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Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

Good lord, these people are nuts.

Of course you can have champagne before noon. That’s why orange juice was invented.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

Republicans: “Abortion is murder but you can take a bus to get one.” Easy peasy.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

“But what about the lurkers?”

If you don’t believe freedom is for everybody, then the thing you love isn’t freedom, it is privilege.

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph how is that election even close?

Bark louder, little dog.

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

Consistently wrong since 2002

We will not go back.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

There are times when telling just part of the truth is effectively a lie.

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

Roe is not about choice. It is about freedom.

I would try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

Republican speaker of the house Mike Johnson is the bland and smiling face of evil.

People really shouldn’t expect the government to help after they watched the GOP drown it in a bathtub.

These days, even the boring Republicans are nuts.

“Just close your eyes and kiss the girl and go where the tilt-a-whirl takes you.” ~OzarkHillbilly

People are weird.

Something needs to be done about our bogus SCOTUS.

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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Open Thread

Open Thread

by John Cole|  October 29, 200910:54 pm| 159 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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Have at it.

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Previous Post: « Fair Questions
Next Post: Early Morning Open Thread »

Reader Interactions

159Comments

  1. 1.

    Yutsano

    October 29, 2009 at 10:55 pm

    Is this teh hint that Sydney and I should stop talking about Marines and such on your more serious thread?

  2. 2.

    valdivia

    October 29, 2009 at 10:56 pm

    is BOB back?

  3. 3.

    JenJen

    October 29, 2009 at 11:01 pm

    Can we talk about my lunch of this afternoon? Rubino’s Pizza in Bexley, Ohio, kickin’ it since 1954. Just look at that thin, crispy, perfect creation. I’ve been in love with this place since college, and every time I’m in the capital I swear it sings my name until I reach it. If you’re ever in the Columbus area, you would be a pizza-lovin’ fool to skip it. Nirvana on Broad Street. Heaven on a pie plate.

    When you have a perfect day like today, all you want to do is share.

  4. 4.

    valdivia

    October 29, 2009 at 11:02 pm

    I am assuming John is not back yet so we wont have any pictures of tunch right? I miss tunch.

  5. 5.

    geg6

    October 29, 2009 at 11:02 pm

    valdivia: Seems so, depressingly enough.

  6. 6.

    JHF

    October 29, 2009 at 11:03 pm

    Does it get down to 12° F in West Virginia in October? Here at 7,000 feet in northern New Mexico, it feels like the beginning of an old-timey winter.

    Yes, we have fall here, only it’s called September.

  7. 7.

    Martin

    October 29, 2009 at 11:03 pm

    @JenJen:

    Hmm. We had a Rubinos here in Socal that had pizza exactly like that – thin crispy crust, cut untraditionally – awesome stuff. They bugged out about 6 years ago or so. They must be related.

    And FTFY.

  8. 8.

    geg6

    October 29, 2009 at 11:05 pm

    JHF: Well, I’m slightly north of WV, but no, it doesn’t get that cold this early generally. My sympathies.

  9. 9.

    Max

    October 29, 2009 at 11:06 pm

    @valdivia: Did we ever learn where @John Cole went?

    His San Diego trip in the summer he was narrating the whole thing, what he did, what he eat, what he saw.

    This time, not so much. Must be somewhere less interesting.

  10. 10.

    Yutsano

    October 29, 2009 at 11:08 pm

    @Martin: And FTFY.

    My only consolation (other than this will tie up the series) is that Pay Fraud is having a really shitty series so far. Guess fucking Kate ain’t so lucky.

  11. 11.

    Comrade Mary

    October 29, 2009 at 11:08 pm

    Tunch is king.

  12. 12.

    Ash Can

    October 29, 2009 at 11:12 pm

    I spent most of this evening at a meeting of the fundraising foundation of Bottle Rocket’s grade school. The next time I get the bright idea to do that, please, someone JUST FUCKING SHOOT ME.

    Ash Can +nowhere near enough

  13. 13.

    Martin

    October 29, 2009 at 11:12 pm

    My only consolation (other than this will tie up the series) is that Pay Fraud is having a really shitty series so far.

    Maybe the steroid tanker truck couldn’t get down to the Bronx this week.

  14. 14.

    Keith G

    October 29, 2009 at 11:15 pm

    @JenJen: I loved knocking about Columbus on a fall day, particularly on away game weekends. Now, my OSU days were some time ago and it was a quainter town back then. Last time I was there, barely recognised it.

  15. 15.

    valdivia

    October 29, 2009 at 11:16 pm

    @Max:

    or, um, much *more* interesting. cough cough.

  16. 16.

    Yutsano

    October 29, 2009 at 11:17 pm

    @Martin: Oh but he’s CLEAN now! Honest! Just ask him!

    Anyone else eagerly awaiting the tell-all from his ex-wife? I’m sure she’d be more than willing to violate a few non-disclosure agreements for the money that would bring her.

  17. 17.

    ellaesther

    October 29, 2009 at 11:19 pm

    Why won’t it stop raining in the great Middle West of these United States?

    Why?

  18. 18.

    valdivia

    October 29, 2009 at 11:20 pm

    @Ash Can:

    +nowhere near enough

    ok can I still this from you? I feel that way a lot and could use that trademarked phrase.

    Also-sorry you feel that way right now.

  19. 19.

    valdivia

    October 29, 2009 at 11:20 pm

    @valdivia:
    oh ‘steal’ not still.
    where is the edit function?

  20. 20.

    kommrade reproductive vigor

    October 29, 2009 at 11:22 pm

    Another judge told Orly Taitz, Alan Keyes and a bunch of assorted Birfers to GtFo today. The only response is to start Civil War II, Electric Boogaloo:

    If it takes riots in the streets to stand for the Constitution and kick an illegitimate President out of office, then bring it on. The civil war took close to 600,000 largely white men to bring freedom for all. Freedom from Tyranny costs a great price as always. The usurper could have avoided it all if he was an honest man. That makes two reasons to legally kick him out.

    via teh comments.

  21. 21.

    mai naem

    October 29, 2009 at 11:24 pm

    So,like what does Joey Lieberhole have to do to get kicked out of the Dem caucus? Does he have to be caught spying on the Dems and turning the intelligence over to the Repubs?

  22. 22.

    Martin

    October 29, 2009 at 11:24 pm

    Bah! FTFY.

  23. 23.

    gnomedad

    October 29, 2009 at 11:25 pm

    Cat cannot grasp that “out + dry” is not an option right now.

  24. 24.

    Yutsano

    October 29, 2009 at 11:27 pm

    @Martin: Fuck every single damn New York Yankee and anyone even remotely affiliated with their organization.

  25. 25.

    Ellid

    October 29, 2009 at 11:28 pm

    My cat Malfoy did a Tunch and disappeared for several hours today. After I spent 20 minutes or so driving around the neighborhood looking for his limp corpse, I came home, wept a bit, took a bath…

    And there he was, emerging from under my bed.

    To quote John, “The fat bastard.”

  26. 26.

    valdivia

    October 29, 2009 at 11:29 pm

    I an out crew. Mucho grading to do tomorrow. ugh.

  27. 27.

    Mark S.

    October 29, 2009 at 11:29 pm

    In the course of reading about Andre Agassi doing meth, I came across the story of the French player Richard Gasquet who “successfully defended himself against an allegation of cocaine use by saying it entered his system through kissing a woman in a nightclub.” Is that even possible?

  28. 28.

    SiubhanDuinne

    October 29, 2009 at 11:29 pm

    @ellaesther 11:19 pm

    Cubits. Gopher wood. ‘Nuff said.

  29. 29.

    Comrade Kevin

    October 29, 2009 at 11:29 pm

    Jon Stewart called Faux News a “perpetual revulsion machine” tonight.

  30. 30.

    gnomedad

    October 29, 2009 at 11:30 pm

    @ellaesther: @ellaesther:

    Why won’t it stop raining in the great Middle West of these United States?

    This.

  31. 31.

    Glidwrith

    October 29, 2009 at 11:31 pm

    I’m going to hit a hot button on some of the rage regarding rich people: we all really hate the Sachs people right now and the banksters because of all the face-sucking (as per Taibbi) that they have been doing. However, are rich people in general literally sitting on piles of cash or building a house of cards (aka stock market) or are there ones who are solidly investing in the real world? Someone like Bill Gates comes to mind and Warren Beatty (sp?). Are there any others or are most just useless parasites?

  32. 32.

    Keith G

    October 29, 2009 at 11:32 pm

    @Ellid: I’m glad the lil fuck is alright. I hate that missing cat panic.

  33. 33.

    Cain

    October 29, 2009 at 11:34 pm

    @jeffreyw

    Did your dog come back? I missed any update.

    cain

  34. 34.

    jeffreyw

    October 29, 2009 at 11:34 pm

    @JenJen: Talk about those thin-assed pizzas all ya want. I know pizza, pizza is a friend of mine, and that pizza is no pizza.

  35. 35.

    jeffreyw

    October 29, 2009 at 11:36 pm

    @Cain: As I told Mrs J when she called from work: no…not yet. And it’s raining tonight.

  36. 36.

    Gordon, The Big Express Engine

    October 29, 2009 at 11:37 pm

    @valdivia: No – see my comment at 11:33 on previous thread…

  37. 37.

    Yutsano

    October 29, 2009 at 11:37 pm

    @Glidwrith: Actually I’d be willing to bet the vast majority of these fucks are only worth millions on paper. They are sitting on tons and tons of unrealized stock options where they can SAY they have xhundred millions net worth but actually don’t touch it because of A) lack of necessity and B) tax reasons (capital gains are only taxed when realized). So a lot of these folks want the bubble inflated again so they can get back to exactly where they were. I think it would be interesting to see just how much of the Goldman bonuses are true cash vs options/unrealized stock.

  38. 38.

    Keith G

    October 29, 2009 at 11:38 pm

    @Mark S.: Possible, but not likey – there are stories….

  39. 39.

    gwangung

    October 29, 2009 at 11:41 pm

    They are sitting on tons and tons of unrealized stock options where they can SAY they have xhundred millions net worth but actually don’t touch it because of A) lack of necessity and B) tax reasons (capital gains are only taxed when realized).

    Too, I believe they can BORROW against those assets, which gives them liquidity without losing the assets and the interest (which is, of course, low) is something they can deduct (if I’m not mistaken) from the capital gains when they do cash in.

  40. 40.

    ellaesther

    October 29, 2009 at 11:41 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: Sigh. I’ll go get the dove….

    @gnomedad: You’re welcome to join me in the ark that SiubhanDuinne is having me build.

  41. 41.

    gnomedad

    October 29, 2009 at 11:43 pm

    @Mark S.:
    Call Mythbusters.

  42. 42.

    Yutsano

    October 29, 2009 at 11:44 pm

    @ellaesther: Call Sydney and tell him to send you two echidnae ( you have NO IDEA how long I’ve wanted to use the plural of that!) and platypi (ditto) along with a few other various Aussie critters lying about.

  43. 43.

    Ash Can

    October 29, 2009 at 11:45 pm

    @valdivia: LOL! That’s not trademarked; it’s just stating the obvious. Of course you can use it.

  44. 44.

    MattR

    October 29, 2009 at 11:46 pm

    @ellaesther: Are you related to this guy?

  45. 45.

    inkadu

    October 29, 2009 at 11:47 pm

    @Glidwrith: Glid – Wealthy people are all useless parasites. They sit on money and accrue more to themselves merely by virtue of having money or power. That is how it’s ALWAYS been with the rich and powerful throughout history.

    With some minor exceptions, of course. But the exceptions are usually people who are able to be so because they have a shit-ton of money to begin with.

  46. 46.

    Ben Richards

    October 29, 2009 at 11:47 pm

    @Yutsano: average GS comp this year will be $700k+ per employee. Typically that will be in the form of cash and stock. Say 50/50% with the stock part vesting over three or four years.

  47. 47.

    Max

    October 29, 2009 at 11:47 pm

    I’m watching the Wanda Sykes HBO special that I recorded a week or so ago.

    I highly recommend it. She’s very funny.

  48. 48.

    Michael57

    October 29, 2009 at 11:47 pm

    Nyuk nyuk nyuk.

  49. 49.

    inkadu

    October 29, 2009 at 11:48 pm

    @Yutsano: What’s worse than realizing you have a third sister? Realizing that you’re still the only boy and the family name is still in your very unwilling hands.

  50. 50.

    Ben Richards

    October 29, 2009 at 11:48 pm

    @Glidwrith: I think you mean Warren Buffet. He agreed to give over 90% of his net worth to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation with the caveat that they spend it pretty aggressively.

  51. 51.

    Yutsano

    October 29, 2009 at 11:53 pm

    @inkadu: Have to giggle at that. The Dawg is an only son of an only son of an only son. He’s an only child but I think his father has sisters since I know he has cousins (one is watching his house while he’s off saving the world).

  52. 52.

    soonergrunt

    October 29, 2009 at 11:53 pm

    @kommrade reproductive vigor: Get ready for the cheeto dust to fly. Keyboards will be vigorously typed upon! Obama-target photoshops will be created! Cafe-press will offer new bumper stickers!!
    Code Red Mountain Dew will be consumed!

    Makewi will post something snotty to BJ, right before leaving her junior college commons for that cool frat party at State and getting cited for Minor in Possession!

  53. 53.

    Yutsano

    October 29, 2009 at 11:55 pm

    @Ben Richards: I saw an article in TIME magazine today that about made me choke, but they said that part of the reason for the high compensation is because of the ungoldy living costs of living in Manhattan. Yeah because the bosses at Goldman are holding guns to their heads and FORCING them to live there.

  54. 54.

    inkadu

    October 30, 2009 at 12:01 am

    @Yutsano: Thing is, I grew up without almost any extended family… just my parents and my sister. Now they’re popping up all over the world.

    It’s like my family replicates by wind-borne spores.

    My uncles are doing a pretty good job with the family name, though, so it’s just my father who is going to be a dead end.

    Ever hear people say they have children so they can live on through their children? I always thought that was stupid.

  55. 55.

    ellaesther

    October 30, 2009 at 12:02 am

    @Yutsano: Excellent! I will do, for we have to save them all, I’m given to understand. (“echidnae” “platypi” — brilliant! Ah, I love being a word geek…!)

    @MattR: No, and thank the Lord! Can you imagine? Wow, that is something. I think I wouldn’t even want to be his neighbor.

  56. 56.

    inkadu

    October 30, 2009 at 12:05 am

    @Yutsano: Yes, it is expensive raising your children in Manhattan, especially when you have rent an entire floor and send your kid to a private school and have a second home in Connecticut.

    Give me a few million dollars and I’m sure I can use it all too.

    DH Liddel’s History of the Second World War is calling my name.

  57. 57.

    Dave C

    October 30, 2009 at 12:06 am

    I cursory google search seems to indicate that the internet is unaware of the proper meaning of “FTFY.” Perhaps this should be added to the lexicon?

  58. 58.

    Robertdsc-iphone

    October 30, 2009 at 12:09 am

    I’ll take this Yanks win.

    My mother came home from the hospital today. She’s got a fair amount of pain but is her old self. She has a new 40 inch TV my dad got her for the bedroom to tide her over, lol.

  59. 59.

    Cat Lady

    October 30, 2009 at 12:12 am

    What I liked about the previous post:

    1. honesty
    2. good faith arguments
    3. no racism
    4. no BOB!

    But jeffreyw’s missing Jack gives me a SAD.

  60. 60.

    Fulcanelli

    October 30, 2009 at 12:13 am

    @Max:

    @valdivia: Did we ever learn where @John Cole went?
    …
    His San Diego trip in the summer he was narrating the whole thing, what he did, what he eat, what he saw.
    …
    This time, not so much. Must be somewhere less interesting.

    Is this where someone inserts the obligatory ‘Appalachian Trail’ remark?

    John, if you read this: Frankie says RELAX. That smoker of a post down thread and the ensuing comments are why I love this place, warts, BoBs and all.

    That the whole center/left of the country’s got PTSD after the Bush years is a given, but the part that’s got my adrenals exhausted is the Cheney Bunch that won’t die.

    Liz Cheney is like the little girl in that old movie “The Bad Seed“. A dangerous, serial liar and a sociopath.

  61. 61.

    Punchy

    October 30, 2009 at 12:14 am

    Red Wings with just a redunkulous comeback from 1-5 to tie it up at 5. In OT ATM. Wow.

  62. 62.

    Cat Lady

    October 30, 2009 at 12:17 am

    Liz Cheney is like the little girl in that old movie “The Bad Seed“ Tonya Harding.

    Better.

  63. 63.

    Martin

    October 30, 2009 at 12:20 am

    @Yutsano:

    Yeah, cost of living where I am is 80% of what it is in Manhattan. Can I send the Time editors to talk to my boss. I need a raise of about 700,000,000%.

  64. 64.

    Fulcanelli

    October 30, 2009 at 12:22 am

    @Cat Lady: Anybody wanna bet Liz Cheney discussed classified intelligence information with her father over the last 8 eight years that was above her State Department security clearance?

    Sucker’s bet anybody?

  65. 65.

    Cat Lady

    October 30, 2009 at 12:32 am

    @Fulcanelli:

    I imagine her and Lynn and Dick watching those “missing” CIA torture tapes together, discussing whether the waterboard’s angle should be lower or the voltage higher, while eating lark’s wings in puppy sauce.

  66. 66.

    parksideq

    October 30, 2009 at 12:35 am

    To be fair, the Yankees are like a second stimulus package in these here parts (NY-Metro area).

    And as a Jay-Z and a Yankees fan, tonight was literally and figuratively full of win for me. This from a person freezing his ass off in NYC in a Rivera t-shirt.

    I await being chased off this blog.

  67. 67.

    Keith G

    October 30, 2009 at 12:36 am

    @Robertdsc-iphone: Yay! Happy for your family. Moms are so important.

  68. 68.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 12:36 am

    @parksideq: I await being chased off this blog.

    What fun would that be? We’ll just mock you mercilessly.

  69. 69.

    Fulcanelli

    October 30, 2009 at 12:40 am

    @Cat Lady: The more she runs her mouth on the TV, the greater the chances of somebody who would know such things (like what came out when in which report) will catch on and maybe blow the whistle.

    And of course our far-left, libtard main stream media would then run it into the end zone and smear her. Smear, I said! Smear that good patriotic woman and her Great American(TM) father!

    FSM, are you listening?

  70. 70.

    Fulcanelli

    October 30, 2009 at 12:42 am

    @Robertdsc-iphone: Old self + 40″ TV = Good Times! Best wishes for a speedy recovery for your Mom.

  71. 71.

    Ruckus

    October 30, 2009 at 12:43 am

    @Cat Lady:
    Nice visual before dinner, now I’m not nearly as hungry.
    And it wasn’t the lark’s wings in puppy sauce.

  72. 72.

    skippy

    October 30, 2009 at 12:43 am

    i post here because the nylons thread had over 100 comments already (tho i’m pushing that limit here already).

    in re: lion sleeps tonite (of which the nylons version is one of my favs):

    i did a moderately-researched skippy’s late nite music club last summer tracing the evolution of this song from its south african roots thru the american folk-doo wop-rock scenes (with a nod to the nyons, as well!)…

    anyone who has a major earworm from this song should visit and listen to the various versions. i especially like the original by solomon linda and the evening song birds.

  73. 73.

    Fulcanelli

    October 30, 2009 at 12:47 am

    @Cat Lady: Actually it was Lark’s Tongues in Aspic she’d be eating, with her father, the 21st Century Schizoid Man.

    Robert Fripp rules. Accept no substitutes.

  74. 74.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 12:47 am

    @jeffreyw: Dude you’re food pr0ning again. Not that I mind.

  75. 75.

    General Winfield Stuck

    October 30, 2009 at 12:50 am

    New Libby pic. The cute factor is near critical mass.

  76. 76.

    burnspbesq

    October 30, 2009 at 12:57 am

    @Martin:

    Hmm. We had a Rubinos here in Socal that had pizza exactly like that – thin crispy crust, cut untraditionally – awesome stuff. They bugged out about 6 years ago or so. They must be related.

    Currently, the best pizza in OC comes from Lenny’s on 17th Street in Tustin. Also try their seafood ravioli, which is TDF.

  77. 77.

    trollhattan

    October 30, 2009 at 12:58 am

    @Comrade Kevin #29

    Jeez, just finished watching TDS myself. Jon Stewart kicked Fox in the teeth for five straight minutes–with vigah.

    Not that they’ll notice.

    Cal Thomas seriously looks like he uses an undertaker for his makeup. It’s as goddamn disturbing as it is apropos.

  78. 78.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 12:59 am

    @burnspbesq: Got a couple of friends down that way (one of whom is active working for Jerry Brown’s election/re-election) might have to suggest that as a dining spot. She’s a vegetarian and he’s an omnivore, though not sure how close either is to Tustin.

  79. 79.

    burnspbesq

    October 30, 2009 at 1:03 am

    I yield to no one in my hatred for all things Yankee, but one is forced to admit that Mariano Rivera is the genuine article.

  80. 80.

    burnspbesq

    October 30, 2009 at 1:08 am

    Oh, and one other thing:

    GTHC.

  81. 81.

    freelancer (itouch)

    October 30, 2009 at 1:09 am

    Cole. As one of sully’s frequent defenders here, I gotta ask, how does it feel to be at the helm and “launch an attack”?

    Your serious post down page is why I read here. That and the rest of you. Y’all rock and you have more youth and heart than you realize.

    As for my night, I spent it writing, and now I feel vulnerable but excited. I haven’t written anything extensive that was personal or narrative in years. Feels good.

    http://thegreatamericandesert.wordpress.com/2009/10/29/your-hand-in-mine-origins-part-i/

  82. 82.

    Wile E. Quixote

    October 30, 2009 at 1:09 am

    @Robertdsc-iphone

    I’m glad your Mom is home from the hospital. MRSA is nasty stuff, I had a dose of it several years ago, fortunately for me it was just the nasty MRSA and not the really horrible MRSA like your Mom had. Take care.

  83. 83.

    Martin

    October 30, 2009 at 1:22 am

    @burnspbesq:

    We’ll have to try it. There was a good place in Costa Mesa 17th street a number of years back that was awesome, but they vanished. Our other local good places vanished as well. Rent is too high for pizza – at least pizza that won’t bankrupt me. With 2 kids, we’re past a single large and I can’t afford $45 for pizza dinner.

    I need to get back to making my own. It’s easy, reasonably fast when you make a big batch of dough and freeze it, and I can feed my family for about $6.

  84. 84.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 1:25 am

    @Martin: Not to encourage you one way or the other, but Domino’s is running a special on their specialty pizzas for $6.99 for a large pie. And a few of them are really really good.

  85. 85.

    burnspbesq

    October 30, 2009 at 1:29 am

    @Martin:

    There was a good place in Costa Mesa 17th street a number of years back that was awesome, but they vanished.

    Oh, yeah – Vinnie’s was indeed teh awesome.

    It’s a bitch that we lack for great pizza. But we have Wahoo’s and Taco Mesa, and that is ample consolation. Yeah, two blackened calamari tacos would really hit the spot right about now.

  86. 86.

    phillip anderson

    October 30, 2009 at 1:31 am

    Pataki goes rogue, endorses teabagger darling Doug Hoffman in NY-23. For reals.

  87. 87.

    Martin

    October 30, 2009 at 1:35 am

    Oh, yeah – Vinnie’s was indeed teh awesome.

    Yes! I forgot the name of the place. Le sigh…

    SoCal generally sucks for pizza – but I lived in NY, so there’s a pretty high standard there. SoCal wins, hands down, on mexican and burgers – and those are pretty important culinary categories. I could live on Tommy’s alone.

    Thankfully we also have Philly’s Best here in Irvine, so I can get a decent cheesesteak as well.

  88. 88.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 1:38 am

    @phillip anderson: Let the circular firing squad commence. This is gonna be extremely bloody when all is said and done.

  89. 89.

    mcd410x

    October 30, 2009 at 1:40 am

    “I don’t give a crap ’bout whales so go and hug a tree!”

  90. 90.

    soonergrunt

    October 30, 2009 at 1:43 am

    @Yutsano: Let’s get some popcorn!

  91. 91.

    bago

    October 30, 2009 at 1:45 am

    @Glidwrith: BillG actually played pretty conservatively, making sure the company always sat on lots of cash. Like 50 billion dollars.No dividends for 17 years. People like AIG had somewhere from 20-30 billion in reserve but were leveraged out to the tune of 500 billion to trillions depending on the parsing, and have been paying dividends on top of that for a while.

    So when Microsft made the Xbox 1, the total thing was about a 1 billion dollar loss, that was paid for by eating into the 50 billion in cash they had sitting in the bank.

    When AIG lost trillions, all they had to draw upon were their paltry reserves of tens of billions, and they had to ask Uncle Sugar to pay for the rest, less the financial system implode (goldman sachs holding the contracts for hundreds of those billions).

    One company cleared their credit cards and let the cash sit in the bank to pay for debacles like BOB and clippy, while the other maxed out their credit card and went crying to daddy when their Jag got reposessed. And then demanded a bonus.

  92. 92.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 1:45 am

    @soonergrunt: A guy I work with has family that makes kettle corn at farmer’s markets. They do all the funky flavors but the best is still the original. Will that work?

  93. 93.

    Tattoosydney

    October 30, 2009 at 1:45 am

    @Yutsano:

    Is this teh hint that Sydney and I should stop talking about Marines and such on your more serious thread?

    I are teh serius.

  94. 94.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 1:49 am

    @Tattoosydney: You is teh serious something, I won’t argue that!

    On a more semi-serious subject, I got an e-mail this morning about a job opening in my field in Sydney. Not saying I’m biting or anything but it did make me smile even before I got my coffee.

  95. 95.

    Tattoosydney

    October 30, 2009 at 1:50 am

    @Yutsano:

    platypi

    There is a school of overbearing and smarmy exactitude which would point out that, platypus being a word of Greek origin, the correct plural is “platypuses”.

    However, I am not of that school, and instead use “platypodes”….

  96. 96.

    Martin

    October 30, 2009 at 1:52 am

    @bago:

    Apple is doing that as well. $25B in cash, no debt. They’re investing in open source projects for the future as well.

    Funny how the old, conservative Wall Street guys are fucking up the world and the high-tech reinvent the world guys look like old money put it all in t-bills types.

    Quite the reversal from the 90s.

  97. 97.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 1:54 am

    @Tattoosydney: I is having all kinds of edjumacation today. Not only did I learn the British origin of trick-or-treating for All Hallow’s Eve, I’ve learned that platypus has multiple plurals. Plus “platypuses” just sounds too Anglicized to me.

  98. 98.

    Tattoosydney

    October 30, 2009 at 2:11 am

    @Yutsano:

    It’s 5pm Friday here… I need a drink. [Does weekend dance]

    It’s my buck’s night tomorrow night… (well, technically “our” bucks’ night, seeing as there are two bucks)

  99. 99.

    eco2geek

    October 30, 2009 at 2:11 am

    The other day, when I woke up, my newly adopted 8-year-old akita came into the room, tail wagging, licked my hand, and left. I thought, good morning to you, too. Then I thought, oh, what she’s really saying is she needs to go outside. :-P

    Tonight she’s running around, spazzing out because she sees my outside cat sitting on the kitchen windowsill begging for more food.

  100. 100.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 2:14 am

    @eco2geek: Dog doors are your friend. We would never survive having four cats without some sort of portal they could use to handle their own business.

  101. 101.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 2:16 am

    @Tattoosydney: It’s my Friday and technically my aging day. :) I’m not gonna get any sleep until my brother and sis-in-law get done packing for their honeymoon then I get to drive them off to get rid of them. I’m tired already, but cheers mate!

  102. 102.

    Steeplejack

    October 30, 2009 at 2:26 am

    @Tattoosydney:

    Answer to your question in the previous thread about BOB’s banning.

  103. 103.

    bago

    October 30, 2009 at 2:30 am

    @Martin: I prefer to look it as investing in talent. I’d much rather invest in engineerrs with PHDs in Fast Fourier Transforms than some DC twat who has a sister in the pentagon.

  104. 104.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 2:30 am

    I hope hop e hope this gets handed out all over the damn White House and to every Congresscritter. Amanpour has been one of my favorite journalists for a very long time and she actually gets to the heart of her material. I found this column illuminating and (dare I say it) hopeful.

    http://www.cnn.com/2009/OPINION/10/29/amanpour.afghanistan.pakistan/index.html

  105. 105.

    eco2geek

    October 30, 2009 at 2:34 am

    @Yutsano: Unfortunately, not for this dog. She’s already tried to snatch the cat off the windowsill once (fortunately, she was on a leash and only got it by the scruff of the neck before it got away) and I’m pretty sure she’d kill it if she could.

    (My wife thinks she’s currently attempting to guard us from the cat. :-)

    Quite unlike my last dog, a siberian husky who completely ignored the cats, we can’t let this one out by herself.

  106. 106.

    Cain

    October 30, 2009 at 2:34 am

    @jeffreyw:

    @Cain: As I told Mrs J when she called from work: no…not yet. And it’s raining tonight.

    Your dog is coming back, don’t worry.

    I became an uncle today. My sister-in-law gave birth to a healthy baby girl. Same birthday as my dad!

    cain

  107. 107.

    asiangrrlMN

    October 30, 2009 at 2:39 am

    @jeffreyw: Aw, that sucks. :( Hope to hear good news in the morning. I’m sending a white light for you, the missus, and Jack.

    @Yutsano: I cannot believe you and FH#1 are talking about sharing hubbies behind my back! *Sob! Oh, and you should look through jeffreyw’s whole Flickr set. Great food pr0n. deliquescentdreams, she is me. Oh, and happy aging day. You’re still a youngin’ to me.

    @Tattoosydney: Hey, FH#1! I see you and FH#2 are doing some serious bonding. Should I be worried?

  108. 108.

    asiangrrlMN

    October 30, 2009 at 2:41 am

    @Cain: Woot woot! Congrats.

    @Robertdsc-iphone: FTFY, but congrats on your moms getting out of the hospital.

    OK, I know there are a lot of B.o.B. softies at BJ, but I, for one, am much happier when he is banned.

  109. 109.

    Cain

    October 30, 2009 at 2:42 am

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Thank you! :)

    cain

  110. 110.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 2:42 am

    @eco2geek: That’s part Akita there. They can be a bit aggressive and territorial. The hand kiss thing was adorable though. Reminded me of that article about how dogs manipulate us to suit their needs as much as regard us as companions.

  111. 111.

    Tattoosydney

    October 30, 2009 at 2:44 am

    @Yutsano:

    aging day. :)

    Happy birthday!

    Not one year older, just one year cleverer.

  112. 112.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 2:44 am

    @asiangrrlMN: There you is! Where you been hiding? FH #1 has been spotty, I think he’s still slaving away some.

  113. 113.

    Tattoosydney

    October 30, 2009 at 2:46 am

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Should I be worried?

    Only if you think we might throw you over for some other fake wife….

    which I suspect is highly unlikely by the way…

    How many other wives would put up with us living in different states and sleeping with men every night?

  114. 114.

    Tattoosydney

    October 30, 2009 at 2:49 am

    @Steeplejack:

    Thanks. So, a well deserved banning then.

  115. 115.

    asiangrrlMN

    October 30, 2009 at 2:49 am

    @Yutsano: I’ve been blogging. Plus, I didn’t wanna get involved on the last thread, so I was just staying on the downlow until someone posted a new Open Thread.

    When are you taking the newlyweds to the airport?

  116. 116.

    burnspbesq

    October 30, 2009 at 2:49 am

    Just watched the first episode of the new season of FNL. It is still all that.

  117. 117.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 2:49 am

    @Tattoosydney: How many other wives would put up with us living in different states and sleeping with men every night?

    Speak for yourself there Tonto. Mine’s 3000+ miles away LOL.

  118. 118.

    asiangrrlMN

    October 30, 2009 at 2:50 am

    @Tattoosydney: Hm. This is true. Carry on, then. As you were!

  119. 119.

    asiangrrlMN

    October 30, 2009 at 2:51 am

    @Yutsano: Yes, well, at least you each HAVE one!

  120. 120.

    Tattoosydney

    October 30, 2009 at 2:51 am

    @Yutsano:

    slaving away some.

    Yep. Work has almost finished, but today I have given a two hour presentation for 30 hotel owners, written about 50 pages of legal gumph, and stopped global warming.

    Well, maybe not the last one, but I deserve a drink… Just one more advice to get out.

  121. 121.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 2:52 am

    @asiangrrlMN: Train station (they fly out in the morning for Miami) and whenever they’re done packing. I actually only have to drive them to a friend’s who will take them over (train leaves at 4 am) then off on a great adventure for them.

  122. 122.

    burnspbesq

    October 30, 2009 at 2:52 am

    @Tattoosydney:

    We needed a better troll anyway. No loss. Makewi is just going to have to step it up.

  123. 123.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 2:53 am

    @Tattoosydney: written about 50 pages of legal gumph

    Is that the official Australian legal term?

  124. 124.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 2:54 am

    @burnspbesq: That was a funny amirite?

  125. 125.

    asiangrrlMN

    October 30, 2009 at 2:57 am

    @Yutsano: You read my mind, dear hubby. The idea of Makalakaweewee being anything other than pathetic is highly amusing.

  126. 126.

    asiangrrlMN

    October 30, 2009 at 2:58 am

    @burnspbesq: I say DougJ should just dust off one of his old personae and be the superior troll that BJ deserves.

  127. 127.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 2:59 am

    @asiangrrlMN: We can always hope that Michael Gass steps his game up. Must…keep…ellipsis…powers…under control!

  128. 128.

    asiangrrlMN

    October 30, 2009 at 3:01 am

    @Yutsano: Oh my god. You just made me laugh for the first time today! Where…are…your…certs?

  129. 129.

    Ranger 3

    October 30, 2009 at 3:01 am

    Cowboys are hosting Seattle on Sunday. Time to pad the stats boys!

  130. 130.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 3:02 am

    @Ranger 3: Depends…who’s Romo fucking right now?

  131. 131.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 3:02 am

    @Ranger 3: Oh and GO SEACHICKENS!!

  132. 132.

    Tattoosydney

    October 30, 2009 at 3:15 am

    @burnspbesq:

    Makewi is just going to have to step it up.

    Na ga ha pen

  133. 133.

    Tattoosydney

    October 30, 2009 at 3:16 am

    @Yutsano:

    Is that the official Australian legal term?

    Sure is, cobber.

  134. 134.

    asiangrrlMN

    October 30, 2009 at 3:18 am

    @Tattoosydney: So our happy little family (you, Yutsano, and I) are in perfect agreement. Domestic harmony!

  135. 135.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 3:18 am

    @Tattoosydney: Na ga ha pen

    Gesundheit.

  136. 136.

    asiangrrlMN

    October 30, 2009 at 3:20 am

    I gotta go. Night all.

  137. 137.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 3:21 am

    @asiangrrlMN: Night sweetie. I’m gonna bond with your other hubby for a bit as I’m stuck waiting for the newlyweds to get all their crap together.

  138. 138.

    Tattoosydney

    October 30, 2009 at 3:27 am

    @asiangrrlMN:

    g’night, woman.

    @Yutsano:

    Oh, hey there, Mr. uh… Brown-Shoes! How about that … local sports team!

  139. 139.

    Anne Laurie

    October 30, 2009 at 3:27 am

    @parksideq:

    And as a Jay-Z and a Yankees fan, tonight was literally and figuratively full of win for me. This from a person freezing his ass off in NYC in a Rivera t-shirt… I await being chased off this blog.

    Everyone’s entitled to one filthy, nasty, revolting, disgusting hobby. You guys ever find out what I do with my discretionary dollars these days, there will probably be a petition launched to have me banned from BJ. Or the internets.

  140. 140.

    Martin

    October 30, 2009 at 3:31 am

    @Anne Laurie:

    You grow out your armpit hair, drive around on tractors, and look for pizza component bargains? Fishing for some BOB love would meet the criteria.

  141. 141.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 3:35 am

    @Anne Laurie: If it doesn’t involve somehow undermining the Steelers or the Penguins then I think you’re pretty much safe. Unless you’re the one posting all those pics of Jeff Kent on the Douchebag blog. Well no not even that would do it I think, you’re not making him act like the dumbdonkey.

  142. 142.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 3:41 am

    @Tattoosydney: I was gonna make this deal with my British boss but I don’t think he could so I’ll try with you. If you can explain to me in as succinct a fashion as possible the rules of cricket then I will buy you an alcoholic beverage of your choice.

  143. 143.

    Tattoosydney

    October 30, 2009 at 3:46 am

    @Yutsano:

    Test, one-day or 20/20?

  144. 144.

    Tattoosydney

    October 30, 2009 at 3:47 am

    @Yutsano:

    Just kidding.

    Cricket is a game which involves 22 people doing bugger all on a field, while the crowd watch, drink, play music, shout at each other and generally have a good time. What happens on the field is largely irrelevant, and only happens for the purpose of giving you something to look at between beers.

    That is all you need to know about cricket.

  145. 145.

    freelancer

    October 30, 2009 at 3:51 am

    It’s late,

    my friend’s parked car got rear-ended by some DUI who’s now going away for a long, long time. His car’s kind of screwed, but he doesn’t feel that bad about it, but I feel twice as anxious and excited about what I wrote earlier.

    Like I’m opening myself up to experience more vile adolescent hatred, more immature rejection. Maybe it’s the age, and what I’ve gone through. Anyways, thanks guys and gals. Today has been an absolute hoot. See you tomorrow.

  146. 146.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 3:53 am

    @Tattoosydney: One could almost make the same argument for American football, which from what I understand in the various countries in the Commonwealth the rules of which confounds all of them up to and including the very name. We do tend to pay a bit more attention to what happens on the field, but otherwise it’s just a good excuse to get toasted and rowdy.

  147. 147.

    burnspbesq

    October 30, 2009 at 3:55 am

    Cricket is a cross between baseball and Calvinball.

    Now take that yakker and hit it over third slip for four.

  148. 148.

    burnspbesq

    October 30, 2009 at 3:58 am

    If you understand my last comment you have spent far too much time watching cricket.

  149. 149.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 4:02 am

    @burnspbesq: Totally lost, which I am guessing should make me feel better. It could just be my inherent intellectual curiosity but I wanna understand this phenomenon dammit.

  150. 150.

    burnspbesq

    October 30, 2009 at 4:12 am

    @Yutsano:

    Yakker is a bastardization of “yorker,” which is the cricket equivalent of a backdoor slider, a ball delivered at the batsman but with spin that will cause it (ideally) to bounce away to the side of the wicket away from the batsman (I assume you know that in cricket, the bowled ball is supposed to bounce before it gets to the batsman).

    Third slip is a defensive position. Using a third slip is a lot like putting three infielders on the left side against a right-handed pull hitter.

    A batted ball that crosses the boundary on one or more bounces is worth four runs.

  151. 151.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 4:21 am

    @burnspbesq: Just from that I’m already understanding the Calvinball analogy. Just out of curiosity, do we need to explain Calvinball to the Aussie over there?

  152. 152.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 4:29 am

    Calvinball:

  153. 153.

    Anne Laurie

    October 30, 2009 at 4:51 am

    @Martin: I said filthy, nasty, and disgusting — not stupid!

    @Yutsano:

    Just out of curiosity, do we need to explain Calvinball to the Aussie over there?

    Dude! It’s in teh Lexicon! (And I was so proud of compiling that definition, too… )

  154. 154.

    Ranger 3

    October 30, 2009 at 5:00 am

    @Yutsano: Your mom. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

  155. 155.

    Yutsano

    October 30, 2009 at 5:25 am

    @Anne Laurie: In my (minor) defense, I think we were discussing Calvinball in the literal sense. The definition is pretty damn awesome. :)

    @Ranger 3: Assuming that statement were true, he wouldn’t be sucking ass dude.

  156. 156.

    JenJen

    October 30, 2009 at 8:18 am

    @jeffreyw: While that is, indeed, some nice-looking pizza pie, it wouldn’t be admitted to Club Rubino’s. Way way way too much dough, mi amigo. Give me wafer-thin, delicately-sauced, lightly-cheesed pizza all day long. :-)

  157. 157.

    parksideq

    October 30, 2009 at 8:26 am

    @Anne Laurie: As long as you didn’t vote McCain (or root for the BoSox) I’m sure your indulgence isn’t that egregious.

  158. 158.

    soonergrunt

    October 30, 2009 at 9:01 am

    @Yutsano: Oh, yeah, with extra butter.
    We just need some really good beer and we’re set.

  159. 159.

    Tattoosydney

    October 30, 2009 at 11:23 am

    @Yutsano:

    Just out of curiosity, do we need to explain Calvinball to the Aussie over there?

    No.

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