Common Cause Blog :: Open Thread

Open Thread

By Kirstin Ellison
Posted on Fri Jul 28, 2006 at 05:27:33 PM EST

Beat the heat! -- Stay in and post comments!

Open Thread :: 9 Comments

To get things started

Common Cause is saying goodbye to four interns this week and next week, and I want to thank them for all their hard work: Matt Caruso, who has been a big presence on this blog, Stephen Steigleder and Jonathan Friedman, who have also contributed occasionally, and Meg Lippincott, who has been indespensible to our Development office.

Thanks again, guys, and keep up the fight for reform!

by Kirstin Ellison on Fri Jul 28, 2006 at 05:30:00 PM EST

For your consideration

How about this? CNN recently published an interesting article about the most "representative" states. Check it out here:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/07/27/mg.thu/index.html
Weighing a variety of factors that included ethnicity, income, and typical neighborhoods, CNN declared Wisconsin the most representative state.

by Zach Proulx on Sat Jul 29, 2006 at 10:39:31 AM EST

Interesting article

Thanks for linking to that, Zach -- it's really interesting to read about how different states break down demographically.

by Kirstin Ellison on Mon Jul 31, 2006 at 01:05:46 PM EST
[ Parent ]

The Buckeye State

Great article, Zach. Off the top of my head I would have guessed Ohio. The state is very diverse with southern areas (accents and all), the industrial NE, and a Midwestern flavor with farms to the west. I have spent a lot of time there, and it is no wonder that it has been an Electoral College swing state since the gilded age.

by Matt Caruso on Tue Aug 01, 2006 at 08:59:45 AM EST
[ Parent ]

If must go to the movies...

...don't see Pirates of the Caribbean. Trust me, even heatstroke is better than this crapfest.

by rikomatic on Tue Aug 01, 2006 at 10:30:21 AM EST

halfway agree

While I didn't think it was a total bomb, I was definitely disappointed.

Expectations were probably too high, but they surely could have done better.

by Kirstin Ellison on Tue Aug 01, 2006 at 11:27:02 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Share what was bad about it?

I've heard that once you get over the character of Jack Sparrow from the first movie, it's pretty much the same thing again in #2. Was there anything else particularly bad about it? I was still thinking of seeing it, but I have heard some pretty dismal reviews lately. PS: "A Scanner Darkly" will NOT disappoint.

by jparis on Tue Aug 01, 2006 at 12:33:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

I actually continued to enjoy the Jack Sparrow character. The main complaint I've heard (and agree with) is that the second movie is too heavy on special effects, and light on plot and character development.

As for "A Scanner Darkly," I definitely won't be going. I made the mistake of seeing "Waking Life" in the theater, and the parts that didn't put me to sleep gave me a severe headache from the shaky animation (or whatever you'd call it). You can get deep philosophical musings in less painful ways.

by Kirstin Ellison on Tue Aug 01, 2006 at 02:51:24 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Waking Life...

"Waking Life" was a great "movie" (and I use the term loosely) to be able to fast forward through the boring parts on DVD. I own it, but I never saw it in the theatres and can kindof see what you are talking about.

"A Scanner Darkly" on the other hand, actually has a plot (albiet hard to follow), character development, and more dialogue than monologue. I think that makes it more appropriate for theatre viewing than "Waking Life", but by all means, wait for it to hit DVD.

PS: A modern movie too heavy on SFX?!?!? I've never heard such an absurd thing!

by jparis on Tue Aug 01, 2006 at 03:42:59 PM EST

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Open Thread

By Kirstin EllisonPosted on Fri Jul 28, 2006 at 05:27:33 PM EST

By Kirstin Ellison
Posted on Fri Jul 28, 2006 at 05:27:33 PM EST