Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Fuck the extremist election deniers. What’s money for if not for keeping them out of office?

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

Despite his magical powers, I don’t think Trump is thinking this through, to be honest.

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

This has so much WTF written all over it that it is hard to comprehend.

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

Good lord, these people are nuts.

Second rate reporter says what?

“What are Republicans afraid of?” Everything.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

Infrastructure week. at last.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

We still have time to mess this up!

If you’re pissed about Biden’s speech, he was talking about you.

The republican caucus is already covering themselves with something, and it’s not glory.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

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

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

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

If senate republicans had any shame, they’d die of it.

“Squeaker” McCarthy

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

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

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  2. 2.

    Thursday

    Wow – The Neighbourhood! Somebody hooked you up good: that toon’s been retired, what, fifteen years now?

    I’m writing a novel. No, really: not allowed to start until midnight tonight (local time), finish midnight Monday. This is my, er… seventh(?) go at it, every Labour Day Weekend. They get a little surreal come Sunday noon, but I recommend trying it to anyone!

    http://www.3daynovel.com/

  5. 5.

    beltane

    We’re driving down to Portland, ME with a large cooler to do some bulk seafood shopping. Being in New England’s only landlocked state has its drawbacks.

  6. 6.

    Anne Laurie

    @Thursday:
    __

    Wow – The Neighbourhood! Somebody hooked you up good: that toon’s been retired, what, fifteen years now?

    Jerry Van Amerongen has been drawing Ballard Street , praise goddess, since shortly after he retired The Neighborhood in 1991. I have my GoComics.com subscription laid out so that Ballard Street is the first thing I click on every morning.

  7. 7.

    Linda Featheringill

    I was thinking about whining for 3 days.

    We could start with how much fun this site used to be. Now the commenting participants are pessimistic. They dump on Obama for what he MIGHT do. They get irritated if you disagree with them. And if something in the Real World demands your attention, the commenting ones here can get nasty if you can’t pay them the attention they desire.

    Several times in the last few days I have thought about joining the discussion and backed away because I didn’t want to get hurt.

    Perhaps that is the true nature of blog relationships. Maybe I am too young and naive for this group.

  14. 14.

    Roger Moore

    Moving, or at least a major stage of a move. I just got my new kitchen functioning, so I can really start living in the new place full-time.

  15. 15.

    beltane

    @Linda Featheringill: This place is still tolerable. DKos on the other hand is starting to resemble a middle school cafeteria with all the petulance and whining. Some people need to be reminded that “I told you so” are not the four sweetest words in the English language.

  16. 16.

    lamh32

    No 3 day weekend for me. I’ve got to work Sat & Sun (though I am off Mon & Tues. Still, I’d have preferred a 3 day weekend rather than just Mon & Tues.

  18. 18.

    beltane

    @Svensker: Are you aware that the Canadians will force their s-word health care on you? Do you really think you could survive such horrible treatment?

  19. 19.

    MeDrewNotYou

    Video games are on my agenda this weekend, specifically Suikoden 3 and 4, since my birthday is in a couple of weeks and I’m finally getting Suikoden 5. I’m also getting Dragon Quest IX, which I’m particularly excited about, since that series is my favorite RPGs.

    I’m lucky that, while technically an adult, my parents still buy me gifts like a kid. This means no clothes or whatever, just books and video games. That’s what grandparents are for! This leaves me free to actually use school money for school. Otherwise I’d probably blow half of my grant money on games and call it training for a career which requires hand-eye coordination.

  20. 20.

    The Dangerman

    @Thursday:

    http://www.3daynovel.com/

    You might enjoy one of our local contests (that has entries from around the world): 55 word fiction. No more than 55, no less than 55, a conflict, and resolution. There have been some brilliant ones over the years. My favorite:

    “Careful, honey, it’s loaded”, he said, re-entering the bedroom.
    Her back rested against the headboard. “This for your wife?”
    “No. Too chancy. I’m hiring a professional”.
    “How about me?”
    He smirked.
    “Cute. But who’d be dumb enough to hire a lady hit man?”
    She wet her lips, sighting along the barrel. “Your wife.”

  21. 21.

    Mike in NC

    Just partying hard until I start my new job next week. Signed a one year contract but need to wait 90 days to requalify for medical.

  22. 22.

    Mnemosyne

    I guess technically I’m having a four-day weekend, but since I got to spend today sitting in the dark with a massive migraine (after food poisoning last night) but had to do laundry anyway, I don’t think it really counts.

    Yes, I am extra cranky today. Feeling like one of your eyes is trying to pop out of your head from the pressure will do that to a person.

  25. 25.

    sfinny

    I had today off too, but I ended up being a lazy person and getting nothing done. But tomorrow I will call back the number of the OFA person who called me, after one of people visited me at home stumping for my rep, and see what I can do for them. I’m tired of just getting mad about the whole enthusiasm gap discussion, so I”m going to see if I do something. Although I’m hoping that there is back office stuff to do as I’m no exactly a knock on doors type. We’ll see.

  26. 26.

    BGK

    Multiple rounds of heavy drinking. Also, wondering if Bobo having a job which pays cash dollars is proof that God doesn’t exist.

  31. 31.

    HE Pennypacker, Wealthy Industrialist

    Gonna draw most of the weekend.

    Also, buy a couple of rock crabs tomorrow and murder them for dinner.

  35. 35.

    morzer

    @Steeplejack:

    Haiku is generally thought of as 5/7/5 syllables, but in practice even the greats like Basho broke that rule on occasion, generally by adding an extra syllable.

  38. 38.

    Steeplejack

    @morzer:

    Yeah, thanks, I am aware of all haiku traditions. But I think that if you’re not Basho you should stick to the canonical structure, if only as a matter of discipline.

  39. 39.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)

    Three day weekend? Fuck that. I’m in the middle of an 1800 day weekend. Hell, I may just decide to make it a 3000 day weekend.

  41. 41.

    mr. whipple

    Working, but it’s ok because I love it.

    Well, not that much, but you do what needs to be done. Gonna fuck off for half of October.

  42. 42.

    drkrick

    Geek time – off to the Maryland Renaissance Festival. My kid got extra credit in History last year for going and now he’s hooked.

  44. 44.

    suzanne

    Well, as I’m unemployed, I suppose this weekend won’t be drastically different that any other for me. I do get an extra day with the husband and kiddo, so that’s nice. Hoping to hit the art museum and check out the show on Cezanne. God, he was brilliant. Going to volunteer for Harry Mitchell’s campaign next week.

    I need some dog training advice. Y’all might remember that we adopted a Lab/Pit puppy, Luna, in July. Crate training is going well, for the most part, though she still occasionally has accidents when she gets too excited (usually by the cat). She knows “SIT” pretty well. My problem is walking. She pulls so damn hard, and doesn’t seem to be understanding “HEEL”, even though we keep pulling her back to our sides as we say it. She hasn’t been able to handle being outside in the heat for more than about ten minutes at a time, so we’ve been exercising her in the house as much as possible. But it’s starting to be tolerable at night, and I’d love to walk her more. Help, por favor.

  45. 45.

    Mnemosyne

    @suzanne:

    I am not a dog owner, but I watch “It’s Me or the Dog” a lot. ;-) I think Victoria Stillwell’s solution is not just to say “heel” and pull her toward you, but to say “heel” and change direction (do a 180) as you pull her toward you and start walking that new direction. That should get her attention a little better.

  46. 46.

    Linda Featheringill

    @morzer:

    Okay. I suggest a point for Steeplejack. :-)

    Actually the smaller words give me the most problems. In the area where I grew up, “dance” had two syllables. And “fire” still has two.

    So sometimes I’m not sure.

  48. 48.

    greyjoy

    I’m going to the Great Minnesota Get-Together to look at agrarian displays and eat things on a stick. I’ve been looking forward to a deep-fried Twinkie all year.

  51. 51.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)

    @Mnemosyne: I’m already in one of two cities in the country where I can get health insurance. The other is Boston.* If I’m going to be unemployed, I’d much rather do it at Minnesota’s cost of living, not Massachusetts’.

    Unless you meant that I should move to St. Paul.

    *Okay, Florida is the third state in the union that has fully funded its program for those that can’t get health insurance. However, given that Minnesota is hot and humid enough to be a major quality of life issue for me, I think I’ll pass.

  54. 54.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)

    @Mark S.:

    Floyd Mayweather has got to be the biggest asshole in sports right now since Ty Cobb.

    Fixed

  56. 56.

    Elie

    Not to be a downer, but I said goodbye to my old, dear friend — my 18 year old cat, Bill yesterday. He died quickly and painlessly in my arms after being put to sleep by his Vet — suffering ended from severe arthritis and failing kidneys. His spirit was strong, but his body failed him, and I couldnt watch him pulling himself along, feel his cries when I picked him up, just that wrong way anymore.

    My heart is broken and I miss him so – so much. There is just no way to replace him. I will never forget him and the love we had. From enjoying his antics as a young adult, walking literally on the tops of doors to the king, pontificating on our bed, taking up major space…to his vendetta on a local squirrel that taunted him when we lived in Atlanta…

    May we all feel the love of such a wonderful friend..

  57. 57.

    Suffern ACE

    @Mark S.: I’m sure that Reebok is very happy that he specifically mentioned their sponsorship deal with him in the rant. Corporate sponsors like their phone lines flooded with angry people. I’m glad that I don’t have their job this weekend, even though I don’t have any plans.

  60. 60.

    Ken J.

    On the to-do list for this weekend:

    — See two movies: “Micmacs” (French surreal comedy about revenge on arms dealers), and Angelina Jolie’s take on James Bond (“Salt”).

    — Get through another chunk of Charles Stross’ novel “The Jennifer Morgue”.
    (Note to @Anne Laurie — reading novels has become very hard, the net has ruined my attention span.)
    — Go to one birthday party.

    — Write a letter to a friend stationed in Africa.

    — catch up on a bunch of BBC Proms concerts via the Internet radio thingie. Also, pick up the first show with new host Bruce McGregor for BBC Radio Scotland’s programme “Travelling Folk”.

    — eat lots of farmers’ market veggies

    — sit out in the backyard sunshine and watch the bees do their late summer pollen collecting

  61. 61.

    Mnemosyne

    @That’s Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN):

    Hm. That does make it tougher, at least until more provisions of the health care law kick in. You may want to keep an eye on Oregon, because it looks like they may try to go beyond the federal law by offering their own public option, etc. I’m not sure what the plan is for the high-risk pool, but they’ve always been pretty progressive (I remember them trying to establish their own single-payer system back in the 1990s). They have apparently already started adding in the federal funding to their existing pool.

  63. 63.

    That's Master of Accountancy to You, Pal (JMN)

    @Mnemosyne: All I know is I went Galt (from the financial industry no less) but I’m still waiting for my gulch.

    Oh, wait, that was the plumbing.

  65. 65.

    asiangrrlMN

    @The Dangerman: That’s really cool. Me likey the idea.

    @Thursday: Damn. Had I known earlier, I would have signed up. Oh well. There is always next year. Though, honestly, I never have a problem with writing novels–it’s the submission process that daunts me.

    Me, I’m chilling with my best friend this weekend. I need it.

    @Elie: I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your beloved Bill. My deepest sympathies to you and your loved ones. May Bill run swiftly to the other side. I hope he looks in on you from time to time to make sure you’re all right.

  66. 66.

    Yutsano

    Packing tomorrow, moving Sunday, going comatose Monday. Bleah.

    @asiangrrlMN: Heh. I shudder to think of the novel you could write in three days. It may just be the longest entry they had ever seen.

  68. 68.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Elie: I am so sorry for your loss. Bill sounds like a wonderful friend, and you did the most loving thing for him when you made that hardest of decisions. Hugs to you.

  69. 69.

    Svensker

    @beltane:

    @Svensker: Are you aware that the Canadians will force their s-word health care on you? Do you really think you could survive such horrible treatment?

    I’m hoping the heck they will. We just dealt with an awful situation with our health care “providers” that cost us thousands of dollars and delayed our trip 2 days.

    Greatest health care in the world! Yeah, if you’re rich. If you’re a struggling middle class family, well, good luck.

  71. 71.

    abo gato

    Cooking, it’s fun for me! Today I am making white clam pizzas for friends out on my ceramic egg cooker. That sucker can get up to about 700 degrees and with pizza stones on the grill, I can make some bad ass pizzas.

    We were visiting two weekends ago with some friends who live in New Haven. They took us to Pepe’s and I fell in love with that white clam pie. Best pizza I EVER ate. Am going to recreate them at home now.

    Then, for the holiday, I plan to smoke a brisket on that same ceramic cooker. Not only can it get hot, I can keep it at 200 degrees for 24 hours. I love my cooker!

    Our friends also met us in Boston for a day and we ate some mighty fine Italian food in the North End. I may try to make some chocolate torrone for dessert, or maybe a panna cotta. Haven’t decided on the dessert action yet.

  74. 74.

    Elie

    @Svensker:

    Thanks to you and all who have posted your sympathies and support. I really appreciate it and the wound is still very fresh. Feeding times with my other cat are so lonely! Buddy doesnt quite know what to do with himself. Usually he and Bill have curled up together on the end of our bed. Buddy slept downstairs last night — don’t know where exactly.

    Alan, Buddy and I are feeling our way from the loss of King Bill…. his presence is still felt now three days after..

    I have to put in a plug for visiting Veterinarians. Our guy came with his gentle spirit and helped make this a gentle and kind though painful event. Kudos to him and to all Vets like him! He talked to Bill and stroked him even as he injected the Pentobarbital. Bill last heard only loving sounds from all of us who surrounded him, laying in my lap on my Auntie’s crocheted afghan.

    Again, many thanks to my friends here who understand this love.

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