Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

The willow is too close to the house.

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

T R E 4 5 O N

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

Innocent people don’t delay justice.

Not all heroes wear capes.

Schmidt just says fuck it, opens a tea shop.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

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

I was promised a recession.

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

A consequence of cucumbers

Come on, man.

This blog will pay for itself.

Let us savor the impending downfall of lawless scoundrels who richly deserve the trouble barreling their way.

We’ll be taking my thoughts and prayers to the ballot box.

In short, I come down firmly on all sides of the issue.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

The GOP is a fucking disgrace.

I’d like to think you all would remain faithful to me if i ever tried to have some of you killed.

You are here: Home / Nature & Respite / Respite Open Thread: Grizzly Tiff

Respite Open Thread: Grizzly Tiff

by | 145 Comments

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So this pretty much encapsulates my mood today. A good day not to call/txt/email me. LOL Sympathies to anyone having a similar mood. LOL

Don’t miss the wolf in the background watching intently.

I have so many questions, but lucky woman to not only witnessed this but had the presence of mind to film it.

Respite open thread – a little break between the madness today.

Or if you still need to analyze what’s going on in the political world, that kind of open thread, too. :-)

Reader Interactions

145Comments

  6. 6.

    trollhattan

    Holy crap! Young’n challenges older dude, gets in a few licks then has his ass handed to him. Background critter, “Yeah, let’s you and him fight.”

    Not sorry they don’t live in CA any more. Don’t want to become a Larson cartoon in my little nylon tent.

  7. 7.

    cain

    Is it really a wolf? I thought it was a coyote..
    Also I thought grizzlies were bigger? In any case, it seemed fairly tame, they certainly weren’t out to kill each other. :D

  9. 9.

    Ella in New Mexico

    OMG this is literally what it’s like to watch the State High School Championship Wrestling semi-finals in the 189# weight class

  10. 10.

    Major Major Major Major

    Non-politics, let’s see.

    Writing going well, 2.5 stories accepted for the anthology, 2.5 to go. What a slog! But it’ll be worth it.

    In video game news, there’s a new indie game out called Untitled Goose Game. The premise is that you’re a goose and you go around a village making people’s lives miserable. It’s pretty true to life, in other words. It’s great fun, and while it’s a bit of a trifle, it’s priced accordingly.

  11. 11.

    trollhattan

    A dad’s report from teenland, my kid tells me none of her vaping friends is quitting in light of recently reported bad outcomes for vapers. But, this happened anyway.

    E-cigarette maker Juul is shutting down broadcast, print and digital advertising and ending lobbying efforts in Washington as safety concerns over vaping intensify.

    The company on Wednesday said its CEO was stepping down and will be replaced by a senior executive from Altria, the maker of Marlboro. Altria took a 35% stake in Juul in December at a cost of $13 billion. Also on Wednesday, one month after announcing that they were in merger talks, the tobacco giants Altria and Philip Morris International said they were calling off those discussions.

    Juul has long pushed its e-cigarettes as an alternative for adults looking to wean themselves off tobacco products. But e-cigarettes have become popular among teenagers, and illnesses potentially linked to the product are on the rise.

    Now we can get to talking about the role vaping actually plays. It was never about helping smokers quit (even if it might help in some instances) it’s always been about creating new and future smokers. Always.

  13. 13.

    NotMax

    Gonna repeat this from below because am mildly curious whether anyone else does the same thing and keeps them around.

    Received several small this ‘n’ that’s via Amazon. The fabric bags or pouches inside which some were packed are simply too nice and substantial to throw away, not that I’ll likely ever find a use for them, but ya never know. Some zippered, others with a drawstring.

  18. 18.

    trollhattan

    @Major Major Major Major:
    Five-yard illegal procedure penalty–you used logical in a reference to teens.

    While the deaths and ER visits are primarily the result of street buys, the veneer of vaping being at all “safe” is peeling away. It’s not and cannot be “safe” and is primarily a way to create nicotine addiction.

  20. 20.

    Alain

    @trollhattan: the original inventor was about getting his folks off of tobacco, but yeah, big corporate giants get involved and it becomes evil quickly. I liked the vape boutique where you go in and get advice and some of their own-brew. Once it became all manufactured and bulk-shipped, those types of businesses have atrophied so that all you can find is a selection of brands and who knows what pressures exist so who knows what’s in this unregulated product.

  22. 22.

    ??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??

    @Major Major Major Major:
    Not quite.

    From the nicotine Wiki article:

    Nicotine may not be harmless, but it is safer than inhaled tobacco smoke. As medicine, nicotine is used to help with quitting smoking and has good safety in this form. Nicotine itself poses health risks to certain vulnerable groups such as youth, but the ideal course of action for smokers is to quit all nicotine use. Nicotine can harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s.

  24. 24.

    Spanky

    I’m sitting in the back yard in the sun. It used to be the shade, but we find ourselves in the 3rd or 4th week without rain, and the trees are giving up. Only around 80, though, with a small breeze. Our mockingbird has just kicked off his afternoon performance.

    No rain in the 10 day forecast, either.

  29. 29.

    TheOtherHank

    @NotMax: Well no, but my son in college has gotten into D&D and it turns out you can buy empty Crown Royal drawstring bags, so I got him one. As I recall from the ancient times, they were the container of choice for one’s dice, etc.

  30. 30.

    Mnemosyne

    Since I was talking about my new CPAP last week, I thought I should give an update for the daytime crowd. It’s going pretty well, to tell you the truth! The first couple of nights the machine was still detecting about 5 events per hour (which is better than the 49 I was having, but still mild apnea), but then I remembered that one of the tweaks I’d read about was to turn on the heater for the built-in humidifier and voilà! My AHI went down to 1, which is basically no obstruction. Yay!

    Now I have about 10 years of interrupted sleep to catch up on … ?

  32. 32.

    Jean

    Didn’t read the story, but a headline in Washington Post, says Israel will have another election to help Nuttin-honey form a new government, a lifeline against corruption charges. HE CAN NEVER LOSE.

  33. 33.

    Major Major Major Major

    @trollhattan: @Alain: It’s a recreational drug, and should be regulated at least as strongly as combustion cigarettes. I’d be very happy if the “safety” veneer got torn off, especially since the correct angle (for current smokers) is “harm reduction”.

    @NotMax:

    Smiling while picturing how stupid it would look if in 30s and 40s movies (think Bette Davis films, for example) everyone had vaped.

    Reminding me of this Onion article: Man Smoking E-Cigarette Must Be Futuristic Bounty Hunter

    @TheOtherHank: Oh man, I was just about to leave a comment about putting dice in Crown Royal bags!

  34. 34.

    trollhattan

    @Martin:

    I don’t know – my teens are more logical than any Republican I’ve met.

    Low bar. :-)

    They’re wonderful at drilling in and ferreting out inconsistencies and disingenuousness in others, not so good at self-reflection and criticism. e.g., My kid’s a diehard feminist, supporter or LGBT and minority rights, etc. And yet loves some musicians who have lyrics phenomenally demeaning to women.

  35. 35.

    NotMax

    @Major Major Major Major

    My understanding from afar is that Juul is the lowest common denominator when it comes to vaping products and that there are superior, albeit pricier, alternatives.

    In cigar terms, the Swisher Sweets of vaping. In spirits terms, the Bartles & Jaymes wine coolers of alcohol.

  36. 36.

    Jay C

    @Martin:

    I don’t know – my teens are more logical than any Republican I’ve met.

    No dig against your teens, Martin: but that IS quite the low bar to hurdle….

  37. 37.

    mskitty

    Anybody else think it looks like a schoolkids fight? – trashtalking, then pushing at each other, a little wrestling down on the ground, and then runaway, runaway?

  38. 38.

    LuciaMia

    Bears:
    “You back off…”
    “No, YOU back off!”
    After a few minutes,
    “Okay, Im backing off.”
    Are bears more pragmatic than people?

  39. 39.

    catclub

    @NotMax:

    from afar is that Juul is the lowest common denominator

    Well, Altria buying it (Marlboro) indicates predator recognizes predator. Juul’s advertising was the most like cigarette ads to hook new smokers,
    who just happen to NOT be 45 YO adults

  40. 40.

    The Moar You Know

    Also I thought grizzlies were bigger?

    @cain: Those are most assuredly grizzlies. Shoulder hump and coat coloring. Young as they’re pretty small – for grizzlies aka brown bears.

    Canid in the background is wondering if they’re fighting over some food!

  41. 41.

    trollhattan

    @Kent:
    Great video!. Not only could she outrun Usain Bolt, they can climb a tree just as fast!

    Supposedly, grizzlys can’t climb trees and if you’ve getting away from one, you can try that ploy, but this mamma cinnamon bear looks kinda like a griz and when you’re facing a bear are you supposed to ask them, “Are you a black bear or a griz?”

  42. 42.

    Matt McIrvin

    @Mnemosyne: I’ve had good luck using one, but I find I still have nights when the AHI spikes up to 10 or 15. Particularly if I have a cold or something. 4-5 is more common, regardless of how I’ve tweaked the humidifier. I can’t turn it up too high or it feels like my nose is constantly running.

    Main thing I discovered is that I have to clean the mask pretty obsessively or I get painful acne around where it touches my face. And that it doesn’t pay to be too obsessive about the leak rate–it can be quite high before it’s really a problem, and keeping the mask comfortable enough that it stays on all night is more important.

  43. 43.

    Major Major Major Major

    @NotMax: I don’t know that other brands have a healthier method of delivering drugs and flavoring in an FDA-approved inhalable solvent, though. Like, Nat Shermans and Export As aren’t any healthier than Marlboro Lights, even though they provide a better smoking experience.

  44. 44.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    I’m actually kind of struck by the non-violence of the grizzly argument. More like a coach yelling at an umpire than a bar fight. First they’re in each other’s faces yelling. Then the shoving. Then it progresses to a small amount of wrestling but nobody appears to be trying to inflict serious damage. And then one of them backs down, de-escalates it.

  46. 46.

    The Moar You Know

    Are bears more pragmatic than people?

    @LuciaMia: Most animals play-fight/fight over low-priority things and don’t escalate it to the point where someone gets seriously harmed. That’s not in anyone’s best interests.

    There are exceptions and the big one is mating season. Hell, deer will fight to the death during rut.

    Interesting factoid: wolf and domestic dog pups play fight. Coyote pups do not; they genuinely try to kill each other. Why this is nobody knows.

  47. 47.

    NotMax

    @catclub

    Seem to fuzzily recall several stories about low-end vaping apparatuses tendency to catch fire. May or may not have been Juul, so don’t want to tar them (no pun intended) without checking.

  50. 50.

    Jay C

    @Matt McIrvin:

    (Advice from long-time CPAP user): if you’re having issues with the mask, check around for alternative styles/models.
    I was never quite happy with how the standard pilot-style mask worked, then changed to the two-nostril “pillow” style, and have been much happier (and less “wind” on my face).

  51. 51.

    catclub

    It may be time for another Flobalob post from Tony Jay on the number of obviously not true things BoJo is claiming while speaking to parliament.

  52. 52.

    jeffreyw

    @NotMax:
    SeaSonic sends their power supplies in black drawstring bags. I must have a dozen of them packed away. Packed away with the cloth bags the green coffee beans come in.

  53. 53.

    delk

    34 years ago today I was diagnosed with HIV. Doctor told me if I was lucky I’d live about 18 months.

    Probably should buy a lottery ticket today.

  56. 56.

    Rand Careaga

    @Ceci n est pas mon nym: I am not a wildlife biologist, but it’s my understanding that among the ursines this sort of confrontation between adolescent males is common: no serious damage is done, but it establishes, once the competition for mating privileges becomes an issue, which rival it’s safe to face down and which call for a “discretion is the better part of valor” retreat.

  57. 57.

    chris

    @NotMax: @catclub: Juul also contains the highest nicotine content, 50mg/ml, of any vape that I know of. They made a big deal about offering a 25mg juice a little while ago but even that is quite strong. They’re the unfiltered Camels of vapes, aimed directly at addicts.

    For context when I quit the cigs I used a 45mg juice for a while until it made me slightly nauseated a couple of times just like cigarettes did when I was a kid. Since then I’ve stepped down to 30, then to 15 and now 6mg. 3mg is the next step and then I put the whole thing down. Maybe.

  60. 60.

    chris

    @NotMax:

    vaping apparatuses tendency to catch fire

    Cheap unregulated mods with high voltage rechargeable batteries and usually caused by user damaged batteries.

  62. 62.

    catclub

    @delk: wow. You and Magic Johnson. (I think magic was still playing basketball in 1988, so he was diagnosd later)

    The good news is, you’ll never have to see Donald trump as President. The bad news is that you will be dead.

    Cheers.

  69. 69.

    Amir Khalid

    Guitar question: Should I put Fender Custom Shop ’54 pickups in my clearance-sale Squier Strat?

  70. 70.

    trollhattan

    @geg6:
    I’m 100% on board as a tool for weaning off cigarettes. Dad died of lung cancer from a habit he acquired free, serving Uncle Sam in WWII. Had he moved from smoking to…anything else he might have met his granddaughter.

    They (vaping devices) did not go through FDA approval as a consumer product. They should have, but as far as I can tell live in that magical world that also contains nutritional supplements that are fiercely defended from government oversight by the Utah and a few other congressional delegations. If the makers of vape products had the burden of proof that they are truly safe, they would have never come to market. As medical devices, then yes, similar to nicotine patches, etc.

  72. 72.

    Ruckus

    @trollhattan:
    Pictures of cancerous lungs would do the trick. One look at what healthy looks like and a comparison to the cancerous-that will change any minds that aren’t dumber than a box of rocks.

  73. 73.

    Mnemosyne

    @Matt McIrvin:

    I’ve been washing the mask every day, so hopefully that will ward off skin issues. It’s the Phillips Dreamwear nasal pillows mask, so it’s pretty minimal.

    It sounds like you may want to try a different mask — there are a bajillion options out there now. I found a bunch of helpful message boards when I was Googling for more information and there were a lot of places that had reviews of the different models. I like the Phillips one because the hose goes off the top of my head, so it’s less likely to get tangled.

  75. 75.

    geg6

    @catclub:

    Now, now, I only have six of each. And I have never, ever, ever paid retail for them.

    What can I say? I am a sucker for a finely made purse.

  76. 76.

    trollhattan

    @delk:
    Good on ya! I won’t say “happy anniversary” because that would be weird, but your story is heartening indeed. I’m not unique in having known many who did not make it and watching them waste away is seared into the psyche.

  78. 78.

    Mnemosyne

    @delk:

    Congratulations! It’s easy for kids today to forget how amazing it was that scientists were able to turn AIDS into a chronic but manageable disease rather than a short-term death sentence.

    We saw an anniversary screening of the HBO documentary about the quilt. It’s still incredibly moving, especially since we were lucky enough to also get to see some of the actual quilt squares that were of or by the people highlighted in the movie.

  79. 79.

    NotMax

    @geg6

    I only have six of each

    Whew. Was sort of imagining this interior monologue:

    “Okay, all the purses are safely stored. Now, what am I gonna do with 150 bed sheets?”

    ;)

  81. 81.

    Major Major Major Major

    @Ruckus:

    Nicotine is/was used as an agricultural pesticide/insecticide. I’d bet there are better products to use for smoking cessation.

    If you’re addicted to nicotine, your options for cessation aides are:

    1. Nicotine, but less and less
    2. Off-label Wellbutrin, which is almost certainly a worse idea than tapering off
    3. I don’t know, hypnosis?

    (Edited because of fat finger)

    And for the record, most drugs are pesticides that we’ve distilled out of plants. Or just plants with built-in pesticides that we burn or pour boiling water over.

  83. 83.

    Ruckus

    @LuciaMia:
    No, they just have sharper teeth and nasty claws. Get too serious in that game and one of them gets seriously hurt. And they know it.

  85. 85.

    Avalune

    @Major Major Major Major: Oh dang! I really don’t need any more games on my list right now! I’m doing a digital art class and working on some fall knitting and books to read…and we’re currently playing River City Girls (remake of River City Ransom) for the “true” ending, Borderlands 3, I’m still working on Fire Emblem Three Houses and Link Awakening came out and I haven’t even bought it yet because I’m overbooked as is… I’ll have to remember the goose game for later because that seriously does sound hilarious. Geese are (usually) assholes.

  88. 88.

    catclub

    @Major Major Major Major:

    If you’re addicted to nicotine, your options for cessation aides are:

    The memorable one for me was the teacher who told me he went into the hospital with (either a stroke or heart attack), and was able to quit quite easily after that.

  89. 89.

    Alain

    @Major Major Major Major:

    It’s a recreational drug, and should be regulated at least as strongly as combustion cigarettes. I’d be very happy if the “safety” veneer got torn off, especially since the correct angle (for current smokers) is “harm reduction”.

    Agreed, 100%. I’d like all vape liquids and flavors to be tested and the whole industry regulated. I’d like to see the THC vape industry similarly regulated in all the states that allow it, so that bad solvents and dangerous techniques can be stopped and also to ensure that any flavorings or additives are also safe.

    Basically, regulate it!

  90. 90.

    Ruckus

    @delk:
    Maybe you should. You contacted about the time serious effort was being spent figuring it out and at the time progress actually happened. Not lucky to get it, but lucky to get help.

  91. 91.

    Gravenstone

    @Ruckus: Yeah, witnessing the cost of smoking, through whatever means can have a rather sobering effect. Both of my grandparents were heavy smokers when I was a teen (2-3 packs/day). Grandfather develops and ultimately dies from massively metastasized lung cancer. Grandmother quits cold turkey in the aftermath and lives another 23 years.

  92. 92.

    Mnemosyne

    @Major Major Major Major:

    Eh, Wellbutrin isn’t any worse for you than the other antidepressants. It does have a couple of very major contraindications that some doctors don’t take seriously enough when it comes to checking patients for seizures or co-morbid conditions that can cause seizures (like eating disorders and alcohol abuse).

  93. 93.

    joel hanes

    @The Moar You Know:

    shoulder hump and coat coloring

    The shape of the face/muzzle is even more dispositive.

    The muzzle of a black bear is a straight line from the crest of the head to the nose.
    Grizzlies have a “forehead”: the line of the face dips around the eye sockets.

  94. 94.

    NotMax

    FYI. Although it’s a Scottish series from the 90s, the second season of Hamish Macbeth – gentle country policeman program – has not been available on Prime. Until now.

    Series 3 maybe later on?

  96. 96.

    joel hanes

    @Mnemosyne:

    Wellbutrin isn’t any worse for you than the other antidepressants.

    Withdrawing from Wellbutrin is no fun.

    Withdrawing from Effexor is a prolonged nightmare.

  97. 97.

    Ruckus

    @catclub:
    Sounds like a buddy that told me he had some disease I can’t remember the name of now, and I went to see him in a “rehab” place he was staying at, only to find out years later, he was/is an alcoholic.

  99. 99.

    trollhattan

    @Ruckus:
    Lordy, I recall going to the World’s Fair (remember those?) and seeing a display of a research “smoking machine” and a big, clear cylinder filled with accumulated tar from N cigarettes (where N was a typical smoker’s consumption). This was before the Surgeon General’s report. Cured this tyke from ever wanting to even try.

  100. 100.

    trollhattan

    @Gravenstone:
    Both parents smoked. Mom got the flu one Christmas and after recovering had a cough that she said “Tastes like an ashtray.” Somehow she used that to quit and lived to 88. Dad continued and lived to 65.

    ETA My new primary care doctor quizzed me as to whether I smoke. “Nope” Ever? “Nope” Parents? “Yep” You smoked.

  101. 101.

    Major Major Major Major

    @Mnemosyne:

    Wellbutrin isn’t any worse for you than the other antidepressants.

    Right, if you’re depressed. Bupropion’s (effective, but incidental) use as a smoking-cessation aid should be taken with a grain of salt. It has major side-effects!

    ETA I started taking it for depression the week I also started quitting cigarettes, it was a big help, but also it turns out I’m bipolar and mildly epileptic, not depressed, and bupropion was in fact a terrible idea

  102. 102.

    geg6

    @delk:

    Wow, that’s amazing. I’m so glad you are still with us and hope you will be for many more years!

    ETA: I have a couple of friends who succumbed before there were any sort of treatments. So I know how much of a medical miracle it is to have you with us.

  106. 106.

    catclub

    News!? important if true.

    via Bloomberg

    Congress to Receive Whistle-Blower Complaint (3:14 p.m.)

    The Trump administration will give Congress a whistle-blower complaint involving Trump’s call with Zelenskiy on Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the matter.

    The complaint, made to the inspector general for the U.S. intelligence community, concerns a sequence of events including the call. Up to now, the administration had prevented the inspector general from briefing Congress on the complaint or providing it to lawmakers.

    Acting Director of National Intelligence Joseph Maguire is scheduled to testify to the House Intelligence Committee on Thursday and is expected to face questions about the complaint.

  107. 107.

    Amir Khalid

    @Steve in the ATL:
    My guitars are the cheap ones (he said defensively) and I buy a guitar somewhat less often than Madam Marcos bought shoes. Besides, I’m trying to save money here; RM640 pickups in a RM290 guitar which I already have seems a better use of money than blowing RM1,200 on a new Squier Standard Strat.

  108. 108.

    Quinerly

    @HeleninEire: I go weeks without seeing him on TV. It’s a test for me to check out changes in him. I listen on Tune in MSNBC on Echo. Today, is the first time I’ve actually seen him in over 6 weeks. Big changes in appearance. Plus, low energy right now.

  109. 109.

    cain

    Shouldn’t we have dorky don’s press thing on a separate thread? Whose running this joint anyway?

    ;)

  110. 110.

    Mike in NC

    Fat Bastard at UN is babbling incoherently, lying through his teeth. “Largest economy, blah blah blah, China losing billions”. Sad stupid man-baby.

  112. 112.

    The Moar You Know

    Guitar question: Should I put Fender Custom Shop ’54 pickups in my clearance-sale Squier Strat?

    @Amir Khalid: Unless you’ve got a really nice tube amp I highly suspect you would find this to be a waste of money. The stock Squier pickups are quite good.

  116. 116.

    Ohio Mom

    @NotMax: That’s the sort of stuff I save for July, when the synagogue’s Sisterhood has its annual rummage sale. Somehow, I don’t think that’s an option for you.

  118. 118.

    The Moar You Know

    Grizzlies have a “forehead”: the line of the face dips around the eye sockets.

    @joel hanes: Right! Heard it referred to as “dished”.

  119. 119.

    Avalune

    @Leto: I could probably do both – you spend a hour figuring out which gun to use every time a gun drops in a loot drop game. :-P

  121. 121.

    Amir Khalid

    @The Moar You Know:
    B-b-b-but the guy in the store said I could make my Squier sound like a Fender American Professional Strat! (The American Pro is 13x the price of my Squier California Strat.)

  122. 122.

    chris

    @Ruckus:

    Pictures of cancerous lungs would do the trick

    Nope. Search “canadian cigarette pack image.” Actually, I suppose it helps a little but doesn’t stop any addicts.

  123. 123.

    The Moar You Know

    Ukraine president thought only U.S. side of Trump call would be published

    @Baud: Dude’s on crack. That wouldn’t happen under any president, but especially not this one, who has made it his life’s work to fuck over every single person he’s ever encountered.

  125. 125.

    SFBayAreaGal

    @trollhattan: My dad was a smoker, my mom and all of us kids were non smokers. Both sets of my grandparents were smokers.

    Cancer outcome for us grandchildren and mom:

    My mom passed away from stomach cancer. One sister had a double mastectomy due to breast cancer, another sister had her bladder removed due to bladder cancer.

    Yes second hand smoke is deadly.

  127. 127.

    Mnemosyne

    @Steve in the ATL:

    Heh. I once had a grocery store clerk whose mind was blown when I took a shopping bag in its own bag out of the bag I was carrying.

    To be fair, I suspect he may have spent his break smoking the kind of herb that they didn’t sell in California grocery stores at the time.

  128. 128.

    The Moar You Know

    B-b-b-but the guy in the store said I could make my Squier sound like a Fender American Professional Strat! (The American Pro is 13x the price of my Squier California Strat.)

    @Amir Khalid: Well, here’s a guy who’s worked in four and managed two of them. The single best thing you can do for your tone, once you have a guitar without overt defects or playability issues, is buy a REALLY GOOD AMP. An electric guitar is literally one half of an instrument. The amp is the other half. That’s how important this is.

    (yes that means pretty expensive most of the time)

    If you’re going to buy a Fender, stay away from the Pro Junior, Blues Junior, Hot Rod Deluxe and Blues De Ville. They are not that great – my guitar player brings a Blues Junior to our smaller gigs, but he spent so much on mods for it he may as well have bought a new Mesa (he has an old one – best guitar amps made, period.)

    The Fender reissues – Princeton, Deluxe, Twin – are great. The new Supro stuff is pretty decent. If I can think of anything else, I’ll let you know. But save your pennies and buy a good amp!

  133. 133.

    Mnemosyne

    @Major Major Major Major:

    Yes, you’re basically the worst possible candidate for bupoprion. That was some bad doctorin’.

    I suspect that the smoking cessation patients that Wellbutrin works best for are the ones with undiagnosed ADHD, because it’s the anti-depressant of choice for folks with ADHD. It gives a little bit of the same effect as ADHD medication since they all work on dopamine.

  134. 134.

    Ohio Mom

    @delk: Congrats! To you and to modern medical science. What a fabulous anniversary to note.

    That musta been a hell of a thing to live through, those first months and year when it looked like there was no hope. I’m shuddering in sympathy.

  135. 135.

    Ohio Mom

    @Major Major Major Major: Hypnosis worked for my uncle, and inspired by that, my mom. They were in their fifties and had smoked heavily their entire adult lives.

    Which tickled me because they were two of the most cynical people ever. You’d think they would have dismissed hypnosis as woo (had the word existed back then). But they each gave it a fair try and it worked.

    After quitting, both of them chewed toothpicks constantly for a while. And then they didn’t.

  137. 137.

    Ohio Mom

    @SFBayAreaGal: Not that it makes any difference, but breast cancer is something of an anomaly in that there is no evidence of any link to smoking. Now, youthful binge drinking, that there is some evidence for.

  138. 138.

    Miss Bianca

    @Avalune: Aw, you guys are so cute. ; )

    I am so glad Leto and delk are still with us, and that we got Avalune as a jackal into the bargain.

  139. 139.

    Miss Bianca

    @Mnemosyne: Really? My ex was on Paxil – he had ADHD and depression, and the doctors basically told him, “well, we can give you drugs that will treat you for one or the other but not both”. He opted to feel better instead of being able to concentrate better.

    But that was back in the 90s. Things may have changed.

    And as far as I know, he’s never been able to wean himself off the Paxil. : (

  142. 142.

    pluky

    @cain: Yes, they weren’t out to do real damage. Notice the swats were with the pads, not the claws, and no biting. Ethologially, this was an agonistic display — a test of relative size, strength, and overall fitness. The larger, older bear let the challenger get in his (almost certainly males here) best shot, then dropped the hammer. Not the shift from challenge to submission before scampering away,

  143. 143.

    J R in WV

    @delk:

    Congratulations! And many happy returns of the anniversary!

    HEY!! We’ve got two new puppys in the house. Are nearly 6 months old, the dad is half lab and half great pyrenees and mom is a mix of Australian cattle dogs. Around 50 pounds each, black with some white trim.

    They have been living on a dairy farm as outdoor dogs, now they’re indoors in our house. Our current dog has been a single dog for a year or two, and is intimidated by having strangers in the house. She doesn’t get it that these two young’ens are hers to train up!

    Pics will happen. They need to visit the vet for some shots, spay and neuter work. Friend will email me the vaccination details, they’re professional dairy goat farmers, ordered vaccine and shot them up twice on schedule, but our vets will need to know what and when with regard to that.

    They’re SO CUTE~~!!!~~ Scared now that their mom has left them with strangers, even though we visited them a few weeks ago, they don’t remember at all. Quiet, laying on the floor.

    All the political news today is way past insane ! I’m trying to hold off watching too much video news….

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