Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Optimism opens the door to great things.

It is not hopeless, and we are not helpless.

SCOTUS: It’s not “bribery” unless it comes from the Bribery region of France. Otherwise, it’s merely “sparkling malfeasance”.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

There are more Russians standing up to Putin than Republicans.

Sadly, media malpractice has become standard practice.

If you don’t believe freedom is for everybody, then the thing you love isn’t freedom, it is privilege.

the 10% who apparently lack object permanence

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

Republican also-rans: four mules fighting over a turnip.

How stupid are these people?

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

This must be what justice looks like, not vengeful, just peaceful exuberance.

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

If you voted for Trump, you don’t get to speak about ethics, morals, or rule of law.

President Musk and Trump are both poorly raised, coddled 8 year old boys.

Giving in to doom is how authoritarians win.

When we show up, we win.

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

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

Not loving this new fraud based economy.

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

These days, even the boring Republicans are nuts.

Republicans don’t lie to be believed, they lie to be repeated.

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Reader Interactions

136Comments

  2. 2.

    HeleninEire

    Open tread. I am questioning whether I should go to Dublin in 2 weeks. And it’s breaking my heart. I miss my Dublin friends so much. I really want to see them. My biggest fear is getting my PCR test there and I can’t get back. What do I do? I don’t want to impose myself on my friends. But will a hotel have me?

    No one seems to be able to answer that.

  3. 3.

    Patricia Kayden

    Heh

    Liberals say "believe the science". So why don't they believe the science behind why the US should never leave Afghanistan?— New York Times Pitchbot (@DougJBalloon) August 29, 2021

  5. 5.

    JoyceH

    @HeleninEire: ​
     

    Where are you, and what’s the COVID situation where you are now? And what’s it like in Dublin? My county is getting pounded right now, so I’ve put myself back into COVID Winter Protocols. Only place I plan to interact in person with people is in the grocery store parking lot when I go for curbside pickup. And maybe the pickup window at the mini-mart. Otherwise, you want to see my face, gotta Zoom me.

  6. 6.

    Mary G

    @HeleninEire: I’d cancel just because you’re going to have to be around so many people and Delta is so contagious. I don’t know what the numbers are in Dublin. I’m sure that someplace will take you in if you’re stuck there for a while.

  7. 7.

    JoyceH

    @JoyceH:  Adding to my last – and if you have to fly to get there, hard pass. There’s no amount of money you could pay me to get on a plane right now.

  10. 10.

    NotMax

    @Mary G

    Probably I just missed seeing it. Did stubborn teenager get the shot?

    @HeleninEire

    Were it my choice, would lean to this not yet being the time for non-essential travel. Too many variables of uncertainty.

    Not going to Mom’s in NY again this year. You want to fill in as a visitor by proxy (I kid, I kid)?

    ;)

  11. 11.

    Yarrow

    @HeleninEire:  You’re better off going now when the weather is still warmer in Ireland and you can be outside a lot. Those cramped, cozy pubs might be something you want to avoid but maybe they have patio seating you could enjoy.

    This article has some info on what happens if you test positive. It’s general, not specific to Ireland, but it might helps. Also, get trip insurance. If you have to extend your trip due to testing positive it’ll come in handy.

    I don’t worry to much about airplane flights themselves. Air flow in planes is pretty good. Have as good a mask as you can find, though. Airports are another story.

  12. 12.

    laura

    Off topic, but I’m fixated on the dawning eviction rollout, the lack of dispersal of emergency funds and the Robert’s Court. Am I crazy for thinking that the evictions are by design to disenfranchise voters? I mean, we’ve seen the Court overturn the moratoriums, we’ve seen households attempt to pay the rent – including from dispersed funds, only to have them returned. I think it was mentioned in an early am thread that an entire apartment building in MS turning out renters effective tomorrow in the middle of a hurricane. Voter suppression shenanigans are going on all over targeting with precision voters of color. Where do unhoused voters vote? I’m convinced that Cleta Mitchell is a primary mover of this fuckery. Is it just me?

  13. 13.

    Math Guy

    Fixing beef bourguignon for dinner. Substituted an Argentinian Malbec for the burgundy. We’ll see how it turns out.

  14. 14.

    Sure Lurkalot

    @HeleninEire: My SIL was advised by her travel agent to cancel her trip to London for these concerns…that she could end up in a quarantine situation, incur costs for reservation cancelations or take ill in a foreign country.

    We are at the point where we can’t even plan for activities in advance…not knowing whether they will be canceled or unwise to do.  I thought I’d be planning trips for 2022 just a month ago and now I’m not sure that a few weeks before a trip comes up, it unravels.

  15. 15.

    Low Key Swagger

    Open thread?  Don’t remember seeing Suzanne for quite sometime.  Isn’t she the Jackal that designs hospitals?  I have some questions for her so if anyone can pass along my email addy to her please let me know.  Thanks!

  16. 16.

    MagdaInBlack

    My Biden loving democratic voting friend in Lowell, Ma. was surprised this morning by a picture of her 14 y/o grandsons bedroom decor: a giant trump 2024 poster. Her daughter was not impressed with grandmas ” wtf is this shit” response.  Daughter (and grandson too, it seems) have been “turned” by the trump loving New Hampshire b/f.

    This could get interesting.

  22. 22.

    Kattails

    I just took a look at a youtube video of Biden and the FLOTUS at Dover to honor the dignified transfer of the service people killed in the Afghanistan attack and then made the mistake of reading the comments. Pure vitriol, hatred, and blame for Biden.  “He shouldn’t have shown his face” kind of thing–of course, this morning they were all over the “He hasn’t got the guts/decency to show up”. Christ these people make me sick. It’s deranged.

  24. 24.

    Jean

    Spouse and I travelled separately to Wisconsin from VA for what was necessary travel, me to see my mother after two years (my father died during the worst of COVID before vaccines, and while he was dying my mother fell and fractured her hip.  No visitations allowed at assistant-living at the time.)  Spouse just returned from Wisconsin after visiting his brother.  We both flew Delta.  No non-compliant passengers, no trouble finding place to sit away from people at terminal for long layovers. The only issue was lines at security check-ins.  My trip was almost a month ago, and he just returned yesterday.  I hate flying anyway, but I was pleasantly surprised by the passenger behavior.

    It may have been discussed in one of the COVID threads, but is there any recommendation for time lapse between a flu shot and a booster vaccine?

  25. 25.

    James E Powell

    Food question. If you get distracted while you’re cooking pasta and you overcook it, do you throw it out & start over again, or just curse your inattention and eat it anyway?

  26. 26.

    bbleh

    CNN reporting that Biden’s management of Ida’s track and wind speed is widely considered disastrous.

  30. 30.

    sab

    @Jean: My doctor said no last week. She said that for the first two shots they were really concerned to identify reactions and side effects to the new vaccine and they didn’t want a different vaccine confusibg the results.

  34. 34.

    Mary G

    @NotMax: Yes, he got his second shot of Pfizer a week ago yesterday, so he’s 6 days from maximum protection. Now I am trying to get him to register to vote; he turns 18 on Sept. 14, the day of the Newsom recall election.

    I had my third Moderna shot Wednesday, as well as the flu shot, and it kicked my ass.

  39. 39.

    Mary G

    @Jean: I was concerned when the nurse at CVS told me I could have the flu shot at the same time as the Covid vaccine, because Medicare said I could not, as well as the paperwork I signed. She assured me that the medical science had changed and it was fine to have them together, and after a dive through Google and the Medicare computer agreeing on the third time we asked, I said OK. I’ve never had any reaction to flu shots so who knows if my unpleasant three days were due to the combination or not?

  40. 40.

    Vickie Feminist

    @Jean: Kaiser scheduled my flu shot for the same time as my second shingles vaccine.   I’m guessing this topic will get a lot of p!ay as we approach September   20.

  41. 41.

    CNYExpat

    @Misterpuff:

    Stellar. And great writing.

    We’re amid the last seasons for both shows; Mr. CNYExpat had seen neither, and I’d seen them as a teen / young adult. It has amazed me how well the LG story lines in particular hold up in present times.

  42. 42.

    raven

    @Mary G: I was pissed when the pharmacist told me to get my flu shot last August and then everything said to wait until October!

  43. 43.

    Martin

    Things looking bad for South Lake Tahoe. The Caldor fire has made it through the high pass and now  needs to travel the low pass. Until this year, no fire has crossed the Sierra Nevada. Both Dixie and Caldor have now done that. High passes have so little vegetation for fire to take hold of, so embers need to cover really long distances, and historically they haven’t been able to do that. It’s almost impossible to fight fires in passes because of the acceleration of the wind through them.

    We’ll see how this goes.

  44. 44.

    dexwood

    @Vickie Feminist: Interesting. I had my second shingles shot two years ago ( it really kicked my ass ), but the pharmacist insisted on a 30 day wait before getting my flu shot. I waited, the flu shot was a breeze.

  45. 45.

    Mike in NC

    Will the media even mention the Orange Clown’s despicable response to Hurricane Maria when it devastated Puerto Rico? When the best he could do was throw a few rolls of paper towels and blame the victims for their suffering. Miserable psychopath.

  47. 47.

    Scout211

    @Jean:

    It may have been discussed in one of the COVID threads, but is there any recommendation for time lapse between a flu shot and a booster vaccine?

    The new guidelines from the CDC are that you can get them both at the same time now. You don’t need to wait the 14 days that was recommended originally.  I guess you have to weigh your decision on whether you get a reaction after either of them.  I plan to space them 14 days apart because I had a fairly strong reaction to the Moderna

    https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/expect.html

    You can get a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines at the same visit. You no longer need to wait 14 days between vaccinations. Experience with other vaccines has shown that the way our bodies develop protection, known as an immune response, after getting vaccinated and possible side effects of vaccines are generally the same when given alone or with other vaccines. Learn more about the timing of other vaccines.

  50. 50.

    NotMax

    Fix, as there was not meant to be a linky, only a recollection.

    @Mike in NC

    Was included in reporting at the time he had to be dissuaded from also throwing canned goods into the crowd.

  53. 53.

    Citizen Alan

    @senyordave:

    I am convinced that a large part of homophobia comes from the absolute terror that “gay guys probably look at me exactly the same way that I look at every random woman I see.”

  55. 55.

    JPL

    @raven: i was told October because the flu shot is only effective for four months.

    Since my first Pfizer Covid vaccine was January 12th, I’m going to see if I can get a booster soon.

  56. 56.

    satby

    @HeleninEire: I’m similarly on the fence about my trip to London and Paris at the end of October. I have trip insurance and the booker for the hotels failed to pay one of the two reservations that I had already paid, so I have a covered reason to cancel, but I’ll probably hold off on a final decision for a couple more weeks. I keep hoping that things start heading in the right direction.

  61. 61.

    Scout211

    @HeleninEire:

    @satby:

    It looks like it’s going to get more difficulty to travel to the EU from the US:

    https://www.reuters.com/world/eu-moves-reintroduce-covid-travel-curbs-us-diplomats-2021-08-27/

    BRUSSELS, Aug 27 (Reuters) – The European Union on Friday moved to reinstate COVID travel restrictions like quarantine and testing requirements for unvaccinated citizens of the United States and five other countries, two diplomats told Reuters.
    EU countries started a procedure to remove the United States from a list of countries whose citizens can travel to the 27-nation bloc without additional COVID restrictions.

  64. 64.

    mrmoshpotato

    @WaterGirl:

    Biden is personally responsible not only for the aftermath of the storm? But also for the storm itself?

    Interesting Stupid times.

    Fixed. ?

  65. 65.

    WaterGirl

    @JPL: Today I listened to Jen Psaki’s press conference from Friday, and she pushed back on the 5 months timeframe for boosters and said that is not the advice from the CDC.  Except for people with specific medical conditions, that is.

    I got my first covid shot in January, also.  Based on what Jen said, I decided this is the right time to get my first shingles vaccine, thinking that should give me way more than a month before they even think about giving boosters to folks without special issues.

    I am scheduled for 10am for the first shingrix shot.  I am nervous about this one, but if I’m going to do it, this seems like the smartest timeframe.

    I think it’s crazy to get more than one vaccine at the same time.  Especially with covid on the scene.  This is not the time to send your immune system into overdrive.

    It’s funny, plenty of smart and well-informed people on Balloon Juice, but we draw different conclusions about things.

  69. 69.

    WaterGirl

    @WaterGirl: The instructions before tomorrow’s shingrix appointment say to drink AT LEAST 16 ounces of water ONE HOUR BEFORE the shot in order to reduce side effects.

    Has anyone heard of that?  Does that make any sense at all?

    I will, of course, do it anyway because what can it hurt?

  74. 74.

    Dan B

    @satby: We’ve got a trip to the WA coast with a batch of couples (gay guys) and a great guy from San Francisco.  We stay in a big double cabin and share meals.  One guy announced that he would not mask indoors, would sit next to people, and “might” get a test.  I shocked everyone by reaming him for being unwilling to accommodate people who are very concerned about Delta.  He has apparently come around but I’m pissed that it no longer seems like a relaxing getaway.  Other folks were upset but wouldn’t say anything so I got to be the heavy.  Everyone is on edge and wants things to be nice and happy again but….  We are at war.  It’s not going to get better and happier for an unknown number of months.  We can be grateful we’re not in healthcare – speaking of an effing war zone.

  75. 75.

    debbie

    @WaterGirl:

    This is not the time to send your immune system into overdrive.

    Exactly. Figure out the priorities first. I won’t think about shingles or flu until after I get the booster shot. Then shingles, then flu.

  76. 76.

    JPL

    @WaterGirl: It’s eight months from the first shot.   October 1 will be eight months from the second shot.   I thought that I’d ask.

    You’ll have to let us know if the water helped.

  78. 78.

    Robert Sneddon

    @WaterGirl: It’s entirely possible the EU might up the stakes and require all travellers from the US to go through quarantine etc. at short notice, even if they’re vaccinated. The Delta variant of COVID-19 is ripping through European countries which have high vaccination rates, raising case numbers and putting hospital facilities under stress and vaccination is not considered a solid guarantee of immunity or being free of infection by the medical authorities. I’d not take the risk of travelling abroad myself until the case numbers everywhere come down a lot.​

  79. 79.

    Suzanne

    I have been looking out to see if any pediatricians around me are giving the shot to under-12s off-label. I talked with a friend of mine who is a pediatrician with Cleveland Clinic, and she said all her doctor friends want the shot for their kids ASAP. She said there is lots of lying about age to get the shot for kids that may look 12. Sigh.

    School starts Friday.

  80. 80.

    Dan B

    @germy: Can our MSM be any worse?  Has it all gone corporatist?  200 families who’ve lost a member to police violence.  How many thousands more have had the same nightmare?

  81. 81.

    Fair Economist

    @HeleninEire: I say go. The chance of any *individual* person, being reasonably safe as I know you are, catching COVID in any *particular* week is pretty low. Maybe 1 in a 1000. So the expected cost is pretty low even if the problems of getting stuck there are quite high. Say the financial + emotional cost of staying for an extra week is $10,000 – making the expected cost a trivial $10.

    So take the trivial risk, be sensible on the flight, and go.

  82. 82.

    Suzanne

    I will note that I have been wearing a mask to yoga class, even hot yoga, and there is very little that is more disgusting than sweating so much it runs all down your face, then doing downward-facing dog and having the sweat run up into your nose. I mean, so I hear.

  85. 85.

    germy

    @Dan B:

    One thing I’ve noticed about network news.  They really don’t cover the labor movement.  A national strike?  Not even mentioned in passing.

    But they love running segments on benevolent wealthy people organizing charity drives.  Almost every broadcast ends with an “inspiring” story of someone raising money for backpacks for kids, or a car for a working senior citizen, etc.

  86. 86.

    Brachiator

    @Suzanne:

    I talked with a friend of mine who is a pediatrician with Cleveland Clinic, and she said all her doctor friends want the shot for their kids ASAP.

    It might seem counterintuitive, but it might be better to make sure that more teens and adults got vaccinated.

  88. 88.

    Scout211

    @debbie:

    I have all three coming up as well. I am doing Shingrix #2, then the flu shot and then the booster shot, all 14 days apart. I had a strong reaction to Moderns #2 and Shingrix #1 so I am cautious about a strong reaction x3.

  91. 91.

    WaterGirl

    @debbie: I am taking a similar approach.  Since they are saying 8 months from first shot, that would be toward the end of September for me.

    That’s why I decided on shingles now, so I’ll have a month in between.  Still, this shingles vaccine makes me nervous. ?‍♀️

  96. 96.

    WaterGirl

    @Scout211: Oh, I hadn’t caught that.  The earlier comment from someone said it was after the first shot.

    That does give more time, which is good.  thanks

    edit: I figure if I get this now, then I’ll be okay even if they move up the timing of the booster.  fingers crossed, without the crystal ball, all you can do is your best guess.

  98. 98.

    Suzanne

    @Brachiator:

    It might seem counterintuitive, but it might be better to make sure that more teens and adults got vaccinated.

     
    If we were still in shortages, I would agree. But we have plenty of vaccine and not enough non-dumbasses. My teenager is already vaccinated. If dumbasses aren’t going to take their shots, then kids should get them.

  99. 99.

    Barbara

    @Dan B: My nephew’s delayed wedding reception is in 2 weeks. No one on this side can bring themselves to ask the new wife about vaccination and/or masking. I’ve never met her but her Facebook posts suggest a “you’re not the boss of me” mentality.  I would like to go but I am so tired of this.

  100. 100.

    gwangung

    Vaccine central today?

    Did Shingrix #1 last Thursday.

    Aiming for the flu shot end of September.

    Shingrix #2 end of October/beginning of November.

    Booster end of December, beginning of January.

    All nicely spaced out.

    Unfortunately, blood pressure has spiked, so there’s that to take care of….

  103. 103.

    WaterGirl

    @WaterGirl: More details on Michigan redistricting:

    Proposition 2, establishing the Michigan Independent Citizen’s Redistricting Commission to end gerrymandering, is among the greatest accomplishments of MI’s citizens and our greatest hope for being able to face the deep challenges of our future. That accomplishment is endangered. The first map proposals are not looking good at all!

    We need your help to bring some simple and clear arguments or proposals to the attention of the Commissioners. They will hold two public meetings in Ann Arbor on Thursday Sept. 2, and we can offer you insights and comments that will go in the right direction, to counter the onslaught of Republican talking points. In-person comments are valuable, but so are written ones.

    Details below, but first some background: The commission has worked hard, but has been hampered by Covid and by the lateness of the census results, and is now under fire because they will undoubtedly be late for their October deadline (despite the MI Supreme Court ruling that they would be in violation of the constitution if they are).

    However, that is the least of the problems that are now surfacing. They have begun to draft some preliminary maps, and by several metrics, they are actually worse in partisan lean than the existing maps. Basically, they appear to have confused working for a nonpartisan result, that is, creating districts with a close enough D-leaning and R-leaning split that a given election could go either way, with taking a nonpartisan posture themselves by not taking partisan tendencies into account.

    We hope to help them see that eliminating built-in partisan lean requires consideration of all the available data, including partisan lean. In specific areas such as Detroit or Flint, the Voting Rights Act requires us to respect the majority-minority community of interest, and in other areas, where the self-selection of the population has indeed created large areas of like-minded citizens, some “safe” districts for both parties will undoubtedly result. But there are many areas where, as we all know, both “blue” and “red” voters have been confined to carefully crafted districts. It is essential that these concentrations be shared out to make a mix reflective of the broader tendencies.

    An important metric is that of the “efficiency gap”– half the “blue” votes of Ann Arbor are wasted as they are not needed to make a choice of candidates. Half of Ann Arbor allied with the area below and half with that above would give both parties a chance at winning representation, and oblige them to field competitive candidates.

    Another essential point, that the Commission does not seem to be taking into account, is that because of the Voting Rights Act requirement to respect the majority-minority areas and ensure that the interests of minority populations do get direct representation and that goals of more diverse representation can be met, they will need to begin with Detroit and Flint. These two centers have enough African-American population to require this treatment, and they must work out from there. Using multiple regional starting points risks painting them into a corner, with some areas “leftovers,” in a sense. If you are able to help, there are several ways.

    • Send in written comments, or comment on other submissions: http://www.Michigan-Mapping.org
    • Attend one of the meetings on Thursday, arriving early and signing up to make a public comment (details here) WCDP Volunteers will be there to help you.
    • Prepare with us by attending a work session on Wednesday 9/1, 7:30 https://zoom.us/meeting/87684452317
    • We have a collection of suggested ideas centered around Partisan Fairness. We’d like to organize so that they are offered most effectively, but if you can’t join us, email [email protected] to get some pointers!
    • Continue to follow and comment on the work of the Commission
    If you’d like more background, here is a thorough look at the whole question from Brian Greminger with a sample personal story, and a sample comment with maps from Janet Cannon.

    Here is a guide to preparing your comments, either written or spoken (don’t forget the 2-minute limit for speaking). COI Presentation and Testimony (HANDy Guide) 
    https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cVF5cD7U8i8eBxFogBuMZ1AwdfuDB3Kf/view?usp=sharing

    Also, if you’ve gotten this far (thank you!), you can hear Mark Brewer, distinguished lawyer and former chair of the Michigan Democratic Party, in an interview with Chuck Newman, Ann Arbor activist, about the state of play on this, on Sunday 8/29 at 7:30 pm. It’s sure to be informative.

  105. 105.

    Brachiator

    @Misterpuff:

    Ed Asner Gone.

    Very sad. Condolences to his family.

    It always impressed the hell out of me that Asner played Lou Grant in both comedy and dramatic shows without missing a beat.

  106. 106.

    Monala

    Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg tweeted the following today:

    Dems have done next to nothing for young people since getting elected. That needs to change.

    If they don’t pass some gun laws, climate reform, focus on permanent student debt relief and more they will lose the Sen and House and Biden will be impeached.

    Followed up by this:

    Young people have played a critical role in 2018 and 2020 at getting dems across the finish line. If you don’t give young people a reason to vote for you because you don’t fight for them, they won’t vote.

    The solution is simple pass some laws that help us and we will help you.

    Yes they have done meaningful work around infrastructure, welfare, taxes and else where that is needed. But as for the top issues that get young people vote climate change, gun reform, student debt and so on- next to nothing has been done.

    He is rightfully getting ratioed by people pointing out numerous fallacies in his thinking:

    – ignoring the benefits to young people from the Child Tax Credit and other stimulus measures passed by Democrats
    – ignoring the cancellation of student loans for people with disabilities and those defrauded by for-profit colleges
    – ignoring the multiple crises the Biden administration has had to deal with in its first 8 months (Covid, Afghanistan, etc) such that all priorities haven’t yet had a chance to be addressed
    – ignoring the steps the Biden administration has taken to address climate change (re-entering the Paris Agreement, inclusion in the infrastructure bill)
    – ignoring the fact that young people are still the least likely to vote, and young white voters like David still voted for Trump in the majority, so David should perhaps focus his attention on them (and his Republican parents) rather than Democrats

  107. 107.

    WaterGirl

    @gwangung: Side effects from shingrix #1?  Asking since I’m scheduled for 10am tomorrow.

    Did they have you do the “drink at least 16 ounces of water ONE HOUR before” thing?

  109. 109.

    WaterGirl

    @debbie: I just read the sheet you have to read before they give you the shingrix vaccine, and I was happy to see that it is NOT a live vaccine.  That makes me feel a little better. Fingers crossed.

  110. 110.

    gwangung

    @WaterGirl: The night of, I felt tired, woke up a little light headed. But that passed real quickly (so quickly, I did my usual five mile walk, albeit a little later in the day than usual) (in comparison, my second Pfizer had a small half degree of fever the day after, but all gone the second day). Didn’t say a thing about the sixteen ounces of water.

    Of course, as they say, YMMV.

    (As for the high blood pressure, I’ll probably starting taking a tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil a day. Can’t possibly hurt and would be great on salads….)

  111. 111.

    Jeffro

    No commentary here about Fox featuring that (now ex-) Marine officer who got himself cashed out for taking to social media to berate his superior officers?  He went on again today to say, pension (and possibly his marriage?) be damned, he wanted people to join him to “burn it all down”.

    it was Fox’s headline story all day on both tv and web.

    just kind of unbelievable that they’d give that kind of thing a platform…unless of course they are looking to kneecap the country any way they can when a Democrat is in charge.

  113. 113.

    Jeffro

    Also: one of my high school alum FB friends is posting pics of his 2 dogs wearing camo scarves “in support of our troops” and I am *THIS * close to asking if they also have yellow ribbon magnets on their collars.

    Just unbelievable.  Here we go all over again…

  114. 114.

    Quinerly

    @Kattails: I won’t link to it but Google the NY Post (yes, I know) piece re the mother of one of dead soldiers. Full on MAGA. She was on some radio show.

  115. 115.

    CaseyL

    @Monala: Heh. I just replied to him saying that he’s right, that the only way to mitigate climate change is having many fewer humans, and the GOP is really good at killing people, so his plan to put them back in power is a good one.

  116. 116.

    Alice

    @WaterGirl: I had my first Shingrex a few months ago, and I didn’t hear anything about drinking water beforehand. I had quite a sore arm for a few days, and was a little out of sorts for a day. That’s it.

  118. 118.

    debbie

    @WaterGirl:

    So my doctor told me. I don’t think I know anyone who didn’t have to deal with side effects.

    I drank that much water beforehand. It wasn’t that difficult. I usually drank lots of water before a blood test. Helps “plump up” the veins.

  119. 119.

    Brachiator

    @Monala:

    Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg tweeted the following today:

    Dems have done next to nothing for young people since getting elected. That needs to change.

    If they don’t pass some gun laws, climate reform, focus on permanent student debt relief and more they will lose the Sen and House and Biden will be impeached.

    This is just about the dumbest thing I have read in a while. But it is typical of people who confuse their own pet issues with what is best for the country as a whole.

    The pandemic stimulus payments, targeted student loan relief, unemployment compensation relief, and expansions of the Earned Income Tax Credit, and Child Tax Credit have done more for young people, children and families, and for lower income Americans than most programs that I have seen in all my years in the tax industry.

    But I have heard grumbles from some people who confuse a progressive agenda with upper middle class entitlements for the already comfortable. Some of these people support a $15 minimum wage, but don’t see that this is not the same thing as a living wage for most people.

    I can only hope that these people can get their heads out of their asses and support the Democrats for the midterms.

  120. 120.

    Suzanne

    @Brachiator: To be fair, passing gun control laws, action on climate change, and permanent student debt relief for the vast majority of borrowers are really important issues to a lot of young people (and to this not-so-young person). Hogg is being a jerk by saying that Biden hasn’t delivered…. But he isn’t wrong for wanting results on these issues.

  123. 123.

    Brachiator

    @Suzanne:

    To be fair, passing gun control laws, action on climate change, and permanent student debt relief for the vast majority of borrowers are really important issues to a lot of young people

    It is not an either/or and it is ridiculous for this guy to suggest that his pet proposals are what young people are concerned about.

    The pandemic increased income inequality massively, and yet I have noticed that many liberal pundits don’t really get excited over programs that reduce poverty. But we need more of this relief as we come out of the pandemic.

    Looking at the three items mentioned. Gun control is tough, especially as we come out of economically tough times. We need more Democrats in Congress to get this done. This also means that young people need to stop whining and do more voting.

    The infrastructure bill includes money for climate projects. So what’s the real issue here?

    The infrastructure bill includes money to get more people into community colleges. I also want to see more aid for public schools. Biden and his economic team are looking at student loan debt. Again, there is no valid complaint here. It’s a matter of priorities.

  124. 124.

    MontyTheClipArtMongoose

    @Monala: i predict in ten years david hogg will be working for mike cernovich (or the 2030s equivalent), much as the 2007 radical leftist “don’t tase me bro” guy is

  125. 125.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @James E Powell: It’s probably far too late for these hints from a “helpful hints” book on my shelf, but in the future:

    Immediately drain the overcooked pasta and run it under the coldest water available to stop the cooking process. If you’re making a dish with tomato sauce, reheat the pasta in the sauce – the acid will help it to hold up.

    BTW, cooking pasta al dente, draining and immediately running it under cold water and then reheating will (according to my cardiologist, a friend and fellow type 2 diabetes sufferer) hold down the glycemic index to somewhere below stratospheric.

  127. 127.

    CaseyL

    @Uncle Cosmo: 
    I may try this. “Somewhat less astronomical” may not be enough of a reduction, but oh how I miss pasta.

    I have tried so many alternative pastas, from the ones that look like hair (and still taste like black beans, no matter what you put on them) to the ones with very strange textures too reminiscent of gristle. None satisfy the pasta craving.

  129. 129.

    Suzanne

    @Brachiator: 

    Looking at the three items mentioned. Gun control is tough, especially as we come out of economically tough times. We need more Democrats in Congress to get this done. This also means that young people need to stop whining and do more voting.

    Agreed.

    The infrastructure bill includes money for climate projects. So what’s the real issue here?

    That Lake Mead is down to 32% capacity and we are still allowing people to move to the desert? And that we lag most of Europe on renewable energy generation? And that terrible weather events are getting more deadly and more frequent? They are not wrong to be concerned.

    The infrastructure bill includes money to get more people into community colleges. I also want to see more aid for public schools. Biden and his economic team are looking at student loan debt. Again, there is no valid complaint here. It’s a matter of priorities.

    I would agree, as long as this actually gets resolved. It is a matter of priorities, and Hogg (and most of the yoot that I interact with) think these are really big priorities.

  130. 130.

    WaterGirl

    @Jim Appleton:  Good to know.  I was one of the people who got what they called “Covid arm” after both shots.

    Hard as a rock and a shade of red I have never seen on my body before.  Sunburn x10.  I survived.

  132. 132.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @CaseyL: A lot of “low-carb” pastas that began to show up at the height of that craze turn to dust in the mouth. Ick. One of these days I’m going to try using the stuff for pasta salad and applying healthy amount of Italian dressing (or just plain oil & vinegar) for it to soak in. You might want to try that with the whole-wheat versions. Let us know if you do & how it worked.

    (ETA: Two words – portion control.​ Half the serving size, eaten slowly, savoring every forkful.)

  134. 134.

    Jean

    @WaterGirl: I had the two-shingles shots, spaced as required by pharmacy.  I had no reactions from either one, aside from some soreness in my shoulder.  I drank no specific amount of water beforehand because I hadn’t heard to do so.  This was two years ago or longer.

  135. 135.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Jeffro:  He is still serving. He just got relieved of his command. There will be other consequences for him down the road.

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