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You are here: Home / z-Retired Categories / Previous Site Maintenance / Open Thread

Open Thread

by John Cole|  April 12, 20079:41 pm| 50 Comments

This post is in: Previous Site Maintenance

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Because I am a fan of red wine.

Discuss.

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50Comments

  1. 1.

    Captain Avatar

    April 12, 2007 at 9:43 pm

    Because I am a fan of red wine.

    French surrender monkey.

  2. 2.

    jake

    April 12, 2007 at 9:50 pm

    I’ll drink to that, while I wait for the Kurt Vonnegut Is Dead Media Frenzy (TM) to begin.

    I mean, if CNN spends 9 million days wanking off when a woman who…a woman…(how can I put this tactfully?) a woman of great pulchritude dies, surely they’ll devote at least that much time to Vonnegut.

    Right?

    Right?

  3. 3.

    Paul Wartenberg

    April 12, 2007 at 9:53 pm

    You might want to fix your links. Firedoglake has changed to http://www.firedoglake.com and Glenn Greenwald is with Salon now.

  4. 4.

    Krista

    April 12, 2007 at 9:54 pm

    I mean, if CNN spends 9 million days wanking off when a woman who…a woman…(how can I put this tactfully?) a woman of great pulchritude dies, surely they’ll devote at least that much time to Vonnegut

    They won’t — which sounds like something that Vonnegut himself would have written.

    John, does the red wine go with the Hola Fruta, or does it have to be two separate occasions?

  5. 5.

    mrmobi

    April 12, 2007 at 10:06 pm

    Because I am a fan of red wine.

    Indeed. I’m partial to French wines, but Australian, Chilean, Italian, shit, they’re all good.

    Red Wine, because, as Kurt said, “life is no way to treat an animal.”

    Rest in Peace, Kurt. You were one magnificent son of a bitch.

  6. 6.

    John Cole

    April 12, 2007 at 10:08 pm

    If I have any more wine, I might make a cabernet Hola Fruta milkshake.

  7. 7.

    demimondian

    April 12, 2007 at 10:23 pm

    cabernet Hola Fruta milkshake

    And may God have mercy on your soul.

  8. 8.

    Captain Avatar

    April 12, 2007 at 10:35 pm

    I mean, if CNN spends 9 million days wanking off when a woman who…a woman…(how can I put this tactfully?) a woman of great pulchritude dies, surely they’ll devote at least that much time to Vonnegut.

    I never heard of him. He has an odd name for a porn star. But if he is as important as Anna Nicole Smith, then I’m sure the cable channels will pick it up.

    Did he ever work with Vivid?

  9. 9.

    jake

    April 12, 2007 at 10:36 pm

    They won’t—which sounds like something that Vonnegut himself would have written.

    True. I’d like to think that he’d find it amusing. Call it a Catch 36-26-38.

    And may God have mercy on your soul.

    Never mind God. His digestive system will rain down firey wrath upon…I’m not going to finish that thought.

  10. 10.

    Captain Avatar

    April 12, 2007 at 10:52 pm

    Never mind God. His digestive system will rain down firey wrath upon…I’m not going to finish that thought.

    IT BURNS!!!!

    IT BURNS WITH THE FURY OF 1000 SUNS!!!!!

  11. 11.

    Redleg

    April 12, 2007 at 10:58 pm

    Laphroiag single malt scotch whisky.

  12. 12.

    Punchy

    April 12, 2007 at 11:03 pm

    If I have any more wine, I might make a cabernet Hola Fruta milkshake

    Wine and fruit? It’s called Sangria, you newbies.

  13. 13.

    tBone

    April 12, 2007 at 11:09 pm

    If I have any more wine, I might make a cabernet Hola Fruta milkshake.

    I really don’t think that’s a good idea.

  14. 14.

    Fwiffo

    April 12, 2007 at 11:32 pm

    While we’re collecting media scalps, can we please fetch Nancy Grace’s spiteful, bleached locks?

  15. 15.

    John Cole

    April 12, 2007 at 11:42 pm

    She probably has to kill a few more people.

  16. 16.

    Captain Avatar

    April 13, 2007 at 12:35 am

    While we’re collecting media scalps, can we please fetch Nancy Grace’s spiteful, bleached locks?

    So you know that time back when you were 13 and that crazy old dude dragged you into the hills, tied you to a tree and raped you for six months…

    I’m really curious about that, if you don’t mind telling.

    What was it like?

  17. 17.

    Captain Avatar

    April 13, 2007 at 12:35 am

    While we’re collecting media scalps, can we please fetch Nancy Grace’s spiteful, bleached locks?

    So you know that time back when you were 13 and that crazy old dude dragged you into the hills, tied you to a tree and raped you for six months…

    I’m really curious about that, if you don’t mind telling.

    What was it like?

  18. 18.

    sidereal

    April 13, 2007 at 12:46 am

    Willamette Valley Pinot Noir out of Oregon is money in the bank

  19. 19.

    sidereal

    April 13, 2007 at 1:04 am

    Also, the most exciting political story this year:

    Alleged D.C. Madam Tosses Out a Name

    I’m vibrating with schadenfreude. Let the stream of names begin!

  20. 20.

    Captain Avatar

    April 13, 2007 at 1:10 am

    I’m vibrating with schadenfreude. Let the stream of names begin!

    I’m conflicted about this one. Of course hypocrisy is despicable, but I think prostitution should be legalized and regulated.

    Maybe if enough if these hypocrites get busted they’ll stop fronting and do the sensible thing. Their privacy would never have been violated if it weren’t a crime.

  21. 21.

    Captain Avatar

    April 13, 2007 at 1:41 am

    And for the record, I have a bottle of Kendall Jackson. Man cannot live on Keystone Light alone.

  22. 22.

    Ross

    April 13, 2007 at 2:16 am

    RIP, Kurt Vonnegut

    He understood the natural world better than the novelists, and he understood human beings better than the sci-fi authors. His writing expressed it all in a simple and clear manner accessible to all.

    The first time I ever read a Vonnegut book – “Cat’s Cradle” – was like a splash of water in the face. It was the first time I read a book where it felt like the author was speaking directly to me. Like an uncle or grandfather figure was sitting me down on his knee and telling a story that I would later understand to be the human condition.

    “Cat’s Cradle” will always hold a special place in my heart. I go back and read it every 5 years or so, and get something different out of it each time. Some other personal favorite titles are “Breakfast of Champions,” “The Sirens of Titan,” and “God Bless you Mr. Rosewater.”

    “Busy, busy, busy.”

  23. 23.

    Tom in Texas

    April 13, 2007 at 2:52 am

    Urban Uco.

    It’s a Tempranillo/Malbec. Good price ($20) and phenomenal wine. It’s got a ton of body and holds up spectacularly to heartier dishes, but the finish is silky soft and tannin free. One of my new favorites.

    By the way, the winery makes both a straight Malbec and Tempranillo. I’m referring to the blend cited in the link

  24. 24.

    jake

    April 13, 2007 at 5:46 am

    While we’re collecting media scalps, can we please fetch Nancy Grace’s spiteful, bleached locks?

    Careful lad, that’s a wig. If you pull the wig off … well, I’m sure you’re familiar with a lady named Medusa.

    Polish up that shield before you go!

  25. 25.

    Punchy

    April 13, 2007 at 6:33 am

    Man cannot live on Keystone Light alone

    (Cleaning donut shrapnel off computer monitor..)

  26. 26.

    Tulkinghorn

    April 13, 2007 at 7:35 am

    Redleg Says:

    Laphroiag single malt scotch whisky.

    They filter that stuff through peat that contains bog people. Ick. Stick to Oban, or Mull.

  27. 27.

    cleek

    April 13, 2007 at 7:50 am

    been getting a lot of use out of Spanish reds lately. they’re (generally) a little more earthy, a little less sweet than the usual CA-style stuff. a nice change of pace.

  28. 28.

    Fruitbat Jones

    April 13, 2007 at 8:44 am

    Because I am a fan of red wine

    From the looks of this site lately, it looks like you’re a fan of Read, Whine.

  29. 29.

    Paul L.

    April 13, 2007 at 8:47 am

    Swiftboating in the Duke Lacrosse case.

    Jon Stewart swiftboats Nancy Grace.
    Michelle Malkin tries to swiftboat New Black Panther Party Malik Shabazz and he calls her out as a race-traitor prostitute for O’Reilly.

  30. 30.

    Punchy

    April 13, 2007 at 8:55 am

    Wow…teenage pregnancy and the concomitant abortion rates in the state of Wershin’ton all likely SLASHED with one fell swoop of common fucking sense

    Good to see some people still understand what the words “job responsibility” and “professionalism” mean.

  31. 31.

    Paul L.

    April 13, 2007 at 8:58 am

    Outrageous
    Now the Swiftboating of the New York Times’ Duff Wilson.

    In a major August article, Wilson asserted that he had personally reviewed more than 1800 pages of Mike Nifong’s discovery file—or all the material compiled in the case between March and late July. The contrast between how he characterized this evidence, in a radio interview for today’s Times, and how he characterized it on August 25 is striking.

    August 25: By disclosing pieces of evidence favorable to the defendants, the defense has created an image of a case heading for the rocks. But an examination of the entire 1,850 pages of evidence gathered by the prosecution in the four months after the accusation yields a more ambiguous picture. It shows that while there are big weaknesses in Mr. Nifong’s case, there is also a body of evidence to support his decision to take the matter to a jury.

    Today: [The case] amounted to, really, Mr. Nifong believing that if somebody said she was raped, and if he believed her, he was supposed to take that to a jury, despite overwhelming lack of other evidence.

    Those two statements cannot be reconciled. If there currently is an “overwhelming lack of other evidence,” exactly what was the “body of evidence to support [Nifong’s] decision to take the matter to a jury” about which Wilson purported to have knowledge on August 25? Lexis/Nexis shows no correction on this issue run by the Times for the August 25 article.

  32. 32.

    Face

    April 13, 2007 at 9:08 am

    Jon Stewart swiftboats Nancy Grace

    Hands down one of the Top 3 funniest things the Daily Show has ever produced. Stewart went all-out on this one, playing Grace for the Clorox Cow that she truly is. I don’t have a YouTube clip, but I’m sure it’s available. Its worth every second.

  33. 33.

    Zifnab

    April 13, 2007 at 9:34 am

    “Cat’s Cradle” will always hold a special place in my heart. I go back and read it every 5 years or so, and get something different out of it each time.

    Honestly, I was totally underwhelmed by “Cat’s Cradle”. If you’ve ever read Candide by Voltaire, it had that whole “Best of all possible worlds” theme to it but lost a great deal of the humor and light-heartedness that Voltaire managed to maintain in the face of human indignity and foolishness.

    Whenever I saw Vonnegut in person he was always quick-witted and funny, but “Cat’s Cradle” just didn’t have that humorous edge that lets you laugh at folly. The fact that it ended so tragically was really the killing blow.

    Oh well. I’ve heard “Slaughterhouse Five” is better.

  34. 34.

    chopper

    April 13, 2007 at 10:04 am

    been getting a lot of use out of Spanish reds lately

    i’m quite a fan of riojas.

  35. 35.

    Jake

    April 13, 2007 at 10:10 am

    “I don’t think pharmacists who adhere to traditional moral precepts are going to allow their conscience to be overrun by the Board of Pharmacy,” said Dan Kennedy, Human Life’s chief executive.

    OK, fine. The BoP will leave the pharmacist’s conscience alone and take his damn license.

  36. 36.

    RSA

    April 13, 2007 at 11:12 am

    RIP, Kurt Vonnegut

    Does anyone else picture George W. Bush as President during the first part of “Harrison Bergeron”? No artificial handicaps necessary, of course. And there’s also a nice role for Cheney, with his shooting skills.

  37. 37.

    Dreggas

    April 13, 2007 at 11:28 am

    Hey TPM has fresh docs from the DOJ and despite there being redactions this one’s a doozy…what’s that about friday the 13th being bad luck again? BWAHAHAHA

  38. 38.

    Dreggas

    April 13, 2007 at 12:20 pm

    Oh SNAP!!!

  39. 39.

    capelza

    April 13, 2007 at 2:01 pm

    Hello!

    Jon Stewart swiftboats Nancy Grace…the title alone makes me smile.

    I’ve been gone so long, I’ve missed you all!

  40. 40.

    Paul L.

    April 13, 2007 at 2:27 pm

    Feminist debate – the banned list

    Amanda Marcotte Apr 12th, 2007 at 11:25 am

    It’s all good—the Duke case is simply making my banned list longer. People with an anti-woman/racist ax to grind are going to gloat about this as if it meant anything that a well-financed defense case managed to blow through a shoddy prosecution, but they can do it somewhere else.

  41. 41.

    Bubblegum Tate

    April 13, 2007 at 2:32 pm

    The Stewart smackdown of Nancy Grace was fan-fucking-tastic. I can’t understand why anyone would give that hideous shrew the time of day, much less watch her show. But Menken was right: One should never underestimate the stupidity of the American public.

    As for Malkin…it’s always funny to watch her get sonned, even if it is by an extremist douchebag. How badly is she crying about how this is emblemic of the hatred that permeates “the left” today?

  42. 42.

    Dreggas

    April 13, 2007 at 2:50 pm

    As for Malkin…it’s always funny to watch her get sonned, even if it is by an extremist douchebag. How badly is she crying about how this is emblemic of the hatred that permeates “the left” today?

    I missed it and can’t see video at work but the look on her face must have been priceless, of course the guy should have worked in a falafel reference.

  43. 43.

    Jake

    April 13, 2007 at 3:02 pm

    How badly is she crying about how this is emblemic of the hatred that permeates “the left” today?

    Two venom spewing radical wastes of skin. Sounds like a match made in heaven to me.

    The real tragedy is that the Black Panthers have been taken over by arseholes like Shazbat. Granted they were always more radical than other civil rights organizations but they weren’t so difficult to distinguish from the frickin’ Klan.

  44. 44.

    Richard 23

    April 13, 2007 at 3:05 pm

    of course the guy should have worked in a falafel reference

    Or the guy could’ve worked in a gratuitous ping-pong ball joke. The left is so classy!

  45. 45.

    Dreggas

    April 13, 2007 at 3:36 pm

    Holy shit this is funny

  46. 46.

    Dreggas

    April 13, 2007 at 3:37 pm

    Richard 23 Says:

    of course the guy should have worked in a falafel reference

    Or the guy could’ve worked in a gratuitous ping-pong ball joke. The left is so classy!

    Classy…I don’t give a rats ass about classy that is funny too. Now that I think about it, and having seen Priscilla, Malkin does remind me of that chick.

  47. 47.

    Paul L.

    April 13, 2007 at 3:48 pm

    The Stewart smackdown of Nancy Grace was fan-fucking-tastic.

    Why didn’t someone tell me that the link is wrong.
    Nancy Grace gets ripped by Jon Stewart

    I love the ending about how she took the day off so she did not have to comment on the dropping of the charges on the duke case and “rape puppies”.

    And when she got back,
    Silent Grace

    Nancy Grace returned to the air yesterday for the first time since the Duke lacrosse players she so relentlessly pilloried over the last year or so were exonerated. No mention of the case on the transcript of her show, however. As usual when one of her causes goes belly up, it’s as though it never happened.

  48. 48.

    Dreggas

    April 13, 2007 at 4:05 pm

    Just disgusting

  49. 49.

    Ross

    April 13, 2007 at 7:09 pm

    Honestly, I was totally underwhelmed by “Cat’s Cradle”. If you’ve ever read Candide by Voltaire, it had that whole “Best of all possible worlds” theme to it but lost a great deal of the humor and light-heartedness that Voltaire managed to maintain in the face of human indignity and foolishness.

    They are pretty different reads. As I remember it, Candide wholeheartedly believed his “Best of all possible worlds” idealogy. The narrator of cat’s cradle, while embracing a similar outlook through Bokononism, also fully acknowledges that he’s full of shit. The self-awareness of the narrator in Vonnegut’s books is part of what makes them stand out to me.

    And right, Cat’s Cradle is not lighthearted. It opens with the narrator investigating to write a book about the day the atomic bomb was dropped. “But focusing on the humanity of it, not on the facts.” (paraphrased). A common theme in Vonnegut’s books is trying to reconcile some iota of optimism in humanity with the horrors of destruction seen by 20th century science & technology. The happy-go-lucky willful ignorance of Candide became irrelevant when “enlightened” nations massacred each other in WWI and the post-modern era arrived.

  50. 50.

    grumpy realist

    April 15, 2007 at 10:00 pm

    And if anyone hasn’t read “Slaughterhouse Five”–an absolute classic. One of the best anti-war novels ever written.

    Vonnegut’s “Mother Night” is wonderful as well. I remember reading it in English class back to back with Macbeth and something by Ionesco that was also supposedly a re-interpretation of Macbeth.

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