Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

A consequence of cucumbers

Too often we hand the biggest microphones to the cynics and the critics who delight in declaring failure.

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

Conservatism: there are some people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

Republicans do not pay their debts.

Everybody saw this coming.

And we’re all out of bubblegum.

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

Come on, man.

Just because you believe it, that doesn’t make it true.

In my day, never was longer.

A last alliance of elves and men. also pet photos.

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

I wonder if trump will be tried as an adult.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

Republicans don’t want a speaker to lead them; they want a hostage.

Innocent people don’t delay justice.

A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires

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

This fight is for everything.

Something needs to be done about our bogus SCOTUS.

Only Democrats have agency, apparently.

You are here: Home / Politics / Domestic Politics / Friday Evening Open Thread

Reader Interactions

175Comments

  1. 1.

    Tone In DC

    Margarita and some fajitas. The drink should served Jimmy Buffet style, and topped off with more tequila. Served in a water glass, not some damn stemware!

  2. 2.

    Omnes Omnibus

    set the chickens loose to roam until sundown

    Is that anything like Mr. Burns telling Smithers to “Release the hounds?”

  3. 3.

    philpm

    Have to head out to the grocery and pet stores and re-stock, then hunker down waiting for the first snow to come in tomorrow.

  4. 4.

    Amir Khalid

    I’m reading Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry — en français. I like it, so far.

  7. 7.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    Getting ready to go to Sighthound Hall for one final night of dog-sitting. Bro’ man and the hubster finally got the letter of transit for their newly adopted baby girl, so they’re bringing her up from Florida tomorrow.

    I’m having a steak dinner over there with a friend. I need to get dessert and some wine on the way over.

  9. 9.

    BGinCHI

    Same, but without chickens.

    Substitute bathing a toddler and chasing each other around the house for a while. Also probably tickling and book reading.

  10. 10.

    EriktheRed

    I’m gonna sit on my ass in my warm house and not go anywhere after working 10 hours in a coooooold warehouse.

  11. 11.

    raven

    I’m thinking about selling my xtra ticket for tomorrow. They are going for at least $150 and I could use the dough for our 12 days at the beach. My problem is that I have to take the person in because faculty/staff tix are on a credit card type deal and I have to have it back to give to other folks for the Tech Game. I know, white people problem.

  14. 14.

    ruemara

    I’m going outside for a walk, because I did laundry and chores since morning and I could use a break from the house, and the girlfriend that showed up at 10 am for breakfast, lunch, a nap, the nasty, a shower. And she just left. And she’s coming back later. I really, really resent a year that sees me still needing to share an apartment. I’m trying to be decent about it, but dammit, I’m coughing up a spleen, can I have a day without a houseguest?

  15. 15.

    Iowa Old Lady

    We’re going out to dinner at a retirement home. One of the men living there used to run a German restaurant, and he stages a German dinner once a month which the public can also come to for a very cheap price. Sauerbraten, here I come.

    ETA: An added attraction is that we feel really young compared to everyone else.

  18. 18.

    Amir Khalid

    @redshirt:
    Malay and English, and I’ve been teaching myself German and French for the past few years. I really should be starting on Arabic, which I can read but not understand. So at a stretch, I could claim four. But here you’re at least bilingual when you come out of the public school system, and even being trilingual is very common.

  24. 24.

    Trollhattan

    I’m gettin’ me a jerb at Pimco, stat!

    This morning, Barry Ritholtz of Bloomberg View reported a few holy-crap numbers: The Pacific Investment Management Company — the bond giant better known as Pimco — paid its former chief investment officer, Bill Gross, a $290 million bonus last year. Its former chief executive officer, Mohamed El-Erian, got $230 million.

  29. 29.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @Amir Khalid: From my days in grad school and being around quite a few Malays; it shows that Malays learn English early in school, though I found the guys usually weren’t as proficient as the women folk.

  32. 32.

    Shana

    Basking in the beauty of our almost finished remodel and then heading out for Shabbos dinner with some fellow congregants, none of whom I know.

    On the kitchen front, we now have cabinets, countertops, floors and plumbing installed. Next week is the french door replacing two windows in our dining room that will lead onto the deck, electrical finishing (mostly), drywall patching and painting. They guarantee we’ll be done by Thanksgiving although we’re going elsewhere for the weekend. I can’t wait to be able to cook again although it’s been kind of fun checking out some restaurants in the area we’d never been to.

  34. 34.

    Amir Khalid

    @Trollhattan:
    That’s not compensation, that’s C-level looting of the company. Is Mr Gross a thousand times as productive as the managers who get a quarter mil a year?

  40. 40.

    Tommy

    @Amir Khalid: And there is the question. I don’t mind a person making a shitload of money if they are good at their job. Do not mind it in the least. But every place I’ve worked I also got paid. As an executive or the person picking up the phone.

  41. 41.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym (JMN)

    It’s overpriced, half flat Coke for me for the next few hours. That’t okay, since OSU doesn’t charge admission. Then it’s probably a bar with some other fans.

    Oh, and Bob Evans is where you go when the food at Perkins was too spicy for you.

  42. 42.

    Buddy H

    Hot soup for the wife and me, a can of chicken pate for our polydactyl cat Mittens. A quiet evening at home, enjoying Key and Peele, and maybe some of the Eric Andre show.

  48. 48.

    PIGL

    I am off to open practice session at one of the MA schools I study at (tonight, very antique Yang style with a touch of white crane, for those who care). Then a tea house to revise a students thesis chapter. Maybe some wine later…a drop of very decent Nero d’Avola, or perhaps a Douro.

  49. 49.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @Baud: Who is this “Bush” you speak of? There was Clinton’s third term and the near sheriff’s pre-first-term.

  51. 51.

    redshirt

    For discussion or debate: Villains are more important than heroes in the story that is humanity. Villains create (and destroy), while heroes can only react.

  55. 55.

    Howard Beale IV

    Been a long-ass week-bad Sunday with a job that ran way too long, then Monday ran into jobs that revealed a hidden bug that prevented me to taking a Tuesday day off. So tonight it’s Arrogant Bastard Ale night.

  56. 56.

    Smiling Mortician

    Getting ready for the final performances of my musical this weekend. I mentioned it in John’s Veterans’ Day post on Tuesday, but I got there late. Anyway, it’s about vets — called Back in the World. The link takes you to a FB page with some videos including a trailer. Anybody in Western Washington wants to see a brand-new musical that’s not particularly happy but still satisfying, it’s running tonight and Saturday. Free admission for veterans.

    My apologies for show-whoring.

  60. 60.

    Josie

    I’m relaxing in my new (rent) house, which is actually quite old, built in the early 60’s, in my new city and feeling very much at home. The important boxes have been unpacked, curtains have been made and hung, dogs and cats made to feel comfortable, and I will be opening a bottle of cabernet momentarily. I have found the grocery store, the bank and a great shopping mall and all is right with the world. Of course, it would be nice to have a slightly larger income, but I will manage on what I have. My sons are very supportive and will all be here for Thanksgiving with significant others. What could be better? I am so glad that I made this move before I got too old to manage it. Thanks to those of you who encouraged me back when I was wavering.

  61. 61.

    Trollhattan

    @Amir Khalid: @Baud:
    I’m gussing it’s in part “pain, anguish and suffering” compensation for all those mean things those Occupy folks said about the poor dears, pointing out exactly this sort of ghoulish transfer of weath. Which, evidently, they take steps to try and conceal, implying they know it’s absurd and distasteful and unsustainable.

    Here’s hoping Pimco investors raise holy hell.

  65. 65.

    Another Holocene Human

    I’m about to go to work for eight hours (at least it’s only 8 hours this time) and I can’t start drinking until the inlaws are out of the house.

    Other than that, I’m just jalapeno peachy. You?

    (going to work with nasty infection but at least I don’t work in food service any more)

  66. 66.

    Central Planning

    I know I work for a large company, but honestly… scheduling 9 hours of online meetings that starts at 10am, ON A FRIDAY!?! If I lived on the west coast, that wouldn’t be a big deal. But really, someone scheduled meetings to be over at 7pm, ON A FRIDAY!

    Well, at least I’m home and can have a glass (or three) of wine while I listen in.

  70. 70.

    hoodie

    Set up the charger on the boat battery, supposed to be sunny and 70 tomorrow on S. Ga. coast. Steak is on the grill and the dog is guarding it will dubious intent. Dark ‘n Stormys to follow, except I forgot the limes. Didn’t get as much work done as I planned, but what the hell.

  76. 76.

    Not Adding Much to the Community

    After work, I am going to play World of Warcraft (if I can get into the login servers) then I am going to a friend’s house to play D&D. Nerdy nerdy nerdy.

  79. 79.

    Amir Khalid

    @redshirt:
    Bad guys are proactive, heroes are reactive. Therefore bad guys are more significant in history.

    Now then: President Obama creates or improves things — marriage equality, Obamacare, et cetera. The Republican Party wants to destroy his creations and improvements. Which is the proactive side here, and which is reactive?

  80. 80.

    shelley

    Any skiers here? A friend got a free lift ticket at some give-away at work. Worth $75 bucks? Really? Is that for just one trip up the mountain or all day? Not a skier so have no idea.

  81. 81.

    skerry

    I’m tired. Bone tired. I’ve been care-giver/hospital advocate for a friend of mine who recently had a knee replacement. She had complications from the surgery and spent more time than expected in the hospital. I’ve been there every day since the surgery last week. She is now settled in a rehab facility. I’ve been going back-and-forth with her 3 adult children who all live out-of-state. They are being no help at all, physically or financially (and they can afford to help). I paid $75 today for ambulance transport from the hospital to the rehab (5 minute drive). Medicare doesn’t cover this transport cost and there was no way I was taking her in my vehicle. Just insane. She can’t get out of bed in the hospital without nursing support but I’m supposed to get her in/out of my SUV? Now I’m hoping they don’t discharge her until the week after Thanksgiving. I am going to visit my parents and there will be no one around here to care for her at her home. I am mentally exhausted.

    I hope my children treat me with care when I need help. She is always there for them and they have shown no desire to be there for her.

  82. 82.

    Violet

    Sitting down to FINALLY get to the course I’ve been taking that I simply have not had time to look at this week. It’s online, so I’ve got videos to watch, quizzes and the second part of a project. I hate being this behind because I’m really enjoying it and I don’t want to feel rushed studying it.

    Oh well, off to learn! Rooibos and yogurt covered almonds for sustenance. Dinner is a bit later–Dover sole.

  83. 83.

    Mike J

    @shelley: A two day pass at Whistler bought the same day is >$225 (Canadian) ~$200 USD.

    $75 for a one day pass isn’t astronomical. It could be considered a bargain, but not for a lousy ski area.

  84. 84.

    Tommy

    @shelley: They are called lift tickets. Gets you up the mountain. I’ve never heard of one that does’nt get you there for the entire day.

  86. 86.

    dance around in your bones

    I have applied an “Icy Hot” patch directly to my hip, because it hurts like the devil’s own….;.whatever.

    Since my ortho doc “doesn’t believe in narcotics” I am subsisting on some Tramadol from an earlier hip thang.

    I had to walk to my ortho doc appt yesterday, and it was about 1.4 miles according to Google Maps. Well, on the way back I got turned around, and ended up walking about 8 miles on my fractured hip.

    I was crying when I finally got home (‘home’ is a place that I have lived in for all of 2 days, so don’t think I’m estupido for not recognizing the neighborhood!)

    Tonight I am relaxing in my tranquil bedroom and trying to make friends with Beau, the grey cat with beautiful green eyes…..He actually hung out with me for about half an hour before he decided he’d had enough of this stranger.

    Ha!

  88. 88.

    redshirt

    @Amir Khalid:

    Bad guys are proactive, heroes are reactive. Therefore bad guys are more significant in history.

    Now then: President Obama creates or improves things — marriage equality, Obamacare, et cetera. The Republican Party wants to destroy his creations and improvements. Which is the proactive side here, and which is reactive?

    Obama is reactive, and it is the Republicans that create reality on a daily basis.

  89. 89.

    dance around in your bones

    @Amir Khalid:

    I bought Alicia en el Pais de Las Maravillas (Alice in Wonderland) because I was living in Mexico and I’d already read the book about a thousand times, and figured it would help me with my Spanish!

    It did, actually. I still READ Spanish better than I speak it, ahahahaha!!! But somehow I get understood, probably because the Mexicans that I run into are so gracious and kind.

  92. 92.

    dance around in your bones

    @skerry: OMG.

    You have my sympathies and remember you are stacking up good karma points, if you believe in that. Bless you for taking care of her.

  93. 93.

    Roger Moore

    @Trollhattan:

    The Pacific Investment Management Company — the bond giant better known as Pimco — paid its former chief investment officer, Bill Gross, a $290 million bonus last year.

    Is this the same Mr. Gross they just dumped because he bet the wrong way on the market and lost them a ton of money and customers? It must be nice to be in an industry where it’s so easy to fail upward.

  96. 96.

    Feebog

    Last night in Cabo San Lucas. Still a lot of work to get this city back up and running. Many of the resorts on the corridor between Cabo San Jose and CSL got hammered and will not reopen until next year. On the plus side, the dorado are running and we are heading home tomorrow with fish.

  97. 97.

    Randy P

    @Amir Khalid: I did that a few years ago since I’d never read it in any language and I’ve been staring at the cover in bookstores my whole life. Didn’t quite get it. So I reread it in English. Still didn’t get it. So I was pleased to see it was the story itself and not the French that was styming me.

    Just one of those books that everyone loves and I don’t understand why. That’s a long list.

  98. 98.

    skerry

    @Roger Moore: I’m cynical enough that I don’t think moving money out of Pimco to somewhere else would help the problem of “failing upward”. The entire financial industry stinks.

  99. 99.

    Mary G

    I have tried to post dozens of times with this stupid Kindle on the scrappy Wi-Fi they have here in my rehab. Maybe this one will get through. I can now pivot 360 degrees on my one good foot and go to the real bathroom and do my own flushing. One week from tomorrow I am going home. Either Monday or Tuesday I can start putting half my weight on th he broken ankle! There’s no therapy on weekends, so Iam going to a few laps of the facility in the wheelchair to build up my arms. No pain pills for a week now.

    @skerry: Bless your heart. It’s so nice to have people visit you in these places. Therapy is only a couple of hours at most and the rest of the day is just hanging around. Caregivers have one of the toughest jobs in the world. Be sure to take care of yourself too.

  100. 100.

    Ruckus

    @dance around in your bones:
    One of my neighbors two places ago said the reason most Latinos in CA understand bad anglo Spanish is that most really speak spanglish any more, not actual Spanish. Which some of my friends do actually speak and it sure is different than what I normally hear around here.

  101. 101.

    skerry

    @Randy P: I love “The Little Prince”. I read it in French in high school. (Couldn’t do that now, I’m sure.) I’m sorry that you don’t get it. I find it magical. I re-read it in English earlier this year.

  102. 102.

    PurpleGirl

    @raven: No, I’d say it’s a faculty person problem. Any faculty member could have it, not any white person. Hope you do sell the ticket and enjoy the game.

  103. 103.

    Felonius Monk

    @Iowa Old Lady: Sorry. I had to go pick-up the food. Tonight,Turkish carry-out included Falafel, Try Me Cauliflower (deep-fried cauliflower w/sauce), Kafta Kabobs, Chicken Saute, Bulgar, Rice w/chickpeas, & salad greens. These folks do a really, really good job. Well worth the money.

    But, I still remain partial to sauerbraten and spaetzle.

  104. 104.

    skerry

    @dance around in your bones: @Mary G: Thanks for your kind words. It’s nice to have a safe place to rant. Mary, being in therapy is hard work. I’m glad to hear that you are healing.

    I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving for the break. My parents are “snow birds” in South Padre Island, TX. I’m looking forward to walking on the beach and visiting the turtle rescue. It will be a welcome change. (I plan to pretend I am not in Texas.) My mother’s health is declining and I fear this will be the last year they make this escape from Indiana winters. They’ve been doing this pilgrimage for 12 years now. Mom requested that I visit with my youngest daughter, who is a HS senior.

  105. 105.

    dance around in your bones

    @Ruckus: I have had friends who effortlessly switch from Spanish to English and back w/o any apparent problemo.

    I actually speak pretty good Spanish, but for some reason I READ it better.

    I try to tell people here in SoCal that deciphering Spanish isn’t too hard if you remember that all the vowels sound the same – A=AH, E=Eh, I = EEEE. O= Oh, U= ooow.

    Watch their eyes turn glassy as I describe 5 simple vowels that always sound the same. I feel terrible for people who have to learn English as a second language.

  106. 106.

    catclub

    @BGinCHI:

    Substitute bathing a toddler and chasing each other around the house for a while.

    Love is… staying up all night with a sick child,… or a healthy adult.

  107. 107.

    FlyingToaster

    Just poured a glass of Chardonnay after a fairly hectic week, with the ‘way more hectic one coming. I’m the book fair chair at WarriorGirl’s school, we’re piloting a partnership with a local bookstore to see if we can, ahem, lessen our relationship to Scholastic. So I’ve been driving to the South Coast to buy cash registers and unboxing folding bookshelves and e-mailing previous book fair chairs asking for missing items and trying to get cash for the drawers out of the PTA treasurer…

    It makes me miss managing programmers. Actually — no it doesn’t. I’m not spending my afternoons wishing for high powered weaponry anymore. I do occasionally wish for a handy cinder block, but that’s definitely de-escalation, in my book.

  110. 110.

    Roger Moore

    @skerry:
    My point is more that Gross got canned- from the company he founded, no less- for making a huge bad bet, but he still got an enormous bonus. I’d love to work in an industry where failing that badly nets you that kind of money.

  111. 111.

    Josie

    @Mary G: It sounds like you are doing really well with your therapy. You are obviously a strong willed person and will meet your goals. I wish you the best in your recovery.

    @skerry: If you can forget the politics of Texas, you will find a welcome friendliness from the people you deal with on Padre Island and in South Texas. I grew up there and it is a lovely place. Bless you for taking care of your friend and I hope you have a relaxing weekend.

  112. 112.

    dance around in your bones

    @Mary G:

    I described you as a saint for rescuing Higgs Boson’s Mate, and I will repeat that here, again.

    It’s hard caring for a friend (hell, even a husband who’s dying) and I give major props to those who make the effort.

    My best friend who lives in Whistler, B.C. was visiting recently and had to cut her visit short because her 90+ yr old mom was not eating anymore and is considered on her way to shuffling off this mortal coil.

    It could be tomorrow, it could be another year?! Who knows?? But my friend is there for her mom, even though her mom was a right bitch during her whole life. I know, because I experienced it myself while visiting.

    One of the funny/weird things about dementia/Alzheimer’s is that the person afflicted with it doesn’t remember what they were like! My friend’s mom said “I’ve always been a happy person” and when I heard that I thought NO FUCKING WAY. She was mean and brutal to her two kids.

    Oh well, at least SHE doesn’t remember that, and her daughter (my friend) is such a kind and caring Buddhist type of person that it awes me when I hear her speak to her mom on the phone. So kind, so patient, so gentle.

  115. 115.

    JPL

    I just skimming the comments but I plan on watching a little tv and catching up on the non news.

    @Baud: You’re right. Maybe she’ll join us later.

    @skerry: Have a wonderful time. I’m sure your friend appreciates all you do and she’d want you to enjoy your visit with your parents.

  117. 117.

    skerry

    @Josie: I’ve been down there before. The people are wonderful and the food is good. It’s the politics that I can’t take. But then, I don’t like the politics in the town my parents live in most of the year (where I grew up) either. I only go there to visit with family and a few childhood friends.

    I do like the Kurt Vonnegut museum/library in Indianapolis. If you’re ever there, it’s worth a stop.

  118. 118.

    Gravenstone

    @Not Adding Much to the Community: I am on the verge of committing violence against Blizzard. Useless bunch of fuckwits. Haven’t been able to log in all day. Just sat through a 30 minute queue to find out, I still can’t get in. Fucking “Character not found” bullshit.

  119. 119.

    ruemara

    @PIGL: I’d like to think any girl I’d be attracted to would be less vapid and more sensible. So, no.

    I had a very brief 1 hour respite. And now she’s back for the evening. He asked how was work. What job can you do that’s a real job but takes an hour?

    whatever. I found some good jobs, working on that instead.

  123. 123.

    satby

    @Baud:

    Where is WaterGirl?

    I email with her regularly…and what Momsense said. Serves me right for being late to the thread. She does occasionally check in, I’ll let her know you asked.

  124. 124.

    dance around in your bones

    @ruemara: You go, girl!

    You deserve it. Cheering you on in your job search (since mine just ended so abruptly, and I survived!!!)

    I can’t go on, I’ll go on.

    ETA: I couldn’t find the original version of this song as I remembered it, so this is whatcha get :) !!

  133. 133.

    Betty Cracker

    @satby: OT, but I am so hitting up your Etsy store for soaps for Xmas! You sent me one for donating for your doggie cause (which I’d have been glad to do with no recompense — you rock!) and my family and I have fought over that bar for weeks — it’s so wonderful. Anyway, just wanted to warn you. That soap is the best!

  134. 134.

    patrick II

    I watched CBS nightly news tonight and found out that Obamacare is expecting 9-10 million people to sign up this year — below expectations. I was also reminded that last year the web site was screwed up, and that therefore there is a chance it will be again this year. Also, some guy called Gruber, who evidently is the most important Obamacare proponent in the world, called americans stupid.

    I did not hear about the eventual success last year and that Obamacare ended up signing more people than expected, that millions more in non-sociopathic states were signed up for medicaid, and that millions more young people between 24-26 were able to keep their parents lives, that medical costs have risen much less than expected and that medicare per patient costs actually went down $1,000, or that this will result in the saving of thousands of lives.

    The should call their program “CBS Nighly News — A more polite version of FOX news.”

  139. 139.

    raven

    @Josie: Camped on the beach in our station wagon. We partied with people that owned a joint on the beach and fell out. The car ended up full of skeeters and we got killed. Six years later we were visiting her SIL in Albuquerque and the people we had met at Aransas were sitting in her living room!

  140. 140.

    Elie

    Having some good Malbec right now then will head out to some good Thai fine dining. Hard week at work. Still recovering from the election. Also.

    I live in the NW and its getting really dark. Our winter nights are dark as black velvet, deep and long. Hubby hates winter but I like the peace and change of it. We get a lot more birds out on the water in winter. Saw a ringed neck pheasant running along the road earlier today, trying to elude the hunters over in the woods. He was splendid in his beautiful iridescent plummage. I always hope that they get away, but what life would it be for him? The pheasant are stocked and they have no social community with which to be their true selves. I still hope that they get away.

    I look forward always to making for the holidays. I love the cooking and gathering together with friends and family. Mom is gone, however. Gone but never ever forgotten —

    Have a good evening and a great weekend my friends. I so value our intimate yet remote friendships…

  142. 142.

    Betty Cracker

    @Elie: I hear ya on the absence of Mom. This will be my first holiday season without mine, and I’m still trying to wrap my brain around that and keep it together. It’s hard.

  143. 143.

    I'mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet

    I just came across this Robert Bateman piece at Esquire.

    Read the whole thing if you can. If you can’t, here’s the punchline:

    Molon Labe is supposed to be the response given to the Persian king Xerxes by the Spartan king Leonidas when Xerxes demanded that the Greek force (which actually numbered between 5,000 and 7,000, of whom only 300 were Spartans) lay down their weapons. It is generally translated as, “Come and get them.” And here is where the irony raises its head. See, in choosing this quote and this situation, the “freedom lovers” are quoting the absolute ruler of the most rigidly controlled military state in the ancient world. Leonidas was the co-king of Sparta, a state in which the individual had almost no rights, which held a massive population (the “Helots”) in subjugation and slavery, and where all able-bodied men were completely subject to the will of the leaders. In other words, the exact opposite of freedom.

    Unpossible!!11 /snark

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  144. 144.

    Elie

    @patrick II:

    Yep. But I don’t despair and you should not. The weight of all that good for folks — well it will win out. We will have to “bear the stripes” of resistance to it, just as many have borne hard things before in the name of standing for something good – for the right thing.

    Go get a good foot massage. I tell ya, that goes a ways in bringing on some positivity.

  145. 145.

    NotMax

    One hour special with Richard Engel reporting from and on the Middle East premiering on MSNBC at the top of the hour.

    He is certainly one of the better foreign correspondents working on TV today, knows the region, is fluent in Arabic and manages to get access to places and people whom other reporters can only dream of.

  148. 148.

    raven

    @Elie: We just had dinner with our friend who lost his wife last month. He got hammered 2 weeks ago, tried to drive home, got stopped and they let him go. I’d like to think their was a lesson in there but I’m not sure.

  150. 150.

    Elie

    @NotMax:

    I’m not as positive about him since he went all ape shit about Obama’s policy in Syria/ME.

    Of course, not far before the election.

  151. 151.

    Pogonip

    @Omnes Omnibus: Smithers! Release the hens!

    I just finished Stephen King’s Revival, a well-written salute to Lovecraft but lacking the old Providence spook’s sense of fun. Lighten up, Steve!

  153. 153.

    Elie

    @raven:

    Sheesh, his friends have to step in when they see he gets that way and not let him drive drunk.

    Then there is talking to someone — if he is up for it…

    It is very difficult. Its a profound loneliness that nothing prepares you for if you haven’t experienced it. It hits you, overwhelms you sometimes unexpectedly. I know that I am a different person now. People get surprised.

  154. 154.

    jibeaux

    Went to one of those free wine tastings at my local wine store. They even had brie and baguette and sausages. Spent $106. Think I figured out how free wine tastings work.

  156. 156.

    raven

    @Elie: We’re doing what we can. I’m not crazy about the fact that every goddamn thing we seem to do with him has to have alcohol but you know what? No one gives a fuck what I think.

  158. 158.

    Howard Beale IV

    Seems the Penn State disease has infected the University of Michigan

    “It’s our policy that it’s up to individual users to determine their own document retention. The University doesn’t have a set schedule.”

    Financial institutions would kill for this kind of document retention policy.

  159. 159.

    Mike J

    @Pogonip:

    I just finished Stephen King’s Revival, a well-written salute to Lovecraft but lacking the old Providence spook’s sense of fun.

    Probably a bit less racist though.

  162. 162.

    raven

    Explain this one to me?

    While one officer called for a supervisor, Doolittle reportedly got within a few inches of another officer’s face, but backed off when the other officer came over. Following the arrival of additional officers, Doolittle was handcuffed. He continued to struggle with officers as they led him to a patrol car. Once in the car and en route to the Clarke County Jail, Doolittle “continued yelling and cussing, telling us, ‘I’m going to kill you’ and ‘I’m going to murder you,’” Officer Aaron Pilgrim wrote in his report.
    At the jail, deputies placed a spit mask on Doolittle and had to hold him in a chair. He refused to answer a nurse’s questions about his health as he yelled at deputies, and “as a result, the jail refused to accept Robert,” according to the police report.

  163. 163.

    Helen

    @Pogonip: I just started it tonight and had to put it down for a moment.

    I’m an atheist and during the good reverend’s sermon even I was like, “Yo – dude, sure you wanna say that stuff out loud!?”

    I’ve been reading King since high school; more than 30 years, and while he has always been good I think he is getting better as he gets older.

  165. 165.

    ThresherK

    Filled up a 10 cubic yard dumpster in under two days, solo. Incoming items to the nww place will be scrutinized as if they were payloads on a rocket. Cannot go thru this again. Now I know why minimalism in decor always appealed yt? o me: I don’t have a maid.

  166. 166.

    PIGL

    @ruemara: Roomates are bad enough; but their girl/boyfriends…. The last shared house I lived in, I kinda had the lease, there were five of us grad students, and everyone was an item. Luckily it was a big house….

    I hope I didn’t poke a sore spot with my drollery.

  169. 169.

    Pogonip

    @Helen: His sermon really didn’t bring up anything the congregation wouldn’t have already read in the book of Job. I thought the story was more about the reverend becoming crazed by grief and getting into Things Man Was Not Meant To Know. And of course the good old Cthulhu mythos. When De Vermis Mysteriis popped up in the story I grinned, expecting some fun, and was rather let down by the tone of what followed. Lighten up, Steve!

  170. 170.

    Pogonip

    @Helen: P.S. In 1977 I was stuck in Appalachia, which was 3rd-worldish even then–I hate to think what it’s like now. The Overlook Hotel got me through that horrible summer. I’ve been a Constant Reader ever since.

  174. 174.

    otmar

    We went to see Annett Louisan live. Good tunes but you really need to understand the German lyrics to appreciate the songs.

  175. 175.

    dance around in your bones

    @PIGL:

    I would, but I have always heard that the French basically ignore you if you try to speak French, w/.o being proficient, Like, they don’ t even hear you, and carry on in English since you are so estupido for speaking only two languages,

    Well, in my case I speak a bit of Dutch, some Farsi, a bit of Hindi/Pakistani and other languages, mostly to get around in the veggie bazaars and navigate taxi cabs, No big deal.,,,,,,,,Oo, and I’ve wangled my way out of a few tricky customs experiences :)

    I admire people who pick up languages like a sponge soaking up water – It helps to be a mimic,

    Can’t help it, bless my heart :)
    When my best friend from Whistler comes to visit, I walk around talking like a Canadian for a couole weeks til it wears off,,,,,,

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