Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Seems like a complicated subject, have you tried yelling at it?

Second rate reporter says what?

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

I really should read my own blog.

Usually wrong but never in doubt

The revolution will be supervised.

Schmidt just says fuck it, opens a tea shop.

I was promised a recession.

The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.

Motto for the House: Flip 5 and lose none.

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

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

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

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they don’t ask for more? Great plan.

If you are still in the GOP, you are an extremist.

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

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

After roe, women are no longer free.

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

Something needs to be done about our bogus SCOTUS.

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84Comments

  1. 1.

    srv

    Almost lost my medical to one of those computery blood-pressure thingamadoodles.

    Fortunately, I lost 70 in the systolic with a manual pump thingy.

  3. 3.

    WaterGirl

    I wish one of the front pagers would start to watch Orphan Black so we could get a good any orphan black thread at the end of the season on saturday.

  5. 5.

    Anoniminous

    Very interesting article: The open source revolution is coming and it will conquer the 1% – ex CIA spy

    Robert David Steele, former Marine, CIA case officer, and US co-founder of the US Marine Corps intelligence activity, is a man on a mission. But it’s a mission that frightens the US intelligence establishment to its core.

    I can speak from direct, personal experience, this:

    … the gap between those with money and power and those who actually know what they are talking about has grown catastrophic. The rich are surrounded by sycophants and pretenders whose continued employment demands that they not question the premises.

    is accurate. The major Decision Makers in the US are ignorant and/or Not Even Wrong. Iraq is one example. Austerity is another.

  6. 6.

    raven

    I mentioned this morning that I was going to the VA to see about a hearing aid test. I don’t know what’s happening in other places but it was obvious these folks are trying their best to help everyone that walks through the door. The guy at the desk located my records on the computer, asked me a few simple questions and has me scheduled for lab work tomorrow and to see a specialist Monday. They then sent me next door to the State Vets office where, in about 15 minutes, the rep had my forms filled out to file a disability claim. All of this may be for nothing, I make a decent living and am fully covered by BCBS but I think my service impacted my hearing and if I can get an aid and not have to pay $3600 I’ll do it.

    Like I said, it may just be where I went but I have the sense that they are under the gun and are really trying to help out. It may not last.

  7. 7.

    Betty Cracker

    I’m “alone” at home (with only two dogs, seven hens and one hedgehog for company) for the first time in forever? I don’t know what to do with myself. I lived alone for several years before I got married and actually liked it just fine. Somewhere over the ensuing 20 years I was domesticated without my knowledge or consent!

  10. 10.

    gogol's wife

    @Betty Cracker:

    This happened to me last week when my husband was in California for 5 days. On the second day one of the cats (who weighs 24 pounds) got sick and I had to somehow wrestle him into the carrier — I still don’t know how I did it. He was in the hospital for three days, and it was just me and the female cat rattling around the house. Now husband and male cat are back, and I feel normal again. I couldn’t believe how stressed I was. And you have family illness on top of it.

  12. 12.

    raven

    @Betty Cracker: My wife is going to “Art Camp” all week next week and some of our friends are doing this “we’ll come over and keep you company”! Sheesh.

  13. 13.

    Corner Stone

    @raven: I’m guessing you didn’t see the thread earlier where I’m moving to GA to become a timber sports competitor. Roomie, inbound!

  16. 16.

    Betty Cracker

    @Corner Stone: RED, if you please. I cannot abide white wine that isn’t champagne, and those foils are useless for artistic purposes.

  18. 18.

    gbear

    Checked WeatherUnderground to see how much rain was heading into town and found out that we have a new record for the amount of rain in one calendar day for the month of June. We had 3.95 inches of rain overnight. I was woken up a couple of times by thunder but had no idea we had so much rain. That record notice was posted at 1:30 pm and we’ve got a big swath of rain moving into town again right now. Southern MN and Iowa have been getting hit a LOT harder than we have in the Twin Cities. It’s an amazing amount of rain that’s fallen this month.

  19. 19.

    Corner Stone

    @Betty Cracker: Oh man. I tried my best to find a white I liked for about 10 years. I finally did, and it’s awesome. But give me a fruity, bold red any day.
    I knew there was a reason I liked you, Betty. Beyond the boobs dipped in cement, I mean.

  20. 20.

    feebog

    @raven:

    One of my fellow Viet Nam vets and regular Saturday golf partner just had ear surgery at the VA to remove scar tissue. The results are amazing. Considering that his main occupation is songwriter and musician, being able to hear with both ears is pretty important. Good luck, and I hope they can help, although it may just be a matter of age.

  22. 22.

    raven

    @feebog: I went to a ENT Md yesterday and had a thorough test. He was straight up and said, although it undercut him, I should go to the VA and see if I can get them for no cost. He said my hearing loss is such that hearing aids would really help so that’s what I did. Someone this morning also suggested I check COSTCO and they are much cheaper so I have that filed.

  23. 23.

    PhoenixRising

    @raven: My kid has hearing loss & her new aids are…nothing short of miraculous*. We know no one else who can afford them, except one relative your age who got his at the VA. It’s not clear to me that his hearing loss was service-related, but I guess they figured artillery, 1965-1968…

    Anyway, the VA has the best damn hardware anywhere and the aids my kid uses were developed to meet VA specs. So thank you for your service!

    *digital noise cancelling, programmable for various environments, BT compatible, on frequency with and adjustable through her phone…

  24. 24.

    Corner Stone

    @gbear: There’s not much that makes me happier than climbing some wood poles, all the way to the top!
    Sometimes I have to chop ’em down to size, but what I really enjoy is going all the way up to the tip, tip, tippy top! Then sliding all the way back down.
    Repeat as necessary.

  31. 31.

    The Sailor

    @Anoniminous:

    The major Decision Makers in the US are ignorant and/or Not Even Wrong. Iraq is one example. Austerity is another.

    Those were features, not bugs.

    @raven: My friends (Vietnam Era) have been having much better luck at the VA since Shinseki was appointed. I went with one of them a couple of times and the campus was nice, everyone was helpful, and getting fitted for a wheelchair isn’t fun.

    @PhoenixRising: The new hearing aids are amazing. They aren’t just narrow band amplifiers, they really do work! I like the programming capability.

  32. 32.

    Betty Cracker

    @WaterGirl: I think that was supposed to be Gretchen or whatever plug-and-play blond lady is on Fox & Friends these days!

  34. 34.

    raven

    @PhoenixRising: I was in the arty too in Korea and then a tour of the Nam. The audiologist told me that the VA had Caddy hearing aid because they bought so many. I don’t know if I’ll qualify but it was worth a shot.

  36. 36.

    raven

    We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.

  40. 40.

    PhoenixRising

    @raven: Exactly. The reason the technology keeps getting better every 18 months is that the VA has a standing order with the hearing aid companies. They are the customer for about 85% of all aids fitted in the US.

    Now, as you Boomers continue to work your way through the python, that dynamic will shift; the newest amplification will become a high-end consumer electronic for the well-heeled Old and the VA will be fitting ‘older’ aids, which are pretty damn good compared to what was available 10 years ago.

    Meanwhile, there has never been a better time to lose your hearing.

  43. 43.

    Betty Cracker

    @Corner Stone: Thank you for that useful tip. I have friends who prefer white wine, and I’m always baffled when trying to choose something to bring over that doesn’t suck.

  44. 44.

    WaterGirl

    @raven:

    We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing.

    I have never heard that before. Damn, what a great quote.

    Edit: from 1912???

  45. 45.

    raven

    @PhoenixRising: And maybe never a better time to file a claim. That being said, 2 years after I went in there was ear protection galore (in training) but we had nothing. Imagine 100 M-14’s blasting away at the same time. I checked and I qualified on M14,M 16, M 60 and 3.5 Rocket Launcher. That in addition to being in the Ammo Platoon in a 105 howitzer outfit.

  46. 46.

    Corner Stone

    @Omnes Omnibus (the first of his name): Most whites give me a headache, as does champagne. I first had this fume blanc at a party in River Oaks in Houston (fancy $$$$). A beautiful young woman walked me through the available catered options. My wife suggested I take the white, and move on.

  47. 47.

    FlyingToaster

    @Betty Cracker,@Corner Stone: : I don’t know if you can get it in Florida (I can’t get Eden Winery stuff here, after all), but Westport Rivers (Westport, MA) makes some incredible whites. And their Farmers’ Fizz (methode champenoise) is to die for. Their (dry) Rose de Pinot Noir is our thanksgiving wine every year.

    I drank so much of what I bought last year at the farmers’ markets that I’m going to join their damn wine [email protected]Corner Stone:

  49. 49.

    WaterGirl

    @Corner Stone: Just stop. I was complaining that they made her look awful, not like herself. Of course, it wasn’t Hillary, but I didn’t know that at the time.

  50. 50.

    gene108

    @WaterGirl:

    Too true! I thought everybody in the cartoon looked like themselves except Hillary. Interesting.

    I did not see Hillary in the cartoon. The blond was probably Gretchen Carlson, as the bottom panel is the Fox News morning show, I think.

  53. 53.

    WaterGirl

    On June 4, someone named ralphb suggested using something called Ghostery. It’s a browser add-on that lets you block ads, tracking cookies etc. I installed it that day, and I have to say that it has completely resolved all the memory issues I had been having with my macbook air. Simply amazing!

    I was already using AdBlock (sorry John) but was still having issues. Blocking all these trackers has made a huge difference.

  54. 54.

    Corner Stone

    @WaterGirl: ralphb was and is a racist asshole. It’s disturbing that you would have taken his advice on just about anything.

  55. 55.

    WaterGirl

    @gene108: I just googled her. Yes, that is surely the woman in the cartoon. Now that I see who she is, I have to say they did a good job with her likeness.

  57. 57.

    WaterGirl

    @Corner Stone: I had never taken note of his nym before, so I googled Ghostery and it looked interesting.

    I just googled his nym just now on site:balloon-juice.com, and the first 5 links that came up all had reasonable comments, though I did see that the two of you had some back-and-forth.

    Regardless of the source, I am really impressed with Ghostery.

  58. 58.

    Corner Stone

    @WaterGirl: No, he’s not a bad guy. I was just jacking with you some more.
    I’m disappointed you didn’t beat chopper back more from his insulting insults against me.

  60. 60.

    lamh36

    Ooh! Pillow Talk is on TCM. I love this movie. I already have it on DVD but I’m sitting here watching is now commercials and all!

    I have the top 3 Doris Day/Rock Hudson romcom DVD collection.

  62. 62.

    WaterGirl

    @lamh36: Did you see the article about the CDC and anthrax? I posted one link, and Elizabelle (I think) posted another.

  64. 64.

    lamh36

    @lamh36: damn double post.

    Anyway, Looks like they are airing all 3 I have on DVD. They are showing all 3 back to back with Doris Day, Rock Hudson, and Tony Randell.

    Pillow Talk, Lover Come Back, and Send Me No Flowers.

  67. 67.

    The Sailor

    @Corner Stone:

    Honestly though, what the hell would plugs have done against that nasty shit?

    Stopped the pressure wave from impacting the 1st turn of the cochlea, where your most sensitive hearing is.

  69. 69.

    lamh36

    @raven: I’m still planning and researching it now. I might be prepared to buy my plane tickets tomorrow or sometime this weekend.

    I plan to apply for the Micro job at CDC this weekend too. I figured why not. If I’m considered for the position I’ll just have to decide then about my trip. but it’s still far enough in advance that I could make changes if I needed to.

  70. 70.

    Corner Stone

    @schrodinger’s cat: Dallas? Just pass altogether. It’s a horrible place.

    ETA, but to answer – August in Dallas is almost as bad as August in Houston. And that is to say 102 or so plus 99% humidity. Brutal heat, brutal humidity, and bad air quality. There’s no where to go to escape the heat/humidity. It’s awful, and the people in Dallas are the worst fucking smug assholes in TX.

  72. 72.

    Corner Stone

    Houston, Austin, San Antonio and most other places West of Beaumont/TX/LA border have a bunch of awesome people. They’re happy to see you, talk with you, show you around.
    But Dallas is a bunch of fucking assholes.

  75. 75.

    Mnemosyne

    @lamh36:

    “Pillow Talk” has some of the most clever use of split-screen you’ll ever see, especially in the bathtub scene. It’s one of those movies that makes almost no sense if you see the pan-and-scan version.

    Also, I’m almost 100 percent sure it’s an unauthorized remake of one of my all-time favorite movies, The Shop Around The Corner. The plot similarities are just way too close.

  76. 76.

    lamh36

    @Mnemosyne: now see that movie reminds me of You’ve Got Mail.

    and if we are talking about old movies I own I guess I’m willing to admit that I own and LOVE Houseboat with Cary Grant and Sophia Loren.

    ETA: Thinking of Doris Day, I’ve always found it hard to figure what age range they were going for in her early romcoms. I mean was she supposed to be in her 20s or 30s?

  79. 79.

    Mnemosyne

    @lamh36:

    You’ve Got Mail is an actual (admitted) remake of The Shop Around the Corner. It’s the whole “falling in love over the party line while hating the person in real life” plot of Pillow Talk that makes me think they swiped a lot of it from Shop.

  80. 80.

    MaryRC

    @Mnemosyne: Although the plot took a 180 in Pillow Talk because she hated the guy over the party line but fell in love with him (or the person she thought was him) in real life.

  81. 81.

    Mnemosyne

    @MaryRC:

    I haven’t seen it in a while, but I remember the phone conversations being where they fell in love, especially the one where they’re both in their respective bathtubs while on the phone. (And in widescreen you can see that the shot shows them both in the bath, with their feet both “touching” the split screen line.)

  82. 82.

    Mnemosyne

    @MaryRC:

    Looking over the Wikipedia synopsis, Pillow Talk is not quite as close to Shop as I remembered, although in Shop, the Jimmy Stewart character does discover who his secret correspondent is long before she does and tries wooing her a little before being harshly rejected and playing a mind game of his own. So I still suspect that Pillow Talk is, at best, a bastard child of Shop. :-)

  83. 83.

    bjacques

    For a great pastiche of those Doris Day / Rock Hudson movies, see “Down With Love,” starring Ewan MacGregor and Renee Zellweger.

    Dallas has cool scenes and great people, but you have to seek them out. They’re mostly in the south, in places like Lakewood (where they filmed “Mars Needs Women”) and Oak Cliff.

  84. 84.

    Steeplejack

    @bjacques:

    Seconded on Down with Love. Very funny. And David Hyde Pierce (Niles on Frasier) in the Tony Randall slot. (It even has Tony Randall in a cameo!)

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