Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

There are more Russians standing up to Putin than Republicans.

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

DeSantis transforming Florida into 1930s Germany with gators and theme parks.

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

The rest of the comments were smacking Boebert like she was a piñata.

Not all heroes wear capes.

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

Fear or fury? The choice is ours.

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

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

75% of people clapping liked the show!

Disagreements are healthy; personal attacks are not.

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

They don’t have outfits that big. nor codpieces that small.

They are not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.

The National Guard is not Batman.

How any woman could possibly vote for this smug smarmy piece of misogynistic crap is beyond understanding.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

We need to vote them all out and restore sane Democratic government.

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

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

Reader Interactions

47Comments

  5. 5.

    WTFGhost

    Both for this reason, and because our tub *looks* like a place a cat could stand, we have an absolute rule: no kitties get any attention in the bathroom. It doesn’t keep them *out* but some of them walk in, and walk *right* back over the threshold for pets, so we taught them part of the right lesson.

    (We have one of those tubs that used to have flat tops to the side of the tub, but over the years, it’s worn quite smooth, and porcelain doesn’t have much purchase for cat claws. You can write your own horror movie, just from this, can’t you?)

  6. 6.

    ArchTeryx

    I approve. Voidcats (i.e. black cats) are loaded with personality. Some of them can be quite spicy, but some are every bit as sweet as oranges… but with more brain cells.

    They don’t bring bad luck. You stare long into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you and meows for treats.

  7. 7.

    Belafon

    I have a year old dog that might have a lot of rat terrier in him. Same vibe. If you try to leave him alone, he will find something you like to tear up.

  8. 8.

    rikyrah

    The Institute of Museum and Library Services has placed its entire staff on administrative leave.

    The IMLS is a relatively small federal agency, with around 70 employees, that awards grant funding to museums and libraries across the United States.

    This month, President Trump named Keith E. Sonderling — the deputy secretary of labor — the new acting director of IMLS. This followed Trump’s previous executive order shrinking seven federal agencies, including the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

    According to a statement from AFGE Local 3403, which represents IMLS workers, the agency’s staff was notified by email about being placed on paid administrative leave for up to 90 days, after a “brief meeting between DOGE staff and IMLS leadership.” Employees had to turn in government property, and email accounts were disabled.

    npr.org/2025/03/31/nx-s1-5334415/doge-institute-of-museum-and-library-services

  9. 9.

    WTFGhost

    Man. I can’t believe I called a duly elected Congresswoman “Majoreen” in another thread, to compare her with “Magarine,” only, you know, oilier and more disgusting. Ms. Green, I apologize profusely if your new name is “Majoreen”. It’s cruel and…

    Ahem.

    It’s cruel and BWAH HA HA HA HA oh-mer-god, I knew I’d never get that out with a straight face. The nick isn’t that funny, but apologizing? Profusely? Wow.

  10. 10.

    opiejeanne

    John, this is very true of cats. They really like to visit you when you’re busy in the bathroom, and far too interested in the tub until they fall in when there’s water in it.

    @rikyrah: They are monsters. Two people I know who work in health care programs at the state and federal level have had their departments closed in the past couple of days.

  11. 11.

    WTFGhost

    @ArchTeryx: The “don’t let a black cat cross your path,” is actually a very different meme, I believe.

    The black cats I’ve known have all been the type who will get in front of you, unless you learn to prod (well, “gently kick”) them forward, so they learn to stay well ahead of you.

    If you haven’t taught a black cat to be afraid of feet, I’ve seen too many who could trip you up – no malice intended, just, soft fuzzy at the ankles, and you stumble, because you don’t know where to put your feet.

    So: I think (guess) that “it’s bad luck for a black cat to cross your path” just means precisely, don’t let them cross, where you intend to step, or, they might nuzzle rather than get out of the way.

  12. 12.

    Poodle Mom (fka KM in NS)

    Standard Poodles also like to accompany their hoomans into the bathroom. They take up a lot of space.

  13. 13.

    suzanne

    Just imagine when you have a toddler plus a cat. You have an audience for every poop.

  14. 14.

    Mousebumples

    I’m at work, so just a quick drive by comment – this is Election Day in Wisconsin (and for some FL House specials). If you’re eligible to vote, please do so!

    I’m Wisconsin, I recommend –

    • Susan Crawford (SCOWIS)
    • Jill Underly (State Superintendent)
    • No on the Constitutional Amendment

    There are probably also local races.

    Polls in Wisconsin are open until 8pm central. Go to myvote.wi.gov to find your polling place and what else is on your ballot.

    Thanks to everyone who helped with GOTV!

  15. 15.

    ArchTeryx

    @WTFGhost: That’s really all cats. Our orange is AWFUL with getting underfoot. We learned fast to step in a way that if our foot made contact, we’d gently punt the cat instead of kick him. He’s a Bumble. He bounces.

  16. 16.

    Chief Oshkosh

    @rikyrah: From the article:

    Steve Potash is the CEO of OverDrive, which distributes digital products such as audiobooks, e-books and movies to libraries. He said in an interview that small and rural libraries will be most affected by cuts to federal funding.

    “When a public library which has growing demand for their online and digital materials is getting any kind of budget cuts, hard decisions have to be made,” said Potash.

    Looks like another tactic for dumbing down rural communities; this’ll keep ’em down of the (mega-corp) farm. It’s so sad for the children – sure their parents may have voted for this, but the kids sure didn’t.

  17. 17.

    Jeffro

    NYT has up a piece showing the federal job cuts by agency:

    • 56,290 confirmed jobs cut

    • about 75,000 employees who took buyouts

    • 171,080 more planned job cuts

    Actual quote:

    “Tens of thousands of employees across the federal government have left their jobs, been put on leave, or been fired as part of the government-gutting initiative of the Trump administration and billionaire Elon Musk…

    …the so-called Department of Government Efficiency – created by executive order – has circumvented a Republican-controlled Congress, which has chosen not to check its authority.”

    (bold mine, obvs)

    Keep going, Times…you’re sounding more like me every day!  (minus the f-bombs)

  18. 18.

    oldgold

    Yahoo Finance April 1, 2025 at 12:50 PM

    US manufacturing slips into contraction as costs surge, pressured by Trump’s tariffs.

    Data out Tuesday showed activity in the manufacturing sector slipped into contraction for the first time this year and costs continued to surge as suppliers weigh the impact of President Trump’s tariff policy.

    The Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing PMI registered a reading of 49.0 in March, down from February’s 50.3 reading and below the 49.5 economists polled by Bloomberg had expected. Readings above 50 for this index indicate an expansion in activity, while readings below 50 indicate a contraction.

    The prices paid index surged to 69.4, up from 62.4 the month prior and the highest reading since June 2022, reflecting companies’ continued increase in costs. Economists had expected a reading of 64.6.

    Shortly following the data’s release, the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s GDPNow tracker, which analyzes incoming data points, signaled negative growth of 3.7% in Q1, an escalation of the prior negative 2.8% reading.

    Congress do your damn job and stop this madness!

  19. 19.

    A Ghost to Most

    Since my cat passed away, I have been commandeered by my son’s cat. I get a lot less done after being a catlap for 3-4 hours. That cat sure picked right when she walked up to my son on a Denver street.

  22. 22.

    satby

    So true. No matter where I sit down, eventually 3 or 4 will try to join me on the same chair.

  23. 23.

    Spanky

    Speaking of both cats and April Fool’s, many years ago we were gifted the book Why Cats Paint, and I still can’t tell whether – or how much of – the book is a joke.

  25. 25.

    Death Panel Truck

    Cole, I see your cat and raise you two cocker spaniels. I haven’t been alone since 2013. Our oldest dog is nearly deaf and partially blind, and he follows me everywhere I go. He’s afraid to be alone, so I make sure he rarely is. The younger dog has to be in the center of everything, because he’s a diva.

  26. 26.

    Andrew Abshier

    It’s called “helping,” and it’s in the Cat Job Description.  When I shower, I have at least one shower attendant waiting outside, often two (of two).

  28. 28.

    JBWoodford

    I’ve got two kitties who think that if you’re in the bathroom it’s the perfect time to come sit on your lap or jump onto your shoulders. And Dog forbid you should close the door when you’re about your business–then you get little paddy-paws reaching under it, protesting meows, and like that.

  29. 29.

    catclub

    I think of it as cats having no consideration of personal space, except their own.
    Pat a cat once too many and they will remind you.

  35. 35.

    kindness

    It’s the dog here as to why I can’t leave the bathroom door open when I’m in there.

  36. 36.

    CarolPW

    @JBWoodford: We had a Siamese who would come into the bathroom and jump onto my ex’s shoulder while he was peeing, causing some aiming mishaps.

  38. 38.

    zhena gogolia

    @NotMax: lol

    We have an old house where the doors do not shut well. They are no match for any cat.

    We’ve been cat-less for quite a while, but I’m lobbying.

  39. 39.

    Salty Sam

    So, I was impressed with that “Cod/Chorizo/Chickpeas/Greens” recipe that Betty Cracker posted sometime last week.   Made it over the weekend, and it was delicious!

    But when I was cutting the cod filet into portions, I must’ve gotten a bit sloppy.  Cod drainage got loose, our house now smells like the dumpster behind the bait shop at the marina when we lived on the coast. 😫

    Have I mentioned we live in a THOW (Tiny Home on Wheels, an 8’x24’ trailerhome).  There is nowhere in our living space to escape the smell!

    Time for a douche!

  40. 40.

    noncarborundum

    Looks exactly like one of my cats, who wants you to know that there’s nothing more important in the world than feeding him RIGHT NOW, no matter how committed you are to finishing up what you’re currently engaged in.

  41. 41.

    Chacal Charles Calthrop

    @Mr. Bemused Senior: I was looking for one of these images!  There used to be a video of two green eyes in the empty void and then there’s a pink tongue doing the meep.  Can’t find it on Reddit anymore.

    @Andrew Abshier: This is because they scent you up and then you wash that off in the shower so it needs to be done over.  They need to make sure that you’ve been properly marked so every other cat knows that this human is already claimed.

    Love the Maxwell pic.

  43. 43.

    columbusqueen

    My black cat Smoky loves to fling himself on the rug after escorting me into the bathroom. I tell him he has a death wish, but he remains undeterred.

    The real master of boundary crossing was our late gray tuxie Tristan. He followed Mike into the bathroom & hopped up in Mike’s pants when he sat down. It drove Mike nuts, especially since Tristan was like a cockleburr & refused to budge.

  44. 44.

    ThresherK

    My wife always had a cat. In our time together there were three, and each one acquired the habit of sitting on the vanity in the bathroom while she took her morning shower.

    I’ve watched her get approval from cats over the course of three-plus decades. It’s a signal that she was a wonderful person.

Comments are closed.