Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

ā€¦ riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

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

Dumb motherfuckers cannot understand a consequence that most 4 year olds have fully sorted out.

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

Well, whatever it is, itā€™s better than being a Republican.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

Our messy unity will be our strength.

Thatā€™s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

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

Welcome to day five of every-bit-as-bad-as-you-thought-it-would-be.

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

Republicans donā€™t want a speaker to lead them; they want a hostage.

When youā€™re a Republican, they let you do it.

But frankly mr. cole, Iā€™ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

Trumpflation is an intolerable hardship for every American, and itā€™s Trumpā€™s fault.

Giving up is unforgivable.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

Insiders who complain to politico: please report to the white house office of shut the fuck up.

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

Everything is totally normal and fine!!!

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Take hopelessness and turn it into resilience.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Failure to Launch (Open Thread)

Failure to Launch (Open Thread)

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This post is in: 

This young hawk is capable of flying around and making a play for lizards, etc. — I’ve seen it in action. But mostly, it wants its meals delivered.

Fledged Red-Shouldered Hawk still wants parents to be DoorDash. šŸŖ¶

[image or embed]

— Betty Cracker of Florida (@bettycrackerfl.bsky.social) May 18, 2025 at 2:14 PM

I understand completely. The only thing I miss about living in town is food delivery.

Open thread!

Reader Interactions

119Comments

  7. 7.

    scav

    Pair of Bald Eagles here spend about half of every other nesting period chasing off last years progeny who clearly equate spring with breakfast in bed.

  8. 8.

    Miss Bianca

    Wow, all the insect sounds on your video, Betty! I almost forget how much “buggier” other parts of the country are compared to Colorado!

  9. 9.

    John Cole

    I was going to post an open thread saying I am sick of everyone’s bullshit (not the people here but everywhere else) but this thread is still fresh so I will say it here so it is written down for posterity.

  12. 12.

    Nukular Biskits

    Seeing BettyC’s bird photo above reminded me of a ruckus here at the House of Biskits yesterday.

    Was sitting on the porch taking a break and heard all kinds of screeching, squawking and other forms of “bird yelling”.Ā  Turns out that apparently a pair of mockingbirds have a nest in one of oak trees the HOA planted along the roadway just outside our fence and they were taking great offense to a swallow-tailed kite landing either in the tree or on the fence.

    Wish I could have gotten a photo.

  13. 13.

    Jeffro

    our bluebird brood is about to fledge soon! Ā very exciting

    we also saw two indigo buntings on our morning walk today (and one teeny tiny little eft!)

  16. 16.

    kwAwk

    My thoughts for today.Ā  I do think Che and Jost are in the discussion for best SNL weekend update anchors ever.Ā  I would hope though that when Jost takes over show running next year we can get a cold open that isn’t Trump?Ā  Did this whole season have one cold open that wasn’t Trump?Ā  Ā I don’t get though why comedians are so sure Democrats will never win another election.Ā  We’ve won 3 of the last 5.Ā  Probably should have won all 5.

    And for people that say Trump isn’t Hitler, well he’s not 1945 Hitler.Ā  Ā Hitler spent the first 8 years in office trying to make life so miserable for the Jews that they’d leave on their own accord, does that sound familar?Ā  Ā Trump isn’t a Nazi, that much is true, but he surely is a fascist.Ā  Ā Convincing people that Germany can be Great Again!Ā  Ā Oops sorry I mean America.Ā  Ā Again he isn’t Hitler 1945, he’s an earlier version of Hitler who hasn’t yet talked the German people into giving up their democracy.

    And honestly, it’s a failure of education, and possibly the blame the Jews a little bit here, that people think that the only reason Hitler was bad was that he killed 6 million Jews.Ā  Ā Yes that is particularly bad but it ignores the tens of millions of other people Hitler killed.Ā  Ā Gays, Romani, Poles, Russians, French British, American and yes Germans.

    It’s not the fact that Trump has killed people that reminds people of Hitler, it’s the other tactics.Ā  The scapegoating of racial minorities and people on the left.Ā  The breakdown of the norms and traditions of government.Ā  The convincing the average person that they’ve been betrayed by the leadership of the country.Ā  The eyeballing the lands of other countries and threats of invasion both military and/or coercion.Ā  Ā  He’s not Hitler 1945, he’s Hiter pre-1939.Ā  Neither are good things.

    If Trump does intend to try to serve a 3rd, we have the right to know now if he’s serious or not, because it’s not a fucking joke.Ā  Ā It’s fair game to say you want to repeal the 22nd amendment, the Constitution can be changed, but to hint at finding loopholes to an amendment who’s intent was and is crystal clear for the benefit of one man isn’t right.Ā  If you want to throw the game open for everyone, fair enough, but declare it now so anyone can do it, either in 28 or beyond.

  19. 19.

    Eyeroller

    The parent birds usually handle this by ignoring the young until the kids get reallly hungry and start trying to do something for themselves. Nonmigratory species may stay together as a family through the winter, but everybody pulls his or her own weight.Ā  No basements or free pizzas available.Ā  Even corvids expect the young to learn to forage for themselves, and some corvids will stay in family groups for years.

    There are a few species where it can be a bit comical, if one sex is larger than the other.Ā  I specifically remember common grackles from when I lived in Texas years ago.Ā  In the spring one could often see a large male following a smaller female, gaping and flapping and crying to no avail as mom ignored him.

  20. 20.

    Redshift

    Reminds me of when I realized that sparrows don’t instinctively know that breadcrumbs are food, and have to learn it. I was sitting out at lunch and people were feeding the sparrows. There was a fledgling among them, begging like the rest. I tossed a crumb to it, and it ignored it and peeped at me “everyone else is getting food, I want some!”

    Fortunately, it was still young enough that the adults would instinctively stuff for in its mouth, so it soon got its breadcrumb anyway.

  21. 21.

    Suzanne

    Busy day. Went running, Spawn soccer game, did chores, took SuzMom to the pet cremation place, went to hardware store.

    That little dog hated me, and everyone else who wasn’t SuzMom. Iā€™m gonna miss her anyway,

  22. 22.

    comrade scotts agenda of rage

    More gear work for Girls Rock Denver as we move from one storage unit to another.Ā  My wife’s massive organization skillz are very hard at work.

    We literally have a wall o’ amps that we just stacked up after last year’s camp (our first year, we didn’t know shit).Ā  I’m now sorting them.Ā  Pulled out 11 bass amps alone today.Ā  And the amount of band PA gear they have is overkill.

  23. 23.

    narya

    Making four pots of beans (two pots at a time); new Rancho Gordo shipment coming soon, so I have to make a dent in the stash. About to go plant some more seeds; the ones I planted two weeks ago are popping up, but I still have some empty pots and some dirt and seeds to put in them. Dinner tonight: venison, kohlrabi (probably sliced thin and roasted, with scallions, maybe a little lemon), wine-and-butter soaked mushrooms, and potatoes (either baked red-skinned potatoes or some gnocchi out of the freezer), with leftover apple cake with brown sugar frosting. Still have to exercise, too. Oh, also too: I finally did go get an MMR shot the other day.

  25. 25.

    trollhattan

    Checking in with Kentucky’s junior senator.

    ā€œWell, tariffs are taxes, and when you put a tax on a business, itā€™s always passed through as a cost. So, there will be higher prices. The only trade that means anything is the individual who buys something. Thatā€™s the only real trade. And that by very definition, if itā€™s voluntary, is mutually beneficial, or the trade doesnā€™t occur.ā€

    Uh, thanks Rand, just don’t know if that is approved by your party so watch your topknot/thing on your head.

  28. 28.

    JoyceH

    @Baud:Ā ā€‹
     

    A bored America still covets Trump.

    REALLY? From my perspective, people are sick of him. He’s always there, always saying stupid things, and just when you think he’s moved on from one crisis, boom, he brings it right back.

    I live in a RUBY red county and I’m seeing the Trump signs come down. Not the ‘election is over’ sign removal. The ‘had the signs up since 2016’ sign removal. These are the Ride Or Die Trumpists, and maybe they died because they sure ain’t riding anymore. I can’t remember the last time I saw a pickup with a big stupid Trump flag flying, and I used to not be able to drive from home to the Y without seeing one.

  29. 29.

    zhena gogolia

    @JoyceH: Yeah, I’m not getting the feeling that the populace is loving him. But the press? Oh, yeah. They love him. They’ll love him until he carts them off, and then it will be too late.

  30. 30.

    Baud

    @JoyceH:

    I don’t know. People were saying similar things in the run-up to the election, that people were tired of him. They weren’t. He gives people content to fill their empty lives with. Even if people love to hate him, they still need him.

  32. 32.

    JoyceH

    @zhena gogolia:Ā ā€‹
     

    But the press? Oh, yeah. They love him.

    Really? What press do you consume? I see a lot of coverage of him, but most of it seems to be covering the fact that he’s wrong on the law, he’s defying the courts, and he’s on a dangerous path. Covering Trump is not loving him, sometimes it’s sounding the alarm. I watch a lot of CNN and I’m not seeing a lot of love there.

  33. 33.

    zhena gogolia

    @JoyceH: I consume no press other than what I see on here or “kind” friends tell me about. For example, I would have been oblivious about Chris Murphy’s betrayal of Biden if a friend hadn’t told me about it at lunch on Friday and ruined my day.

  35. 35.

    Betty Cracker

    @kwAwk:

    And honestly, itā€™s a failure of education, and possibly the blame the Jews a little bit hereā€¦

    No. Just no. (I hope Iā€™m misinterpreting your meaning here.)

    ā€¦that people think that the only reason Hitler was bad was that he killed 6 million Jews.Ā  Ā Yes that is particularly bad but it ignores the tens of millions of other people Hitler killed.Ā  Ā Gays, Romani, Poles, Russians, French British, American and yes Germans.

    I know some pig-ignorant people but no one who thinks ā€œthe only reason Hitler was bad was that he killed 6 million Jews.ā€

  37. 37.

    Jackie

    The NYT is reporting that President Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer – after discovering a small nodule during a routine colonoscopy. :-(

  38. 38.

    hitchhiker

    Just read that Joe Biden was diagnosed on Friday with aggressive prostate cancer, and I am without words.

  40. 40.

    Jay

    @Jackie:

    @hitchhiker:

    Early stage prostate cancer is highly treatable with an almost 100% survival rate.

    Stage IV prostate cancer is still treatable, but with only a 30% survival rate.

  41. 41.

    Heidi Mom

    @hitchhiker: Same here.Ā  I can’t believe this is happening to him.Ā  I did read that it’s thought to be a type that’s susceptible to hormone therapy.

  42. 42.

    Eolirin

    @Jay: Romania was in a pretty scary position in the lead in to the run off, so that’s really good news

    Though it looks like the Polish vote is going to lead to a run off that may go to the more right leaning candidate.

  43. 43.

    Eunicecycle

    @Jackie: I just saw that and I’m sitting here crying. Such a good man who has gone through so much in his life and was such a wonderful president. At least maybe it will shut up Jake Tapper and all the haters for a while.

  44. 44.

    NutmegAgain

    I pulled up the video without sound. It sure looks like the baby hawk is yelling, “Mom! Mom! Mama! Mom!”

  48. 48.

    hitchhiker

    @Jay: “Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone” is what they’re saying.

  51. 51.

    Jackie

    @Eunicecycle: FFOTUS will be faking sympathy within 30 seconds after he is informed about this.

    Iā€™m just sickened by this.

    @Jay: Itā€™s the ā€œaggressiveā€ that concerns me, and Iā€™m sure others.

  54. 54.

    Jay

    @Heidi Mom:

    Best case, minor surgery, with a probe. Most early cases they just cut the small suspected cancer out. Sometime the biopsy is all that is needed, along with regular prostate exams.

  55. 55.

    lowtechcyclist

    @John Cole:

    If it’s as nice a day in your part of WV as it is here in southern Maryland – sunny, 70s, low humidity – go out and enjoy the day!Ā  At the very least, take your laptop out onto the porch.Ā  I’ll be taking a break soon to finish picking up after Friday night’s storm.

  56. 56.

    schrodingers_cat

    @zhena gogolia: He deserved better. We (his supporters) deserved better. We are still talked down to and yelled at in supposedly liberal spaces.

    Yeah and all 2028 hopefuls who badmouthed him, they can kiss their presidential dreams a good bye. Looking at you Murphy and Buttgieg.

  58. 58.

    Jackie

    @hitchhiker:

    ā€œGleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the boneā€ is what theyā€™re saying.

    I donā€™t have a subscription to the NYT, so I didnā€™t see that.

    FUCK CANCER!

  59. 59.

    EmbraceYourInnerCrone

    @Jay: Biden ā€˜s Ā Gleason score is 9 which is very bad and the cancer has metastasized to bones. It is hormone sensitive which makes it responsive to some forms of treatment but at 82 he may feel the extra months are not worth the side effects. This info was from his press office via AP

  61. 61.

    lowtechcyclist

    @Jeffro:Ā ā€‹

    we also saw two indigo buntings on our morning walk today (and one teeny tiny little eft!)

    Lucky you! Indigo buntings are so beautiful. I used to occasionally see them around here, but it’s been years.

    And I want my wood thrushes back (for their song, not for their looks). Used to hear them all the time, especially in the late afternoon and early evening when the sun was shining through the trees. But they’ve gone missing the past few years.

  62. 62.

    NotMax

    Crap. Fix.

    @Jackie

    FFOTUS will be faking sympathy within 30 seconds after he is informed about this.

    ā€œSome people tell me I have a BIG BEAUTIFUL PROSTATE!!ā€
    //

  63. 63.

    laura

    @hitchhiker: I am gutted. I’m also prepared to throw a chair through the fucking window if I have to hear one single nano-second more of the concerted effort to sully his presidency, administration, Vice President, campaign, or post-presidency.

    Lips pursed, fists balled in simmering rage.

  64. 64.

    Eunicecycle

    @Jay: I already had to block someone on BS who said something like good riddance Genocide Joe.

  66. 66.

    Jay

    @Jackie:

    “aggressive” is a non-medical description.

    Prostate cancers are often described as “aggressive” because Men. Few like their butts probed regularly after turning 50.

    So often, all too often, a small cancer node has had the chance to grow and expand, because the guy only goes in for the “probe” when they are having serious prostate issues.

    The Aliens were Right.

    Detected early, and with proper care, almost 100% of early detection cases live.

    Get your butts probed boys, twice a year. The retire at 55 ads are more comforting but,…….. butt?

  67. 67.

    lamh47

    Joe Biden is a good man and was a good President. He didn’t deserve all the backstabbing he’s been getting this week from fellow Dems cause of some fake azz reporters trying to sell a damn book.

    If nothing else the sad breaking news will tank that bullshit of a book even further and all those Dems jumping on the shame PJB bandwagon can TRULY go fuq themselves and watch ’em try to save fuq’n face!

    Prayers up for Uncle Joe and FUQ the backstabbers!

  70. 70.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Just heard on MSNBC that Joe Biden has been diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, that is metastasising to his bones. That makes me terribly sad. Itā€™s what took my father at age 80. Ā I so wanted him to have an uneventful and peaceful old age. I hope they can catch and remove this, but it just sucks for him and for those of us who love and admire him.

    Is it too much to hope the Beltway and MAGA ghouls will leave him alone now? (Narrator: Yes, you silly person, of course it is and of course they wonā€™t.)

    Not a praying kind of person, but heā€™s in my heart.

  75. 75.

    Gretchen

    @Baud: yes. I didnā€™t hear him say anything either. I do think Pritzger has the clearest idea of how to go forward. Donā€™t give an inch.

  84. 84.

    Gretchen

    @Jackie: Surely as president he had thorough medical exams. How could they have missed this? Iā€™m hoping someone is exaggerating.

  86. 86.

    Eunicecycle

    @Jackie: my dad had prostate cancer and I remember how his doctor said “the good news is it hasn’t gone to your bones.” He was treated and survived that, but passed away from other causes.

  89. 89.

    Jay

    @Jackie:

    Nope, so either they did not find a small cancer node or things are getting hyped either way.

    It’s not uncommon with “hot takes”.

    Prostate cancer can go really, really bad.

    But, if they find a stage IV prostate cancer, (walnut sized, 9 on the “aggression scale”), 30% of patients still survive a decade.

    The first year sucks, surgery, chemo, hormones, hemorrhoid cushion, no bike riding. After that, it get’s better.

    Reports are all over the map.

    Normally, if they find bone cancer, the report is bone cancer, not prostate cancer, so????????????

  90. 90.

    Princess

    @Gretchen: Well, either it is incredibly aggressive or we werenā€™t being told everything about his health.

    And before everyone jumps down my throat a) I donā€™t think any of them tell us everything about their health b) early stage prostrate cancer is not an impediment to the presidency. For most men his age, theyā€™ll die of something else long before it gets serious. So I wouldnā€™t blame him, if he did have it, for not letting it out.

  94. 94.

    Bex

    The news about Joe is awful.Ā  He had, however, picked a VP qualified for the presidency, with four years of experience to succeed him had he been re-elected.Ā  I wouldn’t be surprised if that was a major factor in his choice of Kamala in the first place.

  95. 95.

    lowtechcyclist

    @EmbraceYourInnerCrone:Ā ā€‹
     

    Biden ā€˜s Gleason score is 9 which is very bad and the cancer has metastasized to bones.

    Damn. Just damn.

    He deserved better than this. He was the best President of my lifetime. He deserved time to relax, travel, spend time with the grandkids, all that sort of good stuff.

    #$%&@! is all I’ve got to say.

  96. 96.

    lamh47

    @Jay: I have seen no such reports…

    All of a sudden folksĀ  know everything about cancer biology, diagnosis and indicators…STFU…unless ur a cancer doc or nurse or whatnot, you don’t know shit.Ā  There is a reason why it’s been hard to find a cure for cancer…even some of the indicators don’t catch everything.

    Talking bout “how did they miss…”…who even cares about that people…smh. Just wish PBJ well & prayers up if that’s what you believe in.

  98. 98.

    Jackie

    @dnfree: Yes it is.

    Since reports are all over the map, Iā€™m going to wait for President Bidenā€™s official statement. Because the reports are so inconsistent, I trust Biden will clarify the facts sooner than later.

  101. 101.

    Jay

    @lamh47:

    T’s a cancer survivor.

    I am a cancer survivor.

    Reporting is all over the map with lot’s of “hot takes”.

    I wish Joe and Jill all the best.

  102. 102.

    dnfree

    @Jay: Nope, bone cancer is a different kind than metastasized prostate cancer. Ā Brain cancer is different from melanoma that has metastasized to the brain. My husbandā€™s prostate was removed years ago, and he still has PSA tests. Ā If they ever donā€™t show a score of zero, it would mean the prostate cancer has metastasized. Ā So far so good.

  103. 103.

    Another Scott

    @Gretchen: +1

    He gave so much to the USA, and the country is so much better off for it.

    Peace and strength to him, Jill, and the family.

    Best wishes,
    Scott.

  105. 105.

    lamh47

    @Jay: Still every cancer diagnosis is not always the same…yes there are commonalities, but also the difference is what makes it so hard for diagnosis and early indicators.

    Saying “how did they miss this” isn’t really worth it, cause guess what… “they” miss cancer diagnosis alot.

    As for prostate cancer, PSA levels I believe are already high in older males so could be in this case PSA levels were not enough to diagnose…but again…

    We don’t know because for all we know the PSA have always been elevated and it was biopsy and direct examination that discovery the malignancy.

    Differing forms of cancer, differing diagnosis…

  106. 106.

    lamh47

    here is the report from PJB’s Office on the diagnosis:

    ā€œWhile this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management,ā€ the statement continued. ā€œPresident Biden and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.ā€

    https://x.com/BNONews/status/1924194498474656054

  111. 111.

    Denali5

    Awful news. My heart breaks for this decent man who has had so much tragedy in his life. Hope the press just shuts up.

  112. 112.

    kwAwk

    @Betty Cracker: I disagree.Ā  Every time you hear someone talk about this issue, it comes across is that Trump can’t be a Nazi/Fascist because he doesn’t hate Jewish people, but fascism isn’t defined by a specific hatred of Jewish people.Ā  Trump can’t be fascist because loves Israel.

    That misses the point.Ā  Bigotry and antisemitism aren’t the same thing.

    I’m not saying that Jewish people are bad in any way than to say that the hyper focus on the Jewish part of the Holocaust, obscures the totality of the dangers of fascism.

  113. 113.

    Eyeroller

    I looked it up and a Gleason score of 9 means the cells are poorly differentiated.Ā  That is generally what “aggressive” means.Ā  Poorly differentiated cancers have basically broken their connection to normal cells and are behaving as independent agents.Ā  They do not respond at all to normal cell signalling when other cells request that they slow down or stop dividing or better yet kill themselves.

    Prostate cancer very frequently metastasizes to the bone.Ā  Even relatively slow-growing prostate cancers will often eventually end up in the bones. Breast cancer does as well, probably for similar biological reasons.

    If it’s hormone-sensitive there is a good chance it can be managed for quite a while, even given the stage.Ā  The side effects probably won’t be all that bad at his age.

    It is not at all unusual for the primary tumor to be relatively small but to have already metastasized, for a large number of cancers.Ā  And they can seemingly appear from nowhere.

  116. 116.

    sab

    @Another Scott: Years ago my boss had prostate cancer that has treatable with hormone therapy. His toxic narcissist son moved in hoping to take over the firm when dad died. But dad lived 25 more years with hormone therapy. Brilliant guy. Lovely guy. Also very tolerant of women in menopause because his hormone therapy made him feel like crap for a day every time he had it

    ETA We were an accounting firm,Ā  so lots of women bookkeepers in menopause.

  117. 117.

    Kayla Rudbek

    @lowtechcyclist: I got out today for a ride, over 30 miles and we got to ride with my godson for a few miles; he just got a bike with gears so we went on a shakedown ride to see how heā€™s doing on the new bike. I think I need to buy him some proper bike gloves with padding (he was having trouble with his hands) and maybe some proper bike shorts. Ā We are still trying to teach him that the one true color of bike shorts is black. Now that he has a bike with gears, I think he will understand better why all proper bike shorts are black (in order to hide the grease).

  119. 119.

    Kayla Rudbek

    @They Call Me Noni: Mr. Rudbek and I both tend to wind up with grease on our lower legs after bike rides because tandem bikes have at least two chains, one on each side of the bike. And then the new tandem bike has three chains because of the independent pedaling, so thatā€™s three times the chance of getting grease on ourselves as compared to a regular bike.

    Every year I go to the yarn festival and there is a vendor that sells cashmere yarn with an option to buy a year-long club to knit the Great American Afghan out of cashmere. I am always tempted, but the thought of having a beautiful handknit white cashmere afghan that would run the very high risk of getting bike grease on it always convinces me against it.

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