Vox Populi – 2-14-2014

AdLib : See you there, Beatlex! Night!

Beatlex : For sure Ad,see you on the music thread,goodnight !

AdLib : Looks like it’s that time, Beatlex. Really enjoyed the chat! Looking forward as always to next week!

Beatlex : Lights out for tonight AdLIb?

AdLib : When a gallon of gas cost the same as the decade (.70/gallon in the 70’s).

Beatlex : When money was worth something AdLib!

AdLib : And add to that the price of a ticket and a hotel/motel!

AdLib : Beatlex – That was a lot of money then!

Beatlex : AdLib,I can remember that to fly there,tickets for the show,and the return flight was $275 dollars! I live a thousand miles from Seattle

AdLib : Well, looks like it’s that time to wrap up Vox Populi for the night. Thanks to all for making it another rousing evening! Have a great weekend, hope to see you here for The Weekend Music Thread and The Sunday Funnies! Night!

AdLib : Beatlex – Damn! It was a great tour. I was lucky to go, my brother had an extra ticket.

Beatlex : Night Murph!

AdLib : Night Murph, take care of yourself and have a great weekend!

Beatlex : AdLib,no doubt,I was going to fly to Seattle in 1976 to see that tour,But they were sold out! AAAAH!

MurphTheSurf3 : Well, good people…And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make…….Good night.

AdLib : glenn – Watchout for the Snow Zombie Baggers! Have a cozy weekend!

glenn : Ad–Wow–how cool to see McCartney.

glenn : Alright, folks, my turn to head out the door. I’m going to put my snow shovel by my bed, since I don’t have a shotgun. I’m hoping if I put enough covers on my bed, the zombies won’t be able to find me! Good night all. Have a great weekend!

AdLib : glenn – The first big concert I ever went to was to see Paul McCartney and Wings in their Wings Over America tour, I was a young teenager and I was in awe that I was seeing Paul McCartney live. I was always more a Lennon fan (and Harrison was a close second) but it was very cool.

Beatlex : The Beatles were one of the few “Feel Good” stories of the century IMO,the century was marked by terrible wars and misery.And along came the Beatles in the doldrums of the post war world,and made millions smile

glenn : Funk–LOL–and g’night.

AdLib : Night Funk! Have a great weekend!

AdLib : glenn – My only story like that was passing up the opportunity to see Stevie Ray Vaughan in concert because the weather wasn’t great and we would have had to have bought scalper tickets to get in. Now of course, wish I had gone.

glenn : Ad–Yea, as I said, it was one of the greatest disappointments of my teenage years. However, when my husband and I were on our honeymoon, we did see Sonny and Cher in concert. They were the opening act for some other band (I can’t even recall who they were), and Sonny and Cher were terrific!

funksands : Folks I am turning in too. Everyone stay safe this weekend!

MurphTheSurf3 : Ad…my school benefited from his leadership for many years. He left it far stronger than when he came.

MurphTheSurf3 : Beatlex…our Headmaster was way ahead of the times…a marvel really….turned my educational life around…

funksands : Glenn, that story is enough to turn most people to a life of crime. Good on you that you turned out like you did.

AdLib : Murph – Heh! I like that, your Headmaster was quite clever to recognize that.

Beatlex : Murph! cool story

AdLib : glenn – Oh no, that’s too bad! To have seen the Beatles in concert…

Beatlex : Killgore,we are the same age.And I remember that night well.My 4 siblings and I took turns summersaulting(? ) on the sofa one after the other!

MurphTheSurf3 : Night KT

AdLib : KT – Get some rest! Looking forward to The Music Thread as always!

glenn : G’night KT. Sleep well.

KillgoreTrout : Bummer glenn!

AdLib : Funk – I remember hearing “I Want to Hold Your Hand” on the radio when I was little. For a kid that young, you just take for granted that music was like this and The Beatles were the leaders.

MurphTheSurf3 : As a number of you know I went to a British Prep, a “Public” school….one day a bunch of us were gathered around a record player playing the Beatles- suddenly, our Headmaster appeared- we froze (although I do not know why, just instinct I suppose), he walked over smiled and began to sing along….we were stunned….he said “Lads, don’t be so surprised, catchy is catchy and these boys are going far!”

glenn : KT–One of the biggest disappointments of my teenage years is that I had to give up a ticket to a Beatles concert. My girlfriends and I had all bought tickets to see them in Philly, and we were all excited. Then my mother decided we were moving from NJ to FL, and I had to give up my ticket because I would be in Fl. Man, I was pissed at my mother for years!

KillgoreTrout : Well good people, I must close for now. I’ve got to get started on the music thread. Take care all and have a great weekend.

AdLib : glenn – That guy is Trumpesque, he’s getting off on how he can get media attention for saying such outrageous things. He’s meaningless and knows he’s spouting BS. Right, he really thinks that people should get votes based on the amount of money they have, I’m not buying this egoist’s public masturbation. It’s a stunt.

KillgoreTrout : I was 9 years old when I watched them on Sullivan, that historic night. I didn’t like them because I was jealous. All these girls screaming and shouting for them. I soon got over it though.

Beatlex : Adlib,I look forward to that.I don’t think America can stand for this to go on much longer,ground is being lost everyday

funksands : Ad, same here. My dad had several cassettes of the Beatles that I wore out when I was a kid.

glenn : Ad–how about that rich guy who now wants to put a price on your vote? The number of votes you get depends on the amount of taxes you pay. IOW, money equals votes. It seems the crazies are actually coming out and saying exactly what they mean. No more of this beating around the bush using code words and fake scandals like voter fraud. Immigrants vote for Dems, that’s why we won’t do anything about immigrants. Poor people just want free health care, that’s why they’ll vote for Dems. If you want your vote to count, buy more of them!

KillgoreTrout : Ad? Swing towards the GOP?

AdLib : The only songs I can remember hearing as a very young child were Beatles songs. That cemented a lifelong connection to them for me.

KillgoreTrout : Murph, the Beatles were the soundtrack of my young life.

AdLib : Funk – Or maybe they’ve decided that a sucker punch is the best approach, “We’ve had Obama and Dems up all year but as election time approaches, it’s clear that popular opinion is swinging towards the GOP!”

MurphTheSurf3 : Beatlex….I was in school in the UK from 1963 to 1966….the Beatles were a big part of our lives then…..for me they wrote the music of my young life.

KillgoreTrout : glenn, another of their favorite phrases is “ramming it home.”

KillgoreTrout : glenn they do love that phrase. Especially Marcus Bachmann!

funksands : Glenn, they DO tend to go on about that a lot don’t they?? LOL

funksands : Anyone else find it weird how favorable Rasmussen has been to Obama and the Dems this year? Maybe they decided that a complete lack of credibility wasn’t profitable anymore.

AdLib : Beatlex, I’ve been prepping an article on that very thing. My proposition is that real change is a secondary thing, it can only come after an enlightening of a majority of Americans. Unfortunately, we still seem to be a ways away from that. People need to be on a different wavelength to create, embrace and sustain change and right now, we aren’t. Until we genuinely think of each other as neighbors and fellow citizens and truly feel a responsibility to fighting for a nation that is based on moral values that are universal, change won’t gain traction or stick. We need to recognize that we’re all in this together and we could all end up unemployed, poor, oppressed or treated with bigotry by elitists. When that mindset is more shared, then change can really happen.

glenn : KT–Oh, another good slogan. “Vote for Ryan–he’ll shove the big weiner down your throat!” ‘Cause we all know how much r/tps love to talk about “shoving things down people’s throats”.

Beatlex : Killgore,their were some great moments,Dave Grohl and Jeff Lynn did a kickass version of Hey Bulldog,and there was some serious guitar playing too.Stevie Wonder did a funky rendition of We Can Work it Out

KillgoreTrout : glenn, but the destination is the middle class and poor.

funksands : “Crazy never gets tired” – Me

KillgoreTrout : Great point glenn.;)

MurphTheSurf3 : Funk and Glenn…Yep that is me Master WordSmith….or at least Journeyman Wordsmith.

glenn : Ad–good one! That should be ryan’s slogan–“I can drive the big wiener”!

KillgoreTrout : Beatlex, America has always been divide. We’ll get through this. The half life of insanity isn’t very long.

glenn : KT–No, he’s pushing a small wiener–that’s why he has to lie so much about his “marathons”.

funksands : X, just like always it involves more than 50% of Americans getting off their ass and giving a rat’s ass.

MurphTheSurf3 : Ad…I don’t support the idea of CC…I think Jefferson did because he did not care for the system crafted while he was in France….he saw the holes and as president he basically ran all over Congress….a government in which the Executive does not rise from and work within the legislative is inherently hide bound…

KillgoreTrout : glenn isn’t he still pushing a big weiner around?

glenn : Murph–Thanks!

Beatlex : America is in need of a serious change of direction.But how? The country is divided.The framers must be turning over in their graves

AdLib : glenn – Well, wasn’t that Ryan’s job in the 2012 Presidential election? Driving a big wiener around?

funksands : “Patheticity”? I had no idea that was a word! Thanks!

MurphTheSurf3 : glenn…please.. .the word is PATHETICITY….H ah…

AdLib : Murph – I used to support the idea of a Constitutional COnvention but with the rise of Baggers, it now seems like a potential disaster to open up the Constitution for change with such lunatics in a position of power.

glenn : Ad–You know, sometimes I have to laugh at the patheticness (is that a word) of the bagger brigade. I love how they always bring up that President Obama was “just” a community organizer before he got into politics. Now, we can talk about how Ryan was just a wiener mobile driver before he got into politics. Isn’t that the only other job Ryan had? Driving a big wiener around?

KillgoreTrout : Beatlex, I saw parts of it. Some of the bands were a little far from Beatles music. But, the lads did influence music around the world and across genres.

AdLib : Beatlex – It’s very fristrating that the will of the people has been so successfully thwarted by the wealthy and powerful…and gerrymandering and Voter ID. If COngress passed the laws the majority of Americans wanted, it would be a very different country and a far better one.

funksands : Ad, no one does. Not even Republicans.

MurphTheSurf3 : Ad and Beatle… our political structure was built to maintain gridlock…it has happened at least give times in our history…and the result has always been disastrous….Je fferson said we needed a Constitutional Convention every 20 years and in 200 plus not one. How many other nations have adopted our system…one…L iberia…

funksands : X, KT, Murph, great pics surfaced of the Beatle playing a gig in Aldershot in 1961, in front of 18 people. «link»

KillgoreTrout : I think the GOPers being totally frustrated by Cruz is a great thing. They may be wisening up a bit. They have to see the damage these tea bagger loons have done to their party.

glenn : Beatlex–it is extremely maddening. That’s why we love the Planet. Keeps us sane!

Beatlex : Killgore,it was great! Did you see the Grammy salute to the Beatles Sunday night?

AdLib : glenn – Does anyone outside of the Bagger Brigade really look at Ryan and say, “Now that’s Presidential material!” WHo can imagine him as President and Commander in Chief?

glenn : Ad–I felt so sorry for boehner! NOT!

AdLib : And how about Boehner having to roll over completely on his back on the debt ceiling? I’m surprised the GOP hasn’t imploded already.

Beatlex : AdLib,it must be maddening to witness the unbelievable bullsh!t you Americans are forced to live with politically.Amer ica would TRULY be untouchable if both parties were oaring the boat in the same direction

glenn : Ad–If Paul Ryan runs, then IMO, Romney should be his campaign manager, since he (romney) is such a great campaigner!

KillgoreTrout : Holy shyte Batman. Fifty years has gone by in a flash!

KillgoreTrout : Hey Beatlex! Last weeks music thread was a big success. That was a great idea.

MurphTheSurf3 : Hi Beatlex- the discussion tonight is a wild ride…thought of you last week as the networks here were all about the Beatles in America, 50 years ago!!!!

AdLib : Funk – So true. It’s meaningless, only name recognition which is irrelevant. Hell, Romney is polling towards the top…and Repubs hate him!!!

funksands : But I digress…..

glenn : KT–you mean, “further damaging their brains”, because they’re already brain damaged.

funksands : KT, I hear a wood chipper will work in a pinch.

KillgoreTrout : funk, zombies can only be killed by damaging their brains.

AdLib : Hey Beatlex! Talking about Zombies, Christie and the GOP. Which of these things don’t belong together? None.

funksands : Ad, the GOP Presidential polling right now is a farce.

Beatlex : LOL Glenn!

KillgoreTrout : Sure. Probably not after you blast them!

funksands : KT: Double-Tap

glenn : Beatlex–zombies and earthquakes. I’m learning all about them from my CA friends here on the Planet.

AdLib : glenn – The latest BS poll blather (since this far out it is name recognition mainly and not useful) says that Paul Ryan is now at the top. Boy, wouldn’t that be a hilarious GE between Hillary (or another top Dem, not wholly convinced Hillary will get the coronation) and a nerdy, geeky Paul Ryan?

Beatlex : OOPs U

Beatlex : So whats Popular on Popoli tonight my American friends?

glenn : KT–will I be able to tell where the head is?

KillgoreTrout : The head. Definitely!

KillgoreTrout : Texas needs a little shaking up.

glenn : KT–The heart or the head?

KillgoreTrout : you have to hit them in the heat. It’s their weakest spot. A shovel will do in a pinch, but a shotgun is the best!

AdLib : KT – Well what about the towns in TX and across the country that are having earthquakes when they never did before…before fracking was going on there, that is.

glenn : Ad–I hope the gop has thrown in the towel on him. You never know, though. Depends on how wacky the other candidates are. And…so far, Cruz and Paul are vying to see who can be the wackiest. Or, at least, the most insulting. And, to think Christie used to be the most insulting! Makes my head numb!

KillgoreTrout : When I lived in Washington state, I could see Mt. Saint Helens outside my window. Or what was left of it. It exploded with the force of 500 Hiroshima bombs.

AdLib : glenn – To kill a Bagger Zombie, you need to fire a shot of logic right at their head, they’ll blow up real good.

glenn : KT–Shit–all I bought before the storm was a snow shovel. Can I use it to hit them over the head? And do I need magic bullets?

AdLib : glenn – As long as you mentioned Christie, doesn’t it seem like the GOP has pretty much thrown in the towel on him? No matter the outcome of Bridgegate?

KillgoreTrout : Too funny Ad.

glenn : Ad–As long as they’re not Christie’s size, I may be okay!

KillgoreTrout : glenn you need a good shotgun and plenty of shells.

funksands : brb

AdLib : glenn – You’ll know the zombies when you see them. They either have teabags hanging from their hats or “Rand Paul 2016” buttons on their lapels.

glenn : Funk–ain’t that the truth? I’m really trying to do my part to vote them out, but I’m only one person. I live in a very conservative neighborhood!

funksands : Ad, you an me both. People ask how you can live next to an active volcano like Rainier. I tell them that it’ll either erupt tomorrow or in 30,000 years. I like my odds.

KillgoreTrout : LOL funk!

funksands : Glenn, most of the zombies are holding local elected office in Georgia. They’ll eat your brains one way or the other.

glenn : Ad–Thanks for the advice. Just stay in bed under the covers. KT–If I stay under the covers, will the zombies still get me?

AdLib : Personally, I’m more comfortable only having to worry about the once-in-a-lifeti me earthquake instead of the annual hurricane/tornad o threat.s

KillgoreTrout : Yeah Ad. Japan is very earthquake prone. Big ones too.

funksands : My wife feels them. She’ll perk up, pause and then check the USGA site to verify that she isn’t crazy. She usually isn’t…..about that anyway.

KillgoreTrout : I’ve that certain animals can tell in advance. Dogs and such.

funksands : Coalinga had a 3.4 today. They probably didn’t even notice.

MurphTheSurf3 : Funk et. al. I am along for the ride on this discussion but it is most interesting.

AdLib : glenn – Kalima could also chime in on this, she’s in Japan and went through (and is still going through) those massive earthquakes, aftershocks and tsunamis. But for Cali natives like me, you don’t get too bothered by the short quakes. What you do is kind of wait to see if it gets more violent or not. If not, no big deal. If so, you know it could be serious. The best advice is to get in bed or stay in bed. They used to say get in a doorway because it’s the stronger part of the house but doors can be thrown into you and other things can happen. Most natives just ride them out like small waves at the beach without too much concern.

KillgoreTrout : Yes glenn, they do.

funksands : Glenn usually in the “1” to “2” range. Some people that are sensitive to motion can sense them, but most everyone else cannot.

glenn : Funk–aw geez. Now I have to worry about zombies, too? Do they come out of the earth when the earthquake hits?

glenn : Funk–what is considered “faint”?

funksands : Glenn, the zombies will get you before the mountain will.

glenn : Funk–Sigh–now I suppose I have to worry about mudslides and such. I live right next to a mountain, literally. With all of this snow and ice melting, plus an earthquake in the vicinity, that must be next, right?

funksands : Murph, there were 15 earthquakes in California and Nevada alone today. Most are so faint that only instruments pick them up.

AdLib : Funk – Yes, it wasn’t cushioned by being very deep, it was closer to the surface. And the plates shifted vertically so instead of that rolling motion, it was an up-and-down motion, very violent. The description that really fit it was when someone said that it was like a giant picking up your home and shaking it up and down.

funksands : Pretty cool huh Murph?

MurphTheSurf3 : Funk…I never knew such a site existed.

funksands : Glenn, not sure, but I suppose that it depends on the type of earthquake and how deep it is. The waves from a big quake conceivably can be faintly felt on the other side of the world from the quake as the waves from the plate movement head downward as well as up.

KillgoreTrout : Ad, I have no doubt at all.

KillgoreTrout : I have to admit,extreme natural events are very interesting. It’s like Mother Nature saying Huh! Take that you mortals!

AdLib : KT – I’ve been through many quakes and they don’t scare me…except for the Northridge quake. It was a violent up and down motion that lasted for around 20 seconds which is a very long time. 5 seconds can seem like an eternity, 10 seconds can seem like it’s unending but 20 seconds of an 8.0 does feel like the end of the world.

KillgoreTrout : funk, you are a sick puppy!

KillgoreTrout : glenn, you take shelter in doorways, if you’re inside. That’s really all you can do. The best is to get out of any building and into some sort of open space. They come without warning and that’s what makes them so deadly.

glenn : Funk–how far away does one feel the effects of earthquakes?

funksands : Here you go, one of my favorite websites. Disaster porn indeed. «link»

funksands : KT, border of Georgia and South Carolina

KillgoreTrout : funk, in Georgia or the north west?

glenn : Ad and Funk–since I’ve never lived in an earthquake prone place, what do you do when one hits?

funksands : Ad, wasn’t it also really near the surface? That doesn’t help. Ours was really really deep, so we had a lot of “rolling” rather than “shaking”

KillgoreTrout : funk, I’ve experienced two types. The shaking type and the flowing type. Both are an amazing experience.

AdLib : Funk – The Northridge quake was especially bad because it happened in a valley and the quake energy reflected out and back against the surrounding mountains. Also, the ground in many parts is sandy and liquification occurred, melting the base of buildings and destruction was so widespread.

funksands : KT, 4.4 just a few minutes ago.

KillgoreTrout : Obviously you guys are kidding about an 8.0 quake in Georgia. That wouls surely be felt by everyone in the state and surrounding states. That a huge magnitude.

funksands : My wife was at home with our 1 year old when our big one hit. She described the floor of our home moving in waves. Really frightening. You can run from other disasters, but earthquakes are on you before your can do anything about it.

KillgoreTrout : Ad, I can imagine that. When the ground at your very feet begins to shift, it truly makes you wonder. Good thig you didn’t get crushed by a falling freeway or housing complex. Thank your lucky stars.

funksands : Ad, I went through a 7.3 in Idaho in ’83 and the Nisqually earthquake in Seattle (6.8). I can’t even imagine being in the Northridge quake (shiver)

pinkpantheroz : So the very fate of the United states of America is ‘in God’s Hands”, is it. Right then, we can all stop whetever we’re doing right now and leave it to Him/Her/IT. God will provide? I don’t think so, but the looney GOP reckon nit’s the way things are. I still haven’t heard from that college in Purcellville, Va, how God managed to have President Obama elected. Twice.

glenn : Funk–okay. I’ll keep my nose open.

funksands : It’s alright Glenn, just make sure you don’t ignore that gas smell…

AdLib : KT – I went through the 8.0 Northridge quake and it felt like that was going to be it, we were going to die. It sure puts a lot of perspective on things.

glenn : Funk–oh–never felt a thing. I’m so rooted to the Planet, I missed it.

KillgoreTrout : Exactly Ad!

MurphTheSurf3 : Dominionists are triumphantly suicidal.

funksands : Glenn, just happened a few minutes ago.

AdLib : Murph – That’s the serious threat by the fundie evangelicals and the Dominionists. They actually WANT the Earth to be fucked up because in their delusions, it will bring about the return of Jesus and their being taken up to Heaven. And of course, that’s why they’re so big on supporting Israel…because they need the various prerequisites to happen for End Times to come.

KillgoreTrout : Oh, no doubt funk. They believe some fairy tale “place,” is possible, even in evitable. They are truly insane.

KillgoreTrout : Ad, when I lived in southern Cal, I experienced several quakes. They were usually in the 5.0 to 5.5 range and only lasted about half a minute. An awesome event though, to realize the ground we walk on is not solid at all, but flowing.

glenn : Funk–I neither heard nor felt anything about an earthquake. I must admit, though, that I haven’t kept up with the news this week. Must’ve missed that one.

funksands : KT, and these are the people we have in charge of our long term economic health in Congress. Why would they give a shit if the world is going to end in 10 years? They act like it too.

MurphTheSurf3 : Funk…disaster porn…yes….

glenn : KT–Then let all those religious nuts leave this world. The sooner the better. Then the rest of us can make the world a better place here and now, and not wait for “heaven”.

AdLib : Funk – For Georgia, a 4.4 is pretty big.

funksands : Big enough to startle a lot of people though!!!

MurphTheSurf3 : Ad…indeed….G od’s hands could be about promoting the kingdom coming real soon, or the idea that God has a plan and it will all turn out ok for the godly, or that God uses all of creation to reward and punish thus good and bad weather…

funksands : Ad, no that was my “eyes popping” face. 4.4. Not a big one.

KillgoreTrout : Ad, to me, that is the most dangerous aspect of religion, or at least the Abrahmic religions. They all clamor for the end times. They want to leave this “wicked,” world behing for the promise of heaven. Really scary thinking.

glenn : Funk–Really?

AdLib : Funk – WTF? an 8.0 in Georgia???

funksands : Glenn, did you feel that earthquake Georgia just got? 8-0

glenn : Ad–seems like a real dichotomy to me. If their kids are “better” than the other kids, then they should be in the public schools so they can outshine all of the other kids. And…they want to send their kids to a school that doesn’t teach science until 7th grade? Holy crap!

funksands : Murph, I love “Disaster Porn” movies. I’ve seen that movie several times. Very plausible if you ask me. Maybe not to that extreme obviously, but the theory is sound.

AdLib : Murph – Where do you think that “God’s hands” is coming from? Do they want End Times to come or do they just not want to have to deal with things?

MurphTheSurf3 : glenn…in this bible belt GOD’S HANDS are into everything.

MurphTheSurf3 : Funk- Do you remember “The Day After Tomorrow” when a massive shift in global temps puts us in the deep freeze in just days? I read a comment by a climatologist from MIT who said “not in days, or months, but years…yes, that worries me…oh- an I AM talking about double digit years 10 plus.

funksands : brb

funksands : Seattle is already starting on its “Global Warming Fence”. We are building it to keep all of the water-starved Californians out of our state. No offense Ad.

AdLib : glenn – It’s fascinating and disappointing to me. One one hand, they seem to be buying into an elitism by having their kids in a private school instead of the neighborhood public school…which is actually highly rated…but has a majority of non-white kids from poorer families. They seem the types who need to feel that their kids are better than others but they don’t have the money to put them in non-religious private schools. When I asked them, “How are you going to deal with them being taught that cavemen rode dinosaurs?” they responded in such a cloud of denial, “Well, they don’t teach science until 7th grade.” Er…then what?

glenn : Murph–that phrase, “It’s all in God’s hands” makes me crazy! Whatever happened to personal responsibility?

KillgoreTrout : The weather event that SHOULD have scared the crap out of rational people was Hurricane Sandy. That storm was massive beyond belief. It encompassed the entire east coat. That’s about 1300 miles!

funksands : Yes, it certainly is in God’s hands whether we are willfully ignorant and sit by passively as our world burns up. There’s that “can-do” ethic I’ve grown to know and love.

MurphTheSurf3 : Funk…great…. that will help…

MurphTheSurf3 : Ad- I belong to a group which is working on long term water table maintenance and safety…..relig ious CRAP (and that is what it is- and you know that am a “religious” person)pollutes every discussion…if I hear “It’s all in GOD’s Hands” once I hear it 5 times in every meeting. Ridiculous.

funksands : Ad:

funksands : Murph, how about this? “If the frog in the pot of slowing boiling water was allowed to watch a video feed of him in the water, you think he’d be more likely to jump out? We are being given visual evidence every day of the margins of weather being pushed to the extremes.

AdLib : Funk – That second storm image looks like Jupiter! The photo of Australia however looks like Photoshop.

KillgoreTrout : Ad, I really think that verges on the criminal. Leave the religious stuff to churches, mosques and temples, and keep it out of the science classes.

glenn : Ad–I’m curious. How do your friends rationlize that?

AdLib : KT – I have neighbors who have sent their kids to a religious school because it’s cheaper than non-religious schools and they rationalize away how their kids are now being taught that the Earth is 5,000 years old and that evolution is a fraud.

KillgoreTrout : Yeah funk, I think so. Willful ignorance is the worst.

MurphTheSurf3 : Funk…I just archived your linked images. Can you give me a sentence or two that captures the “lessons to be learned” from them for use with others.

glenn : KT–I agree with you about the mountain of ignorance. I like Stewart’s phrase on it–“bullshit mountain”. Either one works for me!

funksands : KT, isn’t ignorance by choice simply denial?

KillgoreTrout : Ignorance is the highest mountain to overcome.

funksands : And then there’s this one from Australia! Chilling! «link»

glenn : PPO–I agree with you about more docs entering the profession. I just hope that we don’t have a “bottleneck” as funk says.

AdLib : And the deniers want us to just view all these outrageous events, as they grow and grow, as “normal”? How long can Climate Change denialism stand up to reality?

MurphTheSurf3 : Thanks to all for your thoughts. Pink- I am doing well and agree with you that seeing is believing for most even if they do not acknowledge it; Ad- there is more to the story but this was the jist of it, Glenn when the table has finally turned mo of those objecting to ACA will claim that they were for it but were concerned about holes and problems

KillgoreTrout : There is a program called STEM, which is Science, Technology,Educa tion and Math, that is promoting more studies in universities around the country. What these idiotic anti-science people don’t understand is that whoever leads in science and technology, will have a far better economy than the countries who lag behind. New technology brings in a lot more money. But the hillbilly assholes just can’t grasp such concepts.

funksands : Check this one out. Wow «link»

glenn : Funk–that satellite image looks exactly like the images the weather service used to put up in FL when they were tracking hurricanes. It looks just like a hurricane.

AdLib : Funk – That image is terrifying! Looks like Katrina over the UK!

funksands : Ad, I think that would be ironic wouldn’t it?

pinkpantheroz : Don’t worry, glenn, they’ll outsource to medicos in India, Thailand, Phillipines and such! Actually, I’m hoping that this will result in many more docs entering the profession.

AdLib : Funk – Maybe it will help if those old people denying climate change die from extreme weather events?

funksands : Check this satellite image of Britain from the other day «link»

funksands : Ad, often scientific progress is made only when the old people opposing it die.

pinkpantheroz : Brilliant post, Murph. Best of luck with your ailments, but great that ACA is starting to be SEEN to work. Not that the Gopers will ever admit, though

funksands : No kidding! 100mph winds in Britain along with their flooding! Crazy weather!

glenn : Funk–one thing I do remember from the lies about Obamacare is that now we won’t have enough doctors to take care of the patients. Murph–what’s your take on that?

AdLib : Murph, that’s very good news! It does seem intuitive but with all the propaganda against it, very pleased to hear real world evidence of how universal health insurance is helping so many who were without help before.

pinkpantheroz : Just about 2/3 through, KT. fall in March. Been a killer heatwise. I’m also sparing a thought for the UK, who have the severest flooding in 250 years. And there’s no climate Change….Riiiii ght!

funksands : Pink, that really sucks. Hope it gets better soon.

funksands : That’s the one thing I worry about is that the AMA is still a bottleneck against more doctors being created, and the high cost of medical school causes most Docs to opt to become specialists rather than GP’s.

MurphTheSurf3 : Funk…the doc, is the head of the practice and they have extend AM hours while they are interviewing to add another physician and a nurse practitioner.

glenn : Murph–there will be more and more stories like this, and the obstructionist (meaning republican/tpart y) governors and legislatures are going to end up somehow taking credit for it. Yours is a great story, though, and look how much good the ACA is doing!

funksands : Murph, did the doc tell whether or not they were handling the extra patients okay?

KillgoreTrout : Pink, is it basically your summer now?

MurphTheSurf3 : Hi Ad, Glenn, Funk…and yes Funk I was ready to do the paste…could not wait to tell you folks. The cardiac docs are reporting the same thing. Hi KT

KillgoreTrout : Cheers Murph!

pinkpantheroz : funk, 40+ 105F for 4 days last week. Mid 90s this one. Like the snow, it’s getting tiresome!

funksands : Murph, that is an excellent story! Very cool!

funksands : Boom, Murph with the mighty PASTE

AdLib : My disappointment is that as the destruction and hardship of Climate Change become irrefutable for all but the totally insane, it will be too late to reverse it.

MurphTheSurf3 : I was at my Cancer Center on Tuesday and saw the Affordable Care Act in action.I have a blood disorder resulting in regular bouts of anemia. I have to get blood tests every 6 weeks and iron infusions every 6 to 9 months. I am seen by both a cancer doctor, an oncologist, and a blood doctor, a hematologist. I have been been fortunate to have good private insurance.It was my third time in the office since January 1. The office is located in a private clinic setting which includes a large infusion center. It is staffed by three doctors, and two nurse practitioners seeing patients with a staff of RN’s and pharmacologists staffing the infusion center.In my three post-January 1 visits I have notice that the waiting room was far fuller than usual. I also noticed that the crowd was more mixed with a number of younger people in their 40’s and 50’s. When I saw my doc (who I now know very well) I asked him why the waiting room was so busy. He smiled and said: “You know I had my doubts but the Health Care Law is working…..but I am happy to say that I have had an influx of late middle age patients since January 1. Most could not get coverage of any kind until now and others had to limit their treatments. We are seeing a 30 percent jump in who we are seeing for diagnoses and treatment planning and a 40 percent increase in treatment at the infusion center.” I am quoting him here – I asked if I could and wrote this down word for word. Missouri did not expand Medicaid I told him that I assumed that new patients had come to the clinic through the Marketplace, private insurance for private medical care. He said that was true for 80 to 90 percent of them but there had been some new Medicaid patients made aware of their eligibility for treatment by all of the publicity around the ACA.

funksands : Pink, you guys still suffering from the heat or has it come down since January?

KillgoreTrout : glenn, I love to go walking in a fresh snowfall. Very little traffic and snowy nights are so much more quiet. It truly is one of Nature’s wonders.

glenn : Funk–Hey, it wasn’t just an inch! It was two inches–so there! Seriously, the worst thing this time was the sleet–before we got the snow, we had about a 6-hour ice storm. Then the snow came on top of that to insulate the ice nicely.

pinkpantheroz : Hi, Funk, Wish we could get some snow on these effin’ bushfires Down Under!

funksands : Hi Murph!

AdLib : Hey Murph, so good to hear Bourne is doing much better! So give with the ACA story!

funksands : Glenn, I try so hard not to make fun of people in the South freaking out over an inch of snow. …….so……. hard…..

glenn : Hey Murph

funksands : Ad, very true, once your expenses hit unpleasant highs, businesses go into panic mode.

KillgoreTrout : Ad, the real concern is always about profits. Maybe they’ll start to see that paying a little more in taxes, is better than the losses they are incurring now.

MurphTheSurf3 : Hello everyone…I have great ACA story when it is time….PS Our friend Bourne has had her ups and downs since I last reported on this….doing much better now.

AdLib : KT – Money can buy and transport water from other sources, his focus is on the farming community but citizens too.

glenn : KT–This time around, people were a little more prepared–or at least cautious. Most people stayed at home Tuesday and Wednesday, which were the worst two days. Thursday, it warmed up in the afternoon, but the morning commute was still a little icy! When I woke up Wednesday morning and looked out the window, it was a truly beautiful sight–everythin g was covered in snow. It’s a little disconcerting to see magnolia trees covered in snow, but it was beautiful.

AdLib : So the new meme is that corporate America may start changing their tune on fighting against CLimate Change measures because now they’re seeing how much it’s damaging their businesses. This month had the highest number of airline flight cancellations since 9/11. When Climate Change starts to hit corporations in the pocketbook, watch how quickly they start changing their tunes.

KillgoreTrout : I saw that earlier Ad. What can federal funds do, exactly?

glenn : Funk–yup–that ‘s a lot of days. And, according to “some people”, we are in for one more big “snow event” before the end of winter. YUK! Or, as my brother said when I told him about our latest event (he lives in FL), that is “suckypoopoo!”

KillgoreTrout : Oh, I thought so glenn, but wasn’t sure. This snow has got to be a pleasure and a menace, all in one. You folks aren’t used to it.

AdLib : KT – Saw that Obama is coming out here to pledge federal help for our emergency drought conditions. It’s really bad.

KillgoreTrout : That’s not good Ad.

glenn : KT–I’m in Woodstock, GA, about 40 miles NW of Atlanta.

AdLib : Funk – Yep, I don’t care what gets done as long as something does. Can’t imagine why I was fired from the nuclear launch team.

funksands : Glenn, 9 snow days? Ugh. My pity for the teachers, kids and parents.

KillgoreTrout : glenn, you’re in Georgia, Alabama?

AdLib : KT – A very little rain the other day but otherwise, it’s a severe drought out here.

funksands : Ad, that dude knew how to get things done. I miss that guy.

AdLib : Funk – David “Bridge Blocker” Wildstein.

glenn : KT–Hey, so did we! Have another fresh snowfall, that is. This time, people stayed off the roads, businesses, government offices, and schools were closed as of Monday afternoon. Therefore, I stayed at my daughter’s from Monday night until tonight–just got home a couple of hours ago. There was no school from Tuesday on, and next week is winter break–so the kiddos have a lot of days to make up at the end of the year. So far–nine of them!

funksands : Mid 50’s today here. Exceedingly warm. I think January we had only one or two days of rain. Very weird.

KillgoreTrout : Ad, have you gotten any rainfall?

AdLib : KT – 79 degrees in L.A, today…in winter!

funksands : Antonio “Kneecaps Tony” Manzaretti

KillgoreTrout : We’ve had about 10 inches on the ground for about a month now, and were getting more, as I write.

KillgoreTrout : Hey funk and glenn.

funksands : KT, how deep is it getting up there?

KillgoreTrout : Just had another fresh snowfall. Beautiful, but a pain in the ass.

funksands : Ken “The Squid” Cucinelli

funksands : Hey KT!

AdLib : What up KT?!

funksands : Clamps

AdLib : Funk – Christie’s Valentine’s cards said, “Happy St. Valentine’s Day Massacre!”

KillgoreTrout : What’s up Planet peeps?

funksands : Hi Glenn!

funksands : Nicki Scars, Skinny Joey, Big Bald Al Sconozzi.

AdLib : Evening glenn!

glenn : Good evening all! Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone!

funksands : Vinnie Fingers

AdLib : Wonder what bosses Chris Christie sent Valentines to today.

funksands : Do y’all have a mid-winter break for school down there?

AdLib : Oh, sorry. That does make for mixed feelings.

funksands : I got my wife some flowers and took her for sushi yesterday. Today was her late mother’s bday, so we sort of work around it.

AdLib : Which girls? Oh yeah, them! Yep, I’m sure you remembered yours.

funksands : Why thank you! Did you remember your girls today?

AdLib : Hey Funk! A happy Valentine’s to you and yours.

funksands : Morning everybody!

AdLib : PPO – It’s a little disappointing that after their initial outrage, so many people just quietly returned there, compromising what principles they claimed to hold quite closely.

pinkpantheroz : Back in a few, left the coffee perking!

pinkpantheroz : Oh, yes, the pool of talent was wide and very deep. Great stuff all round.

pinkpantheroz : I see Google’s peeping over our shoulder. I wish more folk joined us from You-Know-Where. Took a quick visit yesterday and see that if you’re not a member, you can no longer see the comments. sinister, huh?

AdLib : I feel the same about you, very clever work! And NoMan, Kalima and KT had some great rhymes too.

pinkpantheroz : It happens very sporadically! I sometimes just get into a groove and away we go. You’re very kind, though. AND incredibly talented.

AdLib : And back to you, some very hilarious rhymes you slammed!

pinkpantheroz : Well, It’s actually Saturday Afternoon here now, but I know it’s still Friday in your neck of the woods. a little quiet so far, eh? BTW, congrats to all with the fab fun we had during the week at Sir Cumference’s expense!

AdLib : WOnder what Republicans do on a holiday that’s about love? Shoot something?

AdLib : Hey PPO! Happy Valentine’s Day to you!

pinkpantheroz : OOPS, hit the wrong key! Happy Val’s day.

pinkpantheroz : Hi, AdLib,

AdLib : Hey Beatlex! See you then!

Beatlex : Hi AdLib! I will join you later,I have an errand to run.Happy Valentines Day my American friends!

AdLib : Happy Valentine’s Day from The Planet! If you do happen to be around tonight, consider this your Valentine’s card inviting you to join us for our weekly live chat, Vox Populi. You will be greeted with flowers and chocolates…or at least greeted. Hope to see you then but if not, have a great evening!