Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

I’m sure you banged some questionable people yourself. We’re allowed to grow past that.

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

Israel is using food as a weapon of war. Unforgivable.

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

You can’t love your country only when you win.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

The jury literally has a bell they can ring to force Trump to show up on command. Greatest thing ever!

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

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

If you cannot answer whether trump lost the 2020 election, you are unfit for office.

Ron DeSantis, the grand wizard, oops, governor of FL.

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

Usually wrong but never in doubt

It could be worse. Vance could have said “post-menopausal sows.” Waiting for that audiotape to surface.

An almost top 10,000 blog!

Glad to see john eastman going through some things.

Roe isn’t about choice, it’s about freedom.

Another missed opportunity for Jamie Dimon to just shut the fuck up.

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

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

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Overheard at work.

“I’m reading this unbelievably tedious book called Atlas Shrugged. I hate to start something until I finish what I’m reading…I think I’m about a thousand pages into it. I have no idea when I will get the thing done.”

Ayn Rand, 32 years dead and still claiming victims.

Reader Interactions

147Comments

  1. 1.

    Yatsuno

    Most folks stop at 100.

    Heyo. I ran off to Canada for a few days. Sorry to be out of touch.

  2. 2.

    Warren Terra

    Still, better an adult at work bored to tears than a spotty adolescent convinced of her brilliance.

  5. 5.

    Patricia Kayden

    Wonder why that poor person you overheard is putting him/herself through such torture. What did he/she do that requires such punishment? I’ve given up on books/movies when I realize that I’m not enjoying myself.

  6. 6.

    kc

    “I’m reading this unbelievably tedious book called Atlas Shrugged. I hate to start something until I finish what I’m reading…I think I’m about a thousand pages into it. “

    Wait’ll he gets to John Galt’s speech. That’s another 2000 pages.

  7. 7.

    gogol's wife

    One of my students gave it to me as a gift this past semester, “because you said in class you’d never read it.”

  8. 8.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    @Violet: No, it’s that bad to read it. Because as morally bankrupt and repellent as the philosophy behind Atlas Shrugged is, it’s even worse as a novel. It is probably the single worst book I’ve ever tried to read. I made it farther into The Illuminatus Trilogy and I can’t quite describe how pointless that was.

  9. 9.

    flukebucket

    I will never forget slogging through that 1,000+ page pile of shit only to wind up at Galt’s Gulch. It made me so god damn mad I could not believe that I had been suckered into doing it. But I am glad I read it. Just so I can point and laugh at people who use it as a reference of some kind.

  10. 10.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    But as long as we’re discussing novels, however loosely defined, here’s something much better than Atlas Shrugged: I’ll be happy to email the first chapter of the current draft of Finding Phoebe to anyone who is interested. Just contact me at eeyore1968 [at] melancholy [dash] donkey [dot] com.

    Fair warning, though: that will put you on a list of people I intend to email about the Kickstarter to fund its publication.

  12. 12.

    Quicksand

    @Violet:

    It’s not bad to read it to know what people are talking about when they refer to it.

    I tried, back in my mid 20’s, so I could understand what people were going on about.

    I still have it on my bookshelf 20 years later, with a bookmark showing where I left it.

    I just couldn’t then, and I sure can’t now.

  13. 13.

    Ruckus

    I think I made about 20 pages before I could take no more. It’s a badly written book, it’s premise is crap, the characters are less than human…..
    And I was 12-13 when when I labored through those pages. My opinion hasn’t changed about any of the above review in the last few decades except to add I’m amazed at how many humans stop development around 12 yrs old because that’s what you’d have to do to think this is in any way a meaningful piece of writing or anything more than a steaming pile of dreck.

  14. 14.

    lamh36

    Has anyone here ever stayed at a “timeshare” hotel?

    I’m looking at Hawaii hotels right now an I found this one that sounds too good to be true.

    It’s a Marriott timeshare and my aunt who works for Marriott corp gets “Friends and Family Discounts”. At this hotel, the discount is pretty good, but it is not in the main Wakiki area and is actually on the North Shore of the island.

    But it is on the beach and other than being a timeshare property, It would be perfect for what I want to do on the first half of my trip, which is hopefully spend the whole of my birthday (Nov 5th) on the beach

    FYI, the first half of my trip I plan to spend in Oahu, Nov 3rd to 6th. the second half of the trip, Nov 6th to 9th, I plan to spend on the Big Island.

    So has anyone ever stayed at one of these “timeshare” hotel properties?

  15. 15.

    Violet

    @Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN): Was thinking about your Kickstarter rewards. Since I think you said the book is bout a female hockey player, and you’ve mentioned before you’re involved with the U of MN’s women’s hockey team, is there a way to get them, or some or one of them, involved somehow? Maybe in the video? Or offer a meet-and-greet opportunity as a reward? Or tickets to a game? Something like that? Since you know them, they might be willing to help you out.

  16. 16.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    @Violet: I kind of doubt that they really want to be associated with it but I might ask the guy who does their marketing if he has any advice. That’s a good idea.

  17. 17.

    SRW1

    Persistence in the face of frustrating outcomes can be an important trait in budding young (experimental) scientists, but so is knowing when to abandon the pursuit of an obviously barren hypothesis.

  19. 19.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    I’m seeing Richard Attenborough referred to as “Jurassic Park star” in headlines. Uhm, if that’s what you remember him for, you kind of lost the thread.

  20. 20.

    Certified Mutant Enemy

    There are two novels that can change a bookish fourteen-year old’s life: The Lord of the Rings and Atlas Shrugged. One is a childish fantasy that often engenders a lifelong obsession with its unbelievable heroes, leading to an emotionally stunted, socially crippled adulthood, unable to deal with the real world. The other, of course, involves orcs.

    — Kung Fu Monkey

  21. 21.

    jacy

    For those keeping score at home – the results of my CT scan are in. It seems I have ovarian cancer.

    Sorry that I only seem to ever chime in with bad news, but it seems like that’s all I’ve got lately. I’m waiting for them to schedule surgery, and then hopefully I’ll have some kind of a prognosis. Or I’m waiting for my health insurance to deny treatment, which at this point would not surprise me at all.

  23. 23.

    Arclite

    Just tell them to watch the movies and be done with it. Much less time and effort wasted. You can do other things while the film is on, but not so while reading the book.

  24. 24.

    Eric U.

    @lamh36: I have family members that have timeshare at the beach. With that company, you can stay there one night just like a hotel. I suspect that’s true of almost all such locations.

  26. 26.

    Violet

    @Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN): You only know that because you read it. Or you’re taking the word of someone who did read it. That’s why I said it’s not a bad thing to read it so you know what it’s about when people talk about it.

    @lamh36: I don’t know what a “timeshare hotel” is. My cousins own a couple of timeshares where they have a week in various places. They frequently trade that out for a week in other places. It seems to work well for them and they’ve found it to be a good deal

    Is a “timeshare hotel” a room or apartment that is owned by someone but managed by Marriott or something?

    The north shore of Oahu is gorgeous and is away from the busy-ness of Waikiki. If beach is what you want, that should work. Check to see what the beach access is for the place. Do you have to drive and park or is it right on the beach? Sandy beach or lava rocks? That kind of thing.

  27. 27.

    Iowa Old Lady

    I used to finish every book I started. Then I took to giving them 50 pages before I asked “If I lost this book, would I care enough to replace it?” and dumping if the answer was no. Now I use Nancy Pearl’s formula. She says if you’re over 50, your time is too short to waste on boring books. Subtract your age from 100 and that’s the number of pages to read before deciding.

    Ayn is getting fewer pages than that.

  30. 30.

    Roger Moore

    @Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN):
    Maybe you could offer a chance to go to a game with the author. Then you’d just have to get tickets, which might require some cooperation from the team to make sure you got good ones when the backer was in town but wouldn’t require any team members to do anything special.

  31. 31.

    Mnemosyne

    @lamh36:

    You should be fine if you’re just staying there like it’s a hotel — I think the place we’re staying at in Kauai is technically a timeshare. Just don’t let them sucker you into buying one. That’s where their bad reputation comes from.

  34. 34.

    Gin & Tonic

    @jacy: I know cancers vary, but my mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1975. She died in 2012, at the age of 95.

  38. 38.

    jl

    @Yatsuno: I stopped at around 30, and I was finished with it. Anonymous talker overheard at work should call it quits. Dictionary is more interesting.

  40. 40.

    Violet

    @jacy: Oh, no. I’m so sorry to hear that. How awful on top of everything else you have going on. What a challenging situation. Someone was just asking about you yesterday or Saturday. Glad you let us know but am sorry for you it’s not with better news. Sending healing thoughts your way if that helps.

  41. 41.

    martha

    @lamh36: my dad owns a couple of Marriott timeshares ( including one on Kauai…wonderful!), but not that one. Typically, they are great–more like condo units than hotels. There are typically great pools and a mini market available, but possibly fewer restaurants, depending on the property. If you will have a car, you should be just fine. Go on Tripadvisor and read the reviews of that location, but I’ve always heard that Marriott Hawaii properties were really nice. I’ve only stayed at the one on Kauai though…I’m jealous!

  42. 42.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    @Roger Moore: That’s not a bad idea. And, frankly, the tickets are cheap enough ($10 for a single game reserved seat) that it wouldn’t cost me at all.

    Though, to be honest, that pretty much falls into the category of “Rewards that I would have done for free if you just asked.”

  46. 46.

    Randy P

    Like many people, I resonated with parts of it when I was about 14. But even then I had to roll my eyes at a lot of her philosophy, such as her view of charity. And when I got to Galt’s speech, by about page 5 I realized that she had said everything she was going to say on page 1 and I skipped past it, something that I’d never done with a book before.

    I did finish it though. And then read “The Fountainhead”.

  47. 47.

    Hal

    Christ on crutches, a old friend on Facebook is speculating the earthquake in Napa is the beginning of the end times. Because earthquakes in California are unheard of. This is following last week’s speculation that a cloud over Orlando was actually an Angel.

  48. 48.

    JCT

    @jacy: Jacy, I don’t remember where you are geographically – please make sure that you at least get input from a major academic center regarding your post-surgical treatment after staging. Even if you are worried about costs, a referral to a major center for treatment options is a worthwhile investment, it can often be a one-time thing and then they can coordinate with your local doc.

    I can’t overemphasize this both as a physician and as the wife of a leukemia patient.

    Hang in there.

  49. 49.

    Another Holocene Human (now with new computer)

    Confession time: until about a year ago (or less) I didn’t realize Ben Carson was black. Is that really bad? Have I been living under a rock?

  52. 52.

    Violet

    @lamh36: Sounds like some folks upthread know what it is. That place looks great. Trip Advisor gives it a good rating. If you’ve got a good price for it I’d say take it. If you want to see more of the island you’ll want a car so factor that in.

  53. 53.

    Turgidson

    I read maybe 200 pages of Atlas Sucked before giving up. What a brutally tedious read. The characters were cardboard cutouts, not human beings. That is even more true of the protagonists than the lazy moochers they heroically strive to rise above.

    This foul log of book did provide some insight into how the right-wing knuckledraggers and their enablers can believe, until the end of time, that all libruls are lazy commie pinko hippies who want only to lie around in a government-provided hammock paid for with MY TAX DOLLARS!! Atlas Sucked’s pathetic characters certainly played to that empty stereotype.

    I’ve never regretted my choice to stop reading that odious paean to selfishness. I salvaged many hours of my life, which were better spent doing just about anything else (within reason).

  54. 54.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @jacy: Oh, jeez. That’s indeed bad news; I’m so sorry to hear it. I’m thinking good thoughts for you.

  55. 55.

    CONGRATULATIONS!

    Dead tie as to the worst book I’ve ever read.

    You may be wondering who the worthy competitor was: L. Ron Hubbard’s Battlefield Earth.

    I read every page of both books. There are times being a speedreader is not an asset. The Scientology guy was tedious, repetitive and boring beyond belief. Rand was profoundly offensive and tedious.

    (Did you know that L. Ron lost his naval commission for using an island for target practice? He insisted he’d found an unknown and uninhabited island off the coast of San Diego. Turns out it was off the coast of Mexico and inhabited by the Mexican Navy, causing an international incident.)

  56. 56.

    Another Holocene Human (now with new computer)

    Btw, this guy was a total badass.

    I think at some point I stopped doing things to improve and educate myself. I got stuck in a rut. Any good books out there? Last one I tackled was Good Soldier Svejk. Didn’t finish it but it really opened my eyes.

  57. 57.

    Violet

    @JCT: Jacy said previously she’s in Louisiana although she doesn’t want to stay there. I think she said she wants to move to Colorado (?).

  58. 58.

    jacy

    @Frankensteinbeck:

    I owe you an email — actually lots of emails. It’s just been a bad year. I’m trying to stay positive, but I find most of my time has been spent maneuvering around panic attacks…..

  59. 59.

    scav

    @jacy: Fink. Between you and Betty, somebody on the blog better be having an unbelievably lucky year to at all redress the presumed balance of the universe. All the best. Take this opportunity to cut off some of life’s smaller annoyances off at the knees without vague feeling of guilt — it might help.

  60. 60.

    Chyron HR

    @CONGRATULATIONS!:

    Did you know that L. Ron lost his naval commission for using an island for target practice? He insisted he’d found an unknown and uninhabited island off the coast of San Diego. Turns out it was off the coast of Mexico and inhabited by the Mexican Navy, causing an international incident.

    “Well, I’ll start my OWN navy! With hookers and Thetan auditing!”

  61. 61.

    Violet

    @scav: What is it about this year? It’s been crappy for me too. Nothing like for Betty or Jacy but a pretty challenging year nonetheless.

  62. 62.

    CONGRATULATIONS!

    So has anyone ever stayed at one of these “timeshare” hotel properties?

    @lamh36: Yep. The Las Vegas Hilton is one. It’s a way to get around taxes and regulations. It worked like a regular hotel, no problems.

    If you are rich or doing a honeymoon and have money for it (that was me) and want the experience of a lifetime, go stay at the Fairmont Orchid, dry side of the Big Island. Miles above any other hotel I’ve ever stayed in. If Heaven exists, it pretty much looks and operates like that.

  63. 63.

    jacy

    @JCT:

    Apparently one of the best gynocological oncologists in the country is in the area and will be coordinating with my doctor. She’s supposed to be putting a team together, I’m just waiting to hear back.

    @Violet:

    I was planning on moving back to Colorado with the kids, but I guess that’s out of the question now. They’re probably not going to give sole custody to a cancer patient. Which is one of the worst things — I was really looking forward to getting out of here, but now it seems like I’m stuck.

  64. 64.

    Another Holocene Human (now with new computer)

    I hate Opie and Anthony, always have, although I have enough anger towards the RCC and its hypocrisy that I secretly found that St Patrick’s Cathedral stunt kind of funny, but I also hated how they put up some greater fools to get arrested so they could get publicity, sick. Anyway, Anthony Cumia freaks the fuck out of me. He has some sort of sick obsession with African-American females, going by his Twitter feed, some sort of nexus between race hatred, misogyny, and eroticism that speaks of some truly sick, scary anti-social fantasies. Going by the twitter feed I’m wondering what, or who is buried under his eaves IYKWIM (AITYD). **shudder**

  65. 65.

    David in NY

    @Gin & Tonic: @Gin & Tonic:

    I know cancers vary, but my mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 1975. She died in 2012, at the age of 95

    Given the dire word-of-mouth about ovarian cancer back then, I think your mother did wonderfully well. Now, my slight information, based entirely anecdotally, is that outcomes are much better than they were a couple of decades ago. So here’s hoping your mother’s results will be replicated.

  66. 66.

    Another Holocene Human (now with new computer)

    I am not going to link to his feed, but he posted a laddy-boy-mag-esque, yet insanely racist (twofer!) image of a Black woman the other day that just screams Mens Rea. I know we can’t arrest people for what they fantasize about doing, but this is like neon lights Elliot Rodger youtube feed kinda stuff.

    And it’s not like he’s not acting out IRL. He lost his Sirius gig over a scuffle in Times Square with a woman–need I say it a Black woman–who did not want him to take a photograph of her [edited for clarity]. He then proceeded to lie on twitter about what had happened and spew some of the vilest racist bilge imaginable if you had never met the St Louis County PD. Look, I’m sorry but men with boundary and anger issues towards women like that don’t stop at creep shots. We’re talking rape and murder. This guy is scary.

  67. 67.

    Randy Khan

    As a teenager, I read a lot of Ayn Rand, including Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead, but went cold turkey on her when I finished Anthem. (I was young and philosophically opposed to leaving a book unfinished.) If you think AS is the worst novel ever, you’ve never come within 5 feet of Anthem, which is indescribably bad.

    AS shares some DNA with pulp science fiction of the 30s and 40s, with the added bonus of some sex (or at least heavily implied sex – I read it a long time ago). The main story actually has some momentum if you can get past the laughable philosophy. The book also would be considerably better if you just skipped the whole John Galt radio speech.

  68. 68.

    Violet

    @jacy: One step at a time. Focus on your treatment and recovery. Talk to your lawyer about your goals and see what’s possible. Don’t rule anything out right now because you simply don’t know what the options are until you get into it.

    Divorced parents do move so that can still be possible. Especially if there are good reasons for moving–like you’d have more family support in the new location or something. Or your creepy ex-husband or his whore are bad for your kids. Don’t tell yourself it’s impossible because it’s not. Just focus on one thing at a time right now.

  69. 69.

    Anne Laurie

    @Ruckus:

    I think I made about 20 pages before I could take no more. It’s a badly written book, it’s premise is crap, the characters are less than human…..
    And I was 12-13 when when I labored through those pages.

    I was that age when I made it to around the 300-page mark and gave up — it was the first novel I’d ever given up on, even in the middle of an endless boring summer at a time when I could zip through the average 200-page novel in a couple of hours.

    The other novel I almost gave up on that summer was Jane Austen’s Emma, which featured an equally repellent batch of characters, but at least Austen made them entertaining!

  70. 70.

    Roger Moore

    @Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN):

    Though, to be honest, that pretty much falls into the category of “Rewards that I would have done for free if you just asked.”

    I would guess that you’d probably autograph people’s books for them if they asked nicely, too, but you’re asking them extra for an autographed copy. That’s because it provides a way of giving a bigger thanks for a bigger contribution. “Go to a game with the author” is more of a way of saying thanks to a big contributor than it is a fee for service thing.

  71. 71.

    The Other Chuck

    I read all of Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead. The Fountainhead is frankly even worse, but it’s mercifully shorter. Also read Anthem, which saves itself by being very short and so completely unbelievable that you’re never made to care what anyone says in it.

    As bad as anything Rand wrote though, you haven’t plumbed the depths of wingnut Randian cult thought until you’ve read the essays by her #1 disciple Leonard Peikoff. What. A. Nutbar.

    As for Hubbard, I made it about halfway through Battlefield Earth before giving up. Then there’s Mission Earth… I’ll grant that it had a reasonably funny premise, but one book out of the ten-book series was all I could take.

  72. 72.

    Ruckus

    @jl:

    Dictionary is more interesting.

    Also…..
    More useful.
    More informative.
    Better fiction.
    Truthful.
    Not a novel for idiots.
    And even a heavier doorstop.

  74. 74.

    Violet

    @Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN): What about offering an autographed hockey stick or something? Maybe they’d be willing to donate an old one and have some members of the team sign it. That’s basically free for you but cool for a women’s hockey fan to get. If there are creative things like that out there they’d make your Kickstarter unique.

    How about a tour of the UMN facility where they play? Would someone be interested in that? Is there some sort of “Guide to Hockey” you could get your hands on? Autographed jersey?

  75. 75.

    PhoenixRising

    @jacy:

    Get a second opinion about your treatment options.

    Don’t be scared to give up temporary custody to travel to MD Andersen for it.

    The best treatment (surgical extraction of mets) for stage II-IV ovarian cancer is hugely expensive, so ask lots of questions if you’re not recommended for it.

    Go get old.

    -30 month ocular melanoma patient, married to 20 year (this month!) CML survivor.

  76. 76.

    Anne Laurie

    @Iowa Old Lady: I’m one of those inconsiderate people who reads the first few pages and then the last few pages of a novel I’m considering. If I’m not curious about how the writer navigates between those two points, it’s not worth my time.

    (Yes, even the mysteries. If the whole plot turns on something that happens in the last few pages, either it’s a really boring read or it’s so twisted that I’ll be entertained by the journey!)

  77. 77.

    Gex

    @jacy: well I’m hoping you are pleasantly surprised by your coverage. After it was all said and done, my insurance stuck me with far fewer bills for Kate’s cancer treatments than I expected.

    I’m so sorry to hear your news. Did you get the staging yet? I’ll be thinking of you and sending lots of well wishes.

  78. 78.

    maeve

    @lamh36:

    My parents have owned 2 different Marriott timeshares in Kauii – they get 2 weeks of the year and if they don’t take them then they can be rented. The bottom has fallen out of the timeshare market so some people may be hanging on to them and renting rather than selling.

    Marriott’s are very well managed – you’ll get a kitchen, it probably won’t have a restaurant (maybe ~expensive poolside grill/bar) and maid service only twice a week or so. They are standardly furnished (not by the “owners”) and clean and well kept. The difference from a hotel would be less housekeeping service and no real restaurant – depends on the property whether other restaurants etc. are nearby. The one my parents stay at in Kauii has beach access and a couple of nice pools (one family friendly, the other designated as “quiet”) with lots of recliners and nice gardens.

    If the price is right I wouldn’t hesitate unless you want to be close to night-life (then I’d find out what is near).

    Other timeshare properties might be more fly-by-night since the market has fallen but the Marriott brand is good – they have timeshare properties all over the world.

  79. 79.

    jacy

    @Gex:

    They’re going to stage it when they remove it, or at least that’s what I understood. She said she wanted to schedule the surgery with a week or two at the most, so hopefully it won’t be long.

    @PhoenixRising:

    I plan to do everything possible. I’m not ready to leave my kids.

  80. 80.

    Ruckus

    @jacy:
    Good luck.
    Not the same thing of course but mom had breast cancer in her late 40s (that was over 50 yrs ago) and lived to 95. And treatment is so much better now than it was.
    If I can intrude a bit, please keep your kids informed on your health. They can be a wonderful help. My feeling is they deserve to know. And it may turn out useful for them in their lives. Soapbox put away.
    Once again best of luck.

  81. 81.

    I'mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet

    @The Other Chuck: I was similar. I read the Fountainhead first, then Atlas Shrugged. Those are books that you really have to be in the “right” frame of mind to enjoy. (Yes, I finished both – I was in that frame of mind back then…)

    These days it’s very good to be exposed to her work because it really does click with a lot of people, and it can help you understand them better (if that is something you need or want to do).

    She had an interesting life, too, as Barbara Branden’s bio tells it. Ayn really didn’t like Socialism… ;-)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  82. 82.

    Randy Khan

    @The Other Chuck: Seriously, there is nothing remotely redeeming about Anthem, although I will grant you that it’s better that it was so short, as I would have been tempted to find Ms. Rand and strangle her if it had been much longer.

  83. 83.

    I'mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet

    @jacy: I’m very sorry for the news and the complications this introduces into your life. But I’m glad that you’ve got a good team working with you. Best of luck going forward!

    Hang in there.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  84. 84.

    lamh36

    thx for all the advice guys, Since it is a Marriott property, I’m only looking at it since my aunt may be able to get me a discount. So first I’ve got to find out if my aunt’s discount will apply. I’ll only consider it if the deal works. Without the deal, the price I’d pay is no different than the price of non-“timeshare” rates.

    If it fits, I’ll have to book it through Marriott’s website, and the room guarantee will be through Marriotts (I’d also have to hope my aunts continues to work at Marriott, although I don’t see that being a problem)

  85. 85.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @jacy:

    Ah jacy, I am so damned sorry to hear this. That just sucks majorly. Nobody should have a year like the one you’re having.

    You’ve got white light and unlimited virtual {{{{{hugs}}}}} coming your way. I don’t know if there’s another thing I (or anyone here) can do for you right now, but we’re all counting on you to say the word, whatever it may be.

    Get rid of this thing quickly and completely, and then — as someone said upthread — go get old.

  86. 86.

    Ruckus

    @Anne Laurie:
    I’ve stopped reading some novels over the years if they just lose my interest. If it’s so wooden that I’d rather do laundry or some such, it isn’t worth my time. And my time isn’t worth much but I read to be stimulated, not to be bored to lifelessness. I’m the same way about TV or movies. I have to like the premise and the craft.

  87. 87.

    Bob In Portland

    Yesterday I posted to a link from Russia Today, describing heavy fighting in eastern Ukraine. The western media hasn’t reported it, so I guess we can all agree it never happened.

    Today Russia Today has a story that Poroshenko dismissed the Rada (their legislature) because there are fifth columnists in their midst. However, I haven’t run into the story in American news. So I guess that didn’t happen either, right?

  88. 88.

    spudgun

    @jacy: As usual, late to the show, but I just wanted to add my hugs and sending positive thoughts and vibes for a good prognosis.

    I’m so sorry, just really sh*tty news for you – hang in there.

  90. 90.

    Another Holocene Human (now with new computer)

    @kc: You know I used to hang around libertarians and they love to ask “Who Is John Galt?” but you notice they never answer the question.

    Resentment, daddy issues, and passive-aggression are no way to go through life.

  91. 91.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    @Bob In Portland: If by “The western media hasn’t reported it . . .” you mean “It’s the lead story on bbc.com . . .” Then you are accurate. And if by “. . . dismissed the Rada (their legislature) because there are fifth columnists in their midst . . .” you mean, “. . . the Ukrainian constitution requires new elections if there is no government within 30 days and the previous one collapsed on July 24,” then you would again be correct.

    See, guys, it’s not that Bob is full of shit. It’s just that his words need translation.

  92. 92.

    Gin & Tonic

    @Bob In Portland: A completely expected and legal move, taken so that parliamentary elections can be called in October. Nobody in Ukraine was surprised in the least.

    He was so secretive about the move, in fact, that he announced it on his official Twitter account. Devious, indeed, those Nazis.

  95. 95.

    PurpleGirl

    Seen on back of a T-shirt:

    No Rules
    No Masters

    Couldn’t catch up with the dude wearing it to see what was on the front. From the back he was a large-sized young 20-something.

    ETA: Quick Google search tells me it’s from the Sons of Anarchy.

  96. 96.

    Mnemosyne

    @Ruckus:

    If I can intrude a bit, please keep your kids informed on your health. They can be a wonderful help. My feeling is they deserve to know.

    Good point. Even though I was a pretty young child (eight when she died), my parents kept me informed in an age-appropriate way about my mother’s cancer and never tried to hide much from me. You don’t want to turn your kids into your emotional support, but you should try to keep them updated as best you can.

    Another thought: is there a family member (mom, aunt, cousin, close friend?) who could come and stay with you while you undergo treatment? It would probably be good for your kids to have another stable adult in the house that they can trust while you’re not feeling well. While my mom was getting major chemotherapy, my grandmother (her mother) lived with us for a few months and it really helped my brother and I to have that extra stability.

  98. 98.

    spudgun

    @Anne Laurie: Wow, I thought I was the only one who did this! (yes, mysteries too!) My problem is that I do it with everything: books, tv shows, movies…bugs my friends to no end.

    I don’t like the stress of not knowing – I’m highly strung enough as it is. And it really doesn’t ruin my enjoyment of the story at all, believe it or not.

  101. 101.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @jacy:
    That was kinda last year for me. Not scary, but it dragged me down into lifeless despair, and I had no will to keep up with people. Stay strong. Things will turn around when you least expect it.

  103. 103.

    joel hanes

    @CONGRATULATIONS!:

    (Did you know that L. Ron lost his naval commission for using an island for target practice? He insisted he’d found an unknown and uninhabited island off the coast of San Diego. Turns out it was off the coast of Mexico and inhabited by the Mexican Navy, causing an international incident.)

    That was AFTER he mistook an outcropping of magnetic rock somewhat further north for a Japanes sub,
    dropped every depth charge he had aboard and called for resupply and dropped those too.
    He declared the engagement victorious, apparently convinced he’d taken out a real sub.
    The Navy board thought otherwise.

    Ron had a lifelong tendency to believe his own bullshit. It served him especially poorly when he began to “research” the “Operating Thetan” levels of Scientology and pretty much drove himself insane with his own e-meter.

  104. 104.

    Violet

    @jacy: Another thing–don’t be afraid to ask for help. People may want to help but don’t know how or what to do. Life has dealt you a blow. It’s okay to want and need help. If there are people you can ask, now is the time. People are usually happy to help when they know what to do.

  107. 107.

    burnspbesq

    @Bob In Portland:

    No, this actually did happen. Here’s a cookie.

    However, if you had ever bothered to read the Ukrainian Constitution (both the 2004 and the 2010 versions), you would know that it gives the President the authority to dissolve Parliament under conditions described therein. If you want to present evidence to support an argument that the specified conditions do not exist, knock yourself out.

  110. 110.

    Iowa Old Lady

    @Anne Laurie: As long as you don’t spoil the ending for fellow readers, go to it.

    I read the end sometimes if the book is making me too tense.

  111. 111.

    jacy

    @Mnemosyne:

    My mom arrived from Colorado today. She’s going to stay as long as I need her.

    Thanks, everybody, for the kind thoughts. You wouldn’t believe how much it helps.

  113. 113.

    Trollhattan

    Aw crap.

    A federal judge in Fresno has ruled California’s 10-day waiting period on gun purchases is unconstitutional when applied to current gun owners who have already passed background checks or have permits to carry concealed weapons.

    http://www.sacbee.com/#storylink=cpy

    One more reason to slag on Fresno.

  114. 114.

    PurpleGirl

    @jacy: I’m to hear this result from the CT scan. Let us know when the surgery is scheduled and I’m sure others here will join with me in thinking good thoughts/prayers for you.

  117. 117.

    burnspbesq

    @Trollhattan:

    One more reason to slag on Fresno.

    Do you need more than you already have?

    On the other hand, Eastern District also sits in Sacto. Just sayin.’

  118. 118.

    Origuy

    Oh, and this is from The Guardian:

    On Monday, the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, said it would send another convoy into Ukraine, in defiance of Kiev and the west. Lavrov also said he saw “nothing humiliating” in a parade of Ukrainian prisoners organised by separatists in Donetsk on Sunday. Crowds hurled abuse at the men as they walked, heads bowed and surrounded by their captors, through the city’s central street, while a cleaning vehicle demonstratively washed the tarmac behind them.

  120. 120.

    Mnemosyne

    @spudgun:

    I do it, too. Stephen King loves to recommend that people like us read Ira Levin, because the big, game-changing event in an Ira Levin novel never happens at the end, so it’s hard to figure out what happened just by skipping to the end.

    The Boys from Brazil still holds up well and is surprisingly relevant since there’s a big debate between the main character (a Simon Weisenthal-like Holocaust survivor) and a group of militant Zionists about whether they’re saying “Never again” or just “Never again for the Jews.” Crappy movie, though.

  122. 122.

    gelfling545

    As I have probably mentioned before I was conned into reading Atlas Shrugged by a friend of my parents who believed I had the “intellectual maturity” to appreciate it. The guy has been dead since 1999 and I still haven’t forgiven him for the criminal waste of moments of my golden youth. I was 18; it was the “summer of love” and I wasted hours on that tripe. I “appreciated” it all right, just not in the “to strongly approve” sense of the word.

  129. 129.

    spudgun

    @Mnemosyne: Ah-hah, but then I would just google the synopsis and find out the game-changing event that way! I’ve been doing it with Game of Thrones.

    *sigh* I know, sometimes I am my own worst enemy…

  132. 132.

    Mnemosyne

    @spudgun:

    Levin is sneaky that way, though. Think about it — what’s the game-changing event of Rosemary’s Baby? (I know, but am avoiding spoilers for those who live in caves.)

    But the real question is, does knowing it make the ending any less horrifying?

  133. 133.

    muddy

    @jacy: You will beat it, because Fuck Them! I was told over a decade ago that I was going any time. Fuck Them! Stubbornness is a gift in this situation. Best wishes. I hope you will keep us up to date.

  134. 134.

    Linnaeus

    I’ve started reading Piketty’s Capital in the 21st Century, and I’m going to finish it, damn it.

    Then I need to get back to finishing the original Capital.

  135. 135.

    muddy

    @Pogonip: I remember when the kids were freshmen in high school. “O this great book, are you hip to this amazing shit that they have exposed us to at school?”

    Yes, kids,I am familiar. It’s crap and here’s why… ugh. Then it was all, Why are you mean to my girlfriend? I maintained that it’s not mean, it’s kind.

  136. 136.

    spudgun

    @Mnemosyne: Well, exactly – for me, it has no effect. Yes, Rosemary’s Baby is still horrifying, the deaths in Game of Thrones are still terrible (or welcome, depending on the character). But for some reason it still bothers other folks that I need to know beforehand!

  138. 138.

    PurpleGirl

    @spudgun: Thinking about it, there are a few books I’ve done the reading of the ending to know what happens because I’m nervous about what happens to a specific character. Don’t do it to all books, but have done it with a few. Then I’m able to read the between parts and not worry about a character I like.

  139. 139.

    WaterGirl

    @jacy: I have been thinking of you, and my very religious sister asked me your name yesterday so she could have her prayer group pray for you.

    Years ago my other sister’s friend was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and they whisked her into the OR that same day, so you’ve got her beat (in a good way)! And she’s still here 15 years later, so good things can happen, even when it’s this scary.

    I am so glad to hear that you will have the expert in your area involved, and I’m really glad to see some good advice that seems worth listening to.

    If you want someone to talk to when you start to panic, you can surely get my email from Anne Laurie.

    Keep hanging in there. I’m hoping some good news comes your way. Hugs

  140. 140.

    Gvg

    @jacy</a: I was diagnosed may2013. I went into surgery being told it was probably something else and woke up to the news it was and chemo was scheduled as soon as I healed from the hysterectomy. Chemo ended last October and I don't think I felt energetic till about a month ago. I knew it might be, because they had me in surgery in about 10 days. I needed help from my parents as each chemo session left me achy and tired. I took Meds and slept for days. Each session leaves you feeling worse than the last dose. pet care was an issue as you can't touch kitty litter boxes.,My job was great and let me work when I could which kept me from going nuts with boredom and worry. stamina goes. I would suddenly get tired, exhausted when I had felt fine to the point it was a concern to drive and if I pushed then I felt bad for days so I learned to leave before I felt tired. You can do it but plan contingencies. I hated losing my hair. I know it's not the important thing but I loved my hair and it bothered me. It has started growing back and I am one of those who now has curlier hair than before which is cute but feels weird, like I am a different person.

  142. 142.

    ruemara

    @jacy: Oh goddess. I’m sorry. Now get ready to tell cancer to go fuck itself. Big supportive thoughts your way.

  143. 143.

    WaterGirl

    @jacy: That’s the best news I’ve heard all day. So happy for you that your mom is there and can stay with you. What a relief!

  146. 146.

    Thymezone

    I read thirty or forty pages back then, and said fuck it. Of course, in those days Rand was on the Tonight Show regularly and she was obviously insane, batshit crazy. But she was sort of like Professor Irwin Corey … so crazy that a lot of people couldn’t recognize that she was crazy without listening very carefully, which most people are not prone to do.

  147. 147.

    someofparts

    Back in the days of of Jim Crow here in Atlanta, Atlas Shrugged was one of the favorite books the human boogers who brought us apartheid foisted on the young.

    I read the miserable thing when I was fifteen or so. I got the message that being self-centered was the highest good. I just couldn’t reconcile it with the fact that at that time my dad paid all the bills in our house, mine included.

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