Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

with the Kraken taking a plea, the Cheese stands alone.

It’s easy to sit in safety and prescribe what other people should be doing.

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

“Can i answer the question? No you can not!”

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

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

The republican caucus is covering themselves with something, and it’s not glory.

There is one struggling party in US right now, and it’s not the Democrats.

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

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

Dear media: perhaps we ought to let Donald Trump speak for himself!

I’d try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

An unpunished coup is a training exercise.

Motown is Joe-Town!

President Biden is doing good where he can, and getting it done.

We’re not going back!

“woke” is the new caravan.

I really should read my own blog.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

There are more Russians standing up to Putin than Republicans.

Hi god, it’s us. Thanks a heap, you’re having a great week and it’s only Thursday!

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

I am pretty sure Katy Tur wasn’t always such a bootlicking sycophant.

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Reader Interactions

176Comments

  2. 2.

    srv

    I’ve heard the womyn ruins it.

    Four protagonists just means a sloppy story. Should have gone with two bros or two chicks.

    And a Fast & Furious director? Was JJ Abrams busy? Hoocoodanode.

  3. 3.

    lamh36

    Never got into True Detective, and even if I did, Vince Vaughn…bleh.

    I’m watching Blazing Saddles one of the Encore networks.

    One of the other Encore channels was showing Marvel movies all weekend, so I found myself watching Guardians of the Galaxy, XMen2, and Capn America: Winter Soldier once again. All 3 just so happen to be in my top 5 Marvel across the Marvel properties.

  4. 4.

    WaterGirl

    A closer look at the new season of HBO’s hardboiled crime serial:

    The second season of True Detective has a new cast, new directors and a new plot. But since creator Nic Pizzolatto also wrote both seasons, the True Detective universe remains a place of violence, mystery and brooding characters. Here’s what you need to know before the show returns to HBO Sunday night at 9 p.m.

    1. The cast and plot are completely different

    2. It has different directors and a different look

    3. The writer is back

    4. The show attempts to solve its woman problem—sort of

    5. It still won’t be upbeat

    http://time.com/3928767/true-detective-season-2-whats-different/

  7. 7.

    srv

    So I’m trying this organic gluten-free artisinal Pink Himalayan Sea Salt, it’s labled ‘fine’ but still too course for my taste.

    Is there a Pink Himalayan Sea Salt grinder? Preferably a Conical-Burr, but I won’t be too picky.

  10. 10.

    Southern Beale

    We’re watching BattleBots on ABC. Sorry, but I cannot begin to tell you how excited I am that BattleBots is back on TV after years and years of being gone. I am a HUGE BattleBots geek….

  12. 12.

    Betty Cracker

    @lamh36: I agree about Vince Vaughn — can’t abide that douchenozzle! I did like the 1st season of TD though and will give this one a shot after it migrates to Amazon by and by.

  13. 13.

    Mike in NC

    @lamh36: Vince Vaughn has been in a string of stinker comedies, so let’s hope he can handle a dramatic role a bit better.

  20. 20.

    jeffreyw

    @schrodinger’s cat: I have a Windows 8.1 computer hooked up to mine via HDMI and I use browser based streams for Netflix and Amazon, etc. Lets me use a real keyboard for searches. Looking at this comment box on a big Samsung TV as I type this.

  21. 21.

    Betty Cracker

    @schrodinger’s cat: We use Roku and are very happy with it. It was inexpensive, super simple to hook up and use and has been very reliable. Roku has tons of apps for free content in addition to subscription services like Amazon Prime and Netflix.

  22. 22.

    Steeplejack

    I was wondering if there would be a thread for this. I was reminded earlier to check whether True Detective was starting tonight when I saw one of those Matthew McConaughey Lincoln ads. The ads are bullshit, but he is hilariously charismatic in them. His voice kills me. But every time I see one I automatically hear Woody Harrelson in the first season of True Detective.

    I’m recording the new one and will get to it after the golf is settled.

  26. 26.

    NotMax

    @srv

    Okay, I’ll bite.

    Salt is NaCl, which doesn’t translate to gluten.

    As already mentioned, pulse it use an electric coffee grinder. Or a good old-fashioned mortar and pestle.

  29. 29.

    Betty Cracker

    @schrodinger’s cat: We started out with 1, let the spawn take that one over and currently use 2. Both have performed flawlessly. I am rarely so effusive about an electronic device!

  31. 31.

    Steeplejack

    @Betty Cracker:

    This is a great finish! These guys are decompressing before our eyes.

    I am most impressed with Louis Oosthuizen, who was in the “group of death” on Thursday: he, Tiger Woods and Rickie Fowler combined to go +26 or +27 for the one round. Oosthuizen was only +6 or +7, but to come back from that has been monumental.

    Agree with your comment in the previous thread about “Put it in the hole!” Also: “Baba booey!” I picture Rob Schneider getting a fist in the face.

  32. 32.

    thruppence

    @schrodinger’s cat: I picked up the current iteration of Apple TV because it currently has an exclusive license with HBO Now. You can see all of their current series (True Detective, Game of Thrones, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Veep, etc.) and movies, but also past seasons of older shows (Deadwood, The Wire, Flight of the Conchords, Enlightened…) It’s far from ideal, but not a bad deal.

  33. 33.

    NotMax

    @schrodinger’s cat

    Roku 1 will do all the online stuff and all the same services as the others, such as Netflix.

    Basic differences are that Roku 2 can handle headphones and Roku 3 can do that plus has a USB slot.

    There’s also a Roku stick, but research to see if your TV can accommodate that (some can, many cannot).

    You’ll also need an HDMI cable to connect the Roku box to your TV – it is not included. Have found the lowest prices here for such cables is at Home Depot, of all places – most there are under ten bucks.

    BTW, Roku is selling TVs under their own brand, and they are rated as quite good.

  34. 34.

    Keith G

    @schrodinger’s cat: The advice you have gotten so far seems right on target. I will add that one of the devices I use is Amazon’s Fire Stick. I like it a lot. It is very responsive. It does not buffer or get stuck. It is how I prefer to watch Netflix and since I am an Amazon Prime member, it is how I watch HBO’s back catalog of TV series. I also use it to stream Amazon’s Prime Music though my TV.

  36. 36.

    Steeplejack

    @NotMax:

    Can’t look it up right now because golf, but doesn’t the Roku 3 put out higher definition than Roku 1 (and maybe Roku 2).

    Tommy is the resident expert on this. I believe he has had all the Rokus and is currently on 3.

  38. 38.

    lamh36

    Gonna check out this new series Ballers from Dwayne The Rock Johnson. I’m not much into sports themed movies or tv, but I do love me some Rock. Besides, I’m in it for any shirtless scenes or just being able to gaze at my baby Dwayne…in a suit tailored perfectly to his big handsome ass frame!

  39. 39.

    Botsplainer

    Cat problem.

    He’s 16, an indoor/outdoor cat. We’re cat sitting for my youngest daughter’s cat, he’s been with us 5 weeks now. Yesterday, there was a lot of growling, and now the old guy is sulking under a guest bed, and refuses to come out.

  40. 40.

    NotMax

    My bad. Fixed.

    @Steeplejack

    Going strictly from memory, believe so, although the difference shouldn’t be noticeable much unless one has a super deluxe top of the line TV.

    IIRC, the 2 and 3 utilize more modernized software and stream more efficiently, but any pokiness of the 1 is probably from the wireless connection or the ISP.

  43. 43.

    NotMax

    @John Revolta

    Shall pass, thanks. Can’t abide the taste of salt.

    Do use it in cooking, in severe moderation (Kosher salt when I’m cooking up large quantities). A canister from the market typically lasts me ten years.

  44. 44.

    Heliopause

    I sure hope somebody’s got Dustin Johnson on suicide watch tonight. Quite possibly the biggest choke job in the history of major sports.

  46. 46.

    lamh36

    Wow. Denzel Washington’s son (he even sounds like him!), Jane Fonda’s son, Dule Hill (John Cole…you should love that) and The Rock…I love #Ballers already

  47. 47.

    Ruckus

    @NotMax:
    Just bought a current Roku 2 about 2 weeks ago. The 2 does not handle headphones from the remote, the 3 does. The 3 has a wireless remote while the 1 and 2 are IR. The 2 is faster than the 1 and the 2 and 3 have the same processor and speed. If you don’t need the headphones plugged into the remote the 2 is the best value. Bought at Target for $60.
    Looked at Apple TV but the Roku has more viewing options and fit our needs better.

  48. 48.

    Hill Dweller

    @Betty Cracker: Speith melted down on 17 with a 3 shot lead, but showed a lot guts with his drive and 2nd shot on 18.

    Johnson has now lost 3 majors in the most bizarre fashion. Johnson has had issues with substance abuse. I hope the people around him give him all the support he needs to pull through the disappointment.

    As an aside, Fox needs to retool their broadcast and production crews before they televise another big golf tournament.

  49. 49.

    Corner Stone

    @Steeplejack:

    Agree with your comment in the previous thread about “Put it in the hole!” Also: “Baba booey!” I picture Rob Schneider getting a fist in the face.

    Agree with both you and B Crack. I think they should remove them from the course, with no refund and put them on a 2 year ban list from attending any PGA event. They’d need to do that at about maybe two tournaments in a row before it stopped.
    And get off my tightly manicured lawn but I remember golf before they did this nonsense, aka the pre-Tiger days. And no, he didn’t cause it or encourage it. But the game opened wide up to a huge new fan base that was excited to see him compete. And a lot of those yahoos didn’t care about golf they just wanted to see someone smash that little white ball around. And yes, golf is still mainly a white, wealthy sport but come the F on, who needs the satisfaction of yelling wildly after a key drive or putt? Fratboy drunken douchebros, that’s who. And yes I realize there are a lot of Ands in this comment.
    IOW, lawn ======> you

  50. 50.

    22over7

    @Botsplainer: He’s pissed off, jealous, pouting. Not a good look for him. Leave him alone. He’ll come out when he has to pee. Watch the litter box carefully. He could become a bully, and that’s the first place he’ll start.

    If he comes out, give him love, treats, catnip, whatever you have. If it gets bad, feliway gets good reviews (available at the vet). Good luck.

  51. 51.

    Keith G

    @efgoldman:
    I believe my store has the organic gluten-free artisinal Pink Himalayan Sea Salt on a shelf right next to the organic gluten-free artisinal bottled water.

  52. 52.

    srv

    @NotMax: I have a very expensive conical-burr grinder. I am just not sure if you all are having a laugh at my expense getting me to pour salt into a coffee grinder. This is not covered in the manual. I’m going to call my Amex Centurion 800# and see what they think.

    And ok, I’m exaggerating about the gluten free. I just assumed it, but looked at the label now.

    @efgoldman: Whatever the pedestrian bourgeois have to tell themselves to not feel inferior. I don’t feel superior, I just have different problems than you people.

  54. 54.

    khead

    @Hill Dweller:

    Spieth doubles 17 and Johnson gives it back with the 3 putts. I was really rooting for the 3 way playoff. I coulda used some decent background on the teevee tomorrow. And, yes, Fox was turrible.

  55. 55.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Steeplejack (phone): You people are actually watching golf? Can’t you do something sensible like read a law review article analyzing the Fourth Amendment implications of the second verse of 99 Problems by Jay-Z?

  56. 56.

    Hill Dweller

    Fox putting the wrong man on camera when Speith was talking about his father was a nice touch.

  59. 59.

    KG

    @efgoldman: individual vs team sports? the noise in team sports affect both sides while in golf and tennis it would only affect one person, given the nature of a golf swing or tennis serve? i know in big time poker tournaments, they don’t allow the crowd to make noise while a hand is in play (in part because they don’t want crowd members to give information to the player making a decision), so maybe it’s something along those lines?

  60. 60.

    Steeplejack

    @Hill Dweller:

    [. . .] Fox needs to retool their broadcast and production crews before they televise another big golf tournament.

    Agreed. Too much talking-head bullshit and corporate/sponsor glad-handing, plus an overemphasis on the “leaders” instead of showing all the golf.

    And Joe Buck is an incredible blowhard. I was reminded again how much he gets on my nerves. But I guess it’s good to know that when Brent Musburger has an unexpected stroke or Al Michaels gets a fatal infection from biting some woman on the ass that Joe will be ready to step up as Most Hated Announcer.

  61. 61.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @efgoldman: Anecdotal: When I was playing rugby I would not have noticed or been bothered by any yelling from the sidelines. But then few people show up for rugby games in the US other than ruggers’ girlfriends and retired players. When I fenced, I would have noticed and been affect by the noise.

  62. 62.

    KG

    @efgoldman: reposting because I used the name of a game of skill involving cards…

    individual vs team sports? the noise in team sports affect both sides while in golf and tennis it would only affect one person, given the nature of a golf swing or tennis serve? i know in big time [redacted] tournaments, they don’t allow the crowd to make noise while a hand is in play (in part because they don’t want crowd members to give information to the player making a decision), so maybe it’s something along those lines?

  63. 63.

    SarahT

    Re, True Detective: Loved Season 1, but this one so far ? Meh. No spoilers, just mentioning two things that really bug me (okay, three things, if you count Vince Vaughn):

    1) Rachel McAdams & Taylor whatsit, no matter how scruffed up, do not remotely look like any cop I’ve ever seen – Fine on most shows, but relly distracting here.

    2) Smoking AND ashtrays in a bar in CA: Not in like two decades now, right ?

    Will stick with it but so far, meh.

  64. 64.

    divF

    @srv:
    Just to make things completely clear, you need two Braun coffee grinders – one for spices (and salt), the other for coffee. Grind up white rice between uses of the spice grinder to clean it out.

  65. 65.

    gogol's wife

    Poldark was decent. It has Phil Davis, the evil cabdriver from Sherlock, he’s always fun to watch.

  67. 67.

    divF

    @Steeplejack:

    Joe Buck

    … is why I will never watch baseball on Fox.

    ETA: Jack Buck (Joe’s father) was a HOF play-by-play announcer for the Cardinals. Joe’s performance is all the more shameful given that history.

  71. 71.

    Steeplejack

    @KG:

    I think it’s more a question of different kinds of concentration. Football, hockey, baseball are certainly “mental” sports, but most of the mental action happens in split-seconds and maybe at a “deeper” level. Golf requires incredibly fine motor control and involves a lot of mental calculations both macro and micro.

    With tennis I think it could be that the players get a lot of information from the sound of the ball being struck, which would be lost in a yelling crowd.

    Once again—and I can’t believe I’m saying this—valued commenter Tommy would be a go-to guy on this subject. I believe he played one or both sports in college.

  72. 72.

    rikyrah

    found this at POU:

    Nelba Marquez-Green, whose beloved precious daughter Ana was murdered in Sandy Hook wrote this on Facebook few days ago:

    April 2013.

    I was invited to fly down to Washington DC to strategize for gun responsibility and meet a bunch of really important legislators.

    We were all sitting around a table and the question was asked, “what’s the one thing that needs to change in our culture to reduce gun violence?”

    My answer? “The hearts of white men”. Everyone stared at me uncomfortably. I was the only person of color in the room. But, I was clear. Why? And why did I leave the “movement”?

    Because NO ONE wanted to talk about racism. NO ONE wanted to talk about privilege. NO ONE wanted to own that my child had just been murdered by a man raised in affluence, with access to medical care.

    You know what many did want to talk about ? “thugs” “ghettos” “gangbangers” “drug dealers” “single parents”. Code for people who look like me. But they didn’t know. My skin is light and my hair was straight and my husband was not present. They didn’t know some of the other families from newtown were equally appalled.

    NOT ONE was brave enough to stand up and even name the disease that is “hatred”. Fear of the other. Racism, discrimination.

    NOT ONE willing to discuss the increase of angry, young adult White male mass shooters.

    NOT ONE willing to talk about criminalizing parents for buying their ill children guns. Or holding them responsible for the crimes they commit. (Unless we were talking about poor, urban ones).

    NOT ONE wanted to talk about the importance of parental accountability in child rearing (unless we were talking about poor, urban folks).

    NOT ONE in any way, shape or form really wanting to talk about mental health from a prevention perspective…..from cradle to grave.

    NOT ONE wanting to discuss the changing landscape of America and the impact on the white male psyche.

    NOT ONE willing to talk about the need for love.

    I left the “movement” for many reasons. The brown family that lost their baby in sandy hook just didn’t fit in. Anywhere. And we weren’t talking about real issues.

    We were better off remembering our child on our own. We were better off “promoting love, community and connection for every child and family”.

    We were all victimized on 12/14. We were robbed of the unique, amazing contributions that those murdered people would have made in the world.

    We were all victims this week as well.

    I haven’t pledged since 12-14. I will pledge when we can really say we are “land of the free, home of the brave”. I didn’t see bravery. I saw a bunch of cowards in DC.

    I am so, so sorry Ana Grace. I am so, so sorry Isaiah. You deserved so much better than this.

  73. 73.

    Tyro

    The first episode was so convoluted. Too much character introduction that went in for an entire hour. I am going to have to watch the entire episode all over again just to figure out what happened.

  74. 74.

    Steeplejack

    @gogol’s wife:

    I was meaning to ask someone: is this Poldark a new series or just the start of a new season? Can’t remember whether there was a previous season or I was just hearing “Hey, they’re going to do it” hype.

  75. 75.

    redshirt

    Golf, tennis, ping pong, any sport that is you versus the world is unique. Because…

    There are so many team sports, and your effort is subsumed in the overall effort of everyone. So messy.

    As such, running becomes a big deal.

  77. 77.

    NotMax

    @divF

    Rice can get gluey just from the heat of friction.. Personally, prefer to use plain bread crumbs (or a tiny bit of toast) for the same purpose.

  80. 80.

    NotMax

    @divF

    Not a sports person at all, but even so can come up with Frank Gifford, Don Meredith and Alex Karras off the top o’ the noggin.

  81. 81.

    Steeplejack

    @divF:

    Off the top of my head, Dan Dierdorf was pretty good, and I have a vague, older memory that Alex Karras was pretty good before he got a sitcom and became a “star.”

    Also, Dan Fouts. I thought of him because ex-quarterbacks don’t seem to fare so well. But he was all right.

    ETA: And people tend to forget that Pat Summerall was a 10-year NFL player. Ooh, Frank Gifford, too.

    Must stop now. I’m realizing that I haven’t closely watched the NFL in a while. I’m not up on the current crop of announcers.

  82. 82.

    askew

    @lamh36:

    I watched both True Detective and Ballers. I am 1 and done with True Detective. Life is hard enough. I don’t want to be depressed watching television. Ballers was good. Great cast. Can’t wait to see where it goes.

  83. 83.

    Steeplejack

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Yeah, I remember the old series, I just couldn’t remember whether this was the start of the new one or there was a previous season last year.

  85. 85.

    pseudonymous in nc

    @Hill Dweller:

    As an aside, Fox needs to retool their broadcast and production crews before they televise another big golf tournament.

    Weeelll, I am only an occasional watcher of golf, but it was nice not to have the usual reactionary old farts who trot along to Dull Green Country Club every week to see who’ll rack up a winning score of -26. I agree that Joe Buck is terrible.

  86. 86.

    askew

    Weighing in on the streaming device conversation. I got the Roku 2 for my parents because their tv was too old for the HDMI connection. I have the Roku stick. I definitely prefer the Roku stick. It is incredibly quick to scroll through the menus and it is seamless to order a movie and watch it.

    My sister has the Apple TV and I hate it. The menu scrolls are really slow. It takes forever to download a movie once you’ve rented it and it doesn’t have Amazon channel. It is also significantly more expensive than the Roku stick with less value.

  89. 89.

    lamh36

    @askew: I liked Ballers more than I expected. I was saying to someone it’s enough to have me watching an HBO drama series for the first time in YEARS.

    Too bad it’s only 1/2 hour.

  90. 90.

    divF

    @NotMax:
    @Steeplejack:
    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Thanks. I’m not a football person at all, was just wondering how ex-players do. In baseball, ex-players are ubiquitous, mostly as color commentators, occasionally doing play-by-play. The Kuiper brothers, who do play-by-play for the Giants (Duane) and the A’s (Glen) television broadcasts, started out playing pro ball.

    ETA: Madden was first-rate. Even as a non-football fan, I enjoyed listening to him. He was very effective using the telestrator.

  92. 92.

    askew

    @lamh36:

    Yeah, I was surprised it was only 1/2 hour and it went by quick unlike True Detective which just drug on and on.

  97. 97.

    Corner Stone

    @efgoldman: Team sports have crowds the entire time they go through levels. Golf, tennis and others have no/limited crowd until you reach a certain level.
    Plus, why isn’t there a boxer in each pit stop for Nascar punching the driver in the face?

  100. 100.

    Corner Stone

    @efgoldman:

    But the races hardly take place in complete silence, do they? There’s the inherent noise of the sport, and 100k or so drunks screaming at the same time.

    I agree. Just like the inherent noise of those gas powered golf carts.

  101. 101.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @efgoldman: For a third time, I did. I played minor sports at a D-III college. Noise at rugby would not have been a problem; noise at fencing would. Apparently, it makes a difference in some sports. And, in this case, it isn’t posh vs non-posh sports.

  102. 102.

    Heliopause

    @divF:

    “Acceptable”? Sure, there are plenty who clear that low bar. For instance, though there seems to be a lot of hatred for Troy Aikman he is actually one of my favorite color announcers, because regardless of how inane his observations AT LEAST HE DOESN’T SCREAM. I mean, hell, you don’t even have to press the mute button to successfully ignore him. I would also go so far as to call Tony Siragusa “acceptable” because, although Aikman is Stephen Hawking by comparison, at least FOX has the good sense to keep his bratwurst-belching wisdom down to about 45 seconds per broadcast. I take my tiny victories where I can get them.

    Never thought I’d say this, but the worst football announcer of all time, Matt Millen, is now more or less “acceptable.” He’s toned his schtick waaaay down, and since he’s only doing Northwestern vs. Indiana type bullshit on ESPN2 he’s relatively easy to avoid.

  104. 104.

    John Revolta

    OT, kinda, but interesting: Jimmy Piersall (as in Fear Strikes Out) was a radio commentator for the White Sox in the late ’70s, working with Harry Carey. He was good, if a little prickley. I heard him sign off one time like, “I’m Jimmy Piersall, and IIIIIII’mmmm craaaazzzzyyyyyyy!!!!!“

  105. 105.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @efgoldman: My point was that noise while playing one sport would not have affected my play. In the other, it would. I said it few times. Do what you want with what I said.

    ETA: I was trying to talk about a difference between twam and individual sports.

  106. 106.

    divF

    @Heliopause:
    A truly righteous rant.

    In the baseball world, there is a lot of sniping about the former players doing commentary, but as far as I can tell, the local broadcasters all around baseball are uniformly pretty good – well-informed and not extremely home-team biased. This is in contrast with ESPN (Sunday) and Fox (Saturday) national broadcasts, which are painful to listen to.

  108. 108.

    Steeplejack

    @efgoldman:

    True, but not relevant. Hitting a baseball, or blocking a linebacker, are very different skills too, and both different from skating down the right wing or stopping a slapshot (or a soccer ball).

    What I said was true and relevant. All of the things that you mentioned are alike in that they occur in the moment and primarily involve the mind at a lower, more visceral level—muscle memory, reaction, instant calculation, etc. Crowd noise is not really a factor because there is no extended period of focused mental concentration to be broken, as there is in golf—or gymnastics, say, or diving or rifle shooting. Are all those athletes “tender flowers” because they need (or prefer) quiet in which to concentrate?

    You can’t tell me that there aren’t some tasks in your own life that you need quiet to perform vs. ones that you could do in the middle of a screaming crowd. Why not then imagine that there could be the same sort of differences in sports?

    Or another example: I used to do a lot of woodworking. Some tasks—rough-cutting boards, sawing panels to size—it wouldn’t bother me to have a lot of noise going on. Other things—the fine work, like getting a mortise just right—it’s helpful to have the silence and lack of distraction in which to concentrate.

  111. 111.

    Steeplejack

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    No, I’m with you. I was composing a 5,000-word think piece that apparently efgoldman will miss because he went to bed. Oh, but here he is replying to your comment.

  113. 113.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Steeplejack: None of it really matters. I found a reason to be happy, and the rest of this doesn’t matter much. Packer victories excepted.

  114. 114.

    lamh36

    Ok, ok, one final link, I promise. I’ve got to get to sleep for work.

    One comment: uh huh…

    Campaign Donations Linked to White Supremacists

    The leader of a white supremacist group that has been linked to Dylann Roof, the suspect in the murder of nine African-Americans in a Charleston, S.C., church last week, has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Republican campaigns, including those of 2016 presidential contenders such as Ted Cruz, Rick Santorum and Rand Paul, records show…

  116. 116.

    Steeplejack

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    The Packers were my first NFL team. The frozen Illinois plains in the 1960s, when we got one grainy black-and-white NFL game a week on TV and we liked it. Bart Starr, Paul Hornung, Max McGee, Boyd Dowler, Ray Nitschke, etc.

    Damn, hadn’t thought of Boyd Dowler in decades.

  118. 118.

    Keith G

    @efgoldman:

    And how, pray, tell, is that different from a pitched ball approaching at 95-97 mph from 60’6″ away?
    A golf ball, after all, isn’t moving, it’s just sitting there waiting to be struck.

    Think there are many differences. Beside the long term culture of the sport…How about spectator distance and pace. I played the main HS sports, I never recalled individual noise. There was just so much going on at the same time.

    Types of motor skills. My main job in football was to put other teen-aged boys on their back (fully clothed). Basketball is easy too. More gross motor skill and less fine.

    Baseball was harder until I got better bat speed. And even then you get mulligans. If you can make contact, you have a chance and going 1 for 3 is doing great.

    Doing 1 for 3 in golf won’t get you out of the Windmill hole. And in golf, just making contact can lead to serious injuries.

    There are other thoughts, but it is late for me.

  120. 120.

    Heliopause

    @divF:

    I tend to be more forgiving of baseball broadcasters, since their job is to drone on and on for three hours a day every day for six months or more. If anyone thinks they could do that without saying a fair number of stupid or repetitious things I call bullshit.

    There was always a deep loathing for Joe Morgan amongst the baseball afficianado/stathead community that I never quite understood. To me he was in a similar continuum that football announcers occupy.

  122. 122.

    trollhattan

    Oh baby, Pope Frank’s on it.

    Pope Francis, who’s been espousing pro-life positions in all senses of the term, took a moment on Sunday to inform those involved in weapons manufacturing that they’re not really Christians. “If you trust only men you have lost,” he told thousands of young people during a rally in the Italian city of Turin. “It makes me think of … people, managers, businessmen who call themselves Christian and they manufacture weapons. That leads to a bit a distrust, doesn’t it?” The crowd applauded and he went on to criticize those who invest in weapons industries, saying, “duplicity is the currency of today … they say one thing and do another.”

    This is arguably Pope Francis’ harshest condemnation of the weapons industry, but it’s not the first time he’s denounced the world’s real-life Tony Starks. A year ago, he called them “merchants of death,” and last month he said they perpetuate war to make money, declaring that the devil “enters through our wallets.”

    He also discussed the “the great tragedy of Armenia” – carefully avoiding the word “genocide,” which led to Turkey recalling its ambassador to the Vatican earlier this year. He made up for it by criticizing the Allies for failing to stop the “tragedy” of the Holocaust. “The great powers had the pictures of the railway lines that brought the trains to the concentration camps like Auschwitz to kill Jews, Christians, homosexuals, everybody. Why didn’t they bomb (the railway lines)?” he said. Pope Francis made similar remarks last year while defending Pope Pius XII’s failure to publicly condemn the Holocaust during the war.

    Can’t wait for tomorrow’s KonservaKatholic talking heads to tell me they don’t seek his guidance on armament policy. I have a Holy Handgrenade of Antioch for them….

  123. 123.

    Steeplejack

    Trying to decide whether to watch True Detective or go to bed. I have been straying up too late lately, even by the relaxed standards of the night shift.

    Eh, I’ll probably stay up for a while.

  124. 124.

    Bobby D

    The worst broadcast duo I’ve ever heard…Joe Buck with Joe Morgan. Awful. And I really liked Morgan as a player, but he was terrible in the broadcast booth. Tim McCarver, I just wanted to punch in the face. Almost as bad as having Dennis Miller doing football.

  125. 125.

    Steeplejack

    @trollhattan:

    [. . .] defending Pope Pius XII’s failure to publicly condemn the Holocaust during the war.

    That’s a bit of a clunker.

    Can someone run it down for me: what is the defense of Pius XII not speaking up?

  126. 126.

    Keith G

    @Omnes Omnibus: For a farm kid playing HS sports in rural Ohio in the mid 70s, I was bigger than average, but when we traveled to Toledo to play Central Catholic (for example)….not so big.

    But again, football, especially, was easier if you were quick enough to hit them before they hit you.

    Our teams were a bit more “rangy-muscular” than most.”

  128. 128.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Keith G: If you played line in Ohio football, you are a giant compared to me. (n.b. I don’t have height issues.)

    ETA: The height issue comment wasn’t meant for you.

  130. 130.

    NotMax

    Heh.

    Philip Marlowe program on old time radio at the moment.

    Someone just mentioned the “mannish tight-knit suits she always wore.”

  131. 131.

    Keith G

    @Omnes Omnibus: At 6′ 2″ there were only a few taller then me on our teams. At 195-200, there were several heavier. I was pretty strong, but for years I had been a cross country bike enthusiast (ever hear of AYH?).

    My legs allowed me to “play bigger” than I was. I was usually quicker that the big boys. The times when I wasn’t, were very long and painful nights – and I remember every one of those.

    edit…I did college visits my senior year. Even at small colleges, the reserve linemen were as big or usually bigger than me.

  133. 133.

    NotMax

    Now “Dangerous Assignment” with Brian Donlevy as government operative Steve Mitchell.

    Most mundane shamus handle ever?

  137. 137.

    Anne Laurie

    @Botsplainer: If you see this, CALL THE VET in the morning.

    Might be nothing, a passing (literally) twinge, but you don’t want to have to explain to your daughter that her cat “mysteriously” died of an intestinal blockage, kidney stones, whatever — the old guy doesn’t have a better way of communicating to you that he’s in pain.

  139. 139.

    NotMax

    @Steeplejack

    Yeah, but the agency is never named. For all intents and purposes it’s a standard P.I. noir program. The government connection was shoehorned in as it took place during the Cold War and gave him a plot excuse to travel internationally.

    Plus I like saying “shamus.”

  140. 140.

    Keith G

    @Omnes Omnibus: A good friend of mine was one of our receivers and a good middle distance guy in track. He drafted me to run with him during the summer and he showed me a sweet little 3 mile course around some fields and woods. I loved the serenity of that run.

    I enjoy running, but last year a stress fracture of the first metatarsal left side may be the end of it. It just keeps being an issue.

  141. 141.

    Mike J

    @NotMax:

    Plus I like saying “shamus.”

    But do you pronounce it the way Bogie did in the Big Sleep? (Shah-mus instead of the more usual (these days) shay-mus.)

  142. 142.

    mattH

    @NotMax:

    Basic differences are that Roku 2 can handle headphones and Roku 3 can do that plus has a USB slot.

    Not anymore, they just came out with new ones. The 2 lost its earphone plug, Red/Yellow/White A/V connections, and got a better dual-core processor. The 3 has the same processor, earphone jack, wireless remote (vs IR), and dual-band wireless. Also HDMI only. Unless you need the muting earphone plug, the USB port, or have crowding issues with your network, the 2 is good enough for most people.

    There’s also a Roku stick, but research to see if your TV can accommodate that (some can, many cannot).

    It’s essentially the 1 with an HDMI-only connection built in, so no extra cables necessary., but you can’t use it on any CRT TV.

    You’ll also need an HDMI cable to connect the Roku box to your TV – it is not included. Have found the lowest prices here for such cables is at Home Depot, of all places – most there are under ten bucks.

    The Roku 1 does have the Red/Yellow/White A/V connection that the others don’t. If you have an older TV with no HDMI, this is your only Roku choice, but at least they offer one. Most BluRay players don’t have A/V connections outside of HDMI, and the Fire Stick and Chromecast have that HDMI connection built in too like the RokuStick.

  143. 143.

    Steeplejack

    @NotMax:

    Lloyd Nolan was a shamus in a series of (mediocre) movies in the ’40s: Michael Shayne: Private Detective (et seq.). There’s a pretty bland name, plus Nolan comes across as a dick in all of them. Now Brian Donlevy had charisma!

    ETA: The word shamus is used in that clip I linked for Omnes.

  145. 145.

    Steeplejack

    Okay, looks like I’ll finish up Five Deadly Venoms on El Rey and hit the sack. True Detective will have to wait. And I’m definitely not up for the Antonioni double feature that just started on TCM: Red Desert and L’Eclisse. Monica Vitti, I love you, honey, but just no.

  146. 146.

    Suzanne

    I have had the weekend from, well, not Hell, but at least Purgatory. I didn’t get to watch True Detective yet. Le sigh.

    I know that they say that heavy drinking is not the answer, but it sure feels like someone’s asking me a leading question.

  147. 147.

    Steeplejack (phone)

    @Suzanne:

    heavy drinking is not the answer

    Just think of it as what you’re doing until the answer comes to you.

  148. 148.

    Ruckus

    @efgoldman:
    I’m down to 3 days a week and getting to the point that 1 day would be fine. Except that having a little extra money is not all that bad.
    Enjoy the last days, maybe figure out if you might like to do something part time. Or just kick back and enjoy.

  150. 150.

    Ruckus

    @Steeplejack:
    Try working in a machine shop and trying to do something that really requires concentration or being able to hear what the tool is doing. It’s the same thing as your woodworking. For example, welding takes some concentration but mostly it’s muscle memory and sight. You might have a problem if someone hit the table you are working on with a hammer but normal noises? Not an issue.

  151. 151.

    Steeplejack (phone)

    @Ruckus:

    Good analogy.

    I don’t get the “hating on golf” subtext. Or maybe I’m over interpreting.

  152. 152.

    fuckwit

    @NotMax: Also, in Irish, it’s spelled “Seamus”. Used to work for a guy named that. He went by “Jim” so as not to confuse the Americans too much.

  155. 155.

    Aleta

    @Steeplejack (phone): Those were some beautiful songs you came up with a night or two ago. Wanted to thank you.
    Just checking in and out.

  156. 156.

    Steeplejack

    @fuckwit:

    I don’t think shamus (detective) comes from the Irish name Seamus. Too late to drag out my big dictionaries, but I think it might come from that New York-based Yiddish that informs so much American slang.

    Gunsel (thug, gunman) is the other word that comes to mind in that context.

  159. 159.

    Anne Laurie

    @Steeplejack: From the Online Entomology Dictionary:

    “police officer, detective,” 1920, apparently first in “The Shamus,” a detective story published that year by Harry J. Loose (1880-1943), a Chicago police detective and crime writer; the book was marketed as “a true tale of thiefdom and an expose of the real system in crime.” The word is said to be probably from Yiddish shames, literally “sexton of a synagogue” (“a potent personage only next in influence to the President” [Israel Zangwill]), from Hebrew shamash “servant;” influenced by Celtic Seamus “James,” as a typical name for an Irish cop.

  160. 160.

    Ruckus

    @Steeplejack (phone):
    If you play golf it can be somewhat interesting. But if you play like a normal human (that’s awful BTW) the game is very infuriating. I played off and on for a few years and was, let’s see what’s the term? Horrible. But every once in a while you get lucky, the stars align, and totally unbeknownst to you how, you hit a good or even great shot. Now you go looking for the trick to being able to do that a second time. That second time may be years away or never come. Watching golf after you’ve had that one shot is just trying to see what the hell allows someone to do that more often than once in a lifetime.
    On the other hand I now find watching golf is like watching water boil. Interesting if you’ve never seen it before, but it is far less entertaining by the second or third time.

  161. 161.

    NotMax

    @Ruckus

    True story, and only happened the one time.

    Nice drive off the tee, then a thunk and suddenly here comes the ball headed straight back after striking a tree just so. Ball actually ended up coming to a stop on the ground several yards behind the tee.

  163. 163.

    redshirt

    Also, I played the nicest golf course I’ve ever been on (Sunday River Maine) and I did OK though I unfortunately melted down on a couple of holes which really inflated my score (+9 strokes in 2 sand traps for example).

  164. 164.

    redshirt

    The sand traps were fairway sand traps in my defense and I hit perfect drives to land in them, so I feel doubly frustrated by the event.

  166. 166.

    gogol's wife

    Thread is dead but I just have to vent about Comcast. Problems for months, they convince me it’s my TV, new TV — problems continue! Last night, just as Soames Forsyte was creeping into his wife’s bedroom, the screen goes black! 15 minutes on the phone with Comcast and they get the picture back, but who knows what Soames did in the bedroom — that’s all over now! AARGGH!

  169. 169.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Cervantes: No, in that case, the word you are looking for is awkward. Being right-handed and jousting while driving the Saab would be awkward.

  173. 173.

    Steeplejack

    @Ruckus:

    But every once in a while you get lucky, the stars align, and totally unbeknownst to you how, you hit a good or even great shot. Now you go looking for the trick to being able to do that a second time. That second time may be years away or never come. Watching golf after you’ve had that one shot is just trying to see what the hell allows someone to do that more often than once in a lifetime.

    Yeah. It’s amazing that the best players can do it round after round, week in and week out.

    On the other hand I now find watching golf is like watching water boil.

    As I said in a thread a few days ago, I often have it on the TV in the background when I’m working—one step above an aquarium screensaver. And when the action gets sufficiently interesting I will sit down in front of the TV and watch—but usually while multitasking on my phone or tablet. Very rare that I sit down and just watch golf.

    Hmm, just realized that describes almost all my sports viewing these days. It’s rare that I sit down and just watch the game, whatever it is.

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