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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Open Thread

Open Thread

by John Cole|  April 3, 20109:35 am| 52 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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Went through all the papers and I have nothing to talk about. Off to the store (out of tuna and wheat bread) and then to do who knows what today.

I hear there is a basketball game tonight.

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Reader Interactions

52Comments

  1. 1.

    RedKitten

    April 3, 2010 at 9:38 am

    No idea what it’s like out in WV, but it’s gorgeous out here. SamKitten and I are going to run some errands and then go for a nice long walk while the Mister and my FIL cut down some more trees in anticipation of our planned garage.

  2. 2.

    Cat Lady

    April 3, 2010 at 9:46 am

    Georgeous here in Boston, except for the standing water EVERYWHERE. In 13 years of living in this house no basement water problems, but the last day of rain on Tuesday finally did what hasn’t been done since the house was built – it buckled the cement floor enough to crack it. If the house wasn’t as heavy as it is, it’d pop out of the ground. We’re on day three of pumping, and it’s coming in at the same rate it’s being pumped out, with no where to really go, except to my neighbor’s basement. Whoops. If it rains anymore, well, I don’t know.

  3. 3.

    mr. whipple

    April 3, 2010 at 9:48 am

    Gotta till the garden today in 80 degree heat. In April.

    Al Gore is fat.

  4. 4.

    asiangrrlMN

    April 3, 2010 at 9:48 am

    So, we can expect a dozen posts before lunchtime, then?

  5. 5.

    Svensker

    April 3, 2010 at 9:54 am

    You didn’t mention the status of your ham salad supply. Inquiring minds want to know.

    Gorgeous here. All the forsythia, star magnolia, cherry, plum, daffs have popped overnight. Course this means it should be 90 in about 2 weeks, not that I’m a Gloomy Gus or anything.

  6. 6.

    Comrade Mary

    April 3, 2010 at 9:54 am

    Trying to decide whether I should take my bike out for 50km after riding 100 km yesterday. On the one hand, I feel capable of covering the distance, but on the other hand (literally), my right wrist/forearm is a little sore and my right elbow has a little sharp soreness when I bend it. I found out the hard way a couple of years ago about letting small, nagging stuff like this go (cue up months of physio). But I hate wasting a day like this …

  7. 7.

    GReynoldsCT00

    April 3, 2010 at 9:59 am

    in the meantime, gorgeous sunny in CT. going to lunch w/ mom and a friend in the convertible to a restaurant on the river. no complaints here. having coffee in my Tunch mug right now, also, too.

  8. 8.

    SIA

    April 3, 2010 at 10:00 am

    Got in late from trip to CO and woke up to a southern early spring paradise. I was only gone 5 days but spring happened while I was gone!

    Its incredibly beautiful in atl today. Early spring and the color is exploding.

    Also. Too.

  9. 9.

    GReynoldsCT00

    April 3, 2010 at 10:01 am

    “Gorgeous here. All the forsythia, star magnolia, cherry, plum, daffs have popped overnight. Course this means it should be 90 in about 2 weeks, not that I’m a Gloomy Gus or anything.”

    I’m with you, it seems like spring goes headlong into the hot muggies too darn fast.

    where’s the reply button? still broken?

  10. 10.

    Jay C

    April 3, 2010 at 10:02 am

    Beautiful days here in the Big Apple, too: last week was (weather notwithstanding) still winter; this week all the trees along Broadway seem to have burst into full bloom (pear, mainly, but our blocks have a ton of tulip trees, too) in about three days (or a New York minute). Most of the hardwoods are still bare, though; but I figure that at this rate, they’ll be leafed out by Tax Day.

    Or would be, if Al Gore didn’t use up so much energy….

  11. 11.

    SIA

    April 3, 2010 at 10:03 am

    GReynolds – mind meld. I have never written “Also. Too. ” that I can recall but it just seemed appropos at that moment.

  12. 12.

    GReynoldsCT00

    April 3, 2010 at 10:06 am

    I usually don’t either but you are right! she’s warping our brains.

  13. 13.

    Svensker

    April 3, 2010 at 10:09 am

    Have you guys seen the Turbo Encabulator? My brother just sent it to me.

  14. 14.

    artem1s

    April 3, 2010 at 10:09 am

    It is warm but gray here in Cleveland. Going to the Westside Market later and then having the first official BBQ of the season. I’m hoping they have some nice veggies for grilling and maybe with everyone buying ham and lamb this weekend the bison will be on sale.

    also.too.love the westside market.

  15. 15.

    Pasquinade

    April 3, 2010 at 10:20 am

    Some George Carlin…

    Ever notice when you blow in a dog’s face he gets mad at you, but when you take him in a car he sticks his head out the window?

    One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor.

    If work is so terrific, how come they have to pay you to do it?

  16. 16.

    jeffreyw

    April 3, 2010 at 10:22 am

    Looks like another busy day ahead.

  17. 17.

    Bob In Pacifica

    April 3, 2010 at 10:25 am

    Hey, we finally got a toaster oven so in honor of Good Friday we had tuna melts. Mmmm.

    Here’s something to try. Get a block of that Norwegian cheese, gjetost, and put on thin slices on a piece of toast, pop in back in the toaster oven for thirty seconds until it bubbles. You’ll be transported to a house next to a fjord surrounded by beautiful blondes. Mmmmm.

  18. 18.

    beltane

    April 3, 2010 at 10:29 am

    This is not a day to be inside. We’re heading into the big city to take a walk on the Lake Champlain waterfront. I’d like to buy some perennials but none of the nurseries are selling any yet. Feels like mid-June out there.

  19. 19.

    cleek

    April 3, 2010 at 10:30 am

    today i mow the lawn, for the time this year.

    how. very. exciting.

  20. 20.

    WereBear

    April 3, 2010 at 10:30 am

    It’s gorgeous here, 66 and sunny, but I’d trying to kick the flu, as is my love.

    Time to lie on the bed with the cats and have a Columbo marathon!

  21. 21.

    funluvn

    April 3, 2010 at 10:31 am

    Many prefer doing who know’s who as opposed to who knows what. John, I think you’ve forgotten your Republican roots completely.

    Congratulations!

  22. 22.

    Doonhamer

    April 3, 2010 at 10:33 am

    First hike of the year today:

    David Yetman Trail, Tucson Mountain Park

    Sunny and 81 degrees today.

  23. 23.

    Bill H

    April 3, 2010 at 10:33 am

    There are two basketballs games, but I’m sure you have interest in only one of them.

    And we went from one set of tag buttons for the comments to four sets. Yikes. Two sets with labels in upper case and two sets with labels in lower case. I’m tempted to make a highly decorated post just so I can use all of the buttons.

  24. 24.

    furioso ateo

    April 3, 2010 at 10:34 am

    All my evidence is anecdotal, but there are guys out here who make 40k just watching Local Nationals clean toilets all day. And a lot of contractors are Foreign Nationals out here. It’s weird, odds are pretty good they’re either from Eastern Europe or Houston.

    I get the idea of using contractors to fill a gap when starting operations, but shouldn’t we ramp up the size of the services to close that gap as time goes on?

  25. 25.

    Violet

    April 3, 2010 at 10:35 am

    It’s hot. Of course it’s hot. It’s April. Ugh.

    Spring depresses me because it means summer, with all it’s hot and humid misery, is just around the corner. At this point I’m just holding on until fall.

    I really should live in Iceland or Norway or something.

  26. 26.

    jeffreyw

    April 3, 2010 at 10:36 am

    Should be getting in the Panasonic Lumix pocket camera today, kinda excited about that.

  27. 27.

    JenJen

    April 3, 2010 at 10:37 am

    Beat those Dukies! Make them suffer! Make their women cry and their dogs cower!

    Or something. Just win the damned game.

  28. 28.

    sputnikgayle

    April 3, 2010 at 10:40 am

    We’re hosting a Venture scout group that is camping out in our forest this weekend. I always make campers a big pot of spaghetti for their Friday evening dinner. I made 5 pounds (dry weight) of spaghetti and a venison and veggie sauce and baked a quick and dirty garlic bread—every bit is gone and I just looked out the back window to see that my awesome compost pile has been turned. They must have done it at the crack of dawn. This made me tear up–my husband can’t do farm chores any more and it takes me forever to do the heavy stuff. I’m about a whole week ahead of infrastructure chores for my garden!

  29. 29.

    mr. whipple

    April 3, 2010 at 10:40 am

    artem1s: The WSM freaking rocks. If we didn’t have too much to do today, we’d be there. Also want to visit Lake View cemetery to see all the daffodils. We’ve never done that.

  30. 30.

    Capri

    April 3, 2010 at 10:47 am

    Political correctness has finally gone too far – The Indianapolis Star had to issue an apology for running a story explaining why everybody hates Duke that included a picture of Coach K with devil horns drawn on his head.

  31. 31.

    flukebucket

    April 3, 2010 at 10:49 am

    I hear there is a basketball game tonight.

    Oh hell yeah! Hope you have plenty of Rum and limeade. As for me it will be Scotch mixed with just a little bit of crushed ice.

  32. 32.

    Steeplejack

    April 3, 2010 at 10:57 am

    My circadian rhythms are completely shot from my work schedule this week: closing shift, midshift, opening shift, opening shift, closing shift tonight. Crashed when I got home yesterday and slept from 5:30 to 11:30–then was up and chipper from midnight to 5:00 a.m. Good times. Slept some more from 5:00 to 10:00 and am now puttering around in a zombie-like fog before work at 4:00.

    On the plus side, the weather is beautiful here in NoVa. Hope to get a look at it someday soon.

  33. 33.

    debit

    April 3, 2010 at 11:00 am

    It’ll be sunny and in the mid 60s here. I should do some yard clean up, but it’s more likely that I’ll hop on my bike and try out that 20 mile route to work. And maybe I’ll go grocery shopping since I have to make dessert for tomorrow’s big dinner with my parents. After that, there’s always the afternoon nap. Who doesn’t love the afternoon nap?

  34. 34.

    Phoebe

    April 3, 2010 at 11:19 am

    I got my Tunch OBEY shirt in the mail yesterday and it looks much better than it does on the website. The illustration is really pretty, like it belongs on a scroll, or the inside of a glass egg, but also scary.

  35. 35.

    SIA

    April 3, 2010 at 11:25 am

    @ Violet
    Same here. I’m trying to be positive about spring, and it is still cool enough to enjoy, but I dread the heat, humidity, and stagnant atmosphere of summer in GA.

  36. 36.

    SB Jules

    April 3, 2010 at 11:41 am

    Please, please beat Duke!!

  37. 37.

    burnspbesq

    April 3, 2010 at 11:45 am

    Leave it to Sirota to foolishly over-analyze Dook-hatin’.

    http://inthesetimes.com/article/5772/these_devils_wear_privilege/

    We are, as we always are, quietly confident and guardedly optimistic.

    West Virginia is good, but we’re pretty good too.

    Let’s play.

    Off to run errands and pick up my iPad. See y’all later.

  38. 38.

    gbear

    April 3, 2010 at 11:46 am

    Hahahaa! It turns out that St. Paul is more of a party town than Minneapolis!!

    St. Paul residents outspend Minneapolis folks by 10%!!

    This is a big fucking deal!! Wheee!! Go StP dudes!

  39. 39.

    burnspbesq

    April 3, 2010 at 12:10 pm

    @Capri:

    “Political correctness has finally gone too far – The Indianapolis Star had to issue an apology for running a story explaining why everybody hates Duke that included a picture of Coach K with devil horns drawn on his head.”

    Agree. I saw it before they took it down, and it was silly and harmless. K is a bit thin-skinned about stuff like that. Most of our other coaches would have laughed it off. Coach Cutcliffe would just like to get the football program to a level where it gives people a reason to hate us.

  40. 40.

    Little Dreamer

    April 3, 2010 at 12:10 pm

    Well, since you’ve read all the papers and apparently didn’t think this was a big deal and something that needs to be discussed, I guess I’m crazy for thinking it is.

  41. 41.

    Bob K

    April 3, 2010 at 12:12 pm

    If CNN was going for greater diversity in its commentators, they seem to have certainly got the batshit crazy foaming at the mouth demographic covered with Erick Erickson.

    ERICKSON: This is crazy. What gives the Commerce Department the right to ask me how often I flush my toilet? Or about going to work? I’m not filling out this form. I dare them to try and come throw me in jail. I dare them to. Pull out my wife’s shotgun and see how that little ACS twerp likes being scared at the door. They’re not going on my property. They can’t do that. They don’t have the legal right, and yet they’re trying.

  42. 42.

    danimal

    April 3, 2010 at 12:43 pm

    Encouraging news, Cole. My bracket has West Virginia beating Duke today and winning it all on Monday. We won’t talk about the other side of the bracket–an absolute disaster since the first round.

  43. 43.

    Phyllis

    April 3, 2010 at 12:58 pm

    Already 74 here in the Lowcountry. The azaleas are slow to bloom this year, but the dogwoods & yoschino cherry trees are in full blossom. Fixing to head out to the back yard to listen to the Braves and enjoy this fine weather. Two days till Opening Day! Woot!

  44. 44.

    jeffreyw

    April 3, 2010 at 1:30 pm

    The Trouble with Tribbles

  45. 45.

    licensed to kill time

    April 3, 2010 at 1:44 pm

    Wow, I left yesterday right in the middle of the great site meltdown, and figured it would be all fixed today when I came back. I guess not! as there are no reply arrows at all now, and some weird double line of “quicktags” above the comment box.

    Which of course I am afraid to use now. How to reply? paste in our own link? I better shut up and start reading…

  46. 46.

    licensed to kill time

    April 3, 2010 at 2:03 pm

    @myself

    Testing : Copy the link location on timestamp and pasting it into “link” quicktag…

    ETA – it works!

  47. 47.

    SteveinSC

    April 3, 2010 at 2:27 pm

    Go Blue Devils! Also tonight:

    “Seattle …SOUNDERS!” “Seattle …SOUNDERS!” Love that chant!

    P.S. If god is not a tarheel, why is the sky Carolina Blue?! (I know, I know its for UNC but blue is blue.)

  48. 48.

    HRA

    April 3, 2010 at 2:29 pm

    I guess Microsoft didn’t like what was happening here since yesterday pm.

    It’s in the 80s here in Buffalo, NY. Thankfully it’s accompanied by a soft breeze.
    I went and cleaned 3 of my 8 flower beds , 5 of my large on the ground flowers pots and gasped my self back into the house.

  49. 49.

    Linkmeister

    April 3, 2010 at 2:57 pm

    I rarely contribute a recipe, but this one worked as well as I remembered it from ten or fifteen years ago. Swordfish, sour cream, onion, bake.

    And go Butler!

  50. 50.

    burnspbesq

    April 3, 2010 at 3:27 pm

    @Little Dreamer:

    Well, since you’ve read all the papers and apparently didn’t think this was a big deal and something that needs to be discussed, I guess I’m crazy for thinking it is.

    You’re not crazy – we just disagree about whether anything Wan William says should be taken seriously.

  51. 51.

    Mnemosyne

    April 3, 2010 at 4:03 pm

    I had to get up at 6:30 this morning so I could spend $700 on overdue maintenance for my car, so I think it’s about time for a nap. After that, I’d like to wash and lube my bike and head out for a short ride, but we’ll see. I tend to be pretty zonky after a nap.

    But if I do go out for a ride, I’ll be able to justify a mojito with dinner. Decisions, decisions.

  52. 52.

    Chuck Butcher

    April 3, 2010 at 7:06 pm

    Cripe, three inches of snow just melted off a couple hours ago…

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