Forons stayed local this week, calling out many pressing, and not so pressing, issues around town. Warbling about everything from sports to crime to paying your bill at the Dane, at least they now know they can find solace in an icy Limoncello or a trip to Cudahay.
Funny and absurd
Re: Crew Thread
Post by nevermore Sun Jun 14, 2009 10:55 am
Why light you up? That's pretty solid analysis there.
And my observation this morning is, man, does it suck to be Manny Parra or what? He got demoted to the minors while the game was still on? I wonder if he was told by Macha while he was yanking him in the second - saying, as he took the ball "Hey Manny, you like country music?"
Now, before you all light me up, let me state that being a Cubs fan is pretty easy these days. I just watch the games until the other team scores the first run and then turn it off - secure in the knowledge that the game's officially over. Such is the life for a fan of a team who, in the immortal words of "Crash" Davis, couldn't hit water if they fell out of a fucking boat.
The National League Central title - does anybody want this thing?
I hear they have beautiful…?
Re: Where will you travel to in 2009?
Post by donges Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:21 pm
I may splurge and go to Cudahy. You are all jealous, aintcha?
Chicken fried steak will never be the same.
Re: Favre to meet with Vikings
Post by white_rabbit Mon Jun 15, 2009 10:16 pm
A mediocre encore and a pathetic end to an otherwise stellar career. And the Brett Favre Steakhouse in Green Bay goes out of business.
Yeah, you wouldn't want to go outside in weather like this.
Re: Ghostbusters 3 to happen as video game?
Post by Shipley Tue Jun 16, 2009 3:23 pm
Game in hand, only about 20 minutes of play time, but the atmosphere, graphics and control for the tutorial trapping all work like you'd expect.
critical reviews seem to be hovering around a B, which sounds about right. If it can keep this up for another 8 hours I'll be very satisfied.
Bill O'Reilly wishes he could spit rhymes like these.
Another Very Funny Joke
Post by Cortez Thu Jun 18, 2009 12:05 pm
Now that the chosen one's Divine Power has failed to take hold in bumfuck Iran, NOW Iran is the "bad guy" :evil: for you people, as opposed to the misunderstood and unfairly dealt with proud Islamic nation the libbies were so quick to stand up for in the Bush days. How many of you were crossing your little fingers hoping this fawning parasite's Cute Wittle Speech would help? Awwwwww they're so meaannnnn... NOW they're the "bad guys". Now. Ha ha ha ha hah.
Smart and sharp
Not everyone's a Debbie Downer.
Re: Iran Election
Post by pjbogart Fri Jun 12, 2009 7:12 pm
I'll be watching this one closely but I'm pretty sure we've already won a big victory here. The President of Iran is largely ceremonial, as the real power is held by the clerics, but the face and the spokesperson could be an important step forward in calming the tensions in the Middle East. Ahmadinejad, facing pressure from moderates, has signaled that he is more willing to open dialogue with Western nations (mostly us) so even if he wins, perhaps we'll see a cooling of the fiery rhetoric he's accustomed to spewing. The nuclear question is off the table, however, as Iran insists that it has the right to pursue nuclear power for electricity production.
Mousavi is the "opposition" candidate favored in the West, but it's largely a rejection of Ahmadinejad rather than favoritism toward Mousavi. The ouster would largely be cosmetic but it's a cosmetic change that would serve several purposes. Firstly, removal of Ahmadinejad would show intent by the Iranian people to pursue a more moderate political stance. Secondly, even if only symbolic, it would be a second domino to fall in the Middle East, after the Lebanese people rejected Hezbollah in favor of a more pro-Western coalition in Lebanese elections last week. Coming on the heels of Obama's address in Cairo, it gives the appearance that the U.S. is softening it's diplomatic stance and Middle Eastern nations are reciprocating. Al Qaeda and the Taliban are coming under increasing pressure from the populations of Afghanistan and Pakistan to add to their struggles with the respective countries' militaries.
What does that all mean? Well, it means that the Muslim world seems to trust Obama more than they've trusted any American President since... ever. Was it the speech in Cairo or something as simple as a black man with the middle name "Hussein?" It's largely irrelevant what the reasons are, but if you can win the hearts and minds of the Arab world, we may find that Iraqis could reject the extremists and seize control of their own country without our further involvement. If we can push that sense of comraderie into a euphoric love-fest for Obama then we may find that Israel has no choice but to accept a two-state solution to the Palestinian dilemna and tensions in the Middle East may start to fizzle.
It's going to take a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck along the way, but we may be witnessing the beginning of something quite historic. It started with our election of Obama and our rejection of right-wing fundamentalism, but if we can keep that ball rolling we may be looking at a different world in as little as a few years. I won't be too discouraged if Ahmadinejad wins today because the millions of Iranians who took to the street in support of Mousavi have already made their voices heard and I think most of the Arab world was listening. There may indeed be enemies amongst us, but there are friends too.
After all, it is American Express.
Re: Restaurants prefer cash
Post by lysander Sat Jun 13, 2009 12:09 am
ATM fees are a price for convenience borne by the proper party, the ones utilizing it. I don't pay them myself. I either get cash when I bring my paycheck to my credit union or I use an ATM that charges me nothing.
Or for all any of you know, I get paid cash for skimming credit card numbers with a handheld unit at my day job.
"Safer than cash" is such a ridiculous line of bullshit I feel obligated to tip my hat to the PR firms that crank this moronication out on behalf of Big Finance. Like the "look how fast credit cards are compared to making change for cash" idiocy. Ever been anywhere in real life, dipshits? Plastic takes about four times as long. And yet dullards from sea to sea eat this crap up.
The comments section of that article really brought to the forefront why I post here, and not in the digital asshat-ville that is madison.com. But hey, just in case any folks reading this have to get out the dictionary more than twice: Carry cash. It's the patriotic thing to do. Y'all like flags & patriots, right? Use both in an American-made way to buy things just like your WWII Vet parents and grandparents did.
We're always up for a new (boozy) summer treat.
Re: Yahara Bay Limoncello
Post by TheBookPolice Sat Jun 13, 2009 8:44 pm
Ever since reading this post way back when, I've been intrigued by this bottle. Never had limoncello, but Mario Batali makes it sound so good, as does Marvell. After reading the dismal review given to Danny DeVito's private label limoncello in The AV Club's Taste Test column, I felt it was time to search and spring for Yahara Bay's version.
I'm sipping the first glass now, straight outta the freezer and in a chilled glass. It's sweeter than I expected--less tart. I think I'd prefer more tartness, but I suppose liqueur-i-faction kills a lot of that flavor element.
It's good. Is it better than grapefruit juice, vodka, and Campari? Probably not. Better in the summer than Voyant chai liqueur? Probably. Is it worth $15 at Metcalfe's to take a shot on? Definitely. Like Marvell said, it's a small bottle. Good if you like it so you don't get totally wasted, good if you don't as much so you're not wasting it.
Screw living in the present -- let's throwback.
A list of 2553 concerts that have taken place in Madison*
Post by Logjam Thu Jun 11, 2009 7:54 am
This is pretty cool although I doubt the accuracy of some of the listings.
I took a random stab at old dates and ended up in 1977 which shows Elvis Costello and the Attractions playing at Bunky's, Tom Waits at the Park Motor Inn and AC/DC at the Stone Hearth. It also lists YES and Emerson, Lake and Palmer as both playing the Dane County Coliseum twice that year. I know prog was big in the late 70's but I don't think it was THAT popular.
They also list LaCrosse, Whitewater and Dubuque along with Madison listings. Maybe that search can be refined but I didn't bother with it.
Still, its a cool list to poke around on. Found my first concert listed as August 11, 1982. I probably still have the stub somewhere but I'm not going to look for it so I'll take their word for it.
Re: Two More Shootings Last Night...
Post by eriedasch Wed Jun 17, 2009 9:42 am
Unbelievable? How so? We have the worst recession / depression going on (i.e. people loosing jobs, healthcare, homes, community programs, funding, security, etc.) of the last 60 years. When people do not have jobs or hope, crime goes up.
You think our little burg of Madison is somehow isolated from the rest of the country? Check out any other similar sized city and you will see the same thing. Or like some others have mentioned, be glad you don't live in Rockford or Beloit.
And I am not downplaying the shootings and increased violence. Serious business and needs to be addressed in any and every way possible. Just not unbelievable.