Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

The US Supreme Court is on the ballot in november.

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

The media handbook says “controversial” is the most negative description that can be used for a Republican.

Glad to see john eastman going through some things.

Never give a known liar the benefit of the doubt.

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

Prediction: the gop will rethink its strategy of boycotting future committees.

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

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

“Cheese and Kraken paired together for the appetizer trial.”

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

He really is that stupid.

If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

Let the trolls come, and then ignore them. that’s the worst thing you can do to a troll.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

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

In my day, never was longer.

“What are Republicans afraid of?” Everything.

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

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

Everything is totally normal and fine!!!

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Archives for 2015

Late Night Open Thread: Happy Hogmanay!

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… with apologies to those readers who’ve been in 2016 for the last many hours.

The year just ending had plenty challenges, and some most excellent bright spots also. Here’s hoping 2016 is more fun and less horrible for everyone, and that we all meet this time next year to celebrate the new incoming Democratic President’s immanent arrival…

new years hobart style trollhattan 2016

(Courtesy commentor Trollhattan)

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A New Year’s Eve Snack: Tollhouse Cookies

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Some sweets to send everyone into a sweet, happy, and healthy New Year! The other night in comments we were discussing Tollhouse cookies, among other things, so here is the recipe I learned.

Tollhouse cookies
2 cups plus 2 tblspoons all-purpose flour
1 tspoon baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
½ cup packed dark brown sugar
½ cup packed light brown sugar
2/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tspoon vanilla
2 eggs
12 ounces dark chocolate chips
12 ounces Heath bar (toffee) chips
Preheat oven to 375 F.  Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl and set aside.  In a large bowl cream the butter, sugar, and vanilla extract.  Add eggs and beat until incorporated.  Gradually add flour and mix until incorporated.  Add morsels. Let the dough rest in the fridge for at least a 1/2 hour. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto greased baking sheets. Bake for 9-11 minutes or until golden brown.  Let stand for 2 minutes, remove to cooling racks.
You’ve probably noticed a couple of things. The first is that instead of using a full cup of either dark brown sugar or light brown sugar, I mixed it half and half. There’s a reason for this. If you use all light brown sugar the mouthfeel on the cookies is not rich enough. If you use all dark brown sugar the mouthfeel is too rich. Mixing it half and half seems to get you to the right balance. I also substitute dark chocolate chips for the semi-sweet ones and add toffee chips to the cookie dough as well. It gives them a little something extra. I also use a small ice cream scooper with that little scraper mechanism. It makes portioning the cookies out very easy.
I just made a batch for my nephews. These have butterscotch chips instead of chocolate and no toffee. One of my nephews doesn’t like chocolate. These butterscotch Tollhouse cookies are decadent.
Tollhouse_Cookies1
Tollhouse_Cookies2

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Open Thread: Sad Man Flailing

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… It’s like “dead man walking,” but with sad-trombone fart noises!

After reading Doctor Cleveland’s Jane Austen post, I asked the Spousal Unit if Jeb Bush could be compared to hapless clergyman Mr. Collins. He said that wasn’t really fair… to Mr. Collins.

And JEB!’s stuck campaigning until at least February 9th, becasue no way is Momma Bar letting him off the hook before New Hampshire #FITN. He must be looking at reports about the Secret Service agents involved in a head-on collision in NH with a certain amount of trepidation… or possibly envy.

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Open Thread: Clown Shoes, A Master Class

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Before anyone asks: I’m using the ‘Vagina Outrage’ tag because the RoK guys seem to be very, very outraged by even the thought of vaginas.

‘SJW’ is ‘social justice warriors’, meaning ‘women and men who don’t hate/fear women’, and yes the guys slinging that phrase around do think it is a clever insult. ‘MRA’ is ‘men’s rights activists’, meaning… well, I think you can figure that part out.

Speaking of silly people, how’s the New Year’s Even preps going in your neighborhood(s)?

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If Not the Best, Then Certainly the Most Pleasurable Response to the November Terrorist Attacks in Paris

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The Guardian has reported that when Brussels went into lockdown immediately after the Paris terrorist attacks the Belgian security response was, shall we say, innovative. A number of soldiers and police working out of a station in Ganshoren had an orgy! This gives new meaning to both the concept of a full body search and security theater, if you know what I mean… This seems to be a far superior response than to freak out on cable news 24/7, but your mileage may vary.

If Not the Best, Then Certainly the Most Pleasurable Response to the November Terrorist Attacks in ParisPost + Comments (52)

Data request

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As people are travelling this weekend, can you help me answer a question about what insurers are actively seeking Exchange business.

In comments, please tell me how much advertising you are seeing for Exchange products and from which insurers:

  • City
  • State
  • Insurer
  • Radio/TV/Billboard

We are seeing some insurers stay on the exchange but aggressively avoid enrollment by pulling broker commissions, but advertising is the biggest controllable membership driver for an insurer.  If they are advertising they want membership, and if they are not advertising, they are seeking to avoid membership.  We know UHC and Maine/New Hampshire Co-Opportunity are seeking to control membership, but I am curious if other insurers are passively staying on the Exchanges?

 

Thanks!

Data requestPost + Comments (12)