that somewhere else yesterday, Drudge, maybe. He always felt a deep bond and responsibility for the troops.

Interesting his daughter, Jenna, went to Haiti with him. She was always the one who the press reported on for her exploits 'off the reservation', IIRC. Glad to see she's grown up.

Ann Althouse said...

The water was 70°. We enjoyed swimming in it, and, for kayaking, we didn't need to put on the wetsuits.

70 sounds a bit nippy for swimming, so dumb question - did you wear your wetsuits swimming?
If so, how comfy were they?

The reason I ask is that The Blonde has been pondering the purchase of wetsuits for snorkeling in places like Cancun and Puerto Vallarta (dependent, of course, on Mexico ever quieting down).

On the subject of kayaking in a wetsuit, I worked with a die-hard kayaker (mostly Lake Erie) years ago. I don't think he ever wore a wetsuit (then again, he saw himself as a very macho guy) when he went out.

Again, glad you had fun and that you're both home safe.; 8/12/10, 7:03 AM
jungatheart said...: MamaM, that meaning was revealed to me for the first time, too.

And lol AllenS gives Lightfoot a run for his money upthread.; 8/12/10, 8:20 AM
chickelit said...: 70 sounds a bit nippy for swimming, so dumb question - did you wear your wetsuits swimming?
If so, how comfy were they?

70 F sounds about right for a surface temp. The Lake has an average temp of about 40 F year round and has enormous thermoclines. linkage.

Below 20 feet or so the water temp drops significantly. When I went diving up there in the 1970s I recorded a temp of 42 F linkage but that was at around a 100 ft in depth.; 8/12/10, 8:41 AM
A.W. said...: Revenant

I am going to continue this exchange in a thread devoted to the subject. I only wanted to pass on a link, and I don’t want to threadjack this any more. So I will post my full response in the thread where olson says that stupid thing comparing the issue to freedom of speech.; 8/12/10, 9:20 AM
AlphaLiberal said...: Lake Superior was 70 degrees? Or was that some other lake? Man, that's warm.

Pastafarian, whatever. Suggest you read this piece from UK global warming skeptic Hichael Hanlon, who has come around. Amazing photos from Greenland.; 8/12/10, 9:47 AM
AlphaLiberal said...: Oh, and good news for America in a new poll:

As for the Republican Party, only 24 percent see it positively -- the GOP's lowest-ever rating

Republicans are hoping for continued economic problems to help their political prospects. They are betting against America.; 8/12/10, 9:51 AM
Pastafarian said...: Alpha, is that meant to be a response to my pointing out that temperature data used to justify cap-and-tax was off, not by one degree, or two, but by hundreds of degrees F?

Because it looks to me like you didn't even mention it.

And just name-dropped one guy who's "come around". That's pretty lame.

But speaking of Greenland...looks pretty white to me. Why do you suppose, Alpha, that they named it "Greenland"?

Do you suppose that it was once warmer than it currently is?

Might any actual warming (not the make-believe warming coming from Egg Harbor WI) be due to the fact that we're emerging from a fucking ice age?

I wonder how long true-blue believers like you will cling to a long-discredited theory. Your faith is inspirational, Alpha.; 8/12/10, 10:03 AM
jayne_cobb said...: Keep fucking that chicken AL.; 8/12/10, 10:05 AM
AlphaLiberal said...: Ahhh, more threats of violence from America's increasingly militant and violent-prone conservative movement.

One woman, the owner of two gyms and a temporary-employment agency, was venting about a pro-union bill supported by Murray when she blurted out: "She ought to be shot. Murray and (Sen. Maria) Cantwell ought to be shot."

This is par for the course as Republicans threaten to resort to violence or, as wingnut Republican Senate nominee Sharron Angle would say "second amendment remedies" if they don't get their way.

They may be a bunch of whiny babies, but they are well-armed and angry whiny babies, egged on by irresponsible leadership.

Look, some times in a democratic system, you don't get what you want. That's not license to practice or threaten violence.; 8/12/10, 10:15 AM
Anonymous said...: AlphaLiberal said...

Oh, and good news for America in a new poll:

You must mean this one I suppose...

http://bit.ly/94olLS

Public favors Tea Party over top Dems
By Jordan Fabian - 08/12/10 06:00 AM ET

The American public has a more positive view of the Tea Party movement than both leaders of the majority party in Congress, according to a poll released Wednesday.

An NBC/Wall Street Journal poll showed that 30 percent view the grassroots conservative groups very or somewhat positively compared to 34 percent who view them very or somewhat negatively.

But House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was seen positively by 21 percent of those polled and 46 percent viewed her negatively. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) received a lower positive rating, 11 percent, but also a lower negative rating of 31 percent.

The numbers indicate that the public is dissatisfied with the way Congress has been run; 32 percent believe that this Congress' overall performance and accomplishments are "one of the worst." Only 4 percent say that Congress has done above average or excellent work.

Likewise, Republicans running for Congress have tied their opponents to Reid and Pelosi and many have attempted to attract the support of the small-government Tea Party groups, which party strategists view as having the edge on energy and enthusiasm going into the fall midterms.

But it's not clear how that strategy will play out in November.

The Democratic Party is still rated higher than the Republican Party. Democrats lead in positive ratings 33-22 percent, but both have similar negative ratings, 44 and 46 percent respectively.

Democrats have countered Republican efforts by painting the election as a choice between their policies, which they say will help bring the country out of the economic recession, and the GOP, who they claim will restore policies that put the country into a tailspin.

So far, the public is divided on whether or not they want Democrats or Republicans to control Congress after this year. Forty-three percent prefer a Democratic Congress and 42 percent want a Republican Congress. The survey's margin of error is 3.1 percent.

President Obama, whom Republicans have also made a target, receives better ratings than Reid and Pelosi. Forty-six percent have a positive view of the president and 41 percent have a negative view of him.

Obama is one of only two public figures, groups or countries in the poll to have a higher positive rating than a negative rating, the other being First Lady Michelle Obama.

The poll surveyed 1,000 adults between Aug. 5-9.; 8/12/10, 10:25 AM
AlphaLiberal said...: No, it was a different poll. But I do find that Tea Party is only at 30% approval with 34% disapproval to be a weird thing to celebrate.

And, yeah, Congress is polling badly. Of course. The Republican scorched earth strategy of opposing anything, even policies they formerly supported, is bearing it's bitter fruit.

Hell, if they polled me I'd give Harry Reid low scores -- for giving in to the right wing so much.

Meanwhile, the Tea Party is looking to be the Democrats' salvation what with their crazy candidates across the country winning in the primary but likely losing in the general election.

So, by all means, as you were (just without the threats of violence)...; 8/12/10, 10:35 AM
Anonymous said...: Alpha, if you keep this up you're gonna break your spinner...; 8/12/10, 10:40 AM
AllenS said...: Alpha,

What was it you did for a living. I can't remember.; 8/12/10, 11:33 AM
Ann Althouse said...: Yeah. Lake Superior.

Very clear too. Beautiful swimming. Best swimming I've ever had. Suddenly, I *love* swimming.; 8/12/10, 5:27 PM
Anonymous said...: A.W.,
Actually, I meant that mine was along the lines of what Fred wrote. (I should have actually said that.) I agree that having a gay judge at least raises the appearence of impropriety (you could argue that a straight judge would raise it the other way, but that doesn't work if you assume that straights have nothing to lose here (which I do)).

Along the lines of my piece, though, is that this decision will ahve an air of illegitimacy about it, regardless of how it turns out (either way, at SCOTUS, it will be 5-4). Which is one more reason that it is a bad decision for gay marriage supporters.; 8/12/10, 8:12 PM