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You are here: Home / Politics / Domestic Politics / Voluntary Media Blackout

Voluntary Media Blackout

by Betty Cracker|  January 3, 201611:08 pm| 53 Comments

This post is in: Domestic Politics, Open Threads, Politics, Assholes, General Stupidity

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Here’s a photo of the cold, rainy, wind-swept Suwannee River, from which I recently returned from a long weekend’s camping:

Way Down Upon the Suwannee

Shivering in the damp woods gave me renewed appreciation for the comforts of home. But it was a refreshing break from the news. I never heard the name “Trump” once. Had no idea armed yahoos had taken over a federal building. Was clueless about the Saudi Arabia-Iran issue.

Speaking of the rancid Circus Peanut that is the Republican frontrunner, thanks to the wonders of technology, it’s possible to go on not hearing his accursed name. Valued commenter Hitchhiker shared a link to a Google Chrome plugin that replaces the hirsute haggis’ name with a various synonyms for “fart.” Brilliant!

I’ve resolutely NOT looked at the news since my return to civilization. I want to extend my serenity to the beginning of the workweek several hours hence.

This afternoon when I got home and unloaded my muddy possessions from the car, I took a long, hot shower and made myself a warm nest of throws on my favorite end of the sofa and arranged the dogs around me just so. Then I read until it was time to watch Downton Abbey.

Now I’m watching the Vikings-Packers game. Come ON, Packers! What are you up to?

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Reader Interactions

53Comments

  1. 1.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 3, 2016 at 11:15 pm

    Now I’m watching the Vikings-Packers game. Come ON, Packers!

    Looks like they heard your plea, or command.
    ETA: Oy, I wonder if I just jinxed it?

  2. 2.

    jl

    January 3, 2016 at 11:15 pm

    I am spending some of the last precious moments of my Winter Solstice break to wonder what the hell BC is talking about. Betty Cracker lives in a sunny tropical paradise that is never unpleasant. What is that a picture of, really?

  3. 3.

    Esme's Mom

    January 3, 2016 at 11:27 pm

    oh thank you thank you for the link. As she said in Buffy,

    I have to call everyone I have ever met. Right now.

  4. 4.

    SiubhanDuinne

    January 3, 2016 at 11:28 pm

    Does everyone know that this is Stephen Foster’s “Swanee River”?

    Yeah, they prolly do.

  5. 5.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    January 3, 2016 at 11:29 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: I’ve had Ed Norton’s piano riff echoing in my head since I first read the post.
    ETA: For the yoots among us
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzxWIL6HElI

  6. 6.

    Elizabelle

    January 3, 2016 at 11:31 pm

    Welcome back. Did the pups go camping too?

    For you, JPL, and other Downton Abbey fans: today’s NYTImes interactive trivia quiz on Downton characters.

    Test your Downton Abbey Drama Quotient

    Quiz was fun. My score was awful cuz have missed a few seasons …

  7. 7.

    Corner Stone

    January 3, 2016 at 11:31 pm

    Aaron Rodgers just isn’t much of Aaron Rodgers this season. Are we sure he’s good?

  8. 8.

    Major Major Major Major

    January 3, 2016 at 11:35 pm

    Just got back from a dry middle of nowhere Mexico ‘vacation’ with my family including two girls aged six and ten who wouldn’t stop rehearsing The Lion King.

    So it’s pizza and beer for me right now.

    Sick of politics? Media blackout? Read my story! No trump there.
    https://imjustthisguyyouknow.wordpress.com/category/the-fish/

  9. 9.

    Elizabelle

    January 3, 2016 at 11:36 pm

    @SiubhanDuinne: On the Trump thread, Steeplejack reports it might have been shortstop, in September, who first came up with lithe duck.

  10. 10.

    Major Major Major Major

    January 3, 2016 at 11:37 pm

    As long as that one’s in moderation, go Broncos!!

  11. 11.

    Elizabelle

    January 3, 2016 at 11:37 pm

    @efgoldman: And Betty missed the SyFy Twilight Zone marathon, although episodes are free on the internet (youtube, hulu, whatever), and I think there’s a marathon every year …

  12. 12.

    Major Major Major Major

    January 3, 2016 at 11:40 pm

    @Elizabelle: I remember an MST3K marathon in 2014(?)

    That was awesome. Thanksgiving maybe.

  13. 13.

    Mike J

    January 3, 2016 at 11:42 pm

    Seahawks v Vikings. Last meeting 38-7. Here’s to a rerun.

  14. 14.

    Betty Cracker

    January 3, 2016 at 11:42 pm

    Gyad, I hate that child-abusing piece of shit Adrian Peterson.

  15. 15.

    Betty Cracker

    January 3, 2016 at 11:45 pm

    @Elizabelle: The pups stayed home this trip. Boxers aren’t great canoe dogs. At least mine aren’t.

  16. 16.

    Mike J

    January 3, 2016 at 11:48 pm

    @Betty Cracker: If you bring them to Seattle,we can try them on a sailboat.

  17. 17.

    Emerald

    January 3, 2016 at 11:51 pm

    I have been wasting time doing online jigsaw puzzles at this free jigsaw puzzle site. You can click on existing puzzles and do them, or you can make your own from photos you find.

    So I made this jigsaw of Steve, Cat of Balloon Juice. Here is the link: http://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=07315623b17b&pieces=182

    Choose “Start a New Game” to begin. Also note that the puzzle gives you a satisfying “click” when you place a piece correctly. Enjoy!

  18. 18.

    mainmata

    January 3, 2016 at 11:57 pm

    Florida has been so screwed by human predators and yet there’s still so much richness. Of course, it will be big time destroyed through climate change especially South Beach, southern Florida and the Gulf Coast. Sorry that’s already baked in and a lot worse in just a few short decades.

  19. 19.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 3, 2016 at 11:58 pm

    @Elizabelle: I didn’t realize one could chose more than one trauma per person.

  20. 20.

    Temporarily Max McGee (Soon Enough to Be Andy K Again)

    January 4, 2016 at 12:02 am

    @Corner Stone:

    With the injuries on the offensive line and at the #1 WR position (no one has stepped up to be even a reasonable facsimile of Nelson this season), the only thing I can really say is wrong is that the Pack have very little in the way of depth (this includes the ILB position, too).That’s a GM and/or coaching problem.

  21. 21.

    Yutsano

    January 4, 2016 at 12:08 am

    @Mike J: Inasmuch as I love the idea of the Crackers coming to visit, the fact is boxers don’t swim very well. So there’s that.

    Side note: Will be in town January 28-31st. Meet-up a definite possibility as I’ll have a fairly fluid schedule most evenings. Also if an opening comes open may be grabbing it although keeping that powder dry for right now. Hoping Hawai’i gets on the table soon.

  22. 22.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 4, 2016 at 12:09 am

    @Temporarily Max McGee (Soon Enough to Be Andy K Again): The team really needs spare O-linemen.

  23. 23.

    ThresherK (GPad)

    January 4, 2016 at 12:12 am

    @Emerald: How am I supposed to trim the pieces of a virtual jiigsaw puzzle with scissors?

  24. 24.

    Major Major Major Major

    January 4, 2016 at 12:13 am

    @ThresherK (GPad): virtual scissors, duh.

  25. 25.

    Mike J

    January 4, 2016 at 12:14 am

    @Yutsano: I’ll book up the time now, let me know when.

  26. 26.

    Elizabelle

    January 4, 2016 at 12:15 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: Yeah, that took a while for me too.

    ETA: One quibble: I thought “shattering heartbreak” was a fine answer for both Lord and Lady Crawley. Was thinking of losing Sybil, which was horrible.

    But NYTimes was counting it more as romantic love ….

  27. 27.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 4, 2016 at 12:21 am

    @Elizabelle: I’ll watch Ep. 1 of Season 6 tomorrow. Tonight was the Packer-Vikings game.

  28. 28.

    David Koch

    January 4, 2016 at 12:27 am

    49ers axe Jim Tomsula

    Black Monday has now become Black Sunday Nite

  29. 29.

    Emerald

    January 4, 2016 at 12:27 am

    @ThresherK (GPad): Aha! No cheating!

    However, at the bottom left of the screen are some nifty controls. The right-hand one lets you change the color of the background, etc. You can “ghost” the photo, start over, etc.

    Warning. It is addictive. John put up such a great pic of Steve the other day that I couldn’t resist making him into a puzzle.

  30. 30.

    Suzanne

    January 4, 2016 at 12:30 am

    I had the last week off of work, which, coupled with the Christmas holiday, has meant that I have had ten and a half glorious days off. We are saving our money for a trip, so this is the first time in a few years that we haven’t gone out of town over the winter break. I spent much of the week organizing and cleaning. (No, I haven’t read that Marie Kondo book, because I’m pretty good at it already.) I did our Harry Potter closet, the linen closet, the pantry, my-and-Mr.-Suzanne’s closet, and StY’s closet. I am not done with StE’s closet yet. I hate doing the kids’ closets because they have so much CRAP, much but not all of it purchased for them by my mom, who engages in retail therapy by proxy. I also hate how many toys have so goddamn many pieces of which to keep track and store. However, it is much, much improved. I never cease to be amazed how people can get so sentimental about stuff. I hate stuff. I have a few items that are very meaningful to me, but my mom saves every greeting card she ever receives, and has trunks full of framed photographs. AAAAHHHHHHHH that is my hell.

    We are looking at possibly leaving Arizona in the next 12-18 months. I like to be organized anyway, but I want to be ready to have a flawless move if/when we do go.

  31. 31.

    Elizabelle

    January 4, 2016 at 12:32 am

    New Yorkers: Laurie Anderson is giving a Concert for Dogs (and their people) Monday night (later today) in Times Square. Wish I could be there.

    From the NY Times:

    Ms. Anderson performs at 11:30 p.m. Monday in Duffy Square, at the north end of Times Square. The Midnight Moment screening occurs nightly at 11:57 p.m. through Jan. 31.

    Ms. Anderson, the performance artist known for incorporating new technology into her work …. She and friends put on a concert for hundreds of dogs outside the Sydney Opera House [six years ago], with the music emitted from speakers at a low, dog-friendly frequency. (She didn’t want risk shocking the dogs with a high frequency.) At the end, they began to bark — even the droolers in the front row. “It was a beautiful sound,” she said. “They barked for five minutes. That was one of the happiest moments of my life.”

    …. Ms. Anderson’s contribution is a three-minute cut of her documentary “Heart of a Dog” — a poetic visual essay about, among other things, the journey from life to the afterlife.

    … “Heart of a Dog,” which has been shortlisted for an Academy Award nomination, is about 75 minutes long and, with dreamlike fluidity, tackles a wide range of themes: mortality, love, art and even post-9/11 surveillance.

    Laurie Anderson is always into interesting stuff. Article’s good, even if you and/or your dog are otherwise committed late tonight.

  32. 32.

    Elizabelle

    January 4, 2016 at 12:35 am

    @Suzanne: You are so much better at not accumulating stuff than I am. Would be a good trait to have.

    ETA: and not being sentimental about inanimate objects.

    Are you at liberty to say where you might be going in 12-18 months?

  33. 33.

    PurpleGirl

    January 4, 2016 at 12:37 am

    Glad to hear you enjoyed your weekend of camping and not being wired. We should all try to do that every so often to help our mental health.

    What did you think of Downton Abby, season 6, episode 1? I also watched the show somewhat later about Highclere Castle and Carnarvon family.

  34. 34.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 4, 2016 at 12:39 am

    @PurpleGirl: No spoilers, please. I can’t watch until tomorrow.

  35. 35.

    PurpleGirl

    January 4, 2016 at 12:43 am

    @Emerald: I love JigsawPlanet — just love it love it love it. I keep it open on a tab all the time and go and back and forth between doing puzzles and blog reading.

    Just did your puzzle. Good job.

  36. 36.

    Emerald

    January 4, 2016 at 12:48 am

    @PurpleGirl: Ah, thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

    Spread the word about Jigsaw Planet!

  37. 37.

    Suzanne

    January 4, 2016 at 12:52 am

    @efgoldman: @Elizabelle: We’re looking at Denver. I miss winter weather so badly, and it is approximately the same cost-of-living-wise as Phoenix, but with less crAZy. We wouldn’t be able to afford New England, and my husband hates it, for some reason. I adore it, and many of my relatives are there, but no dice. We went to Denver last month and thought it was great, though. I want to finish this building I’m doing right now, though. Should be done in almost exactly one year from now.

  38. 38.

    Suzanne

    January 4, 2016 at 12:56 am

    @efgoldman: THE TOYS stress me out. So many fucking PIECES. It’s godawful.

    I was the kid who never lost pieces to anything, always had my crayons in color order and perfectly sharpened, and had perfect handwriting by the time I was six. Type A. My children are….less so. Which is probably better for them in the long run, but HOLY FUCK I HAVE SO MANY PIECES OF MY LITTLE PONY SHIT.

  39. 39.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 4, 2016 at 12:57 am

    @Suzanne: Nerd.

  40. 40.

    Suzanne

    January 4, 2016 at 1:02 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: Yes. Wanna fight me?

    @efgoldman: It’s been a few years. I should get up there. I wish your damn houses weren’t like a half-million bucks. FFS.

  41. 41.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 4, 2016 at 1:04 am

    @Suzanne: Nah, I am too cool for that.

  42. 42.

    Suzanne

    January 4, 2016 at 1:05 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: Ahuh.

  43. 43.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 4, 2016 at 1:08 am

    @Suzanne: I owned Wayfarers before you were born.

  44. 44.

    Origuy

    January 4, 2016 at 1:13 am

    I must protest! Haggis is a tasty way to use a collection of offal that would otherwise be thrown away. Trump, on the other hand, is not in any way tasty.

  45. 45.

    Suzanne

    January 4, 2016 at 1:15 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: That makes you fuckin’ old, dude.

  46. 46.

    Suzanne

    January 4, 2016 at 1:18 am

    @efgoldman: Yeah, see, that’s a problem. We will need at least four bedrooms, and I already have a 45-each-way commute. I’d like for that to be shorter, or be near a park-and-ride. I hate driving.

  47. 47.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 4, 2016 at 1:18 am

    @Suzanne: Sure. But that wasn’t the question.

  48. 48.

    Suzanne

    January 4, 2016 at 1:28 am

    @Omnes Omnibus: I don’t really want to go back to work tomorrow.

  49. 49.

    Omnes Omnibus

    January 4, 2016 at 1:40 am

    @Suzanne: Who does?

  50. 50.

    Temporarily Max McGee (Soon Enough to Be Andy K Again)

    January 4, 2016 at 1:48 am

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    The team really needs spare O-linemen.

    Thing is is that they need wideouts and inside linebackers just as badly. Time for Thompson to shop in the free agency market, I think.

  51. 51.

    hitchhiker

    January 4, 2016 at 1:52 am

    Valued commenter Hitchhiker shared a link to a Google Chrome plugin that replaces the hirsute haggis’ name with a various synonyms for “fart.” Brilliant!

    You can get it here:
    https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/trump-fart/nnofgdacbbjeoiffggfelolcckjlocon

    Makes the news much more fun.

  52. 52.

    grascarp

    January 4, 2016 at 4:33 am

    It’s best to be cautious when camping on that river. There is a reason you see the homes perched high above the river on steep banks. The water can rise very quickly when it rains a little farther north and requires choosing camping ground that remains high and dry. The Florida Trail runs along part of the Suannee and hikers should be cautious of camping on the water’s edge.

  53. 53.

    gogol's wife

    January 4, 2016 at 8:50 am

    @Elizabelle:

    Thanks for the link but I have a number of nits to pick with that quiz. It’s highly imprecise and inaccurate!

    Anyway, I love the season opener. Lots of Daisy and Carson and Patmore and Violet and Isobel, which is all I ask.

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