Althouse: At the Photo-Free Café...

December 28, 2012

At the Photo-Free Café...

... it's an open thread. Enjoy!

65 comments:

Gahrie said...: Does the President realize that all spending bills must originate in the House? Because it sure didn't sound like it during today's press conference.; 12/28/12, 7:24 PM
Gahrie said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 12/28/12, 7:25 PM
Gahrie said...: ...or I should say press appearance....surprise surprise he didn't take any questions again...; 12/28/12, 7:26 PM
johnnymcguirk said...: I ride a commuter train and am often distracted by other commuters talking, to each other, or on their cell phones. It makes it difficult to read my paper or book. I now listen to music on my headphones while I read. I googled "music to read by. " The first hit was an Althouse post from 2005. It was very helpful. Thanks. There are only two comments, both from 2011.; 12/28/12, 7:26 PM
dvlfish13 said...: Total number of homicides from rifles of all types (2011): 323

Total number of homicides from knives or cutting objects (2011): 1,694

Total number of homicides from blunt objects (bludgeons) (2011): 496

Total number of homicides from hands, feet, fists, etc. (2011): 728

Source: FBI: Crime in the United States

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2011/crime-in-the-u.s.-2011/tables/expanded-homicide-data-table-8; 12/28/12, 7:35 PM
test said...: This article shows the real role of teacher unions: protect the employees at the expense of the students by any means necessary.

http://newsandinsight.thomsonreuters.com/Legal/News/2012/12_-_December/Chicago_sued_for_alleged_discrimination_against_black_teachers/; 12/28/12, 7:42 PM
Smilin' Jack said...: At the Photo-Free Cafe...

Someone's getting laay-zeee....; 12/28/12, 7:44 PM
George M. Spencer said...: Communist turtles went to the Moon.

In 1968.

Everything you know is wrong.; 12/28/12, 7:48 PM
edutcher said...: Photo-free?

Does this mean we are snowbound?

Gahrie said...

Does the President realize that all spending bills must originate in the House? Because it sure didn't sound like it during today's press conference.

If he doesn't, would it surprise anybody?

dvlfish13 said...

Total number of homicides from blunt objects (bludgeons) (2011): 496

Ah, yes, the "blunt instrument" of many a whodunit. Do they end up banning chairs?

PS Is there a separate statistic for pistols?; 12/28/12, 7:57 PM
Ann Althouse said...: I just very dark and gray here. Nothing to photograph. Sorry!; 12/28/12, 8:01 PM
I Have Misplaced My Pants said...: Yesterday I let my two older kiddos, aged 11 and 9, ride their new Christmas bikes a few blocks to spend some Christmas cash at McDonald's. We're pretty free range, we live in a safe and family-oriented neighborhood, and they've been drilled on safety many times and the oldest had her cell phone charged and on in her pocket. The last bit of our reviewing the rules centered on what to do if a stranger tried to abduct one or both of them, with the reminder that such kidnappings are exceedingly rare and "it's not going to happen to you, but just in case, you should know what to do," and off they went.

About four hours after they arrived safely back home, an 11 year old girl was forcibly kidnapped about half a mile from my house by being forced into an SUV. She was riding her bike next to a 13 year old male friend who was walking his dog. The SUV pulled up next to them and a man jumped out and grabbed the girl, shoved her into the car (but not before the boy released his dog which bit the bastard) and drove away. She was released in a public park about an hour later and the police aren't sharing information about her condition other than that she is home with her family.

It's got me pretty shaken up. Could have been my girls.; 12/28/12, 8:01 PM
dvlfish13 said...: Yep, handguns accounted for 6,220 homicides in 2011. It's in the link.; 12/28/12, 8:02 PM
Ann Althouse said...: There is snow, and its actually pretty. Just not inspiring me to record any images. Saw a cute doggie today. Skied where everything seemed in black and white. Mostly read, wrote, and talked. Ate an egg and a hot dog. Really, it wasn't photogenic.; 12/28/12, 8:04 PM
dvlfish13 said...: "I just very dark and gray here."

Simple Jack reference?; 12/28/12, 8:04 PM
test said...: She was released in a public park about an hour later and the police aren't sharing information about her condition other than that she is home with her family.

It's got me pretty shaken up. Could have been my girls.

Scary. At least it wasn't worse.

Maybe they'll get DNA from the dog bite.; 12/28/12, 8:08 PM
Anonymous said...: Absolutely gorgeous weather in North Florida. Sweaters and jackets in the morning then tee shirts and flip flops in the afternoon. And the full moon rise over the St Johns river from an anchored sailboat while having a glass of good Spanish red? Nice...; 12/28/12, 8:08 PM
Sam L. said...: johnnymcg, what you need is a good old boombox to sit on your shoulder and annoy the phoners.; 12/28/12, 8:09 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: A prop-less tread?

Is that even possible?; 12/28/12, 8:10 PM
Smilin' Jack said...: I just very dark and gray here. Nothing to photograph.

Just because you're dark and gray doesn't mean everything else is. It's not always all about you. Besides, there's probably this thing on your camera called a "flash." Check it out sometime.; 12/28/12, 8:10 PM
Anonymous said...: Moonlight, moss and magnolias.; 12/28/12, 8:11 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Isn't Althouse violating an Althouse code?

Lawless Althouse.

Impeach Althouse.; 12/28/12, 8:12 PM
Rusty said...: Our current resident opens his piehole and the Dow drops 226 points.; 12/28/12, 8:13 PM
Hagar said...: Egg and hotdog still -life?; 12/28/12, 8:14 PM
Bob Ellison said...: Kids have great imagination. They hear a lot from parents and teachers about danger. Kids' motives are sometimes hard for parents to understand. Kids sometimes compose false stories.; 12/28/12, 8:22 PM
Rabel said...: "The first thing we must do is kill all the lawyers"

Maybe not all, but there are a few who deserve the reputation.; 12/28/12, 8:32 PM
Don said...: Does photo-free mean no flashing allowed?; 12/28/12, 8:38 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: I've been informed that Althouse has a lifetime appointment.

Shes a Blog Supreme?

I cant type anything on google w/o hitting something... knowwhatimean?; 12/28/12, 8:51 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Although I believe Supremes can also be impeached...; 12/28/12, 8:52 PM
edutcher said...: Ann Althouse said...

There is snow, and its actually pretty. Just not inspiring me to record any images. Saw a cute doggie today. Skied where everything seemed in black and white. Mostly read, wrote, and talked. Ate an egg and a hot dog. Really, it wasn't photogenic.

I understand. If the inspiration isn't there, it isn't.

I used to write little bits of verse for The Blonde when we were long distance and sometimes it was tough to find the hook.; 12/28/12, 8:54 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Impeach John Roberts.; 12/28/12, 9:02 PM
Patrick said...: Did some skiing in the Rockies today with my kids. They all did well for their ages (5-10) and experience. Even when it eas tough, not a word about the temp, which was 5 degrees when we started.

Very gratifying as a dad.; 12/28/12, 9:02 PM
Bob R said...: I'd like to place an objection to the many many "We won. The red team has to give us what we want." posts about the fiscal cliff. Reagan ran a "Morning in America" campaign for his second term. Won a far bigger victory than Obama. Reagan won a mandate to watch the sun come up. His second term was marked primarily by bad decisions made by light colonels in the White House basement. Like Reagan, Obama campaigned on nothing. He should get exactly that.; 12/28/12, 9:36 PM
Known Unknown said...: Reagan won a mandate to watch the sun come up.

He ran a campaign about believing in his direction of the country after Carter.; 12/28/12, 9:43 PM
Lydia said...: So, Obama's going to be on Meet the Press tomorrow putting the screws to Republicans re the fiscal cliff, with David Gregory doing the interview.

Not good.; 12/28/12, 9:43 PM
Anonymous said...: Gregory will have 30 screws in that cartridge.; 12/28/12, 9:46 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: Reports are in and much better than expected, still, I don't know how much people are just being nice.

They are Bronco fans over here mostly so I had Amazon send them toasters.

Grown men who can buy themselves anything they want, pissing themselves over crap plastic toasters.

I lowered expectations as much as possible. Gave suggestions to just have a look and toss it, since there is scant chance it will work. I mentioned the things people complained about which all sound valid.

That made each one try harder to like it, to resist me and my low opinion of things, and give it a chance that I do not give it, since I don't give their team any respect either.

It forced them to understand the goal of the branding is to stick out from ordinary toast therefore something has to give. It's a compromise between excellent toast and toast with a burned flaw. A wonderful flaw. A controlled burn. Or else the brand is normal toast that is differentiated from poorly toasted bread. It's a delicate balance between satisfactorily toasted bread and a burned emblem. That's what half the complaining is about on Amazon. But they're all pleased to try to make it work, to put up with bread that won't fit, to tolerate its breaking-in process. It's killing me they can be pleased so easily with a toy.

The other half of complaints on Amazon are that they're mostly just s a flat badly made product.

This went so well I'm thinking about buying more because there are some real football fanatics over here and they really don't care that much about gourmet perfect toast, but toast with their emblem on it, now, that's a personal love. Apparently.; 12/28/12, 9:52 PM
Anonymous said...: The great Japanese watercolor artists would purposefully put a flaw in their toast because the perfect toast would be presumptuous.; 12/28/12, 10:02 PM
Dante said...: Does anyone understand the theory behind ObamaCare?

There seems to be a fixed number of Doctors/Doctors in training in the US. My primary care physician got his MD from Guadalajara. He's a great physician, but why did he have to go out of the country (as others we know have)? There is (or at least was) a surplus of those seeking an MD degree. I've heard innuendo the number of doctors is limited by the American Medical Association.

If there is essentially a fixed resource, and more competing for it, it seems the law of supply and demand kicks in, which in this case will raise costs. So what is the theory?

Furthermore, it seems it is going to be difficult to rely on drugs to bridge the gaps. There are fewer and fewer blockbuster drugs, that really make a difference. Megan McCardle used to blog about this frequently on the Atlantic. And Nature magazine has been complaining that the research supporting new drugs is very poor, and often unsupportable. One might say pharmaceutical companies are at a kind of brick wall.
That means the answer isn't in pills.

So where is the future? In the Liverpool protocol, in which Doctors decide, based on resources, you are going to die anyway, so let's put you on a Morphine drip and let you die?

And if the government tries to implement cost control measures, won't it lead to more doctors declining to treat patients with inferior insurance? I know there was a big push for doctors to stop taking HMOs, which pushed us to get a PPO, for instance.

I don't recall hearing these discussions in the press. Does anyone else? And aren't they important to have?; 12/28/12, 10:12 PM
Dante said...: Chip:

The other half of complaints on Amazon are that they're mostly just s a flat badly made product.

This went so well I'm thinking about buying more because there are some real football fanatics over here and they really don't care that much about gourmet perfect toast, but toast with their emblem on it, now, that's a personal love

In case you have forgotten, don't forget to buy them through Ann's Amazon portal. It doesn't cost you anything, and it lets her know how much you appreciate her (besides all the cool posts).

In fact, you might ask her for a cut. So should Bagoh20, and other top posters.

In fact, maybe Amazon ought to pay their top posters. Hmm. Patent anyone? Too late! It's in the public domain!; 12/28/12, 10:16 PM
Anonymous said...: Here's an invention for which I will split the patent rights 50/50 with the one mechanically-inclined to make it happen:

the Untoaster. You can put your burnt, overtoasted toast into the Untoaster and it will return it to a lightly-browned state. Untoast it twice and you have, again, a fresh piece of bread.; 12/28/12, 10:17 PM
chickelit said...: Dante said...
Does anyone understand the theory behind ObamaCare?

Middle-aged boomers have the bulk of accumulated taxable wealth and savings. In order to get at it and to redistribute it to the more deserving hoards, it is necessary to thin the boomer herd. Compromising boomer's access to healthcare will do this by stealth. Improving the needy's access to HC will ensure a sustained, orderly, and irreversible transfer. To this end, it is very important that intra-family wealth transfers be hindered as much as possible. Hence, enhanced inheritance taxes.; 12/28/12, 10:25 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: If a privilege... (lets call it the Furious Gregory Privilege) can be said to be a subsidy... (follow me on this, I think I'm going somewhere).

The saying goes, subsidize something and you'll get more of it... there will be "abuses".

My imagination magazine is severely limited, as a reliable agent to grant me the vision as to what shape this kind of privilege/subsidy will take.

And then I remember that Chip already descrived* it for us @6:24 PM.

*Photo-free zone.; 12/28/12, 10:34 PM
Anonymous said...: Here's a tip for Obamacare cost savings: since the TSA are already nude-scanning you at the airport we can now have a doctor on hand evaluating the results, two birds, one stone.

That weird shadow that may be a gun?

Prostate exam.

That weird shadow that may be a bomb?

Breast exam.

That weird shadow that may be an anteater slowly consuming a banana?

Break time.; 12/28/12, 10:42 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: I have a photo that might work, if you like.

But let me tell you about a little bit about this photo for it marks a special occasion. A special day of special freedoms for very special people.

David Gregory is not a good dancer. But provide him with a gun and a loose strap, and you've got pure wonton abandon. I think you'll enjoy it. The police gathered for a police convention in Washinton D.C. sure did.; 12/28/12, 10:53 PM
Wince said...: Lydia said...
So, Obama's going to be on Meet the Press tomorrow putting the screws to Republicans re the fiscal cliff, with David Gregory doing the interview.

Actually, I think Gregory has this Sunday off.

Which raises an interesting question. If Gregory is charged with a weapons crime, what will that do to his security clearance and will he be able to be in the same room with a president?; 12/28/12, 10:53 PM
Lydia said...: EDH, Politico is saying this:

"NBC's David Gregory will interview President Obama on this Sunday's Meet The Press, reversing earlier news that the host would be on vacation."

Guess NBC wanted one of their, er, top guns to do it.; 12/28/12, 11:07 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Isn't it interestingly interesting how Hillary is avoiding a potential testimony explaining how come there were no dangerous weapons to defend the consulate/mission?

*

BTW.. I was working this morning so I didn't have a chance to put in my take on the Hillary asterisk* tread.

In baseball parlance an astericks is something of a red flag on a hall of famer or potential hall of famer.

Hillary is a potential SOS hall of famer?; 12/28/12, 11:21 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Perfect!; 12/28/12, 11:23 PM
Laura said...: Thin the herd? Methinks you meant cull the herd.; 12/28/12, 11:24 PM
Laura said...: Thin the herd? Methinks you meant cull the herd.; 12/28/12, 11:24 PM
Dante said...: Middle-aged boomers have the bulk of accumulated taxable wealth and savings

Is the press really that insane? Or, are they really that stupid? Or, are they really that religious?

I do not understand what the press is up to, if not to inform the public. They aren't an arm of the government. They are granted special rights to prevent governments from doing things that don't make sense. I really do not understand.

Or, perhaps, it is I who am stupid, ignorant, and religious.; 12/28/12, 11:26 PM
chickelit said...: @Dante: read my beak: "taxable" wealth and savings.; 12/28/12, 11:39 PM
chickelit said...: Laura said...
Thin the herd? Methinks you meant cull the herd.

To "Cull" goes better with herd, but to "thin" is more Germanic and thus more sinister in this context. ;); 12/28/12, 11:50 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: I've never liked the story Peter Pan. Every element in it does not appeal to me. I have a pop-up book, and it's very good too, ATTAAP, but it's among my least favorite because of the story.

And then today I saw Finding Neverland, and now my attitude is completely changed.

I see it won an Oscar. And many other awards too, but no one would care about other awards once they won a fish beautiful and awesome as that.; 12/28/12, 11:56 PM
Tim said...: "If there is essentially a fixed resource, and more competing for it, it seems the law of supply and demand kicks in, which in this case will raise costs. So what is the theory?"

Well, yes, of course, but the theory is because Obama-magic, and because shut up.; 12/29/12, 12:04 AM
Clyde said...: A "photo-free cafe"? I can't picture it!

I looked at this picture of Kate Winslet with new husband Ned Rocknroll -- and no, that's not his birth name! -- and thought "Did he dress her or did she dress him? Or did their style consultant(s) dress the both of them?"

No word whether he sang at the wedding, although he wouldn't have lived up to his name if he didn't. Suggested tunes:

The Rolling Stones' "Little T & A" "(AKA "She's My Little Rock & Roll") or Huey Lewis and the News' "The Heart of Rock & Roll" or Joan Jett's "I Love Rock N' Roll."; 12/29/12, 12:27 AM
Dante said...: "@Dante: read my beak: "taxable" wealth and savings. "

Eh. I was going to post that every generation needs to renew itself, but that's an interesting point. Some wealth and savings aren't taxable, no matter what meme the Democrats push.; 12/29/12, 12:31 AM
T J Sawyer said...: Does anyone understand the theory behind ObamaCare?

I used to explain it to my liberal relatives this way:

No additional doctors.

40 million more patients.

And the total cost is going down.

You figure the rest out.

And they would just stare and glare.; 12/29/12, 12:39 AM
Clyde said...: Also, just because I like you guys (and gals), here's a link to The Smoking Gun's Top 20 Mugshots of the Year. The woman ranked #2 is a dead ringer for Cousin It from The Addams Family.

And I have to say it, even though it may show religious intolerance: The Amish women are fugly. No Kelly McGillises in that crew! And the Amish men all look like hobbits (or perhaps skinny dwarves), with the goofy beards.; 12/29/12, 12:50 AM
Dante said...: No additional doctors.

40 million more patients.

And the total cost is going down.

What's in it for the press, not to discuss with the plebes. Isn't that the reason they get special treatment? Isn't that why the the guy can wag an illegal clip at the NRA guy?; 12/29/12, 1:06 AM
Joe Schmoe said...: Ahhh, an Inga-free thread. Thank you.; 12/29/12, 6:03 AM
Joe Schmoe said...: One of our suppliers sent us a box of Wisconsin cheese curds as a holiday gift. Great stuff. One of my coworkers took a bunch home and deep-fried them. Said they were amazing.; 12/29/12, 6:07 AM
Guildofcannonballs said...: The key to getting Gregory to account for his crimes is not rational, it is instead to call the D.C. cops a bunch of pussies.

Little bitch girls bowing down to their Kingpimp Daddy Master, David Gregory.

D.C. cops should be called little bitch-ass punks who shouldn't be surprised if they get spat or shit upon by the now knowing public.

We are smarter than cops, who many times are chosen precisely for their dumbness and Dorperish qualities, and we are superior in that we chose to live among other than the dregs the cops love to surround themselves with day in and out, at the office and on the street, in order to feel superior to something sometime in their shitty little lives.

If the D.C. cops pride is hit, the D.A. will get pressure from them to do the right thing, and the rule of law will be one criminal closer to achieving a measure of success.; 12/29/12, 6:33 AM
Jim in St Louis said...: I freaking love the hummingbird feeders on Chip's website.

One would think of Chip as a visual flat plane artist with all the gif thingies--but this is sculpture. way cool.

We get the hummers in the high summer and they are such aggressive little guys- very entertaining with fights and territory battles.

Erika- in a very soft "Mommy" voice tell your kids that if they are ever in danger they should fight and scratch and yell, and try and smash the bad guy in the ball sac. Do not go quietly, ignore threats- get their fingernails into his eyes. They have power- use it.; 12/29/12, 7:11 AM
Old RPM Daddy said...: @EDutcher: "Ah, yes, the "blunt instrument" of many a whodunit. Do they end up banning chairs?"

No, they'll end up banning frozen legs of lamb.

By the way: Redskins versus Cowboys tomorrow night. When was the last time that matchup was even meaningful?; 12/29/12, 7:49 AM