Re: Coachella
 

Whoa. Early this year.

No can do. I'm doing the MS150 that weekend.

Re: Too Many Kids
 

So what you're saying is when she decided to have more, and the doc told her there were 7*, she said "Jackpot"?

*Hy, Ti!

Re: Congratulations Slave and Catrin!!!
 

2. I can't think of any justification to implant 8 embryos, especially in someone who already has 6 kids. It's not like it was her last chance to have a child and they did it to guarantee she'd get at least one child. Even then, I think the risk would be too great for that many embryos.

Re: Coachella
 

It bothers me too. I think i fear rejection because my mommy didn't breast feed me maybe, and she had magnificant ta-tas, ask Thurgreed if you don't beleive me.

Re: Congratulations Slave and Catrin!!!
 

What I don't get is how a doctor can ethically implant eight embryos in a woman who is already a single parent living with her parents and has six children already. It is absolutely ridiculous. If a woman wants to get her tubes tied, she has to go through (in most states, as I understand it) psychological counselling. And then she has to wait. And then, if she's married, she has to get permission from her husband (I am not making this point because I think its sexist, because married men have to get permission from their wives to have a vasectomy, but rather, that its another obstacle). So if you don't want kids, there's something wrong with you and you need psychological counselling, but if you want 14, there's a doctor who will fix you right up. Insanity.

And I say this as someone who would have a very hard time "selectively reducing" if it happened to me. I think if I want kids and can't have them, I'll adopt.

Re: Congratulations Slave and Catrin!!!
 

I cannot imagine how any child born as part of a litter can have a chance in hell of growing up even remotely normal.

Re: Congratulations Slave and Catrin!!!
 

2. Question that I hadn't pondered before. Is there a version of fertility treatment in which one takes drugs, but there's not implantation? I.e. it just triggers the ovaries to release lots of eggs? Not saying giving those drugs is ethical either in the circumstances, but wondering how much responsibility the doctor had for 8.

Re: Congratulations Slave and Catrin!!!
 

I believe so. It's like the fertility treatment that you go through before you take the step to IVF. If it doesn't work, then you go the implantation route.

Re: Congratulations Slave and Catrin!!!
 

What about Mowgli?

TM

Um, okay
 

Re: Congratulations Slave and Catrin!!!
 

Yes and that's what I originally assumed had happened in this case. But the article on CNN said they were implanted.

I'd like to hear from the doctors why they decided to implant so many. It doesn't seem remotely medically responsible.

Re: Congratulations Slave and Catrin!!!
 

It really bugs me that I know that Ashlee Simpson named her kid Bronx Mowgli.

Hello???
 

People, Hank is hurting and is calling out for help. And all we can talk about is the chick with 14 kids? The only person that has even tried to be of assistance is Coltrane. Can we put down our abstract debates and tend to a brother in need?

Re: Hello???
 

You're so caring.

Re: Congratulations Slave and Catrin!!!
 

Mowgli had issues.

Re: Coachella
 

It pains me to live in a world where the Killers get top billing in a giant font.

Thankfully, self medication and playing the Stooges really loud eases the pain a fair bit.

Re: Coachella
 

A distant ship's smoke on the horizon?

Re: Coachella
 

At times like these, I sometimes will just open the good book to a random page, read a verse or two, and meditate on it. Try it. If you'd like, I'd be willing to serve as a Random Bible Verse Generator to help you through.

Re: Coachella
 

I'm a little irritated that Franz Ferdinand gets higher billing than Leonard Cohen. And more irritated that I won't get to see Leonard Cohen.

Re: Coachella
 

I'm going to die someday staring at the dressing room wall.

Last night
 

A little story. Last night I came home from work and was making dinner for myself around 8 pm. My neighbor is renovating his apartment and there is a lot of work going on in there. A few weekends ago, I got pissed because there was floor sanding going on in there and it was making my apartment shake and I couldn't talk to my boyfriend without yelling. So I put on my clothes and banged on the door (no answer) and finally complained to the doorman, who called the apt owner and told the contractor not to do work on the weekends anymore.

Anyhoo. So last night the drilling or sanding or whatever is going on and I'm pissed. I go over and bang on the door and the dude opens the door and starts yelling at me over and over again:

"It's 8 o'clock!! Don't you have anything better to do?"

I thought this was an odd thing to say. Why do I need something better to do on a Thursday night than enjoy my dinner in front of my dvr'd Real Housewives of Orange County without feeling like my brain is going to be shaken out of my skull? I thought it was an odd thing to ask.

Anyway, I told him that yes, I had nothing better to do, and thanked him for telling me the time. He then began to faux-apologize profusely -- i.e., "I'm SO SORRY for DISTURBING you!"

He stopped the drilling. The End.

Re: Last night
 

Is it possible the noise from drilling in your apartment bothers the neighbors on the weekend and he is just trying to send a message?

got the obvious one in earliest.

Re: Coachella
 

Picture please?

Re: Last night
 

Ashton?

Re: Coachella
 

They're one of those bands that has two or three solid tunes that could be listenable if they:

a. Got rid of that douchebag singer (He's almost as bad as that wretched pretentious slob who sings for the Counting Crows); and
b. Dropped the fucking keyboards.

Keyboards are fine in some forms of music, but when you're doing straight-ahead arena rock of the kind the Killers are attempting, they destroy the songs.

Example: I have this Neil Young disc called "Chrome Dreams II." I was truly excited to listen to it because it contains this legendary (at least to Young fans) heavy, 18 minute grunge anthem called "Ordinary People," a tune Young recorded in the late 80s but never released. I put it in the car stereo for a long trip and I'm listening and it's great - heavy feedback-laden guitar everywhere. Then, about three or so minutes into the tune this fucking cheesy, Casio keyboard melody enters the song. Totally fucks the song up, but thankfully, it's short, so I keep listening. Another minute or so a fucking brass band kicks into the tune. Now it's just fucking destroyed. If you're going to do hard rock, either use the keyboards like Sabbath, Zeppelin or the Who (meaning, use them right, as a proper accompaniment) or don't use the goddamn things. And never, ever, stick a fucking horn section on top of distorted, Crazy Horse-style guitar. It doesn't work.

ETA: Piano is always okay because for some reason, piano works with heavy guitar. Can't explain why, but it does. It seems to have a heavier sound to it. See: Black Crowes, Faces, Stones, etc.

Re: Coachella
 

They sound like a shitty 80s band. They can be a bit catchy, but in the worse sort of way. STDs are catchy, too. And I'll never understand why a mormon from Las Vegas insisnts on trying to sound all 80s Euro. Actually the same problem I have with a bunch of indy bands, including locals like the Decemberists and the Shins. If I want to listen to Morrisey, I'll break out an old Smiths record. Otherwise, sing like a fucking rock 'n roll singer.

I know people with otherwise good taste who love Counting Crows. I don't get it.

Two Superbowl links and a question
 

First, for the Cardinals, a really interesting (to me anyways) thing on NPR this morning about Larry Fitzgerald's vision. His grandfather was an optometrist and when he was 8 or so, his grandfather would give him and other kids in Chicago vision strengthening exercises to help them do better in school. The article credits his ridiculous ability to catch anything that remotely comes his way in part to his superior vision.

Second, for Pittsburgh, a not too terrible song parody called Steeler Ladies (Put a Ring on It). (Spree: sound only, no video of Steeler fans strutting in leotards)

Finally, what do ya'll think of Troy Polamalu remaking the classic Mean Joe Green coke commercial?

Re: Coachella
 

True true story, OUTABLE ALERT: My kids love the Apology Song......although I'd never let them near any of bikes......


[sniff]

Re: Last night
 

Tell him your toilet isn't working and would it be alright if you used his bathroom (just to pee, of course).

And then give him The Standard Upper Decker.

Re: Coachella
 

I can't say that I ever liked the Counting Crows (they seem to be a total non-sequitor to the rest of your post), but the other bands that you mention just happen to be in a genre that you don't like (apparently). I call it whiny brit pop and it is my favorite genre, as it turns out (um, yes, I did like The Smiths a little bit too much in college). So why should they sing like a rock and roll singer if that is not their thing? Is there only one acceptable sound in modern "alternative" (whatever the hell that means?)? I do agree with Sebby that the keyboards in some of The Killers songs do their best to wreck the songs, but I don't begrudge some kid from Vegas for trying to do brit pop.

Re: Coachella
 

Hey, you didn't hear Frankie Valli pulling that kind of crap. He was a dumb wop from New Jersey. He knew that and stuck to his roots.


Apropos of nothing, Jersey Boys was great. Many propers.

Re: Coachella
 

Says the chick who doesn't like Celebration Ale. Hmph.

But yeah, I don't much like whiny brit pop. Especially American whiny brit pop.

Re: Coachella
 

Who else are you including in whiny brit pop? (prompted by the presence of only one british band in Sebby's screed)

Re: Two Superbowl links and a question
 

It sounds as good as remaking the Pink Panther movies with Steve Martin.

Re: Coachella
 

You'll dance to anything by the Communards.

Re: Coachella
 

Thanks for the soda through the nose!

Underappreciated Cleavage
 

Have a Coke and Smile
 

I disagree. The Pink Panther remakes are an abomination. Mean Joe as the anchor of that awesome Steeler defense. Polamalu is the hard nosed, heart and soul of the best defense in the league. He's a throwback. Not sure how mean he is, but I think it's kind of a cool idea keeping that commercial alive and handing it down to another Steeler. Of course, once I see it, I'll probably completely change my mind.

TM

Re: Coachella
 

I think it includes the following current bands:

Radiohead
Muse (who know how to use keyboards well and also have seriously kick-ass guitar parts that sound synth-y)
Travis
Coldplay (not a favorite of mine, by any means, but they are definitely part of the genre)
Snow Patrol
Keane
The Bravery
The Killers
The Shins
The Decemberists
Silversun Pickups
She Wants Revenge

The list is nowhere near complete. Probably others like Panic!, Arctic Monkeys and Vampire Weekend fall here too, but I haven't really listened to enough of their stuff to say.

Radiohead and Muse both know how to go hard, and do it well, but they also have plenty of material that puts them in the category and I tend to believe that Radiohead is the band that created the category in the 90's.

Some of the bands cross over with other sounds, but I think they all work in that category.

Re: Have a Coke and Smile
 

2 on the Pink Panther remakes.

I hope they don't copy the old commercial exactly. If they change it up a little maybe it wouldn't be so bad.