Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

It is not hopeless, and we are not helpless.

“I was told there would be no fact checking.”

They are not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.

If you voted for Trump, you don’t get to speak about ethics, morals, or rule of law.

If ‘weird’ was the finish line, they ran through the tape and kept running.

Rupert, come get your orange boy, you petrified old dinosaur turd.

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.”

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

A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires.

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

“Just close your eyes and kiss the girl and go where the tilt-a-whirl takes you.” ~OzarkHillbilly

This fight is for everything.

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

People are weird.

If rights aren’t universal, they are privilege, not rights.

Stop using mental illness to avoid talking about armed white supremacy.

Human rights are not a matter of opinion!

Baby steps, because the Republican Party is full of angry babies.

I swear, each month of 2025 will have its own history degree.

Trump’s cabinet: like a magic 8 ball that only gives wrong answers.

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

Let me file that under fuck it.

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

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Reader Interactions

72Comments

  2. 2.

    jl

    “been hollering for pet pics.”

    thanks very much for cute pet pic. (note: that was thanks for ONE pic)

    “that dog is just content to lie in bed all day long every day.”

    Good dog! Sensible dog!

  8. 8.

    Brian S

    So it’s September in the Midwest and the temperatures are more like what I’m used to in the dead of winter for most of my life. I’m going to die by January, aren’t I?

  10. 10.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    We’re going on a trip next week and have it all set up for a guy to come in and walk the pups twice a day and take care of them. I’ve worked from home for almost 10 years and I KNOW all they do is sleep. I still worry like mad whenever we leave them (which is about once every three years).

  12. 12.

    R-Jud

    I’ve been trying to take a picture of the kitten sleeping in my sweater pocket right now, but they don’t come out.

    Trust me, it’s cute.

  19. 19.

    R-Jud

    @schrodinger’s cat: Tilly’s fine. Quinn, the elder cat, is gradually becoming more tolerant of her presence, but there’s still a lot of hissing happening. Hissing that our daughter likes to imitate.

  21. 21.

    JPL

    Lily is quite the content dog and pictures are always appreciated. You did good, John.
    After two days of clouds, it finally rained last night. The trees are happy.

  22. 22.

    Corner Stone

    Is Kevin Drum still ok to cite?
    Endless War Becomes Ever More Endless
    “The U.S. military also has flown drones over Somalia and Yemen from bases in Djibouti, a tiny African nation at the junction of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. In addition, the CIA is building a secret airstrip in the Arabian Peninsula so it can deploy armed drones over Yemen.”

  23. 23.

    JScott

    After the requirements of food & shelter are met, anything else is just us making unnecessary stress for ourselves. A puppy with a duvet shall lead us.

  29. 29.

    Elie

    Darling pic of Lily…

    Hey — for alls you foodie types, just made a great cake for my good friend’s birthday: an Italian Cream Cake. Gawd that sucker is good — rich as hell with nuts and coconut in the cake and a beautiful cream cheese frosting with nuts. Buttermilk makes it super moist. Also. Served with a nice Proseco….

    Yummm!

  31. 31.

    harlana

    @jwest: Yay! and right now we are fighting about whether or not to shut down the gov’t and deny disaster relief benefits to disaster victims b/c republicans don’t want Americans to have jobs! Why would anybody wanna kick my ass? I always vote Democratic.

  32. 32.

    Paul in KY

    @jwest: You know, your typical hipster, latte drinking, condescending liberal types (like me) usually don’t frequent cowboy bars with mechanical bulls.

    Are you sure this wasn’t a liquored up Romney supporter? Or maybe just some dude from Alaska who personally knows the Palin clan?

  34. 34.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    @Paul in KY: It’s a fucking tourist trap in West Hollywood. The dude could have had better lines but his heart was in the right place. The stupid youtube title is “Fight”. That’s no fight.

    eta, as much as I hate to say it Bristol handled it pretty well.

  35. 35.

    Elie

    Oh just leave it alone. The last time someone handled it and it shit all over the floor, leaving a stinky mess to clean up.

    Just push it outa the door and latch it…

    ..and they leave such a stain on everything…

    Does tomato juice or peroxide work best on the odor it leaves behind?

  38. 38.

    trollhattan

    @ Lily Cole

    Funny how you’ve learned to wriggle under the covers. My dog, despite having no more of a coat than you, only performs the twirl-and-drop maneuver, regardless of how cold it is. Not that I’m sorry she doesn’t show up to burrow under the covers at 3 a.m.

    It’s moot at present, since we’re on a string of hundred-degree days and she just flops on her side anywhere cool.

  39. 39.

    Paul in KY

    @Raven (formerly stuckinred): I actually didn’t watch it (except for 1st 10 secs of Pinker getting on the bull). I just like to gig jwest.

    Thanks for the recap. Hope you have a fun & restful trip.

    Edit: Used a gmbling word & I’m in moderation.

  40. 40.

    Elie

    @jl:

    that is it although I substitute butter for the oleo in this recipe that you linked.

    apparently its a southern traditional cake now but comes down to us from (with obvious changes) Italian egg and cream cakes going back to the middle ages.

    Als I know is that its damned good…

  43. 43.

    Linda Featheringill

    @Brian S: #8

    I’m going to die by January, aren’t I?

    February is usually the coldest month.

    In the meantime, layers, layers, layers. Undershirt, colored tee shirt, over shirt. And hat. And shoes with good traction.

    A knitted scarf will become your best friend. Tie it like a cravat and layer the ends over your chest [under your coat] for even more layers.

    ETA: Minus 20 is frostbite territory. If the windchill is minus 20 or worse, don’t go out unless you have to.

  45. 45.

    schrodinger's cat

    @Brian S: You will learn how to dress warmly and you will survive. Layering is your friend. Watch what the natives wear and emulate them. Check out LL Bean and Eddie Bauer, don’t forget to invest in a good hat and get good gloves. I survived Maine winters, you will be fine.

  46. 46.

    Nutella

    @Linda Featheringill:

    Yes, a good scarf, a good hat, good gloves, and good boots will see you through a midwestern winter in comfort but not in style.

    It’s not really cold until the outside air makes your face hurt. The good scarf will keep that under control.

  48. 48.

    Elie

    @Linda Featheringill:

    heh heh heh..

    And paradoxically, while you freeze going outside, the inside environment is warm and supper supper dry — all the water gets sucked from your mucous membranes so, depending on the heat source in your place, you might need a humidifier esp at night.

    Its actually fun cross country skiing or snowshoeing if you are into outdoor activities and it helps the severe cabin fever symptoms that you get by February…Of course you need snow and a park or greenscape of some sort to do those in..

  50. 50.

    Elie

    @Nutella:

    Yeah, that place right on the bridge of your nose hurts like hell when “the hawk” hits it. Pull hat down to the bridge and scarf up to the bridge leaving just a crack to look out of…

  52. 52.

    Brian S

    I appreciate all the advice for winters. I have already bought a hat, and my job is a block and a half away from home, so I won’t have to be in it much. Plus, I’m currently working at a market, so I can shop for food while at work. You will no doubt hear much moaning and wailing all the same.

  53. 53.

    patrick II

    I want to thank whichever commentator it was who dropped a link to a video of “Rodrigo y Gabriel” last week. Since then I have seen many more of their videos and bought their first album (which includes a DVD). They are remarkable musicians.
    So, as a kind of payforward to any who might be interested in an acoustic, metal, latin guitar duo, here is a link to another video

    And here is another link to R&G giving a guitar lesson in an amusing “just do this” manner.

  55. 55.

    opie jeanne

    @Brian S: Where did you move from? We moved up to the Seattle area last fall from Anaheim (2 miles from Disneyland) and the gray days can get to be a bit much.

    The weather today is warm for here, 79. Tomorrow will be the same, blue skies, sunshine and high, fluffy white clouds.

    After that it starts raining forever.

  56. 56.

    asiangrrlMN

    Cole, SOME of us have been asking for Tunchie pics. Why must you torment me us so? Though Lily is adorable.

    @Brian S: Layers are your friend. Start with thermal unders (very thin and comfy), add a t-shirt, then regular shirt, then sweater. There will be heat in the buildings, and you can always disrobe.

    @jeffreyw: Awwwww! Homer is all grown up and so handsome!

  57. 57.

    4jkb4ia

    Correction

    In today’s Post, our manager, who in deference to the feelings of our bloghost shall not be named :), said he should not have put Motte into that game and that Motte was tired.

    =================================================
    It’s a very grey day here too. I am trying to wrap my mind around it being the last Shabbos of the year. (Not to mention that the season may be essentially over by the time I can check in on Saturday night) There is going to be a scholar in residence next door so we may catch some of him.

  58. 58.

    greenergood

    @Elie: OK all you BJ foodies – does anyone know a recipe for a Polentina cake? Apparently made with polenta, drenched in maraschino liqueur. Bought one at great expense many years ago and have never seen it since. Does anyone have a recipe, or know who made them?

    Oh and XXX’s to Lily, but I’m sure Tunch is lurking in the background somewhere devouring all the XXXs, turning them into plutonium, so he can someday create an evil bomb and dominate the world. Despite the lack of opposable thumbs.

  59. 59.

    gogol's wife

    @Raven (formerly stuckinred):

    I am getting ready to leave my three cats for 36 hours, and I am in a ridiculous tizzy. It doesn’t help that I went to the store in the pouring rain and just now realized I forgot to buy cat food. (There’s enough, but I wanted to have more than enough.)

  60. 60.

    PurpleGirl

    Just heard a commercial for gold bullion IRAs (no, not Beck’s Goldline). When they talked about maintaining value I had to laugh. Gold and silver both lost “value” yesterday and probably today, too. What goes up, must come down.

  61. 61.

    4jkb4ia

    Thanks, guys. I found the recipe for pumpkin cake from the Veneto–which can be made with a butternut squash. This may be worth trying and failing to separate the eggs to put in the squash quotient for Sukkot.

  62. 62.

    Elie

    @greenergood:

    Could this be it?

    http://odorieprofumi.blogspot.com/2011/05/smells-fragrances-and-flavours.html

    I certainly think that I could give a whirl to this with a couple of adaptations. I think what they mean by manitoba flour is regular, all purpose flour rather than corn meal.
    The measures can be easily converted from grams to lbs and oz. Not sure about the almond paste but I am sure I can dredge up something like it or use almond extract..

    Not sure I have ever baked anything like a cake at 150 degrees though…

    As I said, I think it could be adapted to a standard polenta cake and just add the syrup part??

    Anyway, it looks pretty interesting and of course, is Italian…

    Yum!

  64. 64.

    Elie

    @Mino:

    Not really.

    If you bake frequently, like I do, flour, sugar, etc are pretty standard. Butter IS expensive but there isnt that much in it. Eggs can be but again, I use eggs frequently. There is a small amont of nuts, coconut etc.

    The cake serves many people and lasts a couple of days. Its for special occasions — birthdays, etc.

    Eating out is more expensive than cooking at home but I make no excuses.

    Hey, man does not live by bread alone, eh?

  66. 66.

    Svensker

    @greenergood:

    I’ve made an orange polenta cake soaked with orange liquor — here’s a similar one from the Beeb

    The recipe I made used oranges/orange zest in place of lemons and Grand Marnier or some such as the soaking liquid. Don’t see why you couldn’t do maraschino instead.

  68. 68.

    Mino

    @Elie: I did a so-called decadent chocolate torte/cake that did cost about that much with all the chocolate and cocoa. But I was also buying stock things I did not have in the pantry. It was pretty deadly.

  71. 71.

    Elie

    @Bill:

    You are prob right. Do I have to crack out the old conversion equation for Celsius to Fahrenheit (she whines)
    Oh geez…

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