Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

If senate republicans had any shame, they’d die of it.

If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

It looks like winning debates is a black job!

The Supreme Court is corrupt. Democrats must win in November and force court reform.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

“That’s what the insurrection act is for!”

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

The jury literally has a bell they can ring to force Trump to show up on command. Greatest thing ever!

The Supreme Court cannot be allowed to become the ultimate, unaccountable arbiter of everything.

It could be worse. Vance could have said “post-menopausal sows.” Waiting for that audiotape to surface.

Celebrate the fucking wins.

“Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on.”

Hey Washington Post, “Democracy Dies in Darkness” is supposed to be a warning, not a mission statement.

The fight for our country is always worth it. ~Kamala Harris

There are some who say that there are too many strawmen arguments on this blog.

“Let’s not pretend [Trump] wants to engage in high-minded discourse.”

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

I’m sure you banged some questionable people yourself. We’re allowed to grow past that.

White supremacy is terrorism.

Of course you can have champagne before noon. That’s why orange juice was invented.

People are complicated. Love is not.

Ron DeSantis, the grand wizard, oops, governor of FL.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

The current Supreme Court is a rogue court. Very dangerous.

You are here: Home / John Cole Presents "This Fucking Old House" / Saturday Night Open Thread

Saturday Night Open Thread

by | 124 Comments

This post is in: 

Got a lot done in the yard, still a ton more to do tomorrow, and my sinuses are killing me still.

But that’s not what I want to talk about. What I want to talk about is my cat’s ability to vengeance shit. It’s remarkable, almost a super power. The way they can both summon a massive specimen on command, and have it stink like all hell, I mean, it’s just amazing.

“Don’t want to feed me a second dinner? Fine- you don’t get to use the second floor of your house for 45 minutes.”

I don’t remember Tunch doing this, so maybe this is something Steve has shared with Maxwell? I don’t know, but it is crazy.

That’s it for me- I am tired and just want to go to bed, so I am going to sit here for a bit in the chair, scan the internet, and then nod off.

Reader Interactions

124Comments

  1. 1.

    Chief Oshkosh

    My cats don’t have the mental wherewithal to plan and execute vengeance shits, but they do occasionally produce eye-watering offerings. They then wander around the house with dazed looks on their faces that seem to say “WHAT in the HELL is that stench and WHO in the HELL is responsible for it?”

  2. 2.

    CaseyL

    Hey, it beats pissing all over your pillows (one of my kitties did that to me, many years ago).

    It could be the food. Not sure if you’re feeding them the same brand(s) you fed Tunch, but cat digestive tracts can react to food in negative ways just like ours can. Or it could even be a particular flavor/type of meat. Do they seem distressed, or are their poops just super stinky?

    You might also see if trying a brand of cat litter with de-odorizers does any good.

    Or – does the room where the litter pan is have a window? If so, a ventilating fan might help.

  6. 6.

    A Ghost to Most

    Could be worse. We have to give our son’s 15 year old cat fluids every other day, but she keeps plugging on, at the cost of multiple hours on my lap every day. I consider it an honor. She is no ordinary cat.

  7. 7.

    Hildebrand

    The best way to relax after all that is to catch the  T20 World Cup opener between Canada and the US.  Match is ongoing.

  8. 8.

    OzarkHillbilly

    They moved my wife to a long term room. Not sure what to make of that. Other than now I am scared.

    eta: I have had more than a little experience with this hospital and it’s doctors and they don’t F around. One time I was in there, they did not hesitate to send me up to St Lou because they weren’t sure they were up to the task.

    As of right now, all I know is it does not look good, and I have seen enough to know when doctors are not sure… and maybe a little worried.

  10. 10.

    Michael Bersin

    We had our annual Pride Festival in Warrensburg, Missouri today. The doors at the venue opened at 11:00 a.m. There was private security (armed). I spent the day watching the show(s), browsing the vendors, listening to some speechifying (Democratic Party candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, and General Assembly seats, and photographing the goings on.

    It was a good crowd – joyous.

    And, the usual suspects showed up. At first they insisted they could picket on the property of the venue. The Warrensburg Police were called, showed up, and disabused them of that notion. They moved across the street.

    Warrensburg Pride Festival – June 1, 2024 – Across the street

  14. 14.

    CaseyL

    @OzarkHillbilly:  This is very distressing to hear; you were hoping to bring her home the other day.

    What have the doctors been able to tell you?  Are they still dealing with a spider bite, or do they think it’s something else now?

  16. 16.

    Princess

    @OzarkHillbilly: I can understand why you’re worried. I’m glad they are taking it very seriously. She’s in the right place to get the care she needs.

  18. 18.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @zhena gogolia: They talk to my wife, and she tells me what she thinks they say. She is fluent with the English language but sometimes she mixes up the grammar. It is usually a thing to laugh about, but not always.

  25. 25.

    Jay

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    thinking of you both.

    Brown Recluse bites often require extended care and monitoring, so I would guess that they are being very careful and proactive.

  30. 30.

    Jackie

    @OzarkHillbilly: OzarkHillbilly, I don’t blame you at all for being worried. We BJers are here to help share your worries. By your own admission, it sounds like your wife is in professional and capable hands. We’re all sending healing and positive vibes to Mrs OH, and strength to you to stay positive! {{hugs}}

  32. 32.

    Eyeroller

    @OzarkHillbilly: ​Ozark, this ain’t just a spider bite, not even a recluse bite causes this. I don’t pray since God has always just mocked any prayers on my behalf, but I am really hoping for a good outcome here for you both.

  35. 35.

    Jackie

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    They talk to my wife, and she tells me what she thinks they say.

    You need to speak directly to her doctors and get the information firsthand.

    Do NOT ASSUME your wife is correctly understanding what she’s being told! Especially as I assume she’s getting some strong meds that may hamper her understanding of what she’s being told.

  36. 36.

    OzarkHillbilly

    Thanx for all the thoughts, just gonna say that if it was me? I’d laugh about it, but it’s my wife, and that ain’t funny.

  37. 37.

    Madeleine

    @OzarkHillbilly: I haven’t  been reading comments regularly, so your message came as a shock. Though not religious, I will hold the two of you and your animals in thought. Hoping for improvement soon.

  38. 38.

    SteverinoCT

    My grandmother smacked one of the cats for committing a no-no: being on the couch. Next day when she came home, there was a dump in the geometric center of her bed. Her room had twin beds, and it was on the one she slept in. Grandma got some sheets of plastic to lay on the bed. She never caught the cat on the couch again, but often would find a suspicious round warm spot when she came in the door.

  39. 39.

    Heidi Mom

    @OzarkHillbilly: Sending good thoughts to both of you.  In the Saturday Morning Open Thread I posted about a friend’s experience with a bite like this.  #198 of 198, so you probably didn’t see it, but it’s there FWIW.

  41. 41.

    NutmegAgain

    My dog likes to take his most disgusting treats up on my bed for a nice long savor. Like, raw beef bones (frozen). Those make a huge mess. As long as it’s messy, he’ll eat it on the bed. He is also the absolutely drooliest Newf I have ever had (and that’s saying something.) I finally wised up and got myself the cheapest waterproof mattress cover I could, and put that on the bed over the other covers. Hurray! protected. No more sheet changing when I go to bed after midnight.

  45. 45.

    Old School

    As night fell Friday on downtown Jacksonville, 70 people lined the pedestrian walkway of the Main Street bridge and simultaneously turned on high-powered flashlights that lit the bridge in a ribbon of rainbow colors arching above the St. Johns River.

    The display on the eve of Pride Month came after the state Department of Transportation decided the nearby Acosta Bridge would be lit in red, white and blue for state government’s “Freedom Summer,” meaning the Acosta’s lighting system won’t have rainbow lights for Pride Month as it did the previous three years.

    So a group from the LGBTQ community and their supporters took the lighting into their own hands by illuminating the Main Street bridge with rainbow lights.

  49. 49.

    Madeleine

    In grad school, i lived in a large household including a cat. She was a tortie and her name was Beagle, though I called her Cleopatra (Archie and Mehitabel). One of my housemates owned her, though I belonged to her.

    One of my housemates does not like cats and did not always treat Beagle with the respect she required. My friend came home one day to discover a disgusting gift in her beanbag chair. It did not improve their relationship.

    I had a group of tiny dolls that my sister had made crocheted clothing for. They were dear to me and I kept them on my dresser. They disappeared one day. I searched, worried that I wouldn’t be able to find them. I was sure that Beagle had taken them, though I didn’t know why. Eventually I did find them together on the shower floor. A mystery.

     

     

     

     

    required.

  52. 52.

    BellyCat

    Cat tale: Started dating a new gal. Cat was (apparently) not a fan. While in bed, after a sleepover, cat sat on my chest and… wait for it.. PEED ON ME.

    I tried on some cat logic, figured this was a dominance thing, and realized there was only one solution. Didn’t spank him or anything violent, but told him “No!” and then took him to bathtub and… wait for it (but you can possibly guess)…. peed on HIM.

    End of problem.

    ETA: Cat proved smarter than I was. Woman was, appropriately, named Karen.

  54. 54.

    Ohio Mom

    @OzarkHillbilly: Has your wife told the doctors they are free to talk to you?

    Even though Ohio Dad and I have medical Power of Attorney for one another, at least one of Ohio Dad’s specialists have had him sign a release to allow me to speak to them. I roll my eyes at this but whatever.

    Continuing to send good wishes into the universe for a swift and complete recovery for Mrs. OH.

  55. 55.

    catbirdman

    I have six cats and their leader, Jed, uses urine to get his way. Around here, “second dinner” is called the “late night snack,” and if it’s not served by sundown Jed files a complaint. If I’m lucky, it’s just some stuff being knocked off a desk, but the other day my brand new package of crew socks — which I purposefully stuck in an obscure nook — were mysteriously soaked in Jed’s urine. Before ever being unpackaged. I feel you, John.

  57. 57.

    pat

    Ozark, I have no idea what sort of insurance you have, but if it became necessary, I suspect that John could conjure up a GoFundMe for you.

    Sending all good wishes to your wife!

  60. 60.

    Sister Golden Bear

    @Michael Bersin: Glad to hear it went well and joyous — and was violence-free. (Sad to add the last bit, but given where things are, Pride celebrations are going to more risky this year.)

    @Old School:

    So a group from the LGBTQ community and their supporters took the lighting into their own hands by illuminating the Main Street bridge with rainbow lights.

    I’m reminded of a meme that the haters killed off all the “nice gays,” so now they’re left facing the pissed-off cockroach queers.

    Seriously, it ain’t our first time at this rodeo, so it warms my cold, cold heart to see people giving the middle finger to DeSantis.

  61. 61.

    thalarctosMaritimus

    @OzarkHillbilly: I’m holding you both in my heart, and hoping for a good outcome.

    The hospital may have patient advocates, possibly through the Social Work department, and this is exactly what they’re for. It’s worth asking for a patient advocate or a social worker to make sure that you’re totally in the loop.

    That’s probably the best solution. But if for any reason that’s not available, more than one of my friends (both native English-speakers and non-native speakers) has found it helpful to take me along to stressful medical appointments to take notes, and to go over those notes with them afterwards to make sure that they correctly understood what the doctor told them. If that would be useful to you, I’d be very happy to make myself available** for a speaker phone call at your convenience (I’m based in Seattle, so I’m too far away to come in in person).

    I’ve sent my contact info and my background/qualifications to WaterGirl, and told her you’re welcome to it, if you ever want. But if your hospital has patient advocates/social workers, that would be quicker and easier.

    ** gratis, of course; I hope that goes without saying, but in this healthcare system…

  62. 62.

    BR

    Another excellent post by Josh Marshall:

    https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/dont-expect-your-campaign-case-to-make-itself-for-you

    It is simply absurd to imagine that an opposing candidate being a convicted felon wouldn’t play a central part of a campaign against him. Too absurd to debate or contemplate.

    The central point that ties everything together: Donald Trump doesn’t have a single idea or policy to help anyone live a better, safer, more prosperous or freer life. Every last part of his agenda is revenge against people he’s mad at, taking revenge on people because he’s mad at facing the consequences of his own actions. Every rake Donald Trump steps on was, he tells us, rigged again.

    Sometimes – actually most of the time – the big obstacle to effective communication is not boiling down and simply saying what it is you mean. You try to be too clever, to pull your punches to calibrate some imagined balance. Donald Trump is a liar, a cheat and a fraud who doesn’t care a wit about you, or anyone else but himself. He’s a convicted felon. Every time he faces consequences for his own actions he claims it’s someone else’s fault. Whenever he loses that the process is rigged against. We all know that person. And we all know we can’t trust that person.

    Not complicated.

  63. 63.

    Mousebumples

    @Ozark – thinking of you, your wife, and your family (yes, including dogs) tonight. Hope they can find the right treatment path for her.

  68. 68.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    Our Chuckie drops a vengeance dump if I have him come inside when he doesn’t want to. It’s like, “OK, you won’t let me enjoy the atmosphere outside? Fine. Enjoy THIS atmosphere!” I find it funny that you call them the same thing…lol! You’re right, too. Fuck are they nasty!

    I then warn my wife that Chuckie dropped a vengeance dump and to avoid the downstairs area until the fans do their job.

  69. 69.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    Thoughts and best wishes for both your wife and yourself!! I hope they figure out what is happening and can come up with a plan to deal with it.

    Do take care of yourself!

  70. 70.

    NutmegAgain

    @Madeleine: Love, love Mehitabel.

    there’s a dance in the old dame yet
    toujours gai toujours gai

    the things that i had not ought to
    i do because i ve gotto
    wotthehell wotthehell
    and i end with my favorite motto
    toujours gai toujours gai

  71. 71.

    RaflW

    Anyone in, near or passing thru the Milwaukee area, if you have a bit of budget for restaurants, I highly recommend Amilinda.

    It’s downtown, and twice-nominated for a James Beard award. The chef, Greg, is a friend of a friend of ours, and we finally checked it out tonight.

    Absolutely wonderful. A small, seasonal menu, with South American influences. The four of us had two starters (three, as the chef sent over one with his compliments), and four different mains.

    Everything was delicious. The one and only minor complaint was that the goat was a bit chewy. Still tasty, but maybe could a been braised slightly longer.

    My halibut was exquisite. And the scene-stealer was the chefs addition of the third starter: an asparagus pâté. I don’t typically like liver pâté, this obviously vegetarian (but decidedly not vegan!) concoction was extraordinary. Even my BF’s mom from the suburban cul de sac loved it!

    Anyway. Amilinda In Milwaukee. Fabulous restaurant!! That was our Saturday night.

  72. 72.

    RaflW

    PS: We did sort of wonder how Greg will do during the RNC. He had two Pride flags out front, and I doubt based on his energy and staff that he’ll change a thing when the thugs are in town.

    Too bad, they’ll miss a great meal.

  73. 73.

    Roberto el oso

    I had a wonderful kitty girl named Estella. Truly the smartest cat I’ve ever known (the doorknob hasn’t yet been invented which would have flummoxed her). I am very much a “keep them indoors and never let them out” person when it comes to kitties, but Estella was able to escape with such regularity that I eventually made an exception for her. We were living on the 2nd story of a duplex and she would jump onto the railing and then fling herself into the air, legs spread before bringing all four paws together just as she landed, so it was always a graceful balletic landing. She’d wander around outside and then cry from downstairs to be let back in, and then head straight for the litter box, despite having been outside for a couple of hours. Do her business and then back to the balcony for some more time outside. Her son, Twin, was left to cover up her poop. The whole situation was hilarious, if a little maddening.

  74. 74.

    sab

    @NutmegAgain: He wouldn’t acquire raw beef bones without your approvval, so no shmpathy here. Just say no.

    Meanwhile I have a cat banging away on a catnip stuffedfake mouse. Periodically cat trots up with the fake mouse to show me his laatest catch.

  76. 76.

    Brachiator

    @BR:

    Very good Marshall post. But here’s the problem.

    Every time he faces consequences for his own actions he claims it’s someone else’s fault. Whenever he loses that the process is rigged against. We all know that person. And we all know we can’t trust that person.

    Not complicated.

    The MAGA crowd can’t see the con man. They trust Trump and have put all their hopes and dreams in him. I don’t know if the GOP leadership is as stupid as Trump’s base, but they enable Trump, protect him and have anointed him their once and future Dear Leader.

  78. 78.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Brachiator:

    The MAGA crowd can’t see the con man. 

    Because they suck the ass of the con man.  Not making excuses for them.  Fuck ’em!

  82. 82.

    Steeplejack

    @cain:

    The curse of 2:00 a.m. posting. FYWP is doing some housekeeping in the background, and you will be lured into, or mechanically forced into, multiple posting. Mash “Post Comment” once and then step back.

  83. 83.

    Betty Cracker

    @OzarkHillbilly: Oh man. I hope y’all get positive news soon. Sounds like you’ve got a skilled and cautious care team in place, which is so important. Holding you and your missus in our thoughts, and please update us when you can.

  85. 85.

    Soprano2

    @OzarkHillbilly: Can you have the doctor call you? That’s what I did when hubby was in the hospital because I couldn’t sit there all day waiting for the doctor to see him.

  86. 86.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    Remember that moving someone to a room does not mean much.  My brother got moved to a room recently for migraines.  My best friend was in a room for something like a week when he went to the hospital just to get referrals for MS treatments.  They ended up sending him to physical therapy which worked wonders.  If it’s a good hospital you know is trying, moving her to a room is nothing to be scared of.

    Recluse bites do suck a lot, but the real danger is in the first 12 hours.  After that you’re cleaning up the damage from necrosis.  Putting her in a room while that heals makes perfect sense.

  87. 87.

    opiejeanne

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    I hope your wife’s doctors can help her get better soon so she can come home to the dogs and you. Well, especially to you. Sending healing thoughts your way.

    (I was always told that spiders have “dirty” mouths and a bite from even a plain little garden spider can cause a nasty infection. Spider bites are not fun. )

  88. 88.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    As much as convicted felon Donny Trump’s enablers are crowing about what they view as the impressive fundraising since his conviction, it’s less than if every person who voted for him in 2020 had sent him a dollar. Now divide that number up by the “fools and their money/giving their all” factor and large dollar donations and the amount raised isn’t very impressive. Also remember that if he has his way the money will not be used to run for office and instead line his pockets.

    Let’s see how his staying power is and if this holds up until November. He tends to come out hot but quickly blows his wad because he can’t help it, he’s Shit Midas.

  89. 89.

    Jeffg166

    My cats would wait until I had dinner on the table then take dumps. They knew I would get up and scoop it out and flush it. They didn’t want to smell it any longer than I did.

  92. 92.

    MagdaInBlack

    @OzarkHillbilly: Was thinking of you and your wife when I logged in. This wasnt what I hoped to see. I’m glad you have dr’s who don’t f around.

  93. 93.

    Debbie(Aussie)

    OH  As everyone else has already said, healing thoughts and 🤞for you both!

  95. 95.

    lowtechcyclist

    @Brachiator: ​

    Very good Marshall post. But here’s the problem….The MAGA crowd can’t see the con man. They trust Trump and have put all their hopes and dreams in him.

    That’s OK, we don’t need 100% of the votes. 55% would do quite nicely.

  96. 96.

    rebelsdad (aka texasboyshaun)

    Good morning!

    I slept three hours and woke up with a worse toothache than what I went to bed with. I’ve had a dormant wisdom tooth for years (they couldn’t pull it with the other three back in 2012). My allergies have the right side of my face swollen, so that wisdom tooth decided this was a great time to flare up. Nothing really helps, but if I swish a shot of Easy Jesus in my mouth it at least numbs it for an hour or so. Hopefully I can get to the dentist tomorrow.

  99. 99.

    satby

    @pat: @Jackie: unless Ozark’s wife has signed a release that the doctors can fully discuss the case with him, it’s a violation of HIPPA privacy laws. Only if she was medically incapacitated could they discuss it with her next of kin. 

    Which is why people should always have a designated person with a written, signed release to receive health info and be empowered to speak to doctors on your behalf.

  100. 100.

    satby

    And of course hoping for a rapid recovery and homecoming for Mrs. Ozark!

    Have her sign a release OH, you should be in the loop and I’m sure your/ her doctors would feel better if you also were fully informed.

  101. 101.

    MomSense

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    Oh no, OH.  I missed what happened but I don’t like it one bit.  Sending healing to you and your wife.  Keeping you both very close in my thoughts.

  103. 103.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    @Parfigliano: It still seems weird to me that there’s a hockey team from Florida.

    I grew up in Detroit with a Canadian father. In my head, there are still only 6 legit hockey teams

    ETA: Also, while I’m at it, I’ve been reading on tiktok lately (my editor made me do it), and it turns out hockey players are romantic figures in some romance novels, both YA and adult. Who knew? I guess they keep more of their teeth now.

  107. 107.

    NeenerNeener

    @rebelsdad (aka texasboyshaun): You can get a dentist to look at it that quick? I’ve got a molar that needs to be pulled and the earliest appointment I could get with an oral surgeon was over a month out. I’m still almost 3 weeks out from my appointment and after a week of antibiotics it’s started to bother me again.

  109. 109.

    rebelsdad (aka texasboyshaun)

    @eclare: Thank you. Same here, it’s like every single nerve in your entire body is rerouted to just one tooth. Although yesterday my allergies were so bad the sinus headache took my mind off the toothache!

  113. 113.

    sab

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: When I lived in Las Vegas NV our favorite restaurant was in a casino which also had a hockey rink. They had  several resident hockey teams staffed by Canadian snowbirds. My then spouse was a Minnesotan who thought it was hilarious but understandable.

    Which reminds me that although we all speak English, America is a big diverse country.

  114. 114.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    I have a book to recommend: All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley. It’s non-fiction. Bringley was a guard at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and writes about his experiences there. It’s an interesting look behind the scenes.

    But more important, Bringley took this job after his brother died and he was deep in grief. They were both in their early to mid-twenties. Bringley had a job in NYC he calls “high flying” but after his brother’s death, it all seemed meaningless. He thought being among art might be comforting, might give him insight.

  117. 117.

    zhena gogolia

    So the NYT’s editorial on Trump’s conviction says let the voters decide. What do you think they’d say if it were Biden? Do you think maybe, just maybe, they’d call for him to withdraw his candidacy?

  122. 122.

    pieceofpeace

    @OzarkHillbilly: Stay strong and attend to yourself on this journey with her.  There must be many caregiver, crisis-solving sites on the internet, and I hope you have/will find support, ideas from others and that you have a range of choices for both of you.

  123. 123.

    Betty

    @OzarkHillbilly: That’s very scary, but my husband recently had sepsis and had to do long-term antibiotics at a rehab center and they worked extremely well.

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