Without doubt, these fine soldiers win Olympic gold in the straight-face event:
In these troubled times, there’s no limit to the amount of absurd we need as a daily counterpoint.
This thread: it is open.
This post is in: Because of wow., Open Threads, All we want is life beyond the thunderdome
Without doubt, these fine soldiers win Olympic gold in the straight-face event:
In these troubled times, there’s no limit to the amount of absurd we need as a daily counterpoint.
This thread: it is open.
Comments are closed.
Baud
It was like watching William Wallace himself.
Dorothy A. Winsor
Is the penguin the one being promoted?
Mnemosyne
The Oregon Zoo will be back up to 3 sea otters when I’m up there in June — they just accepted a new orphaned pup from the Monterey Bay Aquarium to replace Eddie, who died of old age a few months ago:
https://www.kptv.com/news/orphaned-sea-otter-pup-uni-finds-new-home-at-the/article_c7c10404-6de8-11e9-927a-67f77364f7c8.html
Boris, Rasputin's Evil Twin
Oh, if only Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, was there to make the day complete.
debbie
I love the salute!
Mnemosyne
The zoo’s website has an actual video of the otter adorableness:
https://www.oregonzoo.org/news/2019/05/orphaned-sea-otter-pup-uni-sushi-has-new-home-oregon-zoo
trollhattan
How adorable is that? All the way adorable.
Steve in the ATL
@Mnemosyne: my daughter swam with the otters at the Georgia Aquarium a couple of years ago and was so moved by it that she couldn’t speak coherently for several hours afterward
Ceci n est pas mon nym
I love Scots. They’re also the ones with all the good Trump insults. Well, second to BJ of course.
John Revolta
@Dorothy A. Winsor: Yes. they made him a bird colonel.
CaseyL
Not so sure about that “straight-faced” part: When the row of soldiers turned forward, quite a few of them had their helmet tassels swing in front of their faces. Maybe, behind their personal face shields, they’re grinning.
Felanius Kootea
What do you mean absurd? Brigadier Sir Nils Olav and the King of Norway both take offense.
There are jokes in the Youtube comments about Russsia’s spy whale (the whale found with a harness on)
defecting.
Jager
@John Revolta:
He was a bird colonel, he was promoted to brigadier.
pinacacci
I remember when he was knighted. This is a military tradition I can get behind!
rikyrah
It’s Derby Day??
Betty Cracker
Regionally comedy: Trump is attending a private BBQ and rally with local MAGA cultists on a big ranch not far from my swamp today. It was supposed to be a fundraiser, but the rancher who’s staging it had a falling out with the county GOP. He sold tickets two months ago, then sent back refunds with a “don’t show up on mah propity!” frowny face dis-invitations to local GOP pols who’d pissed him off on zoning issues.
The rancher snubbed random local Republicans too, so it’s the talk of the town, and now he claims he’s losing money on the deal, so no big check for the shitgibbon. Also, it’s nearly 90 degrees and pouring rain, and even between thunderstorms, it’s miserably humid. So hopefully Trump shows up in a dark suit, tight shoes and too-long tie, and the tropical rain washes the Aquanet out of his absurd combover and he strokes out from the heat.
MomSense
My mom had to stop practicing her violin in the living room because the dog was howling and baying and making all kinds of other sounds. I’m not sure if the dog enjoyed it or not.
Mnemosyne
@Steve in the ATL:
When I either sell my book or get an agent, I’m going to treat myself to the otter and octopus experience at the Aquarium of the Pacific. You don’t get to swim with them, but you do get to hand-feed them. ?
John Revolta
@Jager: So I see. Fine.
(Puts Jager on *The List*…………………..)
Leto
@Betty Cracker: Thank you for putting a smile on my face ?
Just got back from Lowe’s where Avalune and I purchased a number of plants for our patio garden. We haven’t had anything pretty out there in almost two years, so I was determined to change that. Plus it’s another “rehab” thing for me and I’m taking it!
Mnemosyne
Annie-cat news is not great, but not hopeless: she got her first dose of chemo today for lymphoma. It took 3 tests to figure it out, and the kitty oncologist feels reasonably sure that it’s large-cell, which is not good.
But she’s in good spirits right now and yummed her freeze-dried tuna treat right down, so hopefully we’ll be able to knock it into remission.
zhena gogolia
@Mnemosyne:
Oh, I’m sorry the news wasn’t better. I hope she does well.
Mnemosyne
@zhena gogolia:
The one positive thing is that there’s a good chance it will go into remission with the chemotherapy, so we’re pursuing that. We really regret not getting pet insurance now, though! ?
West of the Cascades
@Mnemosyne: Squeee! My girlfriend and her kids love otters (as do I). Looks like a must-visit for later in the summer. But I am sorry to hear the not so awesome cat news and wish your kitty good luck.
Yellowdog
@Betty Cracker: Sounds like a plan. ?
MattF
Welp, it’s official.
Aleta
@Mnemosyne: I’ve been thinking about Annie and you and wondering if they had a diagnosis. Do they use the same chemo drugs for both large and small cell? Or does the response to the chemo and symptoms tell them what kind it is? Sending love and light to Annie
and to you and George (? I think).
??
Mnemosyne
@West of the Cascades:
They have both sea otters AND river otters at the Oregon Zoo, so it’s worth the trip for the double otter action. They have a great social media game, so it’s worth following them on whatever social media platform you all use.
It’s been a major PITA getting a diagnosis, but we’re hoping the treatment will work and we’ll get a couple more good years with her.
prostratedragon
I can think of humanoids who couldn’t conduct a review of the guard with as much grace, dignity, and charm as Sir Nils Olav.
Mnemosyne
@Aleta:
It’s different drugs for large cell and small cell, but they’re hard to tell apart, even with a DNA test, so it’s a bit of a gamble either way. The doctor felt that the size of her lymph nodes was more indicative of large cell, so that’s what we’re treating for.
debbie
@Betty Cracker:
Plus an umbrella he can’t figure out how to use!
debbie
@Mnemosyne:
I hope Annie breezes through chemo straight to recovery!
MomSense
@Mnemosyne:
I’m sorry you didn’t get better news. Hope your sweet Annie does well on the chemo.
JPL
@Steve in the ATL: That is very cool.
Nicole
@rikyrah:
I am watching, although I didn’t follow the prep races very closely this year. But I am chock full of fun facts:
Oldest jockey to ride in a Derby today- Jon Court, 58 years old, on Long Range Toddy. Court started riding when Carter was still in the White House.
Brothers riding today: Irad Ortiz, Jr. on Improbable, and Jose Ortiz, on Tacitus (both have pretty good chances to win). Jose has ridden both Improbable and Tacitus (and gave advice to his brother, who has never ridden Improbable. Jockeys are nice to each other like that).
One currently undefeated horse: Maximum Security, 4 for 4.
One maiden horse running today (a maiden is a horse that hasn’t won a race yet): Bodexpress, who got into the race because the favorite, Omaha Beach, had to scratch out of this week (entrapped epiglottis, which sounds yucky, but isn’t very serious. He had surgery this week and will be back later this year).
FlyingToaster
@Betty Cracker: It doesn’t look like Trump is planning to attend, per his public schedule:
Factbase Link
JPL
@Betty Cracker: The only thing on his calendar is a trip to his golf course in VA. He wouldn’t attend a MAGA rally unless he was guaranteed to be able to line his pockets with green.
JPL
@JPL: Or what Flying Toaster said.
JPL
@Nicole: I always appreciate your comments, but especially around the Derby and such. I know nothing but do enjoy watching.
mrmoshpotato
That penguin is a knight, eh? Where’s his seahorse and armor?
Keith P.
@mrmoshpotato: That’s more of a Dolph Lundgren steed.
pluky
@MomSense: when hubby struck up the Tocatta and Fugue on his organ our once upon a time dog, Ripple, would howl along. what was hilarious was that he did it on pitch, and consistent with the chord changes.
tobie
@Mnemosyne: All good wishes to Annie and to you.
TomatoQueen
TOON v Liverpool 2-2. I can’t believe we’re doing this well, but yet we are.
mrmoshpotato
OT Turned on the Cubs game and caught the end of a Star Wars crawl announcing the game.
Tazj
@Mnemosyne: I hope the treatment for your cat Annie is successful and she’s able to tolerate the medications well.
Nicole
@JPL: That’s so nice of you to say! Thank you. I wish I had more Derby insight this year, but I didn’t follow the prep races much. It’s a really wide-open field. There’s even a horse from Japan (Master Fencer), which would be really cool to see win, but I don’t know how good he is.
It’s raining now, which makes it even more confusing, as a number of the horses have never run in the mud, so you don’t know if they’ll like it or not. It’s supposed to stop by race time, and I imagine the track officials will do whatever they can to dry the track out, but it may be pretty sticky by post time. A wet track could be great for the horses that like to run on the front (Maximum Security, War of Will), but a sticky track could wear them out and make things good for the closers (Country House, Tax).
And Bob Baffert, trainer of both of the living Triple Crown winners, has 3 good horses running- Improbable, Game Winner, and Roadster. I could see any of those three winning. I lean towards Game Winner out of those three, but purely for sentimental reasons; Baffert says he reminds him of Silver Charm, who was one of my favorite runners from the 1990s- not the most flashy or most naturally talented, but really gritty and just hated losing. I like the tough ones.
Wayne Marks
I’m surprised they let the Penguin serve. He walks like he has bone spurs.
SiubhanDuinne
@Wayne Marks:
LOL ?
Yutsano
@Nicole: The most proper musical accompaniment here.
rikyrah
@Mnemosyne:
Sending positive thoughts ???
SiubhanDuinne
@Mnemosyne:
I’m sorry you got that news, and hope the chemo is as good for your Annie as Lily’s was for her.
(And if your vet provides a pretty “chemo bow” at each session, you have to promise photos!)
Nicole
@Yutsano: Ha! Truly, it is.
Nicole
@Mnemosyne: I’m sorry about the news about Annie. I also will hope the chemo knocks it into remission and it already sounds like you have excellent treats for her to make the treatment process as pleasant for her as possible.
Litlebritdifrnt
Edinburgh Zoo is wonderful but two top tips from someone who knows a) don’t go in the morning, the animals are lazy asses who don’t get up until noon at least. b) be prepared for a climb. It is built on the side of a huge hill and everything is uphill, especially the big cats. Luckily the Pandas are on a lower level and the day we went one of them (the male) decided to show himself. We didn’t see everything (I was particularly interested in seeing the Scottish Wild Cat but could never find it’s enclosure). The Penguin Parade is the most fun thing ever. However it is large some days and small other days because the keepers let the Penguins decide if they want to parade.
opiejeanne
@Mnemosyne: I’m so sorry to hear that but hopefully it’s wi go into remission.
Last evening we went to hear Bill and Hillary Clinton talk about stuff that matters. Bradley Whitford was the host. It was great. Bill was hilarious at times but is outraged by what was done to Hillary. It’s evident that he is very proud of her and loves her very much. He kept circling back to 2016 but Hillary kept pointing to the midterms and what can be accomplished.
Hillary was a little more focused on the work that we will need to do, that we’ll need to be aware of the undermining and divisiveness that will be attempted by Republicans and others. She was also pretty funny.
Bradley asked questions periodically to keep things rolling and he expressed his frustration with the current administration as well as the Purity Ponies. He avoided swearing when mentioning Jill Stein by stomping his foot really loudly
There was a slideshow of them before they started and there were pictures of them and Chelsea, Nelson Mandela, Bill with (I think) Bobby Kennedy and various other great people who looked familiar but no one around us could identify. There was one with all of the current First Ladies including Barbara Bush and Nancy Reagan, and one withthe five previous presidents, but the Orange Horror was not in a single picture.
One guy behind us yelled out “Kamala!” a couple of times when her name was mentioned. We think he’s a fan.
The message at the end was hopeful but clear-eyed about how hard it will be.
debbie
@Litlebritdifrnt:
As it should be!
Doug R
@Mnemosyne: We used to go down to the Oregon Zoo for their awesome Christmas lights display. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,000,000 lights, including a “river” of blue lights with green neon snapping crocodiles.
opiejeanne
Dan B. I’m sorry but we are not going to make it tonight. Something came up. Ugh.
We are a third of the way down Oregon and hope to hit California this evening. We have more things to do than we realized before the movers show up.
Somebody hug Pirate Dan for me.
WereBear
@Mnemosyne: I hope so too! Poor Annie girl.
Doug R
@Wayne Marks:
He’s a penguin, not a chicken.
Dan B
@opiejeanne: We’ll miss you and Mr. O.
Leto
@Litlebritdifrnt:
You’ve just described all of Edinburgh ?
We loved Edinburgh. Spent two weeks there and it wasn’t enough time. If you get a chance, check out the portrait gallery!
J R in WV
@Mnemosyne:
Sorry about Annie-cat news. Glad you got a diagnosis, that there’s a treatment option, hope she tolerates it well and goes into remission for a good long time. Thinking of her and you from time to time, like when my lap-kitty climbs on at bedtime.
Take care!
JR
satby
@Mnemosyne: keeping good thoughts for Annie in hopes the chemo does knock it into remission.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Leto: The kid loved Scotland, she visited quite a few times when she was posted over there during her Air Force days.
trollhattan
@Leto: @?BillinGlendaleCA:
Our neighbor kid/baby sitter/all-around great human went to University of Edinburgh and not only did she love her time there, she brought home a charming Scottish husband along with her degree. I continue to ponder how he manages our Central Valley summers. Love overcomes heat that kills?
russell
“Which one of you guys has the fish?”
Steeplejack
@Mnemosyne:
Sending healing thoughts for Annie. Keep feeding her the good stuff!
cwmoss
@Mnemosyne: Portland meetup!
Tata
@Doug R: @“Penguins is practically chickens.”
– Loonytunes
Mnemosyne
@opiejeanne:
Small world time — my shrink is BFFs with Bradley Whitford, which always makes me giggle when I remember that factoid.
Mnemosyne
@cwmoss:
Yutsy was saying he would drive down to Portland from Seattle for a meetup if his health allowed, so I just need to make all of my arrangements and let all of yinz know when I would be available.
Ruckus
@Mnemosyne:
Hope the cancer goes into remission. We do what we can. What we can do now is much better than it was 10 yrs ago.
Just a note, cancer is rarely gone, it goes into remission. My treatment was over 2 1/2 yrs ago, my oncologist has refused to even use the word remission yet, my numbers have to get even lower. Going that direction for over 2 yrs but while localized, and not metastasized it was considered a lot of cancer. Next test is in a week.