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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Open Thread

Open Thread

by John Cole|  March 10, 20109:58 am| 116 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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Another beautiful day today- I’m off to rehab the shoulder, then will be out of the loop until later this afternoon. Behave yourselves.

BTW- got a message from commenter Genine that she is out of the hospital, and several of you announced new jobs yesterday, so maybe things are starting to look up around here.

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Previous Post: « A Song For Roberts’ Butthurt
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Reader Interactions

116Comments

  1. 1.

    Mike Kay

    March 10, 2010 at 10:00 am

    Punch a hippie early, punch a hippe often

  2. 2.

    Michael D.

    March 10, 2010 at 10:03 am

    They tried to make me go to rehab and I said no, no, no.

  3. 3.

    harlana peppper

    March 10, 2010 at 10:06 am

    No job here and I just got a call from a friend of mine, who had to move all the way to Chicago from SC to get employment with a very large corporation, was laid off yesterday, no notice, after working there for 3 years. Now she is stuck with high cost of living and, apparently, 11% unemployment for Chicago

  4. 4.

    Comrade Mary

    March 10, 2010 at 10:06 am

    Now I NEED to see John with a bouffant and some tattoos.

  5. 5.

    Persia

    March 10, 2010 at 10:07 am

    The headline I just caught off my google news feed:

    Massa: Yeah, I Groped Male Staff But Not Sexually

    I got nothin’.

    RIP, Corey Haim.

  6. 6.

    David in NY

    March 10, 2010 at 10:08 am

    A late note on the primary challenge by Connie Saltonstall to Bart Stupak. My brother in Petoskey (lower Peninsula, just north of Charlevoix), whom I used to think of as sort of conservative, responded to my forwarding the post from BJ about it like this: “Thanks for forwarding this—Connie is a good alternative to Stupak and has our full support, but I’m not optimistic about her chances.”

  7. 7.

    jeffreyw

    March 10, 2010 at 10:08 am

    Spring is just around the corner.

  8. 8.

    Mike Kay

    March 10, 2010 at 10:12 am

    @Persia:

    I’m in shock. I had no idea Cory Haim was still alive. He beat the point spread.

  9. 9.

    FoxinSocks

    March 10, 2010 at 10:15 am

    I don’t post a lot here (though I sure do lurk), but thought I’d add to the good news. Been working as a temp for about a year, but last month, the company I was temping for made me a full-fledged gen-u-ine employee. Yeah!!!

    Also, another one of the temps, who was absolutely fabulous, got a permanent job and left last week. I think people around here are already kicking themselves for not hiring her sooner.

  10. 10.

    GReynoldsCT00

    March 10, 2010 at 10:15 am

    @Mike Kay:

    you and me both

  11. 11.

    Face

    March 10, 2010 at 10:15 am

    Punch a hippie early, punch a hippe often

    What’s this supposed to mean?

  12. 12.

    Mike Kay

    March 10, 2010 at 10:16 am

    @Face: no speakie english?

  13. 13.

    Punchy

    March 10, 2010 at 10:17 am

    @Persia: Can I guess that Massa had no black staffers, on account of his….uh…unfortunate last name?

  14. 14.

    Liz

    March 10, 2010 at 10:18 am

    @Punchy:

    oh ouch!! :-)

  15. 15.

    Face

    March 10, 2010 at 10:18 am

    @Mike Kay: tell me what the fuck a “hippe” is and maybe it’ll make sense.

  16. 16.

    Mike Kay

    March 10, 2010 at 10:19 am

    Kos breaks with Hamsher

    Last night on Countdown, Kos broke with the Firebagger fringe and came out strongly for HCR, threating Kucinich and anyone else who sinks the bill.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/08/kucinich-becomes-target-o_n_490280.html

    Kucnich’s granola cruching supporter is in a tizzy.

  17. 17.

    geg6

    March 10, 2010 at 10:20 am

    @Face:

    That the poster is an asshole. It’s not like he’s saying it with any sort of sarcasm. He means it.

  18. 18.

    jibeaux

    March 10, 2010 at 10:21 am

    I’m glad to hear the good news, FoxinSocks.
    My facebook group promoting the win-win HCR-Rush to Costa Rica plan was quickly eclipsed by the corporate overlords at MoveOn, but I’m licking my wounds. Hanging in there. Husband still says he’ll photoshop a picture for me.
    On the good side, the weather’s turning nice and I have tomato seedlings on the windowsill, another 5 weeks or so they’ll be ready to go in the ground, and I am so much more pleasant to be around when there’s warmth, sunshine, and home-grown tomatoes.

  19. 19.

    David in NY

    March 10, 2010 at 10:22 am

    @Mike Kay: Now, now, some folks are not aware of all internet traditions. “Punching hippies” is the reflexive action of, say, any mainstream pundit who must, on the facts, criticize a “conservative” position, and, to balance the piece, punches a hippie (that is, criticizes some far-left proposal that is totally outside any mainstream discussion), just for form’s sake. In this context, however, it was just cheerful, early morning sarcasm, with no particular relevance.

  20. 20.

    jurassicpork

    March 10, 2010 at 10:24 am

    Yep, another self-loathing, gay GOP scumbag bites the dust and God only knows what else.

  21. 21.

    beltane

    March 10, 2010 at 10:25 am

    It’s an incredibly beautiful day out. Can’t wait for the snow to be gone and the ground to thaw out so I can go out there with a shovel and plant things.

  22. 22.

    Incertus (Brian)

    March 10, 2010 at 10:28 am

    Went for a bike ride in the Everglades yesterday. The alligators were out in force, though they were largely immobile. I’m largely immobile today as well, which is a testament to how out of shape I am (though six months ago I might not have made it at all).

  23. 23.

    Mike Kay

    March 10, 2010 at 10:28 am

    @geg6: such language for a peace lovin hippie. keep crunching that granola. There’s no difference btwn bush and gore!

  24. 24.

    srv

    March 10, 2010 at 10:30 am

    Corey Haim dead. Scott Brown has a book deal. Maybe we should all start writing Thune’s for him, since it would be an uphill struggle for him.

  25. 25.

    beltane

    March 10, 2010 at 10:31 am

    Wonkette just referred to Rahm Emanuel as a “vicious nine-fingered Jew” who assaults innocent congressmen at the gym. Without Wonkette my life would not be complete.

  26. 26.

    Ash Can

    March 10, 2010 at 10:32 am

    Behave yourselves.

    OK, guys, he’s gone! Quick, haul in the 30-packs! Start mixing those mud pies! Who’s got the lawn darts? Does this lampshade make me look fat?

  27. 27.

    mr. whipple

    March 10, 2010 at 10:33 am

    @Ash Can: LOL.

    Paaaaartyyyyyyy!

  28. 28.

    beltane

    March 10, 2010 at 10:33 am

    @srv: If Sarah Palin could do it, Thune could do it. It would help sales if Thune followed Palin’s example and strutted around in a mini-skirt and heels. I bet Scott Brown would do that, but I’m not sure Thune would do it publicly.

  29. 29.

    ADS

    March 10, 2010 at 10:34 am

    @FoxinSocks: Congrats! This gives me hope. My husband just started a contract position (12 month gig); we’re thrilled about the job (he’d been looking for months) and hope it may turn out to be permanent.

  30. 30.

    General Egali Tarian Stuck

    March 10, 2010 at 10:36 am

    @Mike Kay:

    Don’t always agree with you dude, but I like your brazen fearlessness. It will earn you a gaggle of detractors here, but such is life speaking your mind. Carry on.

  31. 31.

    AkaDad

    March 10, 2010 at 10:39 am

    Behave yourselves.

    I’m pretty sure John is talking about PUMA’s, BTD, Glenzilla, and Hillary! supporters.

    [munches popcorn]

  32. 32.

    Svensker

    March 10, 2010 at 10:39 am

    @FoxinSocks:

    Yay for you!

  33. 33.

    Ash Can

    March 10, 2010 at 10:39 am

    @beltane: Thanks for the reminder to read Wonkette more often. That site is awesome.

  34. 34.

    elmo

    March 10, 2010 at 10:40 am

    Dog rescue story from this morning.

    I’ve been active in dog rescue for 20 years, and right now I have an entire litter of Great Pyrennees puppies (9 weeks old) in my kitchen, awaiting transport to new foster homes. That’s in addition to my “core pack” of three German Shepherds, two mutts, and a Great Pyr. So I’m kinda full.

    This morning, I was driving to work and saw a small black dog curled up in the grass off the side of the road. Here in Tennessee that’s not all that uncommon; usually if you stop, they run off. But he lifted his head as I passed, and he looked thin, so I stopped.

    Thin doesn’t begin to cover it. He is a small dog, should probably weigh 25 pounds or so, but I could see every rib clearly. Both hips stood out above his back by at least a half-inch. When I stopped, he got up; when I got out of the truck, he started over to me, slowly. He was trembling and his tail was completely curled under, flush against his belly. His face and ears bore the unmistakable rash of demodex mange.

    When he got close to me, he started to growl, and kept walking in a wide arc around me. I kept my eyes down, my body low and relaxed, and told him softly that he was a good boy, that it was all right, that he would be safe.

    He went under my truck and laid down, still growling.

    Fortunately I bring my lunch to work, so my chicken sandwich was available for bait. I sat down in the road next to the truck and tossed chicken pieces. He snatched them up, still shaking hard, still growling, with that tremulous note of fear. I tossed chicken closer to me; he came closer to get it. Finally I put the whole sandwich down on the pavement next to me and waited. When he came to get it, I grabbed him. I didn’t dare wait and have patience; bad weather is coming, he’s obviously starved, and if he’d decided to leave, he’d have died.

    He struggled and bit, of course, but when I held on and didn’t hurt him, he stopped biting and just lay rigid in my hands, absolutely terrified. I held him for a few more minutes, talking softly to him, until he began to relax; then I picked him up and put him in the back seat of my truck and got a slip leash on him. I gave him the rest of the sandwich, and he bolted it, which is a good sign — dogs can get so terrified that they literally can’t eat.

    When I got him home, I got hold of the slip leash before I opened the door, so he wouldn’t bolt. I needn’t have worried. He climbed up my chest, put his paws and chin over my shoulder, and hopped his back feet up into my arms.

    That’s when I started to cry a little.

    He’s in my kitchen now. My partner got him puppy kibble and eggs (we have chickens, all our dogs get eggs with their food). When I left for work again, he was in my partner’s lap, wagging his tail. My hands are covered in cuts and scratches, and I don’t care. He’s safe, warm, well fed, and happy.

    Any ideas for names?

  35. 35.

    Dork

    March 10, 2010 at 10:43 am

    Wonkette just referred to Rahm Emanuel as a “vicious nine-fingered Jew”

    Nine-fingered, but apparently three-legged.

  36. 36.

    Ash

    March 10, 2010 at 10:46 am

    I got into grad school, a program I’ve been dreaming of, but will have to take out massive loans to pay for it. So uh….half looking up for me!

    @harlana peppper:

    Now she is stuck with high cost of living and, apparently, 11% unemployment for Chicago

    But at least she lives in Chicago and not SC anymore? I don’t know, that would be enough for me.

  37. 37.

    geg6

    March 10, 2010 at 10:47 am

    @General Egali Tarian Stuck:

    Whatever. The mother fucker lies about everything, especially the stances people take and what they say, but if you think that’s principled and admirable, whatever.

  38. 38.

    A Mom Anon

    March 10, 2010 at 10:49 am

    @elmo: As trite as it is,Lucky? Sounds alot like my Abby when I found her at the pound,skinny,scared,but minus the growling. You’re a good soul Elmo.

  39. 39.

    WereBear

    March 10, 2010 at 10:49 am

    @elmo: That’s wonderful. He’s already wagging his tail!

    Maybe Orpheus. If it suits him.

  40. 40.

    Punchy

    March 10, 2010 at 10:50 am

    Any ideas for names?

    Great story! I love these contests.

    Break it down into catagories:

    Obvious — Lucky
    WAAYY overused — Bailey
    Cuz it’s TN — Jack, or Danny
    Cuz it’s TN and he’s black — Negro (j/k)

  41. 41.

    geg6

    March 10, 2010 at 10:50 am

    @Ash:

    Congrats on grad school. The loans suck, but if you work you might have an employer program that might help mitigate those. Depending on your career aspirations, though, the higher education may improve your pay enough to make it worthwhile.

    Either way, grad school was much more personally and practically rewarding for me than undergrad, so there’s that possibility if nothing else.

  42. 42.

    Comrade Mary

    March 10, 2010 at 10:51 am

    @elmo: OK. Crying now. Good for you!

  43. 43.

    elmo

    March 10, 2010 at 10:51 am

    @A Mom Anon:

    Thanks for the compliment. I just have a thing about dogs. I hate children. :-)

  44. 44.

    WereBear

    March 10, 2010 at 10:52 am

    @elmo: Dogs are easier.

  45. 45.

    elmo

    March 10, 2010 at 10:54 am

    Were and Punchy, thanks for the ideas. I like Orpheus, except that it would get shortened to Orphy which is just weird.

    I was thinking about calling him Ares, because it’s March and also because he really was a fierce little guy until he calmed down — my hands are in tatters. But I like gathering ideas before I decide.

  46. 46.

    General Egali Tarian Stuck

    March 10, 2010 at 10:56 am

    @geg6:

    Whatever. The mother fucker lies about everything, especially the stances people take and what they say,

    You mean like the part where you ignored that I said I didn’t always agree with Mr. Kay.

  47. 47.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    March 10, 2010 at 10:56 am

    @elmo:

    Any ideas for names?

    Coal.

  48. 48.

    WereBear

    March 10, 2010 at 10:58 am

    @elmo: I’m a big fan of having their names come to me… which has to be based on getting to know them.

    My dog Roscoe came out of the blue; we found him in the shelter, but there were two other names put in before us. When the waiting time was over, we stood in line since the crack of dawn to get him (which won the shelter workers to our side.)

    We were coming up with joking alternative plans, and I said we should pretend he’s our lost puppy, “There he is, our little Roscoe!”

    And Roscoe he became.

  49. 49.

    gnomedad

    March 10, 2010 at 11:01 am

    Oh, right. That rehab.

  50. 50.

    geg6

    March 10, 2010 at 11:04 am

    @General Egali Tarian Stuck:

    No, I didn’t ignore that. I just didn’t think disagreement with issues has anything to do with expressing admiration for his principled trolling.

  51. 51.

    Butch

    March 10, 2010 at 11:05 am

    Does it count as good news that I’m leaving tomorrow for a week of scuba diving in Cozumel? It took working multiple jobs to pay for it but we’re going.

  52. 52.

    John S.

    March 10, 2010 at 11:05 am

    Marc Thiessen was a giant asshole on TDS last night, if anyone saw it. He spent the entire time grandstanding and throwing out bullshit, cutting off Jon Stewart every time he tried to get a word in. Then at the end, complained how unfairly he was treated and that he didn’t get to say his peace. Quite the breathtaking example of reality not comporting with perception.

    It’s the full-on wingnut experience.

  53. 53.

    General Egali Tarian Stuck

    March 10, 2010 at 11:09 am

    @geg6: Then why don’t you just pie me too, like you threatened to do a while back.

  54. 54.

    General Egali Tarian Stuck

    March 10, 2010 at 11:10 am

    Meanwhile, back at the front.

    Bachmann: ‘We Need To Start Literally Banging Garbage Lids Together’ Against Health Care Bill

    You go girl!!

  55. 55.

    YellowJournalism

    March 10, 2010 at 11:12 am

    @John S.: I seriously thought Stewart was going to bludgeon Thiessen with John Oliver at one point. Thiessen kept talking in that nervous, jumpy way that reminded me of someone on coke. It was like he was letting his mouth spout as much verbal diahrrea as he could before Stewart pointed out how ridiculous it was. The man didn’t understand the basic rules of a conversation: you talk, then you let the other person talk, while you listen and wait your turn, not wait until the other person takes a breath.

    And Corey Haim being dead bums me out, although it doesn’t surprise me, for some reason.

  56. 56.

    DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal)

    March 10, 2010 at 11:13 am

    @elmo:

    Valentino? Call him Val. The little guy who stole your heart. Good story, job and deed, nice way to start the day! :)

  57. 57.

    HRA

    March 10, 2010 at 11:14 am

    @elmo:

    Tearing up at work and trying to hide it. Don’t know the exact words to use in praise except you are a special person.

    Tramp or Hobo are my choices.

  58. 58.

    jibeaux

    March 10, 2010 at 11:15 am

    @General Egali Tarian Stuck: \

    order your garbage can lids through the amazon link at RedState today. Only $14.95 plus shipping. When you forget to get the second one to bang the first one up against because you’re a teabagging moran, it’ll just be another $14.95 plus shipping. But banging plastic trash can lids together to make an immediately obvious point about health care reform: priceless!

  59. 59.

    Shinobi

    March 10, 2010 at 11:18 am

    Things are not looking up for me, I am being sued and my partner is still unemployed (2.5 years now, in Chicago, anyone need an IT professional or chef?).

    But I am glad they are looking up for someone.

  60. 60.

    Shinobi

    March 10, 2010 at 11:20 am

    @elmo: I would call him Cutlet. Because he is small… and because of the chicken. And because I have a messed up sense of humor.

    Glad you were able to help the little guy! Well done.

  61. 61.

    YellowJournalism

    March 10, 2010 at 11:20 am

    @General Egali Tarian Stuck:

    Bachmann: ‘We Need To Start Literally Banging Garbage Lids Together’ Against Health Care Bill

    And now, suddenly, the thought of a bunch of morans standing in front of the White House banging garbage can lids together (some with food and other garbage stuck to them, even), gives me a laugh and makes me feel better.

  62. 62.

    ajr22

    March 10, 2010 at 11:22 am

    @YellowJournalism: I watched the extra 20 min of the interview, and it went the same way. At one point there was a 4 min exchange were Theison said if we didn’t torture this turrist we wouldn’t have stopped xyz attacks. Stewart said that is a hypothetical, and Theison tried to say it wasn’t. Stewart cut him off 15 times saying its a hypothetical. Theison was very butthurt.

  63. 63.

    Chat Noir

    March 10, 2010 at 11:26 am

    @elmo: Bless you for rescuing him. I don’t have any name suggestions but you are an angel.

  64. 64.

    aliasofwestgate

    March 10, 2010 at 11:28 am

    @elmo: I would say Ronin, but it’s not like he doesn’t have a master now *grin* Nothing else is coming to mind, at the moment. But you’ve done a good thing, there. Great story. :D

  65. 65.

    Ash

    March 10, 2010 at 11:29 am

    @geg6:

    The loans suck, but if you work you might have an employer program that might help mitigate those.

    I wish, but I’m only going the grad school route since I haven’t had a steady job for two years now (graduated undergrad in 08, have only been able to find temp work). No one is going to hire someone after two years of joblessness. We’re going to have a whole nice generation of un-hireable people.

  66. 66.

    Kryptik

    March 10, 2010 at 11:32 am

    Just a reminder of how batshit Glenn Beck is, his new claim is that The Census only asks about race to “increase slavery”. He even completely warps the rationale behind the odious 3/5s rule to try and argue that now “minorities are worth more than whites”. And thus, the contention that you should refuse to answer anything on the census except the number of people.

    Don’t you love paranoia mainstreamed?

  67. 67.

    GReynoldsCT00

    March 10, 2010 at 11:32 am

    @elmo:

    Blub…. beautiful story, thank you! and thank you for rescuing that poor little guy

  68. 68.

    ShoulderMan

    March 10, 2010 at 11:33 am

    I had arthroscopic surgery a week ago for a dislocated shoulder with a Bankhart lesion, a near full-thickness supraspinatus tear, a labral tear, and a biceps tendon tenodesis. My surgeon recommended a Game Ready ice machine for the first week or 10 days. It wasn’t covered by Blue Shield, but I rented one anyway and it works great. He also recommended taking 600 mg of ibuprofen 4 times a day for the first week to 10 days. I’m wearing a Knapp Sak II sling mostly full time, especially in bed (very uncomfortable). After being in pain for over 6 months, I’m glad to be on the long road to recovery. I hope you’re on that same road.

  69. 69.

    Ash

    March 10, 2010 at 11:33 am

    @Kryptik: Shouldn’t we be happy that conservatards don’t want to fill out the census though? Let them be all paranoid, then we can laugh when their districts disappear in Congress.

  70. 70.

    Ash Can

    March 10, 2010 at 11:34 am

    @elmo: What a wonderful story. Regardless of what his name ends up being, he certainly has a guardian angel.

  71. 71.

    ShoulderMan

    March 10, 2010 at 11:35 am

    I had arthroscopic surgery a week ago for a dislocated shoulder with a Hill-Sachs lesion, a Bankhart labral tear, a near full-thickness supraspinatus tear, and a biceps tendon tenodesis. My surgeon recommended a Game Ready ice machine for the first week or 10 days. It wasn’t covered by Blue Shield, but I rented one anyway and it works great. He also recommended taking 600 mg of ibuprofen 4 times a day for the first week to 10 days. I’m wearing a Knapp Sak II sling mostly full time, especially in bed (very uncomfortable). After being in pain for over 6 months, I’m glad to be on the long road to recovery. I hope you’re on that same road. Good luck!

  72. 72.

    Svensker

    March 10, 2010 at 11:36 am

    @elmo:

    Since you are Elmo, given the circumstances of his rescue I’d think Oscar would be good.

    Your story made me cry.

  73. 73.

    General Egali Tarian Stuck

    March 10, 2010 at 11:36 am

    @elmo: You are with the angels for doing this.

    My former stray Charlie gives a paws up too.

  74. 74.

    debit

    March 10, 2010 at 11:37 am

    @elmo: God damnit, cannot type thru tears.

  75. 75.

    Kryptik

    March 10, 2010 at 11:40 am

    @Ash:

    It might be funny if it wasn’t 1) an example of how quickly and easily villified anything becomes, especially if a Democrat or liberal somehow, even indirectly, might be running it, 2) how easily the right-wing can sell the woo and get their constituents and demographics to believe anything, no matter how outlandish, and 3) how impossible it’ll be to have a functioning government anymore, due to nearly 1/3s of the country all of a sudden thinking we’re a tyranny and their somehow brave armchair revolutionists ready to be the next set of Founding Fathers.

    It just….good green Christ, how the hell did this country get this fucking stupid? I mean, even as much as they hated Clinton, the 2000 Census didn’t get this conspiracy shit winged around to THIS level.

  76. 76.

    Svensker

    March 10, 2010 at 11:41 am

    @Shinobi:

    Ouch. My condolences. Hope things turn around soon.

  77. 77.

    harlana peppper

    March 10, 2010 at 11:42 am

    @Ash: Believe it or not, she misses living here, she has not formed the kind of friendships or support that she had here. I sympathize with your sentiment, but there is a smattering of liberal minded gals here and once we discover we share that “dark secret” we gravitate towards and support each other.

    That said, in her previous networking and such, she felt she had to hide the fact that she was a Democrat just to avoid harrassment. Used to piss me off big time, well, it still pisses me off that you feel like you have to hide your political affiliation. Personally, I no longer broadcast it but I don’t try to hide it either. She felt like, in her line of work, she had to keep mum because she needed the contacts. Yes, it’s disgusting and unfair and it really used to infuriate me.

    At some point, to maintain sanity, one has to let go of the anger and sense of resentment and just move forward with your life and appreciate what open-minded friends you do have. It goes without saying, I miss her.

  78. 78.

    Trinity

    March 10, 2010 at 11:43 am

    @elmo: You. Are my Hero. Wow.

  79. 79.

    Kryptik

    March 10, 2010 at 11:44 am

    @harlana peppper:

    But don’t you know, only liberals and left-wing folks can be authoritarians! Look at the Census!! WOLVERINES!!!

    ….nnngghghghggh, sometimes I wonder what would happen if the left was even 1% of the crazy ass supervillain league the right makes us out to be in this country.

  80. 80.

    elmo

    March 10, 2010 at 11:44 am

    Thanks, everybody. Loving all the name suggestions! I’m just so happy about this one, because they don’t always work out this way. More often the dog bolts, no matter how starved. A few weeks ago, we stopped for a big dog in the interstate median strip, and couldn’t get close after trying for more than an hour.

    So this was a big freakin’ win and I’m just delighted about it. Thanks everybody for helping me celebrate. I may just go over to the GOS and post the story there too (I’m sierrak9s over there). So. Freakin. Happy.

  81. 81.

    Ash Can

    March 10, 2010 at 11:46 am

    @Kryptik: That Glenn Beck is a great guy. Always looking out for his audience, isn’t he? You’ve got to admit, it’s a pretty nifty idea — he gets his audience to underreport themselves on the census, so that, a little further down the road, they find themselves underserved by the various federal, state, and local government programs. Thus deprived, they’ll naturally take it out on their elected officials, and voila, Beck’s anti-government, pro-teabagging schtick becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. He gains credibility throughout his none-too-bright target market, and along with that comes more viewers and more money into his pocket. Not a bad gig, as long as things like conscience, honesty, and decency don’t get in the way.

  82. 82.

    bemused

    March 10, 2010 at 11:48 am

    @Kryptik:
    Michele Bachmann will avoid going on Beck’s show. She has swiftly changed her mind about the evil census since she realized that her cong district lines (& her seat) depend on an accurate count & is now encouraging her constituents to fill it out. It took the dingbat long enough to figure it out.

  83. 83.

    Kryptik

    March 10, 2010 at 11:48 am

    @elmo:

    To take a break from my usual existential political rage, I will have to chime in with everyone else and say that you are saint. Keep doing God’s (or Yahweh, or Allah, or Buddha, or FSM, etc.) work, friend.

    And as far the name…how about Delano? “Only thing we have to fear is fear itself” Delano?

  84. 84.

    DZ

    March 10, 2010 at 11:48 am

    Well, got laid off today effective 3/18 after 27 years. I’m 62 and I should be OK, but it still sucks

  85. 85.

    debit

    March 10, 2010 at 11:52 am

    @DZ: I am so sorry. That just sucks.

  86. 86.

    elmo

    March 10, 2010 at 11:53 am

    Oh, DZ, I’m so sorry. You WILL be okay. You WILL. But man, that sucks so hard.

  87. 87.

    J.

    March 10, 2010 at 11:54 am

    In case y’all hadn’t heard, Scott Brown, the former Cosmo centerfold and current junior Senator from Massachusetts, just signed a deal to bare all yet again. Provided the Senate Ethics Committee doesn’t bar it.

    @John Cole: Good luck with the shoulder rehab! May you be back playing video games soon.

  88. 88.

    gogol's wife

    March 10, 2010 at 12:04 pm

    @elmo:

    It’s a wonderful story. I hope you find the perfect name.

  89. 89.

    Bad Horse's Filly

    March 10, 2010 at 12:06 pm

    @elmo: Great story. Thank you for doing that and making his little life better.

  90. 90.

    Lurker

    March 10, 2010 at 12:13 pm

    @elmo:

    You rock. I’m glad you helped that dog.

    For names, consider “Sirius” or “Padfoot.”
    http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/File:Padfoot.jpg

  91. 91.

    Liz

    March 10, 2010 at 12:16 pm

    @A Mom Anon:

    That’s my first rescue’s name!!

    OK I confess. I come here for the pet rescue stories.

  92. 92.

    Betsy

    March 10, 2010 at 12:20 pm

    @elmo:
    Bless you, your partner, and your large furry family.

    One of my favorite quotes is from the Talmud. “Whoever saves a life, it is considered as if he saved an entire world.” Because for that one life, you DID save the world. I choose to include animals in that category, although the Talmud wouldn’t.

  93. 93.

    freelancer

    March 10, 2010 at 1:06 pm

    Yesterday in my mail, I got a letter from the Census Bureau, stating that in the next 10 or so days, I’d be receiving my 2010 Census packet. No big deal, at least for me.

    The paranoid Right, however, is another story.

    I’m kind of on edge about the next month to six weeks in terms of unhinged RW terrorism.

  94. 94.

    licensed to kill time

    March 10, 2010 at 1:38 pm

    @elmo:

    What a moving story. You could call him Milagro (miracle) because it’s a miracle he survived and that you rescued him. You have earned triple quadruple quintillion karma points today, kudos!

  95. 95.

    Brachiator

    March 10, 2010 at 2:05 pm

    I tried to watch Lost last night and got … lost.

  96. 96.

    ruemara

    March 10, 2010 at 2:05 pm

    @elmo:

    Carrey, because he came in from the cold. And a million blessings to you, your partner and your new family member.

  97. 97.

    ruemara

    March 10, 2010 at 2:10 pm

    @DZ:

    I’m so sorry. even if you were ready to retire, this still blows.

  98. 98.

    asiangrrlMN

    March 10, 2010 at 2:56 pm

    @elmo: Another shout-out of gratitude for taking in the poor little guy. You know, I’m gonna demand pics when he’s better, right? I like Ares. He is my ruling god (Aries). Or, how about Odysseus?

    @Kryptik: Let ’em. Then, they will be discounted. I like that. I think Beck should follow his own advice.

    @General Egali Tarian Stuck: Good god. That woman needs help.

    DZ and Shinobi, sorry to hear the bad news. Positive vibes to both of you.

  99. 99.

    Skepticat

    March 10, 2010 at 2:59 pm

    @elmo:
    Thanks for a heartwarming story. Can you post a photo? And if you think you’re happy, imagine how the poor waif feels!

    Good news about Genine and new jobs too. Let’s hope this upward trend continues.

  100. 100.

    Chinn Romney

    March 10, 2010 at 4:10 pm

    Glad you guys are recovering. Wish Marc Savard could say the same after that cheap shot from that dirty Pittsburg Penguin Matt Cooke.

  101. 101.

    Mike Kay

    March 10, 2010 at 4:13 pm

    @General Egali Tarian Stuck: Thank you, General.

  102. 102.

    elmo

    March 10, 2010 at 4:18 pm

    I do have one pic of him now; my partner took a webcam shot of him in her arms and emailed it to me. But I don’t know how to post it.

    And I spent two hours in the emergency room this afternoon — the bites on my hands started to REALLY REALLY hurt, which tells me they were getting infected. Don’t care, still totally worth it.

  103. 103.

    Ruckus

    March 10, 2010 at 4:26 pm

    @elmo:
    Name him after yourself – Angel

  104. 104.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 10, 2010 at 5:17 pm

    @harlana peppper:

    Yow, that’s really tough. And I saw an alert earlier today from the Chicago Tribune that Governor Quinn has asked the legislature for a 33% increase in the Illinois state income tax rate (earmarked for education initiatives and to cover some of the cuts he’s proposed in the new budget). Yikes.

  105. 105.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 10, 2010 at 5:18 pm

    @jeffreyw:

    That’s a great photo. The birds in Atlanta (not today, because the weather’s been lousy, and anyhow I’ve been inside all day) have been incredibly noisy the last few days. Easy to tell it’s nesting season.

  106. 106.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 10, 2010 at 5:19 pm

    @Mike Kay:

    Does it make me a terrible person that I have no idea who Cory Haim is — or was?

  107. 107.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 10, 2010 at 5:23 pm

    @Punchy: You know, every time I see his name — and I’ve seen it way too often in the last week or so — the old Stephen Foster song gets stuck in my head:

    Massa made de darkeys love him,
    Cayse he was so kind,
    Now dey sadly weep above him,
    Mourning cayse he leave dem behind.
    I cannot work before tomorrow,
    Cayse de tear drops flow,
    I try to drive away my sorrow
    Pickin on de old banjo.

    Not what I really want as an earworm. Ugh!

  108. 108.

    Skepticat

    March 10, 2010 at 5:29 pm

    @elmo: Ouch. Pet bites can be nasty, glad you have to sense to deal with them early. “Fang” may not suit the pup’s personality, but “Munch” or “Nibbles” might.

  109. 109.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 10, 2010 at 5:34 pm

    @elmo:

    No suggestions for a name, but I am sitting here at work blubbing like an infant. What a beautiful rescue story, and what a truly special person you are. As others here have said, you are definitely on the side of the angels. Please share a photo with us once everyone gets settled.

  110. 110.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 10, 2010 at 5:38 pm

    @DZ: That’s full of suck, DZ. I’m a few years older than you, still working, but it can be scary times out there. That said, I know you’lll be fine. Balloon Juicers are always fine, even when circumstances aren’t always the best.

  111. 111.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 10, 2010 at 5:42 pm

    @Shinobi: Oh Shinobi, I’m so sorry. Neither one of those is good; both together, you and your partner must feel as though the universe is ganging up on you right now. (I’m pretty sure it isn’t, but it can feel that way.) Take comfort from the good signs that seem to be happening a little bit to others on this list: John’s recovering shoulder, Genine’s release from hospital, two or three people with happy employment stories, and Elmo’s rescue pup. There’s a lot of good out there and it will be your turn very soon.

  112. 112.

    SiubhanDuinne

    March 10, 2010 at 5:46 pm

    @General Egali Tarian Stuck:

    Bachmann: ‘We Need To Start Literally Banging Garbage Lids Together’ Against Health Care Bill

    That woman literally needs Joe Biden to explain to her what “literally” literally means.

    That said, I do love the mental image of Michelle and her little friends sitting cross-legged on the floor of the House of Representatives and banging away on lids like the demented cymbal section of an orchestra.

  113. 113.

    Cain

    March 10, 2010 at 7:53 pm

    @elmo:

    You done good, my man. You done good. I weep’d a little.

    cain

  114. 114.

    Cain

    March 10, 2010 at 8:26 pm

    @elmo:

    And I spent two hours in the emergency room this afternoon—the bites on my hands started to REALLY REALLY hurt, which tells me they were getting infected. Don’t care, still totally worth it.

    You probably know this more than I, but I would have the vet check out the dog as well as making sure you have the right shots for dog bites.

    cain

  115. 115.

    Neutron Flux

    March 11, 2010 at 11:16 pm

    acronym this=””

  116. 116.

    Neutron Flux

    March 11, 2010 at 11:21 pm

    this

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