Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires republicans to act in good faith.

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

White supremacy is terrorism.

No one could have predicted…

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

I did not have this on my fuck 2022 bingo card.

If you’re pissed about Biden’s speech, he was talking about you.

Conservatism: there are some people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

Infrastructure week. at last.

“What are Republicans afraid of?” Everything.

Fuck the extremist election deniers. What’s money for if not for keeping them out of office?

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

Come on, man.

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

It may be funny to you motherfucker, but it’s not funny to me.

Good lord, these people are nuts.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Long Week

Long Week

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Is it just me, or did this seem like a really, really long week?

At least the weather is starting to turn, and it is nice enough to sit outside and read and get some fresh air. Go wireless.

NY Times tries to promote the late night Jimmy Fallon experiment. I was up late the other night and watched about fifteen minutes, and it was the most criminally unfunny fifteen minutes in late night television history. If you want a cruel comparison, watch Fallon’s opening monologue while you tivo Craig Ferguson, then watch Ferguson.

No weekend plans for me. How ’bout you?

*** Update ***

Everyone go here and vote for Gary Farber.

Reader Interactions

257Comments

  1. 1.

    Comrade Mary, Would-Be Minion Of Bad Horse

    I was on my bike today and I’m going out again now before it gets dark. Bikebikebikebikebike.

  2. 2.

    Trinity

    This has felt like the Longest.Week.Evah.

    I intend to buy a nice bottle of shiraz on the way home and get into my bathtub promptly upon arrival.

  3. 3.

    Andrew

    Super long week. You’d think that after waiting 20 years to see The Watchmen, another week would be no trouble. You would be wrong.

  4. 4.

    Ned R.

    This week started with my birthday and started ending with some tax review, then a concert, then seeing Watchmen and now I’m tired as hell on two hours sleep and two and a half hours to go at work and in between it was indeed a very damn long week.

    BTW my brief Watchmen review, quoting myself from Facebook and elsewhere:

    —

    Watchmen was like David Lynch’s Dune — overstuffed first half, rushed second half. Watch as a matinee if you must. It’s not without moments and Jackie Earle Haley as Rorschach and Billy Crudup as Dr. Manhattan are the acting standouts. But best to lowball your expectations. The perhaps inevitable problem of translating things that read well to the film medium that shouldn’t’ve been carried over. Hearing selections from Rohrschach’s journal made me think of all those scenes in Dune where Kyle Maclachlan et al stand and look to the side while thinking their lines — as well as Shatner going "Captain’s log…"

  5. 5.

    MH

    I will never understand how Jimmy Fallon hasn’t been dragged into the street and beaten every night instead of having a career.

  7. 7.

    BDeevDad

    At least the weather is starting to turn, and it is nice enough to sit outside and read and get some fresh air.

    When are you moving to San Diego. It was in the 80s here a couple times this week.

  8. 8.

    Comrade Stuck

    When Johnny Carson left in 91 or so, I watched Letterman for a while, but then quit even that. Letterman is funny but gets annoying, never did like Leno. FAllon isn’t all that funny IMO. If Dana Carvey started a late night shoe, or Dan Ackroyd or Murray, I might start watching again.

  10. 10.

    Punchy

    how about this for a saturday–drive 3 hours, teach some unhappy undygrads for 3 hours, drive 3 hours home. Poop, blink thrice, and my vaunted Saturday is gone. No me gusta.

  11. 11.

    Dennis-SGMM

    I intend to spend the weekend taking a long time to reach the same conclusion as the rest of the Balloon Juicers about any given thing, arthritically typing a post and then hurling myself once more into redundancy.
    Like the rest of the week.

  12. 12.

    Cris

    At least the weather is starting to turn

    Oh, it turned alright. Here in Western Montana, it turned on us like a pit bull. Where are those forty-five degree highs I was promised on Monday?

  13. 13.

    TheOfficialHatOnMyCat

    WTF? We are going to agree on a tv show?

    I have never thought Fallon was funny. Ever. Not once. I cannot for the life of me understand why anyone thinks he is funny in any way, shape or form.

    Ferguson = funny.

    Conan = funny.

    Fallon = whatever is the opposite of funny.

  15. 15.

    Wolfie1974

    Sad to say, I like Jimmy Fallon, but he’s a very poor substitute for Conan. Is saw part of the show with Tina Fey and except for her appearance it was all so hackey.

  16. 16.

    BethanyAnne

    Watchmen on Sunday for me. I have no exposure to the comic book, which is prolly a plus for liking the movie, and a minus for understanding it :-)

    Re: Dune: I watched the 84 version of Dune last weekend, and thought it should have been called "Dune: Death by Exposition". I enjoyed the SF channel version more, but I’m still waiting for a really good version to come out someday. When I reread the book for the upteenth time last month, I kept thinking, "This would be a nightmare to make a screenplay from". I don’t know how you would make it into compelling watching.

    Tonight, I think another runthrough of "Portal" :-)

  17. 17.

    Xecklothxayyquou Gilchrist

    Is it just me, or did this seem like a really, really long week?

    Not just you – my week has dragged like a mofo. Not bad, exactly, just long.

    Happy weekend to everybody.

  18. 18.

    Comrade Stuck

    arthritically typing a post and then hurling myself once more into redundancy.
    Like the rest of the week.

    Tell me about it. My wrist joints have been aching lately, so I went and bought me some of them Glocosamin/Chondroitdin snake oil pills. My joints still ache and now my farts could raise the dead.

    Goody. edit back. thank you senor Cole.

  19. 19.

    Wolfie1974

    @TheOfficialHatOnMyCat: He did some pretty decent impressions on SNL…his Adam Sandler comes to mind. But he could never keep it together during sketches. I saw again the other day the legendary Will Ferrell sketch with the cowbell, and Fallon couldn’t stop himself from laughing to save his life!

  20. 20.

    Josh Hueco

    It has been a long but good week. I’ve just been hired by the Veterans Administration, which means instead of making $800 a month as a grad assistant I’ll be making $3,800 a month to grade claims. I may have to put off finishing my thesis an additional semester, but in this economy, in a town like Waco, that’s a problem I’m happy to have. Of course this will put me in a higher tax bracket, so I suppose I should Go Galt and decline the job. But then I’m not a Randian Superhero Whose Absence Would Bring American Civilization To A Halt(r). Go figure.

    BTW, if there are any vets at this establishment, John included, who have any advice/grievances/rants/etc. about the VA I would be grateful to hear them.

    Also, it’s 85 here in Waco today and the normal high is about 65. Remember, the earth is actually cooling now. I know this is true because I saw in on Fox.

    I think in celebration of my new job I’ll deviate from my diet and take home a pie from Poppa Rollo’s.

  21. 21.

    gbear

    Tomorrow morning, I am going to a lecture entitled "New Deal Architecture & Planning in Minnesota State Parks."

  23. 23.

    valdivia

    yes very long week. No plans, just the cats and grading exams. But spring break is around the corner and though I have no plans akin to those of my students (ie GirlsGoneWild) is nice to get a week off.

  24. 24.

    YellowJournalism

    I will never understand how Jimmy Fallon hasn’t been dragged into the street and beaten every night instead of having a career.

    Now that’s a show I’d watch.

  27. 27.

    Chuck Butcher

    I should write something for my handful of faithful readers, they are ever so faithful, but right now I’m dry. I’m just sort of generally pissed, but not articulately pissed.

  28. 28.

    John Cole

    BTW, if there are any vets at this establishment, John included, who have any advice/grievances/rants/etc. about the VA I would be grateful to hear them.

    Yes. Just one piece of advice. Remember that when you are dealing with vets, you are dealing with people who have spent the past twenty-thirty years in the military getting screwed with by Bureaucrats. They are inclined to not trust you already, because that has been their experience.

    Don’t sugercoat shit to give them a soft landing. Be open and honest. You will think you are being nice by giving them hope, but in the end, if the hope doesn’t work out, they will just think you are a liar like everyone else.

    That doesn’t mean be a dick- be empathetic. But be honest.

  30. 30.

    The Other Steve

    I don’t know about Fallon… I can’t stand Jimmy Kimmel.

    Craig Ferguson on the other hand is super funny.

  31. 31.

    Comrade Stuck

    @Josh Hueco:

    It would be easy for me to bitch loudly about the VA, but remembering what is was like before Clinton did his reforms would sound ungrateful. It still has problems, lots, but is so much better in my experience. That measured praise does not include the reports on recent disability claim outrages, and lack of proper care for returning Iraq/afghan. vets who have been horribly injured, physically or mentally. More resources are needed for that, a lot more.

    One thing does remain true for getting decent treatment at the VA. And that is you have to be highly assertive to get what you need. IOW’s , kick a little ass, and not be shy. It is almost expected by many VA staff, especially among it’s 9 to 5 grind docs.

    Sorry I misread your post that you were going to work there and not seeking treatment. Though what I said might still be of help from the other perspective.

  33. 33.

    Chuck

    NY Times tries to promote the late night Jimmy Fallon experiment. I was up late the other night and watched about fifteen minutes, and it was the most criminally unfunny fifteen minutes in late night television history.

    Three words for you: The Magic Hour.

  35. 35.

    TheOfficialHatOnMyCat

    @Wolfie1974:

    I know, but I think he is just one of those people who can stand there and act out during funny schtick and people will laugh.

    But he himself is not funny. He could not make a joke that would make me laugh.

    Some people can make me laugh just by being there. Jerry Stiller is a good example. Chris Rock makes me laugh just by breathing. Funny little starbursts shoot off him.

    Fallon is like activated charcoal, he absorbs my sense of humor and makes it disappear. Weird.

  36. 36.

    dlw32

    Long, long, exhausting week.

    Tonight. "camp-in with the Scouts" (read: sleepover for boys). It won’t be restful. Some of our Scouts are sort of feral. I, having never been in Scouts nor ever knew anyone who was, had thought that Scouts would be sort of disciplined and more well-behaved than your average 10-year-old. Nope.

    Tomorrow: Watchmen. I will not be swayed. I must see it. Even if it sucks. The trailers look right.

    Sunday: I have to work on Sunday. At least 10 hours of the most heinous task that’s part of my job.

    But, hey at least we get to set the effing clocks back an effing hour this effing weekend. Eff.

  37. 37.

    EdTheRed

    @Josh Hueco:

    Just don’t try to keep a straight face if you ever have to tell someone that getting blown up by an IED is not a "combat-related" incident.

  38. 38.

    Sean

    I will be baking bread (ciabatta) and have promised myself I will cook something I have never cooked before. Maybe Vietnamese.

  40. 40.

    Josh Hueco

    @John Cole:

    @Comrade Stuck:

    @EdTheRed:

    Thank you very much for the advice. I’m going to be on a steep learning curve, getting to know how ‘the system’ works. If it were up to me I’d give ’em everything they want and need. I’m relieved that we have a new administration who is more inclined to be generous towards vets. My congressman, Chet Edwards, also has the reputation of being a friend of veterans.

  41. 41.

    jibeaux

    Well, I can’t stay up late enough to watch Jimmy Fallon, but just to step out of lockstep, I think he’s adorable. Yes, he looks like he combed his hair with his foot, but it has a certain charm. I liked some of his SNL stuff, like the Barry Gibb talk show.

    I like Ferguson and Conan both, Letterman has his moments but he’s kind of a one-trick pony, plus I hate Paul Schafer.

    But, as I’ve said before, the standards I require to force me to sit on the couch for a while with a nice glass of wine or a beer are, well, low. ("Look! stuff that’s moving! Also colors! preeeeettttyyy.")

  42. 42.

    Svensker

    @dlw32:

    But, hey at least we get to set the effing clocks back an effing hour this effing weekend. Eff.

    No, no, no spring AHEAD. Put your clocks FORWARD. We lose an hour this weekend.

    Sleepovers. So glad we’ve gone beyond that. Gah.

  43. 43.

    Nicole

    I have to work both Saturday and Sunday (days 7 and 8 of a 14-day stretch, yay me!). Tonight I watch BSG and drink beer.

  44. 44.

    dlw32

    Sorry, Svensker, of course it’s ahead. Just another sign of how long this week has been. My brain’s so mushy, Eliza Dushku could suck it out even without my watching much TV this week…

  45. 45.

    Legalize

    Yes, longest week ever. It started with moving into a new apartment with the girl. Moving = stressful enough. Moving into a place where the bathroom isn’t fit for human use, despite the repeated assurances of the landlord = really stressful. Moving into a place where the bathroom isn’t fit for human use coupled with the former landlord trying to nickle-and-dime me on my security deposit due to some scrapes on the wall and dustbunnies in the corner = me buying a bottle of scotch and talking to myself in the corner while listening to Spacemen 3 really loud for 12 hours or so.

    Watchmen maybe this weekened. An 8 mile run is definite. Work is likely. I feel fortunate to have a job that necessitates my coming in on the weekend from time to time.

  47. 47.

    Joshua Norton

    Fallon = whatever is the opposite of funny.

    I believe that would be deep in Magic Johnson territory. I watched a little over 2 minutes of his now-defunct show once upon a time and it still gives me the cringes when I think about it.

  48. 48.

    DFH no.6

    Hey, good for Josh Hueco.

    Let’s see… yes, long-ass week, culminating with a most-depressing discussion with the rest of the mgmt group here about who is on our "first to go" list when the inevitable layoffs must ensue (looks like some time 3rd quarter).

    Only ever had to lay anyone off once before in 28 years — back during the Poppy Bush recession in ’91. Came back pretty quick back then, though. Don’t think that’s at all likely this time.

    Gonna hang out with the wife at First Friday tonight in the "arts district" (such as we have) near downtown Phoenix. Actually it’s a pretty cool outdoor scene with local artists showing their work out on lawns and in galleries in old bungalows (70+ degree spring training weather makes it extra nice).

    You can even stroll around with a beer in hand and the local constabulary are cool with it.

    Then it’s back home for a couple hits of Purple Lemon Kush (local constabulary NOT cool with that).

  49. 49.

    Shinobi

    Jimmy Fallon, not funny, possibly not even totally original. Sad.

    Also, this was the longest week ever. I was supposed to quit my crappy job this week and get a new one, but the new company went under. I hate everything about this week, though I am glad I still have a job, even if I hate it.

  50. 50.

    Ned R.

    @Legalize:

    me buying a bottle of scotch and talking to myself in the corner while listening to Spacemen 3 really loud for 12 hours or so.

    Ah, a fellow Spacemen 3 fanatic. We need more of those about.

  51. 51.

    Svensker

    @Josh Hueco:

    If you can, find a copy of Penny Coleman’s "Flashback" — just recently out. She’s the widow of a Vietnam vet who suicided and she works closely with vets on PTSD issues. The book is an eyeopener for any citizen, but since you’ll be working with vets, it may give you a) some insight into some of the stuff you’ll be seeing, and b) some resources to help people.

    Good luck — and congrats on the $$$!

  52. 52.

    Comrade Stuck

    @Svensker:

    Put your clocks FORWARD. We lose an hour this weekend.

    Both true. Just another battle in the War on Irony.

    If your talking about sleep or daylight lose one gain one or somesuch

  53. 53.

    schrodinger's cat

    This evening I am going to watch Anthony Bourdain’s No Reservations that I have recorded on my DVR, I think he was in Sri Lanka for this one. Have quiet evening with my husband and my kittehs, one who looks just like Tunch but is orange and my bossy tiger cat. I enjoy this blog. I have been lurkingfor while but just started posting recently.
    Great blog John, your blog is funny and smart, keep up the good work!
    *goes back into hiding*

  54. 54.

    Max

    Actually, the most criminally unfunny fifteen minutes in television history (in all time slots, not just late night) was any three minutes of "The 1/2 Hour News Hour" on Fox News.

  55. 55.

    scruncher

    I wish Fallon no ill will, but am glad to hear your assessment because I *love* Craig Ferguson.

  56. 56.

    Punchy

    I watched a little over 2 minutes of his now-defunct show

    I just fuckin love how you felt it necessary to make sure we knew it was "now-defunct". Too funny. Just spit water on monitor.

  58. 58.

    JL

    Tomorrow and Sunday I plan on working in the yard. Our temps have been on a roller coaster. Last Saturday we had highs of 69 and Sunday we had snow which led to school cancelations. Ain’t no climate change here in GA though.
    The movie that I plan on watching tonight is I’ve Loved You So Long with Kristin Scott Thomas. That should improve my spirits.

  59. 59.

    DFH no.6

    dlw32:

    What is this "setting of clocks" of which you speak? Here in reddest McCainland we don’t truck with such foolishness. Probably a socialist plot.

    And why did you have to write "…Eliza Dushku could suck…"?

    Not good to have such thoughts put in my dirty old mind while I’m stuck here at work for some time yet (and yes, on a serious note, I am way grateful to have a job at all).

  62. 62.

    Francis

    traffic school on line. at least i can drink during the process.

    p.s. Any recommendations for California on-line traffic schools?

  67. 67.

    Ricky Bobby

    Long shitty week with a long super shitty meeting coming up in an hour. Getting my first restaurant off the ground would be easier if everyone didn’t try to talk my fucking ear off with "Aren’t you scared about opening a business in this TERRIBLE ECONOMY?" I swear, the idea that we should all just Go Galt seems to be the only reasoned response out there.

    Got the debt service locked up years ago with a stellar rate, the lease is in our favor, are currently on budget and will stay there (if this meeting works out today). Fuck the economy. You learn to succeed in spite of it, kind of like learning to have hope despite enduring 8 years of the Cheney Administration.

  68. 68.

    media browski

    Until reading this thread I really and truly beleieved with all my bitter wounded heart that fallon was a poorly conceived and oddly rendered CGI.

    Cooking thai shrimp soup and some olive bread, working my way through some boddingtons.

    Very nervous about watchmen. My childhood has been ruined retroactivley way too often. Yeah, I’m looking at you g. lucas.

  69. 69.

    JL

    Does it bother every one here that the whackos talk about the poor in this country as being well off compared to those countries that have a two class system? We have worked hard to develop a strong middle class and that is the basis of our democracy. Sometimes I don’t think that the Kristol’s of our society will be happy until we no longer have a voice.
    The whackos would lose their voice if they had to compare our country to other developed countries.

  71. 71.

    JPK

    Nobody here seems to remember Alan Thicke’s sad foray into late-nite humor. The worst. Ever.

  73. 73.

    Margaret

    I’ve never commented here, but I thought this was funny:

    I live in Alaska, and saw two different trucks today with a bumper sticker that read, "MILF ’12". It had that picture of Palin in the flag bikini on it….

  75. 75.

    Ned R.

    @Margaret:

    I live in Alaska, and saw two different trucks today with a bumper sticker that read, "MILF ‘12". It had that picture of Palin in the flag bikini on it….

    Fellow I know is the one who took the original shot of a friend of his in said bikini before the Photoshop. He’s had rather conflicted feelings since.

  76. 76.

    Cris

    I was kind of pissed that Atanarjuat decided to start derailing Pandagon comments, but it appears to have kept him away from here for a while. So it might be a fair trade-off.

  80. 80.

    South of I-10

    @schrodinger’s cat: I was about to ask if you were from Louisiana. A good friend has been updating his Facebook status with the various things Schrodinger’s cat has been doing for weeks. Funny coincidence.

  81. 81.

    schrodinger's cat

    Thanks srv @64
    I recognize Tunch, are that John Cole, DougJ and Tim F with Tunch?

  83. 83.

    Margaret

    @Ned R.:

    Funny thing is, most Alaskan men I know are pretty proud of that picture. I don’t know if you’ve seen many Alaskan women, but… they don’t wear bikinis, for a number of reasons…

  84. 84.

    John Cole

    @JL: I was going to tell you to google “MILF,” then I realized what would happen, so I will just tell you. MILF means “Mothers I’d Like to F….”

    Reminds me of a funny story. I remember when google was just gaining popularity, and I had a stats prof who stated that she had been told about it, and went online to check it out. She was looking for a dress for her daughter, and googled the phrase:

    “little+girl+party+dresses”

    and was absolutely mortified with the Pr0n results.

    She was kind of a prude and a really sweet woman, so it was hysterical listening to her tell that story in class.

  87. 87.

    Montysano (All Hail Marx & Lennon)

    Starting Monday, I’ve got business in Mobile, and along the Gulf Coast, so I’m driving down on Sunday. I’ll take the blue highways, take my time, adjust my attitude, crank up the tunes, and eat BBQ by the side of the road. I can’t wait to drive under the live oaks on Government St. in Mobile.

  88. 88.

    schrodinger's cat

    South of I-10 @ 80
    No this Schrodinger’s cat is in the cold cold northeast.

  90. 90.

    WestVirginiaRebel

    Letterman should have quit while he was ahead back in ’93. Then Conan could have taken his place and we might have John Stewart in his time slot now.

    Jimmy Fallon is 2009’s answer to the Chevy Chase Show.

  91. 91.

    Martin

    I’m rolling off the back of an 80 hour week thanks to layoffs and such, so yeah, it was a long one. I think my plans for the weekend involve sleep and beer and probably sleep and vodka. Possibly sleep and gin if I can find some.

  92. 92.

    garyb50

    Is this an open thread? I beg one of you geniuses to go read the Vanity Fair article on Iceland. I can’t figure out how to link to it but it has to be read to be believed. And I think it reflects this economic meltdown nightmare we’re going through here. This is my favorite blog/commenter site & it just has to be discussed here ! ! ! !

  94. 94.

    djork

    Going to go see Morrissey tomorrow night. I will be the straight guy acting like a 14 year old girl.

  95. 95.

    MikeJ

    Nobody here seems to remember Alan Thicke’s sad foray into late-nite humor. The worst. Ever.

    There was a talk show on in the dark ages of the late 80’s/early 90’s with Alan Havey and Nick Bakay. This was before Comedy Central was Comedy Central (before the Comedy Channel merged with Ha!). It was either the best show ever put on TV, or the worst. Two basically funny guys doing nothing but trying to fill an hour every night. The unfunniest bits were the best bits. Of course I was high a lot when I watched it.

  96. 96.

    themis

    @schrodinger’s cat: Another Bourdain fan? Yipee! Funny, your weekend sounds mysteriously like mine.

    Is it just me, or did this seem like a really, really long week?

    No kidding. No explanation for the long week, particularly since I spent most of it sleeping through this damn plague. But tomorrow? Temps in the 70s with sun and breeze – my arse is planted on the porch with the ipod and a book… and a beer or three.

  97. 97.

    Margaret

    @garyb50:

    Actually, Iceland is in debt up to 850% of its GDP, whereas the US is only at 350%, so at least we’re not THAT bad.

  99. 99.

    John Cole

    @Cris: You can’t even drive by the Coliseum. The ESPN Game Day crew is there all day.

    Time to lay low for 48 hours in Motown. The drunks will be out in force.

  100. 100.

    Ned R.

    @Martin:

    I’m rolling off the back of an 80 hour week thanks to layoffs

    Good lord, Martin — didn’t you say you worked for the UC as well? What are they having you do?

  101. 101.

    Comrade Stuck

    @MikeJ:

    Nobody here seems to remember Alan Thicke’s sad foray into late-nite humor. The worst. Ever.

    I don’t know, but Pat Sajak is the worst I ever saw/

  102. 102.

    Laura W Darling

    I just told my saintly acupuncturist that this has been the longest, most frustrating week in recent memory, for more than a half dozen reasons. I was not going to ‘share’ this one reason, but Stuck mentioned his farts, so I feel OK about it. Plus, it goes back to the various health care issues this week has presented in one form or the other.

    I was scheduled to have two digestive system tests on Thurs…the icky invasive kind that you have to fast and purge for. I put them off for months, and then finally endured the lamest medical appt. of my life with some dickhead PA to get the ball rolling. I researched this medical group and even called them before scheduling to be sure they were "in network" a la my PPO. Tests scheduled for Thurs morn. Have my ride all arranged. Stocked up on herbal teas and clear broths. Spend two weeks dreading them/looking forward to getting them over with. Had gourmet brownies from an Asheville bakery and Spanish red wine the night before the fast to ensure that I would have the liver detox headache from hell the next day.

    Fast on clear liquids all day Wed. Start taking the disgusting purgatives at 3. Have a headache "Like Oswald in Ghosts" (Annie Hall ref.) Check my voice mail to find that at 3 minutes to 5:00 the doctor’s office has called to "REMIND" me that they are "not in network". HA!! They had 2 weeks to check on this and "alert" me. Found out they called my insurance company at 7 minutes to 5:00 that night to confirm my coverage. Promptly left voice mail for them sharing some of my "disappointment" with the whole situation, ruminated on how many other things I could do with that $3,500 out-of-pocket pittance, ate chicken and spinach, and proceeded to feel 8 months pregnant for the next 36 hour from all of the crap they made me fill my intestines with.

    I am not leaving the house for the entire weekend but for my walks.

  106. 106.

    South of I-10

    @Laura W Darling: How frustrating! Your weekend could only be better, right?

    Mr. South is about to fire up the pit for some kabobs and BBQ sausage with stuffed potatoes and green beans. Been a long week, we both need a little comfort food.

  107. 107.

    Mikeg

    I am on my fourth Bloody Mary. However, I’m mixing with Mr. & Mrs. T’s and am not completely satisfied with the result. There are other Bloody mixers out there that are better, yes? Please let me know. Thanks.

  110. 110.

    Martin

    Good lord, Martin—didn’t you say you worked for the UC as well? What are they having you do?

    Everything, it feels like.
    Mostly its a problem of the layoffs landing in areas (like mine) that were already under stress at a particularly challenging time. To be honest, my school needed to lose some staff, and I’m actually okay losing the people we lost (some of my staff were simply not filling vacant positions), but you always need some restructuring to go along with layoffs, and that hasn’t happened yet and there’s a bit too much going on at this particular moment for me to knock heads to get it done. Had this happened 2 months from now, I would have been a lot easier to deal with.

    So, it sucks, but I have a job and the people that should have been retained were protected. I’ll get by.

  112. 112.

    Comrade Stuck

    @Laura W Darling:

    ‘share’ this one reason, but Stuck mentioned his farts, so I feel OK about it

    Glad to pioneer the unmentionables. I have a kidney stones problem and have to regularly endure such purges for the special x rays. Not fun, but better than passing a stone. And when it’s all over I think the purges actually make me feel better, for a few days anyway.

    Dealing with insurance companies never gets better, unfortunately.

  113. 113.

    Comrade Stuck

    Everyone go here and vote for Gary Farber.

    Done. though I don’t have a clue who or why.

  118. 118.

    Glidwrith

    Whooohooo! Obama just pixie dusted the executive ban on stem cell research!!!

    Makes my weekend!

  119. 119.

    Josh Hueco

    @Svensker:

    Thanks for the protip, Svenksker. I hope your friend is doing well. And thank you to everyone for the well wishes. If this were a bricks and mortar establishment I’d buy y’all a round. :)

  120. 120.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    @Laura W Darling:

    Alright, just cuz Stuck Stinky opens up a little is no reason for you to open up too much. Enough with the ick stuff, peeps. I will be entertained properly, goddammit.

    Oh, and a Special Thank You To Everyone for not turning the Snot Boogie thread into another 150 comment tribute to the neti pot.

    (although that prolly had more to do with Teez having a senior moment and less to do with your own scintillating sinus stories)

    Edit: Fuckers.

  121. 121.

    Ned R.

    @Martin:

    To be honest, my school needed to lose some staff, and I’m actually okay losing the people we lost (some of my staff were simply not filling vacant positions), but you always need some restructuring to go along with layoffs, and that hasn’t happened yet and there’s a bit too much going on at this particular moment for me to knock heads to get it done. Had this happened 2 months from now, I would have been a lot easier to deal with.

    Got it — involved, to put it mildly. Hope it all settles for you soon!

  122. 122.

    gwangung

    Done. though I don’t have a clue who or why.

    Gary has his own blog, but he’s a frequent contributor to Obsidian Wings (I consider him part of the reason why OW is good, next to hilzoy herself).

    And if you mention how good the US health system is, he’ll bludgeon you to death—not with physical violence, but with precise descriptions and explanations, drawn from personal experience, that will explain exactly why opponents of universal health care are low grade morons–at best.

  123. 123.

    Paddy

    @Mikeg Nummy one here, but nothing beats just your old V8 and some pickle juice. (good kosher garlic juice preferred) A little cracked pepper, maybe hot sauce and one of those good pickles and you are set!

  124. 124.

    Indylib

    @Josh Hueco:
    Congrats on the new job and blessed be you by the FSM for taking the job. VA is in desperate need of good people to fill these claim jobs. May you still have your sanity a year from now.

  125. 125.

    robertdsc

    No, no, no spring AHEAD. Put your clocks FORWARD. We lose an hour this weekend.

    Working graveyard during the change is always a treat at times like this. Sometimes I lose total track of time and can’t remember when to clock out.

    Best of luck on the new job, Josh.

  126. 126.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    @BethanyAnne:

    My husband (serious Dune fanatic, read and re-read all of the books) loves the SciFi channel version, in fact I bought it for him for Christmas, he has watched it dozens of times since then. He thinks the Kyle McLanahan version is crap (and yet he watches it occasionally) personally, it is the movie where the people have really blue eyes. Meh.

  128. 128.

    MikeJ

    Working graveyard during the change is always a treat at times like this.

    Somewhere I’ve an aircheck of me and my drunken roommates on an extra hour fall back Saturday night.

  129. 129.

    Blue Raven

    Gary Farber???

    Ye gods and little fishes, man, you are giving me flashbacks to rec.arts.sf.fandom. That entertaining little shit used to email me the sweetest compliments as an excuse to chew me out for having the utter gall to edit my email address so it wouldn’t work for the spam harvesters.

  130. 130.

    Laura W Darling

    @Just Some Fuckhead: I have your proper entertainment right here, Fuckhead.
    Stop dragging my bowels around.
    (I would really like to come back as Joss Stone in my next life, if that could be arranged. Even more than Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, or Mrs. Stephen Colbert, I think. Tonight. But it’s prolly the wine and MiraLax/Dulcolax lethal combo talkin’.)

  131. 131.

    Dennis-SGMM

    Shit! Put on Hardball for the first time in months and there’s my Rep., David Dreier. That man has a face that you couldn’t punch just once.

  132. 132.

    Mike S

    I’m curious about whether you guys have seen this post calling for the impeachment of Obama.

    "Here’s where we began talking about another possibility: that Team Obama was deliberately targeting the U.S. economy, deliberately impoverishing millions of Americans, deliberately angering our closest allies while coddling dictators like Putin and his puppet Medvedev and funneling millions to terrorist organizations like Hamas. Maybe that young person the financial journalist Jim Cramer spoke to was right and "We’ve elected elected a Leninist" whose "agenda is destroying the life savings of millions of Americans"? … What we need now is some clever legal talent to show how deliberately sabotaging the United States economy counts as Treason, a high Crime, or at least a Misdemeanor. Any takers? Roger Kimball

    link

  134. 134.

    Church Lady

    @Josh Guerco: Congrats on the new job! :)

    Just out of curiosity, are you in grad school at Baylor? If so, how the heck did you wind up in the buckle of Bible Belt colleges?

  136. 136.

    MikeJ

    OT: but has does anybody know the background on the Al-Marri decision today? If I read the CSM correctly, his lawyers were saying, "don’t put him in the criminal justice system, call him an enemy combatant." Is that right?

  137. 137.

    burnspbesq

    I shall be worshipping at the altar of the Almighty Billable Hour all weekend, except for a two-hour break on Sunday to watch the Duke – Carolina game.

  140. 140.

    burnspbesq

    @Dennis-SGMM:

    Not to mention that he may be the least closeted closeted gay Republican in America. Dems ran the best candidate imaginable in that district in 2008 (successful small businessman with a kid on active duty in Iraq) and Dreier still got 58 percent.

  142. 142.

    Dreggas

    @John Cole:

    I remember overhearing someone who was all upset about the search results they got for "Scat", they meant "Scat singing" but, well, you can guess what they got.

  144. 144.

    Comrade Stuck

    What we need now is some clever legal talent to show how deliberately sabotaging the United States economy counts as Treason, a high Crime, or at least a Misdemeanor.

    We may have some misdemeanors left, but Jorge used up all the High Crimes.

  145. 145.

    Origuy

    Short on cash all week and payday’s another week away. I keep watching the stock I was planning to sell keep dropping. My mechanic called and said the only place they can get a catalytic converter that is legal in California is from the dealer and it will cost $795. The car runs ok as it is, but it won’t pass the smog test I’ll have to do by December. Planning to work Sunday to meet a deadline Monday.
    Saturday night I’m putting on the kilt and ghillies and go Scottish country dancing.

  146. 146.

    burnspbesq

    @MikeJ:

    As near as I can tell, the case ends not with a bang but a whimper.

    The Supremes granted the government’s motion to dismiss the case as moot, because al-Marri is going to be tranfserred back into the criminal justice system and be charged. So no ruling on the merits of the Bushies’ claims of power to hold anybody indefinitely for any reason.

    At least al-Marri gets a trial, and if the government can prove every element of whatever it is they are charging him with beyond a reasonable doubt without using any evidence that was Jack Bauered out of detainees at Gitmo and Bagram, then hell yes he should go to jail. If not, he walks. Of course, this should have happened seven years ago, but seven years ago people who cared about the Constitution weren’t in charge.

  149. 149.

    Josh Hueco

    @Church Lady:

    (grin) Short Story: Got divorced, fell in love with an Okie girl living in Texas, decided I wanted to go back to school, and Baylor happened to be the best school in the area. As a grad student you don’t have to take chapel classes, so that’s good. Except for its shameful embrace of Dembskiism a few years ago, Baylor is a decent school. If it were in the north and were allowed to secularize a bit I think its reputation would be stronger. But it’s surreal going to a college football game where they not only don’t sell beer but they say a prayer and sing ‘Deep In the Heart of Texas’ before kickoff. :)

  151. 151.

    Laura W Darling

    @Josh Hueco: Josh, I wanna get this in before I am too sloshed to type. (4…..3………2……….1….)
    I suspect you’ve already gotten your share of advice up-thread (I’ve not read it all), but in case it’s not been said, please bring your razor sharp wit and eclectic sense of humor to your new job. You are one of the funniest commenters here at BJ, and IMO, we can never underestimate the healing power of a well-timed quip!

    My great uncle has lived at the VA Home in Yountville, CA, quite happily, for many years now. Only in the last few years, through our snail mail correspondence only, have I learned what a very funny, sensitive, and creative man he is. It’s like discovering a secret treasure when I get his mail, all full of funny cartoon clippings, cat and dog art, things he’s painted, articles re. the goings on at the Home and Yountville/Napa proper stuff.

    I think I’m rambling (again)…point is, um…I see I made my final point in my first paragraph.
    What I said!!

  154. 154.

    burnspbesq

    @themis:

    If you win on Sunday, be sure to send a thank-you note to Leonard Hamilton. Friggin’ Half-Noles put three of our guys in the trainer’s room.

    And your women are going to get eaten alive by Maryland tomorrow. If DeGraffenreid can get abused by Jasmine Thomas, just image what Tolliver is going to do to her.

  155. 155.

    MikeJ

    The Supremes granted the government’s motion to dismiss the case as moot,

    Ahhhhh. Glad to hear that. The hed I read sounded like Obama was pulling more Bushian bullshit. Glad to hear that he’s getting the trial he deserves.

    And also glad to read on Google news that since Sanjay Gupta turned down surgeon general, Howard Dean is being considered. And BBC tells me that Shakira’s hips don’t lie. Glad that they are on top of all the breaking news.

  156. 156.

    Steeplejack

    No weekend plans for me. How ‘bout you?

    Steep is currently about +3 on Mount Gay rum and tonic, with a Tanqueray (miniature) and tonic in there as an appetizer. Purchased on the way home from a rare day shift at my part-time job (usually night shifts, odious but necessary for health insurance).

    Have been getting maudlin listening to Joe South’s "Don’t It Make You Want to Go Home" and getting oogly-googly emotional reading the comments to the post "The New Welfare Queens." I can well remember my own struggle with cancer, depression and near-homeless poverty just a few years ago. Fuck K-Lo and her whole crowd.

    But enough about me. John, can you repost the PayPal link for Svensker’s quilter friend? I thought I could just save the original hyperlink and contribute a few bucks today (payday), but now the post doesn’t contain the PayPal link.

  158. 158.

    Josh Hueco

    @Laura W Darling:

    (blushes) My gosh, Laura, that is very sweet and kind of you. I appreciate reading what you have to say as well. I’m just happy to have such a great bunch of funny and wicked snarky people to hang out with. Your uncle sounds like a pretty cool guy. I have zero acquaintance with the military, but I’m looking forward to doing what I can to help those who’ve served.

    PS – I hope you get well soon!

  161. 161.

    Dennis-SGMM

    @burnspbesq:
    I live in a smug little town that typifies Dreier country. The only consolation was seeing my neighbors trying to throw themselves under their riding mowers when Obama won.

  162. 162.

    Tattoosydney

    @Laura W Darling:

    My sympathies. Hope you feel better soon.

    Can alcohol be your friend this weekend or is it cruelly off limits after your purgative? (Sorry for the ick, Fuckhead)

    Saturday am here, and trying to recover from the week from hell. The economy may be down, but it means that there are companies being sold everywhere as part of "consolidation", and I get to help! Yay me.

    22 degrees C here (72 F) and sunny. Off to buy pork and fennel sausage rolls for lunch with a friend, and do nothing for the rest of the weekend (with any luck).

  163. 163.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    I will spend the weekend (glorious weather) planting my veggie garden, about a month ago I planted garden peas, onion sets, lettuce varieties, mustard, raddish and beetroot, this weekend I will be planting carrots, cabbage, broccali, cauliflower, leeks and lots more lettuce, I am also going to start a potato tower using chicken wire, great way to grow potatoes using a tiny amount of space. If the entire world collapses I won’t starve, you can make a whole bunch of meals based on veggies and rice and pasta. Come the warmer months I will be planting tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers (picked young to be pickled as gerkhins) , beans, and corn. I am not being an end times person here, I do this every year (and end up with more cherry tomatoes than a person could ever eat) this year I am just upping the ante so I can blanche and freeze some of my excess and save them. Just in case.

    PS) here are instructions for the redneck version of the potato tower

    http://www.allwoodwork.com/tips/potatotower.htm

  164. 164.

    Comrade Stuck

    @Josh Hueco:

    But it’s surreal going to a college football game where they not only don’t sell beer but they say a prayer and sing ‘Deep In the Heart of Texas’ before kickoff. :)

    A brave man.

  165. 165.

    Steeplejack

    @Comrade Stuck:

    Carson was a god, appreciated more every time I turn on one of the late-night shows–any one of them–and watch for longer than two minutes.

  167. 167.

    JL

    @Josh Hueco: Baylor is a great school. Unfortunately in the last decade, it allowed itself to become part of the political discourse.
    Josh, you will do great working with VA.

  168. 168.

    themis

    @burnspbesq: Already with the excuses:) Although I share your hate of the half-assed Noles since they coined the "wine and cheese" crowd back in my day.

    But really, the real season is just starting. It’s not like the ACC tourney is going to be a breeze…

  170. 170.

    burnspbesq

    @garyb50:

    Amen. Lewis is on a screamin’ roll, with the Iceland article following on the heels of the brilliant NYT Mag piece on Shane Battier.

  171. 171.

    J. Michael Neal

    But it’s surreal going to a college football game where they not only don’t sell beer but they say a prayer and sing ‘Deep In the Heart of Texas’ before kickoff.

    Singing "Deep in the Heart of Texas" isn’t as bad as being deep in the heart of Texas.

  172. 172.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    FYI, Josh, Laura is on the rebound from BOB. They had something special going and then he totally weirded her out when he started masturbating to german bottling industry mags.

  174. 174.

    Tattoosydney

    @Just Some Fuckhead:

    Nice.

    .. So here’s the thing, I know I can’t sing this one very well (let’s face it I’m no singer), and I know that this song can be a little boring without a band behind it, but bear with me cause I did my best to make the guitar a little more interesting on this cover. Enjoy :)

    Quite wrong IMO.

  175. 175.

    Steeplejack

    @dlw32:

    But, hey, at least we get to set the effing clocks back an effing hour this effing weekend. Eff.

    Er, dude, that’s "spring forward, fall back." Eff. I guess.

  176. 176.

    themis

    I’m gonna give you a mulligan on that one, Fuckhead. Because I like you, and I want you to succeed.
    And not SUCK.

    Too late, I suspect. We should feed Fuckhead more liqueur. I need interesting links. Or more beer…

  178. 178.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    @Laura W Darling: Oh geez Laura, you better sit down for this one: R.E.M. is my fave band and Michael Stipe is my fave singer (so there, gay mafia). I only linked a cover because I thought she did a good job.

  187. 187.

    srv

    @JL: Baylor is where my UT classmates went on the weekend to help the girls keep their virginity. It required a lot of lube, but there was a shop somewhere in Temple that cleaned up servicing that racket.

    A fine school, and they’ve loosened up a little the last 25 years.

  190. 190.

    Indylib

    Weather here in beautiful southern Wisconsin this weekend will be rainy and in the low 40’s. We’ve been dancing around like it’s spring for the last 2 days because we hit 60, now I will have to try to keep my 10yr old and 8 yr old twins from driving me insane over the weekend cuz they will be stuck in the house.

    It has been too wet and cold here to start doing anything in my yard yet and great googelymoogly do I need to do some work in my yard. We got an early snow storm this fall that came before we got all of the bazillion leaves off my lawn, now they are fused together in a giant web that covers all my grass. That should be fun to clean up.

    I plan to plant a garden this year and the plot we are going to use has 4 years worth of some supergrass that grows as high and the roof of my garage. It should be a joy to get rid of the roots to that.

  191. 191.

    burnspbesq

    It’s a bad day when the most interesting thing in the mail is the California Bar Journal.

    Yawn.

  193. 193.

    Laura W Darling

    @themis:

    Too late, I suspect. We should feed Fuckhead more liqueur. I need interesting links. Or more beer…

    Themis, if I have learned anything about Fuckhead over these last many years months, it’s that you have to be patient with him…nurture him along. He doesn’t respond well to criticism, nor to mocking taunts.
    He’s a very soft, sensitive soul.
    Still waters run deep, you know.

  197. 197.

    Brick Oven Bill

    There was a shooting that created a big stir some years ago. There was a professor, working in his office, alone at night. His was the only light on in the building and a bullet smashed his window. Fortunately, nobody was hurt. The ballistics put the shot coming from nearly a mile away.

    The police went to the local competitive shooting organizations and asked the leaders for names of people who could have made that shot. The Gunnery Sergeant dutifully gave the police my name, among others, I presume. I had nothing to do with any of it.

    But nonetheless, I got cased for several days. The policeman was not very sneaky, he would keep his foot on the break pedal. There were police casing my neighborhood today. I went up to them and asked what they were doing and they said nothing, they were watching a house. I asked if they were watching my house, and they laughed and said no. Although they were parked in a logical position to be watching my house.

    I don’t think I have done anything wrong, but I could potentially be in trouble if Hilzoy has any pull in the new Justice Department. Or perhaps Big Oil has gotten a hold of my oil shale 400 years of domestic $20/barrel gas plan, and are making a move.

    In any case, if I maintain my freedom through the weekend, I’ll try to check in daily. If you don’t hear from me, I will attempt to make a dramatic booking tape at the police station. I will be sure to yell ‘Don’t Tread on Me’, or something like that. In this case, keep a look out for the booking tape, which I would respectfully submit to Balloon Juice through a 3rd Party.

  198. 198.

    Steeplejack

    @Quicksand:

    I didn’t like Piscopo much, but he earned his place in comedy heaven with his bit as Frank Sinatra doing the Stones’ "Under My Thumb."

  201. 201.

    Dreggas

    oh and yeah, this week has been long as hell. Last week and the week before were worse, got a call about 3 weeks ago yesterday that my kid sister committed suicide (she was 27). Had to fly back and be with the folks (still have to go back in may for the burial since the ground is frozen and under 5+ feet of snow). Then came back and was damn near dead for a week with a bad sinus and throat infection and this week has just been long getting back into the swing of things at work.

  203. 203.

    Laura W Darling

    @Tattoosydney: Your email addy seems to have "permanent fatal errors".
    Unless you are intentionally blocking me, which is surely understandable tonight.

  204. 204.

    Josh Hueco

    @Dreggas:

    Dreggas, that is terrible. I am so sorry. I hope you are hanging in there okay. Please be sure to take care of yourself. I’m not trying to tell you what to do, but I recommend that you locate a good therapist who can help you with the grieving process.

  209. 209.

    Dreggas

    @Josh Hueco:

    I’ve had a lot of great friends here for me helping me get through it and the people I work with have been the absolute best, let me leave for a week no questions asked and such.

    I am maintaining and getting through it, my folks on the other hand were beyond devestated and it was the first time I have ever seen my father cry, he didn’t even cry when his mom died.

    Thanks tho, the advice and support is appreciated.

  213. 213.

    Bostondreams

    Really long week. Had a student die of cancer-related causes. Another student, 17 yr old girl, told me in tears that she was sexually molested by her brother when she was little, and her parents don’t believe her because her brother is a hero serving in Iraq and oh she is cutting herself, and yesterday my 9 month old daughter was diagnosed with a lung infection.
    Worst. Week. Ever.

  217. 217.

    Bostondreams

    Ugh. Dreggas. Just read your situation. Condolences. :( Didn’t mean to seem like I was one upping you. 200 comments and all. :( Sorry.

  223. 223.

    South of I-10

    @Bostondreams: Ugh. Does your daughter have RSV? Mine had that but not until she was 2 and it was still terrible.

  224. 224.

    J. Michael Neal

    Wow. Down 4-1 after the first five minutes of the second period, the Gophers just tied it up with a Ryan Stoa goal with 20 seconds left in the second . . . and a Jay Barriball goal 16 seconds later. Considering that Tech’s four goals came on ten shots, I’m feeling pretty good.

  225. 225.

    Brick Oven Bill

    And, on the off chance that my paranoid delusional fantasies about those police officers are rooted in some bizarre reality, the FBI would be reading this on some supercomputer. As I am on the record as a person who supports the 2nd Amendment, there would be security measures associated with my arrest, and that involves risk. So, to my law enforcement friends:

    I would not resist arrest and would gladly be taken peacefully into custody under a valid warrant. Think of the marketing value associated in being jailed because of a technology, or a political viewpoint. Just give me a call, and I’ll come on down to the Police Station, saving you the trip, and both of us the risk.

    I do think these police officers were looking at someone else’s house though.

  227. 227.

    Comrade Stuck

    @Dreggas:

    Have had a close family member commit suicide. It is not painless for those left behind. Takes time:)

  228. 228.

    Laura W Darling

    @Montysano: OK, that was just beautiful!
    (I’m really slow on this thread tonight. I’m faster when I’m sucking up the herbal tea.)

  229. 229.

    Indylib

    @Bostondreams:
    Sympathies and good thoughts for you and your family and your student and the family of the student lost to cancer.

    My mom was an elementary teacher and she lost a 10 yr. old student to a drowning. I’ve never seen anything hit her so hard, not even the death of her own parents. She was devastated.

    Sympathies to you too Dreggas – my earlier posting apparently went to moderation limbo.

  232. 232.

    Brick Oven Bill

    Thanks TattooSydney. The Wiggles, even though they drive me into my basement round this time at night, are nonetheless the best modern children’s TV on the market. If you see those guys, give them my regards.

  234. 234.

    Laura W Darling

    @Brick Oven Bill:

    he would keep his foot on the break pedal

    Bill, it’s brake.
    Please remember who here among us loved you first, before you were hip to love, Bill. Before you were every BJer’s Darling.
    Don’t make me archive dumpster dive to prove it, either.
    I have my (cough cough) dignity.

  235. 235.

    Tattoosydney

    @ BOB

    The red one lives just up the road from me. I will pass on your regards if ever I speak to him. I imagine he will be thrilled.

  237. 237.

    Svensker

    Big hugs and prayers to dreggas and bostondreams. That’s just terrible.

    Hope that Laura’s tum gets better with minimal information shared….:)

    Just came back from having one of the best char-burgers ever, loaded down with blue cheese. And some beer. Dang, when stuff is good, it is good.

    Will spend the weekend avoiding my in-laws, with any luck.

  240. 240.

    Church Lady

    @Josh Huerco:

    I was just teasing you a little bit. I know it’s a very good school (if a little stifling in its oh-so-Baptist way). The son of a good friend will be graduating from there in May with a degree in Engineering. He’s already been accepted for graduate school at the University of Tennessee. He wants a Masters in Nuclear Engineering, and UT is supposed to be one of the best for that.

  241. 241.

    Brick Oven Bill

    This is bizarre Tattoosydney. I have provided a blog post on Murray the Red Wiggle. Where I speculated about his interest in funding my oil shale project. A very strange day, this has been. The wife thinks Murray looks like my cousin.

    Please say hi on behalf of some satisfied customers.

    Condolences those who are having hard times.

  242. 242.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    Shorter BOB: Even people that know me think I’m a whackjob.

    Just kidding, BOB. Please don’t kill me.

  243. 243.

    Church Lady

    Well, BOB, if we don’t hear from you tomorrow, we’ll assume the worst and start taking up a collection for your bail.

  244. 244.

    Brick Oven Bill

    I’m not going to argue with you Just Some Fuckhead. This is why I am trying to get a job outside the house. I did prevail with the guy with two desks on an issue today, after months where nothing changed other than new electronic carbon copies of emails.

    But the lady who works at the office with one of his two desks didn’t get his letter. So we missed another deadline. Other that, nothing but policemen, screaming children, the Wiggles, and these four walls.

    This is not conducive to rational sanity, I readily admit.

  252. 252.

    KDP

    I’ve voted for Gary Farber voted. I’ve known Gary for almost 30 years now. We met in his Seattle days, back when he was the master of fanzine historians, and I was a member of the Permanent Floating Worldcon Committee. Reconnected with him through Obsidian Wings a few weeks ago. You might also consider joining this group on Facebook.

    Why Has Gary Farber’s Account Been Disabled? Please Explain And Reverse!

    This has been a very long week for me, and I still have a paper to write, 4 discussion posts to respond to, and an online test to complete. The economy is spiraling ever downward, and a friend just got laid off. On the other hand, my client closed a deal for our Web-based quality systems app, and my two day working business meeting with another went very well.

    "Please," she breathes a silent prayer, "let life remain stable, so I can take care of myself and extend a hand to others less fortunate." I’ve already been the no money, no home, no hope route; I worked long and hard to rebuild a life. At over 50, I’m a bit old to go through it all again.

  254. 254.

    PaulB

    Something cheerful for a mournful week, perhaps? How about the BrokenPictureTelephone site. The explanation is:

    Just what is Broken Picture Telephone, you ask? Why is it the game of miscommunication?

    Broken Picture Telephone is a game similar to the childhood game of Broken Telephone – the game in which children sit in a circle, and whisper a sentence or phrase in a circle.

    If you’ve ever played the game, you know that very quickly hilarity ensues. Broken Picture Telephone is the web-incarnation of that old children’s game, with a slight variation in how it’s played. Rather than whispering words to strangers around the internet, the game alternates between words and drawings.

    And yes… hilarity does ensue.

    Check out their archive here. Some seriously hilarious shit.

  256. 256.

    Surly Duff

    @Wolfie1974:

    "But he could never keep it together during sketches. I saw again the other day the ______________ sketch with the __________, and Fallon couldn’t stop himself from laughing to save his life!"
    –
    No need to qualify the skit or actions. Fallon couldn’t keep his shit together during unfunny sketches. The guys sucks.

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