Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Humiliatingly small and eclipsed by the derision of millions.

President Musk and Trump are both poorly raised, coddled 8 year old boys.

Today in our ongoing national embarrassment…

This has so much WTF written all over it that it is hard to comprehend.

Live so that if you miss a day of work people aren’t hoping you’re dead.

The press swings at every pitch, we don’t have to.

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

Books are my comfort food!

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

A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires.

Celebrate the fucking wins.

A tremendous foreign policy asset… to all of our adversaries.

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. keep building.

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

Petty moves from a petty man.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

Let me file that under fuck it.

The “burn-it-down” people are good with that until they become part of the kindling.

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

I’d like to think you all would remain faithful to me if i ever tried to have some of you killed.

Museums are not America’s attic for its racist shit.

You are here: Home / 2024 Activism / Big Weekend Plans

Big Weekend Plans

by | 183 Comments

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The weekend has arrived, and it’s a great time to do something to help defend democracy.

My local Democrats Abroad chapter is holding a little event tomorrow at a trendy city pub (one of the owners is a Maryland voter). A team will be on hand to help expats check their voter registration and request their ballots. Happily, the t-shirt I ordered back in August arrived just in time:

a very plain and pretty wrinkled Harris-Walz t-shirt

The DNC is also doing its bit in these last weeks of the campaign! Commenter Scout211 flagged up a DNC press release in the morning open thread: for the first time, they’ll be sending cash to the party committees of all 50 states (and our seven territories) to support downballot candidates. The announcement states that $2.5 million is being disbursed as grants, and that some of this of grant money is earmarked for supporting GOTV organizations focused on Black, Puerto Rican, and native voters (among others).

There’s a POLITICO story (sorry) which offers some more context on exact amounts:

  • $400,000 to Florida
  • $100,000 to Missouri, to help break the GOP’s state legislature supermajority
  • $70,000 to Idaho, with a focus on GOTV for the Nez Perce nation

Democrats in array! What are your plans for the weekend, GOTV or otherwise? I’ve got a ton of batch cooking planned: soup stock, bread, pulled-turkey taco meat, and tomato sauce, since a friend has given me some of her last tomatoes.

Open thread.

Reader Interactions

183Comments

  3. 3.

    Baud

    they’ll be sending cash to the party committees of all 50 states (and our seven territories) to support downballot candidates.

    I hope everyone who complained about the death of the “50 state strategy” for the last two decades takes note.

  4. 4.

    rikyrah

    Hutch (@hutchinson) posted at 11:16 AM on Thu, Sep 26, 2024:
    It’s become obvious that there is a particular kind of lefty that views Trump and MAGA as a means to exact revenge on the Democratic Party. Zero regard for the real world consequences. It doesn’t matter how many women bleed out in parking lots. They want to stick it to the libs.
    (https://x.com/hutchinson/status/1839338142639460397?t=RZWEKhWkd3ex1PBfGKq_gQ&s=03)

    Donate to Downballot Democrats (@Needle_of_Arya) posted at 4:47 AM on Fri, Sep 27, 2024:
    This. Part.

    The real “duopoly” is not the existing two-party system, but the fateful partnership between the far left & the far right.

    The (especially white) far left always uses the existence of the white supremacist right to punish Democrats for having included Black people.
    (https://x.com/Needle_of_Arya/status/1839602746615333331?t=hHmS1-zhp9CHt9csHQz4OQ&s=03)

  5. 5.

    pacem appellant

    It’s good that the campaign is sharing its largess. I am always wary of donating to the top of the ticket. It hoovers up all the money to the people who need it the least.

    But a national campaign that is sharing with targeted local campaigns I can get behind. That’s the point of the DNC. It’s good to see it being used as a force for good for once in my lifetime.

  8. 8.

    Baud

    @pacem appellant:

    That’s the point of the DNC.

     
    Not traditionally, I don’t think. The problem is that politics have become nationalized so no one pays attention to state parties. As a result, the DNC gets all the attention and has needed to adjust.

  9. 9.

    3Sice

    NCDOT

    All roads in Western NC should be considered closed

    Do not travel unless an emergency or seeking higher ground
    Do not drive through standing water
    Respect barricades and road closures

  10. 10.

    narya

    Weekend plans? Beer 5k tomorrow–possibly in the rain. I have a fridge full of produce that needs to be roasted: three large butternut squash, some Brussels sprouts, some broccoli, and maybe some garlic, too. Haven’t sorted out the weekend’s protein consumption yet, but fish will be in there somewhere. I have some cherries in the freezer that I want to use in a dessert, but I haven’t figured that out yet, either. Meanwhile, I’m waiting for the cable guy: my cable just up and died, nothing I tried fixed it, and the phone support couldn’t fix it either. At least I still have my streaming services.

  11. 11.

    Sure Lurkalot

    The down ballot funding is great news, wish it was a lot more than .25% of the $1 billion raised. It is pivotal to democracy to reclaim state legislatures from the crazies and garnering outsized majorities with a minority of votes.

    But of course, relegating Trump to the dustbin of history is most important and job #1 but we won’t defeat the 50 year +/- darkward turn of the GOP by just that.

  12. 12.

    Omnes Omnibus

    I will be canvassing on Saturday.  I am not doing it on Sunday because I don’t believe that interrupting people during a Packer game is an effective GOTV tactic.

  13. 13.

    Baud

    Of course, if we got rid the electoral college and went with a popular vote, the disconnect between financing the presidential campaign and financing state and local parties would be mitigated, since all votes would count equally.

  15. 15.

    Belafon

    Pulling out the Halloween decorations. I do a big yard decoration and it takes me most of the month, though I don’t do it every day and some days only an hour or two.

  16. 16.

    gene108

    @rikyrah:

    National Democrats never embraced Adams. He has always been weird.

    It’s hard to anchor Democrats with corruption allegations when prominent D’s were never close to him, and Democrats not rallying to support him.

    It’s not impossible for right-wing media, just very hard.

  20. 20.

    Maxim

    I looked up polling for the CA-27 Congressional race (Mike Garcia vs. challenger George Whitesides). 538 only shows one recent poll, this month, of likely voters, that shows Whitesides up by 2. Probably within the margin of error, but I’m pleased nonetheless.

  21. 21.

    Josie

    @gene108: ​
     The first one is not much of a problem, in my experience. The second one knocked me down and sat on me for two days. I hope your reaction is better.

  22. 22.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Sure Lurkalot: We are not going to reverse it all this election no matter how big a landslide we manage.  It took a long time for them to do damage.  It will take time to repair it.

  24. 24.

    rikyrah

    As far as Adams..

     

    where’s the money?

    He’s going around supporting cops shooting people over a $3 subway fare…

    where’s the money he stole.

  26. 26.

    Mousebumples

    @Omnes Omnibus: agreed. Maybe after the game? But you might get happy drunks who don’t remember you coming by, or angry fans if the Vikings win.

    Saturday seems like a better idea. I wonder if Wisdems are doing any registration drives at Lambeau… (pregame, tailgating, etc.)

    Thanks for canvassing! I’ll be writing more postcards. 😊

  27. 27.

    Scout211

    Hey, thanks for the hat tip.

    I was really pleased that Jaime Harrison and the DNC are starting to fund down-ballot races again. I hope this continues, especially in light of so many state governments passing laws to take away the rights of their citizens in the past few years.

  28. 28.

    Rusty

    @3Sice: My sister lives in the mountains in western NC, not too far from Ashville.  There are dire warnings that the dam for Lake Lure is failing and they are evacuating everyone down river.  The lakes in that part of NC are all dammed rivers that then fill up the narrow valleys behind them, it’s a lot of water.

  29. 29.

    Greebe

    I’m happy to see some dollars set aside for Idaho, though I’m not optimistic about moving the needle there (but you have to start sometime). I’m in CT now but grew up in Southern ID, near where Evel Knieval parachuted into the canyon.

    it’s geologically fascinating.

    I love the high plains desert, the canyon, Sawtooth mountains, and the South Hills.

    I have to remind myself there was a Democratic governor there at one point—and Frank Church was a Senator. 

    Politically horrific now, of course.

  30. 30.

    Scout211

    @gene108: I am going to get the shingles vaccine tomorrow.

    I didn’t do much to prepare for the first one and suffered.  For the second one I drank lots of water before and after and then took Tylenol every 6 hours for two days after and that really helped.

    My husband, on the other hand, had zero reaction to either.

  32. 32.

    BeautifulPlumage

    Going to make soup and write postcards while listening to Shrinking Trump and other podcasts.

    Thoughts are with everyone in Helene’s path & affected areas!

  33. 33.

    geg6

    I have postcards to write and to get ready for what I expect to be an emotional day Monday.  It will be my last day and I have students and colleagues that I will miss terribly.  Since I hate to cry, I’ll be using part of the weekend to steel myself for being my usual non-sentimental self.

  34. 34.

    rikyrah

    We do know that the Trump Bibles was a scam to get political donations from Evangelical Churches, right?

     

    Ben Meiselas 

    @meiselasb

    Dig deeper into the $100,000 Trump Watches and who might buy it: -You can buy w bitcoin (untraceable) -Foreigners and foreign entities can buy. -Photos on site are not the actual watch but “illustrations” of what it might look like per disclaimer. -No guarantee when, or if, watch will arrive and Trump not liable for shipping timing per disclaimer.

    1:56 AM · Sep 27, 2024
    ·

    1M
    Views

  35. 35.

    mali muso

    My weekend plans include a mobility class at my gym, a symphony concert at the local college, and possibly getting my COVID booster.  I’m traveling internationally in a few weeks, so it seems prudent to get it.  Was kind of waiting until a little closer to the holiday season, but hopefully the immunity should last through then.  I’m not as concerned for myself as I am for protecting my frustratingly anti-vaxx mom (recently recovered from cancer, natch) when she visits.

    ETA: Also plan to write some postcards!

  38. 38.

    Sure Lurkalot

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    It took a long time for them to do damage.  It will take time to repair it.

    100% agree. But there are still too many who think Trump is an aberration and not part of the trajectory.

  42. 42.

    Mousebumples

    @Timill: eh, Brewers already won the division, so until we get to the postseason, probably less invested.

    The Badgers just lost their first string QB to injury, so low stakes tomorrow.

  43. 43.

    cain

    Going to be hanging out with some friends for happy hour later today. A lot of people, today was their last day at my corp. 7k voluntarily retired, and a number of them I’ve known for over 25 years. Kinda bitter sweet.

  45. 45.

    Sure Lurkalot

    @Baud:

    Of course, if we got rid the electoral college and went with a popular vote, the disconnect between financing the presidential campaign and financing state and local parties would be mitigated, since all votes would count equally.

    And voting too. How many people don’t vote at all because their vote for president doesn’t matter? Let’s start to chink away at the non-participation in our democracy.

  47. 47.

    TBone

    Going to local butcher shop to fill the freezer for a month. These are the times when I question why I am still a carnivore. But that lasts only until everything is wrapped and put away!  We’ve had a meatless couple days and could do with a pork chop or some chicken today.  Pasta is great, veggie meals are wonderful, but alas I still have to satiate my inner Bourdain.

  48. 48.

    Ken

    @Baud: I hope everyone who complained about the death of the “50 state strategy” for the last two decades takes note.

    “No, because they’re still not doing it right. Here’s my thirty-seven point analysis of what they should be doing….”

    — undoubtedly to be found on Twitter somewhere

    (Hey, is “Rose Twitter” still a thing now that the “Nazi bar” meme has become blatantly obvious?)

  49. 49.

    narya

    Cable update: apparently BOTH the cable/tivo box and the remote were bad–and I just got them in June. The repair guy was very helpful, replaced both, and said there’s no charge for the call because it’s their stuff that was bad, so that’s good. We had a chat about how so many things just don’t work, right out of the box or soon thereafter. It’s so tiresome, and tiring–but the part that bothers me the most is that I know all of that broken stuff just gets thrown into a pile, likely a landfill, somewhere.

  50. 50.

    frosty

    Weekend plans: Play an Open Mic tonight; see my brother and sister and nephews on Saturday. Do my first canvassing for Janelle Stelson to beat Scott Perry (ptui) on Sunday. And get to work on 100 new postcard addresses for CA-47.

    Balance the checkbook, pay bills, and if it ever stops raining, mow the lawn and cut back the weeds again. Etc etc.

  51. 51.

    Belafon

    @Josie: The first one kicked my butt, and I didn’t feel anything from the second. I have never felt as cold as I did when my body reacted to the first shot. I was worried I was going to break my teeth they were chattering so hard.

  52. 52.

    rikyrah

    Wendell Pierce (@WendellPierce) posted at 11:16 AM on Fri, Sep 27, 2024:
    You are absolutely correct. You shouldn’t vote for Kamala Harris or the Democrats just because we are Black. You should be selfish and vote for what’s beneficial for you.

    For Your Consideration: these were all created by Democrats and Republicans want to eliminate or privatize to corporations-
    Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Obamacare (20million with healthcare), Community Development Legislation that for decades created CDFI (Community Development Financial Institutions) that provided loans for housing and businesses to underserved communities who traditional banks discriminated against putting millions of Black folks into home ownership, creating millions of jobs and economic development in Black communities.

    I rebuilt PontchartrainPark in New Orleans with this legislation with a CDC (Community Development Corp).

    Kamala Harris plans on building on that with 25k to first time homebuyers, 50k to small business entrepreneurs.

    The Republicans plan on eliminating ALL of these investments into community.

    No alternative plans for healthcare, housing, economic development.
    Their ONLY plan is what they did before-tax cuts for the ultra wealthy. You are informed as you said. Now vote in your best interest.
    (https://x.com/WendellPierce/status/1839700579683020946?t=w44uvWvNqY_gYrmScWPbWQ&s=03)

  53. 53.

    Josie

    @Belafon: I am fascinated by all the different reactions our bodies have to the various vaccinations. It must drive the scientists crazy trying to come up with shots that work with everyone.

  55. 55.

    Hungry Joe

    POSTCARD UPDATE, etc.

    Completed another five from Ms. Joe’s batch. Picked up my new batch of 50 (target: Arizona) from our local Indivisible group, and will start on it today.

    Unscientific Yard Sign-ology: In our blue precinct in a light-blue city in a solid-blue state we don’t see a lot of President yard signs, but enough to get a decent sampling.

    Every 3-4 days Willow the Dog and I cover the whole neighborhood — two precincts — on our walks. In 2020, Biden signs outnumbered Trump signs/flags about 4-1. This year, there are (so far) no Trump signs/flags at all. Not a one. And there are about twice as many Harris signs as there were Biden signs four years ago. I hope this means something.

  57. 57.

    Jackie

    Note the WE’RE in this declaration:

    A Republican lawmaker fighting to hold onto his competitive Texas seat said Thursday he’d force a daughter to have her baby if she’d been impregnated by rape.

    Texas House Rep. John Lujan made this claim on Texas Public Radio during a lengthy interview about key campaign issues in his race against Democratic candidate Kristian Carranza.

    “If I had a daughter, and that would have been, you know, it would have been a rape,” Lujan said. “I would say no, we’re going to have the baby.”

    https://www.rawstory.com/extreme-texas-republican/

  61. 61.

    scav

    @Jackie: C’mon!  That cute little heifer has her sweet daddy’s brand all over her until he drags her down the aisle to hand over to another master.

  62. 62.

    Jackie

    @Hungry Joe:

    This year, there are (so far) no Trump signs/flags at all. Not a one. And there are about twice as many Harris signs as there were Biden signs four years ago. I hope this means something.

    I hope it’s not a false flag that there’s a lot of stealth TCFG voters ”out there.”

    I haven’t seen any political signs – so far –  in my deep dark MAGA county. Doesn’t mean they aren’t voting. Next week Oct starts. That’s when signs start popping up in correlation to mail-in ballots arriving.

  63. 63.

    frosty

    @narya: ​We had a chat about how so many things just don’t work, right out of the box or soon thereafter.

    I had the same sort of chat yesterday about a 4-year old dehumidifier that’s got an error code. Took it to our local appliance place that could troubleshoot it for $50 to see if it’s worth repairing. The service guy said let me check the parts list before we do anything else. The only parts available are the water bucket and the filter!!

    So, unrepairable. Another thing to take to the recycling center/landfill. Along with the dehumidifier I replaced, various power tools, etc.

  64. 64.

    Soprano2

    I’m glad to see they’re spending some money on the local races here in MO. If we could break the R’s supermajority they might get a little more reasonable. As it is the “regular” Republicans who seem to be in charge of the state legislature need the Democrats to help them run things, because our version of the “Freedom Caucus” throws sand in the gears of state government constantly. The reason abortion is probably going to become legal in MO again is because the state legislature (with a supermajority) couldn’t get their shit together enough this year to pass their amendment to change how the state constitution is amended!!

  68. 68.

    lowtechcyclist

    @Baud: ​
     

    I hope everyone who complained about the death of the “50 state strategy” for the last two decades takes note.

    Believe me, I noticed, and strongly approve!

    I’ve forgotten most of the things I hated about Rahm Emmanuel, but I haven’t stopped being pissed at him for replacing Howard Dean and abandoning his 50-state strategy, which was already showing its worth by 2008.

  69. 69.

    Old School

    Helene update:  A dam in North Carolina is being breached:

    Lake Lure Dam in Rutherford County, North Carolina, is currently holding even as water is cresting the dam, flowing around the side walls and structural supports have been compromised, the county’s emergency management office said in an update.

    “Evacuations have occurred from the Dam to Island Creek Road. Evacuation sirens are sounding downstream of the dam,” the office said.

    Emergency personnel are going house to house to ensure all citizens have been evacuated. Emergency shelter is available at R-S Central High School.

  70. 70.

    3Sice

    @Old School:

    Power and water out in Asheville.

    There was a rain/flood event on Wednesday in Western NC. So the ground was saturated and rivers near flood level before the tropical storm.

  72. 72.

    Maxim

    @gene108: Yes, the vaccine comes in two doses, delivered a few months apart. I think there needs to be at least a 3-month gap between the 1st and 2nd shots.

  73. 73.

    BR

    You all see this from TPM?

    Trump Camp Says State Menstrual Surveillance Programs are A-OK

    One of the most toxic and politically explosive parts of the current abortion rights debate is tied the complexities and perhaps inanities of leaving national abortion policy up to individual states. And a comment yesterday from Trump spokesman Jason Miller put the question right back into the center of the campaign.

    https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/trump-camp-says-state-menstrual-surveillance-programs-are-a-ok/sharetoken/b72cd7d4-f90a-4694-b3c1-b03fc2f574ab

  74. 74.

    lowtechcyclist

    @gene108:

    I am going to get the shingles vaccine tomorrow.

    Good choice – having had shingles, and having gotten my shingles shots since then, I can testify that shingles can be a lot nastier than the shots and their aftermath.  You’ll probably feel crummy for a day after each shingles shot, but that’s nothing compared to shingles.

  76. 76.

    lowtechcyclist

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    We are not going to reverse it all this election no matter how big a landslide we manage. It took a long time for them to do damage. It will take time to repair it.

    Then since it’s too late to start ten years ago, I’m glad we’re starting now.

  77. 77.

    lowtechcyclist

    @rikyrah:

    We do know that the Trump Bibles was a scam to get political donations from Evangelical Churches, right?

    I’d be interested in any reports of said churches buying those abominabibles, but I personally haven’t heard of it happening.

  78. 78.

    Gretchen

    My local KANSAS democratic office ordered 11,000 signs and ran out! They had to order more! We’re in suburban Kansas City, a blue dot, but still.

  79. 79.

    Scout211

    What in the world is NBC News doing polling Republicans’ and Democrats’ views on Taylor Swift!?!

    Has political polling finally jumped the shark?

    About 47% of Republicans say they view Swift negatively in a poll conducted days after her presidential endorsement, a sharp uptick from the 26% who reported viewing her negatively in NBC’s Nov. 2023 poll, the last time she was included in the survey. Just 12% of Republicans report positive attitudes toward the singer, down from 28% last year.

    Among Democrats, 58% view Swift in a positive light, a slight increase from 53% in 2023. About 26% of independents have a positive attitude toward Swift, a drop from 34% in 2023.

    This is so ridiculous, it’s ridonculous!

  80. 80.

    BR

    @Gretchen: ​

    My local KANSAS democratic office ordered 11,000 signs and ran out! They had to order more! We’re in suburban Kansas City, a blue dot, but still.

    That’s great!

    People are talking about the popular vote vs. electoral college split. Used to be a very heavy pro-GOP tilt in the electoral college and some are saying that *maybe* that has shrunk down this year — Trump may be doing better in solid blue states than before but not compensating for it with strength in swing states.

    I have had this hunch in the back of my mind that I don’t know if the data bears out: might it be that in solid blue states there are a good number of very lefty voters who are free to be lefty (because the state is solid blue and in-state politics are very progressive) who are going to protest vote against Harris, whereas in swing states and light-red states like Kansas or Iowa there’s more Dem enthusiasm than normal for Harris?

  81. 81.

    sab

    Saturday is my city’s annual marathon, so we are trapped at home for most of the day. So cooking is planned.

    Also too we just got our new bonded rescue cats on Wednesday and they are still scared, as is typical for cats in a new home. The brother ventured upstairs yesterday, met the friendly pitbull in the hall and went under the nearest bed. Last night he sneaked  back to the basement while the pitbull was sleeping, so now he is down there with his sister, all the litterboxes and half of the food and water. The other cats keep going down to do their business and to check on the new guys.

    Husband has spent a couple of hours at various points cat whispering and scritching them. They seem to not mind it.

    Right now the new guys are in a big shipping box with a door hole I cut. My husband thought that was stupid last month when I put it down in the basement.  “That’s not what a cat house is.”  I think they need a basement cat tree too. It is a nice basement- clean, dry, bright. Now that we are mostly moved in I intend to start my retirement projects down there. And would love for them to come upstairs again, but trusting a pitbull to be a sweetie is a bit too far for them at the moment.

  86. 86.

    HumboldtBlue

    I believe it was Odie Hugh Manatee who recommended I buy some plastic springs for Noodles. I did, then I had to buy some more, and then I had to buy some more. Then I checked under the stove and just pulled out about 15 springs and three soft toys.

     

    And the new TV works.

  87. 87.

    lowtechcyclist

    @TBone: ​
     

    These are the times when I question why I am still a carnivore. But that lasts only until everything is wrapped and put away! We’ve had a meatless couple days and could do with a pork chop or some chicken today. Pasta is great, veggie meals are wonderful, but alas I still have to satiate my inner Bourdain.

    We’ve got vegan friends, and that’s great for them, but I’m not gonna mend my carnivorous habits.

  88. 88.

    Old School

    @Scout211:

    What in the world is NBC News doing polling Republicans’ and Democrats’ views on Taylor Swift!?!

    Has political polling finally jumped the shark?

    Besides the political figures (Biden, Harris, Walz, Trump, Vance, RFK Jr.), NBC asked about Taylor Swift and Elon Musk.  They felt they had to do one from both sides?

  89. 89.

    Melancholy Jaques

    @lowtechcyclist:

    Then since it’s too late to start ten years ago, I’m glad we’re starting now.

    I feel like we started in 2020, maybe even before that. In my nearly 70 years, I’ve never seen the Democratic Party more united.

  90. 90.

    Matt McIrvin

    @BR: It’s always seemed to me that Republicans in deep blue states are Donald Trump’s true base. They’re so animated by loathing for everyone around them, they want to hurt their neighbors more than they want anything else in the universe, and it pleases them that Trump is so horrible that it hurts their neighbors that he even exists.

    The deep-red evangelicals came around to loving him, but in 2016 they seemed a little embarrassed.

  91. 91.

    JoyceH

    @lowtechcyclist: something I’ve never quite figured out – I’ve had the shingles vaccine but the commercials for it puzzle me. They say if you’re over 50 shingles is probably lurking inside you. But is that only if you’ve had chicken pox? And would universal chicken pox vaccination eliminate shingles?

  93. 93.

    BR

    @Matt McIrvin:

    Yeah. Here in SoCal the folks in Huntington Beach are nuts. (I think in actual voting they’re only marginally red, but the Trump supporters there are really aggressive about it.)

  95. 95.

    TBone

    Making pork tenderloin Lejon

    Boneless Pork Loin
    Dijon Mustard
    Horseradish
    Rosemary chopped
    Garlic, minced
    1 Lemon, juiced
    Salt & Pepper to taste

    Slather loin and marinate a few hours.  Wrap it in a bit of good bacon and reverse sear roast.

  97. 97.

    Old School

    @JoyceH:

    They say if you’re over 50 shingles is probably lurking inside you. But is that only if you’ve had chicken pox? And would universal chicken pox vaccination eliminate shingles?

    That’s my understanding.  Without chicken pox, you will not get shingles.

  98. 98.

    Jeffro

    plans for tonight: Mrs Fro and I are here in Ocean City for night 1 of the “Oceans Calling” music festival 😳

    plans for the rest of the weekend: recover 😁

    🎶🕺🎸🎶

  99. 99.

    3Sice

    @Scout211:

    All I’m saying is Tortured Poets is a bit thin in material. As double albums inevitably are (Clash excepted); it’s best to use live cuts to fill them out.

  100. 100.

    sab

    @Geminid: Rude gloating jackals didn’t help. I was on both sides of that fence, but I could see both sides. My husband couldn’t and he is still furious (he really likes Harris) and he will never read LGM again. Fortunately he has never read our comments for fear of reading mine.

  101. 101.

    Anoniminous

    @JoyceH:

    Shingles and chicken pox are caused by the varicella-zoster virus.  After you’ve had chickenpox, the virus stays in your body for the rest of your life.  Even if you’ve been vaccinated for chicken pox and have never gotten the disease there’s still a chance the virus can manifest as shingles.

    Note:  Herpes zoster is the scientific name of shingles, not the causal virus.

  103. 103.

    sab

    @Old School: Who before the vaccine never got chicken pox? I always got everything full blown. My siblings just got sniffles and slight fevers. But they probably got it all. When I had full blown mumps they got fevers and slight headaches.

  108. 108.

    Old School

    @sab: @Spanky:

    I know.  When I was a kid, we were advised to expose children to chickenpox as the symptoms were worse for adults.  Get it out of the way!

  111. 111.

    TBone

    @JPL: was out of fresh lemon to juice so used a goodly splash of white wine instead and it smells great marinating.  Reverse searing is a favorite for pork, never results in dry yuk if you rest it 5 mins. between the 250° roasting (30 mins.) and the crispy sear in a hot saute pan.

  112. 112.

    Anoniminous

    More than most people care to know: A comparison of herpes simplex virus type 1 and varicella-zoster virus latency and reactivation

    ABSTRACT
    Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1; human herpesvirus 1) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV; human herpesvirus 3) are human neurotropic alphaherpesviruses that cause lifelong infections in ganglia. Following primary infection and establishment of latency, HSV-1 reactivation typically results in herpes labialis (cold sores), but can occur frequently elsewhere on the body at the site of primary infection (e.g. whitlow), particularly at the genitals. Rarely, HSV-1 reactivation can cause encephalitis; however, a third of the cases of HSV-1 encephalitis are associated with HSV-1 primary infection. Primary VZV infection causes varicella (chickenpox) following which latent virus may reactivate decades later to produce herpes zoster (shingles), as well as an increasingly recognized number of subacute, acute and chronic neurological conditions. Following primary infection, both viruses establish a latent infection in neuronal cells in human peripheral ganglia. However, the detailed mechanisms of viral latency and reactivation have yet to be unravelled. In both cases latent viral DNA exists in an ‘end-less’ state where the ends of the virus genome are joined to form structures consistent with unit length episomes and concatemers, from which viral gene transcription is restricted.

    & so on & so on

  113. 113.

    CaseyL

    I think I got every vaccine there was to get as a kid, because I never got any of the usual childhood communicable diseases.   Since I did get the chicken pox vax, I have the proper titers, and was able to get my shingles shots a couple years ago.  I don’t remember any reaction other than a sore arm.

    Early next month, I go in for a flu shot and the latest Covid booster/vaccine.  I haven’t had a strong reaction to any such jabs thus far, dating all the way back to the first Covid shot, but based on what other people have been saying about them, I might want gird my loins and expect to feel lousy for a day.

  116. 116.

    mali muso

    @Steve LaBonne: ​
     I also did not get exposed to it until my late teens (spent most of my childhood in SE Asia where we were exposed to other things like malaria and TB but not chickenpox). I remember being pretty miserable when I came down with it at age 16 back in the STates. And I got a fair number of super itchy sores as well.
    I’m not old enough yet for the shingles vaccine but plan to get it as soon as I hit the eligibility age.

  117. 117.

    Spanky

    Looks on radar like Helene’s been ripped apart. Most is in the Ohio Valley, but a big chunk is flowing north through the NC and VA Tidewater. Looks like it’ll hit us in MD in a couple of hours.

  120. 120.

    sab

    @Mousebumples: A more professional guy would have filmed her drowning. “The story should not be about the reporter.” Hope he gets a book out of this, but he doesn’t seem the type.

  121. 121.

    realbtl

    I’m one of those oddballs (b. 1948) who didn’t get chickenpox as a child. Had a mild case in my 50s after exposure to my wife’s shingles outbreak. Always get the booster.

  122. 122.

    Mark’s Bubbie

    @TBone: I hear ya. But maybe give meatless a few months and see what you think? Personally I would not go back to eating meat (though I do eat fish occasionally) — I am generally in a better mood, sleep better, poop better, have lost weight. Could be just me.

  124. 124.

    Geminid

    @Jeffro: Have any Maryland Democrats asked you yet to help knock out Larry Hogan like you did Bob Good? Requested selfies?

    But maybe you’re traveling incognito.

  126. 126.

    TBone

    @Mark’s Bubbie: if I were single that would fly, but I live with a meat & taters limey type white guy (raised that way) who relies on my prowess in the kitchen or he’d have PB&J for supper.  All things in moderation is now my family motto – mom was a health food nut from the 70s on through and dad died of colon cancer anyhow.  That taught me to abhor deprivation.

  131. 131.

    lowtechcyclist

    @JoyceH:

    something I’ve never quite figured out – I’ve had the shingles vaccine but the commercials for it puzzle me. They say if you’re over 50 shingles is probably lurking inside you. But is that only if you’ve had chicken pox? And would universal chicken pox vaccination eliminate shingles?

    I honestly don’t know. I did have chicken pox as a kid, fwiw.

  134. 134.

    Josie

    @JoyceH: ​
     If you had chicken pox, they think it is lurking inside you to turn into shingles. If you didn’t have chicken pox, it would not be there. I have no idea what the effect would be if everyone got the chickenpox vaccination. It’s a good question.

  136. 136.

    Maxim

    @CaseyL: I got both flu and Covid booster on the same day a couple of weeks ago, and while I didn’t feel ill per se, I was quite fatigued the following day.

  137. 137.

    BR

    I have a really cynical comment but it is what it is: Netanyahu is making a huge political mistake drawing Iran into his violence. Bibi wants to split the Dem coalition, and violence against defenseless people in Gaza was doing that. It’s horrible and he was using it for political ends both domestically to delay his own legal troubles and to hurt Biden/Harris.

    Whereas escalating in Lebanon to the point of bringing Iran into the fight, which it sounds like is about to happen, is not going to split the Dem coalition. Iran is a regional military power — hell even Russia is dependent upon Iran for weapons right now. Iranian-Americans hate the Iranian government. There’s no constituency for pro-Iran protesting in the US, and while a Iran-Israel proxy war or hot war is terrible for people living in the Middle East, it won’t split the Dem coalition.

  138. 138.

    TBone

    Isn’t the shingles vaccine unnecessary if you never had an infection with chicken pox?  I got the pox as a child and got the shingles already so didn’t bother with a vaccine for something I already suffered.  But if you never had the infection to begin with, why get the vaccine?  How could it be preventative?

  145. 145.

    Redshift

    @pacem appellant:

    But a national campaign that is sharing with targeted local campaigns I can get behind. That’s the point of the DNC. It’s good to see it being used as a force for good for once in my lifetime.

    While it can be confusing, the DNC isn’t the Harris campaign, and the source of this money isn’t the Harris campaign’s billion dollars of contributions (or at least not directly; they may well be donating some of that to the DNC.)

    One of the functions of the DNC is party-building, and I’ve read they do give quite a bit to state parties (and federal candidates, too.) But what makes this transfer special, in my opinion, is they’re not just giving in places where we can win now, they’re building everywhere.

    Jaime Harrison spoke at a post-midterm event for volunteers, and one of the things that stuck with me was when he talked about competing in all the states and territories. I’m glad to know he meant it.

  147. 147.

    rikyrah

    You being tag-teamed by SDNY and the Manhattan DA.
    Uh Uh Uh

    Molly Crane-Newman (@molcranenewman) posted at 2:03 PM on Fri, Sep 27, 2024:
    NEWS: Senior Mayor Adams adviser Ingrid Lewis Martin has been served with a subpoena from the SDNY and her phones have been seized by Manhattan DA investigators, according to her lawyer Arthur Aidala. She was not home, but her family members were.

     

    Molly Crane-Newman (@molcranenewman) posted at 2:15 PM on Fri, Sep 27, 2024:
    ***she was not home during a raid on her Brooklyn home

    The feds have subpoenaed her for testimony and documents

    DA Bragg’s office got the search warrant and seized her phones

    Molly Crane-Newman (@molcranenewman) posted at 2:24 PM on Fri, Sep 27, 2024:
    State investigators seized her phone at JFK as she arrived back from a trip to Japan, according to her lawyer.

     

    Molly Crane-Newman (@molcranenewman) posted at 2:35 PM on Fri, Sep 27, 2024:
    The feds were ALSO waiting at JFK for Lewis Martin’s return to serve her with the subpoena.

    Molly Crane-Newman (@molcranenewman) posted at 2:58 PM on Fri, Sep 27, 2024:
    Lewis Martin found out state investigators were searching her place when they took her phone at the airport, per her lawyer

    “She will cooperate fully with any and all investigations and Ms. Lewis is not the target of any case which we are aware,” Aidala said
    (https://x.com/molcranenewman/status/1839756517039341709?t=ftoFBCVFautWrrYg1lOW_g&s=03)

     

    Frank G. Runyeon (@frankrunyeon) posted at 2:41 PM on Fri, Sep 27, 2024:
    The involvement of @ManhattanDA is remarkable. This is a state raid on another top Mayor Adams aide … the same day of Adams’ *federal* corruption arraignment.

    The DANY electronics seizure and SDNY subpoena were *separate events*, Lewis-Martin’s atty tells me.
    (https://x.com/frankrunyeon/status/1839752237385482570?t=0AULONQPYTNQShXEKpgHLg&s=03)

  148. 148.

    rikyrah

    Zelensky met with the Orange Menace because he had no choice.

     

    Tiff4Mahogany_44  NATO MEMBER (@tiff4mahogany) posted at 2:36 PM on Fri, Sep 27, 2024:
    I love how people think he had a choice.

    Some of you guys aren’t serious.

    He’s supposed to alienate his next possible arms dealer?

    MAGA has turned this into a political issue, so he has to play this dumb ass game.

    You people are pretending to not know that.
    (https://x.com/tiff4mahogany/status/1839750975038353592?t=np-btmQGkqk0Fnut59DvLA&s=03)

  151. 151.

    Soprano2

    @TBone: You should get the vaccine even if you had shingles once, because it can prevent a recurrence. Eventually most people will be vaccinated for chicken pox, so there will be much less need for the shingles vaccine.

  152. 152.

    sab

    @Belafon: Good for her. I mean that sincerely. I was born in 1954. If  I’d missed the first round whenever, I am sure I would have gotten the next.

    Your wife had half the exposure I had, being a generation later on exposure. So good for her and I am glad she missed it.

  154. 154.

    Geminid

    @sab: That controversy hit some people much harder than others. Odie Hugh Manatee has a special needs son who has been discriminated against unfairly on a presumption of mental deficiency. Odie believed Biden was being treated unfairly and that may have hit him where it hurts.

    I hope Odie comes back though.

  155. 155.

    TBone

    @Soprano2: 👍 I came to that realization in a very slow manner today, thank you and all others who enlightened me while I was getting into a snit about the orange anus not being hogtied and taken to a memory care facility today.

  157. 157.

    Sister Golden Bear

    Wanna-be slave owners are terrified of a slave revolt + more projection that an IMAX multiplex.

    Charlie Kirk: Haitian Immigrants “Will Become Your Masters”

    “Emily, just so we’re clear, the Haitians that are in Huntsville that are raping your women and hunting you down at night — it’s only gonna get worse if — unless Donald Trump wins.

    “There will be hundreds of thousands of Haitians brought into Alabama, and they will become your masters.” – Charlie Kirk.

  159. 159.

    cain

    @BR: menstrual surveillance. Will the rubes be ok withe huge amount of taxes that will require every woman of menstrual age – what happens when they stop? Will they need to register with the govt that they are peri-menupause?

    This is fucking ‘1984’ level bullshit. We are on our way to have the same kind of police who run around in Iran and Afghanistan getting into women business.

  164. 164.

    A Man for All Seasonings (formerly Geeno)

    Birthday weekend (today’s the actual day) – I am doing as little as I can get away with.

  166. 166.

    Ken

    And the nominees in the “most unfortunate timing” category…

    I was watching Colbert’s monologue from last night, and just as he delivered the line “Sam Elliott did a swear, it reminds me of that famous Reagan ad” — YouTube cut to an ad for a local Democratic political candidate.

    (For certain values of “local” — since I don’t activate geolocation, it seems to work off my ISP which is several miles away in a different district.)

  167. 167.

    Steve LaBonne

    @Sister Golden Bear: I have met over the years several Haitians who have come to this country to escape violence and build a better life for themselves and their families. They are the fucking salt of the earth. I am enthusiastically in favor of putting them in charge. I also have some ideas about Charlie Kirk, but this is a family blog.

  170. 170.

    Geminid

    @BR: You could be right on your basic point, but I will point out that Iran has been building its “Axis of Resistance” for over a decade, and they have said many times that its purpose is armed conflict with Israel.

    Iran supplied the rockets Hamas and Hezbollah has been shooting into Israel since October 7. They gave missiles to the Houthis to attack shipping and kill sailors in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, and they supplied the drone that killed three American soldiers in Jordan this Spring.

    So I think Israel isn’t dragging Iran into this war so much as Iran and its proxies are getting the fight they’ve been pushing for years.

  172. 172.

    Kosh III

    @Sure Lurkalot: “How many people don’t vote at all because their vote for president doesn’t matter? ”

    That was me in 2016. I voted for the Green Party candidates because I could feel better supporting a party that at least tries to match my principles.  Hilary was getting 38% of the vote. My vote didn[‘t matter.

  173. 173.

    Scout211

    Re: Shingles vaccine.

    An older shingles vaccine, Zostavax was discontinued after Shingrix was released.  Zostavax was found to last 10 years or fewer and also was found to be much less effective than it was supposed to be.

    My husband got a case of shingles simetime after he had the Zostavax vaccine. It was a very mild case, but still frustrating.  He later got the Shingrix vaccine.

    So if you don’t think you need the current Shingrix vaccine because you got the Zostavax years ago, think again.

  174. 174.

    JoyceH

    @Sister Golden Bear: Wowwww. Haiti staged the only successful slave revolt in history and the western world has never forgiven them for it.

    On the childhood ailments topic, my sister and I both got measles, mumps and chicken pox, all in second grade. We were both sick with the ailment of the day simultaneously, so at least we could be tended as a batch lot. How long ago was this? Well, the doctor came to the house with his little black bag, very Marcus Welby.

  176. 176.

    Kosh III

    I didn’t find how little the DNC sent to Tennessee. We’ve suffered under a R supermajority for 14 years with no end in sight.

  177. 177.

    Splitting Image

    @cain:

    Can’t wait to hear how the New York Times will write about this.

    “Trump outlines his plan to end Ukrainian fighting in meeting with Zelenskyy”

    by Ken Vogel

    Or if they are ambitious:

    “Trump outlines his plan to end intra-Russian conflict in meeting with Ukrainian rebel leader Zelenskyy”

  178. 178.

    Eunicecycle

    @Scout211: I also had the old vaccine and my doctor advised getting the new one. I think he said the old one was only 40% effective while the new one was about 70%.

  179. 179.

    Geminid

    @Geminid: This morning Israeli forces struck what they say is Hezbollah’s headquarters in southern Beirut. They obliterated at least two apartment buildings to get at the bunker complex below, so there were many civilian casualties.

    Unconfirmed reports say Hezbollah chief Nasrallah is dead along with more Hezbollah leaders. Ankara-based security reporter Levent Kemal reposted a picture of Syrian residents of Idlib celebrating Nasrallah’s death and commented:

      Hezbollah killed thousands of civilians in Syria. Syrians are celebrating the possible death of Nasrallah, who said “the road to Jerusalem leads through Syria and I will fight myself if neccesary.”

  180. 180.

    Citizen Alan

    @Mousebumples: it is a testament to how much contempt I have for fox news that I am genuinely shocked that any of their employees would lift a finger to help someone in need, let alone potentially risk their life to do so. I wonder if the murdochs, we’ll hear about this and fire him on general principle.

  181. 181.

    Citizen Alan

    @Spanky: al almost half a century later, I still have vivid memories of staying home from school for a week being miserable with itchiness and having nothing to do all day but get addicted to Dark Shadows.

  182. 182.

    Citizen Alan

    @TBone: i could not bear to watch any of the videos, but in the screenshot, it looks like zelensky is blinking “help me” in morse code.

  183. 183.

    anastasio beaverhausen

    Still struggling to register to vote in South Dakota.  My husband and I are getting the proverbial pie in the face from Leah Anderson, the County Auditor for Minnehaha County (Sioux Falls.)  We went there in June, got driver’s licenses and were specifically warned that we would be subject to jury duty, even if living abroad.  But when it comes to registering to vote she is telling us you have to be “a resident” for 30 days, without specifying what residence entails.  Feet on the ground?  Having legal residence, i.e. a driver’s license?  She’s being vague because state law is contradictory and probably unconstitutional.  She keeps telling us to go back to the federal government website and register in Virginia.  The owner of the mail forwarding service in SD says the auditor is getting hundreds of applications from people like us.  I am very frustrated and itchin’ for a lawsuit.  This isn’t right and it’s a matter of principle.  Any suggestions?  Almost worth getting doxxed to change it.

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