Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Museums are not America’s attic for its racist shit.

You come for women, you’re gonna get your ass kicked.

GOP baffled that ‘we don’t care if you die’ is not a winning slogan.

Republicans do not trust women.

White supremacy is terrorism.

Michigan is a great lesson for Dems everywhere: when you have power…use it!

Text STOP to opt out of updates on war plans.

Washington Post Catch and Kill, not noticeably better than the Enquirer’s.

If you don’t believe freedom is for everybody, then the thing you love isn’t freedom, it is privilege.

Humiliatingly small and eclipsed by the derision of millions.

“In the future, this lab will be a museum. do not touch it.”

This fight is for everything.

We can’t confuse what’s necessary to win elections with the policies that we want to implement when we do.

… gradually, and then suddenly.

Disagreements are healthy; personal attacks are not.

The Giant Orange Man Baby is having a bad day.

Republicans do not pay their debts.

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you do not.

He seems like a smart guy, but JFC, what a dick!

Radicalized white males who support Trump are pitching a tent in the abyss.

You know it’s bad when the Project 2025 people have to create training videos on “How To Be Normal”.

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

“When somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re gonna use it.”

Our job is not to persuade republicans but to defeat them.

You are here: Home / Nature & Respite / Respite Open Thread: Little Turtle Having A Ball

Respite Open Thread: Little Turtle Having A Ball

by | 60 Comments

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This made me happy.

I’ve had some requests for a place to talk about anything that is not politics. So I’m collecting some pet pics and I’ll try and get some fresh pics of my crew this week, and I’ll try to make a post a day with something fun and NON-POLITICAL.

Please honor that for the jackals who need a break. Be kind.

Send me your pet pics or good stories:  whats4dinnersolutions (at) live (dot) com

I’m watching Queer Eye – I’m way behind – I can only do one episode a week or so, because I find them so emotional. I love these guys.  I also usually end my evening with an episode of Dick Van Dyke while I pick up around the house. Like a warm, funny hug before turning off all the electronics and opening a book. Which btw, the two I’m reading now are Good Omens and our Dorothy Winsor’s Finders Keepers. I’m a very…..slow….reader….mostly because I love to savor my books.

Politics-free open thread

Reader Interactions

60Comments

  1. 1.

    Sab

    I used to live in Las Vegas. Some of my neighbors had desert tortoises. Occassionally they would make a break for it. If I found them I would bring them home. I always wondered what was so awful that they would dig under the wall and escape into traffic. Ignorance? Not enough lettuce? Loneliness? Boredom?

  4. 4.

    Jerzy Russian

    One of the neighbors has some sort of tortoises in the back yard. He was out in our backyard beyond the fence looking for one of them one day. I even helped him look. It turns out it was hiding in or near their small pond. I learned that it was not uncommon for them to make a run for it, where “run” is a relative term.

  7. 7.

    Sab

    @eemom: I don’t know. And their alternative is extinction. But they don’t know that. I do know they aren’t big on sharing yards with dogs.

  8. 8.

    seaboogie

    I love Queer Eye, and this season is the best yet. These gentle men are so kind and compassionate. I take care of what media I take in for my psyche, and this show is so full of compassion and generous spirit.

  10. 10.

    Sab

    @eemom: I don’t know. And their alternative is extinction. But they don’t know that. I do know they aren’t big on sharing yards with dogs.

    The turtle in the clip seems very young, not a two hundred year old who has seen and done it all.

  11. 11.

    eclare

    Awww, so cute! I love Queer Eye too, those guys are so uplifting. I saw them on Kimmel and Karamo said that he does have a mental health/therapy background and degree, so that explains how he has those wonderful conversations.

    That story about the ambush, yes, they are heroes.

  12. 12.

    mrmoshpotato

    Speedy tortuga!

    Enjoying a Ronnie James Dio tribute album here. About to start watching a documentary about Rush (the awesome Canadian band!).

  13. 13.

    Adam L Silverman

    Is this appropriate? I don’t want to transgress.

  15. 15.

    Lyrebird

    Thanks, I needed a Dodo thread.

    The Google thing where you put notes in is fun, too. (Open a new Google window.)

    Should sleep.

    Best wishes to all of y’all.

  16. 16.

    Yutsano

    @TaMara (HFG): Wow. Salutations to all of them including your brother.

    I’m on day 4 outside hospital. Second day of physio kicked my butt but I can feel things slowly getting stronger. Tomorrow I know I need to move more so that is the goal so I’m not stiff come my next session Friday. It’s going to take a while to get back to where I was, but it’s gonna come along.

  18. 18.

    TaMara (HFG)

    @Adam L Silverman: I have so many stories about my brother’s tour. That was a bad night. I was so proud of them. And Yahoo will forever have my thanks because we kept in touch every day we could via their video app at no charge.

  22. 22.

    MoxieM

    TaMara, I’m awfully glad everybody came home. In your (their) honor, a lil vid about the fun of Big Dogs. Happy Spring everyone!

  25. 25.

    Rose Weiss

    QE is an absolutely wonderful show and I love it. Those guys are all so talented in their various ways, and so amazingly generous. It’s inspiring. Truly, sometimes the show has given me new hope in humanity.

  26. 26.

    prostratedragon

    Thanks for the marvelous turtle! And it’s always good to be reminded of Sister Rosetta.

  27. 27.

    Achrachno

    @Sab: Yes, young, well-nourished, and growing fast. Look at all that pale color between the scutes!

    I’d bet “he” thinks that ball is a fruit of some sort. Greedy little guy.

  28. 28.

    Redshift

    Today was the last radiation treatment for thymoma (a tumor of the thymus gland) for our bunny Rory. Other than being a little wobbly from the anesthetic for a few hours, she’s doing fine.

    Our vet caught it very early, there were no visible symptoms, just a muffled-sounding heartbeat during her checkup. Apparently on the x-rays, it was big enough to push her heart a bit out of place, and now that’s pretty much back to normal. Yay!

    She’s eight years old, so there’s a decent chance it won’t recur in her lifetime.

  30. 30.

    seabooge

    My comment is awaiting moderation – can only assume the offending word rhymes with *funny*

  32. 32.

    meander

    I’m quite interested in Japanese cooking, so I was delighted to find the show ‘Trails to Tsukiji’ on the NHK World network a few months ago. Each 30 minute episode focuses on a certain ingredient — like cabbage or soy sauce — starts at the Tsukiji market, and then visits farms, factories and restaurants to learn how it is grown/made/harvested/cooked.

    Here’s the top page: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/tv/tsukiji/20190320/2054085/

    Some great episodes currently available on-line: Miso, Konnyaku, Turnip, Soy Sauce.

  35. 35.

    StringOnAStick

    @Yutsano: I hear you on PT. I’m 9 days out from a total knee and today they graduated me to one crutch. Of course we did a bunch of other stuff and tonight I’m so stiff it’s back to the walker. At least for tonight anyway. There steps forward, one step back.

  40. 40.

    VividBlueDotty

    Animal threads are always fun. Here’s some news from my neck of the woods from earlier today

    Wayward wallaby captured, returned to owner after jaunt through Old East Dallas

    The news source is behind a paywall, but here’s a link to the video.

  43. 43.

    NotMax

    1) Good Omens premieres on Amazon Prime at the end of May,.

    2) When the Petri family well runs dry, from about the same time period there are four seasons of The Many Love of Dobie Gillis on Prime to scratch that comedy itch. Also the entire 1955 season of What’s My Line?. Bonus (from this century), three seasons of Miranda.

  44. 44.

    opiejeanne

    @Adam L Silverman: Like Tamara, I saw this earlier and loved it too. This is one of the good things about Twitter, this ability to surprise and delight us, and educate us.

    My jazz history class never mentioned her nor any other woman other than the widow of a jazzman who took her husband’s place in his ensemble, and whose names escape me. I’m not even sure Ella was mentioned. Oh yes, I learned about Bix and Monk and Earl Fatha Hines in that class, but there was no mention of Ma Rainey, no Bessie Smith, no Sister Rosetta or any of the other women.

  46. 46.

    Dan B

    @Yutsano: Hi Yutsano! Didn’t catch what put you in hospital but keep getting better. You didn’t miss much good weather and now it looks like it might really be spring. Seattle parks were full of people playing in the sun and sweating in the almost 80 degrees it hit yesterday and today – 79 officially. Hottest winter day on record yesterday. Wishing you some time in warm breezes!

  47. 47.

    Doug

    Good Omens is so wonderful! It’s one of those books I have to be careful about picking up, because once I do the chances are good that I won’t do anything else until I have finished reading it.

  48. 48.

    Bluemouser

    @Doug: Love Good Omens! Or anything by PTerry and most works by Gaiman. There is a really good audio play version by BBC. It’s almost as fantastic as the audio play of Neverwhere

  50. 50.

    sm*t cl*de

    @Achrachno:

    I’d bet “he” thinks that ball is a fruit of some sort. Greedy little guy.

    Or a very well-endowed turtle of the appropriate sex.

  51. 51.

    J R in WV

    @Adam L Silverman:

    I can’t think but that Sister Roseta Tharp was another old time giant — a blues rock guitarist that helped found Rock & Roll in the ’50s with old blues electrified and fast.

  53. 53.

    J R in WV

    @Yutsano:

    Wow, that’s good news. You have to do the hard work now, the PT guys will usually know how hard to push, when, where, for every particular physical issue. Sometimes they hold us back, other times they push til it hurts a little. Take your time, but be persistent, that’s worked best for me. I gotta stick with it, for me, forever. whenever things act up or I have a chance.

    Best wishes for a full recovery, better than in a long while!

  55. 55.

    BruceFromOhio

    I’ll try to make a post a day with something fun and NON-POLITICAL

    Thank you! A brief respite is most welcome.

    @Major Major Major Major: Yessss! Was one of very few writings where I would finish a chapter and be so blown away I would flip back and read it again to make sure I got it all.

  56. 56.

    Karen S.

    @Bluemouser:
    I have the audio drama versions of Good Omens and Neverwhere, which I bought at Audible. I like Neverwhere just a little bit better though they’re both great. I also love the original books on which the audio dramas are based.

    C2E2, the comics and pop culture convention at McCormick Place in Chicago, is where I’ll be this weekend. I’m going for several panels, a movie and TV show screening, and to see the cosplay. I’m not into dressing up, but my wife is interested in doing it, so I’m sure she’ll ask the cosplayers loads of questions. I’m hoping it’ll be a fun weekend.

  58. 58.

    CaseyL

    I have Amazon Prime purely for the purpose of seeing Good Omens, which I’ve read so many times I’ve practically got it memorized.

    The casting is wonderful, judging from the trailers. David Tennant and Michael Sheen, goes without saying; but even the kid who plays Adam looks absolutely perfect.

    Can’t wait!

  60. 60.

    Bluemouser

    @Karen S.: Oh the C2E2 sound great. Never been to a convention though I have friends that go to ComicCon here in southern Cali.
    I think what makes the Neverwhere radio drama so special is the casting. Can’t go wrong with James McAvoy, Natalie Dormer, Cheistopher Lee, Sophie Okonedo to name just a few of the cast members. Though I do think Peter Serafinowicz has a voice made for radio and is a fantastic Aziraphael

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