Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

People are weird.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.”

Peak wingnut was a lie.

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

The republican caucus is covering themselves with something, and it’s not glory.

They were going to turn on one another at some point. It was inevitable.

Do we throw up our hands or do we roll up our sleeves? (hint, it’s door #2)

Republican speaker of the house Mike Johnson is the bland and smiling face of evil.

American History and Black History can not be separated.

Too often we hand the biggest microphones to the cynics and the critics who delight in declaring failure.

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

The media handbook says “controversial” is the most negative description that can be used for a Republican.

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

They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

Those who are easily outraged are easily manipulated.

It is possible to do the right thing without the promise of a cookie.

My right to basic bodily autonomy is not on the table. that’s the new deal.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

Republicans don’t trust women.

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / The FTFNYT Challenge Open Thread

The FTFNYT Challenge Open Thread

by | 140 Comments

This post is in: 

I know we have a lot of talented BJ peeps.  One of our commenters took these photos of the NYT on a walk recently, and I thought with all this talent in the commentariat that perhaps some of you might want to have some fun enhancing one of these photos.  Two photo options, very similar, but slightly different.

Anyway, if you do, please have some fun and send me your new version.

.

This is an open thread, you know what to do.

Reader Interactions

140Comments

  2. 2.

    wil

    I stopped reading their opinion columnists except for Krugman eons ago.

    But I didn’t cancel my subscription till last week.

  4. 4.

    sdhays

    Via LGM, I haven’t seen this mentioned here yet and it seems… something the US media should find “interesting”, no?

    Graphic details about Donald Trump’s alleged “sexual proclivities” have emerged in the latest round of court documents containing details of late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein’s associates.

    The new documents contain “incendiary claims” about the former president, including accusations that he had sexual relations with “many girls”, made by one ofEpstein’s alleged victims, Sarah Ransome.

    Mr Trump’s name has appeared a handful of times previously in the documents and, while not accusing him of wrongdoing, appears to illustrate the good relationship he had with the disgraced financier.

    I mean, not as fascinating as proper email protocol or analyzing the President’s footwear, but still worth a mention.

  5. 5.

    RaflW

    I am so angry at the Times, I can’t even think up appropriate snark.

    I’d barely want to start a campfire with crumpled pages from that rag. I feel really bad for the people who slog along in places like the climate desk. Imagine working to explain and illustrate the diasters under way and looming, and then look over at the politics desk which is accelerating the risks of the worst possible person for the planet to occupy the WH and make every climate goal explode into coal smoke.

    Vile.

  7. 7.

    Chet Murthy

    @RaflW:

    I feel really bad for the people who slog along in places like the climate desk.

    I must dissent.  Did you feel sorry for Shep Smith when he was at Fox News?  I didn’t.  Sure, he played stories “straight”.  But that was his job; to be the “beard” that allowed the rest of the org to fly their freak flag.  And the same is true at FTFNYT: these climate reporters are the “beard” for Ken Vogel and all the other assholes who want to destroy our Republic, for the lulz and the $$.

  8. 8.

    sdhays

    In moderation, probably for posting an excerpt from a news article that included too many links. Or maybe because of the topic (surprising no one here, I’m sure, Trump shows up in the Epstein documents in a very meaningful way).

  9. 9.

    Jude

    I mentally turned all those posts in the front into a variety of dildos, but I suppose doing that in Photoshop isn’t the best use of my time.

  10. 10.

    Steeplejack

    Is this like one of those games in a puzzle book where you have to find the differences between two pictures? Because I’m not seeing any—nor Waldo neither.

  13. 13.

    Rusty

    They took down Harvard’s president, now they want to take down the US president.   Their ego is completely out of control and are serving reactionary purposes.  They were aways tilted toward the wealthy with their fashion, style and business sections, and over interested in the elite schools of much of their staff and readers that went or aspired to go to such places.  But they really have taken a conservative turn.  The hell with them.

  17. 17.

    Splitting Image

    @RaflW:

    I am so angry at the Times, I can’t even think up appropriate snark.

    I’d barely want to start a campfire with crumpled pages from that rag. I feel really bad for the people who slog along in places like the climate desk. Imagine working to explain and illustrate the diasters under way and looming, and then look over at the politics desk which is accelerating the risks of the worst possible person for the planet to occupy the WH and make every climate goal explode into coal smoke.

    Vile.

    I seem to recall that the news division of the Times did an in-depth article on climate change some years back and how it was going to affect coastal cities like New York.

    I’m pretty sure I was linked to it from here, and the Times was very proud of it.

    The editorial page that ran at the same time basically told the readers that climate change was an overblown nothingburger and not to pay much attention to the article.

    It’s useful for training puppies or lining bird cages at this point. I’m not even sure I’d wrap fish in it.

  18. 18.

    Ruckus

    @wil:

    For someone who has been commenting here for what feels like about 15 minutes you sure seem like a pompous ass.

  19. 19.

    hitchhiker

    My skills don’t extend to enhancing images, so I’m going to take advantage of this open thread to tell you what it’s like to be a “normie” — a person who might casually glance at headlines once in a while, but who otherwise ignores anything to do with celebrities, politics, governance, and especially punditry.

    For the record, I’ve been the opposite of a normie all of my adult life. I pay close attention, know the names of all the players in all the things, know the important dates on the calendar — and like to think and talk about it. Obsessively. I don’t think anybody here at bj is a normie.

    My experiment with being a normie began a few weeks ago when it became clear that every last one of the people blabbing incessantly on the tv, the podcasts, the radio, and the pages of the FYNYT really had not the smallest clue what they were talking about. Things that couldn’t happen went right ahead and did.

    So I just looked firmly away. Why bother? I’d been giving my time, attention, and energy to an industry peopled with women and men who were no more qualified than my dog to describe current events, much less inform my understanding about them or see what would come next. So I turned it all off. Poof!

    I stopped by here and read only fp stories that were about travel, or food, or pets … normie stuff. So here I am, without much of an idea how it’s all going, knowing that even if I’d been reading every newspaper and listening to every podcast, I still wouldn’t have much of an idea what exactly is happening or what to expect.

    Something will happen, sometime or other. I’ll do my part with the postcards and the contributions and of course the voting — but it turns out that what normies knew that I didn’t is that you can’t throw yourself into a stream of constant shit without getting sick in your soul.

    I feel better, is what I want to say. It doesn’t feel like giving up — just the opposite. It feels like naming a reality that should have been obvious. There’s an industry built around keeping people like me listening and clicking and watching the shitshow all day, every day. Enormous, vast, wild amounts of wealth and power flow into and out of that industry.

    If I live long enough, I suppose I’ll read some of it as history. In the meantime, I’m reading actual history — the way I would have if I’d studied it in grad school, with primary sources and as many angles as possible. It’s just as interesting as the shitshow, and way less fraught. Something or other happens, sooner or later. People 400 years ago looked after each other and after their gardens and their pets. They were thieves, or victims of thieves, or bystanders who tried to help. They were normies. It’s early days, but I like living this way.

  20. 20.

    BeautifulPlumage

    Ha! I didn’t realize the pie filter had settings. Trying out the sayings and it’s kinda a hoot. Who knew our troll could be so articulate?

  21. 21.

    Chet Murthy

    @hitchhiker: There’s a lot to be said for your approach.  I lived that way until sometime in Dubya’s time, then tuned out again during Obama’s time, and only really got obsessive after TCFG won.  I always voted Dem, but I didn’t inquire into all the damn details.  Since TCFG won though …. well, I feel like my neck (and those of my family) is on the line, so I can’t not obsess.  But even then I haven’t bothered with most of this Biden/debate/old/whatever bullshit.  B/c that’s what it is.  More and more these last two days, I’m convinced it’s just “buttery males” 2024 Edition.

    As you say, sooner or later the powers-that-be will make a decision.  It won’t change what I do, b/c I’m already doing the maximum I think is reasonable.  And if the shit hits the fan, I guess I’ll be thankful that for now, a lot of countries grant Americans tourist visas.

  22. 22.

    laura

    I wish each of you your own, personal, Summer Mix Tape of driving around music, not giving shit one to anyone trying to harsh your mellow. I am too unskilled to link but : Hot Child in the City, Hot Fun in the Summertime, Hissing of Summer Lawns, Vacation, Indiana Wants Me, other stuff- go ahead- please fill in your summer Mix Tape 

  24. 24.

    WaterGirl

    @sdhays: Guessing that you removed several links?  But once it goes into moderation, removing the links doesn’t get you out of moderation.

    Anyway, you’re out now.

  26. 26.

    wil

    @PJ: “anyone that doesn’t toe the line must be either russian or a trumper!”

    Yeah we know.

    You guys are a pisspoor example of Democrats with your unwillingness to allow any view outside of your silo.

  27. 27.

    JAFD

    Good morning !

    For all the Mahler stans amongst us

    “Join producer and host Aaron Cohen on Sunday, July 7, at 7 pm for “Embrace Everything: Mahler’s First Symphony.” For one hour, Cohen will host conductors, musicians, and scholars to dive deep into the inner workings of the First Symphony.”

    ‘Twill be webcast on wqxr.org at that time, and the series of podcasts will follow.

  30. 30.

    sdhays

    @hitchhiker: I did that for a couple months after the 2016 election. I had been so desperately looking forward to not having to worry about Trump anymore after that damn day in November, only to find the nightmare was just beginning. I missed “peepee tape” and a bunch of other stuff and then started reengaging in January.

    I’ve also stepped away from debate gate as well. It’s tiresome and it’s not going to change my behavior so it’s not worth engaging with.

  33. 33.

    Chet Murthy

    @WaterGirl: Oh, I didn’t see it.  But all’s well that ends well.  Can I just say, that having a bit of text to read goes a -long- way to quieting the itch to ….just this once click “toggle” to see what the troll is banging on about.  It really does help!

  37. 37.

    Chet Murthy

    @sdhays:

    it’s not going to change my behavior so it’s not worth engaging with.

    There’s a certain kind of peace in knowing that you’ve already made your plans (and started acting on them) so that even if the outcome is the worst, you won’t feel regrets.

  39. 39.

    WaterGirl

    @Chet Murthy: I haven’t looked at the sayings since I put them up nearly 5 years ago.  But I did a lot of searching at the time to find what I thought were good images and sayings; I hope the quotations stand the test of time.

  43. 43.

    M31

    I actually looked around and found a guy had made a font based on the NYT masthead, and he named it “Chomsky” lololol

    also, fuck the fucking New York Times

    think of the dirt they could have dug up about Trump over the years, they were RIGHT THERE, and yet, no, we have to hear about how Biden mumbled for part of a debate in 192 breathless articles

  53. 53.

    Chet Murthy

    @Poe Larity: Somebody with ace Photoshop skills is gonna figure out how to remove the logo from the glass, and then people will go buck-wild.

  55. 55.

    NotMax

    Just sent an e-mail with a new take on the photo. Not perfect (took all of 10 minutes to alter) but it’s not a keeper, so any little messiness can be overlooked
    :)

  58. 58.

    sab

    @MinuteMan: There is a picture of a pie just above the start of the comments. Click on the picture of the pie and you will get a list of current commenters. Clicking on any one of those names will put them into the filter

    Left tab shows who is unpied and has commented this thread. Middle tab shows who is in the pie filter. Clicking a name there will unpie them. Right tab shows what filter  you have chosen: blank, pie pictures, pie sayings.

  59. 59.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    @Jay:

    We’re a forgiving group here, we wil forgive anyone. OK, that even made me laugh.

    The troll wil troll because that’s what the troll is paid to do.

  60. 60.

    hitchhiker

    @sdhays:

    I did that for a couple months after the 2016 election.

    I remember thinking at the time that I just had to pay attention to figure out what I’d missed …  the absurdity and ugliness of that day really did seem to come out of nowhere. Who the hell are all these people who hate me so much?

    It was hard to grok. Me, a working class granny with a disabled husband, a couple of adult kids, and 7 very dysfunctional siblings, doing my best to keep my side of every street I lived on clean — I was who they loathed? Really?

    Anyway, I hope this is the end of caring about all that. My 17th century friends didn’t understand the forces ruthlessly shaping their lives, either, and it wouldn’t have helped them much if they had. I know what I can do locally, and have a few solid ways to help a little elsewhere. In the meantime, my dog is 14. I have things to do that go better with a clear head.

  64. 64.

    NotMax

    @Jay

    My (probably wan) hope is that the chicken on the receiving end of any troll’s energy remembers its safe word.
    //

  71. 71.

    NotMax

    @chopper

    Thought about keeping the wording but using the font from the newspaper and signs in The Prisoner, which font I do have readily available*. But decided against it as being a tad too obscure.

    *”Hello. My nym is NotMax and I’m a fontaholic.”
    ;)

  72. 72.

    wil

    @Odie Hugh Manatee: If it matters that much to you, then go search for it and see what you find. As I said, I rarely bothered with the comments.

    It’s cute that you’re so curious, but I already proved my time here with what I remember about the events in Cole’s life from back then.

    No need to prove it beyond that.

  76. 76.

    Nukular Biskits

    Interesting that I invoked the pie filter on only one commenter but I see it resulting in a couple of other commenters being “pied”.

    Can anyone explain?

  78. 78.

    WaterGirl

    @Nukular Biskits: I can explain. If you pie me, then I show up as dessert or whatever and then if someone you haven’t paid response to me, then they show up as dessert. But if that same person you haven’t paid reply to someone else or just post the comments they show up just fine so the idea is that with the pie filter you don’t wanna see any interactions with the person you’ve pied.

    edit:  but you can always toggle the comments to see what someone else might’ve said to the pied person.

    edit: I am on my phone dictating and auto correct has changed pied to paid but it’s too much of a pain to correct it in all those places so you’ll just have to do it in your head!

  79. 79.

    Nukular Biskits

    @Gwangung:

    Not sure whether you’re addressing the “Drunk Meming & Music” comment (which would be appropriate 😂) or the troll(s).

    If the latter, then I have to wonder, assuming the pie filter is working correctly, if the targeted commenter is using multiple aliases.

    ETA: WaterGirl solved the mystery!

  83. 83.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    @wil:

    lol! You’re the one insisting on credibility and when asked to prove it, can’t. It’s not on me to prove that you’re not a fucking liar.

    Now produce or vamoose, comrade.

    The shit you say proves your presence here is common knowledge. Now show us ONE post from 2006 or so and I’ll admit that I’m wrong.

    Here’s your chance to get someone here to admit that they are wrong.

  85. 85.

    wil

    @Odie Hugh Manatee: Go ahead and whine dude.  I’ve been here since around 2006 and if you don’t want to believe it, then don’t.

    The shit you say proves your presence here is common knowledge.

    Common knowledge to people who’ve been reading this site since way back then, you mean.

    LOL

  86. 86.

    Steve in the ATL

    @laura:  be sure to add Terry Jacks’ “seasons in the sun”!  Ok, not really.  Sorry.

     

    @hitchhiker:

    Me, a working class granny with a disabled husband, a couple of adult kids, and 7 very dysfunctional siblings

    On second thought, add an old country song instead!

  87. 87.

    scav

    Photoshoppless, but just lasso a big ol’ gilt TRUMP tower logo and haphazardly slap it over their own.  Or, maybe, substitute for the initial gilt T one in their own twisty font.

  88. 88.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    @wil:

    Thank you for proving that you’re a fucking liar. It’s funny that you were briefed on what to say if you needed to prove that you have been here a long time. It would be so easy for you to prove me wrong and yet you refuse to. Your cred is nonexistent here, go away you lying troll. You are no lurker except maybe in truck stop men’s rooms and that’s just for the fumes.

    I’m done with you seriously now that you’ve proven that you are sack of shit. I see you.

  90. 90.

    ...now I try to be amused

    @NotMax:

    Thought about keeping the wording but using the font from the newspaper and signs in The Prisoner, which font I do have readily available*. But decided against it as being a tad too obscure.

    Too obscure? I’d recognize that font anywhere, but then I’m a font geek too.

    May I suggest “The Village Times”?

  91. 91.

    Scamp Dog

    @NotMax: What font is it? I’m a bit of a font nerd, too, but it’s been too long since I’ve seen the series.

  92. 92.

    MagdaInBlack

    Sitting out on the balcony where its so quiet and peaceful and then in here that damn pesky mosquito still. Why why why why why.

    Maybe a smudge pot? Some sage?

  93. 93.

    Splitting Image

    @Odie Hugh Manatee:

    Thank you for proving that you’re a fucking liar. It’s funny that you were briefed on what to say if you needed to prove that you have been here a long time. It would be so easy for you to prove me wrong and yet you refuse to. Your cred is nonexistent here, go away you lying troll. You are no lurker except maybe in truck stop men’s rooms and that’s just for the fumes.

    I’m done with you seriously now that you’ve proven that you are sack of shit. I see you.

    If wil is the same person as wilfred from back in the day, then it’s true that he was around back then.

    Hasn’t changed much, either.

  94. 94.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    Now that I’m done making baked goods I thought I would tell those of you who have been enjoying them some interesting news. I invited the troll to link to just one post of theirs from 2006 or so to prove that they’ve posted here as they claimed and they refuse to, telling me that I can go find it myself. Someone whose schtick is to get people to admit that they are wrong to continue supporting Biden refuses to jump at the chance to prove that someone is wrong and that they aren’t a troll.

    All they had to do is link to one post to prove their presence here way back then and they refuse, putting it off on me…lol! I’m impressed that they were briefed on a bit of history about the blogfather. We have a big target painted on us due to our effective fundraising and can expect more of this shit.

    It’s a job they gladly do for their fascist masters.

  96. 96.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    @Splitting Image:

    Either way it’s a troll. This one stands out different to me but then again maybe the troll has ‘improved’ with age…lol!

    Either way, I’ve had my fun with them. For now… ;)

  97. 97.

    wil

    @Splitting Image:

    If wil is the same person as wilfred from back in the day, then it’s true that he was around back then.

    No, on this site I’ve only ever posted as wil.

  104. 104.

    Gary K

    Hi folks — I’ve been a lurker here for nearly a decade, posting only once in a blue moon, mostly because you (collectively) say just about everything that needs to be said. Including, today, the instructions for the pie filter, which for the first time seems necessary. A question for y’all: can the pied one still see all posts? I.e., does the filter only work one-way?

  105. 105.

    Chet Murthy

    @Gary K: the Pie Filter is specific to each user; That is, what I pie is the users that I’m not going to see. What you pie is the users that you’re not going to see. If somebody doesn’t pie anybody then they see all users’ comments.  So yeah, the person who’s being pied definitely sees the entire comment thread unless they pie somebody.

  106. 106.

    Steeplejack

    @Gary K:

    Yes, it’s a one-way filter that works only for you. You can’t see the pied person’s comments or replies to the pied person, but they can see the thread as usual.

  108. 108.

    Gary K

    @Chet Murthy: @Steeplejack: Thanks for the swift replies. Now can someone explain the history of this “pie filter”? Is there a joke here? Is it our way of saying “Shut your piehole”?

  109. 109.

    BethanyAnne

    Oh, that is a nice filter. Lovely that it eats replies to the troll, too.

  112. 112.

    Gary K

    @Chet Murthy: Thanks. As for the name, I like my explanation, even if it’s bogus. It also seems to be an obscure engineering pun: a pi filter is “an electronic filter circuit consisting of a series connection of a capacitor and an inductor, followed by another capacitor, arranged in the shape of the Greek letter.”

  114. 114.

    NaijaGal

    @Poe Larity: Time to pie David Axelrod :). I’ve made peace with my voting choices.  He’ll have to make peace with his. I don’t think it’s wise to ignore the results of the Dem primary and to discard the power of incumbency. Maybe he can find some time to spread the word about the Epstein documents and the dangers of Project 2025 in between articles shitting on the incumbent. One can only hope.

  119. 119.

    Poe Larity

    Lexicon:

    Pie– Genius commentor Cleek wrote a Greasemonkey script filter that replaces a designated troll’s every comment with a simple phrase, originally “I like pie!” When earnest or inexperienced commentors respond to obvious trolling, or when a new commentor posts a particularly stupid remark that can be construed as trolling or concern-trolling, a barrage of replies like “Some people take their love of baked goods to an extreme” or “I don’t know why everyone’s being so mean to [new troll], plenty of people are outspoken about their dessert preferences” will ensue. First used here and inspired by the pie ad war at Daily Kos.

  122. 122.

    A woman from anywhere (formerly Mohagan)

    @db11: Me too. The pictures are fun. I should try the sayings setting too.

  124. 124.

    wil

    “‘I’m worried’ – Democrats at Biden rally open to change”

    https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cger259q78zo

    The hundreds of die-hard Democrats who turned out to see Joe Biden in Wisconsin on Friday didn’t need much convincing.
    The US president received an enthusiastic response to his loudly delivered remarks at the rally in Madison, especially when he attacked his Republican rival Donald Trump.
    But as some major Democratic donors and lawmakers call on Mr Biden to exit the presidential race, even some of his most ardent supporters here in Madison are keeping an open mind about whether he might be replaced – and what might come next.
    “It’s OK to change our minds,” said Catherine Emmanuelle, 44, who paused and considered her thoughts carefully before outlining her opinion.

     

    “I’m worried about his capacity to beat Trump,” said Thomas Leffler, a 33-year-old health researcher.
    “As he gets older, I think it’s going to increasingly be an issue. But I’ll vote blue no matter what,” he said – a reference to the Democratic Party’s signature colour.

    No point in pretending the concerns don’t exist or aren’t real.

  127. 127.

    sab

    I love seeing the history of the pie filter. Those early jackals really had to work for things.

  128. 128.

    tandem

    @wil:  Same here.  First time in more than 40 years that I haven’t had the Sunday Times, dead-tree version.  I hope enough of us cancel our subscriptions that it hurts!

  130. 130.

    SFAW

    @Jay: ​
     

    Troll is trying to learn, after bedding nym in infamy.

    I’m confused. Are you referring to wil’s comment @ 2? If so, not sure what was trollish about his/her comment. Or is there some other recent activity that I’m missing?

  131. 131.

    Betty

    @wil: With the media onslaught, concerns have been magnified for Dem voters. The media narrative does have an effect and must be acknowledged.

  132. 132.

    rmjohnston

    All the anti-Democratic and anti-democratic propaganda that’s not fit to print.

  135. 135.

    JAFD

    @NotMax: Clipped this from Bluesky last night, knew ‘twould come in handy sometime ….

    Gwen Pepperoni @ladyjimrockford.bsky.social

    “Every August, typeface designers flock to the middle of the desert for a week of sex & drugs, and they erect a large wooden word with all the spacing fucked up.

    They call it Kerning Man”

     

    My apologies.  I admit I am an Evil Person.

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