Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

I’m starting to think Jesus may have made a mistake saving people with no questions asked.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

One way or another, he’s a liar.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

No one could have predicted…

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

Fundamental belief of white supremacy: white people are presumed innocent, minorities are presumed guilty.

You cannot shame the shameless.

You know it’s bad when the Project 2025 people have to create training videos on “How To Be Normal”.

Weird. Rome has an American Pope and America has a Russian President.

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

Those who are easily outraged are easily manipulated.

Republicans in disarray!

Fight for a just cause, love your fellow man, live a good life.

Not all heroes wear capes.

Disappointing to see gov. newsom with his finger to the wind.

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

Accountability, motherfuckers.

Jack be nimble, jack be quick, hurry up and indict this prick.

The willow is too close to the house.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

“But what about the lurkers?”

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63Comments

  2. 2.

    debit

    I going to go Galt, I mean, go nap. But maybe I’ll turn the Masters on too, since the only thing that sends me to sleep faster than baseball is golf.

  5. 5.

    TooManyJens

    I’m training for a half-marathon, and am getting to the point where my long runs are long enough that I need water. Is there any good alternative to just carrying a bottle around for 8 miles? That seems like kind of a drag.

    Maybe I can find a route that will take me past the park with water fountains. (Also, seriously, what *did* people do before Gmaps Pedometer?)

  13. 13.

    GregB

    I was just reading the comments over at Politico regarding Haley Barbour claiming that the uproar over McDonnell’s slavery proclamation was just a “nit”.

    Some chowder head then chimed in about “ignorant collage educated liberels”.

    Too funny.

  15. 15.

    debit

    @srv: Oooh, I have the Podium bottle (2 actually) and love it. I have one on the way in to work, and the other on the way back. I cannot stress enough how awesome they are.

  17. 17.

    gbear

    @GregB: I hope it’s raining where you are. There’s no other excuse for reading Politico comments on a sunday afternoon.

    Oh, and that comment is pretty funny. Thanks for sharing.

  18. 18.

    Bnut

    @GrebB
    was checking out Red State for to see what they thought of the issue. Was only about 10 comments in before Islam was somehow brought up. Wtf?

  20. 20.

    Mike in NC

    I see where GregB beat me with this report from the WaPo:

    Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell ( R ) might have gotten exactly the help he didn’t need from a friend this morning, as Republican Governors Association chairman Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour (R-Miss.) defended him for issuing a proclamation in honor of Confederate History Month that did not include reference to slavery.

    Heh. Indeed. There isn’t a bigger caricature of a deep-Southern-fried neo-Confederate ignoramus than ol’ Haley Barbour.

  21. 21.

    demkat620

    Doing laundry and watching baseball. Can’t wait for summer. The kids had soccer games yesterday and it was soooooo cold and windy.

    Bring on the heat!

  22. 22.

    Violet

    @TooManyJens:

    Is there any good alternative to just carrying a bottle around for 8 miles? That seems like kind of a drag.

    When I trained for the marathon with our local chapter of USA Fit, they recommended we use a hydration belt. Small water bottles fit on the belt and it stays in place while you run. You can have up to eight bottles, I think. I got one from Amphipod.

  23. 23.

    licensed to kill time

    @Mike in NC:

    I liked this part:

    Barbour told CNN host Candy Crowley that it seems unnecessary to mention slavery because everyone knows that it was a “bad thing” and that people are exaggerating something that “doesn’t matter for diddly.”

    Doesn’t matter for diddly, hah.

  24. 24.

    Comrade Jake

    “Why do we need to talk about slavery? Everybody knows it was bad!”

    And they wonder why African Americans vote for Democrats.

  25. 25.

    Ailuridae

    @TooManyJens:

    My order of recommendation would be to plan a route around places you can get a quick drink of water than to using a camelbak or amphipod. I am assuming you are not in a major metro area as there is little planning involved with pervasive public parks and the like.

    In unrelated news; Joe Lieberman is still a sociopath.

  26. 26.

    furioso ateo

    @Violet: What marathon did you run? I signed up for the Marine Corps Marathon in October, still putting together a training plan. Any tips?

  27. 27.

    Woodbuster

    I am smoking 10 pounds of ribbies and rooting for Tiger big time. Get the sanctimonius assholes out of his sex life and what do you have left – still the best golfer who ever lived.

    Frankly my dear, I don’t give a damn who he has sex with.

  30. 30.

    General Egali Tarian Stuck

    It is almost a criminally beautiful day here today. Perfect in every way weather wise. The Reds beat the Cubbies, got the laundry done, cleaned the bathroom and made several pic frames and walked the pooch. Nolo complaints.

  31. 31.

    licensed to kill time

    __

    I am smoking 10 pounds of ribbies

    So that’s what the kids are calling it these days?

  32. 32.

    Violet

    @furioso ateo:
    I ended up not running because about two months into the training I started having some health problems (unrelated to the training) and had to take time off to get diagnosed, treated, and recover.

    But as for tips, I really enjoyed the time I did spend training with my local chapter of USA Fit. They have a great slow-but-steady training program that ramps you up in distance over months, so that you are definitely ready. You meet once a week to run as a group (ours was Saturdays), and after that they have presentations on everything from what to wear for heat/cold, proper hydration, nutrition, etc. There are also some social activities. There was a minimal cost to join (I think ours might have been $100), and the training program went on for months. It seemed like a really good deal.

    My favorite tip is that your rest days are your most important part of your training. It’s really true. You have to incorporate rest days and let your body recover or you won’t really progress. Also be sure to cross-train. Core exercises are really important. And try to train so that not all your movements are in a forward motion. Do side-to-side steps, and try running backward, etc. Your muscles can use the break and you need to build up ancillary muscles around your main running muscles to help you avoid injury.

    If you can afford it, getting regular massages is a key part of training. And never, ever skip stretching after a run.

    That’s about all I can think of. Slow and steady is a great way to train. You’ve got plenty of time to train for an October marathon. Good luck!

  34. 34.

    JenJen

    The Masters provides excellent background napping fodder on a lazy and lovely Sunday afternoon, fyi, for those who have yet to taste this particular tonic/drug.

  35. 35.

    Violet

    I need to go to the grocery store, but I’m having trouble getting off the couch. The Masters is pretty engaging this year. I’m a Freddie Couples fan. Love his shoes.

  36. 36.

    raff

    A little niche-y side-note. For anyone who owns a pair of Nvidia 3D Vision glasses (or similar product), you can watch The Masters in 3D. Kinda cool, I guess. While the image, as a whole, has the appearance of depth, objects look 2D. Also. You a need a fast internet connection.

  37. 37.

    Phoenix Woman

    @Ailuridae:

    This is the guy who owes his seat to movement Republicans like Bill Buckley who wanted revenge on Lowell Weicker for doing the right thing during Watergate.

    This is the guy who, when the Republicans’ get-Clinton impeachment drive was sputtering in September of 1998 because no Democrat would join it (and because the pollsters were telling them that it was not an electoral winner), blew new life into it with his oh-so-regretful rebuke of the guy who’d been one of his biggest third-way allies and buddies and enablers.

    That should have been the signal to push this clown out of the party and take away his gavels.

    In better news: Anyone up for biscuits?

  38. 38.

    stuckinred

    @Comrade Jake: “Why do we need to talk about slavery? Everybody knows it was bad!”

    If you went to Vietnam and came home and protested it you were a traitor. If you took up arms against the U.S. you were a fucking hero.

  39. 39.

    Svensker

    @Violet:

    Just wanted to let you know that my dinner for the Woman Who Can’t Eat Anything went swimmingly. Cooked the salmon fillets en papillote with dill, butter and a smidge of white wine. Served with a side sauce of yoghurt/mayo with fresh dill. Had couscous which she loved — it was new to her and she was thrilled to find something new to eat. Roasted asparagus with salt and olive oil. Baby salad greens with coarse salt and really good olive oil. For dessert an apple crisp. She was so excited that she was able to eat everything! It was very gratifying.

    So thanks for your help and ideas last week.

  40. 40.

    Hawes

    Enough people are rooting against Tiger that I’m starting to pull for the guy. Admittedly, his lechery was really, really epic, but the hypocrisy of it all is beginning to catch in my craw.

    If people don’t stop hating on him, they are going to make him appear sympathetic.

  41. 41.

    bemused

    @Violet:
    One of our kids, a triathlete who has done the Iron Man twice & just missed by a hair qualifying for the Hawaii Iron man, has a hydration belt plus who knows what all kinds of running/biking/swimming gear. Hydration is essential. That was evident to his parents after seeing the pool of sweat under his stationary bike after he did an training session. The amounts of food he takes in while in training is mind boggling. He loves it even thought it looks like torture to me.

  43. 43.

    mr. whipple

    Been listening to the Indians game. They blew an 8-1 lead.

    9 walks and two wild pitches, including a WP that brought in the winning run. Oy.

  44. 44.

    Polish the Guillotines

    @Comrade Jake:

    “Why do we need to talk about slavery? Everybody knows it was bad!”
    …
    And they wonder why African Americans vote for Democrats.

    I’m beginning to think this is an elaborate plan to offend Michael Steele to the point he quits.

  46. 46.

    Shalimar

    @Comrade Jake: If we don’t need to talk about slavery because everyone already knows it was bad, then we sure as hell don’t need Confederate History Month to know what racist rednecks like Haley Barbour think about secession.

  49. 49.

    Bad Horse's Filly

    Well Tiger can be great as far as I’m concerned after all the prying into his personal life, like it was anybody’s business but those directly involved. The whining about he didn’t tell us enough when he finally spoke was the last straw.

    Phil or Freddie are great too and well deserving if either wins.

    Now I’m finally off to see if I can get a long ride in (or short jaunt by Comrade Mary’s standards) before another ugly week of work begins.

  51. 51.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Not about golf, but this is an open thread, yes?

    I was in the car this afternoon listening to “Life on Earth” on NPR, and they were talking about the horrible litany of safety and environmental violations by Massey/Blankenship over the years. On the environmental front they were putting questions to a spokeswoman for the industry group National Mining Association and she basically dodged the questions about toxic sludge and water quality and so on, and said to the effect “Right now our focus has to be on supporting the miners and their families.” So in a very proper follow-up, the LOE reporter asked, “What *are* you doing to support them?” First thing out of her mouth? “Clearly, we’re praying for them.” (Followed by sending rescue teams etc.)

    Sometimes there’s just nothing to say.

    Oh and BTW, speaking of the WV mine explosion: there was talk earlier in the week that Fred Phelps and his Merry Band of Haters were going to show up to picket some of the miners’ funerals, but I haven’t heard anything more about that. Did they in fact come to WV to disrupt this poor community even more, or did they have a rare moment of compassion? Anyone know?

  56. 56.

    TooManyJens

    Thanks for the suggestions, everyone. For now, I can go by the park, and on the race day itself they’ll be providing us with water, of course. The Amphipod gear looks like something I might like.

  57. 57.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @MikeJ #52: Oooh! Took me a while to figure out the connection, but nicely played, sir! I admire the way your mind works. (For the record, I’ve never read The Pill v. the Spring Hill Mine Disaster but I will remedy that omission soon.)

    @lemma #53: Thanks, good to know. I’ll do a bit of Googling to find out more, was just too lazy before and it was an afterthought anyhow.

  58. 58.

    R-Jud

    @TooManyJens: I’m currently building an endurance base for my 9th marathon in October (Chicago!).

    I hate hydration belts. In my experience, they chafe. I will only use them on training runs over 20 miles. For runs of 12-20, I take on a lot of water the night before my run, and carry one of these, making sure I’m going to pass a place where I can fill it at some point.

    It straps to your hand, holds your keys, an ID, and enough for cab fare in case you decide to throw in the towel. Some people can even get their phone in there, too.

    Also, seconding what someone else said above about rest days: use them. Stretch after every run and then spend at least 10 minutes rubbing ice on your lower legs, even if they don’t hurt. Because at some point, they probably will.

    I am using Crossfit for strength and cross-training. I am not quite capable of doing everything as prescribed (handstand push ups? 5 sets of 21 pull-ups? Um.), but even with modifications, it is making me remarkably faster and better able to cope with hills. Added bonus: it’s free.

    I wouldn’t go into their forums, though: chockablock with right-wingers and Randroids.

  59. 59.

    ExtremismInTheDefenseOfLiberty

    I like post #1, Tiger or Phil, my two favorite players, and the best and most interesting golfers on the course.

    Phil’s second shot on 13 today was one of those electrifying moments that makes watching golf on tv a pleasure. Tv is the only instrument that can let us see a thing like that and really understand how amazing it was in real time.

  63. 63.

    daverave

    Tiger has completely lost this former fan. Stupidity just rubs me the wrong way and that interview after his round today epitomized his complete lack of graciousness. Especially when compared to Westwood’s post-round comments.

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