Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Nikki Haley, who can’t acknowledge ‘slavery’, is a pathetic shill.

Fear or fury? The choice is ours.

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you don’t.

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

There are a lot more evil idiots than evil geniuses.

Republican speaker of the house Mike Johnson is the bland and smiling face of evil.

“Just close your eyes and kiss the girl and go where the tilt-a-whirl takes you.” ~OzarkHillbilly

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

Can we lighten up on the doomsday scenarios?

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

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

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

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

Maybe you would prefer that we take Joelle’s side in ALL CAPS?

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

I did not have this on my fuck 2024 bingo card.

I desperately hope that, yet again, I am wrong.

Russia bombs Ukraine’s maternity hospitals; Republicans in the House can’t sort out supporting Ukraine.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Motown is Joe-Town!

We are aware of all internet traditions.

If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

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Evening Open Thread

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My countertops are now installed. The plumber will hook up the sink tomorrow. Then all that remains is that a drawer needs to be cut down a bit to accommodate the cooktop. I think I can get a friend to do that. Whew.

This will appeal to some, maybe not so much to others. But I think it’s kind of cool.

Reader Interactions

85Comments

  1. 1.

    Emma

    Surprises like that I can do without. Infinitely. I find snakes fascinating but since I can’t tell one from the other I rather not tangle with any.

  4. 4.

    Yutsano

    That’s…a lot of serpents. They’re beautiful and I don’t think any of the ones there are dangerous. But someone had a good clutch/pregnancy!

  6. 6.

    Duane

    When I first saw that picture I thought you were cooking a big pot of … snakes?! Now I wonder about those countertops.

  7. 7.

    Jharp

    Funny thing about snakes.

    In my younger years I’d catch them, handle them, and generally found them to be pretty cool.

    Fast forward to my 50’s when I’ve become a germaphobe and wouldn’t consider touching a filthy dirty germy snake. They stink too.

    By the way, if you want to see snakes try western Lake Erie. The black snake or water snake snake population has exploded. And they are big!

  11. 11.

    CaseyL

    They’re gorgeous. Newborn reptiles are perfect, jewel-like miniature versions of the adults. Their colors are brighter, their scales better defined, their eyes more pellucid… I just love them.

    Yes, that probably does make me a little strange.

  13. 13.

    Another Scott

    Nice snakes. And congratulations that the kitchen work is nearly done.

    In other news, Evan Hurst at Wonkette reads the SDNY documents so we don’t have to:

    Can we please take a moment right here to note yet again that Michael Cohen is sitting for prison like this, and he’s the ONLY ONE? Meanwhile, everything we just read shows a whole buncha fuckton of people who were in on this, and all of them are free. One of them, the one who directed the crime, and for whose benefit the crime was committed, is in the Oval Office. That is fucked up.

    Yup. Barr has a lot to answer for.

    Twitter:

    Rep. Don Beyer Verified account @RepDonBeyer

    Rep. Don Beyer Retweeted Brad Heath

    These documents are hard evidence that Donald Trump personally directed a criminal conspiracy to violate campaign finance laws, an illegal cover-up to help win an election for which his lawyer is serving time in prison today.

    This should be the subject of an impeachment inquiry.

    Rep. Don Beyer added, Brad Heath Verified account @bradheath

    President Trump had previously said he didn’t know about the payments to @StormyDaniels. The warrant applications unsealed today, which include records of his phone calls and text messages by his aides, show pretty clearly that he was lying.

    Show this thread

    2:39 PM – 18 Jul 2019

    Tick, tock…

    This isn’t over, AG Barr…

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  15. 15.

    Mary G

    It’s going to be a long sixteen months – somebody is already mailing fake utility bills with “past due” and “URGENT” stamped on the envelope, but inside it’s a flyer of Ilhan Omar saying things like I committed marriage fraud, tax evasion. married my brother and “I hate Jews.”

    JCA received this in the mail today – an anti @IlhanMN smear mailer presented as an Excel Energy bill. Besides the disgusting attacks here, it’s edifying to know the Congresswoman’s critics are comfortable with mail fraud. pic.twitter.com/6uratxLGE5— JCA MN (@JCA_MN) July 18, 2019

    Republicans never change for the better, only adding new ratfucking methods while playing all the old hits too.

  16. 16.

    JoeyJoeJoe

    Beyer is my representative. He’s very good; I supported someone else in the 2014 primary but am glad that he won

  17. 17.

    Brachiator

    Catching up on other news. From BBC, July 17.

    Andrea Camilleri, the Sicilian author behind the popular Inspector Montalbano television series, has died aged 93.

    One of Italy’s best-loved writers, he had been admitted to a hospital in Rome last month after a cardiac arrest.

    The crime writer was best-known for his detective books starring inspector Salvo Montalbano based in the fictional Sicilian town of Vigàta.

    The adapted Rai TV series was loved in Italy and became popular in the UK, US, France, Spain, Germany and Australia.

    Camilleri lost his sight in recent years but said in 2017 it had allowed him to picture things more clearly.

    I was able to catch some episodes of the tv show on a lesser tier broadcast tv/cable channel. I think the MhZ network. Loved, loved the visuals of the town where the series was set, and loved the main characters.

  19. 19.

    trollhattan

    That discovery would probably kill my spouse. She does not like reptiles nor amphibians and that would be her compost Waterloo.

    In other critter news, an eagle snatches your GoPro because eagles are like that, fuckers.

  20. 20.

    lamh36

    Was gonna post about this Wednesday, but never seemed like a good time.

    On Tuesday night, my auntie had to take godbaby Maddie to Children’s ER. She had been sick, throwing up, tired for a couple of days and my aunt say she was very lethargic and not eating. When she got to ER, she was extremely dehydrated and they had to run some tests, one of which was her sugar level. The result was that her sugar level was over 500! After running some more test, they diagnosed her with Type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes). The insulin-depedent autoimmune disease.

    She spent the first night and up to most of today in PICU where they were monitoring her constantly. She was extremely dehydrated. So she was on an IV fluid drip and vared concentration of insulin (varied up and down to create a plateau). When she got to the hospital, she was like at a 5 out of 15 scale for getting out of the Intensive care. As of this afternoon, she was at a 12 and they believe she’ll be at at the level she needs to be tomorrow. Then she’ll be able to go to a regular room, and the then the education and plan of care begins for her mom and brother and docs and care team to learn to manage and control her condtion.

    Even knowing and understandign as much as I do about the condition, I was still overcome and was a bit weepy, but I was able to see her today and when I was leaving, she was preparaing to leave PICU and head to a regular floor. Her mom said they’d be at the hospital for about 4-5 more days so that her and her mom can learn more about her condition and get counseling of how to handle things going forward with her Type 1 diabetes.

    Maddie had just woken up and was tired and irritable…but by the time I left she was much better up and eating and waiting to be taken to the regular room.

    Course we are not quite out of the woods yet, but we feel much better about it than we did when she was so tired and just not herself.

    So please send good vibes or healing thoughts or prayers (which ever you believe in) Maddie’s way.

  22. 22.

    Another Scott

    @JoeyJoeJoe: Howdy neighbor.

    I thought that Beyer was going to rest on his laurels as Lt. Gov. when he first ran in the primary. I was very surprised by how passionate and how liberal he presented himself in debates and other public interactions. He’s continued that since he was elected. He’s very good.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  23. 23.

    ThresherK

    I was a soccer fan, here in the USA, before Pele joined the Cosmos.

    I’ve managed to go this long wihtout picking a Bundesliga team to root for and want to correct that. Anyone’s recommendation will be welcome, so chime in at your leisure.

    (I have German blood on each side of my family, from Alsace-Lorraine. All that helped me do was root for Strasbourg and Metz.)

  24. 24.

    Raoul

    My room mates got two very juvenile boa constrictors my freshman year in college. I thought they were cool, and enjoyed handling them occasionally. I didn’t feel that great about their captivity (not that they should be released – that’s some nonsense a lot of people end up doing. Oh, hey, Florida everglades disaster!).

    We were only assigned together one semester, didn’t really miss ’em when I moved. They’re odd ‘pets’. My senior year, a friend’s GF had a much older, more crotchety boa that she sometimes brought to campus around her neck (not to class or the dining hall, tho). Once a boa is 5 feet long, I am not at all interested, except at a zoological distance!

  25. 25.

    trollhattan

    @lamh36:
    Poor thing! How old is Maddie?

    Thank goodness she saw fit to take her to the ER. I’m not up on the numbers but she surely was in crisis.

    Best wishes to Maddie and everyone.

  26. 26.

    Another Scott

    @lamh36: Oh no. :-( We all know how much you adore her. It must be a terrible gut-punch for you and her parents and everyone who knows and loves her.

    Sending good thoughts. Hang in there.

    Best wishes,
    Scott.

  30. 30.

    kindness

    The skinny snakes look like Garter snakes which are harmless. That big boy with the Pit Bull head though…..I would be real careful with that one.

  32. 32.

    trollhattan

    @ThresherK:
    Curious if you get any responses–am also completely unfamiliar but believe the cable channel cabal at home carries some Bundesliga. Luckily, LeTour is very entertaining this year–a different winner in each stage through yesterday.

    And a brag: we saw Marta play last Sunday. And she kicked some ass, looking fresh after the WWC. And I got pictures.

  35. 35.

    Elizabelle

    @lamh36: That darling girl. I am glad Maddie got an accurate diagnosis. Life will change for her, but how fortunate being born into a scientifically-minded family. You will all have this under control.

    All best wishes for Maddie.

    Did the extreme heat in any way help bring on the dehydration, in addition to the underlying disease? Also, Maddie is lucky this happened over the summer. She did not miss a boatload of school, and has some time to adjust her diet and habits before taking on her schoolwork too.

  36. 36.

    lamh36

    @RamirezReports
    ·
    16m
    INBOX: ⁦
    @KamalaHarris
    ⁩ announced she is going on a 5-day Iowa bus tour after the Detroit debates: 8/8-8/12. Plans to visit places from Sioux City to Davenport – meeting ppl @ big events & intimate, retails shop settings

  37. 37.

    lamh36

    True Confession time…I’ve never actually SEEN the original TOP GUN…so I can honestly say I have no idea how to feel about this trailer. I would LOVE to hear from folks who have seen the original though. What do you think of the trailer?

    Top Gun: Maverick – Official Trailer (2020) – Paramount Pictures https://youtu.be/qSqVVswa420 via @YouTube

  38. 38.

    Yutsano

    @lamh36: Oh goodness! All my love and healing light to Miss Maddie and your whole family. At least (despite the horrific prices of insulin in the US [fuck you greedy pharma companies!!]) diabetes is now easily treatable. Still it will be a challenge.

  42. 42.

    JPL

    I’m haunted by the border patrol agent asking a three year old which parent she wants. It just sickens me

  47. 47.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @ThresherK: Bayern Munich. 1. They don’t suck. 2. The organization has provided help to refugees. 3. IIRC they have been Germany’s Jewish team and generally more worldly (not to say cosmopolitan) in outlook.

  48. 48.

    Miss Bianca

    @lamh36: Yow, glad she is doing better! That is a hard thing to have to deal with all of a sudden like that!

  49. 49.

    Elizabelle

    @Brachiator: I keep hearing how good those books are, and the TV series. Think Steeplejack might have recommended it? Will have to start reading. The WaPost gave him a big obit.

    He came to writing his detective novels rather late in life. And scared off his first publisher because he uses dialogue so extensively (having worked in theatre and radio/TV before turning to book-writing), although WaPost says the TV series uses great swathes of dialogue from the books.

    He wrote some interesting non-fiction too.

    While the Montalbano police stories shot him to fame, Mr. Camilleri was versatile in his output. Among his works are a fictionalized biography of Nobel laureate Luigi Pirandello, who was born not far from Mr. Camilleri’s home town, and a dark novel about a sexually abused Sicilian boy’s childhood during Fascism.

    Best-selling fame came late in life for Mr. Camilleri. The first book in the Montalbano series, “La forma dell’acqua” (“The Shape of Water”), was published in 1994, when the author was 69.

    He produced his 100th book in 2016, when he was 90. The plot of “L’altro capo del filo” (“The Other End of the Thread”), a Montalbano story, deals with the drama of thousands of migrants reaching Sicilian shores after rescue at sea.

    … Montalbano solves crimes by pondering the psychological weaknesses of the suspect. He intuitively understands human weaknesses, because he has so many.

    …. In the AP interview, Mr. Camilleri, chain-smoking as always, said he resisted giving Sicily’s most famous bad guys — the Mafia — a prominent role because he did not wish to “idealize” Cosa Nostra.

    But he did write a book about convicted Mafia chieftain Bernardo Provenzano, who was captured in 2006 at a Sicilian farmhouse after 40 years on the lam. Palermo prosecutors gave Mr. Camilleri all the typewritten notes the fugitive Provenzano used to communicate with his henchmen. Mr. Camilleri used the proceeds from the book, “You Don’t Know,” to help set up a foundation for children of police officers slain by Cosa Nostra.

    WaPost: Andrea Camilleri, Italian author of Montalbano detective series, dies at 93

  50. 50.

    WhatsMyNym

    @Brachiator:

    Andrea Camilleri, the Sicilian author behind the popular Inspector Montalbano television series, has died aged 93.

    Sad to hear. I loved the TV series, which is available on the MHz Choice streaming service. I need to start reading the books again.

  51. 51.

    ThresherK

    @lamh36: Cats film musical? Agreed; I do not want.

    What are the three big B’way musicals filmed this decade? Rent, Phantom and Les Miz? None of them are even good documents of the material, per MHO.

    Rent had the original cast, now late-thirtysomethings playing early-twentysomethings. Les Miz was live-sung. Phantom was full of not-good-enough singing and a lead character who was too handsome, and it spoiled much of the stuff in the show which was good.

  52. 52.

    MomSense

    @lamh36:

    You’re a good godmommy,lamh. I’m sorry to hear about Maddie’s diagnosis but glad that her health is improving. I hope she continues to heal and goes home soon. I know you will be a big source of knowledge and support for her and her family. Big hugs, lamh.

  53. 53.

    Elizabelle

    I see your sneks at cocktail hour, and will raise you one dedicated German Shepherd cadaver-searching dog, on the mend. Fully approve of this use of government resources to save an animal in need.

    Kylie, an injured D.C. cadaver dog, is recovering after rescuers rushed her to treatment by helicopter

    [While searching for reported bones,] Kylie did not see a hidden fence and became impaled on it, fire officials said. She injured her front legs and was bleeding badly when [DC Fire Sgt.] Ryan called for help.

    Ryan got her off the fence and, with the help of the Arlington County Fire Department, removed her from the woods.

    Realizing she could die of her injury, officials requested use of the U.S. Park Police medevac helicopter, which flew Kylie to a landing site … in the District. From there, the injured dog was shuttled by a waiting Park Police cruiser to the nearby Friendship Hospital for Animals.

    The agencies helping the dog probably saved her life, rescuers said, and the 80-pound champion sniffer will probably return to work after a summer hiatus. “She’ll be on leave with treats … ”

    … D.C. Fire spokesman Vito Maggiolo said Wednesday that her “prognosis was excellent,” considering her condition when she arrived. Kylie received about five pints of blood and was put on a respirator.

    Kylie is one of four specialty dogs with the District fire department, working as a cadaver dog specializing in finding human remains, Maggiolo said.

    Kylie came to work for the department five years ago after Ryan rescued her from a shelter. Maggiolo said that she was going to be euthanized but that Ryan “saw her potential for the kind of work that needed to be done” at the department. She spent two years in training, Ryan said, and lives with him and his wife and four children.

    Kylie will have lots of attention and affection as she heals. She has been saved twice now by Sgt. Ryan.

    You should see the photo. She KNOWS she’s a good girl.

  55. 55.

    Dan B

    Cheryl; Any idea of the likelihood that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will carry through with the staff’s recommendation to reduce regulation and inspection? Seems like a bad time since many of our 59 plants are old or past their initial design life.

  56. 56.

    Steeplejack

    @Brachiator:

    RIP, Camilleri.

    I have flogged Montalbano here many times. An epic series: 34 “episodes” that are really feature-length films (90-100 minutes) over the last 20 years. The first 10 are excellent, the second 10 are pretty damn good, and the rest are a bit uneven—a few clunkers mixed in with some good ones. But definitely worth checking out. Intelligent writing, great cinematography, memorable characters, good acting.

    As Brachiator said, Montalbano is on MHz (available on some cable systems). You can subscribe directly or through an Amazon Prime channel. MHz has a lot of (foreign) public-affairs shows, but their fiction programming I would describe as sort of a non-English European Acorn or BritBox, if that makes sense. Lots of good series, but Montalbano is the crown jewel.

    I think it likely that MHz will run some episodes in honor of Camilleri’s death. I’ll post a comment if I see any.

    Note: Avoid Young Montalbano like the plague. Completely different—and awful—series.

  58. 58.

    Steeplejack

    @Another Scott:

    Fellow member of the fightin’ 8th here. I thought Beyer would be good in a “regular Democrat” way, but I have been pleasantly surprised at how he has stepped up his game in several areas.

  59. 59.

    lamh36

    More goodies from SDCC…BTS from the new Terminator film!

    YESSSS LINDA HAMILTON!!! If they gave Linda good screen time that’s all I need!!!

    Alright, now I’m hyped…Sara Connor badass, kicking azz and taking names…and they’ll have Furlong back as John Connor! It’ll be like T3 and beyond NEVER happened…I can get down with that…a “true” sequel to 1 & 2!

    https://twitter.com/Terminator/status/1151987663823466496

  63. 63.

    Brachiator

    @lamh36:

    True Confession time…I’ve never actually SEEN the original TOP GUN…so I can honestly say I have no idea how to feel about this trailer. I would LOVE to hear from folks who have seen the original though. What do you think of the trailer?

    In it’s time, Top Gun was a lot of fun, and featured a lot of actors in their youthful prime. Tony Scott’s direction is fun, fast and muscular.

    The trailer shows Maverick stuck in time, still a captain. I would have preferred Top Gun, The Next Generation. But unless I hear that it sucks balls, I’ll be there.

    ETA. Tony Scott committed suicide in 2012, jumping off a bridge in San Pedro, California. He was Ridley Scott’s brother. His tombstone lists his films.

  65. 65.

    mrmoshpotato

    @lamh36:

    More goodies from SDCC

    Read that as SDNY at first and thought, “What does a federal court have to do with the Terminator movies?”

  66. 66.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Brachiator: Since it is set in the navy, if he is a captain he has had several promotions. If he still is wearing twin silver bars, the he is a lieutenant. Navy ranks are different.

  67. 67.

    Roger Moore

    @mrmoshpotato:

    Everyone needs some mongooses and a couple of honey badgers.

    The California Department of Fish and Wildlife would beg to differ. They won’t let people keep ferrets, much less mongooses or honey badgers.

  69. 69.

    Sab

    @lamh36: I have a great nephew who has had type 1 diabetes for most of his life and he is pretty healthy in his early fifties.

  70. 70.

    NotMax

    @Steeplejack

    Also, available on Prime also is The Vanishing of Patò, set in the same fictional town and milieu as Montalbano, but in 1890.

  71. 71.

    Ohio Mom

    @lamh36: How scary
    for all of you! There’s a certain relief in getting a diagnosis, at least that is what I’ve experienced.

    Learning to manage the diabetes will be a steep learning curve but it is very doable. The technology to manage diabetes is improving all the time, with pumps and automatic blood sugar readers, and that is on Maddie’s side. She’ll be a bit of a bionic girl.

    Sending good thoughts to Maddie, you and yours. I know you’ll keep us posted.

  73. 73.

    Roger Moore

    @Brachiator:

    In it’s time, Top Gun was a lot of fun, and featured a lot of actors in their youthful prime.

    I’ve watched it lot- a friend in college had it on laser disk- but it’s one of those ’80s movies that was so much of its time that I can’t imagine it has aged well.

  74. 74.

    Steeplejack

    @NotMax:

    I didn’t like that so much. Got a little too cute and precious in places. Sort of an occupational hazard for the Italians, which Montalbano mostly avoids.

  75. 75.

    waratah

    @lamh36: I loved the original movie and have watched it several times, but not recently. Looks similar to the original and I will see if I have the opportunity.

  76. 76.

    Brachiator

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    Since it is set in the navy, if he is a captain he has had several promotions. If he still is wearing twin silver bars, the he is a lieutenant. Navy ranks are different.

    The trailer makes a big deal over the idea that “you can’t be promoted, and you won’t retire.” This somewhat diminishes my interest. But other parts of the trailer look to be fun.

  77. 77.

    Steeplejack

    @Roger Moore:

    Same. I haven’t seen it in a long time—and I can’t imagine I would want to sit through it all the way again—but, when I see clips or something reminds me of it, it is like a concentrated dose of the most ’80s-ish tropes ever.

  79. 79.

    geg6

    I would freaking die, right then and there. I hate snakes. Was traumatized as a child and have had a couple bad experiences since. Fuckem.

  82. 82.

    J R in WV

    Regarding SNAKES:

    My Grandma was phobic about snakes. A very self-assured strong woman, she held would-be burglars at gunpoint waiting for the deputy sheriff to arrive, no big deal. But she once went to the basement to cycle some laundry through, and found a snake wound around the laundry basket.

    Basket, laundry, snake, all chopped to small bits with a garden hoe.

    I once went to a work-related meeting at Pipestem Resort, a very nice hotel at a WV State Park, the lobby, kitchens, etc are all at the top of the hotel, and the rooms drape down the side of the Bluestone Gorge, most with patios onto the lawn between the building and the woods common to state parks.

    One morning I was at the elevator lobby on my floor, 2 or 3 above the bottom floor 3 or 4 below the top floor. There was a tiny just hatched or born ringnecked black snake on the floor, smaller than a pencil. I picked it up and carried it across the lawn into the woods and let it go. A tiny little guy, and so cute, silver with a collar.

    It may not have made it into a den for the winter, but it sure had a better chance our in the woods than it had in the hotel.

  84. 84.

    Amir Khalid

    @ThresherK:
    As long as you don’t pick Bayern Munich, you’ll be fine. Bayern are the New York Yankees of German football. I would put in a recommendation for Borussia Dortmund: Jurgen Klopp’s club before Liverpool, which by an interesting coincidence also has You’ll Never Walk Alone as its club anthem.

  85. 85.

    Mel

    @lamh36: Sending love and good energy to Maddie, her Mom and brother, and you. Please keep us posted, and tell Ms. Maddie that so many people are
    sending her hugs today!

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