Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

We will not go quietly into the night; we will not vanish without a fight.

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

… gradually, and then suddenly.

The way to stop violence is to stop manufacturing the hatred that fuels it.

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

There are times when telling just part of the truth is effectively a lie.

They are not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.

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

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

Stop using mental illness to avoid talking about armed white supremacy.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

My right to basic bodily autonomy is not on the table. that’s the new deal.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

It’s pointless to bring up problems that can only be solved with a time machine.

Good lord, these people are nuts.

“woke” is the new caravan.

White supremacy is terrorism.

It is not hopeless, and we are not helpless.

Not loving this new fraud based economy.

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

I don’t recall signing up for living in a dystopian sci-fi novel.

“I was told there would be no fact checking.”

Books are my comfort food!

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Saturday Night Open Thread

Saturday Night Open Thread

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I’ve been not blogging much because I am busy with the new house (dumpster has been there since the other day and it looks like I am going to need a second one) and because I am alternating between freaked the fuck out about Trump winning and furious at people who might vote for Trump, Stein, or Johnson. I am also focusing on a new genre of photography, which I call “My Pets Being Assholes Jumping on Me While I Am Asleep.” I’m keeping my phone by the bed with the ringer off so I can catch pictures:

steveonmybelly

Thurstononmybelly

I should note you will never see Lily in one of these, because she is a perfect angel sleeping right to my side curled up in between my torso and my right arm underneath the covers.

In other pet news, Rosie has taken to licking Steve from neck to tail in a two inch wide swath down his back. He just sits there and lets her, so this leads me to believe he likes it. The first thing I thought of was licking toads, but she is not acting high, so it isn’t that. The only problem with this is that later on, after it dries, it gets matted, so I have to brush Steve thoroughly several times a day now. You can see the spittle matted hair in the picture of him here.

Big Walter update coming up later tonight.

Reader Interactions

82Comments

  1. 1.

    Trentrunner

    Some unspecified explosion in NYC. No identifying cause yet, whether gas line, IED, whatever.

    Meanwhile, Trump, speaking at a rally in CO, says “A bomb just went off in NYC, nobody knows what it is.”

    Jesus Christ.

    ETA: NYC Official says 15 people have minor injuries.

  3. 3.

    JPL

    Can’t wait for the Walter update…
    Trump in Colorado said there was a bomb in NYC. Someone might have put a pipe bomb in a trash can but it’s still unclear .. anyway I’ll share a tweet I saw online
    Guidelines when there’s a sudden crisis:
    The news tries to be accurate
    Twitter is sometimes accurate
    Trump just says shit

  4. 4.

    redshirt

    Cole, can you explain how/why your photography skills are so much improved? New phone? Training? Not drunk? Would love to know. Because your photos are worlds better then they used to be.

  6. 6.

    JMG

    John, the people who brought you the dumpster will empty it for you. It’ll cost, but less than another one.

  9. 9.

    JPL

    @SiubhanDuinne: There was a pipe bomb in a trash can in NJ earlier today. The explosion tonight was in a dumpster in the Chelsea area of Manhattan. Several people had minor injuries but there is no word about how the explosion occurred.

  12. 12.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    @redshirt:

    Fuck you. Cole has been sober for two years—which is none of your business anyway. Take your cheap “drunk” jokes and get out of his house.

    And you owe him an apology.

  20. 20.

    Mnemosyne

    Charlotte is going to be very cranky after this weekend, because her favorite weekend activity is to lay on my left arm and be cradled for a minimum of an hour while I’m laying down in bed, and I have activities outside the apartment all weekend. Poor kitty, her life is so hard.

  24. 24.

    JMG

    If Obama campaigned every day, that’d be great. If when challenged about who’s minding the store he said, “Joe’s got it,” that’d be greater.

  26. 26.

    John Cole

    @redshirt:

    Cole, can you explain how/why your photography skills are so much improved? New phone? Training? Not drunk? Would love to know. Because your photos are worlds better then they used to be.

    Bifocals.

  27. 27.

    PhoenixRising

    My Dane likes to groom the cat. The cat is 3 years old and has learned to tolerate this, as it’s been going on for 2.8 years. He’s a regular old short haired striped kitty from the pound, though, so we don’t have to groom him. Just baths once a month or so–to keep his dander less troubling for the humans.

    As to the dumpster, not Trump but the actual physical one–I’ve sometimes called and pled stupid, as in, Boy was there a lot more demolition than we spec’d so can you swap this out? They’ll charge you but you get the space to move around in the yard, vs moving up a size.

  28. 28.

    The Golux

    @JPL:

    …in the Chelsea area of Manhattan.

    Interesting factoid: The neighborhood of Chelsea is named after the estate owned by the family of Clement Clark Moore, author of “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (AKA “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas”). He made a fortune subdividing the estate, after vehemently opposing the grid plan for Manhattan, which made it possible for him to subdivide at great profit.

  29. 29.

    hovercraft

    @rikyrah: @EllenH:
    Repost from downstairs.
    Obama, “Hillary’s opponent says there’s never been a worse time to be a black person, well he must have missed that whole civics lesson about slavery and Jim Crow, but we’ve got a whole museum for him to visit.”

  30. 30.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    @redshirt:

    Cole’s photography has improved only very recently. To ask a “sincere question” linking it to something years in the past is bullshit. You are skating on the edge of the Asperger/asshole/”Moi?” zone pioneered by Little Boots.

  34. 34.

    No One You Know

    @redshirt I think there are kinder, truer, and funnier ways to compliment John on his photos. And not in mocking a problem beaten and beaten every day.

    The skill is in the photographer, not the equipment.

    Steve still does not suffer fools.

  39. 39.

    I'mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet

    ObFirstWorldBlogProblem: I understand Cole and the FPers have no control over the ads, but the autoplay HTML5 ad in the box that recently showed up (for me) on the right margin is annoying. UBlockOrigin lets me block it pretty easily, but I fear that the annoying ad people are going to be “more creative” in finding ways to annoy us with their stupid autoplaying videos…

    /rant

    Thanks again for this place.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  41. 41.

    Mary G

    @Elizabelle: That’s exactly what I thought – is that a toy alligator with lit-up eyes? I had to look three times.

    Great photo of Steve frowning at you for moving to get the phone and disturbing his rest, John!

    When the tenant from hell left the house I’m in now, we ended up using four big dumpsters. At some point point, it’ll feel like it never ends, but just power through.

  42. 42.

    CaseyL

    I’d like to know when, during a lifelong association with companion animals, I became conditioned to believe that nothing is worse than disturbing a sleeping kitty.

    When I get out of bed in the morning on weekdays- long before I want to, because I gotta go to work and all that – FSM forbid I disturb the fur persons who share the bed with me. I have basically crab-walked backward up over the pillows, then slid out from the very tip-top edge of the bed, in order to disturb not so much as a hair on Jeannie or Oscar’s head.

    Why do I do that? How did I get conditioned to do that? When did this happen??

  43. 43.

    dmsilev

    Obama back in the “jab at Trump and his hair-thing” mode:

    CNN Breaking News ✔@cnnbrk
    Obama jokes: Neither ISIS nor North Korea “weighed on my mind like the validity of my birth certificate” Watch live cnn.it/go
    6:38 PM – 17 Sep 2016

  45. 45.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Jon Favreau ‏@ jonfavs 2h2 hours ago
    Keep those sheets dry: Clinton +9 in PA, taken 9/12-16.

    Muhlenberg College poll

    in other news…

    Kenneth Goldsmith
    ‏@ kg_ubu
    God, I live on 26th St. & 6th Ave. and have been at home the whole time. The news media is making is sound like 9-11. NOT.

    the explosion, i.e.d. experimental device or improperly disposed of propane tank or the like, was in a dumpster, which I gather made it very loud.

  46. 46.

    Redshift

    Don’t freak out, it doesn’t do anything to help. Steady on, and do more of whatever you can do that does help.

    I’ve definitely learned to read polls better. The Clinton campaign sent me an email about polls from last week vs this week, intended to motivate me to give money, and the first thing I noticed is that they’re different polls between the two weeks. This week’s “bad” polls include two Rasmussen polls and the LA Times, which has had a strong Republican lean for months.

    It’s not that there’s nothing to worry about, but there’s definitely not as much to worry about as the media says. It also helps to know that “momentum” in polls, so beloved of the media, actually doesn’t exist. It’s just a statistical illusion.

  47. 47.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    ‏@ NancyHightower
    Yeah, peeps. I’m in Chelsea. I just walked to the area. We are chill. Many are eating gelato. Having a glass of wine. It’s not total chaos.

    Ivor Tossell ‏@ ivortossell 21m21 minutes ago
    Actual quote from NY1 eyewitness: “It was just a burning dumpster like you see around the city.”

  48. 48.

    Mai.naem.mobile

    I am having problems posting tonight. Anyhow,John, there’s a thread on Reddit with good advice from people on home remodelling. Stuff that they would do if they had to do it again or stuff they learned from mistakes and stuff they did right. Really worthwhile thread.

  55. 55.

    daves09

    @Steeplejack (tablet): Since Cole doesn’t seem to be bothered why are you? Do you think that whole portion of his life is just gonna vanish? How Victorian of you. It’s a part of his life, not something to be ashamed of. It happened then and this is what he is now, but it is still a part of what he is today.
    It’s not PC, but it’s oversensitivity to everything in the damn world.

  56. 56.

    JPL

    There appears to be to ied’s that have not critically injured people, but will get lots of news. Who does this benefit? Do we know where Trump’s kids are? Just hoping they are safe.

  57. 57.

    EllenH

    @hovercraft: Several people have posted a short video excerpt (~2 min) where he talks about his legacy being on the ballot etc. I think I’ve watched it 3 times and I made my daughter watch it. It is so inspiring! I’ll try to link it.

  59. 59.

    Mnemosyne

    @schrodinger’s cat:

    Poor Yogi. Our kittehs had to ride in the car and get their nails trimmed this morning, which they would like you to know is the WORST THING THAT CAN EVER HAPPEN TO THEM.

    Poor Charlotte had to get two car rides this week (she had a vet appointment on Tuesday), so she’s still annoyed about that.

  64. 64.

    J R in WV

    @Pogonip:

    I now have F’in tri-focals. I use the middle part for the computer, and bottom part for phone book / medical fine print, and the rest to look at the world and drive. It took me about an hour to get used to it.

    You can’t see where you’re walking clearly, because looking down you’re looking through the up-close focus part of the glasses, but really, you don’t need to see every ciggy-butt you step over, just curbs and steps. That was the biggest thing for me.

    I worked with a guy who couldn’t adjust – he had three pairs of glasses, one focused to look at his computer monitor, one focused for reading, and one for driving. Would drive me nuts. I have prescription sun glasses, I have myopia, which can make you extra sensitive to bright light.

  67. 67.

    John Cole

    @Pogonip: I don’t even remember it was so easy, really. Like maybe a couple of days of tnoticing I move my head a little to get things to focus. I got progressive and have no problem.

    @J R in WV: I have three pairs. One normal prescription sunglasses for driving and yard stuff and outdoors. One progressive bifocals. One set of computer glasses that are perfectly set for the distance from my head to the monitor.

  69. 69.

    J R in WV

    @schrodinger’s cat:

    Well, the fire department knows what they’re doing. You did the right thing to call them instantly !

    And Yogi-cat is better off not on fire, too.

    Take care, and Best of luck!

  70. 70.

    frosty

    @John Cole: I got progressives a few years ago and they’re a pain to get used to. Almost everything is out of focus, although just by rocking your head up and down you can bring what you’re looking at into focus.

    Better than the alternative though. I guess.

  73. 73.

    frosty

    @frosty: FYWP no reply?

    Anyway, I like your approach to just distance-only sunglasses and that’s what I’ll do next time. My days of reading at the beach are over.

  75. 75.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @J R in WV: I spend 70% of my time not wearing glasses. I would never adjust to multiple prescriptions in one lens. I have one pair for driving at night and watching movies (just renewed my DL and passed the test with no problems) and one pair for reading. Computers and modern TVs are no issue.

  77. 77.

    Mike E

    @Omnes Omnibus: Just got contact lenses (specs still good tho not bifocal) and the transition hasn’t been smooth as I’d hoped…might opt for more comfy lenses, they now make bifocal contacts also. Too

  78. 78.

    workworkwork

    @Mnemosyne: Had to take Emma, our five-year-old tuxedo kitty, to the vet on Friday for her annual physical. She was a complete brat for the entire session, though our vet is very gentle and loves cats. I almost felt bad for her because each time she managed to escape, she would climb into my arms and glare at him and his assistant.

    Henry, our ginger, is a complete gentleman – very relaxed and patient. He seems to be mellowing with age.

  80. 80.

    I'mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet

    Some good news from NoVA today – Washington Post:

    In a town that once took considerable pride in its Confederate past, the Alexandria City Council voted unanimously Saturday to change the name of Jefferson Davis Highway and seek permission from the Virginia General Assembly to move a renowned statue of a Confederate soldier in historic Old Town.

    The council’s actions went beyond the recommendations of a task force that studied what to do about the city’s controversial Confederate symbols, but not as far as some residents wanted.

    After a lengthy public hearing, the council agreed to try to relocate the “Appomattox” statue from the busy intersection of Prince and Washington streets, where thousands of motorists pass it each day. The pensive and unarmed south-facing Confederate soldier would be moved to a local history museum on the same corner.

    Relocating the seven-foot, bronze statue will be a heavy political lift. It cannot be moved without the agreement of the legislature, and the General Assembly passed a bill earlier this year further strengthening prohibitions against cities and counties removing war memorials. The legislation was vetoed by Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) in March.

    The statue occupies the spot where a local regiment mustered to retreat from the city just before Union troops seized Alexandria in 1861. Erected in 1889 and owned by the local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, it bears the names of Alexandria residents who died on behalf of the South. Once surrounded by an iron fence, grass and gaslights, its footprint has shrunk significantly, and vehicles have occasionally collided with it.

    It’s far past time that the statue was moved, and the road renamed. Progress though!

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  81. 81.

    ThresherK (GPad)

    @Mnemosyne: You don’t trim kitty nails? I am the designee for this task in our home. My wife’s cat-who bites me, too much-tolerates it better than mine, whom I have to bribe with treats during the chore.

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