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The rest of the comments were smacking Boebert like she was a piñata.

Hi god, it’s us. Thanks a heap, you’re having a great week and it’s only Thursday!

Polls are now a reliable indicator of what corporate Republicans want us to think.

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

I would try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

Cancel the cowardly Times and Post and set up an equivalent monthly donation to ProPublica.

White supremacy is terrorism.

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Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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We are aware of all internet traditions.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

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

Seems like a complicated subject, have you tried yelling at it?

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

When I was faster i was always behind.

Every decision we make has lots of baggage with it, known or unknown.

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

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

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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Open Thread (and rumblings about a possible meetup in Philadelphia possibly this Thursday)

Open Thread (and rumblings about a possible meetup in Philadelphia possibly this Thursday)

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This post is in: 

Totally open thread.  I just wanted to get this bit of information out there.

There have been rumblings in the comments about a possible meetup in Philadelphia while Suzanne is in town.  Apparently quite likely but not firm yet.

Can someone provide broad outlines in the thread?  That way any Philly folks who might be interested can at least save the date and avoid making other plans while the decisions plahout.

Open thread.

 

Reader Interactions

111Comments

  1. 1.

    WaterGirl

    This is really an OPEN THREAD.

    I wanted to get the word out to Philly folks who might not have heard the rumblings in the comments, so I am squeaking this soft announcement in here as part of the open thread.

  2. 2.

    brendancalling

    I will almost certainly be around to meet up with Jackals. Advice for out-of-towners: avoid I-95 if you can, a whole chunk of it collapsed. Also, too, our Parking Authority is very aggressive, so make sure you feed the meter. Where’s the proposed meet up taking place?

  3. 3.

    gene108

    @brendancalling:

    Also, too, our Parking Authority is very aggressive, so make sure you feed the meter. Where’s the proposed meet up taking place?

    Stupidest parking ticket I ever got in Philly was when I paid at the kiosk and then put the receipt upside down, so the meter info wasn’t visible.

    Also, on top of where it is taking place, is there a rough idea when it will take place? I’m assuming dinner-time-ish.

  12. 12.

    Betty Cracker

    @raven: Black bears are on walkabout all over Florida lately! One was sighted in my little town the other day, which isn’t that unusual because this is a woodsy area, but a bear that had been hanging out in an Orlando park was captured and relocated to the Ocala National Forest last week. I’ve never heard of one swimming at a beach! He or she picked a good beach. IMO, Destin and surrounding beaches are the prettiest in FL.

  16. 16.

    Betty Cracker

    @Gin & Tonic: I saw that over the weekend. As AR said at #11, it’s both heartbreaking and enraging. The thing that struck me hardest was the guys who want to go back to the fight. Best of luck to your friend.

  17. 17.

    raven

    @Betty Cracker: Then there is the Surfing Deer on 30

     

    In the 1940’s, when Seagrove Beach was nothing more than a few houses hidden behind sand dunes, a man named Cube McGee saw something more. He saw a paradise unlike anywhere else in the world and decided to build a community around it.

    Cube developed and shaped Seagrove into the vibrant, soulful place it is today. He was also a local celebrity, with his pet deer named Bambi. The both of them could be seen each morning on the beach, playing in the surf. Some even say, if you’re up early enough, you might still see a deer playing in the surf at sunrise.

  18. 18.

    raven

    @Baud: I have video of me fighting about a six foot shark about 5 miles from that bear footage. It was a good run and I just snapped  the line when I got it close.

  19. 19.

    Jay

    @raven:

    you were using the wrong bait,

    I always go with a picnic basket with the red and white checkered cover,

    seems to work better than the blue.

  20. 20.

    Betty Cracker

    @Geminid: It’s dry on the west coast where I am. Our river is so low that the mister and I haven’t had our boat out in weeks. It’s rainy season now, and we are starting to get the usual afternoon thunderstorms, so we hope it will be over soon. We had a fierce storm with a ton of rain and lightning yesterday — even my dogs got nervous, and they aren’t typically afraid of thunder

    @raven: That’s awesome!

  22. 22.

    Suzanne

    I can prolly meet up around dinner time-ish. My office is in Center City and I would be coming from work, so is there somewhere within easy walk or Uber distance?

  23. 23.

    raven

    @eclare: It was. The funky beach house we rent has a lot next door that sold for a million. They are building a 10 br 10 bath house on that lot.

  26. 26.

    eclare

    @raven:

    Wow, that’s too bad.  I hope that hasn’t happened to St. George Island, another fave that I haven’t visited in a long time.

  28. 28.

    Suzanne

    @brendancalling: @gene108: It would be awesome if someone more in the know than me could pick a place. I think Thursday evening is firming up (I just have to confirm because I have one work event my boss is planning with a new colleague).

  29. 29.

    Jackie

    All the hand wringing over TIFG’s difficulty of finding attorneys: Doesn’t he know the Court can appoint him one?🤔😉🤭

  30. 30.

    raven

    @eclare: They have managed to keep development there, and in Apalachicola, checked but I can’t imagine for how long. We were in Beaufort last weekend and it’s blowing up.

  32. 32.

    sdhays

    @Jackie: Surely there’s someone with a license to practice law in Florida who is so desperate for cash that they can handle an arraignment, even if they’re not someone you would want to handle the case in general.

  33. 33.

    Jeffro

    there is a Twitter thread by fooler initiative @metroadlib from June 9th that details what’s in the trump indictment…what this corrupt fool actually DID, that he’s trying to pretend is all made-up “witch hunt” BS…it’s unbelievable!

    (apologies if y’all already discussed it this weekend while I was away), I just saw it now courtesy of Rachel Bitecofer.

  34. 34.

    Jeffro

    (I also see that Twitler has pledged to appoint a special prosecutor to “take down the most corrupt president in our history, Joe Biden and the entire Biden crime family” if he’s elected POTUS again)

    Good stuff!  Lots of innocent people pledge to ‘take down’ a president, I think.

  38. 38.

    Jackie

    @sdhays: I think it’s the 1st of many stalling attempts. If he doesn’t have FL representation, he’ll still get booked, but the arrangement process will be delayed. 😡 

  40. 40.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @gene108: Stupidest parking ticket I ever got in Philly was when I paid at the kiosk and then put the receipt upside down, so the meter info wasn’t visible.

    People have also gotten tickets for having the receipt visible but on the wrong side of the dashboard.

    This is no longer a concern. Most places I’ve parked in Philly recently use Parkmobile and parking by license plate, so you don’t need a paper receipt any more. If you use the kiosk instead of the app, I’m pretty sure it’s also parking by license plate, not by paper receipt.

    @sdhays: Speaking of Philly, I-95 is basically shutdown for time indeterminate. So there’s that.

    The highway collapse was north of Philly, but that is an EXTREMELY heavily traveled corridor, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it affects northbound traffic well within the city limits.

    My favorite non- or minimal-highway routes into the city from the south and west: (1) Local streets through west philadelphia or (2) leave I-95 at I-76 as if you’re going to the train station (will be some traffic but only a short stretch), then bail at the University exit and take Greys Ferry Ave to Washington Street in South Philly.

  41. 41.

    kindness

    Hope the I95 shut down doesn’t hinder your plans too much.  That whole section of town is going to be hell till it’s fixed.

  43. 43.

    Roger Moore

    @Betty Cracker:

    I’ve never heard of one swimming at a beach!

    Here in Southern California, they’re famous for hanging out in people’s hot tubs, so I’m not too surprised to hear about one going to the beach.  If there are fish in the water, it might be getting some food as well as a chance to cool off.  I’ve heard about a Florida bobcat doing it, so a Florida bear managing it doesn’t sound too farfetched.

  44. 44.

    Jeffro

    @Geminid: thanks for asking – the New River rafting trip totally rocked!  Fro Jr’s Scout buddies were pretty on point, so we made it through the class 4s and 5s mostly unscathed.

    We don’t do too many trips or vacations on a repeat basis, but I can see us doing this as a family* every year (or at least every other).

    *minus Mrs. Fro – she might have to do the upper part of the river instead of the lower   =)

  45. 45.

    RaflW

    JFC! Who the f**k thinks America needs another group to tone police Dems. (emphasis added)

    Fred Ryan, the publisher and chief executive of The Washington Post for most of the decade since it was bought by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, will leave the company in August, he announced Monday.

    Ryan, 68, will lead the newly formed nonpartisan Center on Public Civility at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation.

    Nonpartisan, but run at the “Welfare queens in Cadillacs” Presidential Foundation. Of course.

  47. 47.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @sdhays: FWIW, I just used my map app to check what it says about congestion on I-95 to various destinations. Seems to be OK to reach most destinations within the city, but for destinations in NJ where you’d normally take I-95, they’re suggesting crossing over into NJ on the southernmost bridge (the Walt Whitman).

  48. 48.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @Jay: Is there isn’t anything he won’t try to profit off

    Nope. It’s amazing how often the words “idiot” or “fucking moron” or “he is the stupidest person you will ever meet” pop up among people who deal with him personally. But I think he’s an idiot savant with regard to grifting. When he’s down to his last two brain cells, those cells will still be capable of raising millions from the cult followers.

  49. 49.

    cain

    @Jeffro: What else is new. I’m surprised the house hasn’t opened up an investigation on Hillary again with Trump leading it.

  51. 51.

    sdhays

    @Ceci n est pas mon nym: It sounds like it’s going to take a while to restore I-95 there, so I hope Philly is able to manage without too much disruption. Since it’s such a key route, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was some supply chain disruption, at least in the near term, up and own the east coast.

  54. 54.

    SFAW

    @Jeffro:

    (I also see that Twitler has pledged to appoint a special prosecutor to “take down the most corrupt president in our history, Joe Biden and the entire Biden crime family” if he’s elected POTUS again)

    I long for the day when I  — while still on this side of the grass — no longer hear/read his disgusting drivel. Unfortunately, that mofo will probably outlive me.

  55. 55.

    gene108

    @Suzanne:

    It would be awesome if someone more in the know than me could pick a place.

    I haven’t gone out much in the past three years. From what I remember El Vez has good Mexican food. With drinks the bill can run up quickly. Might be a bit pricey for some.

    It’s on the corner of 13th and Samson.

    I’m not sure how far that is from. your office and/or hotel.

  56. 56.

    Baud

    @RaflW: Google reveals that there is already:

    So there is a need, and we should thank Fred Ryan for taking on an issue that few will touch.

  57. 57.

    gene108

    @sdhays:

    And this is an interesting report on TikTok – Former TikTok exec: Chinese Communist Party had “God mode” entry to US data. That seems…bad. I don’t see how TikTok stays open in the US without being split from ByteDance after this.

    The CCP having offices inside Tik-Tok and having access to user data is the least surprising allegation someone could make, in my opinion, about Tik-Tok.

    From what I gather, the CCP is involved with pretty much any private Chinese business, and if it’s not it can be if the CCP thinks it’s important.

    A Communist nation, with some trappings of capitalism, is still a communist nation at its core and all the state surveillance that entails.

  61. 61.

    sdhays

    @gene108: They’ve claimed that TikTok is Singaporean, not Chinese, and their US data is completely isolated from Chinese access.

    Surprise, surprise – that’s not true.

  63. 63.

    Ohio Mom

    @raven: The most unexpected part of that video to me was the calm exhibited by the people. If I saw a bear, I’d probably start walking in the opposite direction it was heading.

    The onlookers remind me of Ohio Family when a hummingbird visits our feeder, we stand still, all eyes. But otherwise, there’s no comparison between a hummingbird and a bear.

  65. 65.

    Matt McIrvin

    @Ceci n est pas mon nym: My biggest complaint about online pay-by-plate is that the municipal lots in the Boston area all use different parking apps, so you need to sign up for a separate account for all of them, and often they don’t even tell you clearly which one it is–instead, they direct you to the web link to download it, which is not descriptive–so once you’ve got half a dozen of these apps already on your phone they can become difficult to use just because you can’t remember which one this lot uses.

  67. 67.

    Matt McIrvin

    @gene108: In the early days of the Chinese human spaceflight program I remember passing on some speculation about how one of their missions was intended as essentially a human-operated spy satellite. I remarked that the USSR and the US had both already tried this at various times and found it unworkable compared to using uncrewed satellites, so I wondered why China was bothering.

    A friend who’d immigrated from China said that spying was just what the PRC government did–they couldn’t NOT incorporate a spying element every time they got the chance, it was like a reflex.

  68. 68.

    Suzanne

    @Matt McIrvin: ZOMG it’s the same in Pittsburgh. Like, fuck you, I don’t wanna stand around in a shitty alley or creepy parking garage downloading another fucken app, getting out my wallet to put in my credit card number, standing around blah blah blah….. I hate it.

    Ask me how I feel about two-factor authentication.

  69. 69.

    Matt McIrvin

    @Suzanne: The motivation for two-factor is sound. But when the 2FA authenticator or messaging app is on your phone and the thing you’re trying to put the information into is ALSO on your phone, it can be very awkward to manage. User experience needs to be improved, definitely.

  71. 71.

    zmulls

    I am not sure if there is a central coordinator for a Philly meetup!   I see comments from the following:

     

    WaterGirl (attending or only commenting?)
    brendancalling
    gene108
    Suzanne (in Center City)

     

    I have not been in CC for a while but used to be out and about.   My favorite place is still Amada, though it decidely on the pricey side.   But incredible drinks and tapas.

     

    I’d suggest Good Dog Bar as a middle of the road place.    Also Charlie Was a Sinner which is a bar/restaurant specializing in vegan fare.   “My Bartender” recommends Bok Bar for a quieter rooftop.

     

    I would suggest *not* going to El Vez — I am not a big fan of Stephen Starr’s restaurant, and this one is over-themed and over-populated.  (My memory of it)

  72. 72.

    Suzanne

    @Matt McIrvin: NO I DON’T WANT TO OPEN ANOTHER FUCKEN TAB TO GO GET SOME SHITTY CODE FROM MY EMAIL TO COPY AND PASTE BACK INTO THIS TAB I HATE YOU WHY DID THIS TRANSACTION RESULT IN TEN TABS BEING OPENED ON MY PHONE EVERYTHING CAN GO GET FUCKED.

    ::flips table:::

  75. 75.

    Another Scott

    ICYMI, …

    You have reached the accountability hotline. We appreciate your patience. All prosecutors are currently busy pursuing other insurrectionists. We will be with you momentarily.

    Press #1 if you would like to self-surrender.

    Press #2 if you want to do it the hard way. https://t.co/tFwPDpNYjy

    — Jack E. Smith ⚖️ (@7Veritas4) June 12, 2023

    (Includes a tweet with the 10 names of GQP members of Congress.)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  77. 77.

    Ann Marie

    @zmulls: I live and work in Center City in Philly and would normally want to participate in this.  Unfortunately, I have a sore throat and head cold that just started yesterday, so I won’t be able to come.  I hope whoever does go has a great time and provides photos.

  78. 78.

    RevRick

    @sdhays: It’s in the cutoff portion of I-95. The original plan was to build a link through Princeton NJ to the Jersey Turnpike, but that never happened so I-95 dumps into I-295 which loops around Trenton and then intersects with the Turnpike. Most through traffic just stays on the Jersey Turnpike.

  79. 79.

    Manyakitty

    @Omnes Omnibus: let’s see if anyone in Columbus actually follows that. Our state election maps were identified as unconstitutional but our worthless secretary of state and his toadies used it anyway, with no apparent consequences.

  80. 80.

    Roger Moore

    @Matt McIrvin:

    But when the 2FA authenticator or messaging app is on your phone and the thing you’re trying to put the information into is ALSO on your phone, it can be very awkward to manage.

    It also substantially undermines the point of 2FA.  The point of 2FA is to have two completely separate ways of authenticating the user, so it’s necessary to get both in order to get anywhere.  The classic approach is something you know (the password) and something you have (the authenticating device).  If you use a password keeper on the same device as your authenticator app (or if 2FA is handled by text message) then someone can get access to both at the same time.  Password keepers on phones have mitigated this a bit by requiring you to reauthenticate with your phone in order to access your stored passwords, but it’s still a big decrease in security compared to having the passwords and second authentication factor being kept separately.

  81. 81.

    rekoob

    @Suzanne: @zmulls: As I mentioned, I’m planning to be in Wilmington that afternoon and I’ll scout out a green balloon or two. I already have Parkmobile on my phone!

  82. 82.

    brendancalling

    @Suzanne: Places I like/recommend
    Fergie’s Pub (parking sucks)
    Sutton’s Bar (nice outdoor area, cool neighborhood, accessible by transit)
    Philly Brewing Company (easy to get to by car/bike/transit. OTOH, they don’t have food. OTOOH, there’s awesome food just down the street, and you can bring it to PBC).

    The Abbaye: good food, good beer, lots of seating
    Yards Brewing Co: huge room, lots of seating but can be cavernous and loud.

  84. 84.

    gene108

    @zmulls:

    WaterGirl is coordinating.

    I haven’t been to Philly for a dinner out in years. El Vez was one place I could remember.

    If you want to come, and since you have a better knowledge CC restaurants, would you like to pick the venue?

  85. 85.

    TheflipPsyd

    @Ceci n est pas mon nym:  The highway collapse was in what is considered northeast Philadelphia — still part of the city of Philadelphia. It is North of Center City Philadelphia, not North of Philadelphia.

     

    I apologize for the pedantry but as a native Philadelphian, there is a reason it is called a city of neighborhoods. Too often, non-natives and the surrounding areas think Philadelphia only consists of “Center City” or “West Philly.” There are many other parts of Philadelphia that truly are Philadelphia.

  86. 86.

    Suzanne

    @rekoob: @brendancalling: SRSLY, someone with more Philly know-how than me needs to pick the place and I will show up and bring my sparkling personality. I have been to, like, two restaurants there and I couldn’t tell you where they were. I am typically a grab-a-salad person.

  87. 87.

    JAFD

    Coincidentally, WQXR’s onw playing Dirk Brosse’s Philadelphia Overture.

    While I’d really really like to go to this meetup, have plans for weekend, very early start Friday morning to make.  Will miss all you jackals.  Sorry.

  88. 88.

    gene108

    I’m going to throw my vote in for Fergie’s Pub. Same block as El Vez, which is easily commutable for Suzanne, and comes recommended.

  90. 90.

    Suzanne

    @Roger Moore:

    It also substantially undermines the point of 2FA. 

    I thought the point was to make me say FUCK IT I DON’T WANT YOUR BULLSHIT WHATEVER and go get a snack.

    I will note that Mr. Suzanne just sold two of the Taylor Swift tickets that I bought, and he called me and I read him the six-digit code that Ticketbastard sent to my phone so he could type it in. So the whole train car heard the code. So secure!

  91. 91.

    RevRick

    @brendancalling: Loved the abbaye. Went there often when my daughter, SIL, and granddaughter lived in Northern Liberties, which is the brunch capital of Philly. My SIL was friends with the owner.

  92. 92.

    zmulls

    I’ll go with the flow.   I don’t get into the city often anymore so I’m no longer the best guide for specific places.   If El Vez is considered too pricey, then so are Good Dog and (alas) Amada.    There is always Happy Hour.

    Any of the neighborhoods work, Center City is walkable for Suzanne.    Northern Liberties and East Passyunk are an Uber away.    I’m good with anything.

    Looks like the Abbaye is the right sort of place — it’s an Uber for Suzanne.

  95. 95.

    zmulls

    And what time?  I can get in as early as 5pm (maybe even 4:30 with enough notice)

  96. 96.

    frosty

    @Suzanne: I’m sorry I’ll be on the road, otherwise I’d think about driving in from the far side of the Suskie.

    A Pittsburgh meetup would be cool too.  I could go see my son and do that.

  97. 97.

    Roger Moore

    @rekoob:

    I strongly recommend the green balloons.  [ETA: I’ve brought them to previous meet-ups, so I have some experience.]  They’re instantly recognizable to other jackals without being so badly out of place that non-jackals will object.  Also, too, they sit well above the table, which makes them easier to see from across the room.

  98. 98.

    suzanne

    @frosty: Def want to have a PGH meetup. geg6 and I had corresponded about having one and then each of us had conflicts come up. Still need to make it happen!

  99. 99.

    suzanne

    @zmulls: I prolly can’t join until about 6:30. (I am still trying to confirm that work dinner is on Wednesday as previously mentioned.)

  100. 100.

    Manyakitty

    @PaulWartenberg: are you in Florida? Maybe we can schedule one for next time I visit my parents in Tampa.

    Meanwhile, there’s still the Ohio meetup to plan for next month, right sab?

  101. 101.

    dirge

    @sdhays: Since it’s such a key route, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was some supply chain disruption, at least in the near term, up and own the east coast.

    Almost certainly less than you’d think.

    My family is mostly scattered around the region south of Philly, I’m north, one sister is way north, and most of us went to school in New England, so we’ve been back and forth past Philly a gazillion times over a couple decades. I’ve taken 95 into Philly a few times from both directions, but nobody I know has ever taken 95 through Philly intentionally.  One almost always goes through NJ, but might loop around the west to get to some places in PA.

    The key supply chain route is the New Jersey Turnpike. I expect that shutting this section of 95 will slightly increase traffic on the turnpike, and on 295 which parallels it closer to Philly, but all the substantial effects will be within the city, on routes in and out, and bridges to Jersey just north and south.

  102. 102.

    Roger Moore

    @Suzanne:

    I will note that Mr. Suzanne just sold two of the Taylor Swift tickets that I bought, and he called me and I read him the six-digit code that Ticketbastard sent to my phone so he could type it in. So the whole train car heard the code. So secure!

    It actually is.  Those numbers expire in a few minutes, so anyone who wants to use them has a very limited window to do it.  They also need to know your password, which is quite unlikely.  Yes, if you shared both your password and those codes in public, someone could theoretically get into your account in that window.  But if they can’t make it in that window, even knowing your password isn’t enough to let them in.  They’d somehow need to trick you into sharing the codes again.

    This is really important with things like password recovery systems.  My personal experience is a good example.  The escrow company that handled my mortgage had a break in at their storage facility, and my file was stolen.  That gave thieves enough information to get past the password recovery system at my bank, since the bank used my financial information for password recovery rather than security questions I had chosen.  That let them get into my on-line account and change the password.  If I had 2FA, they also would have needed to hack my phone so they could intercept my text messages, which would add immensely to the difficulty.  I was ultimately saved by other security features- the bank sent me emails telling me my password and other details had been changed, which let me contact them before any money was stolen- but 2FA would have shut the whole thing down.

  103. 103.

    zmulls

    So we are setting 6:30pm at Abbaye, green balloons helpful but optional?

     

    I may not have a balloon but I know I can wear green

  104. 104.

    Anyway

    @zmulls:

    Put me down for Definitely Maybe.

    Abbaye sounds good — Rittenhouse DanDan  on 16th is a good option if we want to stick to CC.

  105. 105.

    Leto

    Playing catch-up, but if there’s a meetup on Thursday provide the deets (time/location/blah blah blah)!

  106. 106.

    Leto

    Ok seeing Abbaye at 6:30pm, which is good because it lets me pickup Avalune and make it there on time. We’ll keep an eye out for the green balloons!

  107. 107.

    zmulls

    Yes, Abbaye is 637 N. Third, which is on 3rd two blocks north of Spring Garden (in Northern Liberties).  Balloons encouraged but green is the color.   6:30, Thursday

  109. 109.

    suzanne

    Hey FYI y’all, I gave WaterGirl my mobile number and said she can distribute it to anyone known….might make coordination easier!

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