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Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Many life forms that would benefit from greater intelligence, sadly, do not have it.

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

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

the 10% who apparently lack object permanence

Innocent people do not delay justice.

Museums are not America’s attic for its racist shit.

When you’re a Republican, they let you do it.

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

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

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

You know it’s bad when the Project 2025 people have to create training videos on “How To Be Normal”.

If you thought you’d already seen people saying the stupidest things possible on the internet, prepare yourselves.

Weird. Rome has an American Pope and America has a Russian President.

If a good thing happens for a bad reason, it’s still a good thing.

“I was told there would be no fact checking.”

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

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

She burned that motherfucker down, and I am so here for it. Thank you, Caroline Kennedy.

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If you still can’t see these things even now, maybe politics isn’t your forte and you should stop writing about it.

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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Open Thread

Open Thread

by John Cole|  October 28, 20208:40 pm| 191 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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How are we all holding up? I am stressed as fuck and really ready for this to be over.

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Previous Post: « Wednesday Evening Open Thread: Leading Indicators
Next Post: On The Road – Dagaetch – Election Respite, World Edition On The Road - Dagaetch - Election Respite, World Edition 6»

Reader Interactions

191Comments

  1. 1.

    craigie

    October 28, 2020 at 8:45 pm

    Indeed. Want to hibernate until Wednesday.

  2. 2.

    Tim C.

    October 28, 2020 at 8:45 pm

    Better today,   yesterday was a full on anxiety attack.      But Eff it all,  Gotta hope for the best even if I fear the worst.   Either way, glad to live in a blue state with limited dumb-assery.

  3. 3.

    randy khan

    October 28, 2020 at 8:45 pm

    Somebody somewhere commented about election time dilation – the last 9+ months seem to have last for centuries, and the next 6 days will take us to the heat death of the universe.  It definitely feels that way.

  4. 4.

    West of the Rockies

    October 28, 2020 at 8:46 pm

    We’re probably all in a similar state.  One minute I’m shouting, “Joe is up by 5 in Florida!”  The next I’m sobbing, “Trump is only down by 3 in Nevada.”

  5. 5.

    chrome agnomen

    October 28, 2020 at 8:47 pm

    absolutely confident of victory.   trump has not gained a single voter since 2016, and has lost considerable to death, disillusionment, and discomfort.   the big question is whether the rampant suppression by the right will dampen size of the wave, but not the wave itself.

  6. 6.

    J R in WV

    October 28, 2020 at 8:47 pm

    Stressed as FUCK!!!

    We voted in person at the Lincoln County courthouse, and I expected to feel much better driving home, but ti didn’t work at all. Still pissed, still stressed, still worried.

    Have contributed to lots and lots of candidates over the past year+ — which does help a little bit. Driving home, seems like all I could see were the Drumpf signs by the road. Grrrr!!!!

    ETA: Actually, hoping lots of Trumpsters at the Omaha Airport last night just flat die of exposure. I see 9 have been diagnosed with pneumonia already. Or at least to sick to go vote. I’m actually optimistic that Biden will win, along with a new Dem majority in the Senate… but still, stress over the top!!!

  7. 7.

    tom

    October 28, 2020 at 8:48 pm

    Same. So much same.

    ETA:

    https://twitter.com/twbrandt/status/1320173191164317696?s=20

  8. 8.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    October 28, 2020 at 8:48 pm

    edgy, can’t concentrate on anything, more so than usual

  9. 9.

    lamh36

    October 28, 2020 at 8:48 pm

    Someone said Mayor Pete is the “conservative whisperer”…LOL

    They keep on inviting him on and he just keeps on checking ’em…LOL

    I said before, it’s Lucy and Charlie Brown with the football and Fox News just doesn’t realize THEY are Charlie Brown NOT Lucy…LOL

    https://twitter.com/SevenDicey/status/1321597999911456768?s=20

  10. 10.

    lamh36

    October 28, 2020 at 8:49 pm

    @lamh36: It’s the same thing every time…LOL

     

    file:///Users/Nellybell40Laptop/Downloads/giphy%20(36).gif

  11. 11.

    Timurid

    October 28, 2020 at 8:49 pm

    Everything beyond six days from now is a featureless gray fog…

  12. 12.

    TS (the original)

    October 28, 2020 at 8:49 pm

    Apologies if this has been posted earlier, I’ve just seen it

    Wow… https://t.co/4IdPfZPMui
    — Rachel Maddow MSNBC (@maddow) October 28, 2020

    We have formally requested that #SCOTUS correct the erroneous claim by Justice Kavanaugh that #VT has not changed voting procedures for the #2020Elections due to #COVID19. When it comes to issuing decisions on the voting rights of American citizens, facts matter. pic.twitter.com/cWvAJTuIEl
    — Vermont Secretary of State’s Office (@VermontSOS) October 28, 2020

  13. 13.

    Cheryl Rofer

    October 28, 2020 at 8:50 pm

    I have a meeting tonight that reminds me that a month ago was my maximum stress. I’ve been better since then. Working with the county and state Democratic Party on their texting operation has helped me to feel like I’m contributing. I’m feeling good enough that I keep reminding myself not to get overconfident.

  14. 14.

    Tom Levenson

    October 28, 2020 at 8:50 pm

    I’m cowering under the covers and wanting it all to stop. And doing a distanced lit drop this weekend because it’s better for my wrecked psyche to do something.

  15. 15.

    Emma from FL

    October 28, 2020 at 8:50 pm

    I feel like I’m floating through the days. Something in my brain has disengaged. Do what I need to do and then just… float.

  16. 16.

    Emerald

    October 28, 2020 at 8:51 pm

    All will be well. We are winning, and we are winning big. We might even win Texas.

    Remember 2018? Nobody expected a blue wave.

    Remember the Wisconsin supreme court election, when the Rs thought they had it rigged four ways from Sunday and even had the help of SCOTUS? We won that big.

    We’re on track to have the highest turnout since 1908. There are more of us than them.  We’re voting. Even young people are voting!!!

    When we vote, we win.

  17. 17.

    TS (the original)

    October 28, 2020 at 8:52 pm

    Just posted two tweets with too many links

    Here is one of them with some links removed

    We have formally requested that #SCOTUS correct the erroneous claim by Justice Kavanaugh that  #VT has not changed voting procedures for the #2020Elections due to #COVID19. When it comes to issuing decisions on the voting rights of American citizens, facts matter. pic.twitter.com/cWvAJTuIEl
    — Vermont Secretary of State’s Office (@VermontSOS) October 28, 2020

  18. 18.

    Currants

    October 28, 2020 at 8:52 pm

    Same same same.  PTSD from 2016 also, I’m sure.

  19. 19.

    TaMara (HFG)

    October 28, 2020 at 8:52 pm

    I’ll be glad when it’s over. Stressed that without a runaway victory the next three months will be hell. Worried that even with a runaway victory the next three months will be hell. So not sleeping, tense, don’t make any loud noises around me.

    Truth. https://t.co/XoMJDlbyTK

    — Miss T Has A New Book (Underway available now) (@TaMarasKitchen) October 29, 2020

  20. 20.

    raven

    October 28, 2020 at 8:53 pm

    @Emma from FL:

    I took myself a blue canoe
    And I floated like a leaf
    Dazzling, dancing
    Half enchanted
    In my Merlin sleep

  21. 21.

    lamh36

    October 28, 2020 at 8:53 pm

    Moments like this always lifts my spirit

    @nikkivinck

    @KamalaHarris – took my breath away today. Thank you for all that you are and all that you do. A true role model for all the daughters in the world. @JoeBiden @MichiganDems @GaryPeters @ONECampaign

    https://twitter.com/nikkivinck/status/1320521532762955776

  22. 22.

    RepubAnon

    October 28, 2020 at 8:53 pm

    Johnny Cash 25 Minutes to Go seems about right…

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XAMrbcAMXs

  23. 23.

    TS (the original)

    October 28, 2020 at 8:55 pm

    @West of the Rockies:

    One minute I’m shouting, “Joe is up by 5 in Florida!”  The next I’m sobbing, “Trump is only down by 3 in Nevada.”

    But Joe is up in both. And level in Texas. Keep shouting that.

  24. 24.

    lamh36

    October 28, 2020 at 8:55 pm

    Also too, this happened today…

     

    So it was actually pretty chilly this morning in Houston. I had to actually put on my light winter jacket. It’s been in the car for MONTHS, way before I even started coming and going from Houston

    As I was leaving work, I put my hand in my pocket and pulled out this piece of paper and almost threw it down. Guess what, it was a folded $20 bill!! Been in that coat pocket all this time…LOL

    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/81ad44baa46b86d7a8d5ab2d429850931003981028bc3d4b2affd8978b46f68b.gif

  25. 25.

    lamh36

    October 28, 2020 at 8:56 pm

    @TaMara (HFG): that’s exactly what Mayor Pete hit Chump co with on Fox News.

  26. 26.

    James E Powell

    October 28, 2020 at 8:56 pm

    I’m doing all right. I am not going to be too much one thing or the other.

    Like everyone else, I have residual 2016 anxieties, but I’m not going to start spinning around looking for reasons to be the panicky guy.

    Given that we have a very flawed candidate running a flawed campaign, I’d say we’re doing pretty good.

  27. 27.

    lamh36

    October 28, 2020 at 8:57 pm

    So I have a work computer that I have to have with me just about at all times, so I can work remotely when I’m away from work and address emergencies if I can. Mahn, I swear, I brought some work home that I didn’t finish at work. I was supposed to try to finish it here at home.

    I ain’t opened that computer yet…LOL. I get emais on my home computer anyway, so I can always check email to see if anything’s going on. But the company laptop…still closed and charging…LOL,

    Instead, I unpacked all my new applicances that I bought now that I got counterspace, including, a good blender, a toaster oven, an air fryer/pressure cooker, a crock pot and a fancy new mixing bowl. Now I need to actually start using ’em…LOL

    https://twitter.com/psddluva4evah/status/1321603953726029827?s=20

  28. 28.

    mad citizen

    October 28, 2020 at 8:58 pm

    Have missed three threads but finishing Betty’s saw a national poll Biden 54-42.  That’s heading in the right direction.  When all is said and done I still want trumpov in the high 30s.

  29. 29.

    raven

    October 28, 2020 at 8:59 pm

    @James E Powell: Unlike all the elections with perfect candidates and perfect campaigns.

  30. 30.

    JMG

    October 28, 2020 at 8:59 pm

    Gave money today to various Senate candidates, That made me feel better.

    PS: TCM has all political movies tonight. Last Hurrah, The Great McGinty, The Candidate, and All the King’s Men. Pretty solid lineup there.

  31. 31.

    TaMara (HFG)

    October 28, 2020 at 9:00 pm

    @lamh36: I had to embed. Thanks for sharing that. Damn onions.

    @KamalaHarris – took my breath away today. Thank you for all that you are and all that you do. A true role model for all the daughters in the world. @JoeBiden @MichiganDems @GaryPeters @ONECampaign pic.twitter.com/KIjIN3uJHA

    — Nikki Vinckier (@nikkivinck) October 26, 2020

  32. 32.

    lamh36

    October 28, 2020 at 9:00 pm

    Something like this also lifts my spirits!

     

    @TheRickWilson

    Offffff. Resumes from Trump campaign staffers already circulating.

    7:55 PM · Oct 28, 2020·TweetDeck

    https://twitter.com/TheRickWilson/status/1321616686756229122?s=20

  33. 33.

    zhena gogolia

    October 28, 2020 at 9:01 pm

    @Currants:

    I keep reliving that night. I stayed away from coverage and watched a TCM interview with Norman Lloyd (who’s still fucking alive, at 106 or something). Then about 10:00 PM I turned to BJ and saw the wailing and gnashing of teeth. I have not relaxed for a moment since then. I have no idea what I’ll do next Tuesday night. None.

  34. 34.

    JPL

    October 28, 2020 at 9:02 pm

    Gotta say today was okay.   The twenty month old imp was here, and I didn’t have time to be stressed.   The little boy does keep me busy.    It’s unlikely he can visit Tuesday though, so arghhhh

  35. 35.

    hells littlest angel

    October 28, 2020 at 9:03 pm

    Confident we’ll win. Worried that that won’t be enough. Hoping that Trump just keels over dead, because that would make life easier and better for us all.

  36. 36.

    SFBayAreaGal

    October 28, 2020 at 9:05 pm

    I still have all my fingernails. The weather here is beautiful. Hoping for some rain.

    I dropped my ballot in the box a couple of weeks ago.

    Taking some deep breaths. Let the bad air out, the good air in.

  37. 37.

    Comrade Scrutinizer

    October 28, 2020 at 9:06 pm

    We have months to go yet.

  38. 38.

    SFBayAreaGal

    October 28, 2020 at 9:07 pm

    @JMG: I loved The Candidate.

  39. 39.

    ellie

    October 28, 2020 at 9:07 pm

    I’m careening between hope and despair. I have been taking breaks from the news on the regular.

  40. 40.

    Martin

    October 28, 2020 at 9:07 pm

    Uh oh. According to Tucker Carlson, the super sekrit Hunter Biden docs that they totally didn’t just make up were mailed to him and have vanished, presumably due to Kamala Harris deep state sekrit agents inside the USPS stealing them.

    Blows this whole election wide open. Did you know that Harris’ middle name is Devi, which is like 80% of devil.

  41. 41.

    Emma from FL

    October 28, 2020 at 9:07 pm

    @raven: That is a…very accurate description, actually.

  42. 42.

    raven

    October 28, 2020 at 9:08 pm

    @Emma from FL: Great song too

  43. 43.

    TaMara (HFG)

    October 28, 2020 at 9:08 pm

    @hells littlest angel: It would and then we could focus on indicting everyone surrounding him. Every. One. Of. Them.

  44. 44.

    BC in Illinois

    October 28, 2020 at 9:08 pm

    Yeah. Ready for it to be over (and move on to the next phase).

    I’ve been correcting people who say that there are six days to go.

    It’s “Five Days and a Wake-up.”

  45. 45.

    LeftCoastYankee

    October 28, 2020 at 9:09 pm

    Resting up.  It’s time to get out the brooms and clean out the trash.  Building up some energy reserves for hard, joyous work on the horizon….

  46. 46.

    raven

    October 28, 2020 at 9:09 pm

    What the fuck, people really don’t know that it’s too late to mail their ballot???

  47. 47.

    J R in WV

    October 28, 2020 at 9:10 pm

     

    I expect to become inebriated next Tuesday, early afternoon. Will make something nice for dinner, try to keep away from the news until there might be REAL NEWS as opposed to BullShit piled higher and deeper.

    And if we win there’s a sweeet bottle of really nice bubbly to open at some point. 2016 was the second worst election night of my life. My dad died on election day 2004, that will always be worst. I hope so anyway….

  48. 48.

    raven

    October 28, 2020 at 9:10 pm

    @BC in Illinois: fukin A

  49. 49.

    CaseyL

    October 28, 2020 at 9:10 pm

    Gawd, yes.  Monday night – worst attack of insomnia in I don’t know how many years.  Didn’t go to bed and sleep until 5:00 AM (fortunately, Tuesday was a WFH day; nobody cared that I was semi-conscious).

    In 2016, I wanted it to be all over, too.  But then it was all over, and worse than anything I’d imagined.

    So I definitely have PTSD.  I’m even afraid to say things like “I want it to be all over.”

    And, yes, the mood swings.  Great polls: yay!  Ultra high voter turnout: Yay!

    Then:  SCOTUS saying they’ll revisit the PA case **after** the election – obviously – OBVIOUSLY – to throw out enough Biden votes to give the state to Trump.

    Thinking SCOTUS will pull that shit in just enough states to swing the election, regardless of how much Biden wins by.  They could even argue that since early voting and VBM didn’t exist in 1776, all votes get thrown out other than in-person day-of.  Originalist!  Textualism!

    They will tear down every vestige of legitimacy and dare us to do something about it.

    That, more than anything else, is what keeps me up at night.

  50. 50.

    Omnes Omnibus

    October 28, 2020 at 9:10 pm

    @James E Powell:  Without getting into the merits of our candidate, I will say I think he has run a damn near flawless campaign in the current environment. And I think the polls are reflecting that fact.

  51. 51.

    HumboldtBlue

    October 28, 2020 at 9:11 pm

    The SC Pennsylvania issue has been in the comments so here’s a good explanation from MSNBC.

  52. 52.

    mali muso

    October 28, 2020 at 9:12 pm

    @zhena gogolia:  I did about the same in 2016. Still trying to decide if I should go to bed early next Tuesday and just see what awaits when I wake up. ?

  53. 53.

    NotMax

    October 28, 2020 at 9:13 pm

    Stress is inherently unhealthy. Unplug, step back, decompress as a hiatus.

  54. 54.

    JPL

    October 28, 2020 at 9:13 pm

    @raven: Stay safe..    I just hope i don’t lose trees.

  55. 55.

    MoCA Ace

    October 28, 2020 at 9:14 pm

    I pinwheel between blessed assurance that we got this and utter dread at the realization that there is absolutely nothing the republicans will not do to maintain power… Nothing.

  56. 56.

    lamh36

    October 28, 2020 at 9:15 pm

    @MissBeaE

    After her absentee ballot never arrived, Mildred Madison, 94, traveled 600 miles to vote for @JoeBiden. “I’m voting for you because I believe that you have had the experience. And you have had.– I mean, the heart and the main thing is you have a wonderful” VP @KamalaHarris.

    https://twitter.com/MissBeaE/status/1321619043309203461?s=20

  57. 57.

    JPL

    October 28, 2020 at 9:15 pm

    @CaseyL: That was when I went to bed at ten and woke at one.   Crossword puzzles done and on BJ at three.

  58. 58.

    Ivan X

    October 28, 2020 at 9:16 pm

    @zhena gogolia:  I know what I’m going to do. It’s going to involve 2-3 stiff drinks and two Xanax. I want no part of consciousness that evening.

  59. 59.

    Baud

    October 28, 2020 at 9:17 pm

    I think I’m more stressed about when we’ll know the result rather than the result.

  60. 60.

    zhena gogolia

    October 28, 2020 at 9:17 pm

    @mali muso:

    Hell, I’m still traumatized from the day I woke up early, turned on the TV and heard Doris Kearns Goodwin saying, “Well, we thought it might be the reverse . . .” meaning that Bush would win the popular and Gore the electoral.

  61. 61.

    frosty

    October 28, 2020 at 9:18 pm

    John Cole @top: I am stressed as fuck and really ready for this to be over.

    I’m not quite stressed as fuck but I’m just as ready. I want a timeline where there isn’t some new news or fuckery every time I get back to the computer. You know, like 1 B-J post an hour or so, and one pass through the Guardian and I’m done.

    I mean, I’m retired and not trying to work 8 hours a day, but there’s still some stuff I’d like to get done.

  62. 62.

    HumboldtBlue

    October 28, 2020 at 9:18 pm

    @Martin:

    Classic, absolute classic dog ate my homework.

  63. 63.

    MisterForkbeard

    October 28, 2020 at 9:19 pm

    @Martin: Please tell me you’re kidding. They’re going with “Kamala (or other unspecified liberals) at my homework”?

  64. 64.

    lamh36

    October 28, 2020 at 9:19 pm

    Random things that make me smile…

    Bindi Irwin is gonna be a mommy!  I swear I still remember her as a little girl when her dad died

    https://twitter.com/VanessaVeasley/status/1320489566411915265?s=20

  65. 65.

    cckids

    October 28, 2020 at 9:21 pm

    I’m kind of a mess. Election-wise, I think Biden’s got this (cross fingers, spit over shoulder). But I spoke to my mom earlier today; she’s in early stages of dementia; she knows who we all are, but doesn’t really understand what’s happening in the larger world, and has lost track of time – she wants me to come visit (in S. Nevada), and cries when I tell her I can’t because Covid.

    She lives with her sister; they’re both cancer survivors with other health issues. And yet, they’re both visiting friends and casinos. Jesus, they’ve flown to & from Nebraska three times over the summer !! And, not gotten Covid, thank Christ.

    I’m in N. Seattle, and really can’t take the time to drive there, or the risk of flying there. I had a trip  scheduled in early March, just as everything here in WA went to hell, and postponed it. I never dreamed we’d still be dealing with it now, at an ever-increasing level.

    I’m terrified that by the time I can get there to see her, she will barely know who I am.  This timeline sucks so bad.

  66. 66.

    MagdaInBlack

    October 28, 2020 at 9:23 pm

    @raven: And…I had it on vinyl =-)

  67. 67.

    Ivan X

    October 28, 2020 at 9:24 pm

    @James E Powell: Disagree about flaws of candidate, because they are more than made up for by his secret sauce: nobody actually hates him. He has no authentic negatives. Nobody’s voting against Biden except cultists and people who would vote against any Democrat.

  68. 68.

    raven

    October 28, 2020 at 9:26 pm

    @JPL: Yea, I just texted our neighbor who doesn’t have a car that I’d mask up and take her to work in the AM.

  69. 69.

    Ivan X

    October 28, 2020 at 9:26 pm

    @cckids: I’m sorry. That sounds terrible.

  70. 70.

    raven

    October 28, 2020 at 9:27 pm

    @MagdaInBlack: Oh yea.

  71. 71.

    mali muso

    October 28, 2020 at 9:27 pm

    @zhena gogolia: for my sins, that was my first election (was in college) and I was still in the grips of my conservative religious upbringing and voted for Bush. First and last time I ever voted R.

  72. 72.

    lamh36

    October 28, 2020 at 9:27 pm

    Other things that lift my spirit…Dems have a GREAT bunch of candidates running with great chances of winning in places we didn’t win last time or wasn’t even close to winning.

    Like Ossoff in GA:

    https://twitter.com/ossoff/status/1321615639430180865

  73. 73.

    frosty

    October 28, 2020 at 9:27 pm

    @Tom Levenson: I signed up for Biden canvassing and changed it to lit drop when I got to the table. I rationalized it by realizing that half the doors I knocked on since 2004 didn’t answer and i ended up with a lit drop anyway.

    I’m not sure about the PA Dems database – about 1/4 of the houses on my list had Biden/Harris yard signs. They shouldn’t have needed the lit drop. My wife reminded me that they probably never answered the phone so no one could know they were strong supporters.

    Signed up for three days this weekend doing lit drops for DePasquale for congress. I may add a shift or two, and my brother is thinking of coming down from NY to help here where it matters.

  74. 74.

    Redshift

    October 28, 2020 at 9:28 pm

    I’m an inveterate optimist, and I’m doing campaign work (texting) nearly every day. That makes me much less stressed. I’m less anxious than most people I know. Ordinarily, my optimism can make it harder if things don’t go our way, but in this case, I couldn’t possibly feel any worse of that happened, so I’m enjoying not feeling as bad in the run-up.

    Since I always do campaign work regardless, I’ve long since stopped paying much attention to polls except as entertainment.

  75. 75.

    sanjeevs

    October 28, 2020 at 9:29 pm

    Someone’s already thinking ahead on how to ratfuck the 2024 election. Wray has been ok so far but letting Republicans control the FBI has been a monumental disaster for the Democrats and for the country.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/fbi-agents-association-calls-on-trump-biden-to-retain-wray-as-bureaus-director/2020/10/28/b8b0a022-193c-11eb-aeec-b93bcc29a01b_story.html

  76. 76.

    Jeffro

    October 28, 2020 at 9:30 pm

    @Martin: clearly 2020’s writers are not giving up on the campy bullshit…”the Postal Service ate my homework”?  Really, Tucker?

  77. 77.

    Ksmiami

    October 28, 2020 at 9:32 pm

    @CaseyL: then I predict the end of America.

  78. 78.

    drunkenhausfrau

    October 28, 2020 at 9:35 pm

    Recurring nightmares: being abducted and/or fleeing murderous hunters. Worst part: after waking, I go back to sleep and nightmare resumes.  Please vote…I can’t take this anymore.

  79. 79.

    HumboldtBlue

    October 28, 2020 at 9:35 pm

    If you need something lovely here’s something lovely.

  80. 80.

    WaterGirl

    October 28, 2020 at 9:35 pm

    @cckids: Wow, that’s a lot.  I’m sorry.

  81. 81.

    The Dangerman

    October 28, 2020 at 9:36 pm

    I’m holding up just fine but eventually the banks will catch up to me.

  82. 82.

    James E Powell

    October 28, 2020 at 9:36 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    @raven:

    @Ivan X:

    It was a mocking reference to Maggie Haberman’s characterization that was supposed to have this link but I messed up then I was too slow on the edit.

    I thought it was a pretty well known Maggie Moment, familiar enough for a sarcastic reference, but I guess not.

  83. 83.

    Brachiator

    October 28, 2020 at 9:37 pm

    Psychology Today had an interesting story on what traits help people hold up.

    Perversely, I have been reading novels and histories about past plagues. Also, sci fi movies like The Day of the Triffids, The Omega Man, etc, that deal with people having to deal with plague-like situations. Yellow Fever figures in the plot of the 1938 Bette Davis film “Jezebel.”

    Sometimes the pandemic does not seem real, but I find consolation in knowing that we have been here before and will get through it. But it does not necessarily involve anything like returning to normal.

    I try to keep up with friends and family via messages and video calls.

    And my anger at the Trump criminal grift keeps me going. I voted early on Monday and can’t wait to see whether we finally get to kick this fool to the curb.

  84. 84.

    raven

    October 28, 2020 at 9:37 pm

    @James E Powell: Aha, I was wonderin!

  85. 85.

    FlyingToaster

    October 28, 2020 at 9:38 pm

    Stopped stressing about Trump yesterday.  I’ve had e-fucking-nough.  I’ve contributed to the folks I can afford to, and it’s insanely busy at ChezToaster between school, music school, Halloween, and possible snow on Friday.

    WarriorTeen did manage to complete the final two (now 5/5) recordings for the Spooky Suzuki Facebook live event on Friday; memorized her first two scenes’ lines for the Fall Zoom play, and did all of her homework so that I can sign her up for Minecraft Friday (it’s a supervised Minecraft session over at the makerspace where she normally spends part of her summer).

    We had a Zoom meeting for parents on School Covid Contingency planning.  So far, everything has worked.  When a class had to go remote, they went remote until the negative test came through and the rest of us kept going to school.  About 1/8 of the students are having to be remote at any one time; about 1/4 of the Middle School are remote afternoons.  We had another 7th grader from the other pod go remote because some Nimrod came to play baseball (same team) after getting a positive test.  His parents (and sister) are effing livid.

    Winter, and the surge in cases in Massachusetts, are going to be a bigger challenge.  They’re installing CO2 monitors in the classrooms; when the level goes up, the teachers will know it’s time to open the windows and flush the room again.  Winter learning will be cold; but that beats it being all Zoom all the time.  Everyone’s really afraid of the Thanksgiving superspreader event, followed by the Xmas and New Year version.  Too many people are fucking morons; MA has already lost .14% of it’s population to this pandemic.

  86. 86.

    WaterGirl

    October 28, 2020 at 9:39 pm

    @Jeffro: It’s not the Postal Service, it’s a private company like UPS or Fed Ex.  Interesting that he won’t say the name of the company and that he’s not pissed at the company because his stuff disappeared.

  87. 87.

    Another Scott

    October 28, 2020 at 9:39 pm

    Doing Ok here. I’ve been doing WFH about half-time and at work in the evenings about half-time. Last Monday I was driving my VW home from work and the brake pedal went to the floor – exciting!! It came back up after pumping the pedal a few times, so I wasn’t really in danger (and didn’t have to try the parking brake). Turns out there was a split in a vacuum line to the brake booster. A few days to get a replacement, then about 5 minutes to replace it and everything was pretty much normal.

    But then there was this loud metal-to-metal screeching noise on braking a day or so later. (sigh)

    Turns out one of the less than 2 year old front brake pads came apart or something – no friction material left on one of them, only the backing plate. Order more parts, they came this morning. But I couldn’t install them because I has a remote meeting at 11, then one at 3:30.

    Call in at 11. What’s this? No meeting at 11? It’s at 1:00 instead? Ok. 1:00 rolls around, but it turns out I wasn’t needed at the meeting after all… 3:30 meeting happens and runs long.

    It would have been a beautiful day to do the brake work, but … (sigh)

    Tomorrow and Friday we are supposed get 2-3+ inches of rain (remnants of Zeta) and I need to drive to visit a vet near Annapolis (Ellie gets another, 3 of 3 we think, steroid injection in her lower spine) – an hour each way – tomorrow morning. Fun!! (I’ll use J’s car.)

    So, normal first-world problems (especially considering what so many others are going through!!) here.

    Hang in there, everyone. We’re going to get through this together.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  88. 88.

    Redshift

    October 28, 2020 at 9:39 pm

    @raven:

    What the fuck, people really don’t know that it’s too late to mail their ballot??? 

    There are people who don’t. People who don’t pay attention to politics (which is a lot of the Democratic coalition) may or may not have heard mention of post office problems, and may not take it seriously enough of they have heard about it.

    And lots of people are voting by mail for the first time. They don’t know that ballots not arriving in the is the most common reason for absentee ballots to be disqualified in normal times.

  89. 89.

    RSA

    October 28, 2020 at 9:40 pm

    I’m stressed and at the same time fatalistic. I sometimes come back to Franklin when thinking about what the stakes are.

    A republic, if you can keep it.

  90. 90.

    raven

    October 28, 2020 at 9:40 pm

    I’m working hard on my mobility issues. My quad problems have morphed into plantar fasciitis that is not responding to three cortisone injections and physical therapy. I’m staying positive and thinking if I stay with it I’ll have a breakthrough but it’s occupying a good bit of headspace.

  91. 91.

    raven

    October 28, 2020 at 9:40 pm

    @Redshift: UGH

  92. 92.

    billcoop4

    October 28, 2020 at 9:41 pm

    Some of you, for high values some “some” if you are male, need to jerk off more.

    Panic is a bad thing.

    BC

  93. 93.

    HumboldtBlue

    October 28, 2020 at 9:41 pm

    Donna Brazile states the obvious on Fox.

  94. 94.

    James E Powell

    October 28, 2020 at 9:43 pm

    @raven:

    Haberman is an a hole of the first order and I hope that she will permanently stained with the shame of her Trump fluffing. She should be scorned and disparaged by anyone who believes that there is such a thing as journalism.

    But, no doubt, she will continue to be praised by her co-workers and others in the press/media for her excellent work in publishing whatever dish Ivanka or Hope told her to publish.

  95. 95.

    JPL

    October 28, 2020 at 9:45 pm

    @drunkenhausfrau: I can top that nightmare..    Lovely setting, sitting on the patio with family and mentioning that what was so special about the visit is  no one mentioned trump.   A few minutes later a Delta Jet flew low overhead and you could hear a crash and sirens that followed.

    Pretty horrifying but unlike the last election,  I actually thought that a sign that trump was done.   I seldom have nightmares but when I do, I do it right.

  96. 96.

    WaterGirl

    October 28, 2020 at 9:45 pm

    @Another Scott: Between COVID and a Republican Party and a Supreme Court that’s off the rails, every day is already complicated beyond belief before we even get up.

    So when other stuff happens, it’s sheer overload.  It’s hard to live like this, but we will get through it.  Our buildings aren’t crumbling from bombings every night, but it is an existential threat day after day after day.

  97. 97.

    dmsilev

    October 28, 2020 at 9:46 pm

    @WaterGirl: Wait, I thought private industry was always better than The Evil Government. Are you saying that the libertarians are wrong?

  98. 98.

    Redshift

    October 28, 2020 at 9:48 pm

    @frosty:

    I’m not sure about the PA Dems database – about 1/4 of the houses on my list had Biden/Harris yard signs. 

    Signs don’t really get tracked, in my experience. Especially when people had to buy them, early on, and more recently they’ve been handed out by local Democratic parties pretty freely. And if you have plenty of volunteers, it’s better to have duplication than to miss people.

  99. 99.

    Percysowner

    October 28, 2020 at 9:49 pm

    I’m incredibly stressed. I’m pretty sure Joe will win and we will (knock wood) take the Senate. I am stressed that the Supreme Court will then find some reason to throw out the result and appoint Trump President AND announce that the Senate must remain in Republican hands.

    I also just bought a new house, so I’m packing and getting my house ready to sell, so that’s all stress as well.

    I also just got a Weather Channel Alert that Hurricane Zeta breached the levees in New Orleans. Stay safe Jackals in the path of the hurricane.

  100. 100.

    phein61

    October 28, 2020 at 9:50 pm

    Back to the original question:

    CDBfx Gummies, legal in all 50, half a 5 mg before dinner, the other half an hour before bedtime.  Sleep up to 3, sometimes 4.5 hours straight, which is two/three times as long as before.

  101. 101.

    HumboldtBlue

    October 28, 2020 at 9:50 pm

    The Girl Scouts have removed a Tweet congratulating Amy Covid Barrett on her nomination after angry backlash.

    That’s heartening because none of these people should be considered in good company ever again.

  102. 102.

    Geminid

    October 28, 2020 at 9:51 pm

    I live on the detached side of the emotional spectrum, and I have been confident for a while in a Biden victory next Tuesday, and that it will stand.   But I am still unsettled and tense, and I believe I won’t be able to really relax until Biden takes his oath of office and I know we have a new president.

  103. 103.

    raven

    October 28, 2020 at 9:52 pm

    @Percysowner: One would think that would be on the NOLA site>

  104. 104.

    NotMax

    October 28, 2020 at 9:52 pm

    For political junkies, two documentaries upcoming on TCM.

    Friday 12:01 a.m. – Primary, covering the 1960 Wisconsin primary.
    Friday 1:15 a.m. – Crisis: A Presidential Commitment, documenting desegregation of the University of Alabama.

  105. 105.

    frosty

    October 28, 2020 at 9:53 pm

    @raven: Man, sorry to hear it. I hope it resolves itself soon. Or at least soon enough to get back to fishin’.

  106. 106.

    CarolPW

    October 28, 2020 at 9:53 pm

    @raven: Expected you to have mentioned that Billy Joe Shaver had died, since you beat me on the Jerry Jeff one (although I may have missed it). It seems to be a bad time for country singers with three names. The fates better leave Ray Wylie alone or I’m going to be even more pissed.

  107. 107.

    Redshift

    October 28, 2020 at 9:54 pm

    @cckids: Very sorry to hear that. We went through that with my wife’s mother, and even though it was terrible, we feel fortunate that it was pre-covid. But in my experience, losing recognizing people isn’t a one-way street. Even if it’s been long enough that she doesn’t recognize you, she may start to again once you’ve been around for a while.

  108. 108.

    Splitting Image

    October 28, 2020 at 9:54 pm

    I’m confident that Trump is going to get shellacked next Tuesday, so I’m counting down the days.

    I do worry about how disappointed my socialist betters will be with Biden after he does win and how eager they will be to tell me at great length exactly how he has betrayed them. But that is more of a family issue than anything.

  109. 109.

    Matt McIrvin

    October 28, 2020 at 9:55 pm

    Political fundraising ads on Facebook are the worst–they’re really dialing up the panic now that it’s the home stretch, all insisting we’re losing big. I think it’s to the point that they’re actively counterproductive; nobody wants to donate money to big losers, do they? I guess the messages have all been A/B tested.

  110. 110.

    Quiltingfool

    October 28, 2020 at 9:56 pm

    I read several blogs, Twitter, and then I put the iPad down and go to my quilt cave and work on projects while watching (well, listening to) some of my favorite shows.  Right now, I’m watching Warehouse 13.  This helps tamp down anxiety. I haven’t voted yet (Missouri isn’t sane, doncha know), but I’ll be voting Election Day.  Never a crowd at my voting precinct, plus I’m retired so I have all the time in the world.   I’ve made several Etsy quilt sales this week (anxiety and cold weather making people buy warm and pretty nap blankets?  Maybe?) and got an order for a custom quilt in colors of purple and gold (Vikings fan).  Keeping busy and thinking positive thoughts helps.

  111. 111.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    October 28, 2020 at 9:56 pm

    Kayleigh McEnany– Georgetown, Harvard Law– told trump that Covid would be good for him because people would realize they’d been taking his great economy for granted. Jared Kushner– Harvard BA and I think Harvard Law and NYU MBA– thought this was such a brilliant insight he quoted her.

    He quoted her to Bob Woodward.

    On tape.

    We can discuss later if Bob Woodward has ever seen a Shakespearean tragedy.

  112. 112.

    rjnerd

    October 28, 2020 at 9:56 pm

    Well I managed to go get some more food.  Still have to go post things for today on herman cain medal.  At least there are some good ones to write about. Had been lumping the days death eater rallies together, but may split out Omaha, to keep the posts from getting too long.

    Why couldn’t this have happened to the senate republicans.  Right now 20% of Госду́ма (Duma, Russian lower house) is positive, and not allowed in, 9% (38 out of 450) are hospitalized.

    I still have my feline houseguest, she is occasionally gracing me with her presence,  I am expected to bend over and pet her.  I am not permitted to lift her onto the couch beside me so I can stay seated normally.

    I am impressed with the amount of noise in my email.  It started when I gave at one of those “we bundled a bunch of races” act blue lists.  I hit a few directly too.  Now they are sending me 3 or more messages (each) a day asking for more.  In some ways it is interesting how they word things in the subject line to get you to open it.  Some go for emoji’s another does somewhat strange fonts.  Wording is always breathless/frantic.

    At least its a cheap way for them to ask for money.  Back in the days of paper mail, there was a natural throttle on how often they asked.  And the times I have gotten texts from them, it has been volunteers, not the paid staff of the few repubs that always call rather than text.

    They don’t always ask for money, I now know when a bunch of states started early voting, as they all were sure to tell me when I could go to the polls in their state.  (got an absentee ballot, dropped it in the box at city hall, a week and a half ago)

  113. 113.

    frosty

    October 28, 2020 at 9:56 pm

    @Redshift: It’s not the signs, per se. It’s that if they were enthusiastic enough to get a sign they should have been a “5” strong supporter on an earlier canvass in September or October and not on my walk list to GOTV. I know I did my part in checking those off in other elections.

    However – with no in-person GOTV and people (like me) not answering random numbers on the phone, then there was no contact made that could have checked them off as a 5. Hence the lit drop.

  114. 114.

    Redshift

    October 28, 2020 at 9:57 pm

    @raven: Yeesh. I assume you’ve gotten good shoes for it. I had recurring plantar fasciitis until I got good shoes for high arches. I used to go barefoot all the time; no more, not even around the house.

  115. 115.

    Shana

    October 28, 2020 at 9:58 pm

    So yesterday the Kojo Namdi show on NPR had a piece about dealing with the stress of the campaign season. Today the WaPo had an article about the same thing. Granted I’m in the DC-area which is notoriously anti-Trump and very plugged in to politics, but sheesh. Everyone we know is so stressed out about this. So far I’ve managed to not start drinking heavily. Not sure that will hold next Tuesday, but having to get up at 5 am to get to my polling place and set up before they open at 6 will limit how much energy I’ll have once returns start coming in.

  116. 116.

    bjacques

    October 28, 2020 at 9:59 pm

    A coworker is 10 days into the Rona, after a visit from an asymptomatic friend, but seems to be holding up as well as can be expected. Two good friends of the missus have it too. Me, working harder than ever, and with an appointment to call my mom tomorrow and talk her off the ledge about Justice Covid Bunny.

     

    Otherwise, cautiously optimistic and looking forward to Reconstruction 2: Electoral Boogaloo. From Democrats Abroad, I’ve gotten an impressive three calls and one postcard. Happily, I’ve banked my vote, via the US Consulate, 19 days ago. Booked next Wednesday off since I don’t plan to be in any fit state either way.

  117. 117.

    Percysowner

    October 28, 2020 at 9:59 pm

    @raven: You would think. It actually took Weather Channel about 30 minutes to post it after I got the alert Hurricane Zeta Breaches Louisiana Levee; More than 640,000 Without Power

      There is a lot of power out down there, so who knows what is and isn’t working right now.

  118. 118.

    The Moar You Know

    October 28, 2020 at 10:00 pm

    Voted, last contributions out, signs in yard, cars gassed up, spare food (human and dog) on hand, few new packs batteries, generator tested, guns cleaned and loaded, medications all refilled.  Good to go.  January 20th is a long way off, so pace yourselves.

  119. 119.

    Richard

    October 28, 2020 at 10:01 pm

    I am anxious everday. I keep thinking what will they do next?!

    I’m doing ok. I can’t go out , can’t live like i used to, i can’t go shopping for food, etc. I can’t play chess with my young neighbor, because that game the way we play it, we have to sit at a table face to face and talk, while we try to play chess. So that’s gone.

    I live in a tourist place. I used to love talking with tourists. I love their attitudes. Now, i don’t get to talk with them. We are all very afraid.

    I don’t know why we should be so worried, we have already lost so much.

  120. 120.

    mad citizen

    October 28, 2020 at 10:02 pm

    @CarolPW: I thought the Norm MacDonald talk show on netflix was hilarious, and was surprised when Billy Joe Shaver was on it and Norm proclaimed Billy Joe as his best friend.  I know Dylan name checked him in a song.

    I was driving to Home Depot and heard Mojo Nixon giving the news on Outlaw Country on XM.  Later I heard him saying they are doing a virtual Ray Wylie Hubbard 70th birthday special on Friday, and Outlaw Country is having some sort of sign-up to participate.  Details over here: https://www.facebook.com/SiriusXMOutlawCountry/

  121. 121.

    Another Scott

    October 28, 2020 at 10:02 pm

    https://www.electoral-vote.com/senate/ has the Senate at 54 / 46. That’s the highest I’ve seen there.

    More, more!!

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  122. 122.

    Ella in New Mexico

    October 28, 2020 at 10:03 pm

    I’m stressed as fuck and the election is the LEAST important reason why so I’m so grateful to be able to come here and commune with My People.

    Also, I’m praying every single night that the Lord takes pity on America, stops making those of us who don’t deserve it suffer some kind of Karmic lesson and relieves us and the whole world of this fucking hateful, putrid, orange carbuncle and his many enablers.

  123. 123.

    cain

    October 28, 2020 at 10:03 pm

    On top of the political stuff, I’m stressed out about this remodeling gig – the remodeling company basically dissolved itself and the work is not complete. The letter from the lawyer says that they’ve dissolved the company and that they need to find other contractors to do the work. But what I’ve paid so far is quite a bit more than the work that has been done.  If anybody has anywhere I can go to ask for advice on this particular situation that would be great.

  124. 124.

    Jeffro

    October 28, 2020 at 10:03 pm

    @WaterGirl: Ah, my bad (sorry USPS!)

    I saw twitter Dick Nixon snarking about how Tucker sez they (the package delivery company) did a full-on search of their whole network and it’s…gone without a trace.  Now THAT is some serious sleuthin’ they did in under 24 hours!  Sign me up with that company!  ;)

  125. 125.

    Central Planning

    October 28, 2020 at 10:04 pm

    Since it’s an open thread, has anyone clicked on the ad to find out what happens when you stop wearing underwear? I’m curious, but not curious enough to click on it.

  126. 126.

    Shana

    October 28, 2020 at 10:07 pm

    @ellie: Us too.  We’ve been getting into Korean dramas.  There are probably hundreds on whatever streaming service you use and they’re generally a blast. 16 or so episodes and it’s done.

  127. 127.

    Brachiator

    October 28, 2020 at 10:08 pm

    Also, specifically with regard to the upcoming election I feel as though I have been dealing with this shit with other Balloon Juicers since the heartbreak of the 2016 election. This is the main place I come to for political discussion and commentary.

    I also express my contempt for Trump, the GOP leadership, and Trump’s more vehemently here. I would not discuss politics with some co-workers even if they asked, although most pretty much knew my views. And for the past year or so, I have been working at home for a new employer. There is a group communication channel for informal chat, but I tend to avoid most political conversations.

    Anyway, it feels as though we have all been dealing with the Orange Beast. And this pandemic craziness is an extra challenge on top of everything else.

    I noted before that I got my vote down. I have been avoiding reading about polls. I just don’t care. I don’t need hints or clues. I just want to get to November 3.

    I am hopeful of a Biden victory, and am glad to see so much early voting. I have concerns about GOP mischief, voter suppression and other bullshit, including Supreme Court intervention. The best outcome would be a Biden margin of victory so definitive that cheating will be laughed at.

  128. 128.

    NotMax

    October 28, 2020 at 10:09 pm

    @Central Planning

    The underwear gnomes set up a picket line outside your abode?

  129. 129.

    MoCA Ace

    October 28, 2020 at 10:09 pm

    @sanjeevs:  Fuck that shit!  Republicans should not be allowed to control anything for a generation.  At least.

  130. 130.

    HumboldtBlue

    October 28, 2020 at 10:10 pm

    @Quiltingfool:

    Can we get some pictures? Or are there pictures here you’ve already had posted?

    Quilting is quite simply the hidden gem of American art.

  131. 131.

    Central Planning

    October 28, 2020 at 10:12 pm

    @NotMax: That would not surprise me.

    Do you think they would also stop people from stealing my Biden/Harris signs? One disappeared; we replaced it with two.

  132. 132.

    RobertDSC-Mac Mini

    October 28, 2020 at 10:12 pm

    I’m numb. My hatred of all things GOP is still there, but the crushing lack of money has put that on the back burner. I went to the closest 7-11 and had to carefully select my snacks for the evening because I don’t have much to spend.

     

    It’s like I go to work for nothing because I can’t spend any money since it’s all tied up in bills.

    At least the Dodgers won the World Series. Can’t afford any gear, but I’m glad they’re champs.

  133. 133.

    Suzanne

    October 28, 2020 at 10:12 pm

    @Redshift: high arches? Have you been checked for CMT?

  134. 134.

    different-church-lady

    October 28, 2020 at 10:14 pm

    @Central Planning: The Underpants Gnomes stop bothering you. Natch.

  135. 135.

    NotMax

    October 28, 2020 at 10:17 pm

    @Shana

    I believe Iris is still available on Netflix.

    Note: The one season TV series is the way to go, pay no mind to the movie(s), nor Iris2.

  136. 136.

    Ruckus

    October 28, 2020 at 10:17 pm

    @randy khan:

    Time distortion. That effect living in a shit world does to your sense of real time. It’s an inverse effect, if you like what you are doing and where you are, time will fly at a rate that will make your head swim. If what you have to do or where you are stuck living drains the purpose/energy out of every damn day, it will seem as if nothing ever changes and you will age what seems like 10 yrs for every day. The key is not to let the disease of gross stupidity that causes your life to slow down so that you can suffer longer get under your skin, or touch and infect you. If you ever find out how to do that will you let me know….

  137. 137.

    CarolPW

    October 28, 2020 at 10:18 pm

    @mad citizen:  Mojo gave the best off-the-cuff obituary for Billy Joe today. Know about the Ray Wylie birthday thing, but what I am waiting for is his Austin City Limits show, which he either will soon or has recently recorded.

  138. 138.

    Suzanne

    October 28, 2020 at 10:20 pm

    I…. am not awesome. I am so scared, all the time. Classic catastrophizing thought patterns, mostly around my house falling down and my student loan payments, and of course Trump. I have had moments of such intense hatred toward Trump voters. It’s not healthy,
    After each of my kids was born, I had these intense imaginings of them dying. In nightmarish ways. And it is so upsetting. But that tapered off, mostly, though it still happens intermittently. But since we heard about Spawn’s friend being killed yesterday, it’s been really bad today.

    I just want to hug my kids and take a year off to sleep, and read books, and go to the park, and just re-learn how to relax and be a person.

  139. 139.

    Pyre Light

    October 28, 2020 at 10:22 pm

    Early voted today in NY Hudson Valley region. 45 minute wait. Better than yesterday when my Mom waited 1.5 hours and tomorrow when it will rain all day.

  140. 140.

    Suzanne

    October 28, 2020 at 10:23 pm

    @cain: Is time of the essence in your contract?

  141. 141.

    Fair Economist

    October 28, 2020 at 10:23 pm

    @rjnerd:

    Still have to go post things for today on herman cain medal. At least there are some good ones to write about. Had been lumping the days death eater rallies together, but may split out Omaha, to keep the posts from getting too long.

    Why couldn’t this have happened to the senate republicans. Right now 20% of Госду́ма (Duma, Russian lower house) is positive, and not allowed in, 9% (38 out of 450) are hospitalized.

    I love the Herman Cain medal! Thanks for doing it.

    Wow on the outbreak in the Duma.

  142. 142.

    Another Scott

    October 28, 2020 at 10:28 pm

    If friends and acquaintances need additional reasons to vote for Biden/Harris and TeamD, point them to this:

    October was a good month for Gilead Sciences, the giant manufacturer of antivirals headquartered in Foster City, California. On 8 October, the company inked an agreement to supply the European Union with its drug remdesivir as a treatment for COVID-19—a deal potentially worth more than $1 billion. Two weeks later, on 22 October, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved remdesivir for use against the pandemic coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in the United States—the first drug to receive that status. The EU and U.S. decisions pave the way for Gilead’s drug into two major markets, both with soaring COVID-19 cases.

    But both decisions baffled scientists who have closely watched the clinical trials of remdesivir unfold over the past 6 months—and who have many questions about remdesivir’s worth. At best, one large, well-designed study found remdesivir modestly reduced the time to recover from COVID-19 in hospitalized patients with severe illness. A few smaller studies found no impact of treatment on the disease whatsoever. Then, on 15 October—in this month’s decidedly unfavorable news for Gilead— the fourth and largest controlled study delivered what some believed was a coup de grâce: The World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) Solidarity trial showed that remdesivir does not reduce mortality or the time COVID-19 patients take to recover.

    Science has learned that both FDA’s decision and the EU deal came about under unusual circumstances that gave the company important advantages. FDA never consulted a group of outside experts that it has at the ready to weigh in on complicated antiviral drug issues. That group, the Antimicrobial Drugs Advisory Committee (ADAC), mixes infectious disease clinicians with biostatisticians, pharmacists, and a consumer representative to review all available data on experimental treatments and make recommendations to FDA about drug approvals—yet it has not convened once during the pandemic.

    The European Union, meanwhile, decided to settle on the remdesivir pricing exactly 1 week before the disappointing Solidarity trial results came out. It was unaware of those results, although Gilead, as the trial’s sponsor, began reviewing the WHO data on 23 September and knew the trial was a bust.

    “This is a very, very bad look for the FDA, and the dealings between the Gilead and EU make it another layer of badness,” says Eric Topol, a cardiologist at the Scripps Research Translational Institute who objected to remdesivir’s FDA approval.

    […]

    (Emphasis added.)

    Hundreds of thousands more are going to die because the grifters have their hands in everything – even evaluating whether new medications actually work.

    Grrrr…

    Vote the monsters out!! VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!111

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  143. 143.

    CarolPW

    October 28, 2020 at 10:30 pm

    @Suzanne: Since I was just talking about Ray Wiley Hubbard:

    “I’ll never repay my student loans

    smelling like Coors and cheap cologne.

    She tells me not to worry ’bout judgement day

    She says “dying to get to heaven just ain’t our way.”

    I finally paid mine off, but they were not too bad. Talk to Raven about how old one may be by the time one finally pays off ones student loans.

  144. 144.

    NotMax

    October 28, 2020 at 10:30 pm

    @Fair Economist

    in the Duma

    Gives the powers that be an opportunity to replace the rubber stamps worn out from overuse.

    The “Nyet” stamps not included, they’re still pristine.

    //

  145. 145.

    zhena gogolia

    October 28, 2020 at 10:34 pm

    @Richard:

    I’m so sorry. Hang in there. My husband keeps telling me things will get better. He’s usually right about stuff.

  146. 146.

    zhena gogolia

    October 28, 2020 at 10:35 pm

    @Ella in New Mexico:

    Amen, sister.

  147. 147.

    Quiltingfool

    October 28, 2020 at 10:35 pm

    @HumboldtBlue: Well, I have an Etsy store, QuiltingByCynthia, so you can look at some of my quilts there (no purchase necessary, lol!) or at Pinterest  https://pin.it/GjDEtZR .  I made my first quilt about 50 years ago, and I’ve gotten better since that first attempt!  Quilt making is so much easier now – whoever invented the rotary cutter is my personal god/goddess.

  148. 148.

    Bill Arnold

    October 28, 2020 at 10:35 pm

    @Redshift:

    I had recurring plantar fasciitis until I got good shoes for high arches.

    What worked for me was standing calf stretches, with a fairly long hold, like 6 times a day.
    I’m sure raven is doing stretches if they help; it’s obvious if they help.

  149. 149.

    mrmoshpotato

    October 28, 2020 at 10:36 pm

    Kebab your bones, mates!

  150. 150.

    Aleta

    October 28, 2020 at 10:36 pm

    @Suzanne: You’ve probably started your job in the new place?  Did you get any time off  in between, to rest, or was it all taken up by the move and the house?

  151. 151.

    zhena gogolia

    October 28, 2020 at 10:37 pm

    Has anybody seen Joel S. lately?

  152. 152.

    NotMax

    October 28, 2020 at 10:40 pm

    @zhena gogolia

    Also has anyone seen Major⁴ lately? Concern is mounting.

  153. 153.

    Redshift

    October 28, 2020 at 10:40 pm

    @Suzanne: I hadn’t heard of it. I suppose it’s possible, but I don’t think I have any of the other symptoms, or any family history that I’m aware of.

  154. 154.

    opiejeanne

    October 28, 2020 at 10:42 pm

    Doing better today.  My deep despair has mostly dissipated the last two days, thanks to information found on this blog.

    Also, the effects of Thursday’s hand surgery, like the drugs used to sedate me, were much reduced by then so that might have been part of it, not to mention not being able to dress myself or tie my shoes until yesterday, and I think I might be able to drive to my dr appointment tomorrow.

  155. 155.

    Redshift

    October 28, 2020 at 10:42 pm

    @Bill Arnold: That worked for me until it didn’t. I still do those because if I don’t, I’m likely to have leg cramps wake me up at night.

  156. 156.

    opiejeanne

    October 28, 2020 at 10:43 pm

    @NotMax: Saw him today on Twitter.

  157. 157.

    cain

    October 28, 2020 at 10:44 pm

    @Suzanne:

    @cain: Is time of the essence in your contract?

    It is inferred as the payment is in 3rds – one at the start, one at half way and one at the end. I have given the first and the second, but not the third. It’s been basically going for 3.5 months and basically nothing has been actually completed fully. But despite hte letter, the company is still working on my home.

  158. 158.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    October 28, 2020 at 10:44 pm

    @NotMax:

    I thought I saw him here last week. I could shoot M^4 an email if anybody wants. I miss Mnem and Steve in the ATL

  159. 159.

    Ken

    October 28, 2020 at 10:45 pm

    @lamh36: Guess what, it was a folded $20 bill!! Been in that coat pocket all this time

    You remind me that the money in my wallet has been there since March, since I haven’t used cash since this began.

  160. 160.

    caphilldcne

    October 28, 2020 at 10:47 pm

    I was up til 3 am last night obsessively reading polling site (538, cook report, realclearpolitics etc. you get the idea). I read every word on balloon juice. I so appreciate you [btw Adam is incorrect there is feasibly a constitutional way to make (DC) the Douglas Commonwealth a state – I may write something up for y’all].  Of course then I was too tired to do much today.  I’m reeling it in tonight. This is obsessive and not a good state of mind.

  161. 161.

    Ken

    October 28, 2020 at 10:47 pm

    @lamh36: Resumes from Trump campaign staffers already circulating.

    How does that joke go?  Oh yes:

    “What’s this gap in your resume from January 2017 to November 2020?”

    “I was a heavy drug user.”

  162. 162.

    Aleta

    October 28, 2020 at 10:48 pm

    I have this lump on my clavicle, I don’t know where it came from (no break that I know of). It seems to be bone, I have to go for an xray.  I’m catastrophizing about it.  The dog is tired of taking the meds that (I think) reduce pain.  He’s  started rejecting the food they’re hidden in and for the first time tries to reject them put in his mouth.  With the daily anger and disbelief and dread about the courts, I haven’t been able to focus enough to work via zoom.

  163. 163.

    rk

    October 28, 2020 at 10:48 pm

    I think I vary between intense hatred and numbness. I work in a hospital. Things were awful in March, started becoming better in May. Now we’re seeing the numbers creep up again. There was a workplace COVID outbreak. I don’t know anything other than that they’re massively testing a whole bunch of people. I know that a few people tested positive (as we’re responsible for testing). No idea how widespread this is or how many people were exposed. When I see Trump supporters I want them all to die with intense suffering. I hate their ugly faces, their laughter, the sound of their voices. I hate the FOX news blondes, all republicans and all my Trump loving coworkers. I don’t like any of these feelings in me. Then I take a deep breath and read books from my childhood. I’m not anxious about the election, because I’ve told myself that if Trump wins he wins. I can’t do anything about it.

  164. 164.

    WaterGirl

    October 28, 2020 at 10:48 pm

    @Suzanne:  I appreciate you sharing that, Suzanne.  All this uncertainty is so very hard.  big hugs

  165. 165.

    Old Dan and Little Ann

    October 28, 2020 at 10:50 pm

    @CarolPW: I’m 45 and my wife and I owe about 50 grand still. Every time I think about it I want to Fucking scream.

  166. 166.

    cain

    October 28, 2020 at 10:51 pm

    @mrmoshpotato:

    I made doner kebab at home – it was alright – too much oregano – I think I need to try a different mix. The oregano was really coming forward unfortunately.

  167. 167.

    Ken

    October 28, 2020 at 10:52 pm

    @sanjeevs: Wray has been ok so far but letting Republicans control the FBI has been a monumental disaster for the Democrats and for the country.

    Pretty sure I saw Trump threatening to fire Wray after the election, for not arresting Miss Prescott who was mean to him in third grade along with everyone else on his enemies list.

  168. 168.

    WaterGirl

    October 28, 2020 at 10:53 pm

    @NotMax: We have chatted briefly on email a couple of times, and I did send him whatever it was you linked to the other day.

    He’s okay, doing pretty much like the rest of us.

    Waiting is hard.

  169. 169.

    NotMax

    October 28, 2020 at 10:55 pm

    @WaterGirl

    Mucho mahalo.

  170. 170.

    WaterGirl

    October 28, 2020 at 11:00 pm

    I am reading about a lot of tough situations on this thread, but seeing all the honesty and vulnerability is inspiring, and somehow leaves me convinced that we will all get through this.

  171. 171.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    October 28, 2020 at 11:01 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    Waiting is hard.

    The hardest part, I am told

  172. 172.

    Kay

    October 28, 2020 at 11:08 pm

    Biden | Harris War Room (Text JOE to 30330)
    @BidenWarRoom
    ·59m
    We disagree with Tucker Carlson on the issues, but no one should ever lose their mail. Joe will make sure the USPS receives the funding it needs to prevent this from happening, and end Trump and DeJoy’s efforts to sabotage it so that people like Tucker can get their mail on time.

  173. 173.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    October 28, 2020 at 11:10 pm

    @Kay: Oh snap, as the kids used to say in my earlier middle age

  174. 174.

    2liberal

    October 28, 2020 at 11:11 pm

    @chrome agnomen: trump has not gained a single voter since 2016

     

    I don’t think this is correct. He’s been picking some Black and Latino men who are attracted to the stand up machismo from a few stories I’ve seen

  175. 175.

    RoonieRoo

    October 28, 2020 at 11:12 pm

    Feeling fine followed by existential dread followed by depression followed by things looking happy followed by anxiety.  That’s usually the first 30 minutes in the morning.  I really need this nightmare to be over.

  176. 176.

    Kay

    October 28, 2020 at 11:24 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Trump on the Tarmac in Iowa: “I may never have to come back here again if I don’t get Iowa,” he said. “I’ll never be back.”

    I genuinely think its good that he’s working through the loss every day. The more he does of this now the fewer tantrums we’ll have later.

  177. 177.

    TomatoQueen

    October 28, 2020 at 11:30 pm

    Recovering slowly from surgery, connective tissues are tightly contracted, so I do stretches (badly) to try to straighten my  hamstrings enough in order to walk. Off oxy in its various forms, other pills are a bit bewildering, woke up before 9am on my own w/o benefit of some sadist coming in to do vitals. And why? Because it’s a true work day, and I’ve got to get into the work laptop, and that will involve a long session with tech support to get the temporary credential validated. Why temporary? Cos the real one has vanished, along with the work power strip and the work mouse, and once I figured out that all of those things are missing, I realized again that Oxy Plays Merry Hell With My Brain.

    many ellipses later

    I and my little problem, after five hours and two tech supports (GS 9s), have been translated to a higher plane of existence, that is, escalated to Tier 2, which never happens. Memo to my supervisor (GS10) detailing the entire dreary tale, and we start tomorrow right after coffee, or as soon as those folk wake up, could be by 8 am, the core hours start. I haven’t been up that early since the hospital.

    So fuck that Anonymous clown, and all the rest of the low quality hires. If any one of them had to sit all afternoon trading 4 digit codes with the tech support guy and have none of it work, they’d blow up into a pile of Cheetoh crumbs. As for doing any work, obviously nobody’s watching the store, so what’s coming out lately doesn’t bear scrutiny. We’ll have a lot to do starting Nov 4th.

  178. 178.

    Zelma

    October 28, 2020 at 11:30 pm

    I am nervous and obsessing.  I spend all my time on the computer.  I read every BJ thread.  I jump from site to site.  I watch too much MSNBC at night.  I am appalled that 42% of Americans are still voting for Trump.

    I still remember my son’s phone call on 11/8 that warned me what was coming before it had become obvious.  I turned off the TV and didn’t reengage for a week.  I’m thinking of disengaging before this election, like on Saturday.  My mental health may require it.  But I’m not sure I can.

  179. 179.

    frosty

    October 28, 2020 at 11:38 pm

    @Suzanne: It’s a tough year (century). Hug them when you can, sleep when you can, read a little. Maybe even get some productive work done. I have nothing else to offer. Stay safe.

    ETA: I know you’re an architect, but your house probably won’t fall down. I’ve owned three, all built before WWII, all standing … well crooked here and there in interesting ways. Like, how is the second floor 3″ wider than the first?? No matter where and how I measure it?

    The loans … well … somehow the bills all got paid and here we are. It gets better (to steal a phrase).

  180. 180.

    Ohio Mom

    October 28, 2020 at 11:43 pm

    Suzanne: oh god, that sweet girl (I looked at the go fund me page) was killed??!!! When you said Spawn’s friend died I assumed the cause was a miserable drawn-out disease. No wonder your world is upside down. How horrible. No words for it, really.

    But please do not worry about your house falling down. I speak from experience, we have been trying to solve our basement for fifteen years and the house still stands. We are about to undertake round three, this time with piering. You’ll be smarter about it than we were because you know buildings.

  181. 181.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    October 28, 2020 at 11:43 pm

    @Zelma:

    I am nervous and obsessing.  I spend all my time on the computer.  I read every BJ thread.  I jump from site to site.  I watch too much MSNBC at night.  I am appalled that 42% of Americans are still voting for Trump.

    do you have the other half of this amulet?

    The day after the Debacle, and two or three times in the week after, I would wake up thinking, “okay, that was a nightmare, that didn’t happen”, if only for a couple of groggy minutes.

  182. 182.

    dww44

    October 28, 2020 at 11:49 pm

    @mad citizen:

    I have long felt the same way. In no long established first class democracy  should a President Trump get 40% of the votes. There’s this quote I came across attributed to Winston Churchill which perhaps applies to Trump voters in 2020:

    “The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.”

  183. 183.

    Zelma

    October 28, 2020 at 11:57 pm

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    The closer we get to the election, the more disturbed my sleep becomes.  I wake up in a panic occasionally.  I have always been interested in politics but for the past four years, I swear I spend most of my time reading about them.  I keep looking for that article that will convince me that the nightmare will end, that report on Trump that will finally show everybody what a disaster he is.

    I want my life back!

  184. 184.

    Brachiator

    October 29, 2020 at 12:06 am

    @James E Powell:

    Given that we have a very flawed candidate running a flawed campaign, I’d say we’re doing pretty good.

    Yeah, I agree that Trump is a flawed candidate running a flawed campaign, but doesn’t that give Biden the advantage?

  185. 185.

    TXSwede

    October 29, 2020 at 12:13 am

    Don’t be troubled.  297-241 without Florida or North Carolina

    413-125, if there is a god. (Even an FSM)

    The voters got this.

  186. 186.

    BruceFromOhio

    October 29, 2020 at 12:26 am

    Wow. I feel guilty for feeling this good. After my ballot was counted, I’m basically disconnected. Made a good play in the 401k before shit went south at the dog track. Now visiting my parents and sharing a good 12yo scotch with my Da. We are all quarantined, planning to stay that way so we can do Thanksgiving and Christmas.

    And now the boogalo buggers want a fight? Bring it, you cosplay morons, you have no clue how fed up people are with your bullshit.

     

    @The Moar You Know: spot on, brother. Solid counsel, 5 by 5.

  187. 187.

    TiredOfItAll

    October 29, 2020 at 12:49 am

    I listened to a good podcast awhile ago, “The Big One”. About prepping for the big earthquake that will someday or other hit California.  (Of course I hope not.) It was weirdly helpful because it got me thinking about preparedness in the expectation of catastrophe, yet, since I live in the Northeast, it is not a disaster that I am daily, personally worried about.

    Also, though an agnostic/atheist, I’m finding that prayers help.  Imprecatory prayers.

  188. 188.

    seaboogie

    October 29, 2020 at 1:07 am

    Doing GOTV phone-banking and meeting some nice folks from GA, FL, PA and TX. I will tell you that there is an AA network of voters in GA that is SO motivated and have voted and gotten everyone they know to vote. Tracking the mail-in votes for some that have voted that way and they are so happy to find that their votes have been accepted. Talking to all of these Dem folks who take voting very effing seriously gives me hope and is a terrific way to quit worrying and do something. Didn’t imagine that I would enjoy this effort as much as I do.

  189. 189.

    the pollyanna from hell

    October 29, 2020 at 1:38 am

    I would play Civ iii if it were only covid, without the ratfucking. As it is I do my chores, watch a little Chuck when roomates turn it on, read bj all day every day. Marvel universe turns me off, when Utopia is on I plug my ears or retire to my tent in the back yard to avoid triggering. Two dachshunds and witty roomies conspire to deconstruct the news in all hilarity. No church, no immigration justice work.

    randy

  190. 190.

    rjnerd

    October 29, 2020 at 2:41 am

    Well I just finished writing up the tuesday trump rallies.  YOW.  He did get his wish, the coverage of the omaha event wasn’t covid covid covid, nope, it was all about how they didn’t get the buses to run on time, and the number hospitalized in the aftermath.  Daily Beast even had “Sh*tshow” in its headline.

    I suppose I should just go find a nice easy mask refuser meltdown on youtube for the fourth I usually have.  or I should consider the extra long one enough, and go feed the cat.

  191. 191.

    misterpuff

    October 29, 2020 at 12:56 pm

    @raven: This year this EJ song may help:

    “Salvation”
    I have to say my friends
    This road goes a long, long way
    And if we’re going to find the end
    We’re gonna need a helping hand

    I have to say my friends
    We’re looking for a light ahead
    In the distance a candle burns
    Salvation keeps the hungry children fed

    It’s gotta take a lot of salvation
    What we need are willing hands
    You must feel the sweat in your eyes
    You must understand salvation

    A chance to put the devil down
    Without the fear of hell
    Salvation spreads the gospel round
    And free you from yourself

    Especially ” a chance to put the devil down”

    Salvation is Voting!

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