• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

If you voted for Trump, you don’t get to speak about ethics, morals, or rule of law.

Republicans do not trust women.

“Perhaps I should have considered other options.” (head-desk)

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

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

With all due respect and assumptions of good faith, please fuck off into the sun.

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

“In the future, this lab will be a museum. do not touch it.”

He really is that stupid.

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

The gop is a fucking disgrace.

Live so that if you miss a day of work people aren’t hoping you’re dead.

When someone says they “love freedom”, rest assured they don’t mean yours.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

These days, even the boring Republicans are nuts.

The “burn-it-down” people are good with that until they become part of the kindling.

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

Today in our ongoing national embarrassment…

Jack be nimble, jack be quick, hurry up and indict this prick.

The Giant Orange Man Baby is having a bad day.

Bark louder, little dog.

The republican ‘Pastor’ of the House is an odious authoritarian little creep.

This year has been the longest three days of putin’s life.

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

Mobile Menu

  • Seattle Meet-up Post
  • 2025 Activism
  • Targeted Political Fundraising
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • COVID-19
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2025 Activism
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Elections / Election 2016 / Open Thread: 80s Nostalgia Is the Absolute Worst

Open Thread: 80s Nostalgia Is the Absolute Worst

by Anne Laurie|  December 3, 20155:45 pm| 134 Comments

This post is in: Election 2016, Open Threads, Republican Stupidity, Assholes, Clap Louder!

FacebookTweetEmail

Pataki just said he would restart the Star Wars missile defense program to defend against radical Islam. #RJCForum

— Josh Rogin (@joshrogin) December 3, 2015

And I believe that wins the trophy for most absurd idea of the year https://t.co/XEdQdan2NM

— Daniel Larison (@DanielLarison) December 3, 2015

That would be like subscribing to one of those overpriced rent-your-own-cops “security services” to protect your house against termites.

Assuming that the security service was taking your money and giving it to a bunch of credentialed nitwits who were thisclose to perfecting nuclear-powered robocops with laser beams on their foreheads — which still wouldn’t protect you against termites, but hey, so kewl! Pewpewpew!!!

Somebody needs to tell George this isn’t the new “Star Wars” his teenage grandkids keep talking about, ‘mkay?
***********

Apart from Repub candidates being malign idiots, what’s on the agenda for the evening?

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « Some Questions
Next Post: Laying My Cards on the Table »

Reader Interactions

134Comments

  1. 1.

    Corner Stone

    December 3, 2015 at 5:47 pm

    what’s on the agenda for the evening?

    Watching Mr. R-E-L-A-X take another beating in a couple hours.

  2. 2.

    BGinCHI

    December 3, 2015 at 5:48 pm

    The stupidest thing about Pataki is that he thinks that there is a chance the current GOP voting herd would vote for a former NY governor.

    He might as well be Harvey Fierstein.

  3. 3.

    Germy

    December 3, 2015 at 5:49 pm

    Well, Pataki has to say something…

  4. 4.

    trollhattan

    December 3, 2015 at 5:52 pm

    Have they finally perfected intercontinental ballistic minarets? I hadn’t heard.

  5. 5.

    Baud

    December 3, 2015 at 5:52 pm

    It’s the Jar Jar Binks of counterterrorism strategy.

  6. 6.

    Brachiator

    December 3, 2015 at 5:52 pm

    I will avoid TV and TV news, probably watch the 1930 version of the movie, Holiday. The main thing is to avoid the stupidity of the GOP.

  7. 7.

    Amir Khalid

    December 3, 2015 at 5:54 pm

    Is George Pataki aware that antimissile defence systems are of no use against an enemy with no missiles?

  8. 8.

    Germy

    December 3, 2015 at 5:54 pm

    @Brachiator:

    The main thing is to avoid the stupidity of the GOP.

    But it is the ether; the stuff of the universe.

  9. 9.

    Germy

    December 3, 2015 at 5:55 pm

    Fire, Water, Air, Earth and the Stupidity of The GOP

  10. 10.

    Anne Laurie

    December 3, 2015 at 5:57 pm

    @Amir Khalid: Pataki: What part of Reagan-worship do you not understand?!?

    Seriously, this “If only the lie-brals hadn’t prevented St. Ronnie from implementing his totally awesome sky-guns plans” lament shows up on the militaristic fringes of the GOP at irregular intervals, like comets made of BS. And the “sensible” Establishment GOPers treat it like someone passing gas at a dinner party — pretend it didn’t happen, resolutely talk a little louder.

  11. 11.

    JPL

    December 3, 2015 at 5:59 pm

    The NYTimes mentioned that Carson spoke about Hamas but kept calling it hummus. The hummus are coming.

  12. 12.

    Brachiator

    December 3, 2015 at 6:00 pm

    @Germy:

    They disproved ether. We’re now looking to confirm Einstein gravity waves.

    The European Space Agency has launched the first scientific step to detecting Albert Einstein’s gravitational waves – a $450m test probe.

    LISA Pathfinder blasted off on a Vega rocket today from the spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana carrying gold-platinum cubes that will be released in freefall to try to detect the waves predicted by the one-hundred-year-old General Theory of Relativity.

    But GOP stupidity appears to be as persistent as the Gravitational Constant.

  13. 13.

    Germy

    December 3, 2015 at 6:00 pm

    @Amir Khalid: You mean I’ve been spraying shark repellant around my house for no good reason?

  14. 14.

    FlipYrWhig

    December 3, 2015 at 6:00 pm

    @Amir Khalid: He means Iran’s nukes, because he’s talking to Jewish Republicans ETA whom he presumes are obsessed with Israel’s vulnerability.

  15. 15.

    Redshift

    December 3, 2015 at 6:01 pm

    @Anne Laurie: That’s it exactly. “I’d revive Star Wars, because Reagan! Now will you rubes vote for me?”

  16. 16.

    oldgold

    December 3, 2015 at 6:01 pm

    Our political system to function well needs a conservative party. Unfortunately, ours has morphed into a stupid party. It is an extraordinarily dangerous situation.

  17. 17.

    Holden Pattern

    December 3, 2015 at 6:02 pm

    Maybe Pataki’s thinking of the laser assassination system from Real Genius. Still 80s nostalgia, still a fantasy, but at least a nostalgic fantasy aimed at ground targets.

  18. 18.

    Holden Pattern

    December 3, 2015 at 6:03 pm

    @oldgold: We have a conservative party. It’s the Democrats. The Republicans are a radically revanchist party — it’s different.

  19. 19.

    Baud

    December 3, 2015 at 6:05 pm

    @Holden Pattern:

    He probably remembers how the Libyans funded Doc’s time machine.

  20. 20.

    FlipYrWhig

    December 3, 2015 at 6:05 pm

    @oldgold: I don’t think we need a conservative party nearly as much as we need two parties that want the government to address common social problems. Republicans mostly want the government to do nothing, with the exception of smiting enemies overseas and preventing the termination of pregnancies.

  21. 21.

    Davebo

    December 3, 2015 at 6:06 pm

    Look, we’ve only dumped 275 billion into missile defense since 1983 and we are so close!

    I’ve got to admit Pataki surprised me here. Mainly because I didn’t realize he’s still pretending to run for president.

  22. 22.

    BGinCHI

    December 3, 2015 at 6:06 pm

    @JPL: To the pita fortress!

  23. 23.

    lawguy

    December 3, 2015 at 6:06 pm

    Pataki is running?

  24. 24.

    Holden Pattern

    December 3, 2015 at 6:07 pm

    @FlipYrWhig: Don’t forget “keeping those people in their place”.

  25. 25.

    Corner Stone

    December 3, 2015 at 6:07 pm

    @JPL:

    The NYTimes mentioned that Carson spoke about Hamas but kept calling it hummus. The hummus are coming.

    God that may actually be worse. Not a fan, please don’t take away my salsa!

  26. 26.

    FlipYrWhig

    December 3, 2015 at 6:07 pm

    @Baud: Play “GLOBAL THERMONUCLEAR WAR”

  27. 27.

    FlipYrWhig

    December 3, 2015 at 6:08 pm

    @Holden Pattern: That’s a task that can be shared by citizens and the cops alike. It’s a public-private partnership!

  28. 28.

    FlipYrWhig

    December 3, 2015 at 6:09 pm

    @Corner Stone: the salsa is coming FROM INSIDE THE COUNTRY!

  29. 29.

    PurpleGirl

    December 3, 2015 at 6:09 pm

    I’ve been off the computer for most of the day; I was able to get my reading glasses fixed this morning.

    Now my computer is making weird sounds. I’ve just backed-up the D-drive where I keep the non-program data files. I may yell tonight.

    I want to catch up with reading this afternoon’s posts and comments. Don’t know how much I’ll be able to actually read… all depends on the computer.

  30. 30.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2015 at 6:09 pm

    I picked up my brother at McCarran Airport about noon, home from his three-week motorcycle expedition down the spine of South America to Tierra del Fuego. As expected, he had a joyous reunion with his two dogs, puttered around in a bit of a fog for a while and then collapsed in bed until (probably) sometime this evening. I don’t feel like cooking, and most of the food I bought is gone anyway, so we’ll probably get a pizza from his (surprisingly good) local place.

    I see the Lions are only a three-point underdog to the Packers tonight (late afternoon for me), so maybe the game will be worth watching. Otherwise I’ll watch something on Netflix or on demand.

    I go to the airport about noon tomorrow for my flight back to Washington and my own joyous reunion with the housecat in our modest rooms in Threadkill Lane. I have had a good time out here in Las Vegas—despite having a wretchedly awful cold most of the time—but it will be good to get home. Should be about 10:30 tomorrow night.

  31. 31.

    PurpleGirl

    December 3, 2015 at 6:10 pm

    @FlipYrWhig: I haven’t watched Wargames in a while. Time to watch it again. I always liked the movie.

  32. 32.

    Ultraviolet Thunder

    December 3, 2015 at 6:12 pm

    Been killing time in a Toronto hotel room for 25 hours for work reasons and not leaving for 14 more hours.
    But I have books.

  33. 33.

    Enhanced Voting Techinques

    December 3, 2015 at 6:13 pm

    Pataki just said he would restart the Star Wars missile defense program to defend against radical Islam

    Tsk, Tsk Patakis just RINO’d himself. With our Second Amendment protected firearms we’ll just SHOOT those Muslim missles out of THE SKY!!!!

    American! F-YA!

  34. 34.

    slag

    December 3, 2015 at 6:15 pm

    @FlipYrWhig: Cool. Maybe we can restart the Iran-Contra program too!

  35. 35.

    PurpleGirl

    December 3, 2015 at 6:16 pm

    I will always remember the introduction by David Letterman — Pateki, Patooki, Pataki. I’ve despised him since he was mayor of Peekskill.

  36. 36.

    Anoniminous

    December 3, 2015 at 6:16 pm

    SDI will work when the weapon system designers figure out how to eliminate the Inverse Square Law. Since that will require redesigning the Universe don’t hold your breath.

    In the meantime, another fantasy that has a greater chance of occurring. I especially like:

    Not only are the cities more diverse than ever, but so are the suburbs and counties that have been white Republican areas. Today, Missouri City is the most diverse area, including Hispanics, African-Americans, and Asians. The shifting minorities will also likely cause white conservatives to leave these areas, thereby increasing the speed with which political demographics change exponentially.

    Hee, hee, hee. Hoist by their own petulance.

  37. 37.

    Gin & Tonic

    December 3, 2015 at 6:16 pm

    Finishing up a project here in Sodom by the sea, and looking forward to an obscenely expensive dinner at a Michelin 3-star restaurant here. Not snark, I revel in certain gustatory pleasures and am prepared to pay handsomely.

  38. 38.

    jl

    December 3, 2015 at 6:17 pm

    @Enhanced Voting Techinques: Free market magic will give every American the anti-terrorist anti-missile defense system from the private vendor of his or her choice. The second amendment guarantees us that freedom.

  39. 39.

    Baud

    December 3, 2015 at 6:18 pm

    Updating on the Android mobile site is working again.

    Take that, terrorists! America is back!!!

  40. 40.

    lamh36

    December 3, 2015 at 6:20 pm

    Not 80’s, but since we are talking nostalgia…tonight is the night… The Wiz Live on NBC 8pm to 1045pm/CST.

    I am so ready for it. My sister is coming over to watch and my mom and my cousins and family are gonna be watching over at their houses too.

    Anyone else plan on watching?

    Came across this article and literally had to role my eyes… These People Complaining About “The Wiz” Seem To Have Forgotten That “The Wizard Of Oz” Exists
    Let’s learn some Broadway history, shall we?

    The musical, which was written to feature an all-black cast, is based loosely on The Wizard of Oz, which had its own screen adaptation…Let the record show that The Wizard of Oz had an all-white cast.
    Some people aren’t aware of the difference between the two, though, and seem ~confused~.

    Please go check out the linked tweets. IDK what’s worse, the fact that these folks don’t know what The Wiz was, or that instead of ya know, trying to find out, they instead saw “all Black cast” and immediately went to “reverse racism”…smh…

    Do better people…do better…

    And if you are so inclined, I will mostly be on twitter live-tweeting along with basically everyone else about The Wiz…
    ‘The Wiz Live!’: Why you need to watch with Black Twitter

  41. 41.

    Germy

    December 3, 2015 at 6:21 pm

    @jl:

    The second amendment guarantees us that freedom.

    Damn liberals want to take away my shark repellant.

  42. 42.

    scav

    December 3, 2015 at 6:21 pm

    Richard II DVD arrived! Not as cheerful as The Winter’s Tale from Monday, but that requires an actual movie theater. This one I can binge on without getting too close to potentially scary people from the collar counties.

    Alas, the household is hummus-less, else I would welcome the oncoming threat.

  43. 43.

    Anonymous37

    December 3, 2015 at 6:25 pm

    The late great NewsRadio had an episode set in space, where the ruler of the beleaguered humans was “Governor Spacetaki”.

    At the time, this was a hilarious bit of absurdist humor. And now it’s an accurate descriptor.

  44. 44.

    mdblanche

    December 3, 2015 at 6:25 pm

    @Germy: Why?

  45. 45.

    Baud

    December 3, 2015 at 6:26 pm

    @efgoldman:

    Some soldier in the War on Christmas you are.

  46. 46.

    Mnemosyne (iPhone)

    December 3, 2015 at 6:26 pm

    @Germy:

    Oh, there’s a good reason.

  47. 47.

    JPL

    December 3, 2015 at 6:26 pm

    @efgoldman: PBS Stations are going to re-air the ceremony later this month. Crosby, Stills and Nash performed Silent Night and it was amazing, though not in a good way.

  48. 48.

    Corner Stone

    December 3, 2015 at 6:27 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    I see the Lions are only a three-point underdog to the Packers tonight (late afternoon for me), so maybe the game will be worth watching.

    Lions won at Pack recently so hopefully it will be a good grudge match game tonight.

  49. 49.

    John Revolta

    December 3, 2015 at 6:28 pm

    @PurpleGirl: Your computer is obviously incompatible with your new glasses. Gonna need a pricy upgrade I betcha.

  50. 50.

    Corner Stone

    December 3, 2015 at 6:28 pm

    @Baud:

    It’s the Jar Jar Binks of counterterrorism strategy.

    Meesa like to hear more on this theory.

  51. 51.

    Mnemosyne (iPhone)

    December 3, 2015 at 6:30 pm

    @lamh36:

    I have a work party tonight and then a lecture to attend, but the TiVo is all set up and ready to go.

    I’m wondering who these people are who’ve never, ever heard of “The Wiz.” I have to assume they’re all very young, because “Ease On Down The Road” was a decent-sized hit in the 80s.

  52. 52.

    Suzanne

    December 3, 2015 at 6:34 pm

    I was home today with a sick Spawn the You get. she has a fever and is complaining of headache, but she refuses to take any medicine, and she spit it back at me when I tried to give it to her. So much for that.

    I have a metric crap-ton of work to do over the next two weeks. And my anniversary is next week, and both Spawns’ birthdays, and then Christmas. I am tired and I just want to hide in bed.

  53. 53.

    MomSense

    December 3, 2015 at 6:34 pm

    @lamh36:

    Definitely watching!

  54. 54.

    Brachiator

    December 3, 2015 at 6:37 pm

    @PurpleGirl:

    I haven’t watched Wargames in a while. Time to watch it again. I always liked the movie.

    One of the local broadcast channels here had the 1964 movie Fail Safe on the other night. An error sends a group of bombers towards Russia. Still chilling. More chilling is how cavalierly these Republican goons, and some others, posture and rave about military toughness like kids with toy soldiers.

  55. 55.

    JPL

    December 3, 2015 at 6:37 pm

    @MomSense: Maybe there will be an open thread, so we can discuss it. The cast is terrific.

  56. 56.

    raven

    December 3, 2015 at 6:39 pm

    @PurpleGirl: No problem with the glasses I hope?

  57. 57.

    Davebo

    December 3, 2015 at 6:40 pm

    @Brachiator:

    My personal favorite in the genre is On the Beach by Nevil Shute and the movie adaptation wasn’t bad.

  58. 58.

    Peale

    December 3, 2015 at 6:42 pm

    @scav: it would be a better play if someone were eaten by a bear.

  59. 59.

    NotMax

    December 3, 2015 at 6:42 pm

    Next, a Kickstarter to pay for the French to build that Maginot Line the right way!

  60. 60.

    Gin & Tonic

    December 3, 2015 at 6:43 pm

    @JPL: Every thread is an open thread.

  61. 61.

    WaterGirl

    December 3, 2015 at 6:43 pm

    @Steeplejack: Safe travels, Steep. Who has been looking after the housecat? Will she be mad at you for being gone so long?

  62. 62.

    PurpleGirl

    December 3, 2015 at 6:44 pm

    @raven: Nope. It took the tech about 15 minutes to fix. TY for asking.

  63. 63.

    redshirt

    December 3, 2015 at 6:44 pm

    Such a cool effect today – from 12-2 today it snowed hard here at New Gondolin. But driving just to the bottom of the mountain – .7 miles – and it was all rain. It always amazes me when the dividing line between weather is so close and absolute.

  64. 64.

    raven

    December 3, 2015 at 6:45 pm

    @Davebo: One of my favorites, almost as if Waltzing Matilda was written for it.

  65. 65.

    WaterGirl

    December 3, 2015 at 6:46 pm

    @MomSense: Hi Momsense, did you receive an email from me about the advent calendar?

  66. 66.

    Germy

    December 3, 2015 at 6:46 pm

    I haven’t seen this film in years. Does it ever show up on cable?

  67. 67.

    redshirt

    December 3, 2015 at 6:46 pm

    @Ultraviolet Thunder:

    Been killing time in a Toronto hotel room for 25 hours for work reasons and not leaving for 14 more hours.
    But I have books.

    I hope you are wracking up the frequent flyer miles and other reward points, though I also assume you don’t want to use them.

    What’s your specific job again and why do you need to go everywhere? Is your job just a cover for your International Spy career?

  68. 68.

    raven

    December 3, 2015 at 6:47 pm

    @Brachiator: 7 Days in May is good too!

  69. 69.

    raven

    December 3, 2015 at 6:48 pm

    @Germy: Yes and there was also a remake of it.

  70. 70.

    NotMax

    December 3, 2015 at 6:48 pm

    @Mnemosyne

    A little side trip to append to your bucket list.

    ;)

  71. 71.

    raven

    December 3, 2015 at 6:48 pm

    @PurpleGirl: Good.

  72. 72.

    Hungry Joe

    December 3, 2015 at 6:49 pm

    A college friend who became an accomplished (and then some) mathematician relayed to me a colleague’s reaction when Reagan proposed the “Star Wars” anti-missile system: “It’ll never work, but that’s one trough I’d love to get my snout into.”

  73. 73.

    Baud

    December 3, 2015 at 6:50 pm

    @Corner Stone:

    You see, Jar Jar is actually a Sith Lord …yadda, yadda, yadda…Ronald Reagan.

  74. 74.

    redshirt

    December 3, 2015 at 6:51 pm

    @Baud: SPOILER!!!

    Jar Jar is Kylo Ren.

  75. 75.

    Germy

    December 3, 2015 at 6:51 pm

    @raven: I didn’t know they remade it.

  76. 76.

    NotMax

    December 3, 2015 at 6:52 pm

    @Germy

    Yeah, shows up on TCM from time to time.

    An exemplar of the book being a thousand times better than the movie.

  77. 77.

    Davebo

    December 3, 2015 at 6:52 pm

    @Ultraviolet Thunder:

    There’s also awesome Chinese food available there.

  78. 78.

    WaterGirl

    December 3, 2015 at 6:52 pm

    @Germy: I just checked my Tivo search and it’s not playing in the next 13 days. But I added a “wishlist” for it, so I will see it in my listing if it’s every going to be on. I will be sure to let you know if I see it coming up in my list.

  79. 79.

    raven

    December 3, 2015 at 6:55 pm

    @Germy: Apparently I am wrong.

  80. 80.

    joes527

    December 3, 2015 at 6:56 pm

    @FlipYrWhig: From NEW YORK CITY!!??

  81. 81.

    Oatler.

    December 3, 2015 at 6:56 pm

    I thought this thread would be about “The Goldbergs” when I read “80s nostalgia”and “absolute worst”…

  82. 82.

    Mnemosyne (iPhone)

    December 3, 2015 at 6:56 pm

    @Germy:

    It shows up on TCM fairly often, but they won’t be showing it during the holidays lest they inadvertently increase the suicide rate. It’s the “Gloomy Sunday” of motion pictures.

  83. 83.

    Baud

    December 3, 2015 at 6:58 pm

    @redshirt:

    As long as they don’t do that new thing where the last movie in the trilogy is split into two longer movies, I’ll be happy.

  84. 84.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2015 at 7:00 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    The housecat has been getting daily visits from a cat wrangler, a nice woman who used to walk the dogs at Sighthound Hall until my brother and his partner’s schedules changed so that the dogs weren’t alone all day. She has been sending me occasional updates and proof-of-life photos. Also, a good friend of mine has keys to my place, and she has been dropping by occasionally when she visits her mother, who lives about a mile from me. Actually, this friend is the one who introduced me to the housecat three years ago when her mother-in-law went into assisted living and could no longer keep her.

    The housecat—Stella—was already 12 years old when I got her, and I think she had a troubled life. Not abuse, just neglect, probably. Shuttled around quite a bit among various people, and I don’t think she got much attention from the old lady or her caregivers. Anyway, she is what I would call stoic. She’s not demonstrative, but I always laugh because every time she walks past me she lets her tail just barely touch my leg. She would probably claim it’s coincidence, but it happens every time. And she is always where I am: at her workstation beside the computer if I’m in the living room or nestled in her sheepskin throw on the bed.

    Shorter: She won’t be mad, but she won’t be ecstatic either. She’ll be like “Oh, you’re back.” But then we’ll immediately get back into the routine.

  85. 85.

    Germy

    December 3, 2015 at 7:01 pm

    @WaterGirl: I literally haven’t seen it since I was a child, so I have no idea if it’s any good or not. I don’t have cable tv.

  86. 86.

    bk

    December 3, 2015 at 7:01 pm

    @Steeplejack: Which pizza place? I live in Las Vegas, and there are some great ones, but I’m always looking for something new.

  87. 87.

    Baud

    December 3, 2015 at 7:01 pm

    Android mobile site not updating again.

    I blame Obama.

  88. 88.

    PurpleGirl

    December 3, 2015 at 7:01 pm

    @Davebo: The first science fiction novel I read was Alas, Babylon. Also good is A Canticle for Leibowitz.

  89. 89.

    Mnemosyne (iPhone)

    December 3, 2015 at 7:03 pm

    @NotMax:

    Meh — Lin-Manuel said it wasn’t All That. We’d probably go uptown instead. It’s quiet uptown.

  90. 90.

    redshirt

    December 3, 2015 at 7:04 pm

    @Baud: Or make The Hobbit 3 freaking movies each almost 3 hours long. Amazing.

  91. 91.

    Mnemosyne (iPhone)

    December 3, 2015 at 7:05 pm

    @Germy:

    Your local library may have the DVD. It’s kind of a cult film now.

  92. 92.

    WaterGirl

    December 3, 2015 at 7:06 pm

    @Steeplejack: Sounds kind of like Sam. I used to look in on Sam when my friend was out of town for long periods. I wasn’t responsible for the day-to-day feeding or anything, but I would come over and hang out for a few hours with a book, just so he would have some company.

    He never sat in my lap or even on the couch with me, but he was ALWAYS in the same room and always nearby. I loved Sam, and I like to think he appreciated my companionship while Steve was gone.

    P.S. So you think you have missed her more than she has missed you?

    edit: If I sound skeptical, that’s as it should be.

  93. 93.

    Germy

    December 3, 2015 at 7:06 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    Shorter: She won’t be mad, but she won’t be ecstatic either. She’ll be like “Oh, you’re back.” But then we’ll immediately get back into the routine.

    I bet she adores you. Our cat is the same way sometimes.

    She’ll pretend to be aloof, but I notice she just happens to be in whatever room I’m in. Last year I was away for a few days, and my wife told me she spent much of that time on my chair.

    Speaking of the cat, now she goes around unplugging everything. Does anyone else’s cat do that? Early this morning I went to switch on a desk lamp, and it wouldn’t go on. My first groggy thought: “power failure?” But then I saw she’d unplugged it.

    She does the same thing with the paper shredder and a floor lamp.

    Please don’t tell me she’s trying to conserve energy; she is profoundly indifferent to our electric bills.

  94. 94.

    Baud

    December 3, 2015 at 7:07 pm

    @redshirt:

    I don’t go to the movies anymore but watch them all when they’re released for TV. I can’t imagine not having a pause button for some of these longer films.

  95. 95.

    WaterGirl

    December 3, 2015 at 7:07 pm

    @Germy: I’m not saying I’ll watch it, just saying that it will show up in my schedule and I will let you know. :-)

  96. 96.

    WaterGirl

    December 3, 2015 at 7:08 pm

    @Germy: yes yes yes! My kitties are constantly unplugging things, and the fan is their favorite.

  97. 97.

    Corner Stone

    December 3, 2015 at 7:09 pm

    @Baud:

    As long as they don’t do that new thing where the last movie in the trilogy is split into two longer movies, I’ll be happy.

    Ah, another Twilight fan! At long last!

  98. 98.

    Baud

    December 3, 2015 at 7:11 pm

    @Corner Stone:

    Not sure, but I think Harry Potter started the trend with Deathly Hollows.

  99. 99.

    Germy

    December 3, 2015 at 7:12 pm

    @WaterGirl: I worry about that. I mean, I assume she’s using her teeth? If not her teeth, her claws. Either way, it doesn’t seem safe. I sprayed some rubbing alcohol on the rug near the plugs.

    I don’t want to discourage her creativity, but unplugging things crosses some sort of line. I told her it is something I will not tolerate.

  100. 100.

    redshirt

    December 3, 2015 at 7:15 pm

    @Baud: Tarantino’s new movie comes with an intermission, which I love. I watched 2001 a few weeks back and it has an intermission too.

    More movies should do this if they’re going to run 150 minutes plus.

  101. 101.

    redshirt

    December 3, 2015 at 7:15 pm

    @Baud: Hunger Games did it too.

  102. 102.

    scav

    December 3, 2015 at 7:16 pm

    @Peale: That could be said of many a play. Many are rightfully bear snacks, few actually consumed.

  103. 103.

    Germy

    December 3, 2015 at 7:16 pm

    @Baud:

    I don’t go to the movies anymore

    After the election, you’ll have the secret service. Also, I believe the president has his own screening room.

  104. 104.

    WaterGirl

    December 3, 2015 at 7:17 pm

    @Germy: My kitties do it with their bodies – my outlet are pretty low to the floor and the unplugging can be done by walking back and forth with a little body english.

    The teeth marks on the electrical cords to lamps? That was a different story and gnawing on electrical cords was seriously discouraged. But mostly they grew out of it without any damage.

  105. 105.

    Mnemosyne (iPhone)

    December 3, 2015 at 7:18 pm

    @Germy:

    Our cats keep unplugging the living room lamps, but it’s because the outlet is really loose. They just have to brush against it to make it fall out. So the issue may be the outlet and not the cat.

  106. 106.

    WaterGirl

    December 3, 2015 at 7:18 pm

    @Baud: Will you take me to the movies in your screening room after you’re elected? That would be really fun.

  107. 107.

    Baud

    December 3, 2015 at 7:22 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    Does Obama watch movies with Valerie Jarrett?

    (I assume the answer is yes; I actually don’t know for sure).

  108. 108.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2015 at 7:22 pm

    @bk:

    My brother’s house is in Henderson, and an old friend from college is a schoolteacher in Henderson, so most of my Las Vegas restaurants are on the south side. The pizza place is Sunset Pizzeria—the one on Boulder Highway. Not saying it’s the greatest pizza ever, but it’s pretty damn good. My schoolteacher friend likes another place up around Green Valley that I remember as slightly better, but I’m fuzzy on the name. Maybe Metro Pizza?
    http://www.sunsetpizzeriaonline.com/boulder-hwy.html

    Because of my cold, I didn’t go out to eat as much this trip. Did make my usual pilgrimages to Penn’s Thai House and Ventano’s Italian Grill. And we got some pretty good Mexican food at Coyote’s Café on Sunset Road.

  109. 109.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2015 at 7:24 pm

    @bk:

    My brother’s house is in Henderson, and an old friend from college is a schoolteacher in Henderson, so most of my Las Vegas restaurants are on the south side. The pizza place is Sunset Pizzeria—the one on Boulder Highway. Not saying it’s the greatest pizza ever, but it’s pretty damn good. My schoolteacher friend likes another place up around Green Valley that I remember as slightly better, but I’m fuzzy on the name. Maybe Metro Pizza?

    Because of my cold, I didn’t go out to eat as much this trip. Did make my usual pilgrimages to Penn’s Thai House and Ventano’s Italian Grill. And we got some pretty good Mexican food at Coyote’s Café on Sunset Road.

    P.S. FYWP.

  110. 110.

    WaterGirl

    December 3, 2015 at 7:25 pm

    @Baud: I’m gonna go with ‘yes’ on that one.

  111. 111.

    NotMax

    December 3, 2015 at 7:25 pm

    @Germy

    Rubbing alcohol, being quite flammable, might not be the best choice near outlets and plugs.

    Just sayin’

    Also, it appears that Seconds is available in full on Youtube (for now).

    Have a hardcover first edition with the bleeding rainbow colored dust jacket stored away. Was so memorable back then, haven’t reread it (and can still picture the cover in mind’s eye). May have to dig it out.

  112. 112.

    Germy

    December 3, 2015 at 7:28 pm

    @NotMax:

    Just sayin’

    If you see a disoriented older man in burnt clothes wandering back and forth in front of smoldering ruins, whispering hoarsely “here kitty kitty” that’ll be me.

    But the unplugging problem will have been solved.

  113. 113.

    Shana

    December 3, 2015 at 7:36 pm

    @redshirt: I’m always amazed by that stuff too. I remember walking home from work one very hot summer day in Chicago when a cool front came through. It was like walking through a door into an air conditioned environment. It must have dropped 15 degrees and cleared out the humidity.

  114. 114.

    SiubhanDuinne

    December 3, 2015 at 7:36 pm

    @Germy:

    Well, Pataki has to say something…

    Why?

  115. 115.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2015 at 7:38 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    Well, I definitely miss her a lot. Before this trip I agonized about what to do with her. Boarding her was pretty much right out. I did have some friends, a young couple, who volunteered to take her, and I was leaning that way when one of them finally thought to say, “Oh, we’re going out of town for Thanksgiving, but we could bring her back to your place.” WTF? How does it help me for you to take her for part of the time and then unload her?! I have demoted them to the B-list until I get over this.

    In the end I decided to go with daily visits from the cat wrangler because (a) she’s really good and pet-friendly—doesn’t just speed in, dump some food, scoop the litter box and blow; and (b) the housecat is old and sleeps a lot, so I thought she would prefer being in her own place with less human contact vs. being someplace strange with more human contact.

    And I think she does miss me; she’s just not demonstrative.

  116. 116.

    SiubhanDuinne

    December 3, 2015 at 7:39 pm

    @JPL:
    @BGinCHI:

    I prefer tabouli.

  117. 117.

    Shana

    December 3, 2015 at 7:46 pm

    @Mnemosyne (iPhone): BTW, my daughter sent me a link yesterday to an article talking about casting calls for touring companies of Hamilton. I also see the soundtrack is listed as #8 in Rolling Stone’s best of the year list. I’m waiting for my copy of the soundtrack which one of my loved ones better have bought me as a Hannukah present.

  118. 118.

    SiubhanDuinne

    December 3, 2015 at 7:50 pm

    @PurpleGirl:

    I think War Games is a fine movie, and you remind me that I haven’t watched it for many years. I’ll add it to the stack.

    Maybe surprisingly, but another movie I really like is Taps, an early film starring the then-almost-unknown Timothy Hutton, Sean Penn, and Tom Cruise. Chilling flick, but provides an excellent glimpse into the mindset — well, one of the many possible mindsets — of ammosexuals and those who unthinkingly hump the military.

  119. 119.

    Mnemosyne (iPhone)

    December 3, 2015 at 7:55 pm

    @Shana:

    If you have Amazon Prime Music, you could start listening right now!
    ;-)

    They pretty much warn you at the beginning of Act 2 that this is where all of the sad parts are, and boy howdy are they not lying. When I listen to it in the car, there are three numbers in a row I have to skip for safety reasons (driving and crying is not safe for anyone).

  120. 120.

    Mnemosyne (iPhone)

    December 3, 2015 at 7:59 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    It sounds like she’s demonstrative, but it’s within cat parameters. Wanting to be in the same room and sit within arm’s reach is showing that she likes you and wants to be around you.

  121. 121.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2015 at 8:01 pm

    @Mnemosyne (iPhone):

    True, but she’s near the edge of the parameters, based on the dozen or so cats I have served in my career.

  122. 122.

    SiubhanDuinne

    December 3, 2015 at 8:03 pm

    @scav:

    Oh, glad I am not the only one in these parts to have gone to The Winter’s Tale the other night. What did you think? I loved it, mostly, although I admit I’m always a leeetle bit nervous when Branagh gets into one of his scenery-chewing fits. Fortunately, they don’t happen often or last long.

  123. 123.

    Steeplejack

    December 3, 2015 at 8:10 pm

    @Germy:

    Oh, I’m sure the housecat loves me. She’s not stupid, and she’s got to know she scored an E-ticket ride when she came to live at Chez Steep. She just doesn’t show it much. Never wants to sit in my lap, doesn’t wind around my legs, etc. Her most lavish displays of affection are (a) demanding major face and head skritching at random times and (b) sleeping at night with her back pressed against my forearm (sometimes).

  124. 124.

    Shana

    December 3, 2015 at 8:12 pm

    @Mnemosyne (iPhone): I listened once when it was released at NPR, but I’ve kind of been staying away, except for that wonderful Chicago high school acapella group version of “Wait for It”. I’m letting the anticipation build.

  125. 125.

    Mike Furlan

    December 3, 2015 at 8:12 pm

    Still promoting Daniel Larison, proud member of the League of the South? Why encourage this stuff:

    ““Negroes are more impulsive than whites,” Hill wrote. “Tenacity and organizations are not the negroes [sic] strong suits. If [a race war] could be won by ferocity alone, he might have a chance. But like the adrenaline rush that sparks it, ferocity is short lived. And it can be countered by cool discipline, an historic white trait, and all that stems from it.”

    Around the time Hill was fantasizing about race war, he was also pointing his verbal musket at what he suggested was one of the South’s main problems — “Jewry,” and what he depicted as the Jewish-controlled media. “ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, MSNBC, and other largely Jewish-Progressive owned media would doubtless fan the flames, justifying black behavior while conversely condemning white reaction,” Hill wrote as he contemplated difficulties that will face the white man.”

    From the Southern Poverty Law Center

  126. 126.

    Davebo

    December 3, 2015 at 9:05 pm

    @Mike Furlan:

    Huh? The biggest thing I see at SPLC is a positive cite of Larison condemning Dinesh D’Souza.

  127. 127.

    Mike Furlan

    December 3, 2015 at 9:09 pm

    @Davebo:

    https://www.splcenter.org/fighting-hate/intelligence-report/2015/league-south-chief-talks-about-race-war-%E2%80%98jewry%E2%80%99

    Also too, you cannot be a police officer in Alabama and belong to the League of the South. But it gets you a link and continued promotion here.

    http://www.wbrc.com/story/29363817/1-police-officer-fired-another-retires-after-allegations-they-belong-to-hate-group

  128. 128.

    scav

    December 3, 2015 at 9:19 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: Branagh does have his full-Branagh moments, and my mother notes there is always a scene where something flutters down on him. I too thought it was good, especially as Leontes is a role where stagey self-indulgence can work (and he did keep it in check — I only spotted a little snow fluttering about him). Good cast all round and I really loved Autolycus.

  129. 129.

    The Sailor

    December 3, 2015 at 9:21 pm

    {checks to make sure it’s an open thread} So, I have 15 pages to go in my book and I’m saving that for bedtime.
    In the mean time, I’m so bored that I’m watching Thursday Night Football. (I’m surprised that I get it on my TV, I thought it was ESPN or NFL.com only).

    In my somewhat inebriated/baked state, I find the game interesting, and the Lions are completely owning the Packers.

  130. 130.

    Another Holocene Human

    December 3, 2015 at 9:33 pm

    @BGinCHI: Fierstein is more personable and leaves more of an impression, so…

  131. 131.

    Another Holocene Human

    December 3, 2015 at 9:40 pm

    @JPL: Why.

    So glad I can’t watch that for real but even thinking about the horror of the whole notion is stressing me out. Here I though F’g Old Man (wink) was talking about that standard New England holiday tree lighting “package” which is depressing enough but apparently it was a live event?! Mother fucknuts, it’s a god-damn tree, on which you’re supposed to hang vaguely pagan symbolism and/or possibly fire hazards.

  132. 132.

    WaterGirl

    December 4, 2015 at 1:35 am

    @Steeplejack: I am imagining her sighing with contentment once you get home and she is back at work at her workstation*. All will be right with the world once again.

    * I wonder if she works while you are away.

  133. 133.

    Steeplejack

    December 4, 2015 at 9:29 am

    @WaterGirl:

    I wonder if she works while you are away.

    She probably would like to. One of the attractions of her workstation is that it is a microfleece throw folded around a heating pad, constantly climate-adjusted by yours truly. The heating pad is small and times out after an hour, so there is very little danger. I told the cat wrangler to feel free to turn it on when she’s there, but I have a feeling she doesn’t do it. She never mentions it. My friend, on the other hand, will turn on the heating pad when she comes over.

    But the housecat may look on this as a staycation. I know there are many late nights when I’m on the computer and she loyally stays at her post. Then, when I shut off the computer and start turning off lights, she’s off like a shot to the faux sheepskin on the bed. So maybe she’s catching up on her “me time.”

  134. 134.

    WaterGirl

    December 4, 2015 at 10:15 am

    You made me laugh with your final comment. I know what you mean, though, sometimes my guys look at me as if to say, seriously? do you know how late it is, and we are still up? I think my favorite kitty thing is when my kitties come to curl up with me in bed. My girl kitty Willow is kind of a slut, if I’ve given her whipped cream or chicken or something, she will always come hang out with me in bed. Mr. Bear can not be bought so easily.

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

On The Road - way2blue - EAST 2 WEST, SAMOA—RESPITE EDITION—FEBRUARY 2025 ( third of five) 2
Image by way2blue (6/21/25)

Recent Comments

  • Matt McIrvin on Saturday Morning Open Thread (Jun 21, 2025 @ 1:11pm)
  • Matt McIrvin on Saturday Morning Open Thread (Jun 21, 2025 @ 1:09pm)
  • NotMax on Saturday Morning Open Thread (Jun 21, 2025 @ 1:09pm)
  • Kayla Rudbek on Saturday Morning Open Thread (Jun 21, 2025 @ 1:07pm)
  • NotMax on Saturday Morning Open Thread (Jun 21, 2025 @ 1:07pm)

Personality Crisis Podcast (Cole, DougJ, mistermix)

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
No Kings Protests June 14 2025

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)
Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

Cindy – No Kings – Everett, WA (near Seattle) 2

Social Media

Balloon Juice
WaterGirl
TaMara
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
DougJ NYT Pitchbot
mistermix

Keeping Track

Legal Challenges (Lawfare)
Republicans Fleeing Town Halls (TPM)
21 Letters (to Borrow or Steal)
Search Donations from a Brand

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!