Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

Baby steps, because the Republican Party is full of angry babies.

Innocent people do not delay justice.

“Facilitate” is an active verb, not a weasel word.

Usually wrong but never in doubt

Motto for the House: Flip 5 and lose none.

One of our two political parties is a cult whose leader admires Vladimir Putin.

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

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

Beware of advice from anyone for whom Democrats are “they” and not “we.”

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

The republican speaker is a slippery little devil.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

I swear, each month of 2025 will have its own history degree.

“In the future, this lab will be a museum. do not touch it.”

“Perhaps I should have considered other options.” (head-desk)

The most dangerous place for a black man in America is in a white man’s imagination.

“Can i answer the question? No you can not!”

75% of people clapping liked the show!

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

You are here: Home / Pet Blogging / Dog Blogging / Farts, Birds & Dogs (Open Thread)

Farts, Birds & Dogs (Open Thread)

by | 204 Comments

This post is in: ,

First, a relevant contribution to the current discourse:

Bad Janet from The Good Place with the cc stating “farting loudly.”

Ahhh! Better out than in, as my old gran used to say.

Second, I saw my first Whooping Crane in the wild today! No photo. I saw it from a moving car.

The bird was on the wing, flying maybe 50 feet overhead. At first I took it for a Sandhill Crane due to the large size, but a closer look revealed the bird to be white with black-edged wings.

Third, dogs:

Farts, Birds & Dogs (Open Thread) 2

Farts, Birds & Dogs (Open Thread)

Farts, Birds & Dogs (Open Thread) 1The photo directly above captures Badger’s fury at having his head sat upon by Pete, and you really can’t blame him…

That’s all I’ve got. Open thread!

Reader Interactions

204Comments

  3. 3.

    rikyrah

    Booker G. Washington (@BookerGWash) posted at 10:09 AM on Thu, Jul 18, 2024:
    Don’t let the 2024 Presidential Election season distract you from the fact that land-grant HBCUs are owed a total of $12+ billion in unpaid, required match funding, just since 1994.

    And all of them are located in states where conservatives have control of the legislature.
    (https://x.com/BookerGWash/status/1813954306720329894?s=03)

  4. 4.

    $8 blue check mistermix

    If I still had a dog I would have posted pictures, so thanks for stepping up.

  6. 6.

    rikyrah

    I understand this:

     

    my book is better than my tweets (@MichellCClark) posted at 0:21 PM on Thu, Jul 18, 2024:
    I think I just articulated something that I’ve been trying to get out for years—just now, I was telling a friend about what I’ve been going through, and he said “but I ain’t worried about you. You got this.”

    I paused, and said, “….worry about me a little bit.”
    (https://x.com/MichellCClark/status/1813987595568795956?s=03)

  7. 7.

    Scout211

    Thank you Betty!  A respite thread is just the ticket right now   😊

    Great pics and wonderful look at the pups.

    Every time you show a pic of your view of the River from your picture window I just have to go, “Ahhhhhh.”  It must be such a stress reliever to live where you live and have such a beautiful view out your windows.   Very calming and peaceful.

  8. 8.

    cope

    Cool seeing a whooping crane, I know I never have.

    Good line about farts from gran, I’m stealing it.

    Dogs…I am watching two play together at my sister’s right now. They’re having a lie down in the shade if that counts as play (98 degrees right now).

  11. 11.

    rikyrah

    Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) posted at 8:00 AM on Thu, Jul 18, 2024:
    With the Trump campaign’s continued refusal to provide any official info about his medical care following the assassination attempt, many people now think Trump was likely injured by a shard of broken glass instead of a bullet. Hence the bandage to hide the wound.

    Your thoughts? https://t.co/ZZDqGyiXX0
    (https://x.com/joncoopertweets/status/1813921827451761135?t=QD-xyhACdlkscXqysMCz0A&s=03)

  12. 12.

    Ishiyama

    I visited the International Crane Foundation back when it was just beginning, and again years later. Close up and personal with the Big Birds!

  13. 13.

    prostratedragon

    “Better out than in, as my old gran used to say”
    Ain’t that the truth! Rotating tag?

    But a real whooping crane, wow!

  14. 14.

    Maxim

    @rikyrah: Outstanding. Another one of those things that people don’t think about most of the time, but having the right people in the FCC makes a huge difference.

  15. 15.

    Dan B

    @rikyrah: Excellent framing.  She doesn’t get into the weeds.  Thus it’s easy to remember and repeat her points:  Taking away rights.  Stopping abortion, IVF, and Birth Control.  Overturning free and fair elections.

    Clear and memorable!

  16. 16.

    Captain C

    That first pic looks enough like Celine Dion such that thinking of her ripping one made me giggle.

  17. 17.

    BeautifulPlumage

    I once startled a great blue heron standing in the middle of a small side road while driving. That bird was HUGE. It let out a stream of white shit then spread it’s wings and flew off. I’ll never forget how wide the wingspan was.

    Thanks for the dog pics, always good to see their big eyes.

  19. 19.

    Jeffro

    Lou Dobbs, RIP.  (ETA: I didn’t mean it literally, folks!  I detested him as much as y’all!  =)

    that, plus tonight is the end of the Republican Party.

    Whew, better hydrate and get some Advil ready for tomorrow morning!

  21. 21.

    brendancalling

    Loud Obbs is dead, and that really takes the edge off Bob Newhart, Richard Simmons, Shelley Duvall, and Dr. Ruth dying.

    If there’s a God, Loud is burning in Hell right now. I hope they’re flaying him, then flaying him again, then flaying him again because after each flaying the skin grows back.

  24. 24.

    Jeffro

    @rikyrah: I’m starting to think some in the SS might have wanted trumpov gone, too

    fringe-right folks like Alex Jones, Tucker Carlson, and others have been talking about this “probably happening” all year.  many on that same fringe see trumpov as insufficiently MAGA, which is (obviously) nuts.  But there are Alex Jones listeners in the SS, I’m sure.

    BUT

    I have learned over the years that the saying “never assume malice when incompetence will do” is pretty spot-on

  29. 29.

    TaMara

    In bird news, we now have 2 Red Tail hawks who call our neighborhood home for a week or so at a time. Occasionally they look longingly at my ducks, but really they are here for the easy pickings squirrels that nest at the tippy top of my elm tree.

    And the rabbits. We have an abundance of rabbits.

  30. 30.

    VFX Lurker

    Gorgeous dog pix…and that last one is too funny. Thank you for posting these, Betty C.

  31. 31.

    Archon

    The first meme made me think of the TV show The Good Place. One of the best shows of the 2010’s and probably had one of the greatest season one twists in TV history.

  32. 32.

    Betty Cracker

    Okay, somehow I misread Lou Dobbs as Lou Reed, and I thought “why are y’all so harsh on Reed, who’s been dead for a while now?”

  36. 36.

    Kelly

    Mom passed away in her sleep yesterday morning. I’m just back from clearing her room a the care home. After an active, adventurous and very independent life her health took a bad slide since last August. Infections, dementia and two broken bones.  She’s needed 24/7 care most of the time since then. I took care of her in her home September through March. A lot of help from Mrs Kelly. Moved her into a care home in late March. Hospice at the care home in late May. Hospice and care home staff were kind and thorough. They kept her comfortable and clean.

    All my immediate tasks are done. I’m remarkably calm. I guess I did all my grieving as pieces of her slipped away. I grieved each time I comforted her at 3 am. Every trip to Emergency.

  37. 37.

    hueyplong

    @Betty Cracker: What, are you taking a walk on the wild side or something?  No one but no one confuses Lou Reed with Lou Dobbs.

    What’s next, conflating Ralph Reed and Donna Reed?

  40. 40.

    Dangerman

    Farts are acceptable. Sharts, not so much. As one gets older, well, nevermind.

    Speaking of sharts, he’s talking tonight, right?

  43. 43.

    Betty Cracker

    @Archon: It’s a screen cap of Bad Janet from The Good Place. Agree it’s a terrific series. Funny and profound!

  44. 44.

    TaMara

    @Kelly: I’m so sorry. The grieving really does happen over time when they are aging and sick. But it may still hit you in ways you didn’t expect (mine has been using my mom’s recipes and cleaning out her kitchen, ugh).

    Now is the time to take care of you after this long process. Rest up before you tackle everything ahead.

  45. 45.

    Geminid

    My Atlanta friend watched Vice President Harris’s speech in North Carolina today. He said she was really strong. He used to be a Harris sceptic but no more.

    The CBS radio news reported on the speech and gave a soundbite; a brief three-part attack on Trump

  46. 46.

    Jackie

    Badger squishing Pete… I can’t stop laughing…

    Pete’s expression realizing Badger could fart any moment…😂🤣

    Thank you SO MUCH for that pic and the others, BC!

  48. 48.

    Scout211

    @Kelly: I’m so sorry, Kelly.  You’ve been so good at taking care of her.  It must be hard right now.

    Sending you comfort and peace.

  49. 49.

    Betty Cracker

    @Kelly: So sorry for your loss. It’s wrenching to lose a great mom, and from what you’ve shared about her here, she was one. Be kind to yourself. Losing a parent can blindside you emotionally in all kinds of sneaky ways.

  51. 51.

    jowriter

    @cope: They have a pair of whoopers at the Washington DC zoo, which we visit every time we go to see our daughter and her husband — they live practically around the corner.  Last time we saw them they were whooping it up!  What a show! What a sound! Thanks for the respite, BC.

  52. 52.

    Scamp Dog

    @Kelly: I’m sorry to hear about your Mom. The situation was somewhat similar to the way things went with my Mom before she died in December. My brother and I are likewise grateful to the staff at the facility for all their help and care they gave her. I’m glad your mom got the same.

  53. 53.

    CaseyL

    That third photo made me think: “Oh, they must be getting along pretty well, if all Badger does is *look* furious.”

    Then I realized Betty C. has not said what happened immediately afterwards… :)

    I see Great Blue Herons a lot: they hang out by any sizeable body of water in Seattle. I love them. They stand slightly hunched in the shallows, looking like grumpy old people. Or, if it’s foggy, they stand in swirling mist, faintly backlit, looking like a Sentinel of Doom.

    Once I was taking a walk along one of the rocky beaches here, keeping an eye on the incoming tide. A Great Blue on a rock kept watching me thoughtfully, possibly laying mental bets with itself as to whether I’d get swept out to sea or crushed on the rocks.

  56. 56.

    Kelly

    Thank you all. I plan to take the rest of the summer off. The next big task is clearing and selling her home. Fortunately I’m not under any deadlines for that. I’ll probably tidy it up until spring.

  58. 58.

    Jackie

    @Kelly: I’m so sorry for your loss. Losing a parent no matter how old is rough. I’m glad you were given the grace of time to grieve in doses. That sure helped me when my dad passed.

  59. 59.

    CaseyL

    @Kelly:

    I am so sorry.  I think what you’re feeling now, or not-feeling, is numbness because it’s been a year of one trauma after another for you.  I hope you’re in a place, and have people, who can be there for you when the numbness wears off.

  60. 60.

    Trivia Man

    @rikyrah: Snopes has 2 relevant pictures about the mysterious wound. First is a clear picture if 2 intact teleprompters so a piece of teleprompter glass is probably out.

    Second is a close up of the ear that shows, at most, a nick. Not blown clean off as he would have you believe.

    They except to see the long form detailed medical records for joe but refuse to press for even a DESCRIPTION of this “trauma”. Vilago delenda est indeed.

  61. 61.

    Sure Lurkalot

    @BeautifulPlumage: Great Blue Herons nested in a state park close to my house that I frequent for walking and biking. For a good couple of months, they were in air building the nest and then feeding.

    Before the nesting, I often saw them in the wetlands areas. For their size, they are very skittish and flee at the slightest sound. The park is in a now busy private plane flight path and somehow my footsteps are very threatening.

  62. 62.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Kelly:

    Kelly, I’m so very sorry. It must have meant the world to her that you were there by her side during the darkest, most frightening times. I hope her transition was peaceful and I know she is resting now free of pain and fear.

  65. 65.

    Geoduck

    In my town, a colony of herons has built a nest-cluster at the top of some trees just up the street from the local Farmer’s Market. Gives you something extra to enjoy when you go for your fresh strawberries.

  66. 66.

    Jackie

    Well I guess we’ll learn Joe’s decision in a matter of days…

    NEW: Two senior House Democrats tell
    @MajorCBS
    they expect the question of Biden’s candidacy to be resolved in 3-5 days. Each day of indecision will lead to more public calls for him to step aside. Of course the caveat is — and has always been— that the choice is totally up to Biden.

    https://x.com/weijia/status/1814036047820431457

    I’m probably going to be scarce these next days for my sanity’s sake.

  67. 67.

    Trivia Man

    @Sure Lurkalot: When we lived near a river we had a great blue visit the bird feeder a few times. Casual, regal stroll of about 200 feet, eat off the ground for a while, then mosey back to the river. Majestic.

  68. 68.

    lowtechcyclist

    @rikyrah: ​
     

    Worth Rises (@WorthRises) posted at 10:17 AM on Thu, Jul 18, 2024:
    BREAKING! The @FCC just sided with families across the country and MASSIVELY REDUCED prison and jail phone and video call rates. The new rules, passed unanimously, will impact 83% of incarcerated people and save families over $500 MILLION annually. Here’s what you should know… https://t.co/KCOsJlmPRU
    (https://x.com/WorthRises/status/1813956150569926776?s=03)

    YAY!!!!!!!!
    WTG, FCC!!

    Seriously, this is a BFD. Whatever people did to wind up in prison, it’s still no fair to shake them down when they try to stay in touch with their families and friends outside the walls. From all I’ve heard, prisoners who are able to keep in touch have a better chance of going straight once they are back on the outside. And hell, it’s just cruel to make it too expensive for prisoners to hear the voices of their loved ones.

    I know conservatives will say that it serves them right, but being incarcerated should be the sum total of the punishment for committing crimes. Not being denied healthy food or adequate medical care, not being denied contact with loved ones on the outside, and damned sure not being sexually assaulted in prison.

  69. 69.

    MomSense

    @Kelly:

    I’m really sorry, Kelly.  The grieving starts before the end.  She was lucky to have your love and support throughout.  Sending you a big hug.

  71. 71.

    BeautifulPlumage

    @Kelly: so sorry, my condolences. Sounds like you were able to be there for her when she needed you. Peace.

  72. 72.

    Sure Lurkalot

    @Kelly: You shared a lot of your thoughts about dealing with your mom’s health issues and I believe your openess and sincerity helped a lot of people struggling with their similar experiences with critical illness and losing loved ones.

    Sincere condolences.

  73. 73.

    M31

    @Jackie: Up to Biden 100% — I don’t think there is a way to actually force him out if he doesn’t go willingly (that at the minimum doesn’t destroy the party).

    Some other stuff I just came across:  a letter from 1400 Black women leaders strongly supporting Biden staying in:

    https://x.com/SymoneDSanders/status/1814045953244209155

    and some guy I don’t know anything about

    https://x.com/JohnsonThought1/status/1814052509855441109

    saying “A friend of mine VERY close to the Biden family told me that there is “no way Biden will ever step down… the spirit of his son Beau is with him.””

    hmmmmm

  74. 74.

    Formerly disgruntled in Oregon

    @Kelly: Hi Kelly, I recently went through a similar experience with my mom, and she passed this past March. I lost my dad suddenly a few years ago in an accident. Both experiences were hard in different ways, but I appreciated having time to grieve while she was declining.

    We had a celebration of life for mom this past weekend, and it was a beautiful event. I’m glad we took some time to get ready and didn’t rush it.

  76. 76.

    Jay

    Former CIA analyst Sue Mi Terry, the wife of Washington Post columnist Max Boot, was charged Tuesday with working as an agent for South Korea in allegations that include editorials written for the newspaper.

    According to the criminal indictment made public in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday, Terry, 54, failed to register as a foreign agent and conspired to violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

    Prosecutors claim that, beginning in 2013 and continuing for a decade following, Terry received luxury gifts provided by South Korean intelligence officers in return for her promoting South Korea’s policy positions and disclosing nonpublic government information. Prosecutors also allege that Terry wrote opinion pieces at the request of South Korean officials, using information provided by them.

    https://www.mediaite.com/news/wife-of-washington-post-columnist-max-boot-charged-with-espionage-by-justice-department/

  79. 79.

    Mai Naem mobile

    @Jackie: if I was up to the Biden and I was stepping down from the campaign, I would wait till the last minute possible(where it doesn’t affect any legal electoral deadlines.)  Make a little lemonade out of a lemon.

  82. 82.

    Jay

    @Geoduck:

    There is an entire colony of Great Blue Herons, in Stanley Park, in downtown Vancouver. They nest and roost in the bank of cottonwoods just behind the Theatre in the Park.

    They do not like Shakespeare.

  84. 84.

    M31

    lol and as a counterpoint to the above that Biden will never drop out, are reports that he WILL drop out, tonight, during Trump’s speech, and not endorse Harris

    I call bullshit on that.

    Gotta love unsourced Twitter bloviating, except it’s pissing me off.

  86. 86.

    zhena gogolia

    @M31: My unnamed source (my husband) says exactly the same thing as that last quotation. (He is not highly placed or an insider, just very, very smart.)

  87. 87.

    Jackie

    @M31: 🤞🏻 I just have to trust Joe will know what’s right for the country and decide wisely and WILLINGLY.

    Whatever his decision is, I’ll stand by him 100%.

  88. 88.

    Mai Naem mobile

    @Kelly: I am sorry about your mom passing.  I am glad you got to spend a lot of time with your mom at the end. Grief works in weird ways. Don’t be surprised for it to hit you when you’re doing the simplest things that remind you of your mom.

  89. 89.

    narya

    @Betty Cracker: I love Bad Janet! Two of the best episodes were the one where it was just D’Arcy Carden playing Janet playing all the characters and the one with all of the Janets as the Judge was going through their voids and marbleizing them.

  92. 92.

    Joy in FL

    @lowtechcyclist: I absolutely agree with you. I’m glad for this decision from the FCC– “MASSIVELY REDUCED prison and jail phone and video call rates.”

  93. 93.

    M31

    Biden should announce a major event tonight during Trump’s speech.

    It will be a split screen video of Trump’s speech on one side, and a fast fact-checking chyron underneath and on the other side, Joe Biden eating popcorn with one hand and giving Trump the finger with the other.

    maybe some more chyrons with facts from this year and 4 years ago, like, number of covid deaths per week, number of unemployed, number of new manufacturing jobs, black and hispanic unemployment numbers, average wage for middle class workers, S&P 500 index value, $ of current infrastructure investment, etc. and emojis giving Trump the finger between each pair

  94. 94.

    UncleEbeneezer

    BLACK WOMEN LEADERS AND ALLIES STANDING FIRMLY AND RESOLUTELY FOR PRESIDENT JOSEPH BIDEN’S PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION July 17, 2024

    Dear Democratic Party Leadership, We, the undersigned black women leaders and allies, are writing to share our deep concern and dismay at the lack of unity being displayed by some of our elected democrats and Democratic Party leadership, who are not standing firmly and resolutely for the re-election of President Joseph Biden and his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris.

    During the primary election process held across the country earlier this year, 14 million Americans cast ballots for President Biden and Vice President Harris. They are the duly elected democratic party nominees for the 2024 Presidential election. We reject all efforts to disregard this fact or to circumvent the will of millions of voters who participated in a democratic process. The primaries held earlier this year were the appropriate time to challenge candidates for the nomination and press arguments about qualifications. The suggestion that any candidate who won their primary should simply step aside because victory appears difficult at the moment is disrespectful to the voters, unjust and undemocratic.

    The Biden-Harris Administration is running on a solid record of historic legislative accomplishments and a commitment to finish their agenda to improve the lives of all Americans, protect our rights, freedoms and democracy. Further, we believe it is unfair and disruptive to judge President Biden for having a bad 90-minute debate performance against a serial liar who wants to destroy our democracy and be a dictator-in-chief.

    As the party that has relentlessly stated that this election is about saving our democracy – what better way to affirm these values than listening to the voters who chose President Biden and Vice President Harris to lead the country for another four years.

    History is a great teacher and has taught us that a divided house will fail. As Black women we are uniquely aware of the very real threat a second Trump term poses to our country and especially to our community. But this is not a moment to give in to fear. Instead, we must unify around our deep belief in our values and our ability to effectively engage voters and win up and down the ballot in 2024.

    History also reflects that Black women are the most reliable voting Bloc for democrats. When black women vote in record numbers, democrats win The White House, U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governorships, state legislatures, mayors’ races and other local races across the nation. When black women lead, organize, mobilize, encourage and influence our families, spouses, partners, nieces, nephews and neighbors to own their power and vote, democrats win.

    Now is the time for the Democratic Party to stop the attacks against their own presidential nominee that ‘we the people’ voted for and focus on defeating the real threat to our democracy and that is Donald Trump. Now is the time for democrats to unite and win. In Solidarity and Unity,

  95. 95.

    M31

    @zhena gogolia: I know! That kind of classless behavior is more GOP style. Those rumors are via Mark Halperin, and as I was trying to remember who that was, someone commented, “oh you mean noted sex pest Mark Halperin?” and ugh that piece of shit, yeah, it’s fan fiction for women haters, fuck that noise

  96. 96.

    LanceThruster

    Whoopi said pooped pants would make no difference anyway. Clearly the matter has been settled. Any fart noises picked up by microphones previously are just puffs in the wind. All they are are puffs in the winds.

  98. 98.

    lowtechcyclist

    @Jackie:

    (Stuff you quoted in your comment)

    NEW: Two senior House Democrats tell @MajorCBS they expect the question of Biden’s candidacy to be resolved in 3-5 days. Each day of indecision will lead to more public calls for him to step aside. Of course the caveat is — and has always been— that the choice is totally up to Biden.

    If the choice is totally up to Biden, what’s this “3-5 days” crap? He’s already made his choice – he’s running, and he’s been quite clear about that!

    Did “@MajorCBS,” whoever that is (since I don’t watch network news), ask that obvious question of the “two senior House Democrats”?  My magic 8-ball says “signs point to No.”  Did he ask what’s going to happen over the next 3-5 days to resolve this seemingly already-resolved question? Bet he didn’t do that either.

    Fuck these guys.

  101. 101.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    Lou Dobbs is dead I see. Well as an atheist; all of my prayers go out to Dobbs.

  102. 102.

    john b

    Kelly, I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope you can find peace and comfort in these tough times.

  103. 103.

    Bill Arnold

    @Jeffro:
    Also known as Hanlon’s razor: “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.”
    Also, UK slang, “cock up before conspiracy”.
    Counterpoint (my variation on Clarke’s Third Law): “Sufficiently advanced malice is indistinguishable from bad luck”.

  105. 105.

    M31

    @WereBear: Really? Not just “well we’re waiting to see who her VP nominee is?” but a blanket refusal?

    Harris should just up and call him a bedwetting pantywaist whinyass tittybaby

  106. 106.

    john b

    @Joy in FL:

    I absolutely agree with you. I’m glad for this decision from the FCC– “MASSIVELY REDUCED prison and jail phone and video call rates

    I assume that in this new world of SC precedent, the jails don’t have to listen to the FCC if they don’t want to?

  107. 107.

    WereBear

    @M31:


    HuffPost

    JD Vance’s Team Says He Won’t Debate Kamala Harris Ahead Of The DNC

    11 hours ago — If Vance “is unwilling to defend the Trump-Vance record on the debate stage, he should just say so,” Biden’s campaign shot back.

  108. 108.

    LanceThruster

    @Jeffro: “When you come at the king, best you not miss.”

    If it had succeeded, where would we be now? Chaos to the point of putting the election on hold? Who might the last minute RNC nominee be? Was the end game that they would not garner the same support as the Mango Mussilini?

    Something sure had the appearance of a stand-down order.

  110. 110.

    Jay

    @zhena gogolia:

    in their drive to “one up” each other, it has gotten just stupid with the “hot takes”.

    July used to be silly season, now it’s stupid season.

  111. 111.

    hitchhiker

    Right up there with “better out than in” is the comment mr hitchhiker makes when he farts while walking:

    “A farting horse is a working horse.”

    Must be delivered deadpan and quietly, just in case anybody noticed.

  112. 112.

    Jay

    @M31:

    Oh, a “fire side chat” sort of thing. but with a mild case of Covid, I think Biden should stick with hydrating and eating icecream, not popcorn.

  114. 114.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    @Jeffro:  this is a team of officers selected for their loyalty to Trump, so of course the fucked up.

    But I will note, all the small C conservatives I know are pretty dismissive of Trump.

  115. 115.

    LanceThruster

    @WereBear: I felt the same thing when Pelosi wouldn’t debate primary challenger Cindy Sheehan. It showed her lack of confidence in going head to head fearing what it would mean to her reelection if people saw a preferable option.

  116. 116.

    Kelly

    Thank you all. Heading down to the river for swim. When I started swimming in June the high water temp was 68. An OK temp for a lifetime river guy. Currently high water temps are 78~80. Sorta luxurious. Tomorrow I might enjoy a little weed before my swim. Self care.

  121. 121.

    Dan B

    @Kelly: My mother had very slow dementia for the last fifteen years of her life.  Several times a month something else would be gone like the time she couldn’t find her way back from the store that was two short blocks away.  She lived with me.  I didn’t have much of a social life until I invited my partner to dinner and not a lot of time with him either.  By the time she passed away I was not sad.  I’d done a lot of grieving for someone who’d been dying by buts and pieces for a long time.  Be good to yourself for all you did for her.

  122. 122.

    LanceThruster

    @hitchhiker: “more room outside than inside” but my all-time favorite move is a squishing step motion timed to the toot followed by way of explanation, a turn of the head making direct eye-contact and a very deadpan, “Barking spider.”

  124. 124.

    mrstealyourcostcosample

    @lowtechcyclist: it sounds like 3-5 days to get transitions in order.

    Joe has gotten a hugely raw deal: that’s the price of the ticket, I guess.  The “dump Biden” folks have a lot of bridges to build starting immediately — and judging from the shitpiles they leave all over various blogs, they are expecting to be lauded for their wisdom and won’t be terribly gracious in victory even though that’s the key to the Trump defeat they claim to want.

  125. 125.

    Sister Golden Bear

    @rikyrah: Amen. Folks, check in on your “strong friends.” We’re not always as strong as you think we are.

    Sometimes we’re strong right up to the point we fall apart (ask me how I know). Sometimes we need your support, sometimes we need you to be the strong friend for us.

  126. 126.

    LanceThruster

    Back when Dennis Miller could still be considered humorous, he posed the question:

    Q: Do you know why kids think farts are funny?

    A: Because farts *are* funny.

  128. 128.

    Ohio Mom

    @lowtechcyclist: A friend’s son did some time for accumulating too many DUIs (he was in his early 20s). It was shocking to me how expensive jail is.

    Yes, phone calls are expensive. Additionally, the list of things the incarcerated person needs from the commissary is long (including basics like soap and food to supplement the measly servings), the prices for these basics high, and the service fee for putting money in the commissary account is hefty.

    Ohio Dad and I fronted the $15,000 bail money and then the court kept nearly $4,000 for reasons (“processing fees”). And when Friend’s Son managed to get himself transferred to a rehab program — still locked up but less intense than jail — they gave him a bill for room and board on his way out.

    It’s a money printing machine for the local courts and sheriff’s department. Just disgraceful.

    Finally, they did everything they could to make visiting a chore. But at least he was in town and not someplace out in the boonies.

  129. 129.

    MomSense

    When I used to work for an attorney who did criminal defense, I received a lot of calls from jails.  Fascinating. The calls were ridiculously expensive.

  131. 131.

    Sister Golden Bear

    @Kelly: I’m so sorry. I felt a similar calm right after my mother died of pancreatic cancer. In a weird way it was anticlimactic, since we knew it was coming, and I did my grieving while I was taking care of her in her last weeks

    The grief revisited later. The “year of first” was hard, i.e. first Thanksgiving without her, first Christmas, first what would’ve been her birthday, etc. But also at odd times without rhyme or reason.

  132. 132.

    Ohio Mom

    @Kelly: A swim in warm water sounds lovely.

    My deepest condolences, and admiration as well, for seeing your mother through her final months so gently and so well. You did good.

  133. 133.

    Another Scott

    Meanwhile, …

    Carl T. Bergstrom
    @[email protected]

    Interesting results: people are more likely to believe fake news from a stranger than a from good friend.

    This finding would be explained if people intuitively apply the three questions we suggest in our book to assess any claim:

    1. Who is telling me this?
    2. How do they know it?
    3. What are they trying to sell me?

    You know what your friends don’t have a way of knowing (and often, what they’re selling you). With a stranger, these are harder questions to answer.

    NiemanLab.org

    Nieman Lab
    You’re more likely to believe fake news shared by someone you barely know than by your best friend
    “The strength of weak ties” applies to misinformation, too.

    Jul 18, 2024, 01:59 PM

    (via Mastodon.social/explore)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  136. 136.

    BellyCat

    @Kelly: Sending good thoughts to you and your family. Sounds like you are in as positive a place as possible.

  138. 138.

    UncleEbeneezer

    @Kelly: So sorry for your loss.  My wife lost her parents last year and dealt with much of the same.  There was definitely a sense of relief when it was all finally over.  Virtual hug to you and your family.

  139. 139.

    Salty Sam

    I saw my first Whooping Crane in the wild today!

    They are impressive, no?

    After Hurricane Harvey trashed our home (a boat in Fulton Harbor, in Rockport), we were offered refuge at a friends home, in an RV in their back yard.  This was on the Lamar peninsula, which is not far from the Aransas Nat’l Wildlife Preserve, the winter home of the majority of the Whooping Cranes.  We would take a morning walk to the bay, where Whoopers were feeding, and doing their very impressive mating dance.  We talked often of how blessed we were to experience that.

    I’ve heard reports that their range is increasing, but had no idea that Florida was on their flight plan!  I clearly remember my Dad explaining to me when I was a boy, that at that point in time (early-mid 60’s) there were only 69 of them left on the entire planet.  I was impressed/horrified.

    ps Betty-  every time we walked down the road to check out the Whoopers, there was always a big gaggle of Spoonbills mingled among them.  Whoopers are awesome, but Spoonbills still rule!

  140. 140.

    Jeffg166

    I pointed out a great blue heron flying overhead to my 89 year old neighbor the other day. We were sitting on his front porch. Our house sit between the Schuylkill River and the Wissahickon Creek.

    I also think I am seeing a bald eagle flying around. I am told they are on the river.

  141. 141.

    UncleEbeneezer

    @Dan B: Black People/Spaces (and especially) Women have been really helping me avoid despair.  They are showing tremendous strength, determination, pragmatism and perspective.

  142. 142.

    geg6

    @BeautifulPlumage:

    One landed in the back yard of our previous home.  I saw it from the windows of our sunroom.  I was stunned at the size of that thing!  I had seen them on the river banks many times when I was with my ex and we were boaters.  But the distance really didn’t allow me to understand how huge they are.  I sure understand it now!

  143. 143.

    Lyrebird

    @lowtechcyclist: AGREED.  It’s thanks to some DKos reporting that I learned that in many parts of the USA, families would end up charged with such big fees, even debts, just to have their allowed phone calls, and YES the research on the benefits to the person and the rest of society is really strong that keeping people connected is better…

  144. 144.

    LanceThruster

    Here is the piece I was looking for on Harris. I do not disagree, but will vote for her regardless.

    We all think the problem with everyone else when it comes to politics is them not arriving at the same conclusion we have, having weighed those factors we feel are most important, thinking that it should the inevitable one if people approached the choice correctly.

    Twas ever thus.

    This happens with enough alarming regularity that maybe a ranked choice voting system(IRV, etc.) instead of a binary “My way or the highway” might give primary voters an opportunity to express better how their support might be viewed. Candidates declare a mandate by way of the vote when at times the “hold-your-nose” faction should really be taken into account.

    If every goddamn option is one in support of genocide, remind me again why this system has to be preserved.

  145. 145.

    Sister Golden Bear

    Proof Trump is broke, he couldn’t even bribe Melania to put in a good word for him tonight.

    When former first lady Melania Trump enters the Republican convention Thursday night, she won’t be doing so on stage as she did in 2016 and 2020. Though several people appealed to her to give a speech multiple times lately, she declined to do so, two sources familiar told CNN.

    That breaks with a modern tradition at political conventions where the candidate’s spouse can showcase their softer side, typically in remarks devoid of politics but instead with a focus on the personal. Instead, Melania Trump is expected to accompany her husband in the VIP box at the back of the arena.

  147. 147.

    Old School

    @M31:

    Biden should announce a major event tonight during Trump’s speech

    And interrupt Trump’s shark rant?!

  148. 148.

    geg6

    @Kelly:

    {{{hugs}}}
    I know the feelings.  They are probably very similar to mine when my mom passed after years long battles with breast cancer that spread to her bones and broke her neck.  She spent the last three years of her life with a broken neck and multiple chemotherapies.  Her mind was sharp to the end though.  Can’t say the same for my current partner though.  But physically, he’s healthy as a horse.  Old age ain’t for the weak, that’s for sure.

  149. 149.

    Redshift

    About three weeks ago, it was apparently great blue heron mating season at the lake in a nearby park. I saw two pairs flying out to the island (where Canada geese also nest) plus at least one single. And I’d never heard their call before that I know of. Grawwwwk!

  150. 150.

    Parfigliano

    @rikyrah: This.  Injured by broken glass.  Maybe even in the pileup on the ground.  Our shit media will never let us know.

  151. 151.

    Dan B

    @geg6: I designed the garden at my partner’s house and put a raised square pond 6 feet square by the front door.  It’s in front of the built in breakfast, and dinner, table.  The tenants looked up from their breakfast one morning to see a Great Blue Heron in the pond three feet from them.  Apparently it was memorable.

  153. 153.

    Martin

    Texas exploring charging tuition for K-12 to undocumented kids. This is currently illegal due to a 5-4 Supreme Court decision but they think they have the votes to overturn that and are considering pursuing it.

  154. 154.

    Sister Golden Bear

    @UncleEbeneezer:

    Black People/Spaces (and especially) Women have been really helping me avoid despair.  They are showing tremendous strength, determination, pragmatism and perspective.

    Same.

    One Black woman aptly noted that Black folks have had to endure centuries of oppression, and have had centuries to develop resilience and resistance. It ain’t their first time at the rodeo and it shows. Or why I’ve been telling friends that I’m not panicking until Black women start panicking.

  155. 155.

    realbtl

    You think Great Blue Herons are big on land try floating 15′ from one in an inner tube.  I kept sending out I am not a fish vibes.​

  157. 157.

    Redshift

    @rikyrah: It’s especially bizarre that there have been no medical reports because TCFG ordinarily would have a gushing description apparently written by himself and signed by an MD.

    At this point, I’m assuming he was actually grazed by a shard of glass or something, and that doesn’t fit with the manly man myth he’s been working (or worse, the “saved by God” idiocy) so he’s trying to keep the truth suppressed.

  158. 158.

    prostratedragon

    At the same time, Sherrilyn Ifill just posted this [my emph]:

    So my close friend (Black woman) just received this text. So, apparently, there’s a campaign.
    You can text to tell us to do what you want us to do, but couldn’t text after the debate to ask us what we wanted?
    This is very uncool.

    And of course, “this” is an urgent plea (needs comic sans) to join calls, open-ended, for Biden to step down. As Ms. Ifill says, very uncool.

  160. 160.

    Citizen Alan

    @Bill Arnold:

    “Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity.”

    My corollary to Hanlon’s Law is “If what appears to be stupidity consistently redounds to the benefit of the supposedly stupid people, maybe it’s time to reevaluate the likelihood of malice.” Dubya’s administration taught me that lesson.

  161. 161.

    Sister Golden Bear

    @Parfigliano: Photos show blood on Trump’s hand, right after he touched his ear, before he went to ground, and intact teleprompters. The photo at Snopes appearing to show torn skin on parts of Trump’s ear when he’s surrounded by Secret Service again seems to be pretty clear evidence that Trump was just barely grazed by a bullet. He was remarkably, remarkably lucky.

    Yeah, the press’ lack of interest is worth calling out, but there doesn’t seem to be any conspiracy.

    There definitely does need to be hard look into what occurred, because there was clearly a major fuck-up in the zone that LEOs were in charge of. As well as looking at the poor communications between the feds and LEOs, both in a big sense and a literal tactical sense, which apparently has been a long-standing issue.

  163. 163.

    Hilbertsubspace

    @Parfigliano: I’m pretty sure it was a glass/plexiglass fragment that struck him.  Based on the way he touched his ear after the first shot, and the Secret Service reporting that right after.  All the talk of him being grazed (hit) by the bullet came from Trump and his people after he told the Service to shut up (my speculation).

  164. 164.

    Harrison Wesley

    @Redshift: I’m reminded of a line from one of the Flashman books that went something like “I saw the very worst sight in the whole world – my own blood.”

  167. 167.

    Elizabelle

    @Kelly: My condolences.  You and Mrs. did great by your mother, and I am glad she had as long and healthy a life as she  did.

  168. 168.

    frosty

    @TaMara: Absolutely the best ever and still hilarious even though you know what’s coming. Newhart’s timing was impeccable. Pleshette too:

    Pause

    click

    … “What’s this about a beautiful blonde?”

  173. 173.

    UncleEbeneezer

    @Another Scott:

    Look how a random account reported Biden agreed to step down. Then fringe media outlets report it as fact. it’s promoted in your feed. Now producers want to be first with “breaking news” forcing on air personalities to ask the question to pundits who don’t know shit.

  174. 174.

    Eyeroller

    @TaMara: ​It was supposedly his wife’s idea (inspired by the episode of Dallas). She was about a decade younger and died just last April.

  175. 175.

    Jay

    @Dan B:

    At the Clinton street house, I had two timber/rubber lined ponds on either side of the deck. 4′ x 8′. Started out with small $14.99 Koi, but they disappeared, switched to $0.90 feeder Goldfish. They disappeared. Came out one morning, not having restocked the pond, to find a Great Blue Heron searching for the free meal that wasn’t there.

    I have a Great Blue Heron skin, ( and the CITES to match), as the breast feathers are what makes a Spey Fly for salmon and steelhead. It had been “poaching” at a salmon hatchery, nets, horns, motion activated sprinklers, nothing worked, so they had to shoot it.

  176. 176.

    Soprano2

    I found my kitty!! He was two doors down sitting in front of their house. I think he’d been hiding under there, an opening to the crawl space was partially open. He’s thin but alive. He’s going to the vet first thing tomorrow morning. 😀😀🥰 I’m so relieved.

  180. 180.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Martin:

    It staggers me, though it probably shouldn’t, that so many people seem to want to live in an under- or uneducated society. Not to mention an unhealthy one.

  185. 185.

    different-church-lady

    @Soprano2: ​Great news, but how long has your little pal been missing?

    I remember the time mine disappeared during a blizzard and then showed up 10 hours later reeking of cigarettes and someone else’s kitchen.

  189. 189.

    moonbat

    @UncleEbeneezer: Same. When it gets to be too much I head on over to Spoutible: the sane mini blog site where black folks and white are staying surprisingly unflapped and focused. Unlike the bouffants ablaze we see on a daily basis here.

  191. 191.

    Bill Arnold

    @Sister Golden Bear:
    Thanks for that Snopes link; interesting. (TL;DR No evidence of broken teleprompter, image of ear that could definitely have been damaged by a bullet transit.)
    Luck is a thing, BTW. That was a very interesting head move he made, on camera.

  192. 192.

    Soprano2

    @different-church-lady: Since Wednesday morning. He’s sick, he has a heart problem and hasn’t been eating much. He ate a little, now he’s in the living room. Our dog is glad he’s back, too.

  195. 195.

    Soprano2

    @Kelly: I’m so sorry for your loss. I recently went to the funeral of a friend’s father. He was in his 90’s and had Lewy Body dementia. She told me she was glad his suffering was over. Your reaction isn’t unusual, you’ve been grieving her loss for a long time.

  204. 204.

    Manyakitty

    @Kelly: late to the thread, but if you see this, please accept my sincere condolences. You are a good son. May her memory be a blessing. Peace and love.

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