Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

JFC, are there no editors left at that goddamn rag?

Tick tock motherfuckers!

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

This blog will pay for itself.

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

People are complicated. Love is not.

A last alliance of elves and men. also pet photos.

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

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

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

Republicans don’t want a speaker to lead them; they want a hostage.

Battle won, war still ongoing.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

You cannot shame the shameless.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

This year has been the longest three days of putin’s life.

He really is that stupid.

Republicans in disarray!

Peak wingnut was a lie.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Friday Night Open Thread

Friday Night Open Thread

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tunch-obama

The big event around the Cole household will be the first hour of the Hope for Haiti concert followed by Caprica on SyFy at nine. You?

My dinner is not as exotic as Tim’s. I’m having a cold cut sub and a pickle from the deli.

BTW- This is another Evelyn DeHais graphic (link in the blogroll) that we will probably use for Cafe Press.

Reader Interactions

222Comments

  1. 1.

    General Winfield Stuck

    That’s right, Caprica starts tonight, but I don’t get syfy, but wonder if it’s available on their website at same time. Oh well, catch it later, though I will still in outer space, just like always in real time, but in cinema time, finishing the Riddick Trilogy I bought. Chronicles of Riddick is very good with first rate FX.

    Charlie is snoozing on my feet.

  3. 3.

    GReynoldsCT00

    Ballroom dance practice for me…maybe watch my recording of Burn Notice before I leave.

  8. 8.

    General Winfield Stuck

    Just checked syfy site and not on yet, though there is an extended version of the teevee pilot, whatever that means. Watched the trailure for Legion though, and looks quite cool. Starts 1–22

  9. 9.

    Violet

    Homemade crab cakes with salad and finishing off what’s left of a bottle of wine. I’ve got to go get started making the crab cakes.

  10. 10.

    Stan of the Sawgrass

    I dunno… what, uh— zed?? Is that what I’m s’posed t–

    I actually didn’t know about the concert. We’ve got a really good friend who’s over in Hati working on getting radio links up. He used to be the MiaHerld Haiti desk chief, and we got a firsthand look at what it’s like when you don’t know whether your mother and other family made it or not.

    So, send it if you got it. Maybe even if you don’t— we’ve decided to just pay the minimum on the credit cards this month and send the money to help, instead. Yes, we’re screwed, but screwed US is way different than screwed Haiti. We’re finding out what it looks like to lose everything, when you had nothing to begin with.

  11. 11.

    Stan of the Sawgrass

    I dunno… what, uh— zed?? Is that what I’m s’posed t–

    I actually didn’t know about the concert. We’ve got a really good friend who’s over in Hati working on getting radio links up. He used to be the MiaHerld Haiti desk chief, and we got a firsthand look at what it’s like when you don’t know whether your mother and other family made it or not.

    So, send it if you got it. Maybe even if you don’t— we’ve decided to just pay the minimum on the credit cards this month and send the money to help, instead. Yes, we’re screwed, but screwed US is way different than screwed Haiti. We’re finding out what it looks like to lose everything, when you had nothing to begin with.

  12. 12.

    SIA

    Great Tunch graphic. I’m ready for my T-shirt!

    Winding down from an intense couple work weeks not to mention the political hari kari going on. Gah.

    I’m thinking I watch 2nd half of Our Mutual Friend and then read something from another century.

    Hope the shoulder pain dies down a bit.

  13. 13.

    Peter

    The finale episode left me soured on all things Battlestar. Tonight, a Republic serial from 1952 titled Zombies of the Stratosphere, containing a very young Leonard Nimoy, recently out on DVD.

    Third of a series of three serials all starring the same rocket suit, and with nothing else in common. Even the wearers of the suit are different in each serial. Well, it’s not actually a suit, it’s a leather jacket with an atomic powered rocket on the back and a bullet-shaped helmet. I figure that the reason there’s a different rocket man in each serial is because the radioactivity made each one’s ass fall off after the end of the action.

    I may eat some cheese, too, as well as watching it.

    I just love cheap movies.

  15. 15.

    Toast

    I’m sort of where Peter’s at. The entire final story arc of BSG left me feeling dirty and used after having fallen head-over-heels with the show early on. OK, so Caprica is a prequel. How do I know they won’t treat me the same way again? I’ve been scarred.

  16. 16.

    Svensker

    Hope you make it through the weekend in one piece, Cole. Keep that shoulder still.

    If anyone feels like just grooving to some sweet soul music, here’s Ry Cooder with Bobby King singing an excellent version of Chain Gang.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqW3zGeeIUU

    Why doesn’t Bobby King do more solo stuff. Whadda voice.

  18. 18.

    Lev

    The Caprica pilot is good enough to make me think that they can turn it into a good show, but my only question is what happens if they run out of ideas with their main premise and then try to turn it into a completely different show while hoping that nobody notices.

  20. 20.

    Help Me Rhonda

    I broke a tooth and had to have some oral surgery yesterday (and we’re still not sure the tooth can be saved), so it’s soup and mashed potatoes for me (with a side of Vicodin). Does anyone know if Caprica tonight is the pilot that was released on DVD several months ago or something new? If it’s new I’ll probably watch. If not, I’ll either level my new paladin or have fun blowing up darkspawn with my mage in Dragon Age Origins.

  23. 23.

    Toast

    what happens if they run out of ideas with their main premise and then try to turn it into a completely different show while hoping that nobody notices.

    (snort)

    Like they’d ever do that.

  24. 24.

    Stan of the Sawgrass

    Peter:
    Zombies of the Stratosphere is fantastic!!! When I was a kid, we all used to zoom around the cane fields pretending to be Rocketman.

    Now that I’m an “older and wiser fart” I get to look at thru the terrible lenses of Post-Md’nsm and Nostalgia! Return to childhood crap I loved without guilt!

    A good friend made me a DVD that he ripped from somewhere. Think I’ll join you– maybe a tinfoil RoktMn mask first, tho.

    I’ll stop to see the last Conan, though. Last night was s’perb!

  26. 26.

    Mike E

    @John Cole:
    Zounds close to a hoagie. My high school would do band fundraisers by selling them by the hundred. Thin-sliced onion, capacola, oil/vinegar — they were surprisingly good. I still crave ’em down here in Mayberry! -edit Of course, the secret was the rolls they started with.

  27. 27.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @Lev: this is the problem with prequels to popular teevee series. They are going to have to compress things something along the lines of 24 and that could get tedious to watch. Depends on the writers and how good they are to keep it interesting but slowing down running into BSG.

  30. 30.

    Violet

    @SIA:
    I’m making them up as I go along. I’m using this one as a basis for them, but I’m not going to use very much oil. I don’t have any Old Bay right now, so I’ll probably just use some of the spices that make Old Bay and hope that works. Also, I’m going to add red peppers and a bit of jalapeno.

    Like I said, I’m winging it. LOL.

  33. 33.

    Demo Woman

    @arguingwithsignposts: Most animals do not have natural oils and to much bathing is not a good idea or at least that was what I was told many decades ago. The mutt that I have now “Miss Moxie” tends to be bathed more that all my other dogs combined because she digs and needs it. Most of the grooming that occurs now a days is a waste of money and not good for the pets.
    +2.. I haven’t purchased beer or wine since the holidays but I decided that after this week what the hell

  36. 36.

    Nicole

    Thanks for mentioning the concert; I’d forgotten about it and will watch.

    Saw the Caprica pilot on DVD- I liked it. Very different from BSG.

  37. 37.

    Steeplejack

    As I mentioned in the previous thread, I am baking a potato the size of the Hindenburg to go along with a rib-eye steak. About 30 minutes to Zero Hour.

    Svensker got me going on YouTube music videos with Ry Cooder, and I have circled back to a longstanding irritation–no good Mitch Ryder clips to be found. This is the best, and it is woefully inadequate. Okay, this one is not completely awful. But that’s about it. And it’s a damn shame, because Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels rocked it with all due hardness back in the day. Not to mention that in retrospect Mitch looks like he could be Jimmy Smits’s long-long illegitimate father.

    Memo to self: must pull the trigger at Amazon and pick up All Mitch Ryder Hits! This is one set where you want the mono mixes.

  38. 38.

    DecidedFenceSitter

    White Russians. Big ones. Even my wife is drinking, and she doesn’t do politics much, and she’s depressed. I’m a bad influence.

    Then maybe some Assassin’s Creed (the first) that I’m borrowing while my brother-in-law/best friend defeats Assassin’s Creed II.

    We live a high life here in NoVA.

  40. 40.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @cleek – the all-girl AC/DC cover band sounds interesting. I always thought the singer sounded like a girl anyway (I keed, I keed!).

    And thanks for the advice on bathing the kitteh. I didn’t plan on bathing her, but someone at the county shelter mentioned bathing when I was filling out paperwork.

    BTW, someone in an earlier thread proposed that we organize a cat army to go to Washington to whip our legislators into shape. Just so you know, Smudge is in training.

    Reporting for duty, sir! (yellow eye alert!)

  42. 42.

    burnspbesq

    One of the benefits of pre-ordering new CDs from record company websites is that they often ship way ahead of the official release dates.

    I have the new Solas, John Doyle/Karan Casey, and Grada CDs sitting on my desk at home. This is going to be a fun weekend.

  43. 43.

    gogol's wife

    @GReynoldsCT00:

    I never bathe cats unless they’ve gotten into something outside. I’m always amazed at all these videos of people obsessively bathing their cats. Brush her or comb her to get any dust or clumps out.

  48. 48.

    Mark S.

    Speaking of Dr. McCoy movies, this one sounds like it might be fun: Night of the Lepus

    This could very well be considered the greatest film ever made, provided that every print of every movie not about giant killer bunny rabbits suddenly disappeared from the face of the planet.

  49. 49.

    Max

    I have had an absolutely shitty day and am soon to leave work and hit 880-traffic in the East Bay and I assure you that will not improve my mood.

    Looking forward to watching the concert this evening.

    No matter how crappy my work is right now, it’s nothing compared to Haiti.

  52. 52.

    CaseyL

    I signed up to go to a “Backcountry Winter Ski/Snowshoe Film Festival,” but now am not sure I actually want to go. Still getting over a cold – not wanting to press my luck and risk catching another one.

    BTW: I don’t know if it’s serendipity or what, but after 3 days of feeling miserable, no cold medicine working, it’s going down into my chest where it’ll stick around for 2 weeks or more, yadda yadda, I spent yesterday drinking mass quantities of ordinary Lipton tea, hot and strong, with a lot of honey and some lemon juice. And the cold all but went away! Breathing just fine, cough gone before it even started… I’m thinking those old family remedies are the way to go. I think honey is the essential ingredient, because I used sugar before that and didn’t get the healing effect.

  56. 56.

    Peter

    @Tom Hilton: Thanks, Tom, now I know what I’m going to be watching tomorrow. I hadn’t noticed Nimoy in “Them!” before. And it will be great to see it again — I like to watch good movies occasionally, too.

  57. 57.

    metalgirl

    I have the BEST crab cake recipe… make a double-batch and have a party (they are that good)! Credit: Chef John’s in Cary, NC (restaurant is closed but he still has a catering business: (919) 367-8535). I got the recipe when I took his “Seafood 101″ class!

    Note: these cakes have no breading — they are mostly crabmeat and just enough stuff to hold them together. If you are used to breaded and fried crab cakes, these are the fresh alternative :)

    1 lb fresh or pasteurized backfin lump crabmeat
    1 medium vadalia onion
    2 ribs celery
    3 cups herb stuffing
    1/2 cup chopped cilantro (or parsley, if you prefer)
    1 tsp fresh lemon juice
    1/2 tsp kosher salt
    1/2 tsp ground white pepper
    1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
    1 large fresh egg, beaten
    1 tsp Tabasco (optional, but not for me :)

    Fine dice the onion & celery and sweat in a dry saute pan on medium heat for 15 minutes (or when you see liquid in the pan and the mixture is soft). Remove into a strainer and let the excess liquid drain. Pick through crab meat to remove shells and place in a LARGE mixing bowl. Add beaten egg, cilantro/parsley, lemon juice, sale, 2 peppers, and the celery & onion mixture. Fold together gently but combine throughly. Next, add herb stuffing but only enough to make the mixture moist but not wet or dry. Form into cakes (take care to make sure they are of even thickness so they cook evenly — your palms tend to make rounded patties which will fall apart when cooked). Healthy option: brush with melted butter substitute and broil on high (with cakes about 5” away) for about 5 minutes on each side. Original instructions: fry in clarified butter, making sure the butter is hot. Turn over when you see browning around the edges & remove onto paper towels. Serve over salad greens, in a sandwich, or by themselves. Make smaller patties for appetizers. Yield: about 8 burger-sized cakes (or more, if smaller).

  58. 58.

    asdf

    There is no food in this house and I have to make myself some dinner. OK, there’s half a cabbage and some ham. I can make something out of that.

    As for cats – when I was kid I had a little Siamese I taught to swim when I was in the bath tub. She’d come in to see me there, so I’d just put her on my chest and let her look around. I don’t think I just plunked her in the water but maybe I did. Somehow, though, she learned to swim and it wasn’t uncommon for her come in and have a little swim with me in the tub.

  59. 59.

    Svensker

    @Mark S.:

    Night of the Lepus

    If you’re in the mood for cheesy, stupid horror films with really bad dialogue, this is for you!

  60. 60.

    Rey

    The big event around the Cole household will be the first hour of the Hope for Haiti concert followed by Caprica on SyFy at nine. You?

    Me? Half bottle of Pinot Noir and trying to forget the USA is on the way to becoming an Idiocracy…

    As for the Hope for Haiti concert- it won’t be worth it unless Kanye West is on to ask, “why does Barack Obama hate black people?”

  64. 64.

    jacy

    After corndogs and pineapple tidbits with the kids — it the S/O’s volleyball night — it’s an evening of watching the Avalanche (hopefully) mop the ice with Nashville. Because hockey is one of the few things left that doesn’t make me want to do grevious bodily harm to someone.

    Unfortunately, no drinking for me tonite, as recent events have caused me to already exceed my alcholic beverage limit for the week. And maybe next week.

  65. 65.

    Mike E

    @metalgirl:
    Awesome. I’m gonna try this one this weekend:
    Butternut Squash-Leek Soup

    Ingredients
    1 whole garlic head
    4 teaspoons olive oil
    6 cups thinly sliced leek (about 4 large)
    4 cups (3/4-inch) cubed peeled butternut squash (about 1 medium)
    2 cups water
    2 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
    1/2 teaspoon salt
    1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
    Preparation
    Preheat oven to 350°.

    Remove white papery skin from garlic head (do not peel or separate the cloves). Wrap head in foil. Bake at 350° for 1 hour; cool 10 minutes. Separate cloves; squeeze to extract garlic pulp. Discard skins.

    Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium-high heat. Add leek; sauté 5 minutes or until tender. Stir in garlic, squash, 2 cups water, broth, salt, and black pepper; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until squash is tender. Place half of squash mixture in a blender. Remove center piece of blender lid (to allow steam to escape); secure blender lid on blender. Place a clean towel over the opening in the blender lid (to avoid splatters). Blend until smooth. Pour pureed soup into a bowl. Repeat procedure with remaining squash mixture.

    Wine note: The creamy texture of the pureed soup matches well with a plump but crisp Chardonnay like J.J. Vincent Bourgogne Blanc ($15).

  66. 66.

    tbogg

    Since this is an open thread and the previous comment threads tend to get lost in the shuffle, I just wanted to stop by and thank all of the Balloon Juice readers for their kind comments about the passing of Beckham.

    It’s been hard on us, but along with a whole lot of internet strangers who never met the little goof, you’ve made it a whole lot easier.

    Thank you all.

    Tom (TBogg)

  67. 67.

    JGabriel

    The big event around the Cole household will be […] Caprica on SyFy at nine.

    Is there any reason to watch the broadcast pilot version if you already have the DVD? Or does this continue from the DVD?

    Anyone? Bueller?

    .

  68. 68.

    Elie

    @Violet:

    What kind of crab do you use? My fave, when in the area are the Maryland blue crab — super sweet. Also dig my homie variety, Dungeness…

    yum

    I add a fair amount of good mayonnaise and little bit of mustard plus usual ingredients and broil rather than fry. Mostly I try to let the crab do the talking

  70. 70.

    Steeplejack

    @Svensker:

    LOL. I’ve got that YouTube clip of “Jenny Take a Ride” on endless replay while I finish up dinner. About two minutes to the best meal I’ve had all week. Then the Haiti benefit.

    And Mitch really does look like Jimmy Smits. WTF?!

  72. 72.

    JGabriel

    Peter:

    Well, it’s not actually a suit, it’s a leather jacket with an atomic powered rocket on the back and a bullet-shaped helmet.

    Hmm, that sounds very Tom Swift-ian.

    .

  73. 73.

    Joe Lentz

    I’m drinking cheap beer and eating popcorn… and imagining 5 members of the USSC turning on a spit being tended by a few of the founding fathers.

  74. 74.

    Emerald

    @Joshua Norton: That vid has got to go viral (actually, it is going viral).

    It is THE PERFECT video to send to all Democratic congresscritters.

    Um, as I’m new here, I gather that either protocol or site limitations demand that one merely link to videos rather than embed them?

    Because, I mean, everybody needs to see that video!

  77. 77.

    Shell

    With it’s ads plastered all over the TelevisionWithoutPity website you’d think I’d have a clue, but I had to google ‘Caprica.’

  78. 78.

    Kobie

    My latest pet peeve on the intertubes — the constant “Will you post this as your facebook status for one hour” for every cause under the sun. FUCK OFF.

  79. 79.

    Annie

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    I have never bathed our cats (6 and 1l years). I brush them, and they love it — they get kittie treats after…

    I give wet food in the mornings and dry in the evenings.

    We had a horrible experience with Diesel (boy, 6yrs) several years ago. One day, he just stopped moving. He became a statue. We rushed him to the vet, and she said he was filled with little crystals from not taking in enough fluids. He stopped moving because of the pain.

    Now, with the wet food, I take a little of it and make gravy and flood the wet food for both of them. Since then, Diesel has been fine.

    The vet said that cats are not natural water drinkers, although our girl does drink as I monitored the water bowl. She also said that the more choice you give cats, the more they want choice. With Smrda (our girl), I totally screwed up. I gave her too much choice, and she will reject food until she gets what she wants. With Diesel, I didn’t, and he eats whatever I give him.

    Annie +1

    PS. He is called Diesel because his purr is so loud, he sounds like a diesel engine.

  80. 80.

    MobiusKlein

    @Mike E: That’s a good Butternut soup, more or less.

    I’ve done it with oven roasting of the squash, and adding ginger in addition to the leeks & garlic.

    Have at!

  83. 83.

    J. Michael Neal

    I’m going out to get some dinner; the idea of a sub sounds good. Then I’m coming back to watch the Gopher/St. Cloud game (everyone should be a Gopher fan tonight, and root against those clueless idjits in Bachman’s district) on DVR, alternating periods with the Denver/Wisconsin game being shown on the NHL Network, also from the DVR.

  84. 84.

    WereBear

    Har. My cats try to be fussy, but I undermine them by mixing it with a food I know they like. But I listen, and won’t buy it again.

    Or maybe mine are just easy to convince.

    I feed mostly canned because grains are bad for cats. Check your cat food labels.

  86. 86.

    J. Michael Neal

    Sigh. Eddie just took a tumble trying to jump up onto the desk. My fault for leaving a glossy hardcover RPG book on his launching pad, so he slipped a bit. Missing a front leg makes recovery from that a real challenge.

  88. 88.

    arguingwithsignposts

    Nice of Bruce to bring out “We Shall Overcome.” And I thought Radiohead sounded a little much like U2. Maybe that was just me. /hope for haiti liveblogging.

    ETA: I was just going to contribute online, but when I saw that Meg Ryan and Mel Gibson were answering the phones, well … I think I’ll call instead! (sorry, the snark got the best of me)

  89. 89.

    Anne Laurie

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    And my question about kitteh bathing: how often? I haven’t bathed smudge since I got her about six weeks ago.

    You shouldn’t need to bathe Smudge at all, unless she gets into something disgusting or potentially toxic. Even then, it’s better for both parties if you just shake a bunch of cornstarch over/into the nasty stuff and brush as much as possible out before trying anything more liquid. Cats are desert animals, and as long as they’re grooming themselves, they shouldn’t need any more “help” from you than regular brushing. Bathing them too often actually damages their coat & skin.

    Does Smudge look or smell to you like she needs a bath, other than from her own tongue? I’ve known a few cats who did get “sweaty feet stink” during their teenage-equivalent; if that’s her problem, try wiping her paws with those non-toxic baby wipes.

  90. 90.

    Elie

    @AhabTRuler:

    I know you are right, friend. sigh

    The bounty that we all take for granted is not always going to be there.

    I feel reasonably ok with our stewardship of the Dungeness (though I am no expert). We harvest only males in certain seasons and of certain size.

    My hubby and I like catching them by hand rather than in crab pots…you can see them running around at slack tide and he has evolved a technique to swoop em into the net, check out the gender and size then either keep or return them. He has more courage about their very accurate pinscers. I just carry the “keepers” in a bucket and provide color commentary and general support.

    Mostly its nice and quiet and a great nature walk wading in the cold but usually clear water, looking at the eel grass and little fishes, starfish and other sealife while we cruise along.

    Its ok if we don’t catch them too – the peacefulness of the walk and being in nature and without a lot of noise is really nice too…

  91. 91.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @Anne Laurie: No real smells, except when she’s just eaten and she decides to jump in my lap and tell me about it (gad, that stinks), or when she decides to jump in my lap and stick her butt in my face (what is it about cats doing that? I’ve known others to do the same thing).

    She cleans herself pretty well, and I’ve actually had to push her away a couple of times when she was trying to give me a bath on my forearm or lower leg because that sandpaper doesn’t feel too good. I love her and all, but there are some things a pet companion just doesn’t abide.

  92. 92.

    AhabTRuler

    The bounty that we all take for granted is not always going to be there.

    And the Chesapeake Bay has been getting hammered for decades: Phosphates, hurricanes, construction runoff, and chicken shit. And I can’t imagine that MSL rise is going to do it much good, either.

  94. 94.

    jnfr

    Bruce singing “We Shall Overcome” got me all weepy from the start. It’s been a long, long couple of weeks (and I’m not even in Haiti).

  95. 95.

    Annie

    @asdf:

    the image of your kittie swimming in the tub is just too cute. thanks….as my cats follow me everywhere, one made the mistake one time of jumping in the shower after me. That was the last time she every tried that.

    Now, she just sits outside of the bathroom door and waits until I am finished…She was royally pissed for days — first, because she got wet, and second, because we laughed so hard. She hates to be laughed at…Kittie pride is an awesome thing.

  96. 96.

    Shell

    We rushed him to the vet, and she said he was filled with little crystals from not taking in enough fluids. He stopped moving because of the pain.

    Ack! That happened to a good friend of mine. She’s a dog person who acquired two cats during a relationship. When that broke up she found herself with custody of the ‘kids.’ Like most who’ve never owned cats, she bought that line of ‘they’re no trouble at all.”
    The male, Riley, was in the vet’s hospital for almost a week with those damn crystals.

  97. 97.

    Something Fabulous

    @arguingwithsignposts: Unless she has rolled in some smelly shit (tm Lily), she shouldn’t need baths. Regular brushing and nail-clipping now while she is small is good to get her habituated, so it is not only for emergencies. As for food, the main thing if you can manage it is to find a brand that is no-grain and no-biproduct and at least some wet in addition to dry; this seems to keep them healthiest in the long run. And then as was pointed out, once you’ve got all that covered, keep switching to a minimum.

    So in short, sounds like mostly you’ve gotten the answer I would give already, but can’t bear not to use the line I thought up while making dinner anyway: To paraphrase from Even Cowgirls Get the Blues, “The [Kitty] is a self-cleaning organ.”

  99. 99.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @Annie:
    That’s funny. Smudge watches me in the shower, and then she jumps in when I’ve finished. She apparently likes getting her feet wet. I once knew someone whose cat liked to get splashed with water droplets and would lick them off. I haven’t tried that yet. But they’re funny that way.

  100. 100.

    Elie

    @AhabTRuler:

    I hear you and dont want to sidetrack my little good feeling tonight with the realities of what we face. And to make matters worse, many times the good things that we try to do are in competition with one another for resources.

    I have been very involved with salmon restoration in one of our local creeks and have the sadness to know that the lake the feeds the creek and would have to provide more water for returning salmon, is also a shrinking place for migrating waterfowl.

    So few places left for our animals and so few places ultimately for something very important to our ongoing survival.

    But enough of this for tonight…

    Eat, drink and enjoy everyone… love the good things as much as we can

  102. 102.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @Something Fabulous: major props for the ECGTB reference. Love me some Tom Robbins.

    Re: Hope for Haiti – I’m a little put off by the Chunky Reese Witherspoon live phone call – “we’re going to have an operator take your donation.” Way to show that celebrities are real people too (not).

  104. 104.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    “And I thought Radiohead sounded a little much like U2. Maybe that was just me. /hope for haiti liveblogging.”

    Radiohead? Wasn’t that Coldplay (four guys with guitars)?

  105. 105.

    Tax Analyst

    @ #79 Annie:

    She also said that the more choice you give cats, the more they want choice. With Smrda (our girl), I totally screwed up. I gave her too much choice, and she will reject food until she gets what she wants

    Boy, is that the truth! I was feeding Loki Kal Kan – various flavors – and she took a liking to their Tuna & Chicken. Next thing I knew if it wasn’t Tuna & Chicken she would sniff it, turn around and make that front-paw-down-scraping-to-the-back motion as if covering up a turd or something. So that was it, I was trained. That’s all I bought her and that’s what she ate (except for occasionally giving her some of my meat or chicken now and then). The only real down-side was that when she got older her teeth got bad – vet said they needed to eat dry food now and then to keep their gums in shape.

    Water? She would almost always drink at least some of the water I put out with her food.

    Bathing…Absolutely a bad idea…a long-haired cat who absolutely HATED getting wet. She got some pretty bad fleas one time and I was going to take her in for a grooming/bath. My girl friend at the time said not to spend the $$…she would do it. It didn’t turn out so bad, though…the cat came through it somewhat pissed off, but with no fleas and otherwise unharmed…the same could not be said for (former) girl friend, however.

  106. 106.

    SIA

    @metalgirl: OK I’m adding that one to my list too. Sounds delicious.

    All the Atlanta folks, who has the best crab cakes? Fontaines in VaHi is very good. I’m definitely jonesin’ now.

  107. 107.

    Shell

    My hubby and I like catching them by hand rather than in crab pots…

    When I was a kid my family had a little cottage down at the Jersey Shore, on Barnaget Bay. I loved crabbing. There were the crab traps, of course, which you could throw out, baited with bunkers, squid or the chicken neck from last night’s roast chicken. But I loved using a simple drop line. Same kind of bait, with a sinker on the end. You’d wait for a while, then give the line a gentle pull. If you could feel a dragging resistance, start to gently pull up the string, hand over hand. Once you could see thru the murky bay water whether there was a good crab to be had, slowly bring your net down and scoop ‘im up. It always felt more sporting that way. LOL

  108. 108.

    Gravenstone

    @arguingwithsignposts: The only time I recall any of our cats getting bathed (other than their misadventures walking along and slipping from the back of the tub) was when we would deal with flea infestations.

  109. 109.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    @Anne Laurie:

    You shouldn’t need to bathe Smudge at all, unless she gets into something disgusting or potentially toxic. Even then, it’s better for both parties if you just shake a bunch of cornstarch over/into the nasty stuff and brush as much as possible out before trying anything more liquid. Cats are desert animals, and as long as they’re grooming themselves, they shouldn’t need any more “help” from you than regular brushing. Bathing them too often actually damages their coat & skin.

    I’ve had my cat Pascal for 13 years and he has never needed a bath even once. This cat has the most beautiful coat I’ve ever seen – and he’s a long-hair. No mats, no tangles, nothing. And he eats nothing but dry food, Science Diet Feline CD.

    Paz sits on the endtable within reach of my desk and grooms himself. He tugs out little puffs of undercoat and waits for me to pluck the fluff from his mouth. It really seems to help him lessen his hairballs.

  110. 110.

    SIA

    @tbogg: I saw his picture on your blog and thought he looked like a very fine fellow.

    We lost our 12-year old angel (golden/pyrenees) Maggie in September. I still talk to her every day and hold her to my heart.

  111. 111.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @Elie:

    Eat, drink and enjoy everyone… love the good things as much as we can

    What a good sentiment. I spent most of the day today in a positive mood, even with the political situation and the Haiti situation, if only because it’s what I can do in my little part of the world.

    It’s easy for us to get overwhelmed with the world’s troubles. But we can have moments of happiness in the midst of all the heartache. And hopefully this thread can accentuate that (despite my snarky comments about the HFH concert).

    I am reminded of the Donna the Buffalo song “Seems to Want to Hurt This Time.”

    Life, love, potential love
    Causes so much joy
    Has the adverse power
    To hurt you that much more
    It’s the same dark that falls
    On the light that shines
    Everything seems to want to hurt this time

    On that note, a little more smudge.

  113. 113.

    Tax Analyst

    @ #91 arguingwithsignposts:

    …when she decides to jump in my lap and stick her butt in my face (what is it about cats doing that? I’ve known others to do the same thing).

    Well, duh…she’s waiting for YOU to clean it. After all, she’d do it for you if you needed it, wouldn’t she?

    I think the sharing of her recent meal is to let you know how the stuff smells and that she’s eating it, albeit under duress or protest. Wouldn’t it be cool to really be able to find out? But then I think “Be careful what you wish for”.

  115. 115.

    gogol's wife

    @arguingwithsignposts:
    You wrote, “when she decides to jump in my lap and stick her butt in my face (what is it about cats doing that? I’ve known others to do the same thing)”: According to my cat book, it’s what they do with their mothers, “presenting the ano-genital area for cleaning and inspection.” I’m willing to do the inspection but not the other part.

  116. 116.

    Anne Laurie

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    …she decides to jump in my lap and stick her butt in my face (what is it about cats doing that? I’ve known others to do the same thing).

    It’s a sign of great friendship, believe it or not. Cats deliver a lot of information about themselves via the anal glands, so sticking their butts in your face is the equivalent of an email ping: “You would not believe the day I have had! So cool! Had to pass on this funny joke!” If you’re feeling really indulgent, puff a little air at the ‘source’ before gently turning her around. Smudge will know that you’re not really competent to understand the finer details, but she will appreciate your courtesy.

  118. 118.

    Demo Woman

    Is anyone watching hopeforhaiti? It’s quite good and I’m proud of Clooney and the rest of singers, news casters and actors that pulled this off.

  122. 122.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @Demo Woman:
    I think there are a lot of us watching HFH, including the host. I wish there were more uplifting songs. “We Shall Overcome” was really the only song that was empowering so far, imho, unless someone caught something in the other songs that I didn’t catch.

    There’s also the standard complaint that the people who are singing are mostly standard fair (where’s Green Day, Metallica, Ice-T, etc.? Taylor Swift? Really?) but that’s for another time.

  123. 123.

    Steeplejack

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    Yeah, it’s gotta be tough doing your song selection for an event like this. You want to be uplifting but not breezy, and/or you want to be empathetic without being a total downer. Tough call. I thought Stevie Wonder started out great with “Bridge over Troubled Water,” but then it sort of petered out way too soon. Or at least it felt like that.

    And I thought Reese Witherspoon did a good job with her caller Ian.

    Who was the female singer after Wyclef Jean spoke?

  125. 125.

    Steeplejack

    Holy shnikeys! I am watching the benefit on a bit of a DVR delay, and John Legend just launched into “Motherless Child.” Goosebumps! Because that was what I thought earlier would be the perfect song when I was doing my imaginary song selection before the benefit.

    He’s even channeling Richie Havens a little bit.

    (Best version of all time is Peter, Paul and Mary, IMHO. From A Song Will Rise, I think.)

  126. 126.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @Steeplejack: Well, one of my other complaints was that they didn’t put the names of the singers in the lower-third at some point. I mean, most people know who Sting is, but some of the others, I have no clue, since I don’t listen to Top 40 shite under any circumstances.

  128. 128.

    Tax Analyst

    arguingwithsignposts:

    Beautiful cat. I’ve noticed that unless they really aren’t feeling well they are very scrupulous about cleanliness, especially around the rear end area. They’re so thorough that it’s easy to see why some people think having cats requires no effort at all. The fastidiousness is probably instinctual but it’s also a trait that has given the species the optimum chance of long-term survival. I mean, how many fewer people would have cats if they had to deal with bathing them all the time?

    You’ve probably heard the joke where a guy sees a dog licking his nuts and says, “I wish I could do that”, and his friend says, “You probably oughta pet him first”.

  130. 130.

    Steeplejack

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    Agreed. I can figure out who most of them are, but it doesn’t seem like crass, over-the-top promotion to have a line saying who the person is.

    Edit: Note that you asked for Taylor Swift and got her tout de suite.

  131. 131.

    Laura W

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    I think there are a lot of us watching HFH, including the host. I wish there were more uplifting songs. “We Shall Overcome” was really the only song that was empowering so far, imho, unless someone caught something in the other songs that I didn’t catch.

    Excuse me? “Uplifting”? “Empowering”? In the face of that much devastation, death, displacement and sorrow? I am going to totally regret this in the morning, I am sure, but this entire thread is about bathing your cat and crab cakes? Are you fucking WATCHING your teevee? It’s not a high school musical or choir practice.

    I’m gonna join the chorus from earlier today and say that for right now, this blog, some of the front pagers, and some of the commenters, have totally lost The Plot.
    IT’S NOT ALWAYS ALL ABOUT US, PEOPLE!

    Flame away.
    What a bunch of self-absorbed idiots we are.
    Myself included.

  133. 133.

    ruemara

    Love the new Tunch graphic. Tonight will be part takeaway sushi, part salmon congeé soup and salad. No Caprica, pls. I think I’ll watch 9 or something.

  137. 137.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Not flaming, because I think your point @131 is well-taken, LauraW. But I must confess that during some of Anderson Cooper’s more nauseating moments I scrolled through the channels to see how many were carrying HFHN (I have basic or basic-enhanced cable, so maybe 75 channels all told). Close to a third of them, 22, are carrying the concert live. Guess who isn’t? That’s right, Rupert Murdoch’s Fox.

  140. 140.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @Laura W: I’ve been watching the entire thing on my computer, thank you very much. But the U.S. isn’t the only audience for this show. And, btw, why is it we have to have just a bunch of weepy bullshit to make the point. If that’s what’s needed, then by all means, let’s just drag out Trent Reznor and Morrissey and be done with it.

    Unless I missed something, I thought the Boss had the best song of the evening, “We Shall Overcome.” Fuck, can’t you get the point that those people need hope, and singing about how bad everything is isn’t helping them any either?

    As I said earlier, there’s death and destruction every day in this fucked up world. I actually talked to my doctor the other day during an office visit. She’s of Indian descent, and made the point that this type of death and destruction happens all the time in their part of the world. 200,000 deaths isn’t unheard of in many parts of the world. They have learned to deal with the facts of it.

    In the U.S., we freak out if 3,000 people get blown up in a skyscraper. Katrina is a scratch on the arm compared what happens in Asia pretty regularly.

    So, yeah. Fuck off.

  141. 141.

    Svensker

    @Laura W:

    Are you fucking WATCHING your teevee?

    What’s happening in Haiti is not on teevee. It’s real. And it’s been happening for days now, long before the celebs got up to sing to help. Just because you’re into it now, doesn’t mean that the rest of us are a bunch of shallow dickwads (not that we’re not, just saying) for not being into it on the teevee with you now.

    I gave money to Save the Children/Haiti today and cried about it a bit. Then I bitched about HCR/Dems, did some work, watched a bunch of youtubes, and freaked out about some personal crap that’s happening. There’s only so much one can do for the desperate people of Haiti while sitting in NJ/Minnesota/Oregon, et al.

    If you want to judge us harshly because we’re not doing what you’re doing…well, meh.

  143. 143.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Close to a third of them, 22, are carrying the concert live. Guess who isn’t? That’s right, Rupert Murdoch’s Fox.

    FOX is airing the special live. FOX News has Hannity.

  148. 148.

    SiubhanDuinne

    I am crying now. “Halleluia.” I’ve never heard that song performed by anyone that didn’t leave me in tears.

    Oh jeez, and now “Let it Be.” I’m going to be a puddle of emo before the night’s much older.

  150. 150.

    Max

    I can’t help but think of the tragedy that Jennifer Hudson went through last year.

    Jesus. What people do to one another is unbelievable.

  151. 151.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    @Steeplejack:

    And can we agree that Anderson Cooper is still a douchebag?

    Nope. Anderson Cooper and Shepard Smith are alright in my book.

  152. 152.

    Tax Analyst

    Are you fucking WATCHING your teevee?

    Nope. I’m still at work and will be for another 2 1/2 hours. Pardon my frivolity, but this did say “Friday Night Open Thread” at the top. I’ll probably feel bad about saying this later, but if it had said “Constantly grieve for Haiti” as the Thread title I would have probably have passed on it. I already know it’s serious and I already know it’s awful and I already know they are in tremendous need, and if I need to see or read about anymore misery and suffering it isn’t all that hard to find it. Just click to any ‘news’ section on the InterNet, there’s plenty for everyone.

    I’ve sent some $$ and will send probably send more for Haiti, and I understand it’s a tremendous tragedy, but I don’t believe I have to bathe myself in the awfulness 24/7 and I don’t think anyone else should have to either.

    Sometimes we do what we can and after that we try to think about something else.

  157. 157.

    Laura W

    @Svensker: I have absolutely no idea why you personalized this. I was certainly not speaking to you.
    As for giving money, if you want to keep score in that way, go back and check threads right after this happened. See who matched eric and the others who pledged matching funds early on. Wanna keep score like that? It’s petty and unattractive, no?

    You missed my entire point. And I’m surprised, frankly, coming from you.
    My point was: This is not a concert for our entertainment pleasure. To sit here and bitch about how we wish the music was more uplifting and inspirational and critique the participants is just absurd.

    And AWS is classic, given he threatened to kill himself on this blog in thread after thread, week after week, and everyone here hugged him close and totally catered to his emotional needs.
    Talk about “weepy bullshit”.
    Get real, people. Get honest.
    It’s really our only hope at this point.

  158. 158.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Max: Sorry, I’m sure I should probably know, but what tragedy? (And yes I am very old and unhip and out of it, but just remind me please who Jennifer Hudson is. I’m not being coy or snarky, I recognize her name, but there are a LOT of Jennifers out there and I’m not sure which is whom.) I can go hang out at Google now.

  161. 161.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    Jay-Z, Bono and Rhianna & Co. are doing it right.

    I’ll buy the album for that song.

  162. 162.

    inkadu

    @Toast: I had seen the original BSG miniseries about six or seven times at that point and realized that nothing could ever possibly be better than that, so I was prepared for dissapointment going in.

    But one good thing did come out of that last season: it made me think about religion in fiction and how it plays for different people. Even though I’m an atheist, I love putting religion into fantasy, as long as that religion makes sense. The problem with BSG was that the BSG God made as little sense as the Yahweh God in this universe. I found that most of my friends who were more flexible in the silly things God was allowed to simultaneously do and not do were much more forgiving of BSG.

    But, religion aside, Holy Christ, they bit off way more than they could chew there with that plot.

    Also, I’d like to declare a moratorium on penny whistles in soundtracks for at least 10 years.

  163. 163.

    Max

    @SiubhanDuinne: American Idol. Won an Oscar for Dreamgirls. Her mother, her brother and her nephew were murdered in their Chicago home in Nov 2008 by the child’s father.

  165. 165.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @Laura W:
    What is it that everyone who disagrees with me has to name-check on the depression thing? WTF?

    You want us to do what? We gave money. Do you want us to go into our corners and wrap ourselves in blankets and cry? I’ve done that (as you pointed out). It’s no picnic. Can we not have some bright spots? Maybe I should just go take Smudge back to the shelter, sell everything I own, cancel my lease, and say fuck all, eh? I’d really be identifying with the Haitians then!

    Do you want us to quit our jobs and go ask what we can do in Haiti, risking our lives and the lives of the people who depend on us? Really, WTF would you have us do?

    Re: critiquing the performances, etc. We are human. We laugh and cry at the same time. Sarcasm is sometimes how we deal with pain and sadness. People joke in the midst of tragedy (I’ve seen it with my own eyes when loved ones die). Maybe it’s a coping mechanism. Did you think about that? There’s an old Joe Callicott song that talks about this: “laughing to keep from crying.” (mp3)

    So again, piss off.

  166. 166.

    Laura W

    @Steeplejack: Right.
    I expected more of you too, Steep.
    Christ. This blog has turned into one big dysfunctional, enabling, John Bradshaw, “Don’t Tell the Truth Cuz You Might Get Beaten” mobile.

    ETA: and who are you to tell me that’s “out of line”?
    Check your ego at the door there, Steep. Seriously.

  168. 168.

    SIA

    @ SiubhanDuinne, hey I saw Young Victoria last weekend and enjoyed it very much. Think there’s going to be a sequel? :)

  169. 169.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @JAF Rusty Shackleford #143: You are right. I stand corrected. I guess I just thought, if Keith and Rachel and Larry King can forego an hour or two of camera time, is it too much to ask of Bill-O and Sean?

    Never mind. Asked and answered.

  170. 170.

    Annie

    @Laura W:

    First, AWS is a friend. If he feels like shit, I, for one want to be here for him. And, other BJers as well. I consider it an honor to make AWS laugh when he is having a bad day. He certainly has made me laugh with Lady Smudge, and I thank him daily.

    Each day, I love to turn to BJ for pictures of Smudge, Charlie, Lily and Tunch, as well as their stories. I always go off to work happier after. And, sharing pet stories is fantastic, as well as recipes, commentary, and anything else people want to share.

    As someone who has worked in war zones, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan, I will say that concerts, in whatever form are fantastic. In Bosnia, I was shelled, shot at, and survived winters with no heating, much food, and limited communication. Did we expect that people around the world would stop their lives for us — no way. Did we enjoy the media attention — you, bet.

    It is naive and selfish to assume that everyone should just stop their lives because tragedy has occurred. We all realize the magnitude of what has happened in Haiti. And, all of us in our own way will support efforts there.

    Get over it. BJ is awesome because it is a community of people who care for each other first, the country second, and others in the world, too.

  171. 171.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @SIA: Best crab cakes in Atlanta? For my money South City Kitchen on Crescent Avenue in Midtown. Everything on their menu is great, but it is too noisy for me to go there very often.

  172. 172.

    inkadu

    @Tax Analyst: I’m always a little puzzled by what to do with natural disasters in far away places.

    Part of me, of course, wants to go over there and help. That’s not practical. So I usually give a little money. Then I feel guilty. Is it enough? Should I give more?

    And then it all kind of collapses in on itself. We’re living with a ridiculously high standard of living relative to the world’s poor. Before I buy anything more than a bag of rice, I could reasonably have the same argument with myself: could this three dollars go to better use somewhere else?

    In order to live the way we do, we have to be amazingly callous or amazingly ignorant. Or some strange combination of the two which has been made ‘ok’ by society, by our monkey brains, and by our personal insulation from the world.The occasional media event that breaks through our usual indifference only strengthens my cynicism.

    Respiratory infections kill 2,027,000 children under five each year. Diarrhea kills another 1,762,000, Malaria another 853,000. We are living in an abattoir.

    I’m not saying to give up or not help out in Haiti, but take take some time to recognize how much suffering goes on all around the world and how little of it gets recognized and why.

  174. 174.

    Laura W

    @Annie:

    It is naive and selfish to assume that everyone should just stop their lives because tragedy has occurred

    I don’t believe I ever said that. Not once.
    But Whatever. It’s all about hearing and seeing what you want to see and hear anyway.

  175. 175.

    Demo Woman

    @inkadu: Well that makes me feel better. I have no problem doling out what I can for major events, whether it be the Tsunami or earthquakes. That is not the only time that I dole out though.
    I got a phone call before the end of the concert. How was the ending?

  177. 177.

    Demo Woman

    @Annie:

    BJ is awesome because it is a community of people who care for each other first, the country second, and others in the world, too.

    A motley crew if I do say so.

  178. 178.

    SIA

    Wow Dave Matthews (I think?) and Neil Young. Sounds good indeed.

    AWS and Inkadu, the noonday demon. Been there done that many times. Your comments actually helped me quite a bit during that period. Decided to take the meds again for a while. Then I could see how people get through the day. Not that bad really. Cheers.

  179. 179.

    mandarama

    @Laura W:

    My point was: This is not a concert for our entertainment pleasure.

    But isn’t that what telethons are, really? It’s one reason I’ve always been a little uncomfortable with them. Not because they don’t do tons of good, but because they make me a little embarrassed for us, that it takes our celebrities to get our attention. It feels like an admission that the only way we can pull in so much dough and goodwill is by offering people some glitz, you know? Obviously, everyone here is tuned in from the start, but the producers must know that you get a much wider swath when you do a shindig. Otherwise, wouldn’t it just be a straightforward televised news program or documentary about the sickness / disaster, with operators there to take calls?

    And I know there’s catharsis in seeing touching performances, but Madonna? “Like a Prayer?” Isn’t that entertainment? I’m not watching it, so who knows. But Taylor Swift singing isn’t likely to make me more connected to that disaster than what I’ve already read or seen.

  180. 180.

    RandyH

    I really enjoyed that Haiti Telethon show. Great performances and not so annoying as telethons usually are. If you missed it, you can catch it again on the west coast feeds of most cable channels, like HBO-W or whatever.

  181. 181.

    Laura W

    @mandarama: Right. Sorry. How’s this:
    Spending an entire thread mocking people who are trying to do good and help people in need outside of their own backyard while talking about giving cats a bath is stooopid.
    Is that better?

  182. 182.

    SiubhanDuinne

    I’ve kind of lost track of all the posts I wanted yo respond to, now that I’ve finally gone through in order.
    Max: Yes, I do remember now about J Hudson and that awful triple murder. Never saw Dreamgirls so maybe it didn’t have quite the resonance for me, but it was a terrible thing.

    SIA: I’m glad you saw it! I suspect Emily Blunt might age up quite well if they decided to do sequels with the same cast, but lots of actresses have played “The Widow of Windsor.” Not many have done such a sustained young Vic.

    @AWS: Smudge gives joy with every picture you post. And her ears are amazing. Don’t bathe her unless she fucks a skunk or something. She will keep herself clean.

    @general comment: this has been a horrible week, month, decade. It sounds as though some of us are getting a bit snappish. Quite understandable, but PLEASE let’s not take it out on each other. Scrappy and snarky is one thing, but let’s save the heavy artillery for more deserving targets, such as the US Congress or SCOTUS.

  183. 183.

    inkadu

    @SIA: I’ve got the noonday balrog, but recommend medications & therapy to anyone who is wondering why their life sucks all the time. Life it too short to be miserable.

  184. 184.

    Demo Woman

    @SiubhanDuinne: My phone rang and I missed the last fifteen minutes of the telethon. How was the end? The only time I thought Timberlake was interesting was when he did a SNL skit about a gift in a box. If you have not seen it, use the google. I thought that he did an impressive job of Hallelujah. In fact I thought that all the stars, news casters and singers did a good job during a difficult time.

  185. 185.

    Annie

    @Laura W:

    To quote you, “It’s all about hearing and seeing what you want to see and hear anyway.”

    Yes. And, you want to see the worst. I want to hear about “cat baths,” and opinions on concert performers, and anything else people want to share. Live in a war zone and in an area hit by an extreme crisis, and you would be surprised what people talk about. Clearly, it would not make you happy. The most amazing I ever learned about people in crisis is that they have not lost their humor, not their humanity.

    You would be shocked at some of the things we talked about and laughed about in totally shitty circumstances, some of the worst things imaginable. Commenting on concert performers would have would have been welcomed — it would have indicated that the crisis had not defeated us…And, believe me, we commented on much worse.

  186. 186.

    mandarama

    @Laura W:

    You’re right. This blog has gone downhill, because it never used to spend whole threads talking about pets, mocking anyone, being inappropriate, discussing food, teasing the host about his mop fetish activities, discussing the appropriateness of dog clothing, cutest dog contests, or any other personal matters that distract us from the distressing realities of the world. Especially OPEN threads. If there’s one thing blogs are not supposed to do, it’s self-indulgent navel-gazing and harmless community-building.

    Mocking celebrities just seems like open season, even when they’re doing good for the world. And my point above is about the production values of telethons–it’s just sort of mockable, that this is the vehicle Americans need to really deliver on contributions. It feels like American Idol to me. Bono does a lot of good with his activism, but he always wears these $600 Versace sunglasses. You can’t help but think, dude, what was wrong with $80 Oakleys and you could donate the rest?

    LauraW, I’ve always enjoyed your posts. You were one of the first commenters I started paying a lot of attention to when I started reading BJ. But it was wrong to mock AWS for revealing his depression here, and it seems uncharacteristic.

  187. 187.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @Laura W:

    Spending an entire thread mocking people who are trying to do good and help people in need outside of their own backyard while talking about giving cats a bath is stooopid.

    Maybe you need to go back and read the thread. I mentioned several people who chose awesome songs (and after hearing Justin Timberlake’s interview about the choice of “Hallelujah” after the show, I have gained a new appreciation for that part of the performance). But yeah, watching Reese Witherspoon NOT take a donation, but just tell someone thanks, makes me stooopid, because spending a couple of hours touching the ears of the unwashed masses is sooooo much more saintly.

    I have little admiration for celebrities who volunteered time to answer the fucking phones and say “Hi, I’m MAJOR CELEBRITY, and I’m so glad you called to help out.”

    And lest I be accused of something I’m not familiar with, I’ve driven people to the emergency room before who couldn’t even afford to pay their light bills. I’ve watched over kids whose mom was taken to the county jail on drug possession charges, homeless people who got into a house only to squander the opportunity on drugs while cutting their girlfriends, villages with no running water in central mexico, and a lot of other shit that I’d rather wash out of my mind.

    So again, piss off.

  188. 188.

    snarkyspice

    I mostly lurk here but I just wanted to say:

    @AWS, I’m sorry that you have suffered depression. It’s a horrible illness and I’m glad you’re doing better now. Smudge is beautiful! We have 4 cats and we have never bathed one of them. They take care of that themselves.

    Maybe I’m lame but I thought JT did a great job with ‘Hallelujah’ – Man, I love that song.

  190. 190.

    Demo Woman

    @mandarama: .

    This blog has gone downhill, because it never used to spend whole threads talking about pets, mocking anyone, being inappropriate, discussing food, teasing the host about his mop fetish activities, discussing the appropriateness of dog clothing, cutest dog contests, or any other personal matters that distract us from the distressing realities of the world. Especially OPEN threads. If there’s one thing blogs are not supposed to do, it’s self-indulgent navel-gazing and harmless community-building.

    Do you really visit here often or is this a joke? I love Laura and I understand her comments but you also know of her and JSF’s famous posts. Yeah.. it’s a joke.. sorry!

  191. 191.

    inkadu

    @Demo Woman: Gross misunderstandings are also a Balloon Juice tradition. You, however, neglected to properly flame her over your mistake. Back to class for you.

  192. 192.

    Annie

    WTF. This is a joke, right?

    You’re right. This blog has gone downhill, because it never used to spend whole threads talking about pets, mocking anyone, being inappropriate, discussing food, teasing the host about his mop fetish activities, discussing the appropriateness of dog clothing, cutest dog contests, or any other personal matters that distract us from the distressing realities of the world. Especially OPEN threads. If there’s one thing blogs are not supposed to do, it’s self-indulgent navel-gazing and harmless community-building.

    @mandarama:

    This is exactly what we should be doing….All of it — talking about our pets, teasing John, suppporting our friends, talking about the country and the world, sharing recipes, exchanging photos (ok, not me, because I still have not figured out how, etc.) This is the heart of BJ and why we all are here.

  194. 194.

    Mike E

    Strawberry Poke Cake:
    Ingredients

    Cake
    12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter , softened, plus extra for preparing pan
    2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour , plus extra for preparing pan
    4 teaspoons baking powder
    1 teaspoon salt
    1 cup whole milk
    2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    6 large egg whites
    1 3/4 cups sugar

    Syrup and Topping
    4 cups frozen strawberries
    6 tablespoons sugar
    2 tablespoons orange juice
    1/2 cup water
    2 tablespoons strawberry-flavored gelatin
    2 cups heavy cream
    Instructions

    1. For the cake: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 9 by 13-inch baking pan. Whisk flour, baking powder, and salt in bowl. Whisk milk, vanilla, and egg whites in large measuring cup.

    2. With electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat butter and sugar until fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down bowl as necessary. Add flour mixture and milk mixture alternately, in two batches, beating after each addition until combined, about 30 seconds each time. Using rubber spatula, give batter final stir. Scrape into prepared pan and bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 35 minutes. Cool cake completely in pan, at least 1 hour. Once cool, cake can be wrapped in plastic and kept at room temperature for up to 2 days.

    3. For the syrup and topping: Heat 3 cups strawberries, 2 tablespoons sugar, juice, and water in medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Cover and cook until liquid is deep red and strawberries are softened, about 10 minutes. Strain liquid into bowl, reserving solids, then whisk gelatin into liquid. Let cool to room temperature, at least 30 minutes.

    4. Meanwhile, poke about 50 holes in top of cooled cake (see photos). Slowly pour cooled liquid evenly over top of cake. Wrap with plastic wrap and refrigerate until gelatin is set, at least 3 hours or up to 2 days.

    5. Pulse reserved strained strawberries, 2 tablespoons sugar, and remaining strawberries in food processor until mixture resembles strawberry jam. Spread strawberry mixture evenly over cake. With electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat cream with remaining sugar to soft peaks. Spread cream over strawberries. Cut cake into squares and serve.

  195. 195.

    mandarama

    Yes, it was a joke. Should have used the snark tag, but I thought “mop fetish” would do the trick. Fail for me!

  196. 196.

    Waynski

    @arguingwithsignposts — no bath.. they have tongues for that, lucky bastards.. and Fancy Feast. Our cat, and until last week two cats, always enjoy. Younger ones like the chunky stuff — wet or dry (try to find a dry food Smudge likes though.. it’s cheaper and Fancy Feast makes some interesting varieties). Older ones like the smoother wet food (Mixed Grill, Beef Feast, Chicken Feast, etc.) Usually the wet food says on the label whether it’s a feast (usually smooth), minced (middle of the road texture wise), or chunked.

    This post dedicated to our old boy Trotsky who in his 22 years began life in New Orleans, spent a short stint in Chicago, and the other half of his life here in NYC. He had a great run. Well, not actually running that much ’cause he was a fat apartment kitty, but he had a nice, comfortable long life. We’ll miss him.

    Waynski +4

  198. 198.

    Steeplejack

    @Annie:

    WTF. This is a joke, right?

    Yes, it’s a fucking joke! Jeez, we need to get somebody in here to tune our feng shui or cleanse the space with burning sage or something. Everything is a little way out of whack.

  199. 199.

    Steeplejack

    @Mike E:

    Heh. Strawberry poke cake is an acceptable alternative. It’s in the rule book–Tunch’s Parliamentary Orders, IV:36(a).

  201. 201.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @Steeplejack:

    Yes, it’s a fucking joke! Jeez, we need to get somebody in here to tune our feng shui or cleanse the space with burning sage or something. Everything is a little way out of whack.

    See, this is why we can’t have nice things. I think this should be our new theme song. (not a rickroll)

  202. 202.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Demo Woman: I’m the last person in the world you should ask for a critique on a telethon. I am not exaggerating when I say I don’t know most of the participating celebrities; and the ones I might have heard of I don’t recognize. Wish they had put up something identifying who the singers were. For instance, I have heard of Justin Timberlake (not sure why, though — he was on some show, or was married or engaged to someone, or got voted off an island or something) but if he walked into my bedroom right now and said “Hi, I’m Justin Timberlake,” I wouldn’t know if that was true.

    I really don’t mean to sound so holier-than-thou. I am pretty tone-deaf when it comes to most pop culture. That said, I listened to and enjoyed (or whatever verb is safe to use right now) most of the musical numbers, and went unconscious during Anderson Cooper. And even if I didn’t recognize most of the celebrities or songs, and even if Anderson Cooper makes me want to throw someting, they all did what they did for sometinh important.

    I seriously doubt that answered your question :-) I am so tired and out of sorts I’m pretty sure I’m babbling like a fool with every comment I post these days. The +3 is probably contributing to this belief.

  205. 205.

    Demo Woman

    @SiubhanDuinne: Google SaturdayNightLive, Justin Timberlake, gift in a box. That was the first time I saw him.. It might improve your spirits or you might just think that I have gone to the dark side. lol
    I thought the telethon was great and I am so very impressed that they were able to pull such talent together. It was touching that celebs were answering the phone and the folks on the other end probably had no idea. They definitely should have identified the performers though because, like you I had no idea who they were.

  207. 207.

    SIA

    @snarkyspice: Cats are so clean, aren’t they. They get on my nerves when they start furiously washing the spot where I petted them after they asked for petting. Kind of snooty sometimes! Little bastids.

  208. 208.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @mandarama:

    teasing the host about his mop fetish activities,

    it’s self-indulgent navel-gazing and harmless community-building.

    I object to these two sentences present in the same comment. Brain Bleach please.

  212. 212.

    inkadu

    @SiubhanDuinne: The only reason I know who any of these people are is my girlfriend, who is an avid keeper-up-of-trends. I’ve been anti-pop culture since high school, when I listened to the Beatles. The good news is with modern technology all the stuff is preserved, so if I get to it a few years late, it should still be as good.

    Thanks to the increasing fracturing of the media market, though, I think the plight of us cultural ignoramuses has greatly improved. I couldn’t get through a day without someone asking me, “It’s like that episode of Seinfeld…” (which I hadn’t seen at that point). I don’t think that’s ever going to happen again. American Idol is close, but there’s not that much content there to trickle out into daily non-American Idol conversation.

    I’m just setting my crank flag down here right now, so in forty years, I can say, “I’ve been a crotchety old man since I was sixteen.”

    Now get off my lawn.

  213. 213.

    Annie

    @Steeplejack:

    What…………I said “this is a joke, right?” jeez………..

    I think I need pictures of Smudge and Charlie and Lily and Tunch is this is not toooo self-indulgent.

    Or just shot me now…

  217. 217.

    Anne Laurie

    @inkadu:

    Thanks to the increasing fracturing of the media market, though, I think the plight of us cultural ignoramuses has greatly improved… American Idol is close, but there’s not that much content there to trickle out into daily non-American Idol conversation.

    Yah, I just ran across a statistic — the most-watched TV show in America in 2008 was American Idol, and that got just over 14% of the available eyeballs; back in the mid-60s, the most-watched show, I Love Lucy, got almost a 70% share.

    I have a friend (hi, Ken J) who’s always made it a rule not to read best-sellers or ‘hot topic’ books until 5 years after their publication, on the grounds that if they’re actually worthwhile they’d still be available. The rise of DVDs and even more the internet has just about made it possible to expand Ken’s Law even to something as “ephemeral” as a television show. Good times for us grumpy old late adopters!!

  220. 220.

    Lesley

    I’m late to this party, but just want to express my whole hearted support for this Tunch graphic. I really like it and would buy a t-shirt.

    It would be kind of cool to have Tunch on one side and Lily on the other.

  221. 221.

    asiangrrlMN

    @tbogg: Still thinking of you and your family. Peace to you.

    @arguingwithsignposts: Late to thread, but no bathing necessary. As for the picky cat thing, maybe I am extremely lucky, but I switch food on my boys all the time and they eat it all. Well, OK, Shadow eats it all and Raven eats it mostly.

    @Laura W: This is completely out of line. I, for one, helped AWS because I wanted to help him, and depression is a serious thing. People do not need to react in the same way you do in order to ‘be real’ or whatever it is you said. I don’t understand why you feel the need to attack people for joking around, especially in an open thread.

    mandarama, I totally got what you said, and I agree with you about this blog and televised concerts in general.

    P.S. Cole, I like the Tunch graphic. Then again, anything is better with moar Tunch.

  222. 222.

    mandarama

    @Annie:

    I just want to clarify that I wasn’t using the term “self-indulgent” pejoratively. My screed was pointed for snark effect only.

Comments are closed.