Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

The line between political reporting and fan fiction continues to blur.

One of our two political parties is a cult whose leader admires Vladimir Putin.

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph how is that election even close?

Republicans want to make it harder to vote and easier for them to cheat.

Republicans cannot even be trusted with their own money.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

“What are Republicans afraid of?” Everything.

The lights are all blinking red.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

Sometimes the world just tells you your cat is here.

Disagreements are healthy; personal attacks are not.

Let’s bury these fuckers at the polls 2 years from now.

We are learning that “working class” means “white” for way too many people.

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

Republican speaker of the house Mike Johnson is the bland and smiling face of evil.

Hey hey, RFK, how many kids did you kill today?

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

“They all knew.”

Anne Laurie is a fucking hero in so many ways. ~ Betty Cracker

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

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Reader Interactions

98Comments

  1. 1.

    Kryptik

    And people wonder why so many use things like AdBlock and NoScript so much…

  4. 4.

    Gozer

    Heh…I was just about to post that I’ve never encountered the Wal-Mart ad.

    One second after hitting the comments button…

  6. 6.

    Pavlov's Dog

    I thought it was just me, have cleared all my cookies several times trying to get rid of it.

  8. 8.

    licensed to kill time

    I like the fact that you are responsive to your Commentariat’s complaints, though a bit surprised you didn’t tell us all to go to hell. Considering your dark and pessimistic mood and all, you have shown remarkable restraint!

  10. 10.

    Corner Stone

    I’m working on getting rid of the Walmart ad

    Just replace it with another Evony ad…and we’re good.

  13. 13.

    Mino

    Is this an open thread?
    I remember a question about glucosamine chondroitin in a previous post. If you decide to try it, be sure to get a product that contains the sulfate form, not the chloride. Our experience with dogs showed a superior results with the sulfate.
    Another supplement you might be interested in researching is serrapeptase.
    Mkay, that’s all the unsolicited advice for today.

  19. 19.

    Ella in NM

    WHAT Walmart ad?

    And besides, who can still get totally morally outraged by Walmart anymore, especially in light of every other fricking thing there is to get totally morally outraged about in America lately? Sounds like a big waste of energy. Life’s short–go sniff a flower or hug a kid or something.

  21. 21.

    The Moar You Know

    What Walmart ad?

    Right now I see a NutriSystem ad, a Coda ad, an amazon link, and that one ad where the woman turns from a blimp into a Barbie doll. That’s it.

  24. 24.

    demkat620

    Don’t. You. Dare.

    I’ve already won 10,000 in Walmart gift cards. How can you stop me now?

    FYWP!

  25. 25.

    Delia

    Does this mean I’m not going to get the $1,000 Walmart certificate? Jeez, I never win anything.

  28. 28.

    Kryptik

    My favorite blasphemy is probably Sweet Crunchy Christ.

    I blame Dogma and the ‘Hosties’ cereal picture on the special DVD set.

  30. 30.

    frankdawg

    why the f are they bothering you about the stupid ads? like its your fault? Hey I got a great idea, if you hate ads that much send John a couple of hundred bucks so he can run this without ads.

    Failing that, turn your speakers off, get ad blocker, grow tougher skin.

    Really, do you bitch to E because the commercials that come on while you watch Douche Bags of Armpit County?

  32. 32.

    eemom

    let the record reflect that I never sent you an e-mail. I suffered in silence.

  33. 33.

    Rosalita

    well it doesn’t help when you are trying to keep a low profile while enjoying BJ at work….

  35. 35.

    jl

    The ‘Tunch is Watching You’ add scares me. I had a nightmare about it last night. What kind of organization is putting up a scary thing like that? Some kind of conspiracy site?

  36. 36.

    kindness

    Aww take Walmart’s money. The only ad I’ve clicked on off your page is the ‘Tunch is watching you’ swag page. I’m sorry, I admit I haven’t bought a shirt yet. I will. Anyway, Walmart is preferable to the whining lying political ads, even if they both share many of the same attributes.

  37. 37.

    mr. whipple

    I’m working on getting rid of the Walmart ad.

    Nooooooooooo! I’ve already won $1,200,000 in free gift certificates. It’s the only thing keeping me going in this crappy economy!

  38. 38.

    General Egali Tarian Stuck

    No mo complaints from moi. With my new libtard DOGOODER adblock, I am learning all sorts of cool stuff. Like

    Worn out computer disks make pretty good coasters

    or

    Vinegar and soda make good cleaner. I did not know that.

    And no voice ads

    Earth Mother is pleased, and so am I.

    edit – AND every time you click on a dogooder ad it sends money to a worthy cause

  40. 40.

    HeartlandLiberal

    Not blaming or fussing at John, but just for the sake of argument on the topic, here is commentary by a leading privacy and Internet Neutrality on the topic of in your face ads that start blaring the moment you hit a web site from his newsletter this weekend:

    Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2010 2:50 PM
    To: [email protected]
    Subject: [ PRIVACY Forum ] New York Times Joins the Obnoxious "Autoplay Audio" Ad Club

    New York Times Joins the Obnoxious "Autoplay Audio" Ad Club

    lauren.vortex.com/archive/000713.html

    Greetings. Last November in "How to Sink a Major Web Site with a Single Ad" ( bit.ly/8olOKv [Lauren's Blog] ), I noted how ABC News had begun using an autoplay ad format that starts blasting audio from an accompanying video advertisement as soon as an ordinary page is loaded. I explained there why I considered this to be the most obnoxious, distracting, and unacceptable online ad format. It's one thing to autoplay video and audio when you navigate to a page where you expect a multimedia presentation of some sort — but when you click on a news link and end up with a lipstick commercial blasting from your speakers, forcing you to quickly hunt for volume or playback controls, it's way beyond the pale.

    I'm sorry to report that the venerable New York Times is now engaging in this intrusive behavior, for example currently at this page: bit.ly/a8WHZX (New York Times).

    I am a strong supporter of ad-based Internet business models as an alternative to "pay through the nose" models, as I've discussed in "Blocking Web Ads — And Paying the Piper" ( bit.ly/5meCbq [Lauren's Blog] ). I am not a fan of "broad spectrum" ad blocking by folks who seem to somehow believe that Web services can simply run on air and love.

    But the continuing rise of opportunistic autoplay ads with audio that immediately blares forth without user intervention risks a major ad-blocking backlash that will be difficult to argue against forcefully.

    Sites that use these ads in the hopes of perceived short-term gains are taking a very significant longer-term risk that they may come to seriously regret.

    –Lauren–
    Lauren Weinstein

  41. 41.

    KDP

    @Ella in NM: It’s not that it’s Walmart, per se. It’s that it talks to you. Easy to ignore an ad that just sits there to the side with, perhaps, a bit of flash or animated jpg shapeshifting, but the Walmart ad promised you a 1000.00 gift certificate, out loud.

    I was virtuous and posted one complaint in one thread right after it appeared. Now, I have not seen the ad in days.

    Ah well, back to drafting the results section of my research project. Only one week to honors convocation. Only one month to commencement. At the ripe age of 54, I will finally have my BA.

    ============

    Wrote too soon. I think that typing W**mart in my comment triggered the ad to load. As soon as I saved, what did I get but another promise that I’d been selected to receive 1000.00 Walmart gift card.

  42. 42.

    Napoleon

    To the person who last week posted something about how their kid did a report/video on the Kent State shootings, the Cleveland Plain Dealer today had a story that using current technology experts using a tape that a communications student had made by placing a mic in his dorm window and recording everything going on during the riot on a reel to reel have isolated the order from Guard officer telling his troops to get ready to fire just seconds before the Guard fired volleys of rounds into the students.

  46. 46.

    jl

    NY Times Sunday Columns:

    Rich gives a nice factual rundown of why criticism of useless flatulent press at fatuous dinner is justified. I think Digby may be self-righteous and whiney at times, but she made a valid point about the press being useless in one of her posts last week.

    Kristoff gives a useful uplifting column with some useful facts relevant to Mom’s Day, with links to reliable and relevant sources. Kristoff also finds some room to mention that the US has its own little public health matricide problem, and something otta be done about it, in addition to difficulties in officially poor countries.

    Friedman produces one of the worst economic columns I remember reading. Is it possible to give a grade lower than F minus? Bad analysis, misleading use of factoids, no links to any (let alone respectable) sources for facts or analysis. Wrong on Greek financial crisis, wrong on UK economy, wrong in problem with US Social Security. Complete with idiotic fairy tale at the top.

    Do not pay any attention to Tom Friedman on economics. Reapeat, do not pay any attention to Tom Fredman on economics. If you meet anyone who refers to Tom Friedman’s economic analysis in anything but complete utter contempt, slowly explain to them that Friedman would not be able to pass an Econ 101 class.

    Lord, what an awful column.

    Read Krugman.

    Friedman must have been short on deadline after all the press dinner parties, maybe hungover, what else could be the explanation? What an arrogant ignorant meritricious waste of paper and electrons.

    Edit: especially read Krugman on the Greece and Euro crisis. He is the only one writing good economic analysis in plain English on this topic. Read Krugman until you understand then if subject comes up at your swank NY cocktail parties, slowly explain things to people.

    This has been a economic intellectual hygeine public service announcement.

  48. 48.

    chrome agnomen

    i keep clicking on the ad and a blank page keeps coming up! that’s what pisses me off!

  49. 49.

    Polish the Guillotines

    @Fern: Boring?! No way!

    First of all, the pace of the game increases because the losing side gets retired three-up, three-down every inning. Second, you’re on pins and needles any time the opposing team makes contact: Will the ball be caught? Will the batter be thrown out? Third, the defense makes other-worldly plays to protect the pitcher’s effort.

    Finally, in the entire hundred-some-odd year history of Major League baseball, this is only the 19th perfect game anyone’s pitched. It’s historic.

  50. 50.

    chrome agnomen

    @jl:

    meretricious is so apt for friedman. the archaic definition is ‘of or relating to a prostitute’.

  52. 52.

    Polish the Guillotines

    @Comrade Kevin: I only wish I’d been there, but I’m glad I was able to see it with my son. This was his first year in little league, so I he’s pretty dialed into the A’s. He doesn’t totally get the significance, but eventually he will.

    Dallas was just… perfect.

  55. 55.

    Brachiator

    I’m working on getting rid of the Walmart ad.

    I kinda liked it. I think I’ve racked up 50 grand in gift cards.

  58. 58.

    soonergrunt

    Do you get click thru income or are you paid just for hosting the ad? IF you get click thru, let us know. I click most ads on here at least once, just in case, but I almost never buy anything.

    In any event, Wal Mart is what it is because people want cheap crap at low prices.
    People claim they don’t, and sometimes that claim is actually true, but for most people most of the time that claim is a lie.
    Wal Mart exists because we support it. All those billions in revenue don’t just happen after all.

  64. 64.

    gnomedad

    Why are people emailing John instead of sharing their invective with the rest of us?

  65. 65.

    Corner Stone

    @Napoleon:

    the order from Guard officer telling his troops to get ready to fire just seconds before the Guard fired volleys of rounds into the students.

    God in Heaven.

  67. 67.

    jl

    @gnomedad:
    Excellent point. What is happening to commenter standards at this here blog, anyway?

    I’ll start. I don’t like golf. No more golf adds. And no fat chick ads. And no dieting ads, which make me feel bad because my healthful slimming diet and exercise program is working about as well as Tunch’s.

    Seriously, Cole should let us know if it helps to click. If so, I will click away. Won’t buy anything except B-J pet gear, though. At least at Walmart. Maybe something else, but not Walmart.

    Edit: it will be interesting to see whether Walmart is willing to advertise here anymore.

  74. 74.

    Glen Tomkins

    Hey!

    I thought that I was the winner! I’m counting on that $1,000 gift certificate, so the rest of you — back off!

  76. 76.

    Jennifer

    You mean there was a graphic component to that ad? I never saw one because it irked me so much that I would immediately hit the refresh button to make it stop. And yes, I complained about it in comments. IMO, the most offensive thing about it is that it was a lie – NO ONE here got a $1000 Wal-Mart gift card. That alone was reason enough to get rid of it – a reputable site like John’s shouldn’t be associated with disreputable advertising. All of that is quite aside from my visceral dislike of Wal-Mart, and I am one of those who practices what they preach – I’ve not set foot in one of them in closing on 10 years, and for at least 5 years prior to that, probably spent less than $100 in their stores per year on the rare occasions I would go because I needed something I couldn’t find elsewhere. Ever since the internets though, there’s never been anything I couldn’t find elsewhere, so my life has been happily 100% Wal-Mart free for years now.

  77. 77.

    Comrade Javamanphil

    @Martin: I am an Apple fanboy of the worst sort but even I think they go too far to often. With that said, I am 100% Jobs and his efforts against Flash.

  78. 78.

    fourlegsgood

    Can I email you about other things? important matters like kittehs?

    Not that I have anything to say, I just wanna keep my options open. :-)

  79. 79.

    Kristine

    @Corner Stone:

    Just replace it with another Evony ad…and we’re good.

    Oh goody. More Tits Ahoy.

    Don’t those ads ever feature any men? I know women who game. Don’t they deserve eye candy, too?

  80. 80.

    flukebucket

    Turn your speakers down.

    I never understood why a problem that was so easy to solve was ever considered to be a problem at all.

  82. 82.

    scav

    privacy on the toobz? consensus seemed to be who cares or expects it. but annoying ads? pitchforks! funny

  84. 84.

    Martin

    @Comrade Javamanphil: There’s no real effort against Flash, actually. Adobe still can’t get it working on mobile devices. Seems to take the wind out of the ideological sails when technologically there’s nothing there.

  85. 85.

    KCinDC

    a reputable site like John’s shouldn’t be associated with disreputable advertising.

    And yet he’s now embraced the horrible weight-loss ads, despite keeping this blog a blessed haven from the things for so long. I don’t understand how so many blogs are taking the hit to their appearance and reputations of those bloating-woman ads. Does the company pay ten times what normal ads sell for?

  88. 88.

    Onkel Bob

    Couple things need to be said… First, it’s not wal-mart that’s blasting those ads, it’s a disreputable marketing machine that is using the lure of a Wal-mart card to get customers to fill in silly surveys and sign up for other revenue draining products.
    Second, just like on commercial tv you bound to run into some ads that are annoying. unless you are willing to pay the premium for Showtime or HBO, you gotta live with them; it’s capitalism, with the little “c.”

  89. 89.

    Susan S

    Ah John, Its been a strange sad Mothers Day..and you’ve got people fussing about an ad. So,lets talk about my Mom for a bit. She was born in 1922. My grandfather, the head of a huge lumber mill, committed suicide two weeks later. Her mother died of cancer when she was sixteen. She married my father in 1943. He went off to war; she was pregnant with twins immediately. In April of 1946 she told the Navy doctors she didn’t feel well; she was pregnant with me and had two year old twin daughters. The Navy doctors told her she was just lonely. After she fell down a flight of stairs, they knew it was polio.
    For the next seven months she lay on her back, paralyzed. She blamed me for the polio, and it made for an interesting childhood. But my mother was also delighted when I married a man of color in 1969; she detested racial or ethnic jokes. She overcompensated for the paralysis for over fifty years; she was an angry wife, a selfish mother. But the basics,the critical parts..she aced. In 2008 she voted for a Democrat for President for the first time.. she liked Obama’s mind and his books. For the last six months she lay shriveled in a nursing home, her worst nightmare realized. Today, on Mother’s Day, she died. My daughter called it God’s Mothers Day present to my mom.
    The Walmart ad just doesn’t seem so big a deal,no? Happy Mothers Day,John.

  90. 90.

    Steeplejack

    @jl:

    Friedman produces one of the worst economic columns I remember reading. Is it possible to give a grade lower than F minus? Bad analysis, misleading use of factoids, no links to any (let alone respectable) sources for facts or analysis. Wrong on Greek financial crisis, wrong on U.K. economy, wrong in problem with U.S. Social Security. Complete with idiotic fairy tale at the top.

    So pretty much as usual, then?

  92. 92.

    Yutsano

    @Kristine: FYI women aren’t the only inhabitants of this blog who appreciate male eye candy. I’m just sayin’.

    And I swear y’all ain’t happy. If it isn’t jumping alligators it’s cartoon lesbyterian porn (which I only complained about because even the ad was very NSFW) and then the three talking ads (there were three you know but I only heard bitching about the Walmart ones, Amber just got mocked and the third seemed to be completely ignored), if I were John I’d be cranky as all get out too. Y’all ain’t never happy.

    (edited to hopefully not break the thread. FYWP.)

  96. 96.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Susan S: So sorry for your loss. My deepest condolences.

    @Yutsano: Hey, I’ve only complained about the talking ads. The rest, I don’t care, but I do not want ads talking at me every freaking time I load a page. Is it a big deal in the scheme of things? No. Still.

    @Kristine: I like boobs, don’t get me wrong, but the Evony ads just skeeve me out.

    P.S. stuckinred, you’re giving jeffreyw a run for his money in the cooking department.

  97. 97.

    memory

    Why do you need to get rid of the Wal-Mart ad. They’re giving you money to advertize to people who aren’t going to shop at their store. Seems like everyone but Wal-Mart wins.

Comments are closed.