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When do the post office & the dmv weigh in on the wuhan virus?

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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Evening Open Thread: How Is It Only Tuesday?

Evening Open Thread: How Is It Only Tuesday?

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Interesting. I was listening and had to come back and rewind to make sure I heard correctly.

Busy day here – we had wind gusts up to 85 mph, electricity was out for long periods, trees down all around  – luckily none impacted my yard directly – although the neighbor’s tree just missed my fence as it came down.

My yard is littered with sticks, but that’s the worst of it.

How did your day wind down?

And also: RIP Carl Kasell

Reader Interactions

103Comments

  2. 2.

    efgoldman

    My yard is littered with sticks

    Our yard is covered in sticks, and twigs, and a few very large branches that would have damaged the house or shed with a direct hit. It was a long winter in New England

  3. 3.

    Adam L Silverman

    Here’s something no one has yet to address: does the President get invited to the funeral? Does he go? Can you imagine his behavior?

  4. 4.

    rk

    How many more Kenyan muslims can be commander in chief? White people’s heads are going to explode!

  5. 5.

    Old Dan and Little Anne

    I googled hannity to find out if he was on the radio today and wound up reading a Twitter feed of his supporters for a minute. Bad mistake.

  6. 6.

    dmsilev

    Tell me about it. I spent about fourteen hours at work this weekend, plus a long day yesterday, and finally got two crises under control by the middle of this afternoon. I then asked my minions if they could please defer any additional crises until next Monday at the earliest.

  7. 7.

    Adam L Silverman

    @rk: The real issue is the conspiracy freaks will be out of the woodwork because of BATF’s Operation Fast and Furious. Even though it started during the Bush 43 administration, they are convinced Holder came up with it and is still hiding something to protect President Obama. I’ve had people tell me that the real point of the op was to get weapons south of the border for the CIA so that they could invade the southwestern US from Mexico. I then asked if what was being suggested was that the US was going to invade the US? The people telling me this said yes.

  8. 8.

    Anya

    I don’t really think Eric Holder is thinking about running but why did he say that? Even if he was really thinking about it, it doesn’t help to show your hards this early.

  10. 10.

    dmsilev

    @Adam L Silverman: I can’t imagine that Barbers was very fond of him to put it mildly, and she was the sort who I can definitely imagine leaving instructions specifically on who to snub at her funeral.

  11. 11.

    Starfish

    We were having trees planted today in the wind. I am thankful that the Tree Farm people staked them down really well. Facebook people were passing around this video of a trampoline in the wind. There were reports that a trampoline had struck power lines somewhere.

  12. 12.

    RobertDSC-Mac Mini

    How about no, Mr. Attorney General. Stick to what you are doing now. Leave it to someone else, preferably younger than you.

  16. 16.

    Calouste

    Holder will be 69 in 2020 and has no elected experience. I suggest he keeps his thinking to thinking.

    Although he would make an awesome lighting rod for RWNJ conspiracy theories.

  19. 19.

    mai naem mobile

    The Obama alums I would like to see running is Jeh Johnson and Ash Carter. I don’t have a problem with Castro except I think he’s too young and needs more seasoning. Ash Carter is running some kind of Innovation collaborative organization at MIT or/and Harvard. I saw him on CNBC and I am even more impressed by him.

  20. 20.

    Adam L Silverman

    Ooopsie!

  21. 21.

    frosty

    My day wound down by driving east from Pittsburgh through snow flurries. In April. Latish April. Ugh.

    OTOH, came back from seeing my elder spawn and celebrating his birthday in our family tradition, by going out to whatever restaurant the B-day person wants. He picked Texas de Brazil. Oh my, that was quite a lot of meat for dinner. And really good, too. And also one of the biggest checks I can remember picking up.

  26. 26.

    Adam L Silverman

    @frosty: I’ve been. I’m a huge fan of the beef ribs! That said, we have a small, family owned Brazilian chirascuria in the area that I prefer to go to. They don’t have quite the selection of meat that Texas de Brazil has, but I make it up on volume!

  27. 27.

    mad citizen

    Been awake for 19 hours today, flying from Indiana to New Orleans for a three days of meetings. No issues on my Southwest flights, so am grateful for that.

  28. 28.

    SectionH

    Sounds to me like Doug!worthy trolling from Holder. Well, reads, I can’t play the video here. Hope that’s not just wishful thinking.

  29. 29.

    magurakurin

    @RobertDSC-Mac Mini: It’s a free country. If he wants to run, he’s welcome. I don’t plan to vote for anyone eligible for SSI in the primary, though. Might be ageist, don’t care. A lot of people are going to run next cycle. It will be Thunderdome.

  30. 30.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Tim C.: @debbie: I’m pretty sure it’s the same extremist group doing business as a socio-cultural outreach group that paid for Congresswoman Gabbard’s junket to Syria about 3 or 4 years ago.

  31. 31.

    chris

    @Adam L Silverman:

    …the CIA so that they could invade the southwestern US from Mexico. I then asked if what was being suggested was that the US was going to invade the US? The people telling me this said yes.

    Wait til they hear about the border with Canada. 3500 miles long, mostly undefended against the socialist horde.

    (I was way too late to comment on it so thank you for your piece on Andre Bissonette and his twitter friends. I was concerned that it would get little to no coverage south of the border but you and Charlie Pierce came through.)

  34. 34.

    rk

    @Adam L Silverman:

    The real issue is the conspiracy freaks will be out of the woodwork because of BATF’s Operation Fast and Furious.

    Well they have a conspiracy all ready to go. They’ll invent a few more just to be on the safe side.

  35. 35.

    Mike J

    @mad citizen: I once awoke in Columbia, MO at 4am to catch a bus to St Louis where I caught a plane that had an engine failure and had to return and then got on anther plane that got diverted because of weather before I got into Boston at 2am.

  36. 36.

    dmsilev

    @Adam L Silverman:

    I then asked if what was being suggested was that the US was going to invade the US? The people telling me this said yes.

    Maybe they think the idea is to get the US to commit to some post-invasion nation-building as a way of rebuilding our infrastructure.

    Hey, it worked (sort of) for Grand Fenwick.

  40. 40.

    Adam L Silverman

    @dmsilev: Nope. It was a very old friend and teacher who has gone off the rails egged on by his loon of a friend who does nothing but gets him in trouble. And has done so for decades.

  41. 41.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @Adam L Silverman: Kucinich is slime. In the immortal phrase of efgoldman…

    On Barbara Bush’s funeral: I imagine that all the living first ladies would be invited, to include Melania, but as others have noted, she may have left instructions on Donald.

    Now, at HW’s funeral, the sitting President, no matter how tainted, by protocol has to be there. I expect a lot of fidgeting on Donald’s part…another disgraceful display of how he’s unfit for even the purely ceremonial aspects of the office.

  42. 42.

    Ruckus

    @magurakurin:
    I’m way past old enough for SS, in fact I’m receiving my monthly tomorrow.
    And that really does slant my take on this. Here it is.
    I’m not in favor of anyone old enough to get SS running for president. And I think Holder is a good guy. But damn the minimum age is 35, do we really need someone who is twice or very nearly twice that? The old farts have had their run and what have most of them done for the country?

  43. 43.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Aleta: I don’t know much about protocol, and less about fashion, but is it weird that Nancy Reagan wore white to both Lady Bird J’s and Betty Ford’s funerals?

  45. 45.

    lamh36

    I’m off to bed, but first, had some broccoli that I needed to cook before it went bad, some elbow mac…and some mozzarella cheese mix..so I made Broccoli Casserole!! This one could serve 8-10 depending on if I use it as an appetizer or as a side!

    Before & After

    https://twitter.com/psddluva4evah/status/986406724927180800

    Gonna spend a couple of hours internet surfing and lurking until I fall asleep

  46. 46.

    magurakurin

    @Ruckus: Yeah, I totally agree. But I’m sure we’ll be hearing how Harris and Booker, in their 50’s, are too young. Hell, they are borderline in my (our) book. I’m 55 and I’d really like to see someone younger than me get the nod next time around.

  47. 47.

    Amir Khalid

    @Adam L Silverman:
    The British Royal Family despises Trump, just like most Britons and a majority of Americans. Y’know how they made Harry and Meghan’s wedding a family occasion, rather than a state one, so that Theresa May would have no power to add Trump to the guest list? The Bushes too despise Trump, and the senior members of the family are private citizens now with no real obligation to invite him. I expect they will choose to snub him.

  50. 50.

    hervevillechaizelounge

    @Bobby Thomson:

    Seriously, my first thought was Kucinich was paid in rubles; why isn’t anyone in the MSM making a bigger deal out of his deal with RT?

    Russia is fucking with our elections to install republicans; even if I believed Hillary was raping 6-year old crisis actors on a bed of thick-crust cheesy pepperoni I’d still understand Putin is NOT our friend. WTF?

  51. 51.

    frosty

    @Adam L Silverman:

    That said, we have a small, family owned Brazilian chirascuria in the area that I prefer to go to.

    Which part of Florida would that be? We’re booked* for the Panhandle next year, but there’s always a next time.

    * FL State Park** campgrounds take reservations 11 months in advance, so we’re working on the next trip as soon as we get back from the last one.

    ** The Real Florida (TM). 3-time Best of US award winners, and they deserve it.

  52. 52.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Villago Delenda Est: Speculation on MSNBC earlier is that either the VP, the First Lady, or both will go as the President has gone to Mar a Lago for the week and has no plans to leave it once his summit with PM Abe ends. Except, of course, to play golf.

  53. 53.

    jl

    A lot of people can run for president. Holder;s one of them, looks like. I don’t think he’ll get far. So, let him run. On some issues he’s great, on others, somewhat, but only slightly somewhat, better than Cuomo or Rahm.

  57. 57.

    Adam L Silverman

    @frosty: It is in Pinellas Park. I go when I’m in town visiting family. So about 5 hours or so from where you’re going to be.

  58. 58.

    Adam L Silverman

    @jl: I already read it, but thanks for thinking of me. Also, its ALS. I always use my middle initial as there are at least 1/2 a dozen other Adam Silvermans out there – all younger than me.

  59. 59.

    jl

    @Adam L Silverman: Yes, ALS. The article gives a good, and relatively reassuring, given the circumstances, picture of Mattis’ thinking on Syria policy. Hope he can continue his stunts on Trump and keep from getting fired.

    And… it is always infrastructure week. So people should get used to it.

  60. 60.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Tulsi Gabbard @ TulsiGabbard
    Please support Dennis Kucinich for Ohio governor. He’s dedicated his life to fighting for peace, justice & equality

    I swear this woman is living out the political version of George Constanza’s “opposite” experiment.

  61. 61.

    Hkedi [Kang T. Q.]

    @SFAW:

    How Is It Only Tuesday?

    I remember saying yesterday “Oh God, This week is going to be like last week” It seems like that is the way it is going to be.

  62. 62.

    Adam L Silverman

    @jl: Because he keeps his head down and his mouth shut. He stays out of the media. Doesn’t upstage the President. Keeps his eyes on the objective and moves to occupy it. Also, the President needs Mattis much more than Mattis needs the President. Or to be Secretary of Defense.

  65. 65.

    jl

    @Adam L Silverman: I vaguely remember reading something about Marine battle tactics against organized military forces (which besides my vague memory, was probably BS anyway) only have two modes of operation: hunker down in defensive position or all out attack to obtain a specific objective.

    So, probably horseshit what I think I remember, but I guess it fits.

  66. 66.

    Adam L Silverman

    I believe the legal types call this an admission against interest.

  67. 67.

    frosty

    @Adam L Silverman: So, not this time. We were in Little Manatee SP last year and Ft De Soto County Park the year before. When we made sure to hit the Columbia in Ybor City.

  70. 70.

    Mary G

    I want the next president to be like this:

    Jacinda Ardern, the world's youngest female leader, will become just the second woman in history to give birth while an elected head of state. She'll become the first elected leader ever to take maternity leave. https://t.co/O8Ubh9ebFv— NBC News (@NBCNews) April 18, 2018

    (New PM of New Zealand. Not even married.)

    America is falling behind the times with this old man!

    https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/new-zealand-s-prime-minister-unmarried-pregnant-going-maternity-leave-n866441?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_ma

  71. 71.

    frosty

    @Hkedi [Kang T. Q.]:

    This week is going to be like last week

    Is there a website with like, daily headlines? Was it last Monday that we learned about the Cohen search? I need something to help me keep track of time.

  74. 74.

    frosty

    @Adam L Silverman: I’ll look it up. We usually look for Cuban* but this would be a nice change.

    *found an awesome storefront lunchtime place in Ocala next to a bike shop I went to for repairs.Havana Cafe, still my favorite. Been there two years in a row now.

  76. 76.

    clay

    @Adam L Silverman: Do you think Trump will make a connection between the anti-democratic strongman in charge of Turkey that he keeps praising, and the “persecution for no reason” of innocent people that he now decries?

  77. 77.

    James Powell

    @mai naem mobile:

    Ashton Carter: Yale University, B.A. in physics and medieval history, 1976 (summa cum laude); Oxford University, Rhodes Scholar, Ph.D. in theoretical physics, 1979.

    No way can this guy be president of this nation of morons and half wits, dolts, dunces, dullards and dumbbells. They hated Al Gore for being the smartest guy in the room. Hillary Clinton was over-prepared. This guy’s a Rhodes scholar with a PhD in theoretical physics!

  84. 84.

    Hkedi [Kang T. Q.]

    @frosty: It would be lovely to have a site like that. I think we are starting to approach the wingnutlarity, time seems to be stretching out with the constant criminal/political outrages.

  85. 85.

    Adam L Silverman

    @burnspbesq: I honestly don’t know. I don’t know much about the case and the person I’d normally ask – former grad assistant of mine – just left for a research trip to Turkey and so getting an answer anytime soon is unlikely.

  86. 86.

    Adam L Silverman

    HAAAAAWKAAAAA!!!!!!
    https://io9.gizmodo.com/steven-spielberg-will-bring-dc-comics-blackhawk-to-the-1825338201

    Warner Bros. and DC Entertainment officially announced today that Spielberg will produce and potentially helm Blackhawk, with a script from his longtime collaborator David Koepp. Blackhawk is based on the classic team of World War II fighter pilots lead by the titular hero, who have fought Nazis and other threats to the world in the pages of Quality Comics’ Military Comics since the early 1940s.

  90. 90.

    frosty

    @Mike J: Good start, but too wordy. I know the details, I just want bullets of “headlines” under dates so I can keep track of WTF happened last week? Yesterday? Monday???

    ETA: and with that I’m off to bed.

  93. 93.

    clay

    @Adam L Silverman:

    Anything else I can help you with?

    Well, I’ve got some Pre-Calculus tests I need to grade. Also, I’ve had a persistent feeling of dread and ennui for around 17 months now.

  97. 97.

    Adam L Silverman

    @clay: Can’t help much on the former.

    On the latter: keep the faith, take care of the little things, take care of yourself, stay informed, and make sure everyone you know and everyone they know is registered to vote and then make sure that they all vote come November and any special elections.

  98. 98.

    Original Lee

    @Adam L Silverman: I hope the Bush family opts for a private funeral, although I can’t imagine how awful it must feel to have to take into consideration the likelihood of the Mango Manchild misbehaving at the service at this point in time.

  99. 99.

    Hkedi [Kang T. Q.]

    Well I’m off to bed myself, but I just ran into a little bit of prose that made me sit up and notice. It comes from a webcomic,http://guildedage.net/. not perfect, but there’s a bit of truth there in these dark times.

    The quote is:

    It’s good you can shout back, daisy. You’ll need to.
    Darkness fights ugly. It can make you feel broken.
    One day you’ll be flat on your back, and the people who gave you strength won’t be around.
    And you’ll realize the only adult in the room is you.
    It’ll be your turn to be your own strength.
    And then to be someone else’s.
    Once you accept that, you’ll know exactly what to do.

  100. 100.

    Cckids

    @dmsilev:

    : I can’t imagine that Barbers was very fond of him to put it mildly, and she was the sort who I can definitely imagine leaving instructions specifically on who to snub at her funeral.

    Didn’t she call Trump a disgrace during the campaign? I can hear him now “She wasn’t very nice to me, but now she’s dead, serves her right”.

    He’s just a buffoon.

  101. 101.

    Original Lee

    OT, but I am pretty convinced that a big part of the problem with Trumpkins is that their reading comprehension skills are terrible.

    I recently posted a (for fun) question on FB: Name 3 songs that embody the essence of rock music. I’ve been getting some really good answers, except from the dyed-in-the-wool supporters of Donny Dollhands. Every single one of those idiots gives an answer that does not match the question, and only one of them has given a list with three items. (Most of them list either 5 or 10 items.)

    Just amazing.

  102. 102.

    mainmata

    @zhena gogolia: Pretty sure that all the Bushes loathe Trump. I can’t imagine it ever happening but you’re right; it’s not about him so he’s not interested.

  103. 103.

    opiejeanne

    Aw man, Carl Kassel. I was wondering why he wasn’t on Wait Wait when we listened to it on our last two road trips. I don’t know how he could have worked so long with Alzheimers, because I’ll swear that he was still on the air at some point last year.
    They mentioned him on a show in March, can’t remember if it was Carl Kassel on Your Answering Machine or something else but it was something similar.

    ETA It must have been a rerun show we heard, or a Best Of.

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