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The gop is a fucking disgrace.

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You are here: Home / Pet Blogging / Cat Blogging / Wednesday Evening Open Thread: FOCUS

Wednesday Evening Open Thread: FOCUS

by Anne Laurie|  January 19, 20226:39 pm| 57 Comments

This post is in: Cat Blogging, Open Threads

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I can tell you’re trying to concentrate. I’ll sit 2 feet away and stare at you so hard you will physically feel my steady, unblinking support. You’re welcome pic.twitter.com/A867qWNrS2

— Jorts (and Jean) (@JortsTheCat) January 19, 2022

Book Club posts in an hour or so — here’s an Even More Open Than Usual Thread to tide y’all over…

The whack a feathery mole toy is officially a success. It's day four and they're still obsessed. pic.twitter.com/rcd2J5FXmU

— JJ MacNab (@jjmacnab) January 12, 2022

Semyon the cat takes his job — wearing a uniform and lounging around the fire station — very seriously https://t.co/YCuhqicklY pic.twitter.com/qGrsrpn7kE

— The Moscow Times (@MoscowTimes) January 19, 2022

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Reader Interactions

57Comments

  1. 1.

    Anonymous At Work

    January 19, 2022 at 6:41 pm

    Asking for a friend. What’s the maximum decibels at which a cat can lick their own a$$-hole?

  2. 2.

    NotMax

    January 19, 2022 at 6:44 pm

    Set the WABAC machine to 1990 and dial the Respite control up to 11.

    Opening Statement of Mr. Harold Schoff, attorney for Mr. Coyote: My client, Mr. Wile E. Coyote, a resident of Arizona and contiguous states, does hereby bring suit for damages against the Acme Company, manufacturer and retail distributor of assorted merchandise, incorporated in Delaware and doing business in every state, district, and territory. Mr. Coyote seeks compensation for personal injuries, loss of business income, and mental suffering caused as a direct result of the actions and/or gross negligence of said company, under Title 15 of the United States Code, Chapter 47, section 2072, subsection (a), relating to product liability.

    Mr. Coyote states that on eighty-five separate occasions he has purchased of the Acme Company (hereinafter, “Defendant”), through that company’s mail-order department, certain products which did cause him bodily injury due to defects in manufacture or improper cautionary labelling. Sales slips made out to Mr. Coyote as proof of purchase are at present in the possession of the Court, marked Exhibit A. Such injuries sustained by Mr. Coyote have temporarily restricted his ability to make a living in his profession of predator. Mr. Coyote is self-employed and thus not eligible for Workmen’s Compensation.
    [snip]
    As the Court is no doubt aware, Defendant has a virtual monopoly of manufacture and sale of goods required by Mr. Coyote’s work. It is our contention that Defendant has used its market advantage to the detriment of the consumer of such specialized products as itching powder, giant kites, Burmese tiger traps, anvils, and two-hundred-foot-long rubber bands. Much as he has come to mistrust Defendant’s products, Mr. Coyote has no other domestic source of supply to which to turn. One can only wonder what our trading partners in Western Europe and Japan would make of such a situation, where a giant company is allowed to victimize the consumer in the most reckless and wrongful manner over and over again. Source

    ;)

  3. 3.

    debbie

    January 19, 2022 at 6:45 pm

    Uh, oh. New variant alert!

    WARNING: the newest COVID-19 variant is looking very scary. pic.twitter.com/3e20YdNf51
    — Lorenzo The Cat (@LorenzoTheCat) January 18, 2022

  4. 4.

    debbie

    January 19, 2022 at 6:46 pm

    WARNING: next variant is going to have an inflated sense of self-worth. pic.twitter.com/opPwUTb0uN— Tony (@Mesnia1016) January 18, 2022

  5. 5.

    hells littlest angel

    January 19, 2022 at 6:47 pm

    I’m very worried that Donald Trump may have a stroke. Very, very worried.

  6. 6.

    hells littlest angel

    January 19, 2022 at 6:48 pm

    @debbie: Ell oh ell. And I only say LOL when I literally LOL.

  7. 7.

    Mike in NC

    January 19, 2022 at 6:49 pm

    ABC News: Supreme Court votes 8 to 1 against Fat Orange Clown’s request to hide his treasonous activities.

  8. 8.

    Mallard Filmore

    January 19, 2022 at 6:50 pm

    “I’ll sit 2 feet away and stare at you so hard you will physically feel my steady, unblinking support.”

    When Cat’s pupils diallate he is ready to pounce, claws out and biting hard. I have to grab a plastic grocery bag, kept in easy reach for exactly this reason, and snap it loudly. I don’t heal as fast as I used to.

  9. 9.

    Scout211

    January 19, 2022 at 6:51 pm

    Reposting from a dead thread downstairs:

    PSA:  If you need a rapid in-home test before your free ones are delivered, Costco has the Flo-flex brand back in stock right now.  $47.99 for a box with 5 tests in it. Flo-flex.

    They had them in stock a few days ago and then quickly sold out. They are currently back in stock.  Delivery estimate for my address was January 24th.

  10. 10.

    Bill Arnold

    January 19, 2022 at 6:52 pm

    @Mike in NC:
    With Thomas saying he’d support obstruction of justice investigation. Because Republicans must be protected from the law, I guess.

  11. 11.

    SiubhanDuinne

    January 19, 2022 at 6:54 pm

    @hells littlest angel:

    Yes, but are you CONCERNED? Is your BROW FURROWED?

  12. 12.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    January 19, 2022 at 6:55 pm

    @Mike in NC:  Tee Hee.  Wonder how things are at Mar a Largo this fine evening.

    “Get me my Lawyers!”

    “Errr, Sir you don’t have any more Lawyers, you refused to pay any of them”

  13. 13.

    debbie

    January 19, 2022 at 6:55 pm

    @Scout211:

    Is there a list anywhere of brands of tests to avoid or are they all effective?

  14. 14.

    Ken

    January 19, 2022 at 7:01 pm

    @debbie: Those cats have a definite look of “I don’t know why you did this to me, but for the rest of your life, you will need to check your shoes before putting them on.”

  15. 15.

    debbie

    January 19, 2022 at 7:02 pm

    @Ken:

    Yep!

  16. 16.

    Ken

    January 19, 2022 at 7:04 pm

    @hells littlest angel: He might fake one, to avoid going to trial. But that’s an interesting psychological riddle: Would a narcissist take the Vincent Gigante route?

  17. 17.

    burnspbesq

    January 19, 2022 at 7:04 pm

    @Bill Arnold:

    Legal Twitter thinks Thomas is concerned that the docs in question incriminate his wife.

  18. 18.

    Scout211

    January 19, 2022 at 7:04 pm

    @debbie:

    Here’s a recent review of the tests in NYT Wirecutter.

  19. 19.

    Ken

    January 19, 2022 at 7:05 pm

    @burnspbesq: Then he should have recused himself, at a minimum. Resigning in disgrace is too much to ask.

  20. 20.

    Baud

    January 19, 2022 at 7:06 pm

    @burnspbesq:

    Oh please oh please oh please.

  21. 21.

    Yarrow

    January 19, 2022 at 7:06 pm

    @burnspbesq:  Because they probably do.

  22. 22.

    mrmoshpotato

    January 19, 2022 at 7:08 pm

    @Bill Arnold:

    With Thomas saying he’d support obstruction of justice investigation. Because Republicans must be protected from the law, I guess. 

    Thomas is no doubt trying to protect his POS, treasonous wife.

  23. 23.

    Wag

    January 19, 2022 at 7:09 pm

    Breaking news–SCOTUS clears the way for the Jan 6 commission to get Trumps presidential records. 8-1 decision

     

    OK, I’m late to the party.  BUT LET THE PARTY BEGIN!!!!

  24. 24.

    mrmoshpotato

    January 19, 2022 at 7:09 pm

    @Ken: “Take your last picture, human.”

  25. 25.

    dmsilev

    January 19, 2022 at 7:09 pm

    @Litlebritdifrnt: Isn’t Rudy technically still a lawyer?

  26. 26.

    burnspbesq

    January 19, 2022 at 7:11 pm

    Trump could still petition for cert, and Kavanaugh thinks there are some circumstances in which a former Preznit should be able to assert executive (and, presumably, deliberative process) privilege, but I think the disclosure by the Archivist to the Committee would make the current case moot.

  27. 27.

    prostratedragon

    January 19, 2022 at 7:11 pm

    “Happy Feet Blues [Oh But the Third Day],” Winton Marsalis septet

  28. 28.

    dmsilev

    January 19, 2022 at 7:11 pm

    @Bill Arnold: Anyone who thinks that “Republicans are awful” is a new thing that started with Trump or at most Bush the Younger should remember that Bush the Elder nominated that guy to replace Thurgood Marshall.

  29. 29.

    Baud

    January 19, 2022 at 7:18 pm

    Kavanaugh’s concurrence is a complete non sequitur.  Probably why no one else joined him.

  30. 30.

    geg6

    January 19, 2022 at 7:19 pm

    I must have the whack a mole thing.  It’s a necessity now that I’ve seen it.

  31. 31.

    Bill Arnold

    January 19, 2022 at 7:20 pm

    @burnspbesq:

    Legal Twitter thinks Thomas is concerned that the docs in question incriminate his wife.

    Ah, LOL! (Literally, just now.)

  32. 32.

    Baud

    January 19, 2022 at 7:22 pm

    @Ken:

    Resigning in disgrace is too much to ask.

     
    You should talk to Anne Laurie. She’s mapped it all out in the morning thread.

  33. 33.

    Leslie

    January 19, 2022 at 7:22 pm

    SIAP on a previous thread: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/01/19/donors-threaten-cut-funding-sinema-527413

  34. 34.

    debbie

    January 19, 2022 at 7:22 pm

    @Scout211:

    Thanks!

  35. 35.

    Another Scott

    January 19, 2022 at 7:25 pm

    @burnspbesq:

    Clarence Thomas dissented because Ginni has his balls in a jar and she’s a participant of the 1/6/21 insurrection.

    — Mary (@MWJ1231) January 19, 2022

    (via eclecticbrotha)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  36. 36.

    Leslie

    January 19, 2022 at 7:28 pm

    @geg6: Agreed.

  37. 37.

    danielx

    January 19, 2022 at 7:30 pm

    @hells littlest angel: ​
     
    If he did, how could you tell?

  38. 38.

    smith

    January 19, 2022 at 7:43 pm

    @dmsilev: Isn’t Rudy technically still a lawyer?

    Depends on what you mean by “technically.” His NY law license was suspended last summer, and I don’t think it’s been reinstated. Don’t know what that would mean vis a vis a federal case, though.

  39. 39.

    geg6

    January 19, 2022 at 7:51 pm

    @Leslie:

    Just hit Chewy and got one.  Cleo will go insane.

  40. 40.

    Steeplejack

    January 19, 2022 at 7:57 pm

    @geg6:

    Link or product name? I have some friends whose cats would love it.

  41. 41.

    Jay

    January 19, 2022 at 8:01 pm

    @Steeplejack:

    Ambush Interactive,

    https://www.amazon.ca/Interactive-Electronic-Rotating-Auto-Shut-Entertainment/dp/B08X9X3XWR/ref=asc_df_B08X9X3XWR/?tag=googlemobshop-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=459277312260&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=8867840812388686695&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9001498&hvtargid=pla-1361694585756&psc=1

  42. 42.

    Steeplejack

    January 19, 2022 at 8:12 pm

    @Jay:

    Thanks.

  43. 43.

    Roger Moore

    January 19, 2022 at 8:18 pm

    @Baud:

    Kavanaugh’s concurrence is a complete non sequitur.

    The appeals court said that Trump loses twice, once because his arguments are bad and once because the law doesn’t support him even if his arguments were good.  Kavanaugh agrees that Trump’s arguments are bad but disagrees that the law doesn’t support him.  He wants to preserve the ability of future ex-presidents to win on similar cases if they can make good arguments.  That’s a relevant objection.

    Even if you disagree and think the law doesn’t support Trump either, you could still support the idea that the court’s ruling on the underlying law is dicta.  There’s a general legal principle that courts should rule on the narrowest basis that will support their decision.  So they should rule first on the specifics of the case and only go to the more general law if they’re forced to.  In this case, they could have stopped with the ruling on Trump’s case.  Because of that, it makes sense to say that the ruling on the applicability of the law is unnecessary and doesn’t have any legal force, i.e. it’s dicta.

  44. 44.

    sab

    January 19, 2022 at 8:34 pm

     

     

    @Roger Moore: Reeks of Bush v Gore. We hold this now, but defer to what other people we agree with will hold later, and meanwhile we held but left no precedent. ( Nifty magical legal reasoning there.)

  45. 45.

    Betsy

    January 19, 2022 at 8:51 pm

    Hey so a few days ago I posted about getting exposed to Covid at my job, in a meeting at work with masked people who are vaccinated but nevertheless one of them came down with Covid and tested positive a couple of days  after our meeting. My boss informed me of this but she never even expressed any sympathy or care or concernabout whether I might get infected? So anyway I did the quarantine thing, and waited five days and got tested and I’m negative so yay!

    Except that I asked my boss if I could work remotely because I don’t want Covid and I don’t want any more exposures and it would be impossible to avoid them at work, as demonstrated last week.  I can do my entire job remotely because all I do is sit in front of a computer screen all day and I’m not public facing and I barely even get a phone call every three days. And my boss said no and apparently her boss up the line said no. So I quit

  46. 46.

    CarolPW

    January 19, 2022 at 8:57 pm

    @Betsy: ​Wow, a combination of “Good for you!” and “I’m sorry.” What a shit show. Let me/us know if there is anything I/we can do.

  47. 47.

    Steeplejack

    January 19, 2022 at 9:15 pm

    @Betsy:

    What CarolPW said. Way to stand up for yourself, and I hope this doesn’t put you in a bind. And good luck to those assholes finding a replacement for you!

    I hope you didn’t give them any notice, because COVID is certainly not going to wait around for two weeks.

  48. 48.

    Roger Moore

    January 19, 2022 at 9:23 pm

    @sab:

    This is fairly standard legal reasoning and almost the opposite of what happened in Bush v. Gore.  In that case, they court really did have to decide what the law was, but they tried to weasel out of having that decision serve as a precedent.  In this case, they could very easily rule on the facts without ever touching the law, but they’ve chosen to rule on what the law is even though they don’t have to.  It’s that “they don’t have to” that Kavanaugh is objecting to.  If the court can rule the way they think is correct without touching the law, they should do so.  That’s standard legal thinking.

  49. 49.

    Betsy

    January 19, 2022 at 9:37 pm

    @Steeplejack: no, the word came down at 3:45 in the afternoon and I was out by 5:15ish.

    Supreme irony alert?:  My boss was out sick “working from home” so her cold refusal was by phone

    @CarolPW: Thanks.  I’ll need to make money some other way but at least I won’t be getting Covid. Although I’m double vaxed & boostered I want zero Covid.

    It’s kind of like polio.  I want zero polio. Even if I were to get polio and recover completely I would still not want polio!

    Boss thinks everyone is going to get Covid eventually and we all just better accept it. Glad I left that.

  50. 50.

    CarolPW

    January 19, 2022 at 9:39 pm

    @Betsy: I am doing everything in my power to not be one of the ones who get it – I have other things to do with my brain than let it turn into snot.

  51. 51.

    Betsy

    January 19, 2022 at 9:42 pm

    @CarolPW: Yeah, good for you! Even an asymptomatic case does something  to all the cells in your body, across multiple organs. I’m not able to restate what I read the other day in an article about this.   But even mild Covid does long-term cellular damage. God only knows what the long-term  effects of it will be on people. Kind of like post-polio syndrome maybe or shingles.

  52. 52.

    CarolPW

    January 19, 2022 at 9:48 pm

    @Betsy: I fear it may be more like lead exposure – an apparently slight cognitive reduction that leads to long-term adverse societal effects. Not sad I’m too old to last long enough to see if I am right or not.

  53. 53.

    Betsy

    January 19, 2022 at 9:51 pm

    @CarolPW: Aww. That’s a concern of mine as well.  I hope you last a long time and you and yours see better times!

  54. 54.

    sab

    January 19, 2022 at 9:55 pm

    @Roger Moore: As I have said repeatedly : IANAL. I passed the bar in 1980 on the multistate, gave it up in 1986. I have huge sympathy for non-lawyers who have trying to figure stuff out since then, and utter arrogant rejection of lawyers since then who sneer that we just cannot understand. Actually you guys have been winging it ever since (lawyerise for making shit up).

  55. 55.

    MobiusKlein

    January 19, 2022 at 10:18 pm

    @Betsy: It’s not just ‘getting covid’, as it seems we can get it multiple times.

    A job with some at home / at office flexibility should allow folks to tailor their in person attendance in accordance with current risk factors, such as spikes in your local situation.

  56. 56.

    Betsy

    January 19, 2022 at 10:58 pm

    @MobiusKlein: I agree. That didn’t happen.

    It was kind of a crappy job anyway. I need the money but now I am free to find my next step.

    Hell, maybe I’ll find a better, *truly remote* job based in *another state*!

    Meanwhile, I am so relishing the prospect of my alarm not going off at 5:40 AM tomorrow.

  57. 57.

    WaterGirl

    January 21, 2022 at 10:05 am

    @Betsy: Two days late and no one will see this, but good for you!

    You did the right thing.

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