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You are here: Home / Open Threads / A Friday Moment of Zen

A Friday Moment of Zen

by John Cole|  January 31, 20142:48 pm| 77 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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funlads

From Patrick Stewart’s twitter machine doohickey thingamabob.

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Next Post: Turn out the lights, the party’s over »

Reader Interactions

77Comments

  1. 1.

    LanceThruster

    January 31, 2014 at 2:49 pm

    I love these guys so much. Makes me smile, it does.

  2. 2.

    Comrade Mary

    January 31, 2014 at 2:52 pm

    And they’re wearing all my fave colours. LOVE!

    (BTW, John, that if your knee is any of those colours, maybe see a doc today?)

  3. 3.

    cleek

    January 31, 2014 at 2:53 pm

    the new palantíri aren’t as cool as the old-timey ones. too flashy.

  4. 4.

    BettyPageisaBlonde

    January 31, 2014 at 2:53 pm

    Their Waiting for Godot was a thing of beauty. Go, it’s still on Broadway!

  5. 5.

    Served

    January 31, 2014 at 2:53 pm

    Reposting from the below open thread, because it’s great to watch them eat their own.

    Well, the Illinois Republican gubernatorial primary is blowing up nicely today:http://www.suntimes.com/25299488-418/treasurer-dan-rutherford-alleges-bruce-rauner-behind-false-claims-against-him.html

    Bruce Rauner is our local bajillionaire now playing the common man with a fresh crisp Carhartt an an $18 watch (who of course made his money off investing public employee pensions, and is now campaign to destroy said pensions).

    And now this tweet from Rich Miller, who runs CapitolFax.com, the best IL politics blog:

    Rich Miller ‏@capitolfax 12m
    As I chase this story, there could be some really bad stuff coming out. And not necessarily on Rauner, either. Oy.

  6. 6.

    schrodinger's cat

    January 31, 2014 at 2:57 pm

    How is your knee now?

  7. 7.

    Betty Cracker

    January 31, 2014 at 2:57 pm

    Broncos are gonna win: Gandalf trumps Captain Picard.

  8. 8.

    schrodinger's cat

    January 31, 2014 at 2:58 pm

    Review of Downton Abbey, fourth episode here

  9. 9.

    schrodinger's cat

    January 31, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    @Betty Cracker: How are you and your mom? I am keeping my paws crossed!

  10. 10.

    Mr. Longform

    January 31, 2014 at 2:59 pm

    @cleek: damn – palantir joke already taken; but Gandalf looks like he just saw something that really freaked him out, like playing a Feb. 2 football game on fking New Jersey, maybe.

  11. 11.

    NonyNony

    January 31, 2014 at 3:00 pm

    @Betty Cracker:

    Broncos are gonna win: Gandalf trumps Captain Picard.

    Ah, but the relevant question is actully “is Gandalf > (Picard + Charles Xavier) ?”

  12. 12.

    R-Jud

    January 31, 2014 at 3:03 pm

    @NonyNony: Isn’t that “(Gandalf + Magneto)”?

  13. 13.

    schrodinger's cat

    January 31, 2014 at 3:03 pm

    @NonyNony: Is Gandalf > Karla

  14. 14.

    TaMara (BHF)

    January 31, 2014 at 3:05 pm

    @Betty Cracker: Just caught up that your mom is unwell. I hope things are looking better. Keeping you both in my thoughts.

  15. 15.

    Roger Moore

    January 31, 2014 at 3:05 pm

    @NonyNony:

    Ah, but the relevant question is actully “is Gandalf > (Picard + Charles Xavier) ?”

    ITYM (Gandalf + Magneto) > (Picard + Charles Xavier)./geek

    ETA: and let’s be clear (Gandalf + Magneto) >> (Picard + Xavier).

  16. 16.

    Smiling Mortician

    January 31, 2014 at 3:06 pm

    @schrodinger’s cat: Note that your review is of Episode 5, not 4. Just in case anyone doesn’t want spoilers (too late for me).

  17. 17.

    WaterGirl

    January 31, 2014 at 3:07 pm

    @Served: Rutherford is the best reason to vote for Quinn, the governor who presided over our screwing on pensions.

  18. 18.

    Richard Fox

    January 31, 2014 at 3:07 pm

    Mr. Stewart apparently is a new neighbor of mine, in Park Slope Brooklyn. No sightings as of yet, but I’m keeping watch. :-)

  19. 19.

    Served

    January 31, 2014 at 3:09 pm

    @WaterGirl: I would have entertained a vote for him over Quinn in the general, to be honest.

    I also will bet money that this is Rauner using subterfuge to out Rutherford as gay. It is, at least, pinging the undertones in shades of W in South Carolina circa 2000.

  20. 20.

    schrodinger's cat

    January 31, 2014 at 3:10 pm

    @Smiling Mortician: Sorry about that. I will put in the spoiler warning now. I thought it was unnecessary for an episode that aired almost a week ago. ( I am counting the first two hours as one episode).

  21. 21.

    Warren Terra

    January 31, 2014 at 3:11 pm

    If you want your Friday moment of d’aww, an accurately titled post: Here’s Your Heart Melter for the Week

  22. 22.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 31, 2014 at 3:11 pm

    @Betty Cracker:

    Someone has been smoking something.

  23. 23.

    MikeJ

    January 31, 2014 at 3:13 pm

    @Betty Cracker:

    Broncos are gonna win: Gandalf trumps Captain Picard.

    Seahawks win. Science trumps magic.

  24. 24.

    Villago Delenda Est

    January 31, 2014 at 3:13 pm

    @Roger Moore:

    Um, no. Picard > Gandalf any day of the week that ends with y.

  25. 25.

    Betty Cracker

    January 31, 2014 at 3:17 pm

    @schrodinger’s cat & @TaMara (BHF): Better news today, so we’re happy about that! Thanks!

    @NonyNony: Good point, but does anyone really trump Gandalf? He survived death and can summon giant eagles!

  26. 26.

    Kristine

    January 31, 2014 at 3:23 pm

    @Warren Terra: That was sweet–thanks for the link!

  27. 27.

    grape_crush

    January 31, 2014 at 3:24 pm

    Both being Brits, what’s funny to me – besides the look on McKellen’s face – is that on American Football Superbowl Weekend, they’re holding a real football, not the funny oblong one used here in the States.

  28. 28.

    Petorado

    January 31, 2014 at 3:25 pm

    “Captain, permission to go into Beast Mode.”

    “Make it so number 24.”

  29. 29.

    WaterGirl

    January 31, 2014 at 3:26 pm

    @Served: Rutherford is gay? Did not see that one coming, and I normally have excellent gaydar.

  30. 30.

    Mary G

    January 31, 2014 at 3:29 pm

    @Warren Terra: That is awesome indeed.

  31. 31.

    Gex

    January 31, 2014 at 3:31 pm

    @Betty Cracker: I missed original reports on your mother’s situation. But sending my best wishes for you both nonetheless.

  32. 32.

    grape_crush

    January 31, 2014 at 3:32 pm

    @Roger Moore: > ETA: and let’s be clear (Gandalf + Magneto) >> (Picard + Xavier).

    What about Picard + Xavier + Leondegrance + Gurney Halleck? /geeksquared

  33. 33.

    burnspbesq

    January 31, 2014 at 3:32 pm

    @Betty Cracker:

    Broncos are gonna win: Gandalf trumps Captain Picard

    Sir Ian was the creepiest, evilest Richard III evah. That’s how I think of him, not Gandalf.

  34. 34.

    different-church-lady

    January 31, 2014 at 3:37 pm

    Hang on, I gotta jot this down in my “headlines I never thought I’d see” notebook:

    Pope Francis Continues Outreach, Blesses Male Stripper’s Parrot

  35. 35.

    Napoleon

    January 31, 2014 at 3:38 pm

    @different-church-lady:

    Does this mean some guys are calling “it” their parrot now?

  36. 36.

    LanceThruster

    January 31, 2014 at 3:38 pm

    @Betty Cracker:

    But Picard is real, whereas Gandalf is a Fig Newtown of Tolkien’s imagination.

  37. 37.

    Amir Khalid

    January 31, 2014 at 3:39 pm

    @cleek:
    It’s one of them newfangled German Palantiri, as you can see from the manufacturer’s three-striped logo.

  38. 38.

    Ash Can

    January 31, 2014 at 3:39 pm

    @Warren Terra: Damn, it got dusty in here all of a sudden. And it all seems to be going in my eyes…

  39. 39.

    different-church-lady

    January 31, 2014 at 3:40 pm

    I really love the Sprint ads they do together.

  40. 40.

    Schlemizel

    January 31, 2014 at 3:40 pm

    Judging by the look on that face I am glad I can see all four hands in this picture!

  41. 41.

    Anoniminous

    January 31, 2014 at 3:45 pm

    The warp drive dilithium crystals have cracked, Scotty is no longer around to fix them. Gandalf’s wizard staff was broken so he’s out of the running as well.

    Prediction: Mordor by 7.

  42. 42.

    Francis

    January 31, 2014 at 3:45 pm

    umm, any update on the cat and the car?

    (also, Ezra no longer blogs at the Ezra Klein link.)

  43. 43.

    catclub

    January 31, 2014 at 3:46 pm

    @grape_crush: Patrick Stewart was also the Sargeant at Arms
    for Caligula in “I, Claudius”.

    He had to pass on the daily password: “Give us a Kiss”
    He later helped murder Caligula and installed Claudius as Emperor, If I recall.

  44. 44.

    Amir Khalid

    January 31, 2014 at 3:46 pm

    Patrick Stewart with a football looks kind of like Fabien Barthez.

  45. 45.

    Hungry Joe

    January 31, 2014 at 3:50 pm

    I interviewed Stewart years ago, on a press junket for a “Star Trek” movie. Got a one-on-one for about 20 minutes, and just HAD to ask about his character Sejanus, the cheerful assassin in “I, Claudius.” As I remember it, Stewart thought for a few seconds, then smiled and said, “He was a man who loved his work.”

  46. 46.

    burnspbesq

    January 31, 2014 at 3:52 pm

    @Amir Khalid:

    I’ll be he deals with crosses better than Barthez ever did.

  47. 47.

    p.a.

    January 31, 2014 at 3:52 pm

    @grape_crush: Picard + Xavier + Leondegrance + Gurney Halleck + Sejanus

  48. 48.

    Suffern ACE

    January 31, 2014 at 3:53 pm

    @Francis: The cat came back the very next day. Thought he was a goner, but he wouldn’t stay away.

  49. 49.

    me

    January 31, 2014 at 3:55 pm

    David Wildstein just took a big dump on Chris Christie.

  50. 50.

    Petorado

    January 31, 2014 at 3:56 pm

    @Napoleon: It was very special parrot – a Norwegian Blue.

  51. 51.

    Amir Khalid

    January 31, 2014 at 3:57 pm

    @burnspbesq:
    Barthez has now taken up another sport, and is apparently doing quite well at it.

  52. 52.

    scav

    January 31, 2014 at 3:59 pm

    That does somehow make things much better.

  53. 53.

    Scamp Dog

    January 31, 2014 at 4:00 pm

    @Warren Terra: that was cool! It’s better than a “d’aww” though. Thank for posting the link!

  54. 54.

    Roger Moore

    January 31, 2014 at 4:01 pm

    @Petorado:

    It was very special parrot – a Norwegian Blue.

    It looks more like a Yellow Crowned Amazon to me.

  55. 55.

    Kylroy

    January 31, 2014 at 4:04 pm

    @grape_crush: I’m sorry, but “real” and “association” are not synonyms.

  56. 56.

    Warren Terra

    January 31, 2014 at 4:08 pm

    If you want a truly wonderful (if quite possibly embellished to the point of near-complete falsehood) story about one man’s multi-decade relationship with Ian McKellen, there’s an episode of Believe It, the fictionalized radio memoirs of the British Actor Richard Wilson, as ghost-written by Douglas Adams’s one-time flatmate Jon Canter. You can download the Ian McKellen episode here, and learn about Greek islands, Los Angeles muggers, knitting, financial advisors, and Bleak House.

  57. 57.

    Amir Khalid

    January 31, 2014 at 4:10 pm

    @me:
    News to which many will react with no small sense of Schadenfreude.

  58. 58.

    Mr. Longform

    January 31, 2014 at 4:11 pm

    @Petorado:
    Are you sure it wasn’t an African swallow?

  59. 59.

    FlyingToaster

    January 31, 2014 at 4:12 pm

    @catclub: Naw, he played Sejanus, who Tiberius first betrothed to his niece Livilla then recommended the Senate kill him.

    Caligula’s guy was Cassius Chaerea, who had carried him on campaigns with this father’s legions.

    Patrick Stewart’s wig in I Claudius was the worst hairdo I’ve ever seen.

  60. 60.

    jl

    January 31, 2014 at 4:12 pm

    So, this being Friday, I was hoping not one damn thing happens at all, and was reading up on some health reform stuff at TPM, when…

    BREAKING….

    Official Who Ordered Lane Closures Says Christie Knew About Them

    ” The former Port Authority of New York and New Jersey executive [Wildstein] who directed the George Washington Bridge lane closures said in a letter Friday that New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R) knew about the closures when they were happening, according to The New York Times. ”

    http://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/christie-knew-wildstein

    Is this good or is this bad, should we be happy or should we be sad.
    Let us anatomize these brass balls of Chrisie…

    But then, if Wildstein and some of Christie’s staff were wildcatting in a play or some payola off the Ft. Lee development project, they would have the ‘entrepreneurial spirit’ needed to take down the Big Man, regardless of the truth, to help themselves.

    But, something did happen this Friday.

  61. 61.

    scav

    January 31, 2014 at 4:13 pm

    Well, MacBeth ≅ MacBeth but John of Gaunt > Edward II so there might be a slight Seattle edge on my DVD shelf at the moment . . .

  62. 62.

    raven

    January 31, 2014 at 4:14 pm

    It’s a new world of God’s and Monsters.

  63. 63.

    kbuttle

    January 31, 2014 at 4:15 pm

    Also pleasant viewing on a Friday evening, from Pierce:

    “Reince Priebus is a not very convincing marionette who couldn’t even get elected to the Wisconsin state senate. What he knows about politics you could put up his ass and have room for a change of clothes.”

    That’s just good prose.

  64. 64.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    January 31, 2014 at 4:16 pm

    @jl: Friday, aka “Take Out the Trash Day”. Especially before the Superb Owl.

  65. 65.

    jl

    January 31, 2014 at 4:16 pm

    @me:

    Oh yes indeed. I thought someone would beat me while I was typing. News likes this spreads fast.

    Gosh darn it, whether that weasel Wildstein’s charges are true or not, the story just might maybe spread fast enough to hurt poor little Christie before the 2016 elections.

    That would be sad, huh? But then, Christie decided himself to surround himself with, hire, adn appoint, thugs, sleazy operators, and grifters. I sure didn’t give him any advice.

  66. 66.

    scav

    January 31, 2014 at 4:16 pm

    @scav: Ah, there is Sejanus and not one but two Claudius the Danes. Seattle is pulling ahead.

  67. 67.

    Trinity

    January 31, 2014 at 4:21 pm

    So much awesome.

  68. 68.

    Roger Moore

    January 31, 2014 at 4:23 pm

    @jl:
    I’ve been saying for a while that the sign on Christie’s back says “insert knife here” rather than “kick me”. It’s just a surprise that Brutus struck first instead of last.

  69. 69.

    Comrade Mary

    January 31, 2014 at 4:57 pm

    @scav: In addition, Rob Ford is rooting for the Broncos. I knew there was a reason why my colour preference was shifting from orange to lime lately.

    Go SirPatStew!

  70. 70.

    different-church-lady

    January 31, 2014 at 5:10 pm

    @Petorado: Beautiful plumage…

  71. 71.

    different-church-lady

    January 31, 2014 at 5:17 pm

    OK, what are the odds of two Papal entries in the notebook in one day?

    Stolen Blood of Pope John Paul II Recovered by Police

  72. 72.

    sdstarr

    January 31, 2014 at 5:25 pm

    I always figured that Gandalf would be a fan of the Seahawks! Didn’t he (much like Richard Sherman) say “YOU SHALL NOT PASS!”

  73. 73.

    Bill in Section 147

    January 31, 2014 at 6:15 pm

    @Warren Terra: Nice! Thanks for that.

  74. 74.

    Mnemosyne

    January 31, 2014 at 6:19 pm

    Speaking of Richard Sherman, the LA Times had a human interest piece about his dad recently since Sherman is a hometown boy. His dad still works for the LA sanitation department and (for obvious reasons) is very proud of his son.

  75. 75.

    Tripod

    January 31, 2014 at 8:06 pm

    “Real football”??? A real football is a black and white truncated icosahedron, or a brown prolate spheroid. I’m not sure what that thing is. Also, get off my lawn.

  76. 76.

    poptartacus

    February 1, 2014 at 12:06 am

    fuck a bunch of weed bowl

    PUPPY BOWL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  77. 77.

    BruceFromOhio

    February 1, 2014 at 1:30 am

    That ball is the wrong shape. Or something.

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