Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

New McCarthy, same old McCarthyism.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

This really is a full service blog.

Everybody saw this coming.

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

“What are Republicans afraid of?” Everything.

Let there be snark.

🎶 Those boots were made for mockin’ 🎵

The words do not have to be perfect.

The GOP is a fucking disgrace.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

Speaking of republicans, is there a way for a political party to declare intellectual bankruptcy?

Not so fun when the rabbit gets the gun, is it?

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

The republican caucus is already covering themselves with something, and it’s not glory.

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

They’re not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.

White supremacy is terrorism.

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

You are here: Home / Pet Blogging / Cat Blogging / Respite Open Thread: My Quarterly Review Is Not Looking Good

Respite Open Thread: My Quarterly Review Is Not Looking Good

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2 great danes and 1 great cat have a meeting

I came out of my office the other day to find this going on.

Either they are:

  1. Having a quarterly staff meeting, and it’s not looking good for me
  2. Gabe is explaining “he who has the remote controls the picture box” rules
  3. This is the monthly book club and they’re reading my novel

I’m completely done in. News is off, music is on. How about you?

Respite open thread

Reader Interactions

76Comments

  8. 8.

    Mike in NC

    Watching Season (Series) 4 of “Shetland”, the excellent British police drama on DVD because Netflix dropped it. We liked this show so much we took a cruise last month in part because it visited the beautiful and remote Shetland Islands. Crazy?

  9. 9.

    dmsilev

    About to start baking. It’s autumn, which means it’s time again for me to use my coworkers as guinea pigs as I trial cake recipes for Thanksgiving. I’m very popular at work this time of year…

    Today, a chocolate chestnut cake from King Arthur Flour. Hope it works…

  13. 13.

    Jay

    So much shit went down today, that despite being a huge consumer of online media, I could barely keep up with the Jackaltariate,

    I only posted one comment all day in a dead thread.

    So some chardonnay and some twitteratii to catch up with.

  16. 16.

    delk

    Went to my orthopedic surgeon today for a check up. It’s been five weeks since I had my hip replaced. All is good. X-ray showed the bone healing around the replacement. He estimates 2-3 years before the other one needs replacing. Unlike Trump, I had a pretty good day.

  19. 19.

    Mai naem mobile

    I am watching Rachel Maddow and she had some guy on and she is asking him almost in a trolling(don’t know if that’s the right term) fashion if indeed it might be serious if a POTUS would ask for dirt on an opponent. That faux serious kind of facial expressions right wing media whores put on when they ask “Well, would it be serious if Barack Obama was a muslin and was born in Kenya?” I’ll have Maddow on in the background but I am usually not playing close attention to what she is saying.

  20. 20.

    NotMax

    Basking in the glow of the installed-this-morning by ye olde handygeezer LED ceiling fixture. The downside? Yet another remote control to keep track of.

    Even rallied enough energy in the oppressive heat/humidity to do a thorough vacuuming with the cordless stick vac which had charged up over the weekend.

  22. 22.

    NotMax

    @dmsilev

    Actually, have never tried their white flour(s). Found the whole wheat flour totally unsatisfactory and that was enough to put me off the brand.

  24. 24.

    NotMax

    Been trying on and off to watch Hinterland on Netflix but just cannot get into it and probably will bail out.

  25. 25.

    Jay

    "It is vitally important to know who the whistleblower is to understand his story, according to three sources familiar with the matter who are not authorized to discuss the topic because oh shit this is kinda awkward now we notice the glaring hypocrisy in this opening paragraph"— Pwn All The Things (@pwnallthethings) September 26, 2019

  27. 27.

    NotMax

    @Mai naem mobile

    More and more Maddow’s show has become a tedious chore, irksome when she spends time bitching and moaning about it being a busy news day, her penchant for demanding “Did I do good?” after a logorrheic lead-up to speaking with a guest and when she goes out of the way to announce that they’ve had to jettison prepared segments. Please don’t waste time telling us about what you’re not going to cover.

  33. 33.

    Aleta

    The publishing of identifying information by the NYT (or any paper) has hit me very hard tonight. The w.b.’s bravery and thoroughness, coming after years of open crimes and shameless denials, gave hope. So the NYT smashed it on the same day it was published.

  34. 34.

    Mike in NC

    @NotMax: We’re going to try it out since we were in Wales last month just a short distance up the coast from where this show filmed..

  39. 39.

    Jay

    Remember @GrimKim was told she couldn't write metal reviews for NPR anymore because she's a leftist lol. You have to pledge to all manner of ethical purity if you freelance for the NYT &c unless you're rich in which case you can write editorials on behalf of your special interest— luke (@lukeoneil47) September 22, 2019

  40. 40.

    Jay

    Dave Rubin is going on Tucker Carlson tonight, to talk about his upcoming fundraising event for a Canadian political party which espouses white nationalist views, has connections to neo-Nazis and militias, and whose candidates include Qanon bloggers & 9/11 truthers. https://t.co/aTumx7Iv6t— Michael Bueckert (@mbueckert) September 26, 2019

  42. 42.

    NotMax

    @Mike in NC

    Nothing wrong with it, it just failed to grab me.

    If you’d like to see some Welsh countryside, might seek out Drovers’ Gold (either Netflix or Prime, can’t recall which off the top of the head).

  43. 43.

    Ladyraxterinok

    Reminded by post at Democraticunderground that 1st ever TV presidential debate was 59 yrs ago on September 26, 1960, between Nixon and JFK. Person posting info linked to actual TV broadcast.

    I remember watching in a dorm meeting room filled with fellow college students. I was a senior and so angry that I was not yet 21 so couldn’t vote!

  44. 44.

    sukabi

    Gabe looks like he’s been working on his conversion into great dane…needs to activate his head to match the size of his butt.

    ????

    Very sweet tableaux.

  45. 45.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    It’s 4:25 am here. Just got back from the hospital. Mum passed peacefully at about 3:15. It hasn’t really hit me yet. More worried about her partner, he is 85 and this is technically the second wife he has lost. He is going home to an empty house.

  46. 46.

    Mai naem mobile

    @schrodingers_cat: I had no idea who the RSS were. I have extended family.members who are Modi supporters but the feeling i get is they credit him with the Indian economy and the modernizing of India not so much the religious stuff. Modi is also good at marketing and branding unlike previous Indian leaders. I think he just happened to be at the right place at the right time to get the credit. I am quite embarrassed looking at those names and seeing that they’re Gujarati. One of my maternal side uncles did some genealogy stuff and said we’re 5th removed cousins or whatever of Modi(definite yuck factor here.) I feel sorry for Trumpov far removed relatives stuck with the name. There’s apparently another wealthy unrelated Trump property developer family who have properties in CA and FL.

  47. 47.

    patrick II

    I have too may too. However, I may try Britbox seven day free trial and have a Shetland marathon some weekend. Thanks for the tip.

  48. 48.

    Mai naem mobile

    @Litlebritdifrnt: Condolences. I am glad you moved back to the UK and had time with your mom before she passed away. Hopefully you’ll be around to help her partner with his grief. When my dad died people kept on saying those left behind are kept busy initially because of everything that has to be taken care of after a death and people visit to offer condolences but its later they need support when they get lonely.

  49. 49.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    Oh Litlebrit, I am so very sorry for your loss. Yes, it will hit you, at the most unexpected (and sometimes inconvenient) moments. I hope — no, I know — that a lifetime of wonderful memories of your mum will help ease that sense of emptiness. Hugs to you, and her partner (is it Norman?), and everyone who loved her. And I’m glad her passing was peaceful; that will be a comfort.

  51. 51.

    cain

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    It’s 4:25 am here. Just got back from the hospital. Mum passed peacefully at about 3:15. It hasn’t really hit me yet. More worried about her partner, he is 85 and this is technically the second wife he has lost. He is going home to an empty house.

    My deepest condolences to you and your family and especially your mum’s partner. It’s never easy to lose your mother or father. I hope that you’ll be able the weather your grief in the following weeks, months or even years.

  54. 54.

    Mary G

    @Litlebritdifrnt: Oh, my condolences. It’s so hard, even when it’s their time, and men usually don’t do well, although my uncle’s fourth marriage at nearly that age was his happiest. May her memory be a blessing to you all.

  57. 57.

    Jay

    I learned during my time in DC earlier this month that the rules about direct action in the Capitol have changed since the Kavanaugh fight. We will now be required to spend the night in jail if we have prior civil disobedience arrests.I’ll do it anyway. Will you do it too?— (((Tae Phoenix))) (@TaePhoenix) September 26, 2019

  60. 60.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    Thanks all Me and my sister now have a three story four bedroom house to clear out of stuff that my Mum a dedicated hoarder accumulated over four decades. It is going to be a mammoth task. My stepfather left my Mum a life estate in the house so his heirs are going to descend like vultures as soon as they know that she has died. Luckily we have an excellent lawyer who is going to fight for us to give us time to clear the house and dispose of all of the valuables

  61. 61.

    Kattails

    @Litlebritdifrnt: What a sad time for you, that’s a terrible loss. Thank you for letting us know, and be sure to take care of yourself. Grief is very tiring and can sneak up on you. Thankful that it was peaceful. I hope your heart is filled with warm and loving memories to console you and your family.

  63. 63.

    Aleta

    Wajahat Ali @WajahatAli

    Nusayba’s finally awake! She woke up right when her older brother, Ibrahim, age 5, came to visit. He smiled & said, “Hello my Jannu! (my life).” She replied, “Hi Iboo!” w/ a small smile. She’s currently like a zen Sufi warrior princess who just smoked weed: Chill & sweet. 1/

    We told Nusayba we got rid of the “hagoo” (poop) liver and replaced it with a new, good one and that all is going well. We also said the world is praying for her and is so proud of her. She smiled and nodded. Now she wants to sleep with a bunny blanket. 3/

    In the Quran, it says, “Whoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if they saved the life of all humankind.” (Chapter 5: 32) I thought of this when meeting Shawn Zahir, the young man who saved Nusayba’s life by anonymously donating a piece of his liver. 1/

    Shawn Zahir and his lovely wife, Rida Fatima, are a Pakistani American Muslim couple in their 20’s. He’s originally from LA and she’s from North Carolina. (She drops many ‘y’alls.’) We had never met them before this week
    * 

    
Shawn, who is wisely not on Twitter, picked up Rida’s phone and clicked on my thread. He turned to his wife and said, “Oh, I’m O blood type. I’ll apply.” Last Friday, we were told there was an anonymous donor and the surgery was scheduled for Tuesday. 4/
    *
    * Adnan Mohamed, the national political director for Beto O’Rourke, messaged me during the surgery and told me his best friend Shawn had asked for prayers for him and Nusayba. He apologized profusely once he realized Shawn was anonymous. 5/

    * 

    * I told Adnan to give Shawn’s family my contact if they wanted to reach out and that we’d respect their privacy and anonymity. His wife reached out and we fortuitously bumped into each other in the cafeteria when she told us the Twitter story. 6/

    Shawn is recovering well. He is still on fluids so our friends got him some halal bone broth from Whole Foods. His family is amazing and wonderful. He said he wants to raise awareness about being a live donor and giving blood. 8/

    Never forget: There is still much goodness in the world. Most people have the desire and capacity to be decent and kind. A stranger gave his liver and now our daughter has a second chance at life. His name is Shawn Zahir and we owe him our lives. 11/11

    *

  64. 64.

    Yarrow

    @Litlebritdifrnt: So very sorry to hear of your mum’s passing. No matter how old you are or how much you are expecting it, it’s never easy. Very glad your husband was finally able to be in the UK with you so he can be with you now. Please take good care of yourself.

  65. 65.

    J R in WV

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    Oh, honey, so sorry for your loss. You’ve had a hard row to hoe the past couple of years. Take care of yourself, and try to help your mom’s partner if you can.

    At least your other half is there to be with you…

  67. 67.

    Mnemosyne

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    I’m so sorry. It’s so hard to lose a parent even when you know they’re ready to go. My dad started calling people the morning of the day he died to let them know that he was ready. He called me and said, “Well, I’m checking out today.” Luckily, he was within an hour flight so I was able to be there with the rest of the family.

  70. 70.

    JAFD

    @Litlebritdifrnt: My thoughts are with you. Having to deal with my parents’ accumulated stuff, I know how much trouble – physical and emotional – it can be. Take care of yourselves.

  71. 71.

    Mikeindublin

    How fun would it be to sign up and cancel your NYT subscription in the same call!

    Me: Hi I’d like a 10yr subscription.
    NYT operator: Great let me get your details.
    Me: details details details.
    NYT Op: OK we’re all set.
    Me: OK now I want to cancel that subscription.
    NYT Op: Why? You only signed up!
    Me: Cause Vogel is a disingenuous hack and a fool who has further tarnished your papers reputation. Have a good day! *click*

  72. 72.

    MaryRC

    @Mike in NC: Not crazy at all, but I must admit that the dialogue in “Shetland” was completely incomprehensible to us and we had to turn the subtitles on to be able to follow it (same with “Derry Girls”).

    TaMara, those animals don’t look like they’re judging you at all, they’re just contemplating life.

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