Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

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

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

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

Usually wrong but never in doubt

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

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

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

Whatever happens next week, the fight doesn’t end.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Balloon Juice has never been a refuge for the linguistically delicate.

Everybody saw this coming.

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

The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.

No one could have predicted…

“Squeaker” McCarthy

Let there be snark.

You can’t love your country only when you win.

They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

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

The most dangerous place for a black man in America is in a white man’s imagination.

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

Not so fun when the rabbit gets the gun, is it?

You are here: Home / Economics / C.R.E.A.M. / Open Thread: Clueless, All the Way Up the Ladder

Open Thread: Clueless, All the Way Up the Ladder

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“Taking responsibility is for the little people, daahling!”

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266Comments

  3. 3.

    TenguPhule

    How much of a total dumbass do you have to be photoed in ball gowns while discussing fact that people compare you to Marie Antoinette?

    Republican.

    Next!

  5. 5.

    lamh36

    Chump the dumb muthaphucka backtracking already…one damn day of bad press…

    dumb fuq…Jeff Sessions and GOP State AG forced his damn hand and his dum azz went along with it.

    He thought having KKKeebler Elf make the annoucement he wouldn’t get dragged for it…but nope he’s being dragged ALL DAY!

    Add to it Obama blitzing his azz today…

  9. 9.

    Karen S.

    Trump, Louise Linton and her treasury dude husband, the evil elf Sessions and the rest … It’s like they’re cartoon villains come to life. And it’s all awful.

  11. 11.

    WaterGirl

    @lamh36: I have a sister who, if she says something that doesn’t go over well, says she was just kidding. Seriously, do these people think we are STUPID???

  18. 18.

    WaterGirl

    @JPL: From Mother Jones:

    But talking points put out by the administration tell a different story. Instead of instructing recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) protections to wait while Congress works out a legislative solution that gives them legal status, the talking points say Dreamers should prepare to leave to the country. The document states, “The Department of Homeland Security urges DACA recipients to use the time remaining on their work authorizations to prepare for and arrange their departure from the United States—including proactively seeking travel documentation—or to apply for other immigration benefits for which they may be eligible.” Multiple sources have attributed the document to the White House. It was sent to congressional Republicans, according to a source on Capitol Hill.

    Un-fucking-believable.

  19. 19.

    kindness

    @Baud: You can still see that stupid ad on most the other progressive blogs. I got really tired of it (hate the autoplay) last spring.

  23. 23.

    TenguPhule

    @WaterGirl:

    “The Department of Homeland Security urges DACA recipients to use the time remaining on their work authorizations to prepare for and arrange their departure from the United States—including proactively seeking travel documentation—or to apply for other immigration benefits for which they may be eligible.”

    I’m sure this will go over well with their employers.

  25. 25.

    lamh36

    @Baud: sure…if you actually believe that Chump isn’t doing exactly what he wants.

    The WH is circulating talking points to Congress telling em to tell Dreamers to basically get their affairs in order and find another way…or be prepared to leave.

    What da fuq does that dumb azz tweet or Chump’s “confliction” helps Dreamers or gives them ANY peace of mind?

  27. 27.

    Baud

    @lamh36: It’s impossible for anyone to have peace of mind with Trump. But “exactly what he wants” is really unknowable IMHO.

  28. 28.

    mai naem mobile

    I remember the interview Obama did with Michael Lewis where he said if some decision to be made reached his desk it meant it was a tough decision because an easy decision would have already been taken care of by his cabinet,generals and other appointees. Tough decisions where there’s no easy resolution. Dolt45 does not understand that or does not want to understand that. He also said he was surprised by the amount of reading he had to do and it’s not like he didn’t expect to be reading stuff. Dolt45 probably can’t even read at an 8th grade level.

  29. 29.

    TenguPhule

    Just a reminder that Congress is filled with a bunch of lazy assholes.

    Well, part of the problem is that, over the course of the month, both the House and the Senate are in session on only 12 days. For those keeping track at home, the month of September includes 21 weekdays. Meaning that on fewer than two-thirds of September weekdays, both chambers in the Capitol will be occupied.

    On only 40 percent of the days this month will both chambers be in session. But, then, the average since 1979 is only 46 percent.

    And September is a relatively good month historically, probably because it comes after the month of August, in which Congress rarely does anything. (On 82 percent of August days since 1979, neither chamber has been in session.)

    That said, on an annual basis, 2017 is poised to have an unusually high number of days in which both chambers are in session: 38.1 percent of the year, both the House and Senate will be at work on Capitol Hill. That’s the highest percentage since 2011.

    And they wonder why they’re hated so.

  32. 32.

    JPL

    @WaterGirl: Most of the dreamers have no home to go back to, because this is there home, and it’s time to fight back. I hope that who ever organizes marches, hands out white roses, in honor of Sophie Scholl.

  33. 33.

    Baud

    @different-church-lady:

    1. In any particular situation, whose praise and admiration is he seeking?
    2. What does he think he has to do to earn praise and admiration?
    3. How will he respond when he realizes he’s not receiving the praise and admiration he thought he would get?

  34. 34.

    Ben Cisco (onboard the Defiant)

    They are all garbage human beings, the lot of them. They richly deserve to be lambasted at every turn. I love the fact that they are getting dragged all over creation, and that PBO, with a simple, coherent, intelligent statement, has reminded them that they are not and never will be his equal, let alone superior in any way. As Rickyrah says, the curve for mediocre white men is REAL. 45 knows that he ain’t shit, and he’ll take it to his grave.

  36. 36.

    TenguPhule

    @AliceBlue:

    On top of everything else, it’s a really ugly ball gown.

    I was confused for a moment where it looked like she was wearing it backwards. Then I realized she just doesn’t have the bosom to carry it off.

  37. 37.

    Davebo

    Was it here that I saw the tweet that said basically “I wear a $10.00 dress but I don’t have to fuck Steven Mnuchin”?

  38. 38.

    Kay

    In the piece she says “since this happened I have been researching social issues in my community and reading the heartbreaking stories of people’s experiences with homelessness and abuse”

    What community is this? She’s sitting in an all-white living room dressed in a red satin ballgown. What stories? There are people being abused in that building?

  39. 39.

    different-church-lady

    @Baud:

    1. In any particular situation, whose praise and admiration is he seeking?
    2. What does he think he has to do to earn praise and admiration?
    3. How will he respond when he realizes he’s not receiving the praise and admiration he thought he would get?

    1. Everyone’s.
    2. Exist
    3. Nuke North Korea

  42. 42.

    Ian G.

    “He doesn’t understand the ramifications of his decisions” would be an apt description of the time 16 year old me drank about 80 ounces of flavored malt liquor at a house party and was vomiting up bile for about 24 hours afterward.

    I, of course, would trust my dumbass 16 year old self a lot more in running this country than I would trust our current White House occupant.

  46. 46.

    p.a.

    Josh Marshall calls it Trump’s Razor: think of the stupidest choice possible, and he’ll do worse. Fox/scorpion/river.

  50. 50.

    TenguPhule

    @Ian G.:

    I, of course, would trust my dumbass 16 year old self a lot more in running this country than I would trust our current White House occupant.

    I would trust the piano playing chicken that’s in charge of Baud over the Trump in the White House.

  53. 53.

    lamh36

    oh…let’s talk movies…

    Latest news from the Disney live-action Aladdin film, directed by Guy Ritchie

    Disney’s Live-Action ‘Aladdin’ Casts Billy Magnussen as New Character (Exclusive) http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/disneys-live-action-aladdin-casts-billy-magnussen-as-new-character-1035329 via @thr

    Really though…theyHAD to add a white suitor to the live action Aladdin…really…really…

    Sigh…Guy Ritchie and Disney ain’t SHIT for this

  54. 54.

    Amaranthine RBG

    @mai naem mobile:

    I don’t believe for a second that Trump reads anything. I would wager that he is “briefed” on everything in simple soundbites.

    Well, I take that back, his daily “clippings” supposedly included lots of screenshots showing what Fox news had been saying in those rare moments when he couldn’t watch it.

  55. 55.

    Kay

    @p.a.:

    Just think “what would an asshole do or say in this situation?” and then wait. He does it or says it. Foolproof.

  57. 57.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Kay: In the piece she says “since this happened I have been researching social issues in my community

    she’s well known for her research into challenging issues and thoughtful reflection about world affairs

    From 2009 to 2011, in various interviews Linton described her 1999 gap year volunteer role in what she described as “war-torn Zambia” and the night she spent “hiding in the bush as Hutu rebels attacked the village she was working in.”[7][10][16] In 2016, Linton drew wide criticism for her self-published memoir about her experiences in Zambia, titled In Congo’s Shadow, co-authored by Wendy Holden.[11] After an excerpt from the memoir was published in The Telegraph, the excerpt drew intense scrutiny and many readers objected to her false portrayal of Zambia.[17] Linton shortly thereafter withdrew her book from sale.[18] The Zambian High Commission in London and others have criticised the book for its inaccuracies and promotion of the false narrative of “the white saviour”.[18][19][20][21] She later apologised for causing offense and promised to donate all profits from the book to an appropriate charity.[22] The Telegraph withdrew the article and also apologised for any inaccuracies.[23][24]

    I think she basically got laughed out of London

  58. 58.

    Adria McDowell

    Re: Hurricane Irma- thinking of the folks in the islands tonight, especially my family in PR. Tomorrow morning potentially will not be pleasant for them.

    I also have family in Florida, so this week is gonna be crazy. Betty Cracker, Adam Silverman- stay safe out there!

  66. 66.

    Kay

    Ivanka Trump rushed to work Tuesday morning while seemingly hiding in an SUV just hours after DACA protesters stood outside of her luxurious D.C. home begging her and Jared to stop the president from ending the program.
    Secret Service agents were photographed putting car-seats into a black SUV that was eventually backed into the home’s garage where Ivanka reportedly got in before departing.

    She could stop going to work. No one would notice and she can’t be fired anyway. No rush, Ivanka. Go, don’t go, doesn’t matter.

  70. 70.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Kay: Ivanka Trump rushed to work

    Ha! work!

    Secret Service agents were photographed putting car-seats

    like, for small children? the trump White House has daycare?

  71. 71.

    efgoldman

    @Adria McDowell:

    I also have family in Florida, so this week is gonna be crazy. Betty Cracker, Adam Silverman- stay safe out there!

    Following Andrew, our then high-school daughter went with Habitat for Humanity to build houses in Homestead and Liberty City. The houses they built were much stronger than the ones which Andrew destroyed, but I wonder if they’ll survive Irma. I hope so.

  74. 74.

    Anne Laurie

    @AliceBlue:

    On top of everything else, it’s a really ugly ball gown.

    Yes, but anything involving feathers sewn into patterns had to be painstakingly hand-done, ergo expensive, which seems to be Linton’s only metric.

    @JPL:

    I was thinking a fifties bedspread.

    Like your granny’s guest-room chenille?

  79. 79.

    Anne Laurie

    @Major Major Major Major: Sorry if I sounded snappish — just got home myself. The quarter / dime / dollar bill trick is a standard on sales websites, where potential buyers want to estimate size of an item or pattern against something ‘universally’ familiar. Saves a lot of time answering questions after the fact when you’re emphasizing how small or big something is…

  80. 80.

    Adam L Silverman

    @efgoldman: If Irma hits Florida at its present strength, or even, Deity forbid, greater, then they won’t. There are maybe a few dozen buildings in Florida designed and constructed to withstand 180 plus winds. And almost none of them are homes.

  84. 84.

    Amaranthine RBG

    The funny thing is to read Linton’s statement – which, honestly, is really well done. Abject apology. Sounds sincere. Hits all the right notes.

    And then, like you said, just marvel at the fact that she appeared in a ball gown along side it.

    This suggests (heaven forfend) that the person wearing the pretty clothes may not be the person who wrote the statement.

  88. 88.

    Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes

    @TenguPhule:

    If they proactively go to the overabundant Second Amendment emporia in this country in this six month period and Second Amendment solve their problem with some visiting ICE and CBP thugs, right wing pastors and pundits, I can’t say that I’d be saddened, as I don’t think normal demonstrations are likely to cut it.

    Is there a GoFundMe for this sort of purpose yet?

  90. 90.

    efgoldman

    @Adam L Silverman:

    There are maybe a few dozen buildings in Florida designed and constructed to withstand 180 plus winds. And almost none of them are homes.

    All the kids signed their names inside a piece of wallboard, thinking no-one would ever see it once the wall was closed up.

  93. 93.

    Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes

    @Kay:

    Ivanka Trump rushed to work Tuesday morning while seemingly hiding in an SUV just hours after DACA protesters stood outside of her luxurious D.C. home begging her and Jared to stop the president from ending the program.
    Secret Service agents were photographed putting car-seats into a black SUV that was eventually backed into the home’s garage where Ivanka reportedly got in before departing.

    I want her lonely, isolated and despised.

    “Daddy!” (stomps foot in petulance). “EVERYBODY hates me!!!”

  97. 97.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Davebo: It depends. I think it is going to be devastating going through the Caribbean. Whether it is the same thing to the US will depend on what it does after Friday. And that’s where the anxiety is coming from. It is still unclear exactly what it is going to do.

  101. 101.

    Adam L Silverman

    @efgoldman: They may yet get their time in the sun. And the wind and the rain. And the flooding.

    That’s going to be the real problem going forward. My understanding from the reporting is that we’re already short, nationally, on wallboard to do repairs, reconstruction, and new construction after Harvey. Imagine how much worse that gets if Irma makes landfall at its current strength or stronger.

  104. 104.

    ? Martin

    To put 180MPH winds in context – that’s an F3 tornado, except this one is 50 miles wide and lasts half a day.

  108. 108.

    Mai.naem.mobile

    Louise Linton should just be wearing whatever Marie Antoinette was wearing during the French Revolution, carry around Dolt 45s best chocolate cake evah! and throw crumbs, out of her limo, at the commoners.

  111. 111.

    Mai.naem.mobile

    @Adam L Silverman: don’t worry the Chinese can sell us lots more drywall to make us sick. I am sure Kris Kobach,Pam Biondi and Ken Paxton will be interested in pursuing those liability cases on behalf of their constituents.

  121. 121.

    Fair Economist

    @Adam L Silverman:

    If Irma hits Florida at its present strength, or even, Deity forbid, greater, then they won’t. There are maybe a few dozen buildings in Florida designed and constructed to withstand 180 plus winds. And almost none of them are homes.

    Winds inland are always much weaker than winds out on the ocean. Land provides a lot of friction and slows down the air considerable. Well built buildings even a couple of miles inland should be OK.

  129. 129.

    SFAW

    @WaterGirl:

    I have a sister who, if she says something that doesn’t go over well, says she was just kidding.

    Years ago, I had a boss who, after sexually harassing some of the women in our department — fortunately, they did not work for him — tried the “I was only kidding!” bullshit. HR was not amused. Actions were taken, but he did not suffer nearly enough punishment for his actions.

    I hated working for him for plenty of other reasons, but his harassment gave some others insight into what an asshole he was.

  134. 134.

    Jeffro

    @p.a.: I thought Trumpov’s Razor was to think of the dumbest, most self-serving explanation that fits with the available facts and there you go – that’s probably what went into a given decision.

  137. 137.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Mike J: The major gypsum mines and processing plants are on the big bend of Tampa Bay. Irma is going to wipe that right out.

  138. 138.

    Jeffro

    @Major Major Major Major: Eighty thousand angles on Trump-Trump-Trump! and we’re still waiting for that bold expose’ on what Clinton voters think about all of this shit. It’s okay, media moguls, it’s not like you have 65 million people waiting to see and hear their side of the story being told…

  140. 140.

    West of the Rockies (been a while)

    Trump’s the guy who rips one in an elevator and starts glancing around for the culprit.

  141. 141.

    Adam L Silverman

    @debbie: Based on where we are at, our plan is to make the evacuation call early Friday AM once the models past Friday have firmed up enough to have better clarity about where the storm is going. If we decide it makes sense to go, we’ll leave then. Other than that we’re just getting stuff ready. I’ve restocked and refreshed the first aid kit. We’ve got food. We’ve got some water and will be getting more and/or setting more aside using refillable containers. We’re moving stuff around in the house in case there’s flooding if we do have to bug out to minimize damage to things. If it looks like evacuation is the thing to do, we will do it.

  145. 145.

    Omnes Omnibus

    Completely and selfishly OT: I got a belated b-day present today. John LeCarre’s A Legacy of Spies. It was belated because the book was released in the US today. The book is centered around Peter Guillam and he has always been my favorite LeCarre character. I love it when people get me.

  150. 150.

    Adam L Silverman

    @debbie: 1) We’re not that far south. 2) The earliest it would get here is Monday night given where we are. 3) I’m coordinating this with my brother who works at NOAA. 4) I have a deep tissue massage scheduled for Thursday…

  151. 151.

    Amaranthine RBG

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Look, I know that you are still embarrassed when you made some idiotic statements about the law and I had to set you straight. I guess you’re a lawyer and you’re one of those lawyers who (like many dumbasses) thinks s/he know much more than s/he does. But you should take it as a learning experience.

    Following me around from thread to thread shouting “Trolly trollio” in response to posts of mine which you acknowledge are not trolling just makes you look small. Petty. SAD!

    You can do better!

  153. 153.

    Achrachno

    @TenguPhule: “How much of a total dumbass do you have to be photoed in ball gowns while discussing fact that people compare you to Marie Antoinette?”

    Is it possible that the photo session and the interview were separate events, combined by the editors for whatever reason? But even if so, it doesn’t alter the fact that the woman is out to lunch in the next state over.

  155. 155.

    efgoldman

    @Amaranthine RBG:

    Following me around from thread to thread shouting “Trolly trollio” in response to posts of mine which you acknowledge are not trolling just makes you look small. Petty. SAD!

    So that’s at least two or three people who have been here way longer than you, who apparently have nothing better to do than troll you.
    What a sad little Trumpety-like self-centered small person you are.
    Get fucked and go find some other kids to play with while the grownups are talking.

  156. 156.

    Jeffro

    Is it safe to say that Linton doesn’t want to end up as cut off and hated as Ivanka appears to be?

    And I mean, I get that: Linton’s husband is worth a LOT more than Ivanka’s dad or husband or dad x husband

  157. 157.

    Amaranthine RBG

    @Achrachno:

    Oh, no, she even said at one point something like “Look I recognize this might sound bad along side pictures of me in a ballgown”

    Just a disaster.

  160. 160.

    Davebo

    @Adam L Silverman: I have in-laws in TnC who hopefully are getting out now.

    I can’t see this ending well for FL. After going through Harvey I hope everyone gets prepared. (Still, I have 240 bottles of water that will last a long long time).

  162. 162.

    cain

    @WaterGirl:

    Where will these people go exactly? Deported to where? If I’m Mexican, what documentation do I have to prove that I can stay in Mexico and that I was born there? I say, do nothing and tell them I have no documentation for where I am, nobody will extend me a visa. In fact, Mexico can simply refuse to accept them citing they have no documentation and punt it back to the U.S. Airlines won’t fly you anywhere unless you have a visa. HOw many of these kids even have a passport?

  167. 167.

    Amaranthine RBG

    @NoraLenderbee:
    Exactly!

    If I were such a delicate butter-filled crispy, crispy, crispy piece of puff pastry that I actually got upset by reading what some moran wrote on a blog, I would cling to that pie filter like a drowning man. Just type in the name and BOOM SHAKALAKA the world is a safe, pillowy place again.

    People who follow people around they don’t like from thread to thread and ACTUALLY READ WHAT THEY SAY are some truly brain-addled special people. They need help.

    Its a great comfort to me to see that the people who engage in this behavior usually have political views different to my own because this reassures me that I am on the right track in life.

  168. 168.

    magurakurin

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Bernie Sanders (a Socialist!)

    facts not in evidence

    socialism
    ˈsəʊʃəlɪz(ə)m/Submit
    noun
    a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.

    Bernie’s not a socialist. He’s just a fuckwit gadfly who got voted off the island at a hippie commune he’s such a lazy piece of shit.

    Fuck Bernie.

  176. 176.

    ? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?

    Didn’t read the thread, but that SLC police asshole was fired. Some good news at least

  178. 178.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    OT(sort of): The kid just posted a pic of herself from the Space Needle with downtown Seattle in the background, I don’t think I’ve ever seen it that hazy(low clouds and rain, yes). It looked worse than LA has the past few days. Stay safe PNW juicers.

  179. 179.

    Adria McDowell

    @Fair Economist: This would be true if Florida wasn’t as flat as a pancake. It has no mountains like Hispaniola to weaken the storm.

    And winds inland could be enough to destroy a mobile home, of which there are MANY in Florida. Nevermind the potential lack of water/electricity/everything else in the weeks after a direct hit from a storm like this.

  180. 180.

    Adam L Silverman

    @debbie: Actually that’s the easiest bit to reschedule. It comes down to leaving ourselves enough time to get out if we think we have to based on the forecast models, but not leaving so early that that is not the case.

  181. 181.

    cain

    @Adam L Silverman:
    Can you speculate the path? Hopefully not major cities, right? Just the coastal areas? Also, don’t you think you guys should evacuate? That seems like the smart choice.

  184. 184.

    Raoul

    Further evidence of the utter collapse of America:
    Harvard’s Institute of Politics has named Corey fucking Lewandowski one of their fall 2017 visiting fellows.
    Just obscene. But I suppose having a $37.6 billion endowment makes an institution both tin-eared and subservient to the idiot rich.
    Gaaah!

  185. 185.

    Adam L Silverman

    @? ?? Goku (aka The Hope of the Universe) ? ?: Never a good sign when the rest of the body cam footage is released and the first thing you say after you get the nurse into the back of the squad car is: “I’m also an EMT and I’m going to arrange for all the transients to be dropped off here”. And the second is: “I wonder if I’m going to lose my second job as an EMT”?

  186. 186.

    Amaranthine RBG

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Hey do could we get a couple of those Mies van der Rohe Barcelona chairs and foot rests up in here?

    And maybe a nice Pendleton throw or maybe one of their blankets commemorating our wonderful national parks?

    A better sound system would be nice too – not much space – so maybe a couple of those really thin B & O speakers that hang on the walls.

    As it is, this place is a dump, I mean it looks like Cameron Diaz’s hovel in Being John Malkovich. All cramped and urine-soaked and whatnot. What are you also supporting a deadbeat s/o with you meagre earnings because their puppets raise issues?

    The thing is, Omnes, if you are going to let me live in your head 24/7, maybe you could spruce the place up a bit?

  189. 189.

    cain

    @Jeffro:

    They are still praying for that Trump pivot to normal too. They’ll never get it. Fucking morons. They proabably have piece already written for Trump’s triumphant response to Irma.

  190. 190.

    hitchhiker

    That Linton woman sounds exactly like this high school girl who used to live next door to us. She got caught trying to shoplift a blouse or something. She wrote an apology note to her mom that had precisely this tone. OMG, I don’t know why I did that, I’m really, really not like that, in fact I’m really super generous but I’ve been thinking about this for DAYS and I’m so ashamed and sorry and from now I’m gonna be spending my time volunteering to help the poor.

    And so on. I mean, it was certainly sincere. It was also juvenile af, written out of shame at having gotten caught being stupid. The Linton situation seems to be that she’s realized she’s trapped and has to behave herself from now on.

    Just like a sophomore busted trying to get out of Nordstrom’s with a silk blouse in her bag. Mom’s going to be paying close attention from now on.

  191. 191.

    Adam L Silverman

    @cain: The forecast models are still uncertain past Friday. You just can’t forecast these things that far out with any certainty. As for evacuating, we have plans to do so if, on Friday AM, the forecast tracks indicate it will come to where I am at. Either direct hit or close hit. If that is the case we’ll leave that morning.

  192. 192.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Kraux Pas: Is telling you to fuck off trolling you? You copped to intentionally trolling this blog. Why should anyone trust that you have stopped? Some of us can be assholes, but that is different than trolling. You burned your take you at good faith card a while ago.

  196. 196.

    ruemara

    @Davebo: That tweet is perfection.

    And that dress is as hideous as the oaf wearing it. It’s a good think I’m sitting here in my ice pants or I would be steaming mad.

  198. 198.

    efgoldman

    @Gravenstone:

    We can always go back to lathe board and plaster construction.

    Our 1920s house had, I think, goat hair mixed with the plaster to give it strength.

  199. 199.

    GregB

    Jeebus. Irma is triggering siesmological equipment.

    Not to mention a new storm named Jose is teeing up behind her.

  200. 200.

    cain

    @Adam L Silverman:

    @cain: The forecast models are still uncertain past Friday. You just can’t forecast these things that far out with any certainty. As for evacuating, we have plans to do so if, on Friday AM, the forecast tracks indicate it will come to where I am at. Either direct hit or close hit. If that is the case we’ll leave that morning.

    Sounds sensible. Hopefully you have a basement or something you can hang out at while things are blowing outside… also you don’t have any trees or anything that could fall on your house?

  205. 205.

    trollhattan

    Worked with some guys who rode out Typhoon Paka on Guam. Said the wind drove rain through their exterior concrete walls, but luckily didn’t destroy the apartment building. Here’s a tidbit.

    Passing a short distance north of the island, Typhoon Paka produced strong winds across northern Guam, though reliable wind reports are incomplete due to the long duration and intensity of the winds. The highest reading believed to be reliable was at Apra Harbor. There, a station recorded a wind gust of 277 km/h (171 mph) before the sensor failed as winds shifted to the southwest; since the winds from the southwest were stronger and of greater duration, officials believe gusts there reached 297 km/h (184 mph).[4] Additionally, Andersen Air Force Base recorded a peak wind gust of 381 km/h (236 mph),[12] which at the time was considered the highest wind speed on record, surpassing the 1934 world record of 372 km/h (231 mph) on Mount Washington in New Hampshire.[13] However, a subsequent wind survey of the area discarded the reading at the base, as it was considered unreliable.[12] As microbarographs are less exposed than wind sensors, pressure readings on the island are considered accurate; the lowest reading on the island was 948 hPa (27.99 inHg) at Andersen Air Force Base.[4] In two days, the typhoon dropped about 533 mm (21 in) of precipitation on the northern portion of the island, or about 89% of the monthly rainfall total.[14] Waves along northern Guam reached about 11 m (35 ft) in height.[15]

    The strong winds from Paka left around 1,500 buildings destroyed on the island,[15] of which 1,160 were single-family homes.[8] A further 10,000 buildings sustained damage to some degree,[15] with 60% of the homes on the island reporting major damage.[8] In all, about 5,000 people were left homeless due to the typhoon. Additionally, an estimated 30–40% of the public buildings received major damage.[8] Buildings on the island made of reinforced concrete fared well, as opposed to light metal-frame structures, which more often than not were destroyed. Large tourist hotels near Hagåtña, on which Guam is dependent, received generally minor damage, such as broken windows and damaged power generators.

    –Wikipedia

  207. 207.

    frosty

    @efgoldman: I thought it was usually horsehair in the plaster. Nothing like taking one of those walls down – the stuff is like popcorn, it expands when you break it up.

    As for going back to lath and plaster instead of wallboard, where are you going to find plasterers that can make a flat wall any more?

  208. 208.

    Kraux Pas

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    You copped to intentionally trolling this blog.

    After MONTHS of being trolled by a particular clique of assholes, a clique in which you figure prominently. Trolling is OK for thee but not for me? I see how it is.

    You troll everyone here you don’t like. No matter what’s being written, you can’t seem to address someone without consulting your personal opinion of that person first. And if you don’t like them, regardless of what they wrote, you’re answer s guaranteed to be trollish (dishonest, off-topic, unedifying, etc). I don’t agree with a lot of what Amaranthine writes, but ARBG isn’t the reason I get less enjoyment out of reading and discussing politics. I posted here regularly for years and years with no issue. You personally ruined that. You’re literally among the worst people I’ve ever interacted with, so congrats.

    I’ve accounted for my trolling. Please account for yours. K? Thx.

  210. 210.

    Fair Economist

    @Adria McDowell: Even Florida knocks down the winds a lot. For example, look at this HWRF projection of Irma coming ashore in FL as a Cat 4. There are scarcely any winds above Cat 1 inland – because of the Everglades.

    Mobile homes, yes, those are not safe in those winds.

  211. 211.

    Adam L Silverman

    @cain: There are no basements in Florida because of the water table. We have trees on the property. Appropriate trimming by an arborist was done a couple of months ago to minimize the possibility of damage to the house.

  214. 214.

    MoxieM

    @Gravenstone: It is better, after all. But, raw materials? And the *resident is exiling so many skilled folk. I doubt there are many who really know the old time trade anyway … oh, wait … you were joking. Fool an old-house person! Ha ha joke’s on me

  215. 215.

    seaboogie

    @Davebo: Every day, as I scan my limited wardrobe before dressing, I am grateful that fucking Steve Mnuchin is never on my “to do” list. It gives me a great measure of peace, and makes getting dressed for the day quite easy.

    Nobody shall ever accuse me of sucking that d-bag’s dick for diamonds, because I have standards – starting with I’m not a fan of diamonds.

  217. 217.

    ruemara

    @chris: compression pants with special slots to hold ice packs. Supposedly activates brown fat but I think it works best for a lower body cool down that only soaking ice can beat. And then I found this gel pack/belt thingy. So my lower body is packed in cold. Shout out to Clan Gildwrith who found it where I left it and sent it to me. I was wondering where it had gotten to.

  218. 218.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Kraux Pas: I disagree with your assessment. I disagree with regular commenters quite often. I don’t care for trolls, sure.

    You personally ruined that. You’re literally among the worst people I’ve ever interacted with, so congrats.

    I will wear that with pride. I do hope that the humidity in your hothouse is maintained. But, Jesus, I am not worth that degree of opprobrium.

  220. 220.

    efgoldman

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    I posted here regularly for years and years with no issue. You personally ruined that. You’re literally among the worst people I’ve ever interacted with

    Amazing the power you have on a simple blog, innit?

  221. 221.

    seaboogie

    @Kraux Pas: If you’ve been paying any sort of attention, you’d know that OO is typically terse and pretty snarky – qualities that are generally appreciated around here.

  223. 223.

    Mnemosyne

    @Amaranthine RBG:

    Gosh, you sound upset. Maybe you should book a massage at your Jackson’s Hole resort when you go next week. I’m sure it will make you feel better to know that all of us wage-earners are stuck at work while you enjoy yourself.

  229. 229.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @seaboogie: Krope is a long time commenter (troll) . I have argued with him a lot. He is simply an asshole.

    Thank you for being the kind of person who assumes good faith. The world need needs people like you.

  230. 230.

    Mary G

    Cunningly enough, the two designers of the ball gowns in the Linton article, Jason Wu and Inez di Santo, were plucked from obscurity and rocketed to fame and fabulous careers by none other than some woman named Michelle Obama. She has a much better eye, or else they both loaned Louise the ugliest things they had in the showroom in hopes she’d go to someone else.

  231. 231.

    Kraux Pas

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    I disagree with regular commenters quite often.

    Disagreeing isn’t the problem. Again, the problems are the dishonesty, deliberate misdirection (I think your response here falls under this category), lack of edifying commentary.

    If you disagree with someone you like, you’ll have a conversation about it. Disagree with someone you don’t like and you distort their comment, make vague dickish statements, allude to the idea that you may have supporting facts that proves the other person wrong but why bother?

    But, Jesus, I am not worth that degree of opprobrium.

    You ever stop to consider that I mostly avoid assholes? That I mostly get along with people? I mostly got along with people here until I got on your wrong side. The competition for worst person in my life isn’t very strong. But for turning what I had considered a haven into a hostile environment, you definitely rank high. So enjoy keeping company in my headspace with one of the two people who robbed me one time and a particular catfish I followed through on a date with.

    @seaboogie:

    If you’ve been paying any sort of attention, you’d know that OO is typically terse and pretty snarky – qualities that are generally appreciated around here.

    I myself appreciate those qualities. That’s not the issue here. Omnes is the fucking devil.

  232. 232.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @MomSense: OMG, I am just so happy that she got me that well. I started to read it and realized that I can’t do it until the weekend – what with going to to work and all….

  233. 233.

    Sab

    @Kraux Pas: I’ve been feeling that myself. Late night here often feels like watching the mean girl clique in junior high 50 years ago. And I usual love Omnes comments on his own. But there are about four of them that just gang up on people. Happened to me a couple of times. I sorta deserved it, but why can’t they ignore the idiots instead of piling on.

    Not defending ARBG who is often trollisms, but today he/she/it was trying to be sentitled today.

  235. 235.

    joel hanes

    a lower body cool down that only soaking ice can beat.

    On Aug 17th of this year, aboard a small cruise ship in SE Alaska, I went up on the observation deck in hat, raincoat, heavy overshirt, shirt … and shorts and sandals, because I hate wet trousers and shoes. Temp maybe 45 F, drizzle occasionally shading to rain. I counted nine humpacks in two groups, spouting and flukes but no spy-hopping; subsequently saw eight mountain on a seaside cliff, and then we got to the glacier face and it was calving. I was up there over two hours before I felt cold and went below.

    I’m an Arctic-adapted guy. I could live on Gethen, in Karhide, though probably not in Perm. I’ve skied Squaw half days in wet blizzards, and all day in dry blizzards. I carried papers in three N. Iowa winters, and walked to school uphill both ways.
    I like my bedroom about 64 F, or cooler.

    But wet and cold had a surprise for me.
    I got actual chilblains over every bit of my skin between knees and toes, and now, two weeks later, only now are they almost healed.

    Do not be as stupid as I was.

  236. 236.

    Kraux Pas

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Keep up, I’ve had this name for months.

    ETA: You just seem drawn to fights. That’s probably how you managed to not notice my name for a while. Might wanna consider your own troll credentials, you being one of the other bullies I often feel the need to stand up to.

    “Troll” and “not-troll” are not permanent states of being.

  237. 237.

    Mary G

    @Mary G:Vanity Fair last January:

    Michelle Obama arrived at the presidential inauguration on Friday alongside Jill Biden, wearing a red coat dress by one of her favorite designers, Jason Wu. A representative for the designer told Vanity Fair in an e-mail, “Michelle Obama wore a Jason Wu red/black mélange tweed jacquard dress with matching double breasted coat.” The now former FLOTUS wore gowns by Wu during both of her husband’s inaugural balls, raising the designer’s profile immensely.

    I imagine he and his publicist are weeping, drinking, or swilling Pepto-Bismol right now.

  239. 239.

    Mnemosyne

    @Sab:

    It’s happened to me a couple of times. You can’t take it too personally. Some nights are weird, and it’s not unheard of for people to drink and comment.

  243. 243.

    Kraux Pas

    @Omnes Omnibus: Well believe me when I said you’re a troll. Because you’re a fucking troll, troll. You’re the worst kind of troll which, much like the worst kind of racist, is one who thinks he isn’t.

  247. 247.

    Sab

    @Mnemosyne: I am guilty of that so I don’t take it personally. I just go to sleep. But the late night pile- ons of other people do bother me.

    I do like Omnes a lot, but he is being trollisms tonight.

  251. 251.

    Mnemosyne

    @Sab:

    Heh, I tried to reference a long-banned troll and my comment went bye-bye.

    Anyway, we all have our particular troll who drives us nuts. I would just scroll on past.

  252. 252.

    Kraux Pas

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Just because I have your number way too big an idea of myself

    Fixt,

    I’ve seen poseurs so many times.

    Pro tip, “poseur” is a good word to avoid in a discussion about your cliquish junior high behavior.

    It is tiresome.

    It’s hard to fully describe the impact of someone taking something you enjoyed doing and ruining it for you. Tiresome is a start, but it only scratches the surface.

  254. 254.

    joel hanes

    @Kraux Pas:

    No matter where you go: there you are.

    Walk toward Zaragosa; walk away from Zaragosa — either way, you’re on the road to Zaragosa.

    You don’t like it here. Do something else, something that makes you happy.

  256. 256.

    Kraux Pas

    @joel hanes: That’s the thing. I used to be happy here. Between Trump’s election and OO’s trolling I’ve not been able to enjoy reading about or discussing current events. Not just here, it tarnished literally every media outlet and public forum for me at least a little bit.

    I’ve been here for ten years, this is as close to “home” as I have on the internet. I used to post here every day and, despite my frustrations, I still read every day. I love coming here for different perspectives on stories and links to info that I might have otherwise missed. If you wanna set things right for yourself, start at home. I won’t get over my despondency over world affairs until have somewhere I feel comfortable posting. That has traditionally been here. I would like it to be again, but that won’t happen until I’ve stood up to the bullies and come to some sort of an understanding.

  257. 257.

    Gretchen

    Earl Grey and green tea with vanilla soy milk? She can’t even offer someone a cup of tea without being affected.

  258. 258.

    joel hanes

    @Kraux Pas:

    some sort of an understanding.

    You take what you need and you leave the rest.

    Dinna fash yersel’, laddie.

    Don’t take life so serious. It ain’t nohow permanent.

  259. 259.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Kraux Pas: ETA: You just seem drawn to fights. That’s probably how you managed to not notice my name for a while.

    That, or I don’t really care that much.

  260. 260.

    Sab

    Glad I am not in everyone’s pie filter because I have been a drunken
    late night jerk on this site, which I dearly love

    .Eldercare is real but it pretty much sucks. Someone you dearly love has become a timid vegetable, and you have to protect them.

  261. 261.

    opiejeanne

    @Gravenstone: Lath and plaster. Lath is a thin strip of wood. A lathe is a wood-working tool used to turn chunks of wood into table legs and similar. /pedant

  263. 263.

    Gretchen

    @Kraux Pas: I’m not seeing what Omnes Omnibus is doing that’s making you feel trolled, and so trolled you don’t want to be here any more. What’s happening?

  266. 266.

    Jack the Second

    @MoxieM:

    Doesn’t the Secret Service have better things to do than install child seats? Gah! these people.

    Eh, I’ll spot them that one. If you don’t feel competent putting in your own car seat, they’ll tell you to go down to your local police or fire station.

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