Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

“woke” is the new caravan.

Republicans firmly believe having an abortion is a very personal, very private decision between a woman and J.D. Vance.

So many bastards, so little time.

Oh FFS you might as well trust a 6-year-old with a flamethrower.

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

Balloon Juice, where there is always someone who will say you’re doing it wrong.

This blog will pay for itself.

How any woman could possibly vote for this smug smarmy piece of misogynistic crap is beyond understanding.

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

This must be what justice looks like, not vengeful, just peaceful exuberance.

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

I have other things to bitch about but those will have to wait.

Fundamental belief of white supremacy: white people are presumed innocent, minorities are presumed guilty.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

He seems like a smart guy, but JFC, what a dick!

“When somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re gonna use it.”

Giving in to doom is how authoritarians win.

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

We can’t confuse what’s necessary to win elections with the policies that we want to implement when we do.

Hey Washington Post, “Democracy Dies in Darkness” was supposed to be a warning, not a mission statement.

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

You’re just a puppy masquerading as an old coot.

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Sunday Night Open Thread

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This is what happens when you bitch for food for three hours straight with no sign of losing your voice:

outside

outside2

outside3

Mercifully, he finally gave up the attempts to look pathetic and went to sleep on his green porch chair (previously known as MY GREEN PORCH CHAIR).

Got the house painted and got the yard cleaned up today, and if I do say so myself, it looks nice and tidy.

home

If you look closely, you will see a bit of yellow in the bay window- that is Walt’s reflection as he walked up the sidewalk photo-bombing the house. BTW- not a weed to be seen in my sidewalk anymore. That vinegar/epsom salt/dawn mixture works.

Reader Interactions

112Comments

  1. 1.

    burnspbesq

    Hmmm … in the town I grew up in, that house would go for $600k, and the property taxes would be about $9k per year.

  6. 6.

    lamh36

    You guys would know better than I do whether or not this is a good thing?

    @AntonioFrench: #BREAKING: The international hacker group Anonymous has joined the #Ferguson protest

  7. 7.

    asiangrrlMN

    YOU LET HIM IN RIGHT NOW, COLE! Sir Willie Whiskerton III should be sleeping atop his throne! I’m repainting my house myself right now, and it’s pretty tedious work. My sympathies.

    ETA: Sir Whiskerton III is such a magnificent bastard!

  10. 10.

    SiubhanDuinne

    But I am interested that you call it a “bay window.” To me, a bay window bows out and the one in the photo looks flush with the exterior wall. It might be a trick of the photograph, though. Regardless, it is a nice-looking house.

  12. 12.

    burnspbesq

    In case any of y’all in flyover country think Martin and I are off our respective rockers in our valuation of The Cole Estate, go to http://www.weichert.com, and plug the zip code 07450 into the search engine.

  13. 13.

    lamh36

    With the breaking news that AG Holder and the DOJ Civil Rights division monitoring the situation, you can now expect the RWNJ crazies to continue (they’ve already begun) the character assassination of this newest Black kid victim.

    The first reports were 10, the police press conference said 3, but

    Brown’s mother, Lesley McSpadden:

    “They told me how many times my son was shot. Eight,” McSpadden said.

    http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2014/08/10/st-louis-teen-police-shooting/13856377/

  15. 15.

    TG Chicago

    Hey Cole:

    We’ve gotten updates about your health, the health of your friend who had the… aneurism? stroke? whatever it was. And of course your pets. But I haven’t seen mention of Shawn’s blood sugar lately. Still looking good?

  22. 22.

    Mike J

    Trying to decide if I’m actually 12 years old. Went sailing today. The dockmaster is Serbian. Seems to speak perfect English, but with an accent as you would assume. Much better than my Serbian which is non-existent. I realise you should not laugh at accents, but I still had to giggle every time she mentioned tightening my wang,

  23. 23.

    Suffern ACE

    @burnspbesq: I ate in ridgewood last night and passed the RE listing office . Coles place would go for much higher than that, so the new owner could knock it down and build something bigger.

  28. 28.

    burnspbesq

    @? Martin:

    Our house was built in 1968. We have about 19,000 square feet. By current OC standards, that’s practically a ranch.

  29. 29.

    Violet

    @SiubhanDuinne: Was thinking the same thing. But if you expand the photo you can see it curves out.

    That series of photos is hilarious. Poor Steve. Such a cute kitty.

  37. 37.

    burnspbesq

    @? Martin:

    Eddy Meredith developed most of this part of Orange, and he was an old-school guy who didn’t skimp on back yards. Plus we’re on a corner.

  38. 38.

    lamh36

    @darthstar99 · 54s
    Is there anything more frightening than a group of peaceful black people shouting “Don’t shoot?” #Ferguson #OnlyInAmerica

  39. 39.

    muddy

    I had a cooking day today, and now don’t need to do more than steam vegetables all week. The dogs were helpful with the bowls and pans, I don’t have a garbage disposal so they do the gross scale of the cleanup.

    Been having a lot of cold raw vegetable soups this summer made with greek yogurt. Today it was cucumber basil. Yesterday was new beets with horseradish.

  40. 40.

    Poopyman

    Looks exactly like my long-gone aunt & uncle’s place in Greentree, and like a shit-ton of other post-war house in the Pgh area. And when you say “got the house painted” you really mean you got the trim done. I grew up in a brick house and it was really low maintenance compared to the 150 y.o. clapboard place we’re in now. Miss it.

  43. 43.

    ? Martin

    @Mike J: Land prices around here are around $2.5M per acre.

    I should note, that includes infrastructure – streets, schools, etc. The developer would pass those costs on to residents, so assuming you lose 30% to public spaces, make that $3.25M per acre.

  48. 48.

    Mike J

    @? Martin: Those rules were generally written before prices skyrocketed, but were still designed to keep out the riffraff. I’m thinking of places like Concord, MA, which they like to pretend is waaaaay out in the country, but is really just suburban Boston.

  50. 50.

    Karen in GA

    @SiubhanDuinne: I was just going to say, the window juts out, but others beat me to it.

    Near where I live, that house with that yard might be mid, maybe high $100s. Clearly I’ve made poor choices in life.

    ETA: Steve looks very spiffy.

  51. 51.

    Suzanne

    So I officially resigned to the head of my office. He is trying very hard to keep me. At this point, it’s not all about the Benjamins. However, I sure would not say no to more Benjamins.

    Sigh. I need a new car and the idea of paying for it is stressing me out.

  52. 52.

    Arlene

    The house looks great and Steve after his spa day looks magnificent. As for his non stop complaining, get use to it. I have a brother and sister Maine Coon pair who are becoming more vocal as they grow older. In fact, as I type I am being pestered for food. I am so glad you found Steve.

  54. 54.

    gwangung

    @WereBear: On the other hand, I noticed this:

    @FeministaJones
    Many of anonymous’ loyal followers absolutely HATE Black people, Jewish people, Feminist women, etc.

    BE MINDFUL

    @FeministaJones
    One RT from Anon and my mentions were filled with followers calling for my rape, lynching, and torture bc I was a “nigger feminazi”

  56. 56.

    lamh36

    From Antonio French’s twitter feed:

    @AntonioFrench · 13m
    Trying to make some room between the police and the protestors. Tensions are high. #Ferguson

    @AntonioFrench · 4m
    Trying to get the crowd to disburse before things get ugly. Some not happy about it. (Vine Video)
    https://twitter.com/AntonioFrench/status/498649102977339393

    @AntonioFrench · 4s
    Getting the protestors to sit down. Put hands up in protest. #ferguson
    https://twitter.com/AntonioFrench/status/498650161145720833

  58. 58.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Has anyone had a good look at tonight’s Super Moon? Here in metro Atlanta, unfortunately, the skies are so overcast with thick, damp, intermittent clouds that the moon is mostly obscured. Every few minutes they disperse for a couple of seconds and a smeary moon peeks coyly out from behind the veil, then darts back into hiding.

  59. 59.

    some guy

    so glad I no longer have to put up with the obscenity that is Orange County, but I sure do miss the Wedge. and Wahoo’s. but that’s about it. oh, the car ferry from the island to Balboa too. , that was a great ride.

  60. 60.

    Southern Beale

    I don’t keep up with this has-been but WTF?

    Report: US actor Steven Seagal performs in Crimea

    MOSCOW (AP) – The Russian news RIA Novosti says American actor and musician Steven Seagal has performed at a concert in the breakaway region of Crimea on a stage decorated with the flag of pro-Russian separatists fighting in eastern Ukraine.

    Seagal, who knows Russian President Vladimir Putin, performed with his blues band Saturday night in the Black Sea port city of Sevastopol at a concert organized by a motorcycle gang of Russian nationalists known as the Night Wolves. Russia annexed the Ukrainian region in March.

    RIA Novosti reported that Seagal was then handed a shirt with Putin’s face on it, which he held aloft as he thanked the crowd.

  61. 61.

    Anne Laurie

    @Gin & Tonic:

    Three-acre zoning in my town. Keeps the riff-raff out.

    Too late for that, in eastern MA. Even Weston, ifty-pifty-est of the ‘Metrowest’ suburbs, is zoned for a minimum of one acre, and they’re continually bombarded for exemptions.

    I’ve been told — by people who live in Weston — that Weston is for people who want grounds, while Belmont is for people who want McMansions. The term “old money” was not vocalized, but it sure was implied.

    (We do not live in Weston, we live north of 128/95 on a 5,000 lot in a house from the 1950s.)

  62. 62.

    lamh36

    @rlippmann
    People coming back into the complex say police are getting ready to move in. Heading back to check. #MichaelBrown

  64. 64.

    muddy

    @SiubhanDuinne:Earlier I was sitting on the porch and from my chair it was rising right up between these 2 tree trunks, it was really beautiful. It’s making it very bright to look for Perseids though.

  65. 65.

    FlyingToaster

    @burnspbesq: Oh, I believe you. And down here with the peons, Cole’s place would still go for about 750K. Fill in 02472 to your site, eh?

    @Suffern ACE: Yep. And up heah in the Hub of the Universe (or frankly, anywhere inside of 128), too. Mostly it’s taking the side-lots of the original homes, and dividing them up either into another single-family home, or a line of townhouses.

    @burnspbesq: 19000 is Huge. I don’t think there’s a single home in our city with that much land attached.

    @? Martin: Average for Watertown MA is like 6,000. Our developer got a variance so we’ve got 5400 sq ft.

  68. 68.

    gwangung

    @lamh36: Does it strike anyone else than me that this is dumb? If there’s an angry crowd, but they’re not doing anything, why not let them burn off their anger? Why make them martyrs?

  69. 69.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Anne Laurie: The term “old money” was not vocalized, but it sure was implied.
    Well, one needn’t vocalize when speaking to the right sort, need one?

    Isn’t Belmont the home of a couple of Mittlets and Wilard’s voter registration? I myself would love to have “grounds”. I’ll cop to being jealous of Willard’s fifteen acres on a lake in NH, and the ski-in/ski-out McMansLodge in Park City, though it was a bit, well, showy.

  70. 70.

    Trentrunner

    @muddy: Yeah, well, Michael Skolnik is now tweeting that there’s a fire and looting happening, so now we all know what the MSM images will be of tomorrow.

  74. 74.

    FlyingToaster

    @Mike J: Concord, where the attack lobbyists make their bones keeping route 2 from getting exit ramps. And they consider people from Lexington or Belmont riff-raff.

  76. 76.

    FlyingToaster

    @Anne Laurie: Weston is still using their attack lobbyists to keep the bike path out (even after Wayland offered to pay for a public restroom in Weston).

  78. 78.

    Dog On Porch

    The Virginia’s are among the most beautiful lands in all of God’s Creation*.

    Too damn good, in fact, for most Virginians, West or otherwise. Which is to say, I wish the smart and decent people of each state would get their political act together, if only for the good of Northern California**.

    * (i.e. that I’ve ever seen, anyway).

    ** (i.e. “The Homeland”).

  79. 79.

    some guy

    Cole, a clear stain will keep that rustic look and increase the life of the fence by 10-15 years. a good pressure wash, dry for a few days, then a decent clear stain will do wonders if you get the paint store to add fungicide.

  80. 80.

    Anne Laurie

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Isn’t Belmont the home of a couple of Mittlets and Wilard’s voter registration?

    Yep. But those were starter homes, for the young trustafarians still doing post-grad or beginning their FIRE careers.

    I will say that (in my experience) Belmont has the worst-kept roads in the MetroWest area, and that includes battered low-rent downtown Framingham. You’d need to drive a Range Rover if you wanted to get around those potholes on regular basis. Weston, on the other hand, has impeccable pathways and almost no outdoor lighting, which makes it difficult to locate even the “public” areas (like the school gym where our dog-training class was scheduled) in the evenings.

  84. 84.

    Cacti

    @Southern Beale:

    There’s a well known, unconfirmed story in the martial arts world that on the set of “Out for Justice,” Steven Seagal was choked out and made to crap his pants by movie consultant “Judo” Gene LeBell (a world class judoka), who got a little tired of the Steven being overly rough with his stunt men.

  86. 86.

    Anne Laurie

    @some guy:

    that must mean Arlington is for people who want schools.

    Well, that’s how my friends in Arlington usually phrase it.

    (Usually in the context of “a vibrant community”, which is demonstrated by the high rankings of the school system. Cambridge has a highly bifurcated housing market — one-bedroom rentals/condos, or multi-million-dollar mansions. IME, people move down Mass Ave into Arlington when they get married or have kids.)

  87. 87.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @efgoldman:

    O/T but at your convenience could you please email me so I can find out if you’re going to be around during the upcoming New England trip?

    Email is my handle (at) gmail (dot) com.

    Thanks!

  88. 88.

    Suffern ACE

    I am still not used for lots being measured in square feet. We all used acres growing up.

  89. 89.

    Cacti

    @Origuy:

    IIRD, Seagal and Putin are into the same form of martial arts. I think he’s taken too many shots to the head.

    Nah, Putin studies Judo.

    Seagal is into Aikido, which is worthless outside of a movie sound stage.

  90. 90.

    some guy

    @Anne Laurie:

    I grew up there, went to school there, and we are now preparing to put my Mom’s house on the market. excellent schools, great restaurants, transportation, and proximity to Cambridge/Boston.

    little known fact, more Brits were killed in Menotomy on the way out and back to Lexington and Concord than anywhere else on April 19th, 1775, so they have that going for them. plus, Arlington is the actual birthplace of Uncle Sam.

  91. 91.

    Gin & Tonic

    @efgoldman: I over-simplifed quite a bit, as it depends on zoning district, not town-wide, but many of the more rural towns largely west of I-295/I-95 have something similar. It mostly depends on whether the zoning district has a public water supply, which is pretty much non-existent in the whole Glocester-Foster-Exeter-W Greenwich-Chariho strip. My district is 120k sq feet, which is about 2.75 acres, but if I want to keep more that two horses it goes up to 5 acres minimum.

  92. 92.

    Anne Laurie

    @efgoldman: @SiubhanDuinne: I’m still incapable of sending emails, unfortunately. (That changes tomorrow, I hope.) Would love to have a meetup, Sept. 13 should work for me, and whatever is eventually decided I shall do my best to be there!

  93. 93.

    Bill Arnold

    @? Martin:

    It can’t have any bleach in it or it’ll react with the vinegar and render it inert.

    You mean some chemist approved of this mixture? Sheesh. I have memories of making different random-mix-of-chemicals weed killers as a kid and testing them, on jewel weed (a native impatiens). (What worked best you can no longer buy at the supermarket, because War on Meth Labs.)

  94. 94.

    lurker dean

    wow – previous pics of steve didn’t capture his enormity. “magnificent beast” is very apt.

    i recently read that adult cats only “talk” to humans, they don’t meow to other cats. which makes sense i guess. he must really be hungry :o)

  95. 95.

    ? Martin

    @Bill Arnold: It’s pretty sound. The vinegar (acid) kills the weeds. The epsom salt is magnesium sulfate and and the magnesium counters the acid in the soil by helping plants grow in low pH soil. The soap keeps the vinegar stuck to the plants so they can absorb it and die.

  96. 96.

    Glocksman

    @Poopyman:

    I’m sure you know about the cost of electrical work on such an old house.

    In my experience, old homes cost huge amounts of $$ to bring up to code, never mind anything additional you have in mind such as network wiring.

  98. 98.

    ? Martin

    @dmbeaster: Oh, absolutely. You can put up a quite nice house twice that size for 25% of what you pay for the property. You’ll make your money back the moment it’s finished.

  99. 99.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @? Martin: Then I don’t even want to know what our 1600 sq ft midcentruy ranch on 1/2 acre would fetch in your neighborhood. Because it sure won’t get that here. We love it anyway.*

    *Especially as it’s much closed to freeways that it sounds. And it zoned residential/house of worship only

  100. 100.

    Diana

    @FlyingToaster: yeah, that house would cost a fortune in Concord, MA, but frankly there aren’t a lot of houses like that in Concord, MA, and I suspect all that pre-20th c housing stock is historically protected.

    In my hometown that house would cost about $50K, at most.

    In my current home of downtown NYC it doesn’t exist, and never did.

    And my recently deceased 17- to 19-year-old half Maine Coon could meow for hours at a time, but I was a much softer touch than John and he had whatever he wanted out of me long before we hit his limits. So I have no idea what they were.

  101. 101.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @efgoldman:

    Seen and replied, thanks.

    I am hoping for a Boston meetup on Saturday September 13th.

    @Anne Laurie:

    Ah, either didn’t know or didn’t remember that you can’t currently send emails. No worries, I’m now in touch with efg and muddy. And there’s still a month until proposed larger gathering, so plenty of time.

  102. 102.

    FlyingToaster

    @Diana:

    all that pre-20th c housing stock is historically protected

    Pre-19th century is protected. Historic Neighborhoods are protected. But a generic Second Empire mansard colonial or an equally generic Queen Anne will be replaced with a new, large, neocolonial with many, many rooflines. And a 4 car garage. And most of the neighbors (the ones who didn’t sue to try to block it) will applaud.

    There are not many ranch homes in Eastern Mass; hard to heat in winter, rooflines shallow enough that snow sits on the roof rather than sliding off, if we do get a hurricane those roofs tend to fly off (code doesn’t specify hurricane strapping like it does in Florida). And our land tends not to be, um, level enough for a ranch house. So most residential construction (since the 1800s, certainly) is smaller footprint, more stories, steep-pitched roofs. And around Boston, greater density, modulo your suburb’s attack lobbyists.

    John’s house would cost a fortune amongst us riff-raff here in Watertown, MA, which was the point I was trying to make :) And yes, like Ridgelawn NJ, or Concord, it would likely be a teardown to make something uglier more expensive.

  103. 103.

    Glocksman

    @FlyingToaster:

    John’s house would cost a fortune amongst us riff-raff here in Watertown, MA, which was the point I was trying to make :)

    It’d cost mid to lower end here in southwestern Indiana.
    That said, housing is priced to income and income is lower on average here than it is nationwide.

    It’s not a fact I’m proud of, but you can buy a very nice house locally for what passes as pocket change in other areas of the country.

  104. 104.

    Glocksman

    The above notwithstanding, the trulia listing for this home is bullshit.

    This is a Single-Family Home located at 3214 East Powell Avenue, Evansville IN. 3214 E Powell Ave has 2 beds, 1 bath, and approximately 1,327 square feet. The property was built in 1943

    The home was built in 1940 and paid off in 1961.

    I know this because it was my home before my mother died and we had to sell it.

  106. 106.

    PurpleGirl

    @SiubhanDuinne: NYC @ 0216: Not very cloudy, although not completely clear of clouds. The moon is shining and you can see the whole full moon. Quite nicely, in fact. Low enough in the sky that I can see it from my terrace.

    Got to the thread late after watching some TV, and checking Cassie’s kitten cam

  110. 110.

    Lee

    John, not sure if you are still monitoring this thread but here is a suggestion for a hobby:

    Painting!

    No power tools involved.

    It can be as small or large of a project as you want.

    Minimal cost outlay to start.

    If you screw up it is really easy to cover your mistakes.

    No power tools involved.

  112. 112.

    Sherparick

    JC, you have commented before about Steve’s paws. You are right. They are simply humongous. Beautiful cat.

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