Get a new room


     If you ever find yourself in East Sussex, in England, you might want to avail yourself to ... well, I'm not sure what the name of the hotel is anymore. But the room was nice enough for me to snap a shot of it. And heck, the room itself isn't the point, is it? It's the conversation below. Have fun. 

157 comments:

  1. Thank you for the new space. We'll try to live up to the elegant surroundings.

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  2. It's really very thoughtful of you to take time during your vacation to cater to the whims of your contentious Commentariat, Neil. A full-service blogger, to say the least. Unlike the estimable and optimistic Coey, above, however, I really do think the Rocket Motel was the appropriate setting for the majority of the exchanges that occur over by here. : )

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  3. Yes, Mr. S, that is a lovely room, thanks.

    Oh by the way, since I couldn't post it on the old room. Hi Coey, as to Trader Joe's, I find that overpriced and pretentious. Jewel or Mariano's will do for me. ;) Too many tree hugging,ex hippies in Trader Joe's for my tastes, or at least that's true of the one closest to my suburb.

    By the way,Jak., Chianti is a good choice, never mind yours. ;) And I think some of the contention is done in jest.

    On a more serious note, with yesterdays latest terrorist attack,maybe there's something to be said on giving up phone privacy for national security. The FBI is overwhelmed and ISIS is recruiting like crazy. What do these disaffected Muslims home to achieve? Are their lives so bad here? Would it be better in the mid east or No. Africa? Of course not . Just like I can't understand the ones who left England to go to Syria, especially women. Perhaps we can continue the conversation from the last post on the old blog.

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    1. I'm shocked, SHOCKED! to hear that you find Coey's wine source pretentious, Mrs. Eyetal-Amer.

      If $5.99 for an acceptable bottle of wine is "overpriced," I have to assume that you're getting your beloved Chianti either on the black market, or by the barrel!

      Trader Joe's is good for what it's good for, (wine being one of those things), but certainly not "one-stop shopping" by any means. Can't argue about the hippies, though, if that's a deal-breaker for some reason. : )

      You mentioned neck-bone tomato sauce yesterday. What's up with that, anyway? Ever been to a place called Danny's Cafe, in Melrose Park? They're famous for their neck-bones, but I'm sure they don't hold a candle to yours. We saw it on "Check, Please" and went there a couple times, but I passed on the neck bones. What kind of necks are they? Are you butchering so many animals in your house that you have a ready supply, or do you buy them from the guy with the horse-cart making his way down the street? I've eaten a %#$&load of red sauce in my day, and have somehow found it palatable enough even without the carcasses. ; )

      BTW, this is some of the jesting contentiousness you referred to...

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    2. Jak, you surprise me, the use of the word EYE talian I think is rude. Enough with that. I know I'm like Daley Jr. , well schooled but rough around the edges but oh well.
      I expect better from you.

      Oh my gosh, I used to live in Melrose Park, we make a trek there once a year to Danny's deli. Try their neckbones, though not always available. You don't find those restaurants in Will County, unfort.

      Well I didn't know the wine was that low priced but I just don't like TJ's. No offense to Coey intended. One hippy cashier there once was giving me a lecture on why they don't have plastic bags, when I requested it, as if it were a crime. Believe me, she won't forget me any time soon, when I told her a thing or two. My daughter was in stitches.

      It's nice how you are her knight in shining armor.

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    3. No butchering in house, Jak, but if you come buy I'll give you a schiaffo. That's a slap.

      Actually, I think the danny deli's ones were even better than mom's but don't tell her that. She might still be able to give me a crack with her shoe, lol.

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    4. at 5:50, meaning a knight to one of the posters

      typing too fast for my own good and too hyper to proofread

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    5. I apologize for the rudeness. I did it on purpose, though. Since you're such a fan of not being politically correct, I thought I'd see how you liked it if some unreconstructed, non-PC attitude was sent your way. I believe you've talked about your old-fashioned father-in-law and some of his views. Well, my father, who was even older, used to say eyetalian, thinking nothing of it, and we would cringe. And he wasn't even doing it to be obnoxious or mean, either. Outside of this experiment, I'm much too PC to actually use such a term myself. I can certainly understand your not liking it. Again, sorry about that.

      I was hoping that you'd be familiar with Danny's. Cool. Most of the sauce we have is meatless marinara, (losers!) (are all 3 of those things redundant?) but I don't doubt that the neck-bones would add a lot of flavor. Just joking before about the butchering, of course...

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    6. I don't need you teaching me lessons, Jakash. That is condescending indeed. I can take the Eyetalian term, just didn't expect it from you. Who are you to think you should be teaching me lessons??? ;)

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    7. Now stop picking on me, Jakash, you know I'm a delicate flower.

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    8. I believe, unlike most of the other times when I'm so charged, that actually WAS condescending. And pretty obnoxious. I've already apologized twice. I hope the third time's the charm. Sorry!

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    9. I'll let it go this time ;)

      at this rate, we'll need a space for new comments within 3 days

      and no incase anyone is wondering, my husband isn't ital.,. but a German American, nice quiet ,easy going type

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    10. The trouble with ANA- he overanalyzed things.

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  4. Feel free to jump in on the latest terr. attack discussion, Mr S, if you are so inclined.

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  5. Yes, what's that neckbone sauce you were teasing w as to be killer and all. Let's see the recipe! I could eat pasta every day.
    You guys and your Trader Joes. If only we were that lucky, not even a Whole Foods to pass by here. Nope, Meijer and Aldi is where you get wine. $4.89 Pinot noir thank you very much.

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  6. Thanks for the new room! I've always wanted to go to England.

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    1. I love the Brits. I've always been an Anglophile and loved studying their History(especially the Victorian period and the labor conditions) and some of the literature. Cant afford a trip there so I'll have to make do with Masterpiece Theater.

      I like the Check Please program as well. We went to Quartino's(pricey with small portions) some years back and I think that was featured. But usually we just go to the city for the museums. There's plenty of good Ital. rest in the suburbs, without covering parking or extra city fees.

      For a chain, Carrabba's isn't bad. Maggiano's is okay. Usually just small, family Ital rest. are best.

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    2. Quartino's isn't THAT pricey for the neighborhood, and the wine is a comparatively good value. But we've only been there a couple times.

      We're about 2 weeks behind on "Poldark." Pretty much Anglophiles ourselves. Though I was a big fan of the Rathbone/Bruce movies, we like the new BBC "Sherlock" a lot better than you do, evidently...

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    3. Sherlock is awesome, can't wait to see how the Victorian fancy dress comes into play that they teased. Elementary? No. That version is too off. Loved Wicked w Jacoby and McCellan also. Oh yeah, big Anglophile here. Have you read Roger Ebert's book The Perfect London Walk? Excellent writing, because Ebert, and it takes you right there. Oh do I miss reading his new journal entries and reviews.

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    4. No, I'm not a big Ebert fan.

      I enjoyed the Young Victoria movie, in that vein. For reading, Dickens books that dwell more on the working class struggle.

      Jakash, I should say the portions seem small, especially on appetizers, so for the size it seemed pricey. I'm not saying they should serve huge ones.

      I was surprised when they did White Fence Farm on check please. That's way out of their usual area.

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    5. Jak, now my hub, though educated, doesn't get into MPT stuff. Yes, Poldark is good, past or present, Downton Abbey, Selfridge, Forsyte saga,now replaying on a diff. pbs channel Tues. eve, going way back to my teens, Upstairs Downstairs in the mid 70's, etc. 20 something, college grad daughter is enjoying the new Poldark but for different reasons, lol.

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    6. Not as good as "Selfridge," and kind of got bogged down in the second season, but we liked the first season of "The Paradise."

      Nikki,

      Haven't read that Ebert book, but I did like his blog. He elicited some interesting comments, as well.

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    7. Oh yes, the Paradise, I saw it in reruns on the Create pbs this late winter. Not bad, but they never ran more than 2 seasons. That blonde woman, I forgot her character name, could do better than the indecisive man she loves, who runs the store. The husband of his old flame, is a horror.

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    8. I never got into Downton, tried it a few times but when the butler spoke during dinner is when I gave up. Upstairs/Downstairs was much better. Selfridge is very enjoyable, Jeremy Piven makes it.

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    9. Yes, the butler there acts as if he runs the house. When he visited Lady Mary in her room was another time it wasn't realistic. The show isn't as good as it was the first 2 or 3 seasons. Lady Mary is such a b***h.

      And we've already discussed how much we liked I, Claudius. They haven't rerun that in years.

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    10. Given how clueless the bumbling Lord Grantham is, the butler probably DOES need to run the house. I realize that it's a popular opinion that it's gone downhill, but I find that the reasons that we liked it in the first place still apply, so I'm not among the naysayers. As Nikki points out, parts of it have been preposterous since the get-go.

      I think this 2-minute video is hilarious, so even though it's years old, at this point, I'm gonna post it. During the first season, "Saturday Night Live" did this spoof, imagining a promo for the show if done on Spike TV, evidently a TV channel "for men."

      https://vimeo.com/36876238

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    11. Thanks for this, Jak. Gave me a good laugh.

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    12. Is that Andy Samberg narrating?

      I see Spike TV is running a Cops marathon. We'll understand if you're gone from here for a few hours.

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    13. For Sherlock fans, I understand Sir Ian M. has a movie out on said topic.

      Yes, Jak, when he let his daughter die in childbirth so she could have the gentry connected Dr., you could have heard me yelling through a closed window. They make his wife act like a doormat, but that was the times I guess. Same with how Cora never stands up much, other than once, to her Mother in law. I don't like Maggie Smith's character here.

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    14. Well it's definitely ending after next season. Same for Selfridge. That's been getting a bit dry as well.

      Greetings, Coey.

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    15. Jakash, That was hilarious. Especially, the "chicken lady or wine through a napkin.

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    16. I got tired of Edith being a victim and never standing up to Mary, but that's the script.

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    17. Glad you both liked the video.

      Coey,

      I've probably watched that video ten times, showing it to different people, but the voice of the narrator never really jumped out at me. I just looked it up, though, and it WAS narrated by Andy Samberg. Written by Seth Meyers and John Mulaney. Speaking of cops and Samberg, are you a "Brooklyn Nine-nine" fan? That's about the only current comedy we watch, other than "Modern Family."

      Anonymous,

      I'd have to admit that the show features a pretty odd combination of people acting the way you'd expect for the time period, when convenient, and acting in a more modern way when necessary to satisfy the demands of the scripts. Yeah, that childbirth death was outrageous. Plus, taking "Way Hot" Sybil off the show? Inexcusable. ; )

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    18. Yes to Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Modern Family. Seem like a lot of other shows I like have ended in the last year or so. Hope something good is coming down the pike.

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    19. How about "The Mindy Project?", Coey? We liked that a lot at first, but thought it went pretty steadily downhill after the first season. We managed to hang in there and watch them all, but I gotta say, we'd have dumped it at this point, whether it had been exiled to Hulu, or not.

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    20. I really wanted to like it, Jak, but it just isn't that funny to me. I like Mindy, and I've always liked Chris Messina. I've even gone back periodically to see if it clicks, but no. Another show I want to like is The Comedians. It seems to be picking up some, but I've been a little disappointed. I'm going to try Veep and Catastrophe, which I can get on Amazon.

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    21. We don't get HBO, and don't currently have access to "Veep", but we've watched a few of them. I'm kinda undecided about that one. But Julia Louis-Dreyfus is really a pretty amazing actress. It's not surprising to me that she's the only one to get Emmys for 3 different comedy series. She's one of the few who actually create characters who seem like different people, rather than just very minor variations of the actor/actress themselves, IMHO.

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  7. On the cultural side, I've seen two Amy movies this week (Winehouse and Schumer). I recommend both, for different reasons.

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    1. Coey, my daughter is a Winehouse fan.

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  8. Nikki, I'm happy to share it. But my Ital. born mom(who is still alive, in her 80's) had no measurements. I also do it by eye as she did.

    Get a package of fresh, meaty pork neckbones. (Jewel, Caputo's , Mariano's all have them.) First in a deeper saucepan or pot, brown a chopped onion in red wine and some olive oil. Then add neckbones with a large can and small of the Contadina sauce. One should be puree or paste, one sauce, so not too thin. Contadina brand tastes more authentic then some others. Add basil and oregano, salt, again to taste, Mamma wrote nothing down. Then slow cook the neckbones about an hour and a half. Pour that on some al dente penne/ mostociolli pasta. Enjoy the neckbones on the side. It should be tender enough for the meat to fall off the bone. Don't get beef ribs, not the same. Out of this world. I like the meat better than the pasta. That's some southern Ital. style cooking. Not the snotty northern Ital. stuff, with white alfredo, no thanks, lol. They don't like us and vice versa. Let me know how you like it.

    Whole Foods is a rip off. One visit there was enough. ANother one of those organic fads, whatever.

    A

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    1. oops, that's mostaciolli not mosto.

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    2. the key is the onions must be browned in the wine, not just oil-the house will smell great

      Jak, realize that I chose to drop hints about myself. You aren't Sherlock after all.

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  9. Aldi's no thanks? They are limited in selection and I don't want to go fumble for qtrs. to get a cart or have to go in to make change.

    Hey Jak, maybe my goombah made me some homemade wine. ;) lol

    I don't buy it that often and wouldn't patronize TJ's if it were a nickel a bottle.

    My bro , who is a doc, and his wife swear by TJ's wine selection but he moved to California and that change him. ;)

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  10. Small selection is one of the perks at Aldi for me, most of the time I don't want to pick between 50 makes of yellow mustard. Your recipe sounds crazy good. I never buy can sauce, only whole can tomatoes, so I'll just squish them up a lot. Tube paste but I can figure out the amount. Pork neck bones are not a problem around here, butchers practically give them away. Thanks for the recipe!

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    1. Nikki, my mom canned her own tomatoes one season when I was a kid but gave up on that quickly, It's too much.

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  11. See, this recipe though doesn't really go with peeled tomatoes as much as a sauce, but your choice.

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    1. Immersion blender? I don't know. For first try on new recipe, I'll go as instructed and get some sauce. If I'm getting canned, I usually go for the least processed, so whole is the staple.

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    2. No blenders or food processor. If Contadina is good enough for Ma, it should suffice.
      Or any Italian brand name.

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    3. Got it. Thanks again, or grazie mille if you prefer. Not Italian, my ancestors were the hearty, Viking stock. Oh yeah, my guys were here first, but there isn't a Viking parade. So unfair.

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    4. Yes, I 've read about the Vikings in the Newfoundland area. A shame how the pc won't give explorers any due or judge them by today's standards. Some claim the Chinese were on the Pacific rim of our continent even sooner, but we'll have to go by who had destiny on their side.

      Prego or you're welcome.

      Overly pc is when someone claims George Washington was evil cause he owned slaves. Well that's nothing to be proud of and there were worse slave owners. Again that's what happened in 18th century VA. Let's not forget his good deeds.

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    5. Which Viking group do you hail from? Norse(Norwegian, Dane?) I know Sweden and Norway used to have some rivalry. Great Britain has some Danish roots too. Iceland of course is Scand. too, but not Finland, technically.

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    6. Beware of revisionist history.

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    7. Jak, since I love cultural study and History, I'd love to know of your roots.

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    8. Mostly German, but we were never really into the genealogy thing, so I don't know much more than that.

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    9. I think when one is lst generation, it's easier to get into the roots of family history.

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    10. Norse mainly w some swede, mix in a bit of Brit and German, and I'm a Northern European mutt that's pure American. When I was in Scandinavia, as long as I didn't talk, I didn't look like a tourist. Germany? Pegged instantly.

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    11. interesting and blondes probably do have more fun

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  12. you're most welcome

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  13. A great Library of Congress link from newspaper microfilm on Ida B. Wells and her anti-lynching crusade. (just copy and past in the subject line)

    http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn82016014/1895-06-08/ed-1/seq-3/#date1=1836&sort=relevance&date2=1922&searchType=advanced&language=&sequence=0&index=1&words=Anti-lynching+B+b+IDA+Ida+lynch+lynched+Lynching+lynching+lynchings+Lynchings+Wells+WELLS&proxdistance=5&state=&rows=20&ortext=b+barnett+lynch+lynching+antilynching+&proxtext=Ida+wells&phrasetext=&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=6&loclr=fbloc

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  14. I see that the President, who I usually agree with, has released some drug dealers who were in jail too long. As M. Mitchell said in a recent article, white dealers often have better lawyers and get off the hook or get less time. Perhaps so, but how about not selling drugs to begin with????? How about saying to oneself, this is illegal and if I don't wish to go to jail, I can't do this. I guess in some areas though one is almost forced into gang life, or else.

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  15. I'm glad Father Phleger tells it like it is to the rapper thugs and their lyrics. Too bad more black ministers don't step up to bat, like columnist J. Fountain says.

    Mr. S, I read your beloved Divvey bikes are going up in price.

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    1. Yes, I read that also, Anon. But I believe only the daily rates will go up in price; the yearly charge will remain the same. I would love to try a Divvy sometime, but I'm out in the northwest suburbs.

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    2. Or get your own bike and ride around some in your suburb. It doesn't have to be in a trail. I don't see it as very practical though when having to carry passengers and goods and not good for all weather, or even for short stints downtown. I use mine just for a bit of exercise. Some of those bike fanatics are against cars but if they had kids or were carrying things for home repairs or groceries etc they'd see one needs cars as well. Just like motorcycles aren't practical.

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  16. I'm no gun fan but a speaker I heard from Israel made sense, our military should be carrying guns, even if it's just in a recruiting office or they will be targeted moreso.

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    1. If active military were to carry live weapons, Texas officials, among others, would be wetting themselves. We can't have that can we?

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  17. Oh yes, TX indeed. Don't get me started.

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  18. I wonder if we'll find out about the series of photos appearing above today.

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  19. Yesterday was a migraine day, today is a beautiful day. I recall lots of cathartic comments to a post something like ""donald trump and Ronald Reagan". Now it's gone. If Neil got a nastygram from a trump attorney that would be high comedy, if he cowtowed to such a thing I fear my migraine may return.

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    1. Trump just keeps topping himself, doesn't he?

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    2. I was starting to think I had imagined that Trump post. Storm clouds and creepy ventriloquist dummy symbolism for Trump and his running mate?

      He's not backing down from his McCain remarks, no surprise there. I just read the transcript from "This Week", he was explaining what he meant and how the media was getting it all wrong, and the tune from Chicago that Billy Flinn sings "Give em the old razzle dazzle" popped into my head. Now it's an ear worm.

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    3. I'm wondering if it's all just a farewell gift to Jon Stewart.

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    4. Which in turn becomes a gift to us all.

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    5. Bernie, interesting because I've read in med. sources that usually women are more prone to migraines then men are- could be hormonal at times.

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  20. I was having a discussion with a more liberal pal and she was mouthing platitudes of how great Carter was. I told her it's probably due to him that many Democrats turned to Reagan. I couldn't vote yet in '76 but I do know the guy would have made a better Social services humanitarian worker then President. Reminding her of his pardon of the draft dodgers, even if they had a point, imagine on how the poor guys that didn't break the law felt, when they came home with a leg or eye missing? Or how their families did when their son didn't return at all. He was weak, handled energy concerns the wrong way and made a mess with the hostage crisis.

    If El Chapo wants to plug Trump, as he's threatened, there won't be a tear in my eye.

    Another food tip, if I may- olive oil sautéed Melrose peppers, you can make a sandwich of them on their own if someone doesn't eat meat. Places like Caputo's might have them.

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    1. I wonder about Carter's presidency. I'm a little older than you. Not much! Voted for him in '76 and '80. Just watched part of CNN's ongoing series "The '70s", and the portion about some of the problems in Carter's term wasn't pretty. I realize that he is easily criticized. My dad, a union Democrat his whole life, was one of those who voted for Reagan. One of many "Reagan Democrats", as you note, but I have never gotten over that. I understand it better now than I did then, but would love to get a glimpse of the alternate universe in which a more seasoned Carter got a second term, and Reagan was relegated to making sequels of "Bedtime for Bonzo." Would the steady return toward oligarchy in this country that we've witnessed have been inevitable? I don't know.

      That being said, "pardoning the draft dodgers" is not one of the things I'd fault him for, personally. Fortunately, the draft had ended just in time to leave me out of it, but I wouldn't have been very interested in going to Vietnam, myself. Would you have?

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  21. Well, I probably wouldn't have been drafted, being a female and I would have been 10 in '69. ;)

    But theoretically speaking,since my dad was a Korean Vet and was drafted, I'd guess I wouldn't even have considered not going.

    Luckily, my dad didn't go for Reagan though he disliked Carter. Dad too was a union labor Democrat (worked at Nabisco on Kedzie, much of his life.) So, when Reagan showed his anti labor colors later during the PATCO strike, he could tell others, told you so, lol.

    It angers me though that some of those with connections got deferments, or that those with $ hid out in college. (not as many loans or grants for the working class then) Cheney is one who comes to mind. My dad was an only son and child and still got drafted. Yet, Cheney was using excuses of family later on. As if others didn't. Don't get me started on Halliburton, a different story. Bush too got favors from daddy. I despise special privilege. At least if Clinton dodged the draft he did it with brains on a special scholarship, no impt connections. (not that I'm a fan of his either)

    I could say more but it's not "my blog" as you said.

    Sorry, I still fault Carter for that, among other things. We had neighbors and cousins who didn't dodge the draft and they were none too happy. My bro, born in '71, a lot younger than me (there's a sis inbetween) certainly didn't have a concern, on that matter.

    While I have you reading, I suppose you've stopped at Gene and Jude's or Johnny's beef in River Grove & Elmhurst, if you've been near the MP area.

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    1. We've been to Johnny's a couple times, but have yet to sample Gene and Jude's, despite having wished to for years. Not by there very often and the timing has never been right, alas.

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  22. thanks for your reply, Jak

    and if you want good Italian sausage, go to Caputo's

    Interesting Laura Washington Column today in the paper, on how an African born driver, told her, I don't like to pick up "you people" up, when she dared to tell him he was taking the wrong or roundabout way for directions. I guess that isn't a racist comment but no wonder she prefers UBER.

    Also, how interesting to read today that the new plane routes from O'Hare will be avoiding Rahm's neighborhood while driving other residents insane.

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  23. I'm no expert on Jewish deli's but I told Mr. S once to try Schmaltz's in Naperville, if he's ever in the area. He probably has no need to go out there much. I suppose nothing beats Manny's in Chicago though, as far as I heard.

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  24. I find the over-wrought nature of "horse race" political coverage abominable. I think 15% of the Republican "id" supporting Trump at this point, and this making him the ostensible "leader" among the losers crammed into the clown car means almost precisely nothing. Even in real horse racing, making any guesses a year and a quarter before a race such as the Derby is a fool's errand. That being said, I'll grant that he's a hell of a circus performer. Thomas Evans mentioned the cover of "The Economist," which is indeed very funny, though that was about Iran. I'll counter here with the cover of "The New Yorker," also a winner:

    http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/cover-story-2015-07-27

    Thus, 2 of our host's 3 favorite magazines are accounted for. If "Consumer Reports"' next issue is graced by a caricature of Harper Lee's lawyer and publisher rolling around on a bed full of money, while Ms. Lee chats amiably with Boo Radley in the background, they'll have hit the trifecta! ; )

    A couple funny bits relating to Trump, from Twitter:

    justin kanew:

    "Obama's not American." "Yeah!"

    "Black people are lazy." "Yeah!"

    "Mexicans are rapists." "Yeah!"

    "Mccain's no hero." "HEY MAN TOO FAR."



    Doran:

    "Lots of talk about the Wrinkly White Haired Guy being slighted. No mentions of when it happened to Cleland, Kerry, Duckworth. Weird, huh?"

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    1. For whatever it's worth, I just read an article on CNN about how Jeb Bush is denouncing Trump but had a very different reaction in 2004, when he wrote a letter to the head of Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, expressing appreciation for the group's willingness to "stand up against John Kerry."

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  25. clown car indeed and a shame what the gang that never really served, pulled on Kerry

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  26. Trump's narcissism is truly evident. Too bad he doesn't get it.

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  27. It's getting quiet here. Anyone want to bring up any topics for discussion?

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  28. So Mitchell is upset about the lady who died in jail by her own hand, supposedly. That cop was out of line for a traffic arrest but does she think swearing at cops or kicking them in shins after she's arrested helps?

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    1. "That cop was out of line for a traffic arrest..." WAY out of line, and that's the point. Had she not died, nobody would pay any attention at all, as they pay no attention to the many instances of "Driving While Black" miscarriages of justice. Does Mitchell think swearing or kicking helps? I very much doubt it.

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    3. The ghastly fate of Sandra Bland fits a pattern of systemic racism perpetrated by law enforcement officers for decades. Ask any insurance company actuary, and they will confirm the African American demographic has among the lowest suicide rate in our population. The technical term for the crime Sandra committed, used by police, is called being an uppity n-word. The murders that occur fit a similar pattern. Victims are held in remote parts of the prison, isolated from other prisoners, and not monitored by video cameras. If there is a camera it will become inoperative before the death. Long periods of time go by without an inmate check. The fact that Sandra indicated she was suicidal in the past when answering a questionnaire, while being booked, is not exculpatory for the police, it should have triggered a mandatory suicide watch. To minimize the chance of these ‘suicides’ occurring, years ago the policy of removing belts and shoelaces from prisoners was implemented, and considered sufficient humiliation of inmates. From this evolved the fashion statement of exposed underwear. A statement of defiance against the racial oppression that is still part of America.

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    4. Interesting thoughts, but are you certain that is where the exposed undies idea came from?

      I understand from the autopsy that there was pot in her system, perhaps that added to the problem.

      No one is exonerating the officer, but some people do shoot themselves in the foot too. Remember sometimes the officer is the victim as well, if not in this case. Bottom line is, if she wasn't so angry at the officer and cop an attitude, she wouldn't be arrested. Some people wouldn't talk that way to a cop even if frustrated.

      The above post was wrongly worded, it should have said did Ms. Bland think it would help to start swearing , etc at the officer? She should know better. Cops take a lot of abuse from minorities at times too. Perhaps if some people were in their shoes for just a week, they'd realize that.

      Delete
    5. I can empathize more with the black plight in the days of SCLC, SNCC, sit- ins, even if didn't know much about that till I studied it later.

      That's what I would say was real victimization, today some of that is brought on by one's irresponsibility or not being brought up properly.

      No pun intended but some people will "whitewash" any behavior committed by minorities just for some political ideology or because it's not couth, these days, to not always blame the cop.

      I think some might agree with me but are afraid to say that here.

      Delete
    6. So the prison area is remote for some criminals? I'm sure most would know of how bad it can be just by word of mouth. How about making sure you never end up there in the first place?

      Delete
    7. I, for one, am not "whitewashing" any behavior here. This woman clearly would have been better served to be docile and to grudgingly, but quietly, put her cigarette out. Perhaps then the officer would have found her behavior acceptable and would have let her off with a warning.

      To concede THAT is irrelevant to the fact that the officer had the power in the situation and chose to abuse it. He could have handed her the warning or ticket, said be sure to signal next time, and gone about his business. Why, other than to flaunt his authority, would he ask her to put the cigarette out? Their time together was just about over; it's not like he was going to be subjected to sitting through dinner with her smoking. Yes, the police have a very difficult job. But the power they're entrusted with comes with the responsibility to exercise it judiciously. Sadly, some of them don't seem to do as well with appreciating that responsibility as they might.

      "I can empathize more with the black plight in the days of SCLC, SNCC..." How many black people need to end up dead before you will feel that you can empathize with their plight in 2015? A guy just shot up a black church, killing completely innocent people for no reason other than racial hatred. That's not enough to convince you that we're not as far from the heyday of the SCLC as you prefer to think? "Driving while black" is not some made-up issue, either. Folks are inappropriately hassled all the time. Unsurprisingly, some of them react poorly. You're pretty opinionated yourself; perhaps you're too "smart" to be snarky with a cop the 5th time you're stopped for some lame reason, but I'd think you could at least understand the inclination to do so.

      "I think some might agree with me but are afraid to say that here." This is a recurring theme of yours. You may well be right, but I'd have to imagine that the majority of folks who you'd find agreeing with you about your attitude here are NOT people you'd like to have on your team.

      I'm not saying any of this to be disagreeable, but because I'm one of the only ones who bothers to comment on these off-topic matters. I'm sure you're a good person, quite intelligent and compassionate, even. I just don't understand why you feel the need to make the same arguments one could find being aired on Fox News and try to get people to agree that you're at least being REASONABLE about them.

      Delete
    8. I'm trying to figure out what having pot in her system has to do w anything. Aren't we past the demonization of weed?

      Delete
    9. Nikki, Just saying perhaps it affected her behavior.

      Jakash, you don't need to be so patronizing when making your points to me, just because you don't agree. I admit you did make some good points, but I doubt you'd speak that way to some people here, even if you did disagree.


      I guess one has to be quiet here if they aren't on the same page as you or you want to control what comments are said here.

      Delete
    10. And the southern nut job who was racist and shot up the church,is a different story then cops getting blamed for everything.

      I might fall off my chair if I ever see you making a comment that that someone shot by a cop might actually have been wrong. I suppose you think the guy in Missouri was a poor victim too.

      Perhaps certain posters should move to Englewood.

      What do you think has made some cops act as they do? Perhaps too much time seeing reality in the street and not just having lofty thoughts in their comfy neighborhoods?

      Or is it maybe they aren't going to wait to get shot first , as some cops have been , leaving kids and spouse behind?

      I live in a mixed area subdivision with a good amount of Africans. Why is it I"ve seen a cop arrest someone here once in 13 yrs? How come the blacks in my subdivision aren't "beat up" by cops and usually have mom and dad around. Nor did my daughter go to a mostly whitey school, like I'd guess a few certain "blacks are always victims" posters do here. Yet, in her mixed grouping schools she was safe, unlike in some hood schools.I presume many playing the super left game live in some fancy neighborhood where blacks are never seen. When you live in a mixed neighborhood, then you can talk. So don't peg me just yet. Of course you are the expert of all matters.

      It's a good thing you don't speak to some of my former African American co workers or middle class neighbors, who escaped certain areas. You might think they come from Fox news! So get real!

      Delete
    11. Notice how Bernie disagreed with me, but not in a patronizing manner.

      Yes, I am opinionated and more women should be.

      Delete
  29. Has anyone here read Harper Lee's latest offering and if so, is it a worthwhile read? Or should we keep Atticus on the pedestal? Is there an explanation for his later behavior, as far as I've heard on the summary reviews?

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    Replies
    1. Haven't read it, and won't. I remain unconvinced, after having read a fair amount ABOUT it, that it's not just a money grab by the folks around her. Unless her sister didn't want it published, but the author herself really did, all along, I see no convincing rationale for why, 55 years later or so, and oh-so-conveniently, shortly after her sister is no longer around to manage her affairs, she'd decide "yeah, let's put that first draft out there, after all."

      The explanation for Atticus' later behavior that I've seen is that he was simply a well-meaning, yet still bigoted Southerner of his time. He didn't want to see injustice for Tom, but that didn't mean that he was all that wild about integration, even when TKAM was taking place. Regardless, it seems to me there was a reason this version was rejected in the first place, and I don't consider it a sequel or prequel as much as a first draft that benefited greatly from the perspective of a good editor.

      Delete
  30. good points, Jakash

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  31. I wonder if that is somewhat autobiographical or not . I don't know much about Lee's real life dad.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Never mind, here is a snippet from wiki-

    it is indeed...

    Harper Lee is her pen name.[6] Her mother was a homemaker; her father, a former newspaper editor and proprietor, practiced law and served in the Alabama State Legislature from 1926 to 1938. Before A.C. Lee became a title lawyer, he once defended two black men accused of murdering a white storekeeper. Both clients, a father and son, were hanged

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  33. Drove by this place last weekend. If I a) had a better cellphone or b) had had a camera with me, and c) knew how to post the resultant picture here, I'd have attempted to provide our host with a classic next motel header.

    http://s3-media4.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/25db7-X69vU7Xy8bKKN4Sg/l.jpg

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    Replies
    1. Well get a better cellphone, dammit! wink

      Delete
  34. that's a good hotel sign, though I don't think I'd stay there ;)

    Good article by Telander today in the sports section, on how Noah inviting rappers to his charity gathering for kids isn't such a good idea, when several of those rappers ended up shot..

    Mona Charen, who I usually disagree with, does make a case for people tired of having to be PC (fri ST) She points out how Trump is an extremist and not representative of Repubs, but she lost me when she started bashing the Pres, and blaming him for things he didn't cause. That's typical of many conservs.

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  35. It is true that the media overhypes some of this, thus causing more riot agitation. That type of attention was needed when one could get beaten up for demanding the vote, not looking for sympathy when one is in a gang.

    It's amazing how the Brown's in the mid 50's or James Meredith, a few years later, fought so hard for equal education and many in the hood today don't give a crap about education.

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  36. Since you are keeping score, Jakash, I won't bring up the topic again, boss. I'll thank you not to get my dander up.

    I read about the other day about at some Chicago schools, the teachers get beat up. I guess good think my Afr. Amer students didn't do that with me, but then again, I always taught in the suburbs. It's economic class, not race, Jak. Try to get it and stop trying to be ANA lite.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. (thing, not think)

      Delete
    2. of course there's some high crime suburbs as well-I didn't live there but not in fancy ones either

      Delete
  37. Thanks for your time and response anyway, Jackie, but save your preaching for Sunday school.

    ReplyDelete
  38. In all fairness to Ana though, he wasn't as concerned for the Africans in the hood, as much as in Africa itself.

    ReplyDelete
  39. I'll leave it to others to determine which of our most recent comments seem more "patronizing". Ha! Like anybody else is reading this! You often say that you'd like to hear others' thoughts on some of this stuff. Well, those are my thoughts on this topic. The idea that folks who disagree with you "want to control what comments are said here" is simply odd, sorry. We're just anonymous blog commenters offering our opinions -- NS is the only one with any "control" over what is posted.

    YOU'RE the one who brought up this case, which is the only reason I'm talking about it. This exchange no more indicates my attitude toward all police officers than my remarks with regard to A-n-A reflect my attitude toward all blog commenters. Now, when you say, explicitly, "stop trying to be ANA lite" and "save your preaching" does that mean that YOU want to control what is said here, by any chance? ; )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I've only known one commenter here to tell another to "shut the eff up." It wasn't ANA or Jakash.

      Delete
    2. Again, it's how you say it , Jak, at least when addressing me.

      Delete
    3. I'd argue about this, but evidently our host agrees with you about how I say things. : ) Evidently, whatever jesting observations I made yesterday on the contest post were more acerbic than I intended them to be, as they seem to have been so obnoxious as to warrant deletion by NS.

      Delete
    4. I tried replying, but that just made me sound peevish, so after a few failed attempts, I just took it off. Nobody wants to be called a rustic and a buffoon over some passing comments he made about flowers in a photograph. No, I didn't think they were more telling than Robert Falls identity. But they were in the picture, so I drew attention to them. I wanted to just let it go, always the best response, but couldn't manage it.

      Delete
    5. I very much appreciate your taking the time to respond here, NS. As is evident all over these threads, I'm not very good at "letting things go," myself. Thus, this reply. I just have to note that "rustic and a buffoon" is pretty much the OPPOSITE of what I was trying to suggest. I believe I used the word "quaint", which, having just looked it up, is close enough to what I intended. My point was that you are so much the antithesis of rustic that it seemed you found a potential opera reference (the flowers on the floor) as telling of a clue as featuring a local celebrity. I apologize if that's an annoying thing for me to have said. Hey, how 'bout this humidity? ; )

      Delete
    6. I think it's time to create a new room.

      Delete
  40. Coey, sticking your nose in again? Trying to appease certain posters? I guess I'm misunderstood.

    ReplyDelete
  41. I have a feeling there are some ex college rads here that had some trouble with the police on some campus or somewhere or got into some minor bust with drug use and have a chip on their shoulder about cops. Glad I wasn't of college age in that era.

    Rest assured I'm not controlling anyone. But with a bully like Jak on here, no wonder some won't say boo.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Yes, I brought up the topic but you could have too, Sir J. And next time I'll ask you what I can bring up without you jumping down my throat.

    On to other topics,a s to the latest public shooting from a few days back, what will it take to crack down on weapons?



    I understand there are some dealers in Indiana who sell them easily, not just something sold in the streets either. Why aren't these places shut down? It's worse than the old west now.

    ReplyDelete
  43. Oh bother! All was so nice when we were discussing Brit stuff. BTW, correcting myself. Vicious, not Wicked w Jacoby. I must have had musicals on the brain, even though I didn't even like Wicked. Walked out w a meh feeling after that one.
    Just saw an excellent concert on PBS of LA Phil doing John Williams music w Maestro Gustavo Dudamel conducting. Such an exciting conductor.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sorry to have bothered your Friday night, Nikki. Being such a nasty bully, what's a guy to do, though? Zorn used to occasionally warn the commentariat on his blog not to "take the bait", but I have a pretty uneven record when it comes to following that advice.

      We meant to watch that concert, but forgot all about it. John Williams is not my favorite, but he's certainly got an awesome body of work and there are plenty of winners larded in among the average stuff, IMHO. Dudamel is certainly enthusiastic, to say the least...

      Currently we're binge-watching "Homeland", though the binges are just a couple episodes a night. Hell of a show. Never got into Doctor Who, alas.

      Delete
    2. Well I refuse to believe that I'm in an alleged virtual polygamous relationship w a bully. Opinionated yes, aren't we all, but not a bully.
      I would love for the opportunity to play under Maestro Dudamel's baton. Incredible talent, incredible backstory.

      Delete
    3. Nikki,

      Thanks! Given your violin expertise, I'd appreciate it if you could fill me in on something I've wondered about. During particularly frantic passages, it seems a string will occasionally break during concerts we watch or attend. Is there a redundant number of strings, such that this doesn't matter at all to the sound being produced? Or can someone such as yourself tell the difference between the music from an intact violin and one with a broken string? Do multiple strings break sometimes? Does THAT adversely affect the sound? I like classical music a lot, but am clueless musically, myself, as this comment likely indicates...

      Delete
    4. If a string breaks, you can play the same notes on a lower string, only played higher up. If the lowest string breaks, you have to jump everything up an octave to play. The tone is definitely different, not as bright, and majority of the time you're already hearing that. That's what a lot of the shifting up and down is all about, ease of play and mellowing of tones. I've never seen anyone pop more than one at a time, if that happened you're air bowing until the end of the piece, unless first chair then I guess they would grab #2's instrument. My main is cello, but I do play violin as well. I've had a string pop in concert, cello A string top one, and it cut my cheek. Of course, right before a solo. So, w blood dripping, I had to jump rather high on the next string where I hadn't practiced it. Got through it fine, afterwards the conductor said nice recovery but you were a little flat. Only time I ever said f you to a maestro. He was partly kidding, but I wasn't. We're still great friends though.

      Delete
    5. Forgot to add, I have broken my G string on stage in front of hundreds of people, including my parents. Luckily I always carry a spare set.

      Delete
    6. Hope no one reads this out of context.

      Delete
    7. I'm impressed with your musical knowledge, Nikki.

      I agree with Coey, your last comment sounds humorous.

      Take it easy, Jakash.

      Delete
    8. I was responding to your comment, not baiting you, Jak.

      Delete
    9. Thanks for those responses, Nikki. Interesting, and good stories! At most of the concerts we've gone to, the orchestra members are dressed rather formally. Yours sound much more cheeky...

      Delete
  44. Nikki, did you watch Broadchurch?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not yet, but it's definitely on my things I want to see list. I really like David Tennant. I was one of those fans of the Doctor when you NEVER admitted watching Doctor Who. Now I can wave my geek flag and no one bats an eye. Ah progress!

      Delete
    2. I never got into Dr. Who, until some years back (forgot the number) that one Dr. starred with a crewcut type of look,lt. brown hair, with the blonde young lady. A few eps of that were okay but lost interest after.

      Delete
    3. Sounds like Eccleston (9th Doctor). I started w the 4th, Tom Baker, which is still my favorite. Perhaps try the David Tennant (10th).

      Delete
    4. @Coey -- I watch "Broadchurch; Season 1 was really good, Season 2 good also. There will be a third season, and I'm hoping Hardy (Tennant) doesn't get in that taxi :)

      Delete
    5. Nikki, I know David Tennant, saw a few minutes,didn't like him. Right he was the next one. I think you are correct about 9th.

      A.

      Delete
    6. Broadchurch was my first exposure to David Tennant, and I definitely see the appeal. That accent alone. Another show I liked, which I think is returning in the fall, was Silk, about barristers. And Call The Midwife. I don't think it's been quite as good as before, but I still manage a good cry from most episodes.

      Delete
    7. We watched and enjoyed "Silk." Glad to hear it's coming back. Now, I'm more of a PBS fan that the average guy, for sure, but "Call the Midwife" was a bridge too far, even for me. ; )

      Delete
    8. C'mon, 50s nurses and nuns? What kind of man can't get into that?

      Delete
    9. They're into the 60s now. There was a dire reference to thalidomide in the finale. Come back!

      Delete
    10. Watched an ep of that for a few minutes, not my cup of tea.

      Jakash, you are certainly more tolerant of some PBS programs than my spouse would be.

      Delete
    11. Well, Anon, we're sometimes frustrated that few of our extended family members share this enthusiasm for the BBC shows. It helps demonstrate how big of a hit "Downton Abbey" is that it, in particular, seems to have attracted the attention of many who otherwise shun PBS.

      Delete
  45. Perhaps we'll stay off of current events and politics then for a bit.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Perhaps just for Friday night. Lighter fare to ease into the weekend, just a thought. Not that I don't enjoy reading the back and forth and jumping in at times, but maybe some pop culture Friday or something.

      Delete
    2. Nikki, you could be a UN diplomat.

      Delete
    3. This is something that shouldn't rile anyone-with the recent state court ruling on the pension, Rahm is in trouble. Not sure why he wanted the job again. He must be a glutton for punishment.

      Delete
  46. Mr. Steinberg, it's almost time for a new room or perhaps you could put up a photo of a wrestling ring.

    ReplyDelete
  47. If you go to the Google homepage, the doodle is for the Special Olympics. Click on the link under and you can create a poster that they will print off and put in the athletes dorm rooms. You don't even have to put in any personal info, just cheer on the Olympians. Pretty cool.

    ReplyDelete
  48. Good column today how Netanyahu is self serving over the Iran dealings. But I don't trust Iran either.

    It's amazing how years ago conservatives didn't like the Jews, then they did a turn about in recent years. Islamic actions brought that on. Years back many American Jews were more liberal and the Dems were usually more in step with Israel. Then it seemed Israel could do no wrong. Now some Palestian actions toward Israel is overlooked.

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  49. Interesting how the Kenyan leader told our President that gay rights aren't a priority there. I'd guess not, when when wonders where the next meal is coming from, lack of women's rights,worries of AIDS, medical care, lack of good water or if some militia is coming to attack, etc.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. or lack of basic education being widely available

      Delete
  50. opinions, anyone?

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  51. Sure, why not- the next frontier.

    These Polyamorous Parents Put Controversial Spin on Child-Rearing

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  52. Good column by John Fountain in the ST today. Indeed, the city council is fiddling while Rome burns, so to speak. Worried about movie names rather than facing facts that kids can't even play outside without getting shot.

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