Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

A Senator Walker would also be an insult to reason, rationality, and decency.

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

Roe isn’t about choice, it’s about freedom.

Balloon Juice has never been a refuge for the linguistically delicate.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

Usually wrong but never in doubt

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

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

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

People are complicated. Love is not.

Not so fun when the rabbit gets the gun, is it?

I’m pretty sure there’s only one Jack Smith.

We still have time to mess this up!

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

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

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

… pundit janitors mopping up after the GOP

Only Democrats have agency, apparently.

Republicans do not pay their debts.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Open thread

Reader Interactions

154Comments

  2. 2.

    Napoleon

    My BJ swag came last night. I can’t wait to hit the clubs tonight where I am sure it is going to impress the ladies.

  4. 4.

    robertdsc

    An update on my unemployment situaiton:

    I went down to work to inquire about some paperwork and was told that things are so bad that our branch office is closing in 60 days. The company is going to go through some serious slimming down in the next few months. My position was eliminated as part of the cuts.

    I’m going to miss working there since it was a family business that treated me right. Ah well.

  6. 6.

    DaveInOz

    Saw the Mick Fleetwood Blues Band last night at Sutton Grange Winery (near Bendigo) in Victoria. If you like the old Peter Green Fleetwood Mac music go and see them. They play all the old stuff.

  7. 7.

    Ann

    Well, that’s a pretty inspiring open thread!

    Nevertheless, all the best to you, Lily, and my beloved Tunch!

  11. 11.

    RSR

    Big picture privacy issues and the school laptop/webcam story–when are people finally going to demand their privacy back?!?

    Atrios: Webcam Surveillance

    Again, we don’t yet know if the allegations are true, but even if you leave aside the creepy spying aspect of it… the idea that schools can punish people (if true) for “improper behavior” at home, whatever the behavior, is scary enough.

  12. 12.

    hal

    Huffpo headline of the week:

    Susan Sarandon Vomited On By A Transsexual

    Which is (unsurprisingly) a NY Post story.

  14. 14.

    TenguPhule

    I’m going to miss working there since it was a family business that treated me right. Ah well.

    I hear there will be a rising market for kneecappers of Republican shills in the near future.

  15. 15.

    TenguPhule

    Big picture privacy issues and the school laptop/webcam story—when are people finally going to demand their privacy back?!?

    Never.

    SATSQ.

    The sheer inertia that is our current political system ensures that only the loudest and stupidest will ever be listened to.

  16. 16.

    Brick Oven Bill

    Let us now consider the political ideology of Harvard-trained Professor Amy Bishop, the literal Democrat flame-thrower. She shot and killed her brother years ago, waved a gun in the street at motorists, and punched a woman in the head at an IHOP in 2002, who refused to yield a child seat.

    Amy repeatedly declared before the diners at IHOP:

    ‘I Am Doctor Amy Bishop!’

    This is speculation but she might have sounded like Beavis. It is unknown whether or not she had pulled her shirt over her head as she was making these proclamations to the diners. Amy was then allowed to roam free and recently iced three in Alabama.

    Harvard University. This is where Professor Gates teaches, the guy who chased Officer Crowley out of his house yelling bad things about his mom.

    Thus, we conclude that the Teabaggers, those men and women who peacefully assemble to express their political opinion, are unstable.

  17. 17.

    Waynski

    Actually, Mrs. Waynski here. Looking for advice.

    Our old cat, Trotsky, passed last month. Age 22, if you can believe it.

    Our 8-year-old girl cat is twitchy and clearly in need of feline company. I’m settled on a boy.

    Here’s the thing. My heart says adopt an older cat. My head says Clementine will react better to a kitten.

    Thoughts?

  18. 18.

    licensed to kill time

    @John Cole:

    See, that’s where those narcotics can come in handy. When I broke my ankle/had surgery, and was on some wonderful painkiller, I could sit and watch 6 crappy movies in a row and every one was fascinating.

    I know you don’t like feeling dain-bramaged though.

  19. 19.

    16 shells from a thirty aught six

    Watched an episode of Eastbound and Down last night, and promptly watched the other five and almost died of oxygen deprivation. In spite of the vulgarity it’s actually got a bit of subtlety, like at breakfast when Kenny has a coke. I thought, ‘he is exactly the sort of person that orders a coke with breakfast.’

  22. 22.

    16 shells from a thirty aught six

    @Waynski:

    I know the shelter here lets you take one of the grampas out on loan to see how they fit in at your household. They call and check up on them periodically and if they’re not working out they take them back. Maybe that’s an option?

  23. 23.

    eemom

    @robertdsc:

    sorry. That really sucks.

    When I read about folks like you and Mom Anon, and all the endless horror stories about people without health insurance…….and then about shitsacks like Sally Quinn……I am SO ready for a full metal guillotine revolution.

    I never get tired of quoting The Good Earth: “There is a way, when the rich are too rich.”

  24. 24.

    RSR

    John: How is Caprica going? I still haven’t watched any episodes. Should I bother keeping them on my DVR?

  26. 26.

    WaterGirl

    @robertdsc:

    I’m going to miss working there since it was a family business that treated me right. Ah well.

    You lost your job, which is really crappy, and knowing that you worked at some nice family business that is in really rough shape makes it even more sad, for both sides. Somehow it was better when I could blame evil corporations for putting you and A Mom Anon out of work.

  27. 27.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @hal #12: Well, it wouldn’t have been newsworthy if she had been vomited on by someone merely afflicted with teh ghey.

  28. 28.

    cleek

    See, that’s where those narcotics can come in handy.

    wanna know where they don’t come in handy?

    imagine you get sick – a sinus infection maybe – and you’re so desperate to stop coughing that you take a hit off the TussionEx (hydrocodone-spiked cough syrup) that’s been sitting in the medicine cabinet since last year’s cold season. it’s the only thing that will really works. bam. no more cough. no more anything.

    then imagine you get a call the next AM about a job you interviewed for, a couple days ago.

    and then the recruiter says the magic words: “drug screen”.

  29. 29.

    SIA

    Mrs Waynski. We had a lovely pair of same age kittehs we adopted together from a shelter, Romeo and – wait for it! Juliet. Several yrs ago Romy was killed by some kind of animal. Still wrenches my heart to think/write that.

    Some months later we adopted a big white male who Mr Screaming satirically named Angel. They despise each other and my fantasy of a handsome new husband for Julie never came to pass.

    I recommend a kitten rather than a grown cat! And keep them separated a few days. Take a cloth and rub the scent of one and leave in the other’s sleep area and vice versa so they can get acclimated to each others’ scent. This works with the dogs too.

    Just my experience. Sorry to hear you lost your friend of so many years.

  31. 31.

    Brick Oven Bill

    Now let us consider Joe Stack’s political ideology and assign his various views to the political party that purports to advocate those views:

    Anti-Tax: Republican
    Anti-Bailout: Split
    Anti-Health Insurance Companies: Sounds like an Obama Presidential address
    Anti-Catholic: Split
    Anti Big-Business: Democrat
    Anti-Union: Republican
    Calls out Bush but not Obama by name: Democrat
    Correctly states the communist creed: Democrat
    And mocks the capitalist creed: Democrat

    Considering the above, one would think that it is likely that Joe Stack voted for Barack in 2008. Perhaps this is the reason the Obama Administration attempted to remove Joe’s manifesto from the Internet.

    It is also noteworthy that Joe Stack did not drink or smoke. The moderate use of alcohol, and perhaps even an occasional tobacco product, is an effective way to take the edge off. The use of these substances probably would have been good for him.

  32. 32.

    Warren Terra

    Silvio Berlusconi news: the dental hygienist who treated him when he was attacked, a former model, is now a candidate for his party in local elections. If Italy were a real place it’d be less amusing.

  34. 34.

    suzanne

    I still haven’t graduated.

    I’ve had so many nosebleeds this week that my snot is now orange.

    ***sigh***

  35. 35.

    licensed to kill time

    @MattR:

    Heh. I could’ve listened to the Jonas Brothers on that stuff and not shot myself, at least right away.

    @cleek: Hmm – take in the bottle and explain? It might work ;-)

  37. 37.

    eemom

    in other news, now that HCR has come back to life, so has Jane Hamsher’s insufferable screeding on that subject.

    Raaaahm. Raaaaaahm. Raaaaaaaaahm.

  38. 38.

    Warren Terra

    BOB,
    Stack was an all-purpose nutball of no clear ideology. Nonetheless, his terrorist act reflected exposure to hyperbolic, often metaphorically violent, anti-government rhetoric.

    See: Beck, Glenn.

  40. 40.

    Cassidy

    Democrats can shoot fire? Why was I not informed sooner?

    You have to raid until lvl 60.

    I, for one, can’t wait until the next episode of Family Guy when Seth craftily makes a blog commenter post multiple times how unfunny it is.

  47. 47.

    Brick Oven Bill

    Warren Terra;

    I will speak to you in a dialect to which we have become accustomed.

    Ummmm, Glenn gives pretty direct advice to his, uhhh, audience that violence in the current political climate is, uhhhh, the worst thing that could happen.

    Ummm, now let us consider Bill Ayres. He, uhhh, like, tried to bomb federal, uh, buildings. Fortunately for the men and women inside those, umm, buildings, Ayres is a much better ghost-writer than he is a, a, uhhh, military man.

  49. 49.

    eastriver

    @gwangung:

    Is darryl in hiding?

    Gosh, I feel like I’m coming in late on something. I’m certainly glad you’re keeping tabs on everything gwangfishing.

  51. 51.

    rootless_e

    @eemom: I forgot to add

    NOT THAT THERE’S ANYTHING WRONG WITH THAT

    I’m going to have to smack myself with a copy of an Alice Waters Cookbook.

  58. 58.

    Warren Terra

    BOB, the Ayers: Ghostwriter meme manages to be beneath even you. Ayers abhors the limelight, so he’d be uncredited? Obama needed a ghostwriter? He was famous or wealthy enough to get one back then?

  59. 59.

    Laura W

    We got the first submission for the Charlie’s Angels logo contest. TOO ADORABLE! Thanks, Ecks!

    If those of you who receive swag would post photos, we’ll run them down the blog sidebar. (Napoleon…lookin’ at you tonight, Ladies Man.) Three pet food bowls sold yesterday after everyone saw MattR’s Ellie “FEEDing”. We’re actually about 15 sales away from having a VERY impressive first week in fund raising, so if any of all y’all have been waffling, like Obama waffles, go shop!

  60. 60.

    dr. bloor

    @Chyron HR:

    Democrats can shoot fire? Why was I not informed sooner?

    Ssshhhhh…we’re keeping it a secret until the Teabaggers get really, really close to us.

  63. 63.

    Tax Analyst

    @Brick Oven Bill:

    Joe Stack’s problems actually stemmed from a denial of personal responsibility and an overwhelming tendency/desire/need to blame others for those problems.

    It appears he tried to play a foolish version (actually, several foolish versions) of “Fast & Loose” with the IRS and quite predictably came up on the short end.

    So he burned his home and flew his Piper-Cherokee into a building full of working stiffs because the IRS took his football away. Sadly, someone other than just his brooding self died from his actions.

    ~ ~ ~ The End ~ ~ ~

  64. 64.

    Restrung

    @Waynski:

    Head. I did the same thing and it worked like I expected it to. The old lady wasn’t threatened by the 6 mo. old kitten. She loved her right away. She still doesn’t like the adult cat that showed up last year.

  65. 65.

    Laura W

    @WaterGirl: Of course. The post announcing the contest on the blog stated that all submissions will be posted as they come in. Everyone gets to share in the process and it gives Evelyn Bridges, the rescue group founder, a place to see them all. It’s intended to be an open-ended, creative process that evolves as it moves along.

    If we were doing it here on BJ people would just throw them up in open threads as they did when John asked for graphics submissions. That gets a little onerous as I do not catch every single thread’s comments.
    It’s all in the spirit of fun, fostering creativity, and community building. That’s pretty kosher, no?

  66. 66.

    cat48

    @Waynski:

    I have 2 male cats about the same age. The one I adopted first (about 9 mo earlier) is still angry the second one had the nerve to move in with us. I could have returned him, but I didn’t have the heart so they are still evil to each other after 10 yrs. Some advise that the 2nd kitty should have been a female, but I am not convinced. My husband says they don’t act this way when I’m not around so he thinks it might be my fault. Since I care & love on them and he doesn’t, it is probably just common jealousy.

    I volunteer at a shelter and the small kittens are easily adopted so I took my pretty boys when they were estimated to be 2.

    Just go with your heart.

  67. 67.

    Brick Oven Bill

    I am no Joe Stack defender Tax Analyst. But I strongly suspect that Joe voted for Barack, a President with an overwhelming tendency/desire/need to blame others for his problems to which Joe would have projected his own situation.

    Here is Barack’s published writing as an under-graduate, Warren Terra. This file used to be viewable, but it is no longer, at least on my computer. Imagine that.

    It is, uh, not that good in any case. Then he stopped writing in Law School. Then he came out with some rapid fire books once he was in the political arena which are very, uh, articulate.

  69. 69.

    JenJen

    Breaking! Breaking! Must Credit Balloon-Juice! Siren! Breaking!

    Ron Paul wins CPAC Straw Poll with 31% of the vote.

    Mittens and Mooseburger tied for 2nd with 7% each.

    This is excellent news for Republicans.

  73. 73.

    Comrade Kevin

    Brick Oven Bill, translated back into the original dialect:

    I wiww speak to you in a diawect to which we have become accustomed.
    Ummmm, Gwenn gives pwetty diwect advice to his, uhhh, audience that viowence in the cuwwent powiticaw cwimate is, uhhhh, the wowst thing that couwd happen, uh-hah-hah-hah.
    Ummm, now wet us considew Biww Aywes. Oh, dat scwewy wabbit! He, uhhh, wike, twied to bomb fedewaw, uh, buiwdings. Oh, dat scwewy wabbit! Fowtunatewy fow the men and women inside those, umm, buiwdings, Aywes is a much bettew ghost-wwitew than he is a, a, uhhh, miwitawy man, uh-hah-hah-hah.

  76. 76.

    JenJen

    Correction to CPAC Straw Poll Results:

    Ron Paul 31%
    Mitt Romney 22%
    Sarah Palin 7%
    Tim Pawlenty 6%

    Ha! This tweet from Politico’s Jonathan Martin is pretty funny:

    CPAC flack rushes over to reporters to make sure we heard crowd boo Paul results, reiterates low turnout among total attendees.

    Is it too early to credit ACORN?

  77. 77.

    asiangrrlMN

    @darryl: Wow. Yes. Never heard something like that before. How very original. Glad to see that it’s still a winner with a certain demographic. That would be the same demographic that likes to go on murderous killing sprees because of incoherent rage and paranoia.

    @jeffreyw: More tormenting from you? Cruel, you are, indeed.

    @Waynski: Go with your head. do what’s good for your kitty.

  80. 80.

    eastriver

    @asiangrrlMN:

    And a finely honed sense of comedy:

    That would be the same demographic that likes to go on murderous killing sprees because of incoherent rage and paranoia.

    Zing! Pow! Rim shot!

    I would suggest that you are inscutable, but I need to go out on a murderous killing spree ‘Natch.

  81. 81.

    Rick Taylor

    Steve Benen hits on something that’s been bugging me for a while; what the hell has happened to the Republican party? I’ve never held them in high regard, but they used to at least be coherent.
    __

    When Reagan and congressional Republicans pushed through a major tax-cut package in 1982, it was based on a coherent economic theory. I think the theory was wrong and the policy was a mistake, but I can appreciate the fact that GOP officials at the time actually thought this through. They did their homework. To borrow a cliche from math classrooms everywhere, they showed their work.
    __
    Today, Republican calls for tax cuts are more habitual than intellectual. They can’t explain why their proposals make sense or what they hope to accomplish. There’s no economic theory or policy analysis. Tax cuts create jobs. Why? Because they do.
    __
    And if it were just tax policy, this would be easier to ignore. Tragically, we’re dealing with a Republican Party that celebrates ignorance, and has given up on the pretense of substance and depth altogether. As Paulson found, even during a crisis that risked the future of the global economy, Republican lawmakers not only had nothing intelligent to offer, but even trying to communicate with them on an adult level was a “complete waste of time.”
    __
    This has only gotten worse. Faced with an economic crisis, Republicans demanded a five-year, across-the-board spending freeze — and they still think that was a good idea. They presented a budget blueprint that offered oddly-drawn charts and no numbers. They see snow and assume global warming isn’t real. They know they’re against health care reform, but can’t explain why with anything more sophisticated than bumper-sticker slogans.

  83. 83.

    SGEW

    I would just like to say that darryl, eastriver, and AkaDad can go fuck themselves.

    Oh yeah, racist jokes! Always a fine addition to one’s repertoire. You’re making B.O.B. look good.

  85. 85.

    Brick Oven Bill

    For the reasons stated above eastriver. Both men are/were anti-establishment. Joe seemed to like the idea of communism better than capitalism. Barack seeks to spread the wealth around.

  87. 87.

    debit

    @hal: I hear he has a truck.

    @ open thread: I saw Shutter Island this afternoon. Loved it, despite guessing the plot twist even before seeing the movie (and never having read the novel). DiCaprio gives, and I never thought I would say (type) these words, a truly incredible performance. His pain, in some scenes, was so heartfelt, so palpable I was in tears as well. The movie itself is so visually interesting; beautiful corpses, bruised and battered faces, and just lovely camera work.

    I don’t see movies in the theater very often. It’s a holdover from my smoking days, I suppose. It’s damn hard for a pack a day smoker to sit for three hours without nicotine. But even after I quit, it’s hard to get me into a theater. For some reason, I decided to go see this one. Not only am I glad I did, I’d go see it again.

  89. 89.

    YellowJournalism

    Susan Sarandon Vomited On By A Transsexual

    Why didn’t she dodge it? “It’s just a jump to the left…”

  90. 90.

    SGEW

    @AkaDad: Ahem (feeling tetchy today, for some reason).

    First: I don’t lighten up over jokes that are racist. Sorry.

    Secondly: Being part of a demographic that suffers discrimination does not give you carte blanche to be racist to other demographics (see, e.g., Ta-Nehisi’s ruminations on the phrase “chinky eyes”).

    Thirdly: Are you seriously claiming that Franco-Americans suffer the “worst” discrimination? Or is that another joke? If so, it’s a much better one than your earlier attempt.

  93. 93.

    South of I-10

    @Waynski: I have an approximately 10 year old cat, Pati, and we adopted a kitten, Katie, last May. They are not particularly fond of each other. Katie attacks Pati from time to time. Pati is such a mellow cat, I may have done better getting an older cat who doesn’t have the kitty spaz twice a day. The dog gets along fine with both cats, but has taken it upon herself to fuss at Katie when she attacks Pati – I need to get video of this, it’s quite entertaining.

  95. 95.

    PTirebiter

    @16 shells from a thirty aught six: Wait just a darn a minute there small change. Coca Cola has been my a.m. beverage of choice for years. I can assure you that your stereotype doesn’t wash. For starters, I’m left-handed and the differences only become more pronounced from there.

  96. 96.

    AkaDad

    I’d like to see someone call me a racist to my face because they would end up in the hospital.

    I apologize if anyone was offended, but don’t ever call me a racist.

  98. 98.

    gwangung

    @AkaDad:
    As it stands, I don’t know enough about you to say if you’re racist. However, If you act like a racist and talk like a racist… don’t be surprised at the results.

  100. 100.

    SGEW

    @AkaDad:

    I’d like to see someone call me a racist to my face because they would end up in the hospital.

    Racist and violent? Nice combination.

    Not to say that you’re “racist” racist, a la B.O.B., mind you (note well that I haven’t requested banning anyone for racism here) – just that you seem to appreciate racist jokes.

    Additionally: Saying “I’m sorry if anyone was offended” is not an apology for offending someone.

  101. 101.

    AkaDad

    Did I say Asians were somehow inferior?

    NO I didn’t.

    Was what I said in poor taste?

    Yes. I’m guilty.

  103. 103.

    Tax Analyst

    @eastriver:

    @Brick Oven Bill:
    Hey, B.O.O.B., I’m still waiting for an explanation of why you “suspect” that Joe Stack voted for Bo. And waiting…

    This won’t be easy for him. First, you have to round UP the usual suspects, but if the decimal amount is below .50 you must round DOWN instead.

    I think you can see why this might take BOB some time.

  104. 104.

    gwangung

    @AkaDad: Dude, I’m the one who usually have the shovel, but I’m not handing you one. You really got to stop on your own.

    And you REALLY have to expand your sense of what racism is and how those jokes were used by racists to oppress. Some of use have personal experience.

  106. 106.

    SGEW

    @AkaDad: No, of course not; as I said, you have said nothing that rises to the level of outright racism as shown by B.O.B., or even the crypto-bigotry seen by a typical troll. Just joining in on a garden-variety racist joke; a joke that some people don’t realize is actually racist (or, perhaps, don’t mind).

    Free speech is a tricky minefield. But at least we don’t actually get our feet blown off: we just have them stuck in our mouths, from time to time.

    Post away. Thanks for the actual apology.

  109. 109.

    darryl

    February 20th, 2010 at 5:39 pm Reply to this comment
    AkaDad
    @darryl:
    That’s a false stereotype which can be considered offensive.
    Having said that, you made me ror.

    Ha! AndI know it’s offensive. That’s why I made it. :-)

    Living around liberal college kids the last 8 years, where race is something you can have a little fun with, I got used to it. Although older liberals are a totally different story. They’re much more likely to get angry and humorless. The upcoming generation is a bit more sophisticated on the topic than their parents.

  110. 110.

    SGEW

    Shorter Darryl: I like to offend people, by making racist jokes! Young “liberal” people I have encountered also make racist jokes, so why can’t I? Chris Rock gets to say “nigger,” why can’t I get away with it? Why can’t you take a joke?

  111. 111.

    JenJen

    @darryl: Ahh, the old “you’re humorless and unsophisticated if you don’t laugh at my racist jokes aimed at a long-time Balloon-Juice poster known and liked by many” defense.

    How will you ever forgive us, darryl?

  112. 112.

    debit

    @darryl: Shorter Darry: Bitch, why don’t you think it’s funny when I call you a bitch? Stupid, humorless bitch doesn’t get my jokes. Probably because she needs a good, hard dicking.

  117. 117.

    eastriver

    @debit:

    Shorter Darry: Bitch, why don’t you think it’s funny when I call you a bitch? Stupid, humorless bitch doesn’t get my jokes. Probably because she needs a good, hard dicking.

    See, that’s funny. It’s a helluva lot more offensive than what darryl wrote. Is everyone going to be offended by it?

    Just curious.

  120. 120.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    @JenJen: I never miss an opportunity to express outrage at someone else’s opprobrium. It’s just how I roll.

    Akadad will be happier over at Tbogg where all the funny commenters hang out.

  121. 121.

    debit

    @eastriver: Comprehension fail. My “humorless bitch” was hyperbole, not meant to be funny, and not directed at anyone, whereas darryl targeted a specific poster here. But then you thought his comment was funny and took a shot too. I know who the asshole is here, and it’s not me.

  124. 124.

    AkaDad

    @Just Some Fuckhead:

    No, I won’t be happier. I like and respect most of the people here and I’m truly upset that people would think I’m a racist when I’ve gotten into a fist fight defending a friend from actual racist remarks.

    I want to specifically apologize to Asiangrrl and I’ll leave it up to her. If you want me to leave then I will.

  126. 126.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    @AkaDad: I don’t even have the capacity to understand what you are saying here.

    This is the part where I start ordering people to suck my dick and it always works.

  140. 140.

    asiangrrlMN

    @darryl: Humorless? Really? What you said just wasn’t fucking funny. It, in itself is old and humorless. And, I don’t know you. If I did, it might have been funny given the context. Now you just look like an asshole.

    And, telling tired old racist jokes that aren’t funny and then insisting that the person who doesn’t like them that it is funny and that that person is just being too sensitive IS racist. Good god.

    Main point, though–it’s not fucking funny.

  141. 141.

    Yutsano

    @asiangrrlMN: There are just people who you just have to look at and say, “What the hell is wrong with you?” This whole situation applies. darryl needs a good podiatrist. And I’m being generous with that.

  142. 142.

    darryl

    You guys probably freak out at South Park, and don’t get why it’s the absurdity of the racist thing that is in fact the joke. Eh. I’m not wasting my time explaining it. Hang out with smart liberal 22 year olds for a few years, and maybe you’ll get a clue.

  143. 143.

    Steeplejack

    @cleek:

    Dude, I am your go-to sinus infection guy. I used to teach and coach swimming, was in the water 4-6 hours a day and got world-class sinus infections every three months like clockwork.

    Forget the high-priced meds. Hear me now and forget about it later, but nasal irrigation is your friend. And I don’t mean just when you get a sinus infection. I mean every day, as a prophylactic measure, like brushing your teeth.

    You don’t have to get an official neti pot. You do need to get the “pharmaceutical grade” salt–no iodine, finer-grained (so it dissolves easier)–but you can sniffle it up from a glass or a cup, which is what I do: one little measure of salt (the salt usually comes with a little 1/4 or 1/8 tsp coke spoon) dissolved in about 8 ounces of lukewarm water. I have not had a sinus infection since starting the regimen, and I also have become pretty much impervious to colds and flu. (I will note that I no longer coach swimming and am not in the water that much, but I do still swim for exercise.)

    And, yes, there are quite a few things “better” (worse) than a sinus infection: e.g., a broken jaw or a dislocated and fucked-up shoulder.

  144. 144.

    gwangung

    . Hang out with smart liberal 22 year olds for a few years, and maybe you’ll get a clue.

    Do that with smart, liberal 22 year old Asian Americans for, oh about, ten seconds, and you’ll get a clue.

    Asshole.

  145. 145.

    Steeplejack

    @cleek:

    [. . .] and then the recruiter says the magic words: “drug screen.”

    See, you will never have this problem with nasal irrigation. I guarantee it.

  147. 147.

    asiangrrlMN

    @darryl: It wasn’t fucking funny. In this context, it was hostile. You don’t know me, and you specifically call me out like that? It’s just an excuse for you and others to dump a bunch of stereotypes all over the place. And, fuck you. You don’t get to decide what is and isn’t racist and is and isn’t ok if you are directing it at me. I know twenty year olds who are smart, funny, and liberal, and you may be liberal, but you are neither of the first two.

    Plus, you go on to say that you knew it was offensive. Then, you get offended because I’m offended? That’s just being a passive-aggressive asshole. Context is everything, and you had none of it.

  148. 148.

    Yutsano

    @asiangrrlMN: Worst part of all this? He’s not gonna get it. He’s gonna continue to play the humor card and think that makes it all okay. It pisses me off enough when conservatives do this crap. When liberals do it, I start to question the self-identity of the said liberal.

  151. 151.

    Steeplejack

    @maody:

    It’s even easier than WaterGirl shows, at least on this site.

    1. Get your target URL ready to roll, presumably by going to the page you want and copying the address to your clipboard.

    2. In the Balloon Juice comment-writing box, write your message and highlight the phrase you want to be the hyperlink to your URL, e.g., “This is a picture of my cat and a turtle, or possibly a tortoise.”

    3. Click the “link” tab above the comment box and, in the pop-up box that appears, paste your target URL. (Note: You must include the “http://” prefix. If you start with “www.” it will get screwed up.) Close that box.

    Voilà! Your hyperlink will appear like this in your message:

    &#060a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/runningbrookmadnessandbeauty/4373725903/”&#062″This is a picture of my cat and a turtle, or possibly a tortoise.”&#060/a&#062

    If you want to hand-code it, use this template:

    &#060a href=”URL you want”&#062″Text you want”&#060/a&#062

  152. 152.

    Steeplejack

    @Steeplejack:

    Oops. Editing fail. The hand-coded version should be:

    &#060a href=”URL you want”&#062Text you want&#060/a&#062

    No quotes needed around the text you want displayed.

  153. 153.

    debit

    @darryl: I suspect you are even younger than the 22 year old liberals you claim to hang out with. You see, once you leave childhood behind, you should know that when you offend someone who did nothing to provoke you, the correct way to respond is, “I’m sorry.” It’s childish to blame the victim for not “getting” your humor.

    Come back when you grow up and can apologize properly. Until then, I’m sure there are plenty of other blogs where you can behave like an immature asshole without repercussions.

Comments are closed.