Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Balloon Juice has never been a refuge for the linguistically delicate.

When you’re in more danger from the IDF than from Russian shelling, that’s really bad.

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

The republican speaker is a slippery little devil.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Everybody saw this coming.

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

These days, even the boring Republicans are nuts.

Republican obstruction dressed up as bipartisanship. Again.

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

The real work of an opposition party is to oppose.

Since we are repeating ourselves, let me just say fuck that.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires republicans to act in good faith.

People really shouldn’t expect the government to help after they watched the GOP drown it in a bathtub.

Come on, man.

We will not go quietly into the night; we will not vanish without a fight.

GOP baffled that ‘we don’t care if you die’ is not a winning slogan.

Well, whatever it is, it’s better than being a Republican.

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

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

“Just close your eyes and kiss the girl and go where the tilt-a-whirl takes you.” ~OzarkHillbilly

Every day Vance writes another chapter in the book called “Worst VP Pick Ever”.

Let’s bury these fuckers at the polls 2 years from now.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Lazy Saturday Evening Open Thread

Reader Interactions

129Comments

  1. 1.

    pat

    Outdoor work, gave some stuff from the storage shed to the neighbor, small steps to getting rid of a heck of a lot of stuff…. That’s the problem with a storage shed, you can store stuff….

  2. 2.

    SiubhanDuinne

    What’s everybody else up to?

    Putting together my OLLI@Emory class for Monday.

    Eating a plate of prosciutto and broccoli ravioli.

    Drinking a (normal-sized) glass of wine.

    Listening to Jamie Raskin out of the corner of my ear.

    I am multitasker, hear me roar

  5. 5.

    SiubhanDuinne

    (plaintively) Is there NO JACKAL who is lazing and playing all weekend?

    Sheeesh, what a bunch of neurotic Type-A workaholics we are, to be sure!

  7. 7.

    Kristine

    Went to a plant sale this morning and…wait for it…bought plants.

    Mowed the front yard after I got home. I’ll take care of the backyard tomorrow.

    I just finished dinner and am now watching orioles pick at the grape jelly I put out for them. I just opened the third jar. Squirrels did nab a little, but the birds got most of it. Catbirds occasionally take a nibble as well.

  9. 9.

    geg6

    Trying to prepare to move, getting information on my retirement.  Dealing with my John’s increasing memory issues.  Enjoying the pictures my niece is sending me from her trip to Germany and France.  But most sadly, preparing myself for letting our Koda go.  We have made arrangements for the mobile vet to come to our home Tuesday evening.  I’m a mess.  John’s a mess.  But Koda has had a good long life (she’d be 13 in October, a long life for a Lab) and is in too much pain to keep her suffering for our feelings.  It’s a lot for me right now.  I’ll get through it all but damn, talk about all at once.

  10. 10.

    dmsilev

    Some errands, some work (major new piece of gear at work is being cranky, so I have to keep tabs on it). Nothing too bad.

  11. 11.

    TBone

    @SiubhanDuinne: my life plan is playing around, doing what I want.  Retirement is awesome.  I spent some time today sending upside down photos of Scalito to my relatives and friends.  “Cut that shit out, Martha-Ann!” 😆

  13. 13.

    Miss Bianca

    @geg6: oh, your lovely Koda! I am so sorry to hear that she is on her way out. It’s just the way of the world that in the normal course of things we outlive our companion animals, but it’s a gut-wrench all the same.

  18. 18.

    karen marie

    I went to the vegetable store.  I’m also having a grocery delivery – the one great thing to come out of Covid! – including a piece of Dover sole. I’ve made Sole Meuniere a couple times recently, and it is so good.  I could eat a boatload of it.  From the veg store, I got green beans that I oiled and salted and cooked in a hot oven till they start to brown.  Unbelievably delicious.  Since I was heating the oven for the green beans, I threw in two small ears of corn that I was going to use raw in salads.  Wrapped in foil, liberally soaked with soft butter, chopped garlic and salt.  After roasting till just about done, they’re going under the broiler for some color.  The corn will still go in my salad.  It is going to be a fantastic dinner.

    I also got some nice baby asparagus because I’ve got a lemon and a fuck ton of goat cheese from Costco.  Lemon zest, lemon juice, goat cheese, finely grated parmesan, baby asparagus and pasta – I’m going to be eating like a queen for the next couple days.

  20. 20.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @geg6:

    Oh, shit, I am so sorry. She’s been a huge part of your life — and ours, too, because you’ve shared about Koda over the years. I can’t do anything to mitigate your pain, but I can send you a virtual {{{hug}}}.

  22. 22.

    Another Scott

    @geg6: It is indeed a lot.

    :-(

    Condolences to you.

    One day at a time.

    My J loves being retired.  She highly recommends it.  :-)

    Take care,
    Scott.

  24. 24.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @schrodingers_cat:

    But it’s a GOOD kind of tired, right?

    Congratulations, and thank you! I wish even a fraction of native-born Americans cared as much about their country as you do.

  26. 26.

    Steeplejack

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    I just finished tomorrow’s big Times crossword, and now I’m back to my retro-binge of Grimm. Late in Season 1, and it’s as good as I remembered (which was not very well at all). Good video wallpaper while I catch up with blogs and such.

  28. 28.

    Steeplejack

    @geg6:

    Sorry to hear about Koda. You have given her a wonderful life filled with love, with the last act of love to come. 🙏

  29. 29.

    piratedan

    done being productive for the day…

     

    moved the old area carpets from our back patio to cover up the weed-stricken side yard (soon to be covered with gravel), set up irrigation to the new star jasmines and then kicked back to enjoy the flowering jacarandas and vitex trees we put in last November.

    now waiting on the rest of the desert to bloom (saguaros and prickly pears) in my neck of the desert since we’re a bit higher up than most.

  30. 30.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @TBone:

    Ha! I sent an upside-down Alito photo to my family today, where I know RWNJ brother will see it.

    I agree with you about retirement, I love it. Even though I volunteered to teach a series of OLLI classes with my eyes wide open.

  31. 31.

    Geminid

    I’ve been low energy today on account of staying up late last night. Now I’m listening to a baseball game, Nationals vs. Phillies. Very relaxing.

  32. 32.

    caringandsensitive

    I guess the kids in her class are really into the playoffs so my 7 year old granddaughter who has never expressed any interest in hockey is coming over to watch the game. It will be interesting to see how it goes. I

  33. 33.

    Jager

    We have a big family wedding in Honolulu in July, 3 days of wedding, and family stuff, and then 10 days on our own. We’ve spent the day planning how to spend our time. My wife wants to hit some estate sales, she needs some pieces for our condo. We’re going sailing one day, fishing with my cousin another. We’ll take a couple of hikes. Eat at Helena’s, and Uncle Bo’s, sit on the sand, watch the fireworks. Drink Kona coffee at sunrise. And of course, argue about when can afford to move there full-time.

  34. 34.

    Dan B

    I’m watching the rain, much needed – less than 1/3 inch of rain so far in May – but I’ve got ten Lilies to pot up and a dozen plants to plant.  Maybe it’s time for laundry!  There’s lots of room in the closet so clothes don’t get wrinkled fom being jammed together.

    Time for Newman’s Mint Chocolate Oreo type cookies!

    Retired is very fine!!

  35. 35.

    E.

    I just got hired to work on a campaign! It’s part time but still, it’s work and the candidate is excellent. Blue candidate, red state, (TN) purplish district. His opponent is a kook so I am hopeful!

  39. 39.

    Dan B

    @geg6: Hugs to you and your Koda.  I hope you can gather some friends to help you get time for yourself.

  41. 41.

    Kayla Rudbek

    A very wet bike ride today (trying to scope out what would be the bike commute route). I may have more incentive now to look at an electric trike because I would be doing the ride by myself instead of on the tandem. It’s also a very short drive so maybe getting an electric car to replace the 2004 Prius would be another option.

  42. 42.

    Suzanne

    I am intermittently cleaning up my house. God. So much stuff. If it was up to me, three-quarters of this crap would go straight in the dumpster.

    @geg6: I’m so sorry. Having to say goodbye to them is so hard. Hugs.

  43. 43.

    Math Guy

    Took a bike ride, mowed the lawn. Having a beer and watching Antiques Roadshow.

  44. 44.

    frosty

    What am I up to? Not working. Cooking dinner right now with an exciting evening of paying credit card bills ahead of me.

  46. 46.

    Redshift

    I got up earlier than usual for a Saturday to go be a delegate at my congressional district Dem convention. It was fairly routine and more efficiently run than the previous ones I’ve been at. The business was electing national convention delegates and the district elector. A friend was running to be the elector and lost by one vote!

  47. 47.

    Dan B

    @Dan B: My partner is in Bellingham overnight for the 100th anniversary of the family charter boat the Schooner Zodiac.  It’s a wooden two masted schooner, 127 feet on deck.  He’s staying overnight on the boat – not looking forward to being with 24 other people.  I’m at home to watch our three cats and possibly feed the feral cat colony at his house on the other side of the hill.  I’m glad I didn’t have to go to Bellingham to be with the right wingers and likely snorers.

  48. 48.

    Redshift

    Tomorrow I’m taking our foster bunnies to the monthly adoption event outside of Baltimore, an hour and a half each way!

    @geg6: So sorry to hear, it’s never easy.

  49. 49.

    M31

    took out an old wooden storm window that carpenter bees decided was delicious, will putty up the holes and repaint, they don’t like painted wood unless it’s starting to rot anyway, I’m told

    then reupholstered an old chair, was putting it off bc I didn’t have any fabric but then lo and behold a neighbor was getting rid of a whole bolt of some actually plausible fabric that was a good color, woo hoo

    it was just the seat so not a big deal, cut the fabric, washed it, then got out the staple gun. It’s not perfect but my butt doesn’t care

  50. 50.

    mrmoshpotato

    Baseball!  Washington @ Philadelphia.  Go Phillies!

    Milwaukee @ Houston later.

  52. 52.

    RevRick

    Got in my 6000 steps in the morning, watched an episode of Jessica Jones, polished up a sermon I’ll preach tomorrow at a colleague’s church while he’s on vacay. Took a nap. My plans for tomorrow will likely include a nap.

  54. 54.

    Miki

    @geg6: Hugs. There’s no way to make it easier but know you’re being loving and loyal to your fur baby. 💔

  55. 55.

    WaterGirl

    @geg6: Oh no!  Your beloved Koda.  :: tears ::

    I did not know you were moving.  Did I miss all the details?

    I knew your John was having memory issues, but it sounds like they are getting worse. oh my gosh, so hard.

    That’s way too many big life things at once.  Stop the world, geg6 would like to get off, please.

  56. 56.

    Suzanne

    @frosty: Honestly, the stuff has been, for me, the hardest part of parenting. Very little causes me more stress than the sheer amount of stuff that they just get everywhere. And it comes from everywhere. Even Trader Joe’s cashiers will give them a bunch of free stickers (without surreptitiously asking me first), which my little one will get all over the inside of my car.

  57. 57.

    Brachiator

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    (plaintively) Is there NO JACKAL who is lazing and playing all weekend?

    I am working hard at procrastinating. It is a thankless task.

  60. 60.

    narya

    First evening on the back porch! After dinner, which was venison, caramelized onions, wine and butter soaked mushrooms, asparagus, gnocchi, and wine.

  62. 62.

    HumboldtBlue

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    I rose late, smoked a bowl at 2 pm, took a nap, ate some chips and settled in for the Phils v Nats. I haven’t even gone outside.

  63. 63.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Brachiator:

    I am working hard at procrastinating. It is a thankless task.

    It is. I think you should put it off until tomorrow.

  64. 64.

    Brachiator

    This thread may be the perfect place for this short video.

    A very busy, very young man.

    Compared to him, we are all slackers.

  65. 65.

    frosty

    @Suzanne: ​I remember those days. Now that they’re grown and mostly launched, all that’s left is Playmobil and Legos. And a couple of cool board games, so it’s a manageable pile. *My* stuff on the other hand, sheesh.
    We are going to have to downsize sometime in the next 5 or so years. I need to clear it out now. The problem has always been getting rid of it. I finally have a plan. eBay/FB Marketplace at dirt-cheap prices, then Freecycle, then dumpster. Or at least out on the sidewalk to see if there are any scavengers out there.​

  70. 70.

    geg6

    In better news, it’s garlic night here.  I’m cooking nice thick pork chops and spinach with a garlic cream sauce and a side of garlic and olive oil vermicelli.  And wine, of course.

  71. 71.

    Steeplejack

    @Ben Cisco:

    Yes! I was shocked to belatedly hear the news yesterday. I keep getting reminded that all of these artists that I think of as “younger” are getting up there in years—as are we all!

  72. 72.

    Kayla Rudbek

    @Ben Cisco: how is it that I’ve never heard of him before? Thank you very much and I now have some more albums on my wish list.  This brings back memories of listening to jazz on KBEM.

  73. 73.

    A woman from anywhere (formerly Mohagan)

    @SiubhanDuinne: I am lazy (and retired)! I did water my container garden today and feed and play with my foster kittens. Oh, and refilled the hummingbird feeder. Last night I changed a couple of cat boxes.

    It’s too warm.  Where did Spring go? On the other hand, I saw a big black bee (my husband says it was a carpenter bee) drinking nectar/pollen from my blooming big Colorado yellow Columbine plants, and the Canna lilies and finishing up.

  75. 75.

    A woman from anywhere (formerly Mohagan)

    @geg6: So sorry  to hear about Koda.  Their lives are too short, but the love lasts forever. Hugs to you. It’s a lot, I know.

  77. 77.

    Kayla Rudbek

    And now I’m looking at various yarn companies that have kits for the Muppet Shawl and also looking at weaving kits as enabled by the Facebook weaving groups. There’s an acronym in the fiber arts communities of SABLE – Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy, and Mr. Rudbek would probably say that I’m already there.

  81. 81.

    trollhattan

    @Ben Cisco:

    I remember Sanborn from his weekly music show, Friday nights if memory serves. He cast a wide net and aired wonderful artists, many of whom became discoveries. Nothing like “Hey folks, it’s Aerosmith!”

    One act I recall that blew my socks off was a Bulgarian wedding band. I mean….

    He’s missed, indeed.

  82. 82.

    JML

    went to a comic book show today with a friend I hadn’t seen in way to long, and had a great time wandering the aisles, raiding the 50 cent boxes, looking for treasures, and hanging out with a good friend.

  83. 83.

    trollhattan

    Let’s see, Saturday, nearly squandered so guess I’m one of the rare slackers. Not like we lack things to do, given Runner Girl graduates two weeks from today.

    Got a new camera lens, always cause for celebration. Do I need it? Never the right question, on the order of next guitar/last guitar?

  85. 85.

    Denali5

    A combination of Spring gardening -so many plants, so many weeds, leaves left over from the fall. Endless work, but not so bad being outside in the mild weather. Then there is the portrait of my 7 year old granddaughter; portraits are not easy! And there is a time limit on it, so I must get with the program.

  86. 86.

    gwangung

    Spent doing a lot of prep for an upcoming trip for my night job. Prepping for a national Asian American theatre conference, where I get to be the Godfather of Asian American theatre 24 hours a day for a few days. Since I’m the Secretary of the national organizing group, I “have” to go to Hawaii early and stay late.

    Seriously, the 24-hour schmoozing is both exciting and ennervating—not at the time, but recovering from it. But it’s been six years since the last conference and there’s A LOT of pent up energy that’s going to be released.

    (Also, bringing four junior members of my producing team to their very first conference, so there’s that…)

  87. 87.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    Really windy here and thought that I would need safety glasses while out working in the yard/garden. Then I thought why not take advantage of wearing the glasses and am now taking a break from weed whacking the front and sides of the place, followed up by edging the yard since it’s been a couple of years since the last time it was done.

    Supposed to be windy for the next couple of days but at least it’ll be warm and sunny as the wind will keep the marine layer from forming along the coast. The garden is doing well with the sun we’ve been getting!

  90. 90.

    trollhattan

    @gwangung: ​
    Congrats, plus, Hawaii!

    Having worn the conference coordinator hat I recognize they are beasts that will swallow every minute and ounce of energy you have to give then want more. May your Padawans prove useful for you.

  92. 92.

    Ben Cisco

    @Kayla Rudbek: Here’s a PARTIAL list of those he recorded with:

    Butterfield Blues Band

    David Bowie

    Stevie Wonder

    Elton John

    BB King

    Chaka Khan

    Paul Simon

    Todd Rundgren

    James Brown

    Gil Evans

    Carly Simon

    James Taylor

    Michael Franks

    Aretha Franklin

    Rolling Stones

    Bob James

    Bill Frisell

    Charlie Haden

    Jack DeJohnette

    Marc Ribot

    Sting

    Eric Clapton

    Joss Stone

  93. 93.

    kalakal

    Polished up some designs for a friends grandchild’s birthday. She’s 4 and really loves Unicorns, favourite colour Indigo. So now she has some Tshirts and stickers etc to choose from. I want to see pics!

    Other than that some gardening and roleplaying an inert blob

  94. 94.

    gwangung

    @trollhattan: I’m not even doing much of the nuts and bolts work, and it’s a bit tiring (lots of organizational infrastructure that I was responsible for, though, and that’d damn important).

    But it’s good to see it get off the ground, even though it’s real difficult for a lot of folks on the continent to get out there. But there are some important names there, so I think that helps….

  95. 95.

    Villago Delenda Est

    Took a long nap with one of the Wakandan terrors.  The other guy hung out on top of the cat tree.

    Missed all the “excitement” of TIFG/PAB at the National Russian Association convention saying his doctor considered him to be in better physical condition than Barack Obama.  Sure, Jan.

  98. 98.

    a thousand flouncing lurkers (was fidelio)

    @karen marie:

    I am always rather surprised when I read in books and articles that to cook fish à la meunière is one of the simplest of achievements. Simple in conception certainly; but in execution, no. —Elizabeth David

    I salute your skills!

    Also, that sounds like I’d damn fine means for the upcoming week

  100. 100.

    a thousand flouncing lurkers (was fidelio)

    @geg6: I’m so sorry. They move in and make such big spaces in our hearts for themselves.

  102. 102.

    PaulWartenberg

    Had to emergency cover for a co-worker at the library today when her mom collapsed at her home. Not good: Had to call an ambulance and take her to the hospital.

  105. 105.

    Brachiator

    @Ben Cisco:

    Yes, Sanborn was an amazingly talented and generous musician. And you’re right. He played with everyone. And he could seamlessly fit in with so many different styles of music.

  107. 107.

    Timill

    Feed cats
    Check FASTER (no problems)
    Read BJ
    Shop for cats
    Read BJ
    Feed cats
    Read BJ (and watch Sox@Cards)

    Is there no end to this cycle?

  112. 112.

    Steeplejack

    @gwangung:

    Good luck with the conference. I remember how exhausting software expos were, and that’s a much less noble cause.

  114. 114.

    Nelle

    For no good reason at all, I didn’t see a low branch and walked into it at speed.  Wood is really hard.  I’ve got a goose egg swelling on my forehead and a head that hurts with every step.  So I’m horizontal and reading the memoir of an acquaintance who had a devastating stroke at age 33.  I don’t feel too bad, in comparison.

  115. 115.

    karen marie

    @a thousand flouncing lurkers (was fidelio):   I’m stunned that anyone thinks it’s hard unless I’m doing it wrong?

    The biggest pain in the ass about it is the clarified butter/ghee but that’s not even hard.   The lovely thing is that it’s shelf stable and stays good for a long time.  I keep mine in the fridge even though you can leave it on the counter.

    Sadly, when the groceries were delivered the two most important things were missing – the club soda (12-packs of cans – Albertsons/Safeway is the only store that has them, and this is the second time I’ve ordered it for delivery and had them claim they were out – I bet a dollar that if I went in the store, they’d have plenty) and the sole.  Noooooooo!

    Having my heart set on it, I got back in the car again and went up to Basha’s, because they had sole a couple weeks ago, but noooooo, they didn’t have any either!  My menu demands fish!  I’ve never had tilapia but I figured I’d give it a shot.  The salad will be good in any event.

  117. 117.

    Steeplejack

    @Ben Cisco:

    Perfect example! In my mind I still think of him as that young guy with the offbeat song “Popsicle Toes.” Then I do an abrupt record-scratch reset. That album, The Art of Tea (1976), had some of the Jazz Crusaders on it—Larry Carlton (now age 76), Joe Sample (dead) and Wilton Felder (dead). And Franks is 79 himself. Oof.

    ETA: Probably dating myself by calling them the Jazz Crusaders instead of just the Crusaders.

  120. 120.

    Ruckus

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    I retired, in my early 70s and am in my 3rd year of retirement. So I do the least amount possible, food shopping, cooking, cleaning, and walking. I try to walk at least 8 miles and hopefully 10 miles a week. Thursday went to the LA County fair, which I’ve gone to, not every year for sure, and not for at least a decade because I didn’t live in LA County but many, many years since I was a small child. I likely won’t go again because most every thing I saw was people trying to sell mostly crap that no one has any need of whatsoever.

  122. 122.

    geg6

    @WaterGirl:

    Not sure I’ve talked about it.  Giant house sold, thank FSM.  Sick of attempting to keep it clean.  We’re gonna rent for a year at a much smaller place while we see where we are at that point.  His cognitive issues are getting worse and I need to see where we are once I retire, which should be the end of September.  I told them I’d get them through summer orientation and fall move in and then I’m gone.  They are giving me an exception for the date to get the buyout (a year’s salary) because it would be impossible to get anyone up to speed for any of that if I left in July 1.

  123. 123.

    Peke Daddy

    @geg6: Hugs and condolences. I had to let my 15 year old man Peke go a week ago Thursday. He had heart failure. Gave the old blind boy a good, loving seven years after he was dumped on the side of the road in the Central Valley.

  126. 126.

    Peke Daddy

    @Steeplejack: Thank you. His name was Mr.Wu

    For Geg6, from Irving Townshend: “We who choose to surround ourselves with lives even more temporary than our own, live within a fragile circle, easily and often breached. Unable to accept its awful gaps, we still would live no other way. We cherish memory as the only certain immortality, never fully understanding the necessary plan.”

  128. 128.

    The Return of Mo Salad

    Juat got back from the second They Might Be Giants show in two nights in Detroit.

    Off to Thomas Magee’s tomorrow morning to watch Jürgen Klopp’s last match with the rest of the LFC Detroit supporters group

Comments are closed.