Your typhoon/hurricane Sunday open thread

by liberal japonicus

I'm in Kyoto for a conference. It was a bit iffy, as Typhoon #12 (Japanese number them rather than name them) was scheduled to park itself over Osaka. I took the shinkansen up, which had no problem, but many of the regular train lines south of the area were stopped because of the water the storm system was dumping. However, it seems to have passed by, but being in Kyoto was an interesting experience because there were virtually no Japanese out and the only people wandering around seemed to be foreign tourists.

Anyway, weather or whatever grabs you. Have at it.

Comments

[Doctor Science]

Huh. Is this Typhoon Talas? Which Wikipedia tells me was named by the Japan Meteorological Agency.

[wj]

If you are a resident, pouring rain means you put off going out as much as possible until the weather improves. But if you are a tourist, your time is limited, so you don't want to just "put things off" because you won't be there later.

[liberal japonicus]

The name refers to what the international organizing weather bureau for the Pacific basin calls it, but internally, Japanese use numbers.

The link also points out that they use a perpetual list in the Pacific Basin, which is why we've only had 12 typhoons out here, whereas a Hurricane that begins with a T would be the 19th of the season in the Atlantic.

[McKinneyTexas]

Weather in Spicewood TX: hot, windy and a big a** wildfire, just out the back window. Headed south and we're north or it would be ugly. It is ugly for those south of us. Hope they got out.

[jonnybutter]

Labor Day tomorrow. Quaintly outmoded tradition, like believing torture is wrong, Columbus Day, lying only when you have to, and One Hour Cleaners ('that's just the name of the shop, guvner'). hoopla.

[sekaijin]

The landslides in Wakayama, parts of Mie, and elsewhere around the eastern Kansai and Chubu have really gotten out of control - it's eerily close to the six-month anniversary of "3/11" and this feels like a mini-Tohoku.

When will it ever end for Japan?

[Ugh]

Glory be! Brett Bellmore reads the taxprof blog (see comments).

I have no idea what he's talking about in that thread (much like most of the other commenters there), but it was surprising to see him show up.

Brett, are you a tax guy?

[Countme - In]

"Brett, are you a tax guy?"

No, he's the quit taking my stuff guy.

"Labor Day tomorrow."

I suggest we get rid of it and replace it with Capital Day.

The parade floats would feature a constantly refreshed circle of prone, low-paid workers on their backs exhaling their last collective (the last collective permitted) breaths up the billowing skirts of a blow-up doll of an unabashed Dagny Taggert, who, unlike the famous Marilyn Monroe photograph over the now-privatized street vent, does nothing to hide her ironically named private bits, which are available to the highest bidder.

[Countme - In]

Via Steve Benen, more evidence that "turning down the flame" at OBWI is like moistening forefinger and thumb and dousing a candle because the nuclear holocaust around us is becoming a little too hot for human habitation.

http://www.truth-out.org/goodbye-all-reflections-gop-operative-who-left-cult/1314907779

In other news, President Obama will announce tomorrow sweeping new changes to the CIA's torture policies, which will feature renditioned terrorists being forced to read Dick Cheney's new book AND simultaneously watching Chris Wallace's interview with the future executed torturer and war criminal.

The strangled, drowning ahhhhhgggghhhhs from the prisoners, when translated for information, will read "You've got to be sh*tting me!" in the transcripts.

[Countme - In]

Yes, I forgot E.J. Dionne already suggested the Labor Day name change.

Mixing and matching some perusals of Balloon Juice this morning, there's this:

http://www.balloon-juice.com/2011/09/04/sickeningly-hard-times-literally/#more-79449

At some point in the future, this accumulation of Death from the Death Party will be viewed as genocide and it will be avenged.

In another post there, someone quotes Jay Gould: "I can hire one half of the working class to kill the other half."

It occurs to me that the Tea Party is the addled first half.

What will we do when the first half realize they are killing the wrong people and join with the remnants of the second half to kill the right people?

[Countme - In]

MckT:

I hope the fires in Texas are doused soon, by whatever means and funding necessary, and that you, your family, and neighbors are safe.

On the other hand, I hope your Governor self-immolates soon.

I wonder when Perry is going to realize that God is somewhat like a confused, demented old man (who doesn't like it when slick politcians take his name in vain), holding a gas can, and burning brush on the back forty while creating hot, dry winds because, well, he forgets why and if you told him why, he'd deny it.

He hears the faint voices of propitiation and the panicked gesturing from the neighbors across the way, but he's become paranoid and thinks it's those federalis again, out to get him.

Or is that Perry who thinks that? It's ahrd to tell the difference between the two of them.

Why do they always ask me for help, God wonders bitterly? Because they think I'll solve their problems for free?

He'll show em. Let's see, doesn't napalm quell the flames, he plots?

I'm on the road for an extended visit to Pennsylvania to assist with caring for and keeping my mother company as she descends into Alzheimer's disease complicated by advanced but oddly stable Stage IV breast cancer.

She's still at home and somewhat mobile but awakes disoriented and terrified at all times of the night that she will be left alone.

She is a saint.

Have a nice week, everyone.

[sapient]

Thoughts are with you, Countme-In.

[Slartibartfast]

It occurs to me that the Tea Party is the addled first half.

The Tea Party is just waiting outside to string up the darker-complected, by some accounts.

[DaveC]

Best wishes, Count. You are by some accounts, or soon will be, a senior assistant saint yourself. Find a few places around town where your mom feels comfortable hanging out during the daytime, cause she may not be able to take you 24 hours a day.

[Countme-In]

"cause she may not be able to take you 24 hours a day."

This is where short-term memory loss has an upside.

[bob_is_boring]

re: Countme-In's link posted at 12:39 (the Lofgren article):

I am awaiting the ObWi discussion of this article. That is to say: please, and thank you.

[sapient]

bob_is_boring, I'll note the following passage from the article, which was written in reference to "low-information voters:" who are taken in by Republican attempts to destroy confidence in the institutions of government:

"These voters' confusion over who did what allows them to form the conclusion that "they are all crooks," and that "government is no good," further leading them to think, "a plague on both your houses" and "the parties are like two kids in a school yard." This ill-informed public cynicism, in its turn, further intensifies the long-term decline in public trust in government that has been taking place since the early 1960s - a distrust that has been stoked by Republican rhetoric at every turn ("Government is the problem," declared Ronald Reagan in 1980)."

I would argue that many in the "progressive" base, although extremely well informed, are infected with the same cynicism, and false equivalence, except toward the Executive. Fortunately their leaders still represent liberal values, even if not as purely as some would wish.

The Lofgren article just reaffirms my fear that if we don't recover Congress and the Presidency during the next election, we will be in for the dark ages, maybe for generations. We need to take whatever leap of faith is necessary to shed the cynicism. We have to win.

[sapient]

bob_is_boring, I'll note the following passage from the article, which was written in reference to "low-information voters:" who are taken in by Republican attempts to destroy confidence in the institutions of government:

"These voters' confusion over who did what allows them to form the conclusion that "they are all crooks," and that "government is no good," further leading them to think, "a plague on both your houses" and "the parties are like two kids in a school yard." This ill-informed public cynicism, in its turn, further intensifies the long-term decline in public trust in government that has been taking place since the early 1960s - a distrust that has been stoked by Republican rhetoric at every turn ("Government is the problem," declared Ronald Reagan in 1980)."

I would argue that many in the "progressive" base, although extremely well informed, are infected with the same cynicism, and false equivalence, except toward the Executive. Fortunately their leaders still represent liberal values, even if not as purely as some would wish.

The Lofgren article just reaffirms my fear that if we don't recover Congress and the Presidency during the next election, we will be in for the dark ages, maybe for generations. We need to take whatever leap of faith is necessary to shed the cynicism. We have to win.

[sapient]

sorry for the duplicaton - don't know how it happened.

[cleek]

see comments

they're all lunatics.

[russell]

I would argue that many in the "progressive" base, although extremely well informed, are infected with the same cynicism, and false equivalence, except toward the Executive.

To speak for myself:

I have become profoundly cynical, or more correctly, pessimistic, concerning the short-term future of the US.

That has very little to do with Obama. I think he's basically doing a good job, and is basically a good guy.

But he IS NOT going to be the guy that draws the line in the sand when it comes to progressive initiatives. He isn't going to be that guy, and he was never going to be that guy, because that's not who he is.

I don't think there is anyone on the face of the earth who could be that guy, and who could also be elected President of the US. So it's not about hating on Obama. It's just the reality.

Because it's not just progressively minded people voting for the President.

I have become profoundly pessimistic, because I do not have millions of dollars to spend on buying the political outcomes I think are important, and folks who desire political outcomes that I think are profoundly harmful, do.

Money talks and bullshit walks, and folks like me don't have the $$$.

There used to be some curbs on the more outrageous forms of buying political outcomes, but those are pretty much gone by the wayside now.

It's all about the Benjamins. Period. So, I'm very pessimistic, because what money wants is rarely what's good for most people.

If folks want to make something happen, IMO the focus really needs to be on Congress. They make the laws, they allocate money. They are also far more approachable and responsive to whatever initiatives anybody like you or I are likely to be able to muster.

Want to make a dent? Call your Congresspeople. Donate to their campaigns, they'll be shocked and amazed to get a check from you. Then call their *local* office - *not* the DC office - get somebody's name, and talk to them about what's on your mind. Don't forget to mention that you cut them a check, and for what amount. If you put their sign on your lawn last election, or made calls for them, or canvassed for them, don't forget to tell them that.

Then call again, ask for that person by name, and do it again.

Several times.

It will make a dent. A tiny, tiny dent, but a dent.

At the level of the President, it's all theater. Every moment, every gesture, every word. All theater.

Congresspeople have a little more leeway.

That's my big idea. Hope you like it, sapient.

bob_is_boring, here is my comment on the article that the Count cites:

IMO it's on the money, and IMO should be neither controversial nor anything like a surprise or a revelation to anyone.

The national Republican party is a clown show. We are in for something like a generation of stupid, counter-productive, harmful crap.

To quote a great American, whenever they think, they weaken the nation.

They will scream, and holler, and hold their breath until they turn blue, and f**k with the process any way they can to get their way. And "their way" will basically kick the living sh*t out of normal, middle class American life as we have known it for about the last 80 years.

If you want to know what the result will be like, find somebody who's 80 or 85 years old, buy them lunch, and ask them how things were back in the day.

It'll curl your hair. But they'll be very grateful for the lunch, and the company. Nobody listens to old folks, they'll appreciate your time and attention.

Dog eat dog. That is national Republican agenda. IMO it's a done deal. I'm just hoping to ride it out. I'd say the odds are about even that I'll be able to pull it off.

If you're, for instance, under 40, you've got some hairy times ahead of you. Cover your @ss. Learn to grow your own food, and don't borrow money.

Those are my thoughts on the topic.

[russell]

I'm on the road for an extended visit to Pennsylvania to assist with caring for and keeping my mother company as she descends into Alzheimer's disease complicated by advanced but oddly stable Stage IV breast cancer.

My stepmother has advanced but oddly stable Stage IV lung cancer.

Note to young folks - unfiltered Luckys are not your friend.

But, equally oddly, she's kind of fine. For now. Which is an excellent blessing.

It won't last. But I'll take it while I can get it.

There is nothing that compares, for sheer cruelty, to the relentless and humiliating insult of old age.

I'm very sorry to hear about your mother, Count. What I can say is that every minute you spend with her will be a gift to her, and to you. Even given the circumstances.

Our thoughts travel with you. Be well.

[bob_is_boring]

Gents,

Yeah, I was shocked and disgusted but not surprised. Although, now that I think about it, it's the kind of stuff I assume I'm being extremely paranoid about -- that it's not possible that a major political party in the US is operating with that much ill will toward the general public, lack of concern for the will of the people, and just plain evil-@ss schemes to fnck the poor -- that really seems (according to the article) not to be paranoid delusion at all.

Why isn't this flying all over the airwaves? I mean, the lefty blogosphere is one thing, but this is juicy stuff -- it'd make great tabloid/major media outlet news.

Also, nobody seems anxious [colloquial usage] to jump out and accuse him of sour grapes or whatever; it seems to be being taken at face value.

I don't know. I don't comment much (good lurker though), but I was surprised there wasn't already a dedicated thread about this.

[sapient]

russell, I do like it. Except this part "At the level of the President, it's all theater. Every moment, every gesture, every word. All theater." If it's theater, it's theater we need on our side, if for nothing else (and there's a lot of else) because of the courts. It's absolutely crucial that we don't get any more of those people on the Supreme Court. They stay there for a long, long time.

[McKinneyTexas]

Count--thanks for the kind words and very sorry about your mom. I lost my mom in May, after a stroke, dementia and breast cancer. Not fun. My thoughts are with you. Keep us posted.

[ral]

Sapient speaks for me.

Politics is not a reality show. We allow it to be treated that way at our peril.

Also, My best wishes to Countme-In.

[sapient]

Thanks, ral. Maybe I'm not Shirley Valentine.

[hairshirthedonist]

Going Galt, in a sideways sort of way:

http://news.yahoo.com/top-chinese-wealthys-wish-list-leave-china-065826880.html