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Bogus polls are all they’ve got left. Let’s bury these fuckers at the polls a year from now.

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You are here: Home / Politics / Politicans / NANCY SMASH! / Open Thread: “Embrace the Suck”

Open Thread: “Embrace the Suck”

by Anne Laurie|  December 19, 20137:42 pm| 107 Comments

This post is in: NANCY SMASH!, Open Threads, Decline and Fall, I Smell a Pulitzer!

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Found this at Slate, where the excuse was a search for the term’s origins. (Bonus for fellow sf fans: Sideline detour between military tours through the WorldCon!)

But even his staunchest defenders would have to admit — Jake Tapper embraces the suck that is current DC politics with a fervor, nay, a glee, that separates the consummate Beltway professional from the mere amateur snarkster.

And while we’re on the topic of suckage embracement, Alex Pareene has posted the rest of his 2013 Hack List, and I think the Number Two entry may be the funniest of all, mostly because the chart-topper is beyond parody…

That being said, what’s on the agenda as we embrace the suck for the evening?

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Previous Post: « Holiday Gifts from Senators Warren & Reid
Next Post: Open Thread- My Car is Still in a Field »

Reader Interactions

107Comments

  1. 1.

    Comrade Jake

    December 19, 2013 at 7:47 pm

    Tapper is god-awful. He and his show can both suck it.

  2. 2.

    kc

    December 19, 2013 at 7:50 pm

    Ha, I literally just clicked over here from reading entries from Pareene’s Hack List 2013, and they are all BRILLIANT.

  3. 3.

    Comrade Jake

    December 19, 2013 at 7:53 pm

    Speaking of Tapper:

    http://mobile.rawstory.com/therawstory/#!/entry/cnns-jake-tapper-suggests-rick-santorum-rightly-blamed-gay-sex,52b0779e025312186ca26c55/1

  4. 4.

    srv

    December 19, 2013 at 7:53 pm

    Thought they were talking about the Barbara Walters interview.

    That being said, what’s on the agenda as we embrace the suck for the evening?

    I’ll be sucking beers at The Gingerman

  5. 5.

    jeffreyw

    December 19, 2013 at 8:05 pm

    Needs moar kittehs, this thread.

  6. 6.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 19, 2013 at 8:07 pm

    @jeffreyw: For some reason, I was expecting lions.

  7. 7.

    SiubhanDuinne

    December 19, 2013 at 8:07 pm

    @efgoldman:

    Listening to mrs efgoldman not talk because she has laryngitis…. JUST in time to sing on the last Sunday in Advent, Xmas eve and xmas day. She’ll probably be OK, but…….

    I completely and totally hate that I know this, but there was a “Brady Bunch” episode about this very situation.

  8. 8.

    SiubhanDuinne

    December 19, 2013 at 8:09 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    It’s all Tribe of Tyger.

  9. 9.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 19, 2013 at 8:10 pm

    “The suck” was not common parlance in the late 80s to early 90s army. The phrase “suck it up” was and so was “suck up.” Maybe it’s an infantry thing.

  10. 10.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 19, 2013 at 8:13 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: Well, now we have covered lions and tigers and bears. Oh, my.

  11. 11.

    R-Jud

    December 19, 2013 at 8:13 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: Eau Myyyyy!

  12. 12.

    jeffreyw

    December 19, 2013 at 8:14 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: The one kitteh there has a fair mane.

  13. 13.

    PurpleGirl

    December 19, 2013 at 8:20 pm

    @jeffreyw: Didn’t you post a picture of the white kitten a couple of days ago? I remember the colors around the ears. The blackish/gray one is floofy and has bits of silvery floof. Both are gorgeous.

  14. 14.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 19, 2013 at 8:23 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Hmmm….might have been an infantry thing, because I heard “the suck” and “this sucks” and “who do I need to blow” all from my battalion crossed rifles S3 in the early 80’s in Germany.

  15. 15.

    jeffreyw

    December 19, 2013 at 8:24 pm

    @PurpleGirl: Yep, the white kitteh went home with a family but they brought her back for some reason.

  16. 16.

    geg6

    December 19, 2013 at 8:24 pm

    @efgoldman:

    Is it terrible that I loved F-Troop? Because I did. Of course, I was probably around 7 or 8 or 9 or so, so I think I can be excused.

  17. 17.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 19, 2013 at 8:26 pm

    @Villago Delenda Est:

    “this sucks” and “who do I need to blow”

    Those were heard. The specific use of “suck” as a noun is the thing I don’t remember.

  18. 18.

    jeffreyw

    December 19, 2013 at 8:26 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: And now leopards!

  19. 19.

    PurpleGirl

    December 19, 2013 at 8:26 pm

    @jeffreyw: Awwww, that sucks. I think she’s so gorgeous and sweet.

    ETA: Long cat is long. Those colors….!

  20. 20.

    ruemara

    December 19, 2013 at 8:26 pm

    despair. Which I guess I’m used to.

  21. 21.

    David Koch

    December 19, 2013 at 8:27 pm

    CNN’s ratings are abysmal.

  22. 22.

    SiubhanDuinne

    December 19, 2013 at 8:27 pm

    @efgoldman: Never saw any of the ones you mentioned, but I confess to having watched a number of BB episodes, back when I had cable and was sick in bed and they were doing a marathon.

    Did you know you can sing the Brady Bunch theme song lyrics to the tune of “Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean,” sort of?

  23. 23.

    Yatsuno

    December 19, 2013 at 8:27 pm

    So yeah…first setback today. They requested an X-ray of my chest (had a fever spike last night) and since I’m not standing yet they scooted me on a gurney. Bad. Idea. Shit ton of ice on the wound plus I might need an IV med to get it back down.

  24. 24.

    Comrade Mary

    December 19, 2013 at 8:29 pm

    @jeffreyw: NEEEDCALICOINMYXMASSTOCKINGKTHXBYE!

  25. 25.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 19, 2013 at 8:29 pm

    @Yatsuno: It’s a process… Good and bad days… [insert cliche here]

    Hang in there.

  26. 26.

    Comrade Mary

    December 19, 2013 at 8:30 pm

    @Yatsuno: Ah man, Yutsy! Crossed fingers it’s just the typical post-surgical setback. (Ask them if they can make sure the IV isn’t ice cold. I got a fresh from the fridge transfusion on day 4 after my surgery and it left me feeling like crap all day.)

  27. 27.

    geg6

    December 19, 2013 at 8:30 pm

    @Yatsuno:

    Damn, hang in there dude. I’m here with ya, pulling hard.

  28. 28.

    Comrade Mary

    December 19, 2013 at 8:31 pm

    @jeffreyw: Oh sweet jesus, man, you are killing me.

  29. 29.

    Lyrebird

    December 19, 2013 at 8:32 pm

    @R-Jud: Eau My Goodness! MUST READ THE REVIEWS esp if you could use a little cheering up!!! (I especially recommend Dec 18th’s review if you’re a Star Trek fan.)

    THANK YOU.
    Am writing cover letters & y’all turned my evening around!

  30. 30.

    jeffreyw

    December 19, 2013 at 8:34 pm

    @Comrade Mary: Your stocking? We are unsure of the fit but we will try!

  31. 31.

    Comrade Jake

    December 19, 2013 at 8:34 pm

    So… this happened at my nephew’s high school:

    http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2013/12/gay-vice-principal-loses-job-at-catholic-school-after-marrying/

    Pretty heart-wrenching.

  32. 32.

    MikeJ

    December 19, 2013 at 8:35 pm

    @Yatsuno: You need movies or other forms of entertainment? Give a yell and I can swing by. You’ve got my number.

  33. 33.

    Just Some Fuckhead, Thought Leader

    December 19, 2013 at 8:36 pm

    @Yatsuno: That’s terrible! Good luck with your recovery and try to use the good days to offset the bad ones.

  34. 34.

    SiubhanDuinne

    December 19, 2013 at 8:36 pm

    @jeffreyw:

    I WANT! THAT! KITTY!

    OMG, those are the most beautiful markings I have ever seen. What a beauty.

  35. 35.

    Anne Laurie

    December 19, 2013 at 8:37 pm

    @efgoldman: To be fair, F Troop did let a lot of budding young hippies in on America’s secret history: the military geniuses who almost broke the nation fighting to preserve slavery swiftly pivoted to destroying the First Nations in order to steal their land, if they didn’t shoot their own feet off or die in a self-induced garrison fire first…

  36. 36.

    Comrade Mary

    December 19, 2013 at 8:37 pm

    @jeffreyw: I cannot type the sounds I am making RIGHT NOW.

  37. 37.

    SiubhanDuinne

    December 19, 2013 at 8:39 pm

    @Yatsuno:

    Oh, I’m so sorry. As with every setback, hope it is short-lived and not uncomfortable for you. Thinking about you pretty much nonstop for the past 48 hours (except for my bank card shenanigans, and I know you’ll spot me that distraction).

  38. 38.

    Yatsuno

    December 19, 2013 at 8:41 pm

    @MikeJ: My biggest gripe right now is the wifi here sucks. Shit’s about to suck out there road-wise too so for right now I’m good. I’ll send you the room number though.

  39. 39.

    JPL

    December 19, 2013 at 8:44 pm

    @R-Jud: You are up late. Is the little one ready for xmas?

  40. 40.

    kc

    December 19, 2013 at 8:45 pm

    @jeffreyw:

    Pretty cat! And what a great pic!

    Cole needs to commission a Steve portrait by you.

  41. 41.

    kc

    December 19, 2013 at 8:46 pm

    @Yatsuno:

    Aw, man. I hate that for you.

  42. 42.

    kc

    December 19, 2013 at 8:48 pm

    @Comrade Jake:

    Heart-wrenching, yes, but look at all those kids. Gives me hope for the future.

  43. 43.

    JPL

    December 19, 2013 at 8:49 pm

    @Yatsuno: Even with the meds, you comments are clear and concise. Someone mentioned that after surgery, you might type like Sarah Palin but that didn’t happen. Hope tomorrow is better.

  44. 44.

    jeffreyw

    December 19, 2013 at 8:50 pm

    @kc: Most all of the shelter pics are by Mrs J, I tweak them a tad with color and crops. Love me my Snapseed.

  45. 45.

    R-Jud

    December 19, 2013 at 8:51 pm

    @JPL: She is TOTALLY ready for Christmas this year. Was an angel in her class play and everything. We had a lot of trouble getting her to grasp the whole “calendar” concept until December rolled around and we plonked a picture of a Christmas tree on the 25th. Now she is telling people that “Christmas is Tuesday, the 25th of December, and today is [date].”

    Me, I’m up clearing my work decks so I don’t have to worry about anything other than catching a plane on Sunday.

    Are you set for your holidays?

  46. 46.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 19, 2013 at 8:53 pm

    @Yatsuno:

    Take two aspirin and call me at the 16th hole in the early afternoon.

  47. 47.

    Belafon

    December 19, 2013 at 9:00 pm

    @kc: I doubt the lesson the kids learned is the one the school thought they were teaching.

  48. 48.

    Comrade Jake

    December 19, 2013 at 9:03 pm

    @kc: absolutely – agree 100%. The juggernaut of history marches on.

  49. 49.

    JPL

    December 19, 2013 at 9:07 pm

    @R-Jud: For some odd reason, I’m stressed this season. X-mas eve I have a buffet with family and friends and the dietary concerns have gotten to me. I always have enough for the gluten free, vegetarians, meat lovers but the dairy requirement and liquor requirements drove me over the edge. I’ll be ready though. I’m still waiting for one of my sons to have a bean of their own. My son’s SO is happily awaiting this year’s party cuz we will be having my friend’s granddaughter, her son and girl friend and maybe the baby’s mom. One of my neighbors father was a baptist minister and a distant relative of mine will be here. She does a lot of work for naral. Good times!
    Have a wonderful holiday!

  50. 50.

    Anya

    December 19, 2013 at 9:09 pm

    @Yatsuno: Best of luck with your recovery. Do take care of yourself. Sending out lots of positive thoughts your way.

  51. 51.

    Comrade Mary

    December 19, 2013 at 9:17 pm

    @R-Jud:

    Now she is telling people that “Christmas is Tuesday, the 25th of December, and today is [date].”

    TUESDAY?! OMG, I’m toast!

  52. 52.

    schrodinger's cat

    December 19, 2013 at 9:21 pm

    Speaking of hacks what do people think of Roger Cohen’s MoU impression? He talks to one person and he knows everything about India.

  53. 53.

    Yatsuno

    December 19, 2013 at 9:21 pm

    @Comrade Mary: Luckily all I have to do is sit back and eat carnispheres that day. :)

  54. 54.

    Mike E

    December 19, 2013 at 9:23 pm

    I’m embracing the meat that’s set to expire in my fridge, making chicken BBQ and penne/sauce/sausage dinners for the weekend.

    Hang in there, Yutsy!

  55. 55.

    mainmata

    December 19, 2013 at 9:25 pm

    LOL on the Halperin-Heildeman send up. Halperin is such a predictably shallow and lazy political opinionator, And really boring on Morning Ho. I just don’t get why he has a job (maybe because of the famous “good news for John McCain).

  56. 56.

    Comrade Mary

    December 19, 2013 at 9:25 pm

    @Yatsuno: My Canuck calendar says Tuesday is the 24th and Wednesday the 25th. I have to MAKE carnispheres (well, tourtière) for a bunch of people by then.

  57. 57.

    gogol's wife

    December 19, 2013 at 9:25 pm

    @Yatsuno:

    I’m sorry about the setback!

    Re the original post, I love the Halperin-Heileman parody — really funny.

  58. 58.

    schrodinger's cat

    December 19, 2013 at 9:26 pm

    A drink recipe where you can use your Himalayan Pink Salt.

  59. 59.

    khead

    December 19, 2013 at 9:32 pm

    I’m old enough to remember when the Paula Deen boycott was going to kill the Food Network. What will I do without A&E?

  60. 60.

    ruemara

    December 19, 2013 at 9:32 pm

    @Yatsuno: Sry Yuts. I’d send you cookies, but I’m fairly sure that’s not on a recovery diet. Hang in there. You’ll be back doing the jitterbug in no time.

  61. 61.

    PurpleGirl

    December 19, 2013 at 9:33 pm

    @Comrade Mary: No, Christmas is Wednesday. I have my calendar right here. Wednesday is the 25th.

  62. 62.

    catclub

    December 19, 2013 at 9:33 pm

    @efgoldman: Common meter.
    This dinner table blessing:

    Be present at our table, lord
    Be here and everywhere adored
    thy creatures bless and grant that we
    may feast in paradise, with thee.

    Can be sung to Fernando’s Hideaway.

  63. 63.

    schrodinger's cat

    December 19, 2013 at 9:33 pm

    @Yatsuno: That’s rough! I hope Dr Tiny Cat is taking good care of you.

  64. 64.

    khead

    December 19, 2013 at 9:34 pm

    @jeffreyw:

    Uh, I want one.

  65. 65.

    ruemara

    December 19, 2013 at 9:35 pm

    @jeffreyw: Jeffrey, what are you shooting with?

  66. 66.

    WereBear

    December 19, 2013 at 9:36 pm

    @Yatsuno: Don’t let them do that again.

    You’ll audit them, or something.

  67. 67.

    WereBear

    December 19, 2013 at 9:39 pm

    @schrodinger’s cat: In case anyone is unaware of Dr. Tinycat:

    Behold, the medical miracles of kitties

  68. 68.

    SiubhanDuinne

    December 19, 2013 at 9:41 pm

    Have a FB friend in South Australia, who reports today was hottest December day since 1931 (43.4C, or about 110F).

    Ugh.

  69. 69.

    JPL

    December 19, 2013 at 9:43 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: It’s going to be seventy here on Saturday and it is not our summer season.

  70. 70.

    Yatsuno

    December 19, 2013 at 9:48 pm

    @JPL: Might haz snow tomorrow. But we’ll see.

  71. 71.

    JPL

    December 19, 2013 at 9:50 pm

    @Yatsuno: But we’ll see I’m glad that you have a window in your temporary accommodations.

  72. 72.

    Elmo

    December 19, 2013 at 9:50 pm

    Open Thread iz for bitching! So y’all know I’m a married gay person, right? I’m FB friends with my brothers, and that’s about all the contact we have, but we’re friendly. So my brother makes a point of posting that he #standswithPhil and is going to #boycottA&E.
    Shouldn’t hurt my feelings at this point, I know who my brother is after all, but damn that was unpleasant.

  73. 73.

    Gravenstone

    December 19, 2013 at 9:51 pm

    This guy on Facebook has been doing all sorts of snarky takes on DC superheroes. I think he may have just surpassed himself with this one.

  74. 74.

    MomSense

    December 19, 2013 at 9:51 pm

    @ruemara:

    I’m sending you a hug–and keeping you in my thoughts.

    @Yatsuno:

    Damn, sorry about this. I hope you feel much better tomorrow.

  75. 75.

    SiubhanDuinne

    December 19, 2013 at 9:52 pm

    @efgoldman: Yes, I did :-)
    Also, Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening to Hernando’s Hideaway.

  76. 76.

    schrodinger's cat

    December 19, 2013 at 9:55 pm

    @ruemara: {{{ruemara}}} tuck yourself in and have a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows in your jammies. Tomorrow will be better.

  77. 77.

    JPL

    December 19, 2013 at 9:55 pm

    @Elmo: I’m so sorry. You could tell him to buy more duck call thingys and use them to ………

  78. 78.

    MomSense

    December 19, 2013 at 9:56 pm

    @Elmo:

    GRRRRRR. Sorry your brother did that.

  79. 79.

    jeffreyw

    December 19, 2013 at 9:59 pm

    @ruemara: All of those are out of a Canon S95, a decent pocket camera Mrs J packs to work. Post is via the Windows version of Snapseed, bought before Google bought them out and discontinued support for it in favor of the android OS.

  80. 80.

    SiubhanDuinne

    December 19, 2013 at 10:01 pm

    @efgoldman:
    @catclub:

    I always have fun this time of year singing any of the following to one of the other tunes:

    Joy to the World
    O Little Town of Bethlehem
    While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night

    (I know there are others. The metrical index in any hymnal will offer up a treasure trove.)

  81. 81.

    schrodinger's cat

    December 19, 2013 at 10:03 pm

    @WereBear: The first kitteh in that collection is mine. Snarky Dr Kitteh was inspired by Samuelson’s column.

    ETA: Thanks for putting up the ICHC link.

  82. 82.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 19, 2013 at 10:04 pm

    Programming note: The Alistair Sim version of A Christmas Carol is starting now. Woohoo!

  83. 83.

    schrodinger's cat

    December 19, 2013 at 10:06 pm

    @efgoldman: Grammar fail. Goes to show you that commas are important.

  84. 84.

    SiubhanDuinne

    December 19, 2013 at 10:06 pm

    @efgoldman: @efgoldman:

    Cripey, I remember reading the novel the show was based on!

  85. 85.

    PurpleGirl

    December 19, 2013 at 10:20 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: Do you know any of PDQ Bach’s Christmas music? Got some fine lyrics.

  86. 86.

    ruemara

    December 19, 2013 at 10:39 pm

    @jeffreyw: Thanks. The camera element is very crisp, so I was wondering.

    Sorry folks, I’m just trying to calculate what I can do to juggle what my extra efforts this month have earned, plus this hole in my jaw that I can’t fix just seems huge, have to figure out how to attend the training session I signed up for, 2 jobs I’m qualified for but I don’t have my own copy of CS6 to go work on their site (really, people?)… ugh. I’d almost love to be a drunkard, druggie, shopalic or what have you. Instead of just a chronic person running head first into a bajillion walls. Some days you just want to struggle with a few things, not so much, so consistently. My Christmas tree is 4 cards taped to a wall and one of them is for the prior occupant from a vendor. I’m gonna go make some desserts for the local charity so I can feel better. This is so frustrating! I’m used to doing things and being productive and career focused. BOOOOOOoooooo /rant

  87. 87.

    kc

    December 19, 2013 at 10:42 pm

    @Elmo:

    Your brother is a dick!

  88. 88.

    Tom Q

    December 19, 2013 at 11:29 pm

    @efgoldman: I’ve actually seen the (yes, bad) movie, so I’m among the 200.

  89. 89.

    aimai

    December 19, 2013 at 11:34 pm

    @Elmo: I’m so very sorry. Still, your brother is offering to stop watching a tv channel as his main form of political engagement. Its not like you can “go galt” from a tv network. I think you should FB him and let him know that you and all the gay people are rolling on the floor laughing at him because he’s such a pathetic excuse for a culture warrior. Suggest that he grow his hair and beard and smear himself with mud in solidarity with his fearless duck leaders. And also retreat to a bayou. The world will run very merilly without him.

  90. 90.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 19, 2013 at 11:38 pm

    @Elmo: My condolences. At least you are not a Cheney, right?

  91. 91.

    Scamp Dog

    December 19, 2013 at 11:51 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: when I was in a grade school church choir, and we’d sing something from the hymnal, I’d use that index to find another hymn using the same tune and sing those words. Not only did I never get caught, I told my brother about it, and no one caught him, either. Good times…

  92. 92.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 19, 2013 at 11:55 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: @Scamp Dog: I once heard Aimee Mann in concert do Take Me Out to the Ball Game starting on the second note. Disturbing, yet brilliant.

  93. 93.

    Glidwrith

    December 20, 2013 at 12:00 am

    @Elmo: I hear you. Sent my mother a link on an article that simply talked about what the Duck Dynasty looked like in 2001 (ie clean cut, smooth shaven) and got back the whole Sarah Palin freeze peach spiel. I’ve known for some time she is a bigot (as is my father) but getting one’s nose rubbed in the fact that they are hateful bigots just before the annual Xmas visit…………..

  94. 94.

    Mnemosyne (iPhone)

    December 20, 2013 at 12:02 am

    @Elmo:

    From what you’ve said about your family in the past, I’m assuming that you won’t have to interact with this brother in person, but in case you do, I will share with you my patented technique for dealing with wingnut relatives: faking total ignorance.

    “Wait, who is this guy? He’s on TV? What’s the show called? No, I’ve never heard of it. What’s it about? Who’s that? So the mom’s name is … what, again? And they’re in Mississippi? Oh, Louisiana. And they do what all day?”

    I guarantee you that if you pepper the wingnut with enough questions about extremely basic points as though you’ve never even heard of the controversy or the people involved, said wingnut will eventually get bored and move on.

    I discovered this technique accidentally many years ago when my (now late) wingnut father was trying to play Rush Limbaugh’s allegedly funny parody of “In the Ghetto,” but I’d never heard the original song. It worked like a charm, and I’ve done my best to use it on wielders of wingnut talking points ever since.

  95. 95.

    Betsy

    December 20, 2013 at 12:02 am

    @SiubhanDuinne: bonus points for mention of hymnal metrical index … Was thinking same

    Huzzah, Old School!

  96. 96.

    Fax Paladin

    December 20, 2013 at 12:07 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: The Texas A&M Aggienizers barbershop quartet used to do something like that, getting off by one note in the windup to the second go-round. (Some of the best (intentional) Aggie jokes come from actual Aggies.) They wind up saving the song by ending “..it’s one two, three, four balls you walk at the old ball game!”

  97. 97.

    Betsy

    December 20, 2013 at 12:08 am

    @Elmo: hey, that is a sucky thing that he did, how painful but I wonder if he doesn’t know how much it hurts you. Do you feel that telling him honestly would help? Or is this not really a teachable moment? It seems like it could be, if he wasn’t just trying to hurt you. Maybe just ask him if he was trying to hurt you. If he says yes you have your answer. If he says no (even if that’s not quite true) it means you have an opportunity to say how it made you feel.

    I don’t know your situation and this could be totally wrongheaded, but it usually seems OK to assert your right to full humanity.

  98. 98.

    Betsy

    December 20, 2013 at 12:10 am

    @ruemara: hang in there, you never know what’s around the corner. <<<<>>>>>

  99. 99.

    Betsy

    December 20, 2013 at 12:12 am

    @Glidwrith: painful. Sorry.

    What is a freeze peach spiel? Hard to say fast

  100. 100.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 20, 2013 at 12:13 am

    @Fax Paladin: The great thing was that Aimee followed it by saying – it was during an encore – “And now here is a little song that I wrote with Elvis Costello.”

  101. 101.

    Betsy

    December 20, 2013 at 12:17 am

    @Glidwrith: oh I just got it.

    Ok, so what is this great mass confusion about free speech? No one’s free speech has been taken away. Duck Idiot King is still just as free to state his bigoted views as ever, but A&E doesn’t owe him a platform to broadcast them.

    No one’s speech has been censored. Censorship is by the government.

    We all have the right to throw someone out of our house for saying vile and offensive things … That’s not called censorship, it’s called dignity and outrage.

  102. 102.

    Betsy

    December 20, 2013 at 12:19 am

    @Mnemosyne (iPhone): brilliant, love it, must try!

    it does help that I am apparently notorious for not having a TV

  103. 103.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 20, 2013 at 12:21 am

    @Betsy: Yep. Free speech =/= say whatever you want without consequence. Free speech = say what you want without governmental interference. A simple concept, combining the two, yet the right seems to have real trouble with it.

  104. 104.

    Mnemosyne (iPhone)

    December 20, 2013 at 12:29 am

    @ruemara:

    Honestly, it sounds to me like you’re getting burned out on the struggle (because, let’s face it, who wouldn’t?)

    My advice: pick a day, or at least an afternoon, to do absolutely NOTHING productive or useful. Watch some junk TV. Read a fun but trashy novel. Take a hot bath and enjoy a few minutes if not doing anything.

    I know that when you’re frantically running, it feels like you can’t stop or you’ll never get started again, but you NEED that bit of downtime like you need sleep. What happens if you go without sleep for too long? Your brain will try to make you sleep any time you sit down, because it’s necessary.

    Your brain and body are telling you they need a mental health break, so take one.

  105. 105.

    FlipYrWhig

    December 20, 2013 at 12:37 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: except when the matter at hand is Martin Bashir saying nasty things about Sarah Palin. Then they suddenly discover a passion for pressuring the speaker of nastiness, which isn’t an offense against the cherished value of free speech because reasons.

  106. 106.

    Omnes Omnibus

    December 20, 2013 at 12:37 am

    @ruemara: In my past, I have had shitty times and some of the most helpful advice I ever got was to do hobbies or read or basically, after you have done everything reasonable for the day, to try to live a real life. You can’t job hunt 24/7. It will wear you down. Try to let yourself be okay, at least for awhile each day. If this is unhelpful, please disregard.

  107. 107.

    Villago Delenda Est

    December 20, 2013 at 12:54 am

    @efgoldman:

    Back in the day, A&E was the shit.

    Now it is shit.

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