Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Accountability, motherfuckers.

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

They were going to turn on one another at some point. It was inevitable.

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

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

Republicans want to make it harder to vote and easier for them to cheat.

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

We know you aren’t a Democrat but since you seem confused let me help you.

The next time the wall street journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

I’d like to think you all would remain faithful to me if i ever tried to have some of you killed.

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

He really is that stupid.

I swear, each month of 2025 will have its own history degree.

Donald Trump found guilty as fuck – May 30, 2024!

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

He wakes up lying, and he lies all day.

There are no moderate republicans – only extremists and cowards.

It is possible to do the right thing without the promise of a cookie.

The rest of the comments were smacking Boebert like she was a piñata.

Speaking of republicans, is there a way for a political party to declare intellectual bankruptcy?

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

Republicans: “Abortion is murder but you can take a bus to get one.” Easy peasy.

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

You are here: Home / Pet Blogging / Dog Blogging / Wednesday Morning Open Thread: Faithful Old Friends

Wednesday Morning Open Thread: Faithful Old Friends

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thoms kara

From commentor Thom:

This is Kara. We adopted her ten years ago from a Lab rescue group in Virginia. (We live in New Jersey!) She was found abandoned in Maryland. Our vets think she was maybe 3 or 4 years old. So now our girl is 13+. In October of 2014, she developed diabetes. She gets her insulin shot after breakfast and dinner. She’s also pretty much deaf at this point but if you shout loud enough she hears you. Especially if the word is dinner. The diabetes also caused cataracts so she is fairly blind at this point though she sees shadows and movements at a distance. She has no problem getting around the house or out in the backyard. She also has her two big brothers (two more Yellow Labs) as guide dogs. All that being said, she’s as happy as a clam. Sleeps a lot. But she still knows when it’s time to eat and wags her way to her dish. She is our treasure, our joy, and our pleasure.

***********
Nothing like a happy sleeping pet to make the noisy world seem calmer…

Our rescue dogs Zevon and Sydney came through their dental surgeries in good form, and were very happy to be home again last night even though they are still quite woozy, partly due to the painkillers. Turns out Sydney the puppy-mill product had even more mouth issues than his geriatric ‘sibling’ — including an extra molar and ‘tooth wear due to malocclusion’. Gloria, who didn’t get to go have a surgical adventure, is suspicious of the both of them and angry at the two humans who she assumes are trying to put one over on her. But it’s very tranquil, for the moment!

Apart from that, what’s on the agenda for the day?

===================================
ETA: More good news, from the Washington Post:

Iran has freed the sailors from two American naval vessels that had strayed into Iranian waters, prompting their seizure and detention by Iranian coastal forces.

“Ten U.S. Navy Sailors safely returned to U.S. custody today, after departing Iran,” said a statement early Wednesday from U.S. Naval Forces Central Command. “here are no indications that the Sailors were harmed during their brief detention.”

According to the statement, the Navy will investigate “the circumstances that led to the Sailor’s presence in Iran.”

Reader Interactions

137Comments

  1. 1.

    raven

    Sweet pup.

    Can anyone get that punk ass motherfucker Steve Schmidt on so he can apologize for ripping Obama over the 10 Sailors who have now been released?

  2. 2.

    Mustang Bobby

    There is nothing more therapeutic than seeing a dog sleeping contentedly. Hence the saying to let them be.

    I liked Steve Schmidt a lot better when he was Woody Harrelson.

  10. 10.

    raven

    @Patricia Kayden: Oh he started out just raging about the nuke agreement and Iranian “provocations”. Like to see what we’d do if Iranian PBR’s were floating around off Panama City.

  11. 11.

    Schlemazel

    @raven:
    We have friends that used to have this tiny terrier-mix pup & it loved to surf. It started when they would toss the ball but the dog learned it could sort of ride a wave and after a while it would swim way out and just coast back. It would go out far enough that they were scared she would get lost. Did that for years and the only problem was one time it came back with a jelly fish attached. She didn’t let that stop her though. That was in the days when video cameras were rare which is a shame because I am sure she would have been a hit on youtube.

  12. 12.

    Satby

    I start every morning with soft classical music, a lighted candle, and the sound of softly snoring dogs while I sip my coffee and catch up on the late night threads here. It’s a very tranquil way to start the day. Which I highly recommend to everyone.

  13. 13.

    OzarkHillbilly

    THIS IS UNAMERICAN!.

    “The US solar installation sector employs 77% more people than the domestic coal mining industry. Since 2014, solar installation has created more jobs than oil and gas pipeline construction and crude petroleum and natural gas extraction combined.”

    I blame Obama.

  15. 15.

    Satby

    So, not SOTU related, the girls and I started planning a spring break road trip down to Florida for me to visit my mom and scope out places to look for a house to rent. We want to stop at Lookout Mountain on the way, does anyone have other suggestions for things to see along the way?

  16. 16.

    PurpleGirl

    NY1 just had the story about the sailors being released by Iran.

    Doggie pictures are nice. Of course it’s hard work being cute, so the animals have to take naps.

    I had trouble sleeping last night so I’m still up. Finally did some paperwork and I’m planning my day. I’ll go out relatively early, get the errands run and then come home and sleep. Also took down the pine wreath I’d had on a table with ornaments one it and on an ornament “tree”. So the holidays are over in my house. Breakfast in a little while.

  20. 20.

    Patricia Kayden

    @David Koch: The answer to your query rhymes with snow. Hypocrisy and inconsistency is a trademark of the Rightwing. It’s almost as if they all have selective amnesia where they can’t see their own faults.

  23. 23.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @David Koch: I’m sure things would all be better if we had no relationship with Iran.

    ETA: (Humming that old Beach Boys song, “Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran…”)

  24. 24.

    Germy

    why do I get the feeling that Kim Davis attended the SOTU fully intending to heckle, but chickened out at the last moment? The camera lingered lovingly on her (I think when Obama was speaking about extremism) and it looked like she wanted to yell something.

  26. 26.

    David Koch

    @OzarkHillbilly: keep every nut and bolt. par for the course. You know how Red China forces foreign companies to turn over all technical knowledge in order to do business in the mainland.

  27. 27.

    NorthLeft12

    Regarding the “detention” of the ten US sailors; isn’t it amazing how small things stay small things when there is some small level of trust and understanding between countries? Same goes for people too.

    I can barely imagine the shitshow that would be going on now if Presidents Trump, Cruz, Rubio, et al were in charge. I am sure that the government of Iran would be receiving a strongly worded note from Mr. Cotton and his gang of mental midgets.

    BTW, it would be nice if Sen. Cotton did send a small thank you note to the Iranian government for their response in this case. HA HA HA HA HA HA!

  29. 29.

    debbie

    Up until this year, I worked second shift, so this year was the first time I watched the SOTU in four years (not closely enough to see Kim Davis, thank god). I thought the best moment was when Obama — while standing before Congress, the Cabinet, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Supreme Court — named Iraq a quagmire.

  30. 30.

    Baud

    @NorthLeft12:

    I can barely imagine the shitshow that would be going on now if Presidents Trump, Cruz, Rubio, et al were in charge.

    We could find out soon enough.

  32. 32.

    Patricia Kayden

    @NorthLeft12: It’s great to have an adult like President Obama in charge. He’s cool and levelheaded. And no, I wouldn’t want to imagine what a Trump or Cruz would have done to blow up this minor incident involving Iran. I can’t imagine any of the Clown Car Occupants with their finger on the nuclear trigger.

  41. 41.

    Elizabelle

    Good morning, peeps.

    Kara is lovely. And glad to hear Zevon and Sydney are better for their dental adventure yesterday.

    Listened to the SOTU and the Haley response (public radio); haven’t seen the visuals yet. From your comments, one misses a lot — the Paul Ryan smirk, the Haley rictus.

  43. 43.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @Baud:

    You’ve got an NFL team back. Maybe several.

    Meh.

    @Baud:

    The Chinese use the same word for “opportunity” and “Bush is weak.”

    I don’t remember the character for that, I’ll have to look at my Chinese dictionary.

    ETA: I was thinking my Chinese dictionary would be too old, but then remembered Pappy Bush was ambassador to China in the 70’s.

  45. 45.

    greennotGreen

    @Satby: I grew up in Chattanooga. I’m pleased to say my hometown has matured nicely. The aquarium is excellent, I’ve seen my two of my most favorite exhibits ever at Hunter Art Museum, and as long as you’re on Lookout, you might as well go kitsch and See Rock City.

    Unless you’re going way out of the way, Atlanta Botanical Garden is excellent, really close to NYBG in quality.

  46. 46.

    David Koch

    Des Moines Register Poll – Iowa — Jan 7-10.

    The birtherism is working – Rafael Cruz drops 6 points in 1 month.

    Trump is up 1 percentage point since the poll was last taken in early December; Cruz has dropped 6 points during a period when he was under almost constant attack from Trump

    Cruz…………………25%
    Trump……………….22%
    Lil’ Marco…………..12%
    Carson………………11%
    ¿Jeb ?………………..4% ◄

  47. 47.

    Steeplejack

    @Satby:

    “See Rock City!”

    Back in the day it was common for farmers to get some extra income by putting advertising signs on their barns near the highway. I was fascinated by them as we drove through the South in the ’60s. The roofs were usually Rock City or Mammoth Cave. I also liked the signs for Clabber Girl baking powder. To this day that’s my brand.

  49. 49.

    Mustang Bobby

    @Steeplejack: Barns in my part of Ohio had “Treat yourself to the best: chew MAIL POUCH Tobacco.”

    I’m also old enough to remember Burma-Shave signs: “Pedro walked/Back Home/By Golly/’Cause His Beard/Was Hot To-Molly/Burma-Shave”

  50. 50.

    Steeplejack

    @Satby:

    If you go through Atlanta, I second the recommendation above for the Atlanta Botanical Garden. I see that starting April 30 they are doing an “encore exhibition” of glass artist Dale Chihuly’s installations in the gardens. I saw the original show in 2004, and it was phenomenal.

    Your girls also might be interested in the Martin Luther King Jr. Center. Very powerful.

  51. 51.

    The Red Pen

    The wingnuts were just getting the outrage-o-matic up to speed when the sailors’ release was announced. They’d barely started calling it the New Iranian Hostage Crisis™ and bam! it’s over.

    Meanwhile, instead of getting to gloat over how Nikki Haley stuck it to President Ni-clang, they has a sad over her terrible remarks about having to be nice to legal, hardworking immigrants.

    It’s a dark day to be a wingnut.

  52. 52.

    MomSense

    What a good girl Kora is. I love her Princess and the Pea dog bed. I notice she didn’t shred half of it because I can’t see the foam hanging out.

  53. 53.

    Mustang Bobby

    @The Red Pen: What’s the over/under on the conspiracy theory that the whole thing was cooked up as a plot between Obama and our new BFF’s in Tehran to make him look like a diplomat and embarrass the nutsery?

  57. 57.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @Satby: You can learn all about history’s greatest cave explorer, Steven Bishop, a slave who’s owner had this to say after his death:

    I placed a guide in the cave — the celebrated and great Stephen, and he aided in making the discoveries. He was the first person who ever crossed the Bottomless Pit, and he, myself and another person whose name I have forgotten were the only persons ever at the bottom of Gorin’s Dome to my knowledge.

    After Stephen crossed the Bottomless Pit, we discovered all that part of the cave now known beyond that point. Previous to those discoveries, all interest centered in what is known as the “Old Cave” . . . but now many of the points are but little known, although as Stephen was wont to say, they were ‘grand, gloomy and peculiar.’

    Stephen was a self-educated man. He had a fine genius, a great fund of wit and humor, some little knowledge of Latin and Greek, and much knowledge of geology, but his great talent was a knowledge of man.

    I know guys who survey there on a regular basis and they are still finding his initials in passages way deep in the cave, miles and miles from the entrance..

  62. 62.

    Gin & Tonic

    The story about Kara reminds me too much of our little buddy, who also developed diabetes at about age 10. Twice-daily insulin, test strips, no treats, eventually cataracts so he couldn’t hardly see at all, but still a happy little pup and a joy to have around right up until it got too bad and he had some kind of seizure. at age 15+. Still miss the little guy.

  63. 63.

    I'mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet

    @Satby: There are lots of interesting things in Atlanta, but you may not have the time.

    As a kid, I spent an hour or so at the Cyclorama and it stuck with me, but I see it’s closed (they’re building a new space for it).

    Maybe the Carter Center or the King Center / MLK Memorial? (I haven’t seen either – they’re on the list).

    Enjoy!

    And, check your store. :-)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  65. 65.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @Baud: If Obama was strong and showed leadership the Iranians would have never taken our sailors in the first place.

  68. 68.

    Patricia Kayden

    @Mustang Bobby: I’m sure Alex Jones is on it right now and will be spreading it through his Info Wars network for the next couple of days until the next new shiny conspiracy comes along.

  70. 70.

    raven

    @I’mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet: The Cyclorama will be moved to the Atlanta History Museum but it’s still in Grant Park as of now. The Zoo is also there. Little Five Points is full of hipster joints and Virginia Highlands is close too. The High Museum of Art is nice and Fernbank is as well. Downtown has the ferris wheel, Centennial Olympic Park and the Aquarium (somehow I don’t think this group will be interested in the College Football Hall of Fame). It’s fun to climb up on Stone Mountain and, despite the statue, the diversity of visitors is amazing.

  71. 71.

    Germy

    Saw a great magazine profile on Leslie Jones. This anecdote impressed me:

    One night, I had dinner with Jones at Buddakan, an Asian-fusion restaurant in Chelsea that looks like it could serve as a set for “The King and I.” “The dan-dan noodles here are fucking insane,” she said. After dinner, dessert, and a couple of rounds of Patrón, we took a cab to the Comedy Cellar, in Greenwich Village. The booker, Estee Adoram, greeted Jones with a hug and implored her to perform, but she preferred to socialize. She walked past the comedian Judah Friedlander—he grabbed her arm and said, “Keep kicking ass”—and took a seat next to Larry Wilmore. At one point, the reactionary pundit Ann Coulter stopped by their table. Wilmore was courteous, but Jones leaned across the table and stage-whispered, “What the fuck is this frightening bitch doing here?” Coulter’s face froze in a rictus, and she soon backed away from the table.

  74. 74.

    danielx

    Three Four degrees and more snow expected….boo hiss. But it’s back to semi-normal weather, since January in our fair state is supposed to be miserable. I was wearing a t-shirt last week.

  75. 75.

    danielx

    @Germy:

    Coulter’s face froze in a rictus, and she soon backed away from the table.

    I wasn’t aware that Coulter had any other expression.

  83. 83.

    ThresherK

    @Germy: Did she take the “Tina Fey path”? I thought she’d been an SNL writer for quite a time until a memorable Weekend Update appearance, and now she’s performing regularly.

    She was not quite born “out of fncks to give”, but from what I’ve read of her she’s exhausted her supply awhile ago. And good for her.

  84. 84.

    Satby

    @Steeplejack: I was thinking of Atlanta or Savanna on the trip back, you’re making me lean Atlanta. I was wondering if there’s a historic plantation place that would give a more realistic, less GWTW take on the slavery that continues to haunt the country to this day. I think that would be good to see.

  86. 86.

    raven

    @Satby: I’d do Savannah if I were you. It’s really beautiful and lots of interesting things to do and see. There are a number of carriage tours and the old city gardens and squares are something to behold. The place was going down the crapper but “Midnight” and the Savannah School of Art and Design saved it. You can go out to Thuderbolt and Tybee as well.

  87. 87.

    Patricia Kayden

    @Germy: Oh oh. Coulter is going to get her buddy Trump to deport Jones along with Governor Haley. It will be huuuge.

  88. 88.

    Germy

    @ThresherK: Leslie Jones has been doing standup for decades. I saw an old clip of her at the Apollo from 1990 (back when many of the SNL performers and writers were in elementary school) and you’re right, she started on SNL as a writer. I think she’s a great comedian.

    @danielx:

    I wasn’t aware that Coulter had any other expression.

    Do her books really sell? Or do they get bought up in bulk by RW thinktanks to drive up her numbers?

  89. 89.

    raven

    @Satby: Jarrell Plantation is close to Macon.

    Nestled in the red clay hills of Georgia, this cotton plantation was owned by a single family for more than 140 years. It survived Gen. Sherman’s “March to the Sea,” typhoid fever, the cotton boll weevil, the advent of steam power and a transition from farming to forestry.

    They also filmed “Fried Green Tomatoes” at the Whistle Stop right near there.

    http://www.thewhistlestopcafe.com/about-the-whistle-stop-cafe.php

  90. 90.

    Germy

    @Patricia Kayden: Here’s why I think Coulter is a performance artist who doesn’t give a shit about what she says. I saw an article about Jorge Ramos (remember the journalist who got kicked out of a tRump rally?) and there is this encounter with Coulter:

    I have never heard Ramos say a cynical word. His zeal and outrage seem deeply felt, genuine. But I did notice, after the Trump press conference in Iowa, as Ramos was leaving the convention center, that he briefly crossed paths with Ann Coulter, who was preparing to introduce Trump at the rally. She seemed surprised to see Ramos, but unfazed. Not a word was said. They were two troupers, old pros, busy plowing their respective rows. They swerved toward each other and exchanged a quick fist bump in passing.

    I remember an episode of the Boondocks, when an Ann Coulter-type character meets an Al Sharpton-type character backstage at a debate, and they act like best buddies, fellow thespians preparing to play a role.

    Of course, the role Coulter chooses to play makes it evident she’s an odious piece of filth.

  91. 91.

    Satby

    @I’mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet: Scott, you’re too good to me, thank you!

    I was thinking we’d overnight in Atlanta on the way home and spend part of the next day at some of the great suggestions you, raven, and Steep are making. It’s a chance for the girls to see a lot more of the country. And it occurred to me that at age 60, it will be the first “spring break” trip I’ve ever taken. I worked in high school and college, never had spring break off ;)

  96. 96.

    rikyrah

    RAFAEL is an American Citizen.

    THAT is not in question.

    He, IS NOT

    a ‘ natural born citizen’ of this country.

    He was not born on an American Military base abroad.
    He was not born in an American Embassy abroad.

    He was born in another country.

    Even had citizenship in that country.

    Let’s take it to the Supreme Court.

    ……………………

    Ted Cruz is not eligible to be president

    By Mary Brigid McManamon January 12 at 11:24 AMMary Brigid McManamon is a constitutional law professor at Widener University’s Delaware Law School.

    Donald Trump is actually right about something: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) is not a natural-born citizen and therefore is not eligible to be president or vice president of the United States.

    The Constitution provides that “No person except a natural born Citizen . . . shall be eligible to the Office of President.” The concept of “natural born” comes from common law, and it is that law the Supreme Court has said we must turn to for the concept’s definition. On this subject, common law is clear and unambiguous. The 18th-century English jurist William Blackstone, the preeminent authority on it, declared natural-born citizens are “such as are born within the dominions of the crown of England,” while aliens are “such as are born out of it.” The key to this division is the assumption of allegiance to one’s country of birth. The Americans who drafted the Constitution adopted this principle for the United States. James Madison, known as the “father of the Constitution,” stated, “It is an established maxim that birth is a criterion of allegiance. . . . [And] place is the most certain criterion; it is what applies in the United States.”

  98. 98.

    raven

    @Satby: I’m serious, it’s great. You can see some of the ATL stuff quickly on the way south but Savannah is special. There is a hotel across the river from downtown and a free ferry runs every 15 minutes or so. The Bohemian Hotel has a bar on the roof that has a great view of the river, low country and downtown.

  101. 101.

    debbie

    @Satby:

    If you decide to go that way, have the girls read “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.” It gives a real sense of character of Savannah, its citizens, and the Deep South.

  104. 104.

    Josie

    @MomSense: That looked so familiar. I used to stack quilts on top of a futon cushion for my akbash Teddi, after she got so down with doggy arthritis.

  107. 107.

    WereBear

    Wanted to say that the President’s SOTU got me into a rant at Mr WereBear: What have we accomplished with Republicans in charge?

    Deteriorating educational system, destroyed economic system that President Obama somewhat averted, anger and hatred and spite. We are being ground down into nothing.

    This is the country who pioneered safety laws, found the polio vaccine, and put a man on the moon.

    We can be great again. We just need to get the assholes out of the way.

  108. 108.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @WereBear:

    What have we accomplished with Republicans in charge?

    Odd; the other morning on Joe of the Morning, Nicolle Wallace told me the Democrats were in charge in DC.

  109. 109.

    MomSense

    @Josie:

    I’m feeling badly now about only using one bed for my old lab. It did move closer and closer to the fireplace however. He did seem very cozy in his spot.

  110. 110.

    Punchy

    How, in the military world of near-perfect GPS, does one “stray” into Iranian waters? Unless there was a storm that literally blew them over the border, I’m calling shenanigans on the idea that the US Navy mistakenly entered Iranian territory. Unpossible.

  111. 111.

    JPL

    I had over sized beds or pillows for my Golden and Shar Pei. Pudgy, the Shar Pei was punished one time and in retaliation, he pulled that large bed out in the hallway to sleep, rather than in my room. Sometime during the middle of the night, he had pulled it back.

  112. 112.

    MomSense

    @Punchy:

    Small boats, mechanical failure, current, and probably some shenanigans. If I had to guess, we were conducting exercises near Farsi Island when things went wrong.

  113. 113.

    Amir Khalid

    @Punchy:
    Yeah, that did occur to me too. It’s also possible that the boats suffered a steering problem, two of them at once. Anyway, the Navy and John Kerry said, “Our bad, sorry” and got away with just a scolding because Iran wasn’t inclined to make a big deal of it.

  115. 115.

    WereBear

    @BillinGlendaleCA: I’m talking since 1980.

    Growing up, it knew we had won a World War, polio vaccine, tahilidomide prevention, created the weekend, Iwas near Cape Canaveral when the mission went up and we went to the cafeteria to see it all happen on television.

    Republicans specialize in telling us we’re lazy and weak and don’t deserve nice things. I’m sick of the situation. I’m sick of them.

  116. 116.

    Punchy

    @OzarkHillbilly: When I was in Australia, my colleagues made a point to mention that it was good for my health to avoid all snakes, period. They were especially animated about this Brown snake; apparently it’s extremely aggressive (and absurdly poisonous) and merely running away from it can get it to chase you, even if you’re no longer threatening it. Basically a snake Trump would love.

  119. 119.

    japa21

    @Amir Khalid: From all the reports, one of the boats developed mechanical problems and drifted towards Farsi Island. I suppose one of the boats could just have deserted the other one, although something tells me that would go against military protocol.

    This was obviously a nothingburger which means the GOP had to jump on it. Because all they got is nothingburgers and they know it.

  123. 123.

    Paul in KY

    @raven: Will be going to Atlanta in early May for Shakey Knees music fest. My hotel is near Centennial Park. Will have 1 day to see whatever before fest starts.

    All you Huey Lewis fanatics (got to be 16 or so), they will be doing the Sports album in its entirety. Yippie.

  124. 124.

    J R in WV

    So the WaPo says that

    Iran has freed the sailors from two American naval vessels that had strayed into Iranian waters, prompting their seizure and detention by Iranian coastal forces.

    This is a mischaracterization of the events with an obvious intent to stir up hard feelings between Iran and the USA, with the obvious label of war-mongering. Now that we have helped bring an end to Iraq’s military nuclear research program, and have an operating relationship with Iraq, the Washington Post, journalistic superstar of the nation’s capitol, is war-mongering.

    How patriotic! How advanced, politically! How disgusting a use of the freedom of the press, to attempt to create political tension between America and one of the most important national actors on the Middle East stage! A nation we have poked around in repeatedly over the past century, and still – from the actions of the WaPo – being dicked with if the WaPo has anything to say about it.

    The people running the Washington Post have lost whatever sense they may have had when hired to manage that historically august institution. Which is no longer august due to their misuse of the levers of power, their wrong-headed ideas about what a newspaper is about, how to make a newspaper a positive force for good in the world.

    I grew up in a small town newspaper, and many staff members rose to the Washington Post – regarded as riding to the highest point in their professional careers! – way back in the 1960s and 1970s. Now I think, as a child who grew up in the newsrooms of that small town in the 1950s and 1960s, I would be able to do a better job running the WaPo than the idiots evidently in charge over there today. What an embarrassing come down for the one-time great newspaper, that an amateur believes he could improve their management, with a good chance for truth in there.

    Just not being war-mongers would be a good start! To stop lying about Republican chicanery as if it were an answer to the problems confronting the world would also help. But to ask for that is to ask for the Washingtop Post to become a real, progressive newspaper again, and we can’t have that, can we? Even if it eventually improved profits in a business sector apparently doomed by its stupidity. Argggh!

  126. 126.

    PurpleGirl

    @debbie: I agree with having the girls read the book. Do not depend on the movie for the real feel of the place. The book is much, much better. (I read the book after seeing the movie and the book is better, hands down.)

  128. 128.

    J R in WV

    @Satby:

    Look for a larger Civil War battlefield park near your path south. They can be quite moving when you really think about the loss of life for the support of the nation, and for the eventual freedom of the slaves. Some day real soon now…

    I would have to research both your route and the well-done battlefield parks near the route, but Google is your friend. Just look out for a state park extolling the unique gallantry of the southron gentlemen, you would want to skip that!

  129. 129.

    raven

    @Paul in KY: I’m glad to see they moved it. My niece had tix last year and she had to bail so I sold them. It was at Atlantic Station on the fucking concrete and folks were none too happy.

  130. 130.

    raven

    @J R in WV: Chickamauga and Kennesaw Mountain are the most prominent. I did the Battle of Atlanta Tour and I know more that the guide but the Atlanta sites are all gone and there are nothing but signs. Cheatham’s Hill is about 5 miles from Kennesaw Mountain proper. There is a huge Illinois Monument there in honor of Sherman’s insane assault, his only frontal of the campaign. Weirdly my ancestor was on the right flank of “The Dead Angle” with the 11th Tennessee. He was killed a month later at the Battle of Atlanta. One thing that is interesting is the Oakland Cemetary where 3000 Confederate Unknowns, Margaret Mitchell and Bobby Jones are buried.

  132. 132.

    Satby

    So many great suggestions. Thanks everyone; and raven, that sunset totally sold me on Savannah. Purplegirl, now I have to read the book of Midnight, because I only saw the movie.

  133. 133.

    NorthLeft12

    @OzarkHillbilly: Huh? Wha? Good gawd almighty!

    Fortunately, the good guy with a back up gun was able to out draw his drunken buddy after his drunken buddy had [allegedly] taken his main weapon and [allegedly] threatened him with it.

    Also, bonus points to the “Marshall” for his thorough investigation to determine that it was self defence. According to the Facebook posts and news story, sounds like they spent almost fifteen minutes to determine this. Yeah, nothing to see here folks! Just another [last] day in the life of a well respected RWNJ gun humper.

    I really don’t mean to milk this tragedy for cheap laughs, but is this what passes for police work in the great state of Texas? WTF!

  135. 135.

    NorthLeft12

    @J R in WV: Agree 100%. Saying the sailors were seized and detained after they had strayed into Iranian waters is a pretty slanted way of reporting the story. Apparently, the possibility that the one boat had a mechanical failure and the other was unable to tow it away, and that they drifted into Iranian waters was not an exciting enough story for the Post. The possibility that the Iranians provided aid and brought the US sailors to a safe location before arrangements could be made to return them to international waters and a US ship that would be equipped to tow them to safety was also too dull for the Post.

    They really are caricatures, aren’t they?

  136. 136.

    HinTN

    @Satby: Amazingly, Rock City is a worthwhile place to spend some time. There’s a GREAT restaurant called Canyon Grill on the back end of Lookout. Point Park is a nice walkabout and view of the Tennessee river and downtown Chattanooga. Downtown is one of those revitalization worth seeing.

  137. 137.

    Groucho48

    @J R in WV:

    ABC News just now did a much worse report. They had a guy asking why the boats didn’t defend themselves. They kept showing a shot of the crew with their hands locked over their heads and “some folks” are talking Humiliation! Major provocation! Outrage! Why was there no one nearby to parachute in and rescue them!?!, etc. Kerry having to make 5 (FIVE!!!) phone calls to Iran before Iran agreed to release the crews. Can the U.S. ever recover from this!?

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