Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

Motto for the House: Flip 5 and lose none.

“Perhaps I should have considered other options.” (head-desk)

’Where will you hide, Roberts, the laws all being flat?’

The “burn-it-down” people are good with that until they become part of the kindling.

Republicans cannot even be trusted with their own money.

Well, whatever it is, it’s better than being a Republican.

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

“Facilitate” is an active verb, not a weasel word.

If ‘weird’ was the finish line, they ran through the tape and kept running.

The gop is a fucking disgrace.

Innocent people do not delay justice.

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

The arc of the moral universe does not bend itself. it is up to us to bend it.

He really is that stupid.

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

With all due respect and assumptions of good faith, please fuck off into the sun.

Insiders who complain to politico: please report to the white house office of shut the fuck up.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

This blog will pay for itself.

The Giant Orange Man Baby is having a bad day.

“Alexa, change the president.”

You are here: Home / Absent Friends / And I’m Back!

And I’m Back!

by | 137 Comments

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This post is dedicated to Cam-WA! Love you dude or dudette! Don’t ever change!

I spoke to Cole about two hours ago and have been given the all clear to log in and stay logged in. I’ll be back to regularly scheduled posting most likely this evening.

Until then we can clearly use a new open thread to talk about whatever.

Open thread!

Reader Interactions

137Comments

  3. 3.

    zhena gogolia

    The Mona Lisa is smiling because she just called security and reported an unemployed propane salesman and his pretentious wife, who tells people, "You can see from my hat that I majored in art history at Trump University – I especially enjoy facing away from great paintings" pic.twitter.com/veV72RifSN— Paul Rudnick (@PaulRudnickNY) December 27, 2019

  5. 5.

    Hungry Joe

    Prediction: “Cats” will become a bad-movie cult classic. Midnight shows will be packed. People will jeer. They’ll sing along. They’ll throw things … not real cats, I hope, but you never know.

  10. 10.

    germy

    @Hungry Joe:  Is there really a scene where cockroaches dance in formation before being eaten?  Or did I dream that particular detail?

    I haven’t seen the movie, but I seem to recall it mentioned in some review or another.

  12. 12.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    With that “He will kill again” topic title, was I the only one who thought “Oh dear, what did John’s cat do now?” when they first read that?

  15. 15.

    Jay

    The CIA analyst who filed whistleblower report has had to be driven to work by security detail. The agency usually does that for officers in dangerous assignments overseas, not for someone who commutes to DC suburbs. t.co/AB39Re3px8— Greg Miller (@gregpmiller) December 26, 2019

  16. 16.

    Baud

    I didn’t realize you’d be back so soon. I thought we were on a break so I started seeing other national security experts.

  19. 19.

    Betty Cracker

    @Hungry Joe: Sounds plausible to me. My late mother once used the soundtrack of the “Cats” Broadway show to punish my brother for stealing her car. She played it on endless loop from Savannah to Tampa. I bet HE won’t go see that movie.

  22. 22.

    ThresherK

    Hey, I’m watching a bowl game. Why do these healthy, young men in their athletic prime prepare for important contests by always going to hospital childrens’ wards to subject themselves to such incredibly efficient disease vectors?

  23. 23.

    Quinerly

    @Baud: some will say, “how can we miss you if you won’t go away.”

    Just teasing, Adam. Love your posts. Keep on, keeping on…

  27. 27.

    kindness

    I’m curious why I am not seeing these two stories anywhere.  I see them via DKos.  The most recent one is Russia says they won’t abide by the arms embargo of Iran when it’s current time frame ends (dailykos.com/stories/2019/12/27/1908106/-Kremlin-will-abandon-U-N-approved-arms-embargo-on-Iran-when…).  And another from earlier today that said Russia, China and Iran will have joint naval drills in the Gulf of Oman (dailykos.com/stories/2019/12/27/1908087/-Russia-China-Iran-plan-joint-naval-drills-in-Gulf-of-Oman)   Anyhow I would figure if these things were true we would see them talked about elsewhere and all I see is crickets.  Any clues?

  28. 28.

    John Revolta

    @germy: I saw him in Chicago around 1980. A friend of mine was playing guitar for him (he used to do the Chuck Berry thing of picking up a band in whatever town he was playing in). He was the real deal.

  31. 31.

    Ohio Mom

    Your return Adam gives me hope the new site’s bumps will soon be evened out and I can go on to complain about other things. I have a long list of irritating items on hold.

    I’m on pins and needles today, waiting for news of my absolutely favorite aunt. She’s 88 and in a NYC hospital with heart disease.

    Every time the phone pings with a new email or text, I jump. Will it be good news or bad news? Usually it’s junk mail, which just adds to my agony.

    I texted both cousins, sent them my good thoughts, and now all of can do is wait. I don’t want to make a pest of myself.

  32. 32.

    mrmoshpotato

    Someone made a video of Skeletor singing Let It Go from Frozen, but didn’t put Skeletor’s face on Elsa’s body. ?

  34. 34.

    Amir Khalid

    English Premier League bulletin:

    In the last match of the EPL’s Boxing Day programme, Wolverhampton Wanderers have come from 0-2 behind to beat visitors and defending champions Manchester City 3-2 in a stunning late comeback. City remain in third position on 38 points, 14 behind leaders Liverpool who also have a match in hand. Wolves move up to fifth, ahead of Tottenham Hotspur and the once-mighty Manchester United. Wolves’ next match is away to Liverpool on Sunday; Liverpool have not dropped any points at home this season. City’s hopes of defending the EPL title look to be fading fast.

  36. 36.

    zhena gogolia

    @Emerald:

    OMG I just watched the whole thing! Now I don’t feel as if I need to see the movie. I was crying with laughter when he started doing Mr Mistoffelees!

  41. 41.

    schrodingers_cat

    I have a cool Twitter story to share, guess who replied to my Tweet? Hussain Haidry! You can see him here. 

    He is reciting his poem Hindustani Musalman (Indian Muslim) at yesterday’s protest rally at Azad Maidan in Mumbai.

    Here is the full version with translation

    ETA: One of my Tweets was liked by a Marathi poet the other day.  So good to meet kindred spirits, also I can speak in Hindi and Marathi so that’s  an added bonus!

  42. 42.

    Chasm

    I don’t want to get yelled at for sending site comments to the wrong place, so I’ll just leave this here for now:

    I use Feedly to get BJ as RSS Feed, and every single post that comes through has a big picture of TUNCH’s mug staring at me. I’m not saying this is good or bad, and it may be intentional! But the normal post pics don’t show up. Only Tunch.

  43. 43.

    raven

    I mentioned that an old comrade from Korea died last week from a massive stroke. One of our group wrote that his wife said the only thing that made him happy was reconnecting with some of us from the outfit.  I wasn’t evident to me but he had a “mild” stroke 5 years ago and things got progressively worse for him. I’m glad I went up to Pigeon Forge to meet with some of the guys and I had no idea how much it meant to him.  I feel badly that I didn’t always pick up when he called but I did always return his calls eventually.

  47. 47.

    Baud

    First vaping, now magnets!

    Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is asking federal safety regulators to address what she called an “alarming increase” in injuries from rare-earth magnet ingestion by children, according to a letter the senator sent Friday to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

  48. 48.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Emerald:

     

    That is beyond hilarious! Now I think I have to go hate-watch it. (But I’m not entirely daft. I’ll catch a matinée so I can take advantage of senior discounts.)

  51. 51.

    raven

    @Baud: I could have done better. This summer he asked me if I remembered him and I said I honestly did not. He got there haf way through my tour and I was in so much trouble that most people in the Battery knew who I was.

  52. 52.

    WaterGirl

    @Chasm:

    I use Feedly to get BJ as RSS Feed, and every single post that comes through has a big picture of TUNCH’s mug staring at me. I’m not saying this is good or bad, and it may be intentional! But the normal post pics don’t show up. Only Tunch.

    I am actually partway through writing a Dear WaterGirl post about images, and what shows up where, so look for that, probably this weekend.

    I use Feedly as a feed for Leaf Reader, and I do get Tunch sometimes, but I also get other stuff.  Would you mind taking a look at the image below and letting me know if you see the same pics for those threads as I do?

    And I'm Back!

  54. 54.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @raven:

    I never sought him out but was slightly familiar with him from clips and coverage of his various controversies, including the one you mentioned. But for some reason I’m a bit shocked by his death.

  59. 59.

    WaterGirl

    @Chasm: WHO IS YELLING AT YOU FOR SENDING SITE COMMENTS TO THE WRONG PLACE?

    Joke!

    But seriously, you can send email to WaterGirl at balloon-juice.com or you can go to Site Feedback under Calling All Jackals in the sidebar.

    I do try to watch for comments in the threads, but if you want to be absolutely sure that I see something, the two above are good choices.

  60. 60.

    coin operated

    @kindness: Because our beltway media is incapable of doing real journalism…unless they’re stealing the work of indy media and repackaging it as their own.

  62. 62.

    WaterGirl

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: Well, I love snow, so I haven’t figured out yet why snow on the mountains would be bad. Perhaps you can explain?

    Sorry, still under the weather, slightly slow on the uptake.

  63. 63.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @raven: Didn’t know about the bugle (“There’s a soldier in the grass With a bullet up his ass”) but I respect his iconic status and expect I will learn much more about him in the next few days. Anyhow, whatever, may he rest in peace if that’s his thing.

  69. 69.

    J R in WV

    @kindness:

    And another from earlier today that said Russia, China and Iran will have joint naval drills in the Gulf of Oman

    I’ve seen this one on CNN via Google news. Didn’t click for either story…

  70. 70.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    @WaterGirl: I’m debating on whether to brave the traffic for a return visit to Hahn State Recreation area for sunset pics or wait until Sunday.  I’ve been to Griffith Observatory for sunrise and Hahn for pics of LA with snowcapped mountains as a backdrop.  The mountains got between 1 and 2 feet of snow for Christmas.

  73. 73.

    pat

    Open thread.  I just got back from a walk of about an hour.  I’m thinking of getting a fit-bit.  Would that give me miles or just steps?

    Any pros and cons?

    Thanks.

  79. 79.

    WaterGirl

    @pat: It gives you miles and steps. I loved the one I had, but it croaked after a few years and I HATE that the new ones all seem to be clunky things you wear on your wrist.

    I won’t wear anything on my wrists like that, drives me crazy.  But if I wait one minute, maybe someone will tell me that I’m wrong and that there’s a new model out that doesn’t have to be worn on your wrist.

    Nothing tight around my wrists, or tight around my neck.  I was a breach baby with the cord tied all around me, so I figure that’s why, but I could be totally full of shit.

  83. 83.

    JanieM

    @pat: I had a FitBit for a couple of years — one of the offspring gave it to me for Christmas. It died (well, I dropped it, and it died soon afterwards, but still….).

    By then I had become so addicted to counting my steps (I love counting things!) that I bought another. Then <i>it</i> died, and by then the price had gone up above $80 for the tiniest one.

    So I bought a cheap step-counter on Amazon — $20 or so. It works fine for the only thing I cared about with the more expensive gadget.

    IIRC the FitBit gave me steps, miles (theoretically, IMO), calories burned (ditto), and I forget what else. It was meant to be used with an online app, but I never logged it on, so I can’t comment on that aspect.

  84. 84.

    Scout211

    @pat:

    You can set it up for both miles and steps, but the steps part is automatic. The miles part isn’t all that accurate, either.
    Spouse and I both got them and were thrilled with them in the beginning. So great to be reminded to move every hour to get your steps in. And the sleep cycles were nice to monitor.  But the initial excitement wore off in about two months. Plus, wearing mine to sleep at night was very uncomfortable to me since I sleep on my side with my hand under the pillow. The “water resistant to 50 meters” one that my husband used while he swam laps was not water resistant. It died.
    YMMV,  but we both felt they were a waste of money.

  85. 85.

    pat

    @WaterGirl:

    Well I don’t mind wearing it on my wrist.  But I don’t want something that requires lots of computer savvy either.

    We have a membership at the Y but I haven’t been there regularly in years.  Used to go to keep my arthritic hip in shape, but the new hip doesn’t need it.  I’m thinking I’ll just go walking!

    eta, looks like I can expect more comments.

  88. 88.

    WaterGirl

    @pat: You basically have to connect it to wireless and then it records your info on-line.  I liked that part so I could see the big picture.

    If you never connect it, I think you just look at what you did that way but I don’t think you have access to historical info.  Or maybe not even “yesterday”. It’s been awhile so someone else may jump in with better info.

    It seriously helped me walk more, if that is what’s important.

  89. 89.

    WaterGirl

    @J R in WV: If you pay for the expensive package, the full John Cole, well, you get what you pay for.

    I didn’t go high-end, so I got the “just spit it out, cut to the chase” Cole.  But even that works for me. :-)

  92. 92.

    WaterGirl

    @JanieM: Yeah, the $129 one is the one I had, but I sure as hell didn’t pay $129 for it!  I don’t think they’ve made those for years, so I”m not sure how long it would last even if you did shell out $129 for it!

    I’ll take a look at the other one.

  94. 94.

    pat

    @WaterGirl:

    Actually I would probably write it down on my calendar each day (when are the BJ calendars available?)

    But I would like to know how far it is to the spillway, around the prairie at the refuge, etc.

    I’m enjoying the reports of other users.

  95. 95.

    zhena gogolia

    It's a good time of the year to remember that everything that makes you angry about the US & our politics today, about Trump & his accomplices is a source of real, often profound human suffering for the countless victims of his policies and crimes. Think of them. Fight for them.— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) December 27, 2019

  96. 96.

    mali muso

    In the ongoing adventure of “holidays at home with the toddler”, we are now at 3 or 4 (maybe more) repeat viewings of The Lion King. (The 1994 animated original, we’re not total philistines). I kinda forgot how dark and violent it is…a little more intense than I probably should have allowed for the three year old, but she loves it and keeps asking to see “the scary lion”.

  97. 97.

    Amir Khalid

    Grumble:

    Apparently, my new/used laptop will not be mine again until the new year. A replacement for the dying battery is on order — from abroad, I have now learned, and will take five more days to arrive than I was promised at first. I was offered a different machine with a smaller screen, and a partial refund. I said no, I wanted a working machine with the specifications I paid for. The only one they had was the one they sold me, so it sits in the shop awaiting the new battery. It should be ready to pick up on New Years Day, they said, but call first. So I spent a few minutes making them feel guilty about wasting my time and money with their screwup before I left.

  100. 100.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    @WaterGirl: My husband is the same way. When I had to replace his beloved clip-on, I bought a Charge 2, which is one of the models that can be removed from the wristband. I turned off the heart rate monitoring, bought a Moretek rugged protective band, and cut off the wristband part. He carries it in his pocket.

    The silicon keeps it from working out of the pocket, which was happening when he tried carrying it bare with the band removed.

    It should be possible to 3D print a clip-on case, but it’s beyond my skill level.

    Some people use organza party favor mini-bags.

  103. 103.

    debbie

    @kindness:

    I’ve heard about both, but then I’m one of the silly fools who listens to NPR. There’s also a third story about Russia’s new hypersonic nuclear-capable system that Russia claims gives them superiority over anything coming from America.

  107. 107.

    Mary G

    Maybe because I haven’t been online much except to stream things, haven’t had any trouble with the site at all.

    Disneyland had to close because they hit capacity, and the Grapevine is finally open after being closed for 36 hours. Poor housemates have been trying to get home for two days now

    ETA: Glad you got sorted, Adam.

  108. 108.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    @WaterGirl: Nah, they’re designed for the bands to come off. A couple of clicks on Amazon to buy the Moretek, a couple of snips with the scissors when it arrives. Totally worth it to get the 250 steps/hour feature for him.

    There are reports that the IBREK clip for the Garmin Vivofit will also fit the Fitbit Charge 3.

  109. 109.

    Percysowner

    @WaterGirl: I use Pacer on my IPhone. It gives steps and miles. I carry my phone all the time, so it’s now big deal. As long as you can find a pocket big enough for your phone you’re good. Admittedly large pockets can be a challenge for a woman, since manufacturers think we should lug big purses, but if you can figure out a way to keep it on at all times, you can get a pretty good step and mileage count.

  110. 110.

    debbie

    @Amir Khalid:

    I had a HP laptop for work. It was just about out of warranty when the battery died. It took several months to get it. I assumed it was an HP thing.

  112. 112.

    Another Scott

    @pat: I’ve got a tiny clip-on FitBit that I’ve never used – just another gadget to keep charged and fiddled with.  That said, I just got my brother a FitBit watch that has a heart-rate monitor.  I’m hoping he finds it useful and that it encourages him to get more vigorous exercise…

    Lately I just use the Google Fit app on my Android watch.  It keeps track of steps and distance (and can show you a daily Journal summary including a map), and gives a wildly optimistic estimate of calories expended (I probably initially told it that I would be more vigorous than I really am). It might have been updated recently – the calories seem a little more plausible now.

    E.g. Today (with the doggie):
    Lunch Walk: 2.16 miles, 5832 steps, 305 calories, 62 move minutes, 30 heart points.

    Just an option if you always have your smart phone with you anyway.  (Apple, LG, Samsung, and just about everyone else has a similar app.)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  117. 117.

    Feathers

    @Percysowner:

    That’s why ya wear a bra.

     

    I had a FitBit, but it counted every stitch I knit as a step and I never remembered to take it off/put it on as necessary, so it wasn’t very useful. I now have and Apple watch and love it too much. I find that the best way of using it for me is to set the goal very low, what I know I will hit every day, and then try to see how early I make goal. I’ll look at the stats periodically to make sure I’m walking about as much as I should be.

  118. 118.

    Amir Khalid

    @debbie:

    I received a Tissot watch from The Star for 15 years service. When I brought it in to the Tissot showroom for a battery replacement, they told me that the turnaround time — for a two-minute job — was THREE MONTHS. I don’t wear that watch anymore. I always preferred digital watches anyway.

  119. 119.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    @Another Scott: If that clip-on Fitbit still works, you might be able to get some serious cash for it from someone who really, really wants a clip-on. I’ve seen Ones listed for $300.

  120. 120.

    J R in WV

    @Amir Khalid:

    Amir,

    I’m retired, I don’t care what time it is anymore. Nor what the date is, unless I have a Dr/Dentist/etc appointment. Only problem is if you’re in an accident and the first responders ask what’s the date… I have to tell them, “Don’t know, don’t care!” and ask them who the president is…

    Seriously, even when I worked, there on my desk was an automated appointment calendar with a watch, it would tell me 15 minutes before a meeting — I do have a pocket watch for hiking, so I can get out of the woods before dark. Since my knees started going south, I don’t actually walk in the woods now, so it stays in the little basket with all the keys.

  122. 122.

    Amir Khalid

    @J R in WV:

    Like you, my time is now my own, and dates only matter if there’s a medical appointment. So I too no longer wear any kind of wristwatch; I make do with the perfectly good clock in my smartphone, and my left wrist is happily unencumbered.

  123. 123.

    WaterGirl

    @Chasm: That’s good to know, that at least it’s consistent between RSS readers.  If you’re interested, look for my post about images later this weekend.

  124. 124.

    JaySinWA

    @Quinerly: “how can we miss you if you won’t go away.”

    I am partial to the Gilbert and Sullivan “We go, We go!” “Yes, but you don’t go!”

     

    @Yutsano:

    Your GBCW needs work.

    It seems to have worked quite well.

    Welcome back, hopefully you are all toned up.

  125. 125.

    Brachiator

    @Emerald:

    You must see this “review” of Cats. Yeah, it’s half an hour, but just see if you can stop watching:

    As bad as Cats might be, I’m hearing that the animated feature, Spies in Disguise, is worse.

  127. 127.

    J R in WV

     

    So…

    Big martial artist international security guy puts up a post “I’m Back!” and then never adds so much as a comment about missing us?  ;-)

    Or the Iranian rapproachment with Russia and China? And Japan sending a destroyer into troubled waters?

    Or the hypersonic cruise missile Russia claims to have ready for wartime use…

    Hi Adam, glad you’re back, whatever you have to say whenever! Was slightly shocked by your temporary cessation order the other day…

  132. 132.

    catclub

    @Amir Khalid: So I too no longer wear any kind of wristwatch;

     

    My old clock used to tell the time, and subdivide diurnity.

    But now its lost both hands and chime…

    And only tells eternity.

     

    Piet Hein  Grooks.

  137. 137.

    Miss Bianca

    @Betty Cracker: Late to the party as usual, but I just gotta ask: Was this the famous car-napping that spawned the immortal line, “Savannah better be the name of a girl, you little shit!”?

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