Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Insiders who complain to politico: please report to the white house office of shut the fuck up.

After roe, women are no longer free.

Everybody saw this coming.

It’s easy to sit in safety and prescribe what other people should be doing.

Prediction: the GOP will rethink its strategy of boycotting future committees.

Tick tock motherfuckers!

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

I didn’t have alien invasion on my 2023 BINGO card.

Accountability, motherfuckers.

He really is that stupid.

This blog will pay for itself.

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

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

The words do not have to be perfect.

Let us savor the impending downfall of lawless scoundrels who richly deserve the trouble barreling their way.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

“Squeaker” McCarthy

When someone says they “love freedom”, rest assured they don’t mean yours.

You cannot shame the shameless.

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Reader Interactions

193Comments

  6. 6.

    Madison Mike

    Hi John. Long-time reader, first-time poster.

    I’m so bent this week that Big Ben went franchise record on my Packers that I can’t even muster any anger about HC*urk*…

    Happy whatever, you and all.

  7. 7.

    rob!

    I bought my gf an iPhone for xmas, and I spent today putting her favorite songs on it, plus adding some cool apps she’ll love playing around with.

  8. 8.

    Studly Pantload

    My unemployed ass needs a hobby, because after a year of requiring me to actively search for a job each week, I’m starting to suspect that the unemployment office has sent me on a snipe hunt.

  11. 11.

    Sentient Puddle

    I’m also in Albuquerque, finally on vacation. It would make me even happier…except I still have Christmas shopping I gotta do. Bah.

    Any New Mexicans know of any local brews I should try while I’m here?

  12. 12.

    Madison Mike

    Hi John. Long-time reader, first-time poster.

    I’m so bent this week that Big Ben went franchise record on my Packers that I can’t even muster any anger about HC*urk*…Only my wife and our Tunchesque white cat can bring me joy. That and the Cotes du Rhone I’m drinking. +lost effing count.

    Also, happy whatever, you and all.

  13. 13.

    BR

    How about that HRC? She’s promised 100 billion for poor countries at Copenhagen.

    Isn’t that socialism? Where are the investigations, alliances with Grover Norquist demanding her resignation, etc.?

  14. 14.

    Sentient Puddle

    @KDP: Uh…good question. Motorolla Droid…whichever one you get through Verizon. I have yet to play around with it enough to really love it, but for the time being, I’m happy to have a phone that doesn’t have an incredibly flaky touch screen.

  15. 15.

    JK

    Firstread’s Top 10 Risers of the Decade or MSNBC on Drugs

    From NBC’s Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro
    “Yesterday, we listed our Top 10 political downfalls of the decade. Today, in the Christmas spirit, we look at the risers — today’s prominent politicians (many with bright futures), who we didn’t know at the beginning of the decade. This was a harder list to come up with than our downfall one”

    1. Barack Obama
    2. Sarah Palin
    3. Bobby Jindal
    4. Chuck Schumer
    5. Marco Rubio
    6. John Thune
    7. Eric Cantor
    8. Tim Kaine
    9. Bob McDonnell
    10. Brian Schweitzer
    Honorable Mentions: Paul Ryan, Jon Huntsman, Claire McCaskill, Mark Warner, Jim Webb.

    h/t http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/12/23/2159690.aspx

  16. 16.

    Ty Lookwell

    OK, I just spent time with a neighbor’s cat on the sidewalk who was very friendly – walking over to me when i bent down – and then we went though this weird ritual of me petting him/her, and her rolling over on her back and then jumping up and biting my hand and then more petting and then more rolling over, jumping up, biting my hand, etc… is there a kind of socialization for cats of learning how to be pet(ted)? It seems like cats are very idiosyncratic in how they like to be pet and scratched, very different than dogs. Am I mistaken in this?

  18. 18.

    Comrade Jake

    @Sentient Puddle:

    I’m not a New Mexican, but have worked in ABQ a fair amount. I’d recommend heading down to the Chama River Brewing Company or to Kelly’s. Both have a great selection of beer.

  20. 20.

    South of I-10

    In retrospect, going to Target for wine two days before Christmas was a bad idea. I feel it should count as my feat of strength.

  23. 23.

    Nellcote

    I’ve been nagging my daughter for well over 5 years to stop shopping at Walmart. The last couple of years she’s been defensive about it while finding that shopping at alternatives isn’t all that difficult. The current recession has focused the arguement on Walmart taking jobs and small business down. Economic “theory” hitting main street in a way that she can actually see. So in our latest phone call she mentioned that she had finally watched the Walmart movie and now she’s steaming mad and prostelizing heavily amongst her friends to STOP shopping at Walmart! She was particularly moved by seeing how the Asian workers are treated.

    Progress made, one consumer at a time.

  24. 24.

    jl

    I do understand that the High Chip Rate transmission mode of UMTS-TDD 3G standard has been a sore point with Cole for a long time.

    But I think such a heavy handed censorship on a recipe, pet and “Stillers suck” blog is inappropriate and in violation of this blog’s posted ethical standards for open, prissy and high minded debate of all issues in the spirit of George Will and all Ivy League bowties everywhere.

    But a Tunchmas, SantaTunch pic will fix everything.

    Gimme Turkee.

  25. 25.

    Annie

    @Ty Lookwell:

    No, you are right. My cats like to be petted under their chins and on their butts. When I pet my darling boy on his butt, he actually raises his head, closes his eyes, and sighs…Then all 25lbs of him wants to settle on my chest, just like he did when he was a kitten. Which is quite cute except I can’t breath…

  26. 26.

    Corner Stone

    Not sure how to ask this – but – I see a few BJ’ers saying they’re out of work, or have been out of work. I’d like to know what industry you are in, or specific function if that’s a possible request. I don’t want to be more of an ass about it than I usually am.

  27. 27.

    Elisabeth

    @JK:

    Sarah’s still a politician? Was she ever?

    BTW, I never want to see her name anywhere near the president’s again unless it’s “President Obama won a second term in a landslide over Sarah Palin/whatever scmuck she could convince to run with her.”

  28. 28.

    Studly Pantload

    @Mike E:

    I’ve been blacklisted from any babysitting jobs after a snooping mom smelled the bourbon I gave her kid on his breath. I know, I know — shoulda used vodka.

  29. 29.

    Mike E

    @Corner Stone:
    My industry, that’s cute!
    I’m a recovering nonprofit worker–aptly named, ’cause there’s no money in it. Now waiting for the census people to snap me up…

  31. 31.

    Mike E

    @Studly Pantload:
    I use the “velvet hammer.”
    Actually a great gig, cute kid — 2-3 is my favorite age, I’m not squeemish, know all his tactics. Besides, mine is too big to cuddle.

  32. 32.

    JK

    @Elisabeth:

    That FirstRead post should have ended with

    Mark Murray and Domenico Montanaro +100

    The MSM is committed to kissing Sarah Palin’s ass for the forseeable future

  33. 33.

    robertdsc

    This is for Freelancer and any other MW2 people:

    I reached level 70 the other day but won’t Prestige for a while. Too many challenges to beat before I do that, lol.

  34. 34.

    demkat620

    Okay so we are having a potluck party on Saturday and I usually don’t buy beer but for thiis I will.

    Any suggestions for a decent, not too expense bottled beer I can get by the case in PA or DE?

  35. 35.

    Roger Moore

    @Studly Pantload:
    Might I suggest sourdough baking as a hobby? It’s ideal for somebody with a lot of time on their hands, and it theoretically saves money compared to buying it from the store. And I may not agree with BOB on much, but I’ll agree that homemade pizza- in my case with a sourdough crust- is one of life’s great pleasures.

  36. 36.

    Corner Stone

    @Mike E: Like I said, not sure how to ask.
    I guess I could find online graphs, or reports, etc but thought I’d start with anecdotes and then make them into data.

  38. 38.

    comrade scott's agenda of rage

    @Ty Lookwell:

    It seems like cats are very idiosyncratic in how they like to be pet and scratched, very different than dogs. Am I mistaken in this?

    No.

    Thus endeth today’s episode of One Word Answers to Deep Questions.

  40. 40.

    nitpicker

    Christmas dinner this year: Roasted salmon with herbed stuffing. Excited.

    Anyone else cooking something nontraditional?

  41. 41.

    Studly Pantload

    @Corner Stone:

    Ha! My last two jobs were in bank departments that made loans to companies that built single-family residences. Guess the market got soft or sumthin.

    Problem is, I live in Seattle, and ever since WaMu went boobies up, I’m one of many, many folks with banking experience applying for the pitifully meager bank openings. Meanwhile, it’s a horrible time to try to transition to another industry (my ideal is to get into non-profit) without industry experience.

  42. 42.

    Corner Stone

    @demkat620: Just go with Newcastle Brown. I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t like it and it starts tasting much more full and rich the closer to room temperature it gets.
    Goes with just about anything.

  50. 50.

    jl

    @Lesley: that is delightful Santa cat video. Tunch would need a Santa hat, though, preferrably raked at a Chicago gangster angle.

    A catchy little Tunchmas-y Iron Maiden tune would go nice.

  51. 51.

    Mike E

    @Studly Pantload:
    You can start with store-bought pizza dough to get the hang of it, rolling it out, different toppings.

    I worked for the ‘Nos back in the day, made a mean brunch omelet pizza.

  53. 53.

    JK

    @Elisabeth:

    I didn’t see the downfall list. Was McCain on it for losing badly and nominating that twit?

    McCain was left off of FirstRead’s Top 10 Political Downfalls because they regard him as the President in Exile

    The Decade’s Top 10 Political Downfalls

    From NBC’s Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro
    “Following our Top 10 list of the decade’s best statewide races, today we look at the decade’s Top 10 political downfalls. What did we get right? What did we get wrong? We’d love your thoughts…”

    1. John Edwards
    2. George Allen
    3. Mark Sanford
    4. Tom DeLay
    5. Rod Blagojevich
    6. Jim McGreevey
    7. Eliot Spitzer
    8. Joe Lieberman
    9. Rudy Giuliani
    10. Larry Craig

    h/t http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2009/12/22/2159031.aspx

  55. 55.

    rob!

    Anybody watch Countdown tonight? Sub-host Lawrence O’Donnell opened the show with a looooong segment blasting Obama for supposedly going back on his word re: the Public Option.

    As it went on (and on, and on…) my gf and I turned to one another, not believing what we were seeing. The point seemed to be: “Obama wanted a public option. There’s not one in the bill. TRAITOR!” We finally turned it off in disgust.

    Yes, Obama wanted a public option, but he’s not getting one because the f**king Senate is broken. And that’s Obama’s fault HOW? Does ANYONE other than Jane Hamsher believe that Obama could get Ben Nelson or Joe Lieberman not to be total pricks on this?

    (Sorry, John, this does involve HCR a little bit, but…if you ban me, I’ll just go back to posting as Brick Oven Bill!)

  56. 56.

    Studly Pantload

    @South of I-10:

    I’m counting my Feat of Strength as maintaining support for Obama in the face of the mass stampede to decry him as unworthy for not being able to condense four terms of FDR into his first year.

  57. 57.

    Corner Stone

    @Mike E: Not looking, I’m actually in a good spot.
    That’s why I didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes, but did want some info for purely not useful to anyone but me reasons.

    ETA – Or did you mean the listings/info at GOS may give me more info on this subject? I don’t visit GOS, but thanks for the tip.

  59. 59.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Mark S. 8:22 pm

    Mindmeld! See my post #120 / 6:55 pm in the Open Thread just below.

    That Night of the Laughing Helicopters will give me joy in memory for years to come.

  60. 60.

    jacy

    The holiday shopping is done, so the holiday drinking has begun. I plan to drink steadily until sometime on the evening of the 26th, which is my birthday. Hopefully I will drink enough to forget how old I am, and my hockey team will not CHOKE like they did last night.

    And Santa says that if Mr. Spike gets out the window again, there will be no cream cheese in the kitteh Christmas stocking. Because elves who are up all night worrying about kittehs being hit by cars are reluctant to dole out holiday cheer.

    Happy Christmas/Xmas/Solstice/Kwanzaa/Hannukah/Festivus/Yule to all Balloon Juicers far and wide. I love you guys. Also.

  69. 69.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Elisabeth: It means you’ve had one drink.

    @arguingwithsignposts: Very cute! As for the single Christmas…eh. I got nothing. Sorry. Just cuddle more with the kitteh and watch a good movie (warning, not a British comedy because they apparently like lots of pathos with their humour) and cry if need be. And post. There will be plenty of us around.

    @SiubhanDuinne: Yeah, well I beat both of you by posting about it in as an OT in an earlier thread!

    And, TUNCHIE!!

  70. 70.

    Elisabeth

    @JK:

    You’re right about the president in exile. I forgot.

    I think the news of Eliott Spitzer’s political demise might have been a bit premature. I’d bet a couple of bucks we’ll see him around somewhere in the not too distant future.

  71. 71.

    MikeJ

    @Mike E: Micro fluff is beautiful and long wearing! Truly the most amazing material you ever saw!

    I’m not really sure what things need to be flocked (or “flok”ed) but that would be the stuff to do it I suppose.

  72. 72.

    Davis X. Machina

    What did the High Commissioner for Refugees ever to do Cole?

    Is this some long-running beef with the UN I’m coming in late on?

  73. 73.

    Elisabeth

    @Corner Stone:

    LOL. Okay. I’m at work but, hey, I’m game for anything.

    I think I meant to say “cosign” not “+1.” This lexicon stuff takes some getting used to.

  75. 75.

    Mike in NC

    MSM is committed to kissing Sarah Palin’s ass for the forseeable future

    I can see them pouring the love out during 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, but after that they just might catch a clue.

  76. 76.

    Studly Pantload

    @rob!:

    The problem was Obama flatly stating he didn’t campaign on a public option. Gasoline, meet flames. Pity he had to go that route; his ability to remain above playing that kind of game was part of what made him such a compelling candidate.

    But, yeah, there’s not nearly enough coverage of how the Republicans and Blue Dogs having itchy filibuster fingers is what killed the public option/Medicare buy-in. If this were the ’80s, the Senate would have passed a bill more in line with the House bill and Droopity Dawg would’ve been left raging impotently.

    Guess we’re gonna haveta start our own blog now, eh?

  78. 78.

    JK

    @fraught:

    Chuck Todd and his colleagues at FirstRead are either paralyzed above the neck or simply brain dead. Obama kicked McCain’s ass in the presidential election, yet Palin is #2 on the list of Top 10 Risers of the Decade and McCain is nowhere to be found on the list of the Top 10 Political Downfalls of the Decade.

  81. 81.

    Martin

    @Studly Pantload:

    Baking is a little different. If you are a recipe-follower, baking can be frustrating because baking is very variable dependent and much more sensitive to variations in oven temperature, humidity, ingredients, etc. Sometimes it hits, sometimes not. My pie dough recipe which was great for a decade went to hell about 2 years ago – couldn’t figure out why for 3-4 pies. Turns out we changed flour brands and I missed it. The new flour required more liquid than the old.

    Baking really moves you away from recipe-following and into cooking.

    But I’ll 2nd the vote for homemade pizza. It’s overall very easy to prepare, though the mechanics of stretching out the dough and getting it in the oven can take some work. But it’s really fucking cheap and easy and far better than anything you’d get for a decent price. Where I live a large cheese pizza starts at $12 anywhere but Costco and $20 isn’t uncommon. Making a pizza for $4 adds up really fast, especially when the kids have pushed you into 2 larges for dinner.

    But, if you are going to start out, one tip is that if you have a large cast-iron skillet, try making your first few pies in that. Give the skillet a good coat of olive oil to start. It’ll be more of a deep-dish pie, but the skillet requires less stretching, buys you a bit more time to work, and you can put the skillet on the burner for a few minutes to get the bottom browning before you shove it in the oven. Just be careful to not put so much heat under it that it burns. You can graduate from that once you feel you have the dough/rise, temp, consistency, etc. worked out.

  82. 82.

    mcd410x

    And … is there anyone in the league who has underachieved more than Vincent Lecavalier this season. I thought the Bolts were nuts to have been shopping him last year, but nine goals? Nine? NINE?

    Talent is wasted on the young.

    Get off my lawn. Also.

  83. 83.

    Mike in NC

    @TaosJohn:

    I guess this isn’t the thread to ask for donations to my mandate fund, then.

    Dude, date all the men you want to but don’t ask us to pick up the tab.

  85. 85.

    Elisabeth

    @Mike in NC:

    I read at TPM that she banned media from an event in her hometown. At what point do they started getting pissed off at the lack of access at events that are generally open? Please say the answer is really soon.

  88. 88.

    Martin

    @JK: Sarah Palin was still mayor of Wasila in 2002. Getting from there to where she is, batshit insane as she may be, is pretty goddamn meteoric.

  89. 89.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Fraught

    *i would put Larry Craig above Joe Lieberman.*

    Larry on top? That’s not the picture I wanted in my head.

  92. 92.

    Seebach

    I know we’re not supposed to mention it, but Hamsher does need to be kneecapped by anyone with any sense. This neo-Whitewater thing is going to fuck everything up. No fan of Rahm, no fan of the compromises and sellouts, but you do not cause inter-party warfare of this magnitude.

  95. 95.

    Demo Woman

    @JK: Wow! Bush leaves the country in a shambles and he’s no where to be found on the list. That darn liberal media.
    Josh Marshall has a video of Ensign talking about solemn vows. lol
    Mark Foley must be smiling.

  96. 96.

    burnspbesq

    @Seebach:

    Hamsher does need to be kneecapped

    I would venture to guess that no one here will try to talk you out of your noble quest.

  98. 98.

    JK

    @John Cole:

    No Ted Stevens or “Duke” Cunningham?

    Ted Stevens or Duke Cunningham don’t appear on Top 10 Political Downfalls.

    The reason why John McCain, Ted Stevens, and Duke Cunningham, George Bush, and Dick Cheney don’t appear on FirstRead’s Top 10 Political Downfalls of the Decade List is that either Tommy Lee Jones or Will Smith used that memory erasure device from Men in Black on Chuck Todd and his FirstRead colleagues and they have no recollection of John McCain’s loss to Obama, the scandals involving Ted Stevens and Duke Cunningham, or the Bush Cheney administration.

    Addendum to Decade’s Top 10 Political Downfalls according to Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro

    Honorable mention: Bob Ney, Mark Foley, Arnold Schwarzenegger, William Jefferson, Rick Santorum, Tom Daschle, John Ensign

  101. 101.

    Comrade Jake

    McCain would be amongst the top 10 downfalls, but the media’s convinced he’s still a Very Important Person, because only Very Important People are asked to appear on the Sunday shows. You see how that works?

  103. 103.

    RedKitten

    I jsut fucking love you guys.

    Krista + 5

    Don’t judg eme. ?Mom’s here, and hubby’s sober, so SamKitten is in good hands. Besides he’s sleeping the sleep of the innocent, bless his tiny wee small heart.

    I fucking love htat kid.

    and you guys. Too. Also.

  104. 104.

    Anne Laurie

    @Ty Lookwell:

    I just spent time with a neighbor’s cat on the sidewalk who was very friendly – walking over to me when i bent down – and then we went though this weird ritual of me petting him/her, and her rolling over on her back and then jumping up and biting my hand and then more petting and then more rolling over, jumping up, biting my hand, etc… is there a kind of socialization for cats of learning how to be pet(ted)? It seems like cats are very idiosyncratic in how they like to be pet and scratched, very different than dogs.

    Well, dogs can be idiot-syncratic as well. But cats do seem to have more of a problem with getting “overstimulated” when they’re being stroked by a human. Best I can tell (or have heard it explained), for the cat, it’s like being tickled — it’s so fun, it feels great, then suddenly it’s too much and you gotta STOP RIGHT NOW. Most cats who live with people learn to self-modulate, to either accept the strokes or to change position when their nervous system gets ‘overwhelmed’. And when you live with a cat, you find out that Ginger can’t stand to be touched under the chin, or Slinky freaks out when you rub the base of her tale. But individual cats can be as neurotic / quirky as individual people — our 16-year-old feral rescue Toby has an ineradicable case of the “Pet me now! No, I hate that! Why do you not pet me when I beg and plead! No no not touch don’t! But pet me!… “ which she will do for, well, longer than we’ve ever been able to keep up, even when wearing a claw-proof gauntlet.

  106. 106.

    R-Jud

    @South of I-10: Isn’t that like the first Rule of Cat? “If there is a box, get in it.” And number two: “If there is paper, sit on it. Doesn’t matter if someone’s reading it. Sit on it.”

  109. 109.

    Gwangung

    Gone to the parents and posting from their living room. They’re amused and intrigued by my smartphone ability.

  111. 111.

    R-Jud

    @RedKitten: Back atcha.

    Hey, what are you doing for SamKitten as far as presents? The Bean is getting some blocks and maracas and a toy piano, and then beyond that, we thought we’d wrap some empty boxes for her to tear apart.

    Infants: so hard to shop for!

  116. 116.

    RedKitten

    @Studly Pantload:
    noooo! Don’t go into non-profit! I work in non-profit, and it’s a royal pain in the ass. For starters, they’re ALWAYS understaffed so you wind up wearing about 40 fucking hats at once. And hten, you constantly don’t know if you’ll have a job htree months from now, because you don’t know if you’ll get any funding or not. And benefits? Furget it.

    Don’t do it. Work for a soulless corporation. You may not feel like you’re changing hte world, but at least you won’t be growing three new pet ulcers in as man years.

  117. 117.

    Jay in Oregon

    @rogerdaddy:

    What, the black lump of festering evil that is Phelps’ heart hasn’t crawled up his throat and throttled his brain yet?

    When Dick Cheney crawled out of hell to accept the VP nomination, he was riding on Phelps’ coattails.

  119. 119.

    RedKitten

    @R-Jud: We got him a sled, but don’t tell im. We can pull him around in it in the snow. Other than that. we got him varios necessities for his stocking.

    Oh, and we got him a lump of coal. We’re going to try to get a pic of him making “the lip” while holding it. Epic.

  123. 123.

    RedKitten

    @asiangrrlMN:

    @RedKitten: Man, I want what you’re having.

    Just wine, my friend. Just wine. But, my tolerance is pitfully low. I didn’t drink at all while pregnant. and have hardly drank at all since then, as one must be responsible and remain sober in case one’s child needs to go to the ER all of a suddne, and it would NOT look good to be staggering around like a drunken twat in the ER. However, since Mom’s here, stepdads’ here, and hubby’s here, and they’re all sober, I said “FUck it.”

  125. 125.

    South of I-10

    @asiangrrlMN: Katie loves the boxes, even if it is too small. Older kitty Pati would never humiliate herself with such antics. We picked her up in a parking lot years ago, and she is happy to have food and a warm bed. She is currently sleeping under the Christmas tree.

  126. 126.

    R-Jud

    @RedKitten:

    Oh, and we got him a lump of coal. We’re going to try to get a pic of him making “the lip” while holding it. Epic.

    I haz a sad. Bean doesn’t do the lip. She yells “NEH!” and then shoves her fist in her mouth.

    Bean has a stocking too, but it is mostly going to be filled with more crinkly paper for her to mess with. She loves crinkly stuff.

  129. 129.

    RedKitten

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    @RedKitten:
    So tell us how you really feel. I’d recommend gov’t work over non-profit, but these days, gov’t work is even shaky.

    It’s a mixed bag. I used to work for the most soulless of soulless corporations…the credit bureau. (Cue ominous music…) It had its own issues, needless to say. HOWEVER, unlike today, I wasn’t worried every damn day as to whether or not my employer would actually exist a month from now.

    Non-profits can be very satisfying, if you like the idea of working for “the good guy”. But, if you’re looking for stability? Not so much.

  132. 132.

    Studly Pantload

    @RedKitten:

    I hears ya. Actually, I live in the town where the Gates Foundation is headquartered, so when I say “non-profit,” that’s what I really mean. With Buffet’s billions flowing in, they’re one of the few outfits in town hiring like gangbusters. Were that I had Outlook calendaring experience, I’d prolly be toiling away there right now. *le sigh*

  134. 134.

    JK

    @asiangrrlMN:

    This is my least favorite time of the year and I’m eager to put this year in the rearview mirror ASAP, but I’m hanging in there. Glad to see you posting. I haven’t checked your blog or other blogs in general for awhile. I hope your health has improved since I last corresponded with you.

    Nothing personal against your beloved Minnesota Vikings, but I’m so disgusted by Brett Favre over this pissing contest with Brad Childress that I hope the Vikings get their asses kicked in the playoffs and that Favre throws 5 interceptions and gets carried off the field in a stretcher. I’ve had all I can take with Favre’s fucking diva act.

  135. 135.

    RedKitten

    @R-Jud: Sam does AWESOME lip. It’s seriously full of win. I have to laugh everytime he does it, though, because it’s so over-the-top. It’s like a bad actor, showing how well he can “emote”.

    When he’s seriously pissed off or hungry, the lip does not make an appearance — then it’s just the crying. Which breaks my heart. But the lip? That’s just funny.

  136. 136.

    Gravenstone

    @Sentient Puddle:

    I haz a Droid.

    Chiming in as another convert to the Droid Army. So far so good, even thought I’ve long (long long) maintained that I am a neo-Luddite and would never ever own a cell phone. Just goes to show what little I know.

  138. 138.

    asiangrrlMN

    @JK: Yeah, I will be happy to see the last of this year. And, I agree with you about Favre. I loathe him and always have. I hope your 2010 is better than your 2009.

  140. 140.

    Davis X. Machina

    …if you like the idea of working for “the good guy”. But, if you’re looking for stability? Not so much.

    The salary will never be transportable, and guaranteed, but someday the pension and the health insurance both will be. Income-based repayment for student loans is coming. We won’t see it all in my lifetime — I’m 52 — but in my children’s. We’re taking baby steps.

  142. 142.

    Gwangung

    @asiangrrlMN: dad wants me to Twitter the niece (problem is that I’m barely competent with stuff)(and SHE doesn’t necessarily wants to pal around with her fuddy duddy uncle).

  143. 143.

    Annie

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    Don’t worry. They are love scratches, and you will be fine. In my household, we all have scratches. One of my kitties still tries to get in my lap by climbing my legs. And that hurts! But, after all this time (he is 6 and she is 11), I am not scarred, they are happy, and I absolutely adore them.

  146. 146.

    Gravenstone

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    Should I worry about the scratches? Or the bites? I love her clawing at me, but worry about the scars. Some other cat owners can chime in here, too.

    Cat borne scratches are nothing. Unless you get a cranky tom who wields their hind legs as lethal disemboweling weapons, that is. If you’re worried, just make sure you wash your hands well after a thorough mauling and you won’t have any scarring or other notable issues. This coming from someone who always had cats growing up who just loved to the the trap and bite/kick/scratch trick after suckering you into giving them a “harmless” belly rub.

  147. 147.

    Anne Laurie

    @jacy:

    And Santa says that if Mr. Spike gets out the window again, there will be no cream cheese in the kitteh Christmas stocking. Because elves who are up all night worrying about kittehs being hit by cars are reluctant to dole out holiday cheer.

    That made me LOL… bitterly. On the bright side, last time our nutball little dog Zevon pulled a houdini, instead of heading for the horizon, he hid in the bushes just across the street and waited for me to haul out the good treats and call him back. Although I agree it would be better if Mr. Spike never bothered repeating his not-so-excellent-for-YOU adventure…

    P.S. Happy Boxing Birthday, in advance!

  148. 148.

    arguingwithsignposts

    Let me just chime in to say this is the awesomest community. We’re waving off HCR to talk non-profit jobs, cat scratches and Droids, not to mention putting up with my kitteh blogging. You guys rock. Is this that Christmas spirit I hear so much about?

  149. 149.

    JK

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    Fuck Tony Romo and those motherfucking Dallas Cowboys too. I was totally psyched for a Super Bowl between an undefeated Indy Colts and an undefeated NO Saints and those fucking Cowboys had to screw it all up.

  152. 152.

    Elisabeth

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Fran got her head stuck in the handle of a plastic bag once. She went tearing out of the room with that bag flapping behind her like a parachute. It was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. (I might have been tipsy at the time, though.) She came racing back and I was able to get her out of it but, man, that was funny.

  157. 157.

    Studly Pantload

    @RedKitten:

    = )

    I actually did work at a non-profit 10 years back. Even did exec support at that firm. Just not calendaring, which an agency recruiter that Gates contracts with told me they want to see in in my work experience. I’m sure it’s not rocket science, but it’s hard to transition right now when every industry is being flooded with people with recent, industry-specific experience. If this were the roaring ’90s, with my background, I’d probably have no problem convincing them to take me on.

  161. 161.

    JK

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    You’re welcome.

    I’m still angry at the Cowboys for passing that gut check test against the Saints.

    A Super Bowl between a pair of unbeaten teams would have been the first time all the pre-game hype was truly justified.

  164. 164.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Demo Woman: I *know!* Not that I’ve been around BJ all that long, but I’ve never seen that troll before or since. Thing is, he (I assume he, but maybe she) had such an idiosyncratic and consistent style that it seems to me it would have been almost impossible for Cole or any of the regulars to keep it going for hours and hours. If it was a spoof it was fvcking brilliant.
    @Jay in Oregon: Very glad to see you, sir. I was asking after you a few days ago. Hope things have smoothed out for you somewhat.

  166. 166.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Rachel is teasing a TMI segment on Senator Jim DeMint (Asshat-SC) coming up in 5 … 4 … 3 …

  169. 169.

    South of I-10

    @R-Jud: @RedKitten: Oh sure, they are all adorable now, but wait until they are channeling Veruca Salt like mine was last Friday. Some threats involving Santa and coal may have been made.

  170. 170.

    Anne Laurie

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    Should I worry about the scratches? Or the bites? I love her clawing at me, but worry about the scars. Some other cat owners can chime in here, too.

    Smudge is, what, nine weeks old? This is when she’s learning good play behavior, which does NOT include scratching/biting. Basically, when you’re playing & she gets too excited, say ATCK! and stop immediately. (You want to replicate the noise your mom made when you did something stupid & dangerous. Smudge’s mom made a very similar noise when Smudge went too far. Short, sharp, crisply-enunciated vowel sound.) If Smudge doesn’t get the idea and dial it down, stop the play session and ignore her for a while. If you are consistent (which is hard, when they’re so little & cute & all), Smudge will quickly understand that Claws = No More Fun and start dialing it back. She can still grab your fingers and pretend-bite, but it’s a LOT easier for her to learn how fragile human skin is now than it will be later.

    Some people, like my Spousal Unit, also use the safe word “Soft Paws!” when the cat is getting over-excited, as a reminder, but the ATCK/Mom-noise doesn’t have to be “taught”, it is understood cross-species.

    However, accidents will happen, and having a tube of antibiotic gel around to put on your scratches is always an excellent idea.

  171. 171.

    Anne Laurie

    @Elisabeth:

    Fran got her head stuck in the handle of a plastic bag once. She went tearing out of the room with that bag flapping behind her like a parachute. It was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen.

    Our beloved & normally very dignified tuxedo maine coon Figaro once got his head caught in the handle of a plastic bag that he was trying to climb into. It terrified him, so he started tearing around the house with the Scary Monster flapping & tripping him as he went. Poor sweetie actually wet himself, and the vicious plastic spread it all over his plume tail & Marquis-du-Carabas boots. And we could not stop laughing, even as we were trying to chase him down. Sigh. I still miss that cat.

  172. 172.

    Corner Stone

    @R-Jud:

    @ RedKitten: OMG yes. And they will be eligible to live in three different countries, too. Also.

    Hmmm…I am ***this*** close to getting a passport from Ireland.

  173. 173.

    Corner Stone

    @Elisabeth:

    Thanks. But now I think I have a date. :)

    Totally. I am one awesome good time.
    Ummm, does the Greater Houston Metro Area strike a bell?

  179. 179.

    Betsy

    @Corner Stone:
    My partner is soon to be out of work – he’s an ABD grad student who was promised teaching for the next semester and then had it yanked suddenly and without warning.

  180. 180.

    Skepticat

    @Anne Laurie: arguingwithsignposts, It’s so nice when Anne saves me the trouble of writing because she’s just said what I’d have said. Though I might toss in a suggestion to look up “cat scratch fever” when you have a moment (unless you’re a hypochondriac).

  181. 181.

    Something Fabulous

    @arguingwithsignposts: What Anne Laurie said, and also, you should really get in the habit of cutting her claws while she is still young and… easier to convince. It’s not tricky at all once you get the hang of it, and will be a boon on your furniture and legs alike. Your person at the rescue (or I or prolly lots of people here) can talk you through it if you’d like. [note! BJ amazon link!]

  188. 188.

    fraught

    @JK: Chuck Todd was a music major and didn’t get a degree, any where. And now he’s tell us how we should think about politics?

  189. 189.

    fraught

    @Ty Lookwell: no, it’s just that I thought everyone knew that cat’s are very persnickety and eccentric from early childhood. Guess I got scratched by too many as a kid. Sorry. Didn’t mean to alarm you.

  191. 191.

    Corner Stone

    @Martin: See, and I would 100% disagree with you. Kindly, of course. I don’t bake for many reasons but the main one is because it’s really a formula driven style. You follow a recipe to the letter or you get F’ed. At least that’s my experience so far, briefly.
    But when you “cook”, or whatever, you take a base idea and make it your own. You go for it, try some stuff, dash this in there, chop that up over there, etc.
    I love to cook and do so a few nights a week. I have about a dozen dishes I make that I’d never be ashamed to have guests over for.
    But baking – just to stiff for me. Maybe it’s because I don’t bake enough and am not ready to stretch it? Don’t know and may never because just not that into it.

  192. 192.

    Madison Mike

    @shoutingattherain
    Nope.

    @fraught
    “Chuck Todd was a music major and didn’t get a degree” – Don’t judge him by that. Me, six years music major – no degree. I think my political acumen is still a bit better than his.

  193. 193.

    Mnemosyne

    @Something Fabulous:

    Kitty treats also help with the nail cutting — I usually do one treat per paw. Charlotte is responding well.

    But I didn’t train the two older cats early enough, damn it, so I take them to the cat groomer once a month. It’s not cheap ($12 each) but it keeps the cats from getting caught on everything in the house and me from getting injured.

    Well, mostly. Annie didn’t want to get in her carrier to get her nails cut and launched herself off my chest to escape. The scars are mostly healed now.

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