Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Too often we hand the biggest microphones to the cynics and the critics who delight in declaring failure.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

Republicans want to make it harder to vote and easier for them to cheat.

Meanwhile over at truth Social, the former president is busy confessing to crimes.

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

“Why isn’t this Snickers bar only a nickle?”

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

When someone says they “love freedom”, rest assured they don’t mean yours.

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

The most dangerous place for a black man in America is in a white man’s imagination.

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

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

You are so fucked. Still, I wish you the best of luck.

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

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

It’s easy to sit in safety and prescribe what other people should be doing.

The GOP couldn’t organize an orgy in a whorehouse with a fist full of 50s.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. let’s win this.

A last alliance of elves and men. also pet photos.

Bark louder, little dog.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

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

You are here: Home / Open Threads / It’s Somebody’s Birthday Today!

It’s Somebody’s Birthday Today!

by | 137 Comments

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These are the photos I put together for John’s birthday last year.  They are still my favorites, so here they are again. They all love you, John and so do we!
Cole, Annie, Seth & Devon
  • Time for Bed
  • Dad Cole
  • Magnificent Steve
  • So Adorable
  • Keeping Dad Warm
  • Sleeping Dogs
  • Cole & Tammy
  • Rosie
  • Steve
  • Steve Bathtime!
  • Mom & Dad Cole
  • Steve, Shaved!
  • Thurston
  • Rosie
  • Bodybuilder Steve
  • Thurston
  • Thurston & Frat Brother
  • Thurston & Lovey
  • Tiny Baby Thurston
  • Baby Thurston
  • Devon & Daddy
  • Steve & Shawn
  • Godson Cole
  • Rosie
  • Steve
  • Rosie
  • Cole & Lily
  • Lily
  • Tunch
  • Tunch
  • Daddy’s Girl

Wish John a happy 90th Birthday!

P.S. This video of Dad Cole never gets old. :-)

Reader Interactions

137Comments

  2. 2.

    Ken

    Happy 90th birthday, John!

    (I wish to note that the post said “90th” when I saw it, in case it is edited later.)

  7. 7.

    WaterGirl

    @Ken: It does say 90th!

    That’s what John posted for my birthday last year (he missed it this year, that bastard!).

    I used “90th” last year in return.  So I am just keeping up with tradition.  Maybe the correct thing would be to say 91st, but that just doesn’t feel right.

  9. 9.

    Mike in NC

    Happy birthday. Mine is tomorrow and the plan is to go to the local fish market, because I have a frequent shopper card that will entitle me to buy one lobster and get another for free.

  12. 12.

    prostratedragon

    Haaaapy Birthday!

    Thanks for sharing the great pictures,  and ditto to WG for assembling them. And what in the world is going on in that video? Oh my God indeed!?

  14. 14.

    CaseyL

    The photos and video are a lovely trip down memory lane.

    Wishing our BlogLord a very happy (mumble mumble)th Birthday, with many more to come!

  16. 16.

    WaterGirl

    @prostratedragon: I dug all those photos out of the WordPress media library last year.  So glad I did, it makes me happy to see all those faces, furry and otherwise, and see all the love in our Blogfather’s life.

  20. 20.

    Steeplejack

    A great selection of photos! Happy birthday, Cole! (Also Juice Box and Jay C.)

  22. 22.

    Chat Noir

    Happy birthday, John! Love the pictures in the post. Hope you have a great day.

  23. 23.

    germy

    Happy birthday to the BlogFather.

    I can’t help but mention how expressive Steve’s face is.  His expression in the “getting a bath” photo… those eyes!  He’s saying “WTF?!” with those eyes.

    He’s a magnificent cat, and good for him for standing up for his rights.

  25. 25.

    Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes

    Only missing underwear mopping and mustard for a proper birthday montage….

  29. 29.

    mali muso

    Happy Birthday! Thanks for sharing this corner of the interwebs with us jackals.

  31. 31.

    geg6

    Happy birthday, Cole!

    Look at Baby Thurston and Baby Lovey! OMG, they were so cute then. Thurston hasn’t changed much but Lovey is a fat sausage on little skinny legs. It hurts my heart every time Cole disses Thurston. He knew which one was the defective one and made sure I got her. JK!!!!! She is assertive, smart, comical and expensive (diabetes will do that, I guess). At least the vet isn’t concerned about her weight. It’s on the high end, but she’s not gaining and is good about her shots. She’s a lot smarter than MAGATs are about injections that will make your life better.

  32. 32.

    Soprano2

    Happy birthday John, I hope you have a great day of fun (and avoid any accidents!). Thanks for this place, it’s helped me stay sane these past few years.

    It’s weird, because my husband’s name is John too.

  33. 33.

    laura

    Happy Birthday Blogfather ??

    Every single pictures is a delight and it’s so nice to see Thurston my secret pup crush. Maybe this year add a picture of Cole in his overhauls with baby birbs a nesting in his beard.

  35. 35.

    Bruce K in ATH-GR

    Many happy returns of the day to our gracious host!

    (Or grouchy returns, as the case may be. The important part is “many” and “returns”.)

  39. 39.

    Barbara

    Happy Birthday! — One great thing about dogs, they treat you as if every day is your birthday. Love, love, love that last pic of Lily.​

  40. 40.

    Brachiator

    Wish John a happy 90th Birthday!

    Ha!

    Happy 90th. You don’t look a day over 89.

  42. 42.

    stinger

    Happy Birthday, John G. Cole! Love the pics and especially the OhMyGod video! And thank you for Balloon Juice.

  43. 43.

    stinger

    @Baud: Pics were taken, but blood covered the lens so they aren’t much to look at.

    ETA: Drat you, mrmoshpotato!

  46. 46.

    Tony Jay

    Happy Birthday to You

    Happy Birthday to You

    You can’t find the mustard

    And you mop naked too…

     

    …and then the murders began.

  52. 52.

    WaterGirl

    @laura:

    Maybe this year add a picture of Cole in his overhauls with baby birbs a nesting in his beard.

    Will someone photoshop the birds into the beard?  I don’t have that skillset.  And I think John may have just shaved his beard.

  55. 55.

    leeleeFL

    Happiest of Happy Birthdays, BlogFather,  JG Cole.  We are blessed by this wonderful  refuge that you began, and for that I thank the FSM each and every day!

    Photos of pups and kitties make me so very happy!

  57. 57.

    WaterGirl

    I love that last photo of Lily so much.  Lying there like a queen, surveying her kingdom, looking at us straight on so we can see her beautiful eyes.

  60. 60.

    Mary G

    It’s also Meryl Streep’s birthday, so JC is in good company. While putting off dealing with decisions about the next thing to spend gobs of money on in my house, I looked through the Twitter summary and found these:

    happy birthday to Cher’s girlfriend, Meryl Streep. pic.twitter.com/6A1evAotWo
    — ågos ?? meryl’s bday (@vllanellxdnerys) June 22, 2021

    never forget. happy birthday, meryl streep! pic.twitter.com/wBNlomIlTl
    — anne ?‍♀️ (@loumillerswifey) June 21, 2021

    i just think that meryl streep and helen mirren pic.twitter.com/IFUC5Untc4
    — Mikee ? (@sapphiclouise) June 18, 2021

  61. 61.

    Mj_Oregon

    You share a birthday with Kris Kristofferson and Meryl Streep!  Happy Birthday!

  67. 67.

    trollhattan

    @WaterGirl: 
    It’s just too perfect. The utterly cleaned and arranged living room basically demolished by two JRTs in 15 seconds, background music by Vacuum and Pops Cole providing the chaser.

    Happy birthday, big guy!

  68. 68.

    Tony Jay

    @eclare:

    Once a year we gather, young and old, even older and really old, there to sit under the too close willow and hear tales of Mountain Man Cole, his cabin full of hounds and the Cat that rules them all.

  71. 71.

    Mary G

    @Percysowner: Even better:

    Holy shit, Sinama just voted Yes to advance the voting rights Bill ?— Just Joe / Atheist by choice??⚾??‍☠️ (@gojoe_joe) June 22, 2021

    I love a unified party when it isn’t Republican. Schumer got the job done. On to make these yahoos put their names on their shit for once.

    ETA: I personally am convinced that nothing will get done before 2022, and the more we can do to expose these Rs for what they are, the better. All the defeatists saying the president’s party always loses seats in the midterms make me tired. We can’t afford that, we have to win or lose our democracy. We never had a president as bad as TFG either.

  75. 75.

    Tony Jay

    @eclare:

    Already with Saka and Grealish playing we look sharper, more direct and far more dangerous. If the wingbacks would pass forward more often an ENGLAND’S HARRY KANE would wake up a bit we’d be even more threatening. Well worth our 1-0 lead.

    And Scotland are 1-0 down to Croatia. Like that they willnee.

  76. 76.

    Ruckus

    Hey Cole, you almost old fart, Happy B Day.

    I am an old fart, and even I’m not that old. I never really did think that I’d live to see retirement, even after I gave my boss 3 weeks notice of the actual date. Every year all of your history gets a bit older, the photos of you as a kid a bit more faded, the memories – good and bad, do as well. I stopped long ago eating cake, to help live long enough and so as to not have the house burn down from all the candles – and also the smoke alarm would go off before you got them all lit.

    John, you aren’t old, you almost old fart, it just seems like it.

  77. 77.

    WaterGirl

    @Ruckus: I think Cole is something like 51 years old, so he isn’t even close to being an old fart.  But wishing him a happy 90th is much more fun.

    The amazing thing for me is to think that Cole was just 31 years old when he started this blog.  I want to see a photo of Cole from January 2002 when this all began!

  79. 79.

    Tony Jay

    @raven:

    Here in the flesh (so to speak) and there in spirit. Not a chance you get me in a stadium full of rosy-cheeked Ingerlund ‘fans’ until I’m double jabbed and the pro-virus minority have died off.

  80. 80.

    Ruckus

    @Mary G:

    We’ve never had a president as close to non human as SFB either, but we’ve had close. If I’m not mistaken, everyone of the 45 that was mostly or completely shit was a conservative. Makes you think. Also shudder, because while none of them seemed as bad as SFB, they were all more than bad enough.

  82. 82.

    Tony Jay

    @eclare:

    This is what happens when the manager’s preferred tactic of slow, lateral passing between the defence and the defensive midfielders until the opposition fall asleep gets buttholed by Covid bans,

    We’ve got a lot of classy, skilful players, they just don’t often get picked.

    ETA – Though I’d prefer a draw. We don’t really want to win this group since that means a meeting with one of France, Germany or Portugal. Much rather finish second.

    Oooh, Scotland back on even terms.

  83. 83.

    Ruckus

    @WaterGirl:

    Oh I know. I’ve been here most of the last 20 yrs, I was the other day trying to figure out when I first checked out BJ and I think it was early 2006 or late 2005. John was still one of them and watching the transition was great.

  87. 87.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Can only add my own wishes for a happy birthday, John, and another heartfelt thanks to you for Balloon Juice. (And great job with the Life of Cole photos, WG!)

    ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

  99. 99.

    J R in WV

    Happy Birfdaze Watergurl !!

    You too Cole, you scurrilous hillbilly ;~{)

    Fifty-0ne, that’s pretty young in my book… Many happy returns, young man~!!~

  100. 100.

    Tony Jay

    @raven:

    Do’h! Following you now. Nope, I’m not getting within an international dateline of Steve. I know that look, it says “You are Food!!!” and under WV state law he has every right to take an arm as long as it ain’t my shooting arm.

  102. 102.

    cain

    Happy Birthday, Cole – and love to see the pics of Tunch :-) There should be a tunch day so that we can see more pics of him. I think there is in fact a photo of Tunch and his namesake, right?

  105. 105.

    lurker

    Happy b-day cole.  Though really, once you get to 90, you might as well just own up to the age… no need to do 90 again this year.

  106. 106.

    lurker

    @Tony Jay:

    one cat to rule them all

    one cat to defy them

    one cat to ignore them all

    and in the darkness bind them

    in the land of west by god virginia where the shadows lie

     

     

    ETA: ‘cuz really, what cat is gonna find them or bring them?

  117. 117.

    Villago Delenda Est

    John, happy birthday, and thank YOU for being the curmudgeonly host of this diverse community.

  120. 120.

    EmanG

    Happy Cake Day El Jefe! I’m so grateful for what you’ve done and continue to do. Thanks a million.

  121. 121.

    Tazj

    Happy Birthday! I’m glad you started Balloon Juice and I can complain about things and bore people here without driving my family crazy.

    You really get a good idea about how big Steve is when he is pictured on someone’s lap. He truly is a magnificent beast.

    I don’t remember seeing pictures of Thurston as a baby, so cute. Lily and Rosie are always their own adorable selves.

  123. 123.

    joel hanes

    Happy Birthday, Cole

    No matter how old you get, you’ll always be a bunch younger than me.  So there’s that.

  127. 127.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    As one of the slackers here, I send a late but warm Happy 90th Birthday message to the elder Cole! I hope your day was great and that you were able to drive John nuts at least once.

    ?

  128. 128.

    Argiope

    Happy birthday, John.  May your next trip around the sun be filled with fabulous fruit combinations, many beautiful birbs and their nests, tons of scritchies, the willow staying where it belongs, and only the kinds of accidents that are funny in retrospect.  Enjoy the near-full birthday moon tonight!

  129. 129.

    Another Scott

    HBD JC! I hope it was a good one.

    ObOpenThread?

    Thread:

    Hello from outside of JCPS central office!

    This is the first in-person protest against critical race theory in Kentucky’s largest school district. About two dozen folks here. pic.twitter.com/3LlH4CeuvF

    — Olivia Krauth (@oliviakrauth) June 22, 2021

    The man in white just “double-dog dared” anyone to debate someone in this group about critical race theory.

    OK there is now a child holding a three percenter sign.

    “We don’t see color of skin,” a woman says after saying she is not racist.

    Same woman just asked a Black reporter if he feels as if he deserves reparations. Completely unprompted.

    And so forth.

    :-/

    (via CharlesPPierce)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  130. 130.

    something fabulous

    Late as ever! But HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! ???????

    I have a now-friend who, when we discovered that we were the only people on our work team of the same (cough) a certain age amongst the youngsters, somehow landed on wishing each other a happy 73rd birthday. It has now been several years since we worked together, and some birthdays we still wish each other happy 73, others we move on in real time. Either way, joke still works!

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