Got a question….how do I get rid of the rabbits living under the deck and transmitting their fleas to the felines, short of dropping firecrackers down a knothole or something?
6.
Jerzy Russian
This blog should be called “Betty Cracker Juice” instead of “Balloon Juice”.
7.
Germy Shoemangler
Bumped up from below:
Zimmerman’s shooter is a white guy (which is what the RWNJs were all wondering)
Which means we won’t be hearing much about it from them. If a black guy shot at him, we’d be in an endless news cycle: “Was Zimmerman right? Are they all dangerous animals? Up next on Fox”
I received my permit to hike the Wonderland Trail in September (around mount Rainier) so I’ll be spending five days hiking 93 miles (or maybe 101 if I feel up to it….side hike.)
This will be my first through hike, my first long distance hike, and my first time camping in 30+ years.
12.
Germy Shoemangler
Last night we watched Michelle Obama’s commencement address. We got tired of seeing tiny little fragments of it on the news. The college posted the whole speech.
Spring finally came back to SW Ohio. We had summer with 90 degree temps last week, so dropping down to the seventies is a huge relief.
I have to go write a rebuttal to some idiot’s letter to the editor in the local paper today in which he ranted about lazy bums on food stamps. There’s a handy SNAP myth buster website that debunks that crap, and I will be referencing it.
AMC is running the entire Mad Men series—91 episodes—starting at 6:00 p.m. EDT Wednesday as a run-up to the series conclusion at 10:00 p.m. Sunday.
This is a golden opportunity for technophobic shut-ins with no streaming access, those with capacious DVRs and fans who just want to take a dip or catch up on a missed/favorite episode or two. And insomniacs, of course.
19.
PurpleGirl
Betty Cracker: considering your insomnia earlier today, I thought you’d be sleeping.
20.
Germy Shoemangler
@Steeplejack: Is Don Draper D.B. Cooper?
Someone somewhere was putting that forward as a theory.
@Germy Shoemangler: The right whackos are having a meltdown about it. I guess the speech hit a raw nerve and by ranting about it, only proves her point. She is an amazing first lady and an amazing woman.
24.
Germy Shoemangler
There is a new biography out. I haven’t read it yet. Read one review, mentions an incident in college where her roommate’s mom didn’t want Michelle living with her daughter.
Has anyone read it?
25.
PlanetPundit (used to be Sir Laffs-a-Lot)
Moar pix of that bundle of lovin’ Daisy would not go amiss.
26.
Germy Shoemangler
I can’t remember a time when a republican first lady’s commencement speech (or any speech) was criticized. Maybe I’m wrong. (I mean criticized by media people, not internet commenters)
27.
OzarkHillbilly
@GHayduke (formerly lojasmo): As one who used to do fair amount of long distance hiking, let me say that 93 miles in 5 days sounds like a bit much for someone for whom “This will be my first through hike, my first long distance hike, and my first time camping in 30+ years.” Especially at elevation.
The Wonderland Trail is about 93 miles (145 km) in total. There are numerous side-trips that can be tacked-on, adding to the total trip mileage. Almost every day on the trail is spent climbing or descending the steep glacially carved valleys of the stratovolcano’s base. The cumulative elevation change over the 93 miles is about 22,000 feet (6,700 m). According to the Park Service, the average Wonderland Trail backpacker hikes this distance in 10 days.
That sounds more like it. The last time I did such a hike, it was about 100 miles at elevation (12,000 max) and I took 12 days to do it. I planned for a couple “freebie days” for side trips so my actual mileage was closer to 115.
Anyway, enjoy it. It is an experience you won’t forget.
28.
Paul in KY
Heading down to Gulf Shores, AL tomorrow for The Hangout! Gonna see Foo Fighters, Zac Brown Band, Beck, Skrillex, Paramore, My Morning Jacket, Spoon, TV on the Radio, Damien Marley, Foster the People, Drive-By Truckers and many more!
@danielx: You could run a hose down there & try to kill/get them out via that method. You could also get anti-flea medicine for cats & just enjoy the rabbits.
33.
Germy Shoemangler
@MomSense: That was her grandfather’s nickname? I’m loving it!
I want Michelle to write a book about her White House years.
On the other end of the spectrum, there’s the one-percent of individuals who go ultralight and clobber and trail-run the route in three to five days. At four days, this is the equivalent of trail-running a marathon over an extremely challenging course for four consecutive days, all while wearing a backpack.
Yup. It’s ambitious. I hope to do some other stuff in the PNW (cough cough, meetup) while I’m there…
I’m fit. I walk (a lot) every day, and run most days, and lift weights. I hup my pack (with 50 pounds of rocks) up a hundred flights several days a week.
I’m just looking to do some stuff I never could have done when I was still drinking. This is my first one.
38.
Jerzy Russian
I recently learned that there was a Supreme Court justice by the name of “Bushrod Washington”. One evening, my daughter out of the blue asked “who names their kid Bushrod?” I looked it up, and evidently the brother of the former president named at least one of his kids Bushrod.
He has no chance of winning anything, does he I hope?
New Hampshire. They are serious Paulhards up there.
49.
OzarkHillbilly
@GHayduke (formerly lojasmo): Well, I would say you’re certainly fit enough. How much time are you giving yourself to adjust to the altitude? I took a buddy once and he had real trouble, got altitude sickness on his first day. Almost wiped out the trip.
This is my first one.
The other aspect is pschological/emotional and that is hard to prepare for except by doing. I feel the need to reiterate this part:
On the other end of the spectrum, there’s the one-percent of individuals who go ultralight and clobber and trail-run the route in three to five days. At four days, this is the equivalent of trail-running a marathon over an extremely challenging course for four consecutive days, all while wearing a backpack.
I never even tried such a feat. I didn’t hate myself that much. ;-)
Again, enjoy yourself and have fun. Otherwise, what’s the point?
50.
Germy Shoemangler
@MomSense: Well let’s hope it goes no further than that. Because if Rand won the presidency, the lens-licking guy would be secretary of the interior, or some such thing.
51.
Germy Shoemangler
Maybe Verizon will buy hotmail next.
52.
Betty Cracker
@Germy Shoemangler: I don’t think he has a chance on a national scale. Presidents can be (and many have been) arrogant pricks, but they’ve got to be able to credibly project an affable persona. Bush II was able to pull that off. Paul II isn’t.
53.
Germy Shoemangler
If Obama’s or John Kerry’s or Al Gore’s staffer licked a camera lens it would be on the front page of the NYTImes.
I just messed up. I turned on my TV. I was told bears are bad. This mom and her cubs I felt was amazing. Told they will endanger people. Really?
56.
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
@Jerzy Russian: There’s a current Chicago Bear whose last name is Bushrod, so my guess would be that it was Justice Washington’s mother or grandmother’s maiden name. Lots of that in the antebellum US, especially if said mother brought in a substantial part of the family fortune.
Edit: Yep. The Justice’s mother was Hannah Bushrod.
@rikyrah: She is my favorite. I really hope she writes a book.
61.
Botsplainer
A genuinely delightful change of pace in Kentucky political primary advertising – in an election cycle where 3 of the 4 GOPclowns for Governor are falling all over themselves trying to claim to be the most conservative and pro-life (while savaging their opponents for being inadequately pure), a Democrat running for state treasurer is running ads in direct opposition to what the ad calls “bad Tea Party ideas”.
It is glorious. The D gubernatorial primary isn’t competitive; the candidate is AG Jack Conway, the guy who refused to contest the injunctive action against Kentucky’s gay marriage ban. Looks like it’ll be white hot “blue dog on teatard” action this year, with a good chance that one of the unhappy conservative pro-life candidates will mount an independent insurgency this fall.
Seriously? AOL is still around and worth that much?
MBA culture – it’s all about the short term growth in share value, never about lasting value presented by innovation in core markets, product delivery upgrades or consistent dividends.
65.
Peale
@OzarkHillbilly: Gold Dust as press secretary. I might vote for that.
(I’m probably alone in my WWE fandom so I’ll just sit down now$
66.
Doug R
@GHayduke (formerly lojasmo): 20 miles a day? Yikes. Maybe bring a SPOT with you. Also what OzarkHillbilly says.
67.
Felonius Monk
The guy who took a shot at Zimmerman apparently says it was self-defense. Whether true or not (and I’m betting true), ol’ Georgie is still a piece of shit.
68.
Paul in KY
@Botsplainer: What do you think about Comer having to fess up that he received & liked a book (from the ex-GF) that was written by Lowell Weicker!
Once they (KY Repub primary voters) figure out who Sen. Weicker was, don’t think they will cotton to ole Mr. Comer liking that commie, socialist, pointy-headed eastcoaster.
69.
ThresherK (GPad)
@Germy Shoemangler: This just in: Has GZim been demoted* from white to Latino because the other guy is white?
(H/t Yip Harburg)
70.
Tommy
@Germy Shoemangler: She is a rock star. Just like my mom is a rock star. Moms rock. I’d like to have a beer with her more than her husband.
71.
catclub
@Jerzy Russian: The Time Warner deal had AOL at $165B, so it has fallen a looong way.
The stupid…. the ignorance… the willfulness of both…. Life has hit him upside the head with a 2×4 and unlike a mule, he still doesn’t get it. As a conservative, he thinks it is his God given right to get something for nothing.
79.
Germy Shoemangler
Rapper J. Cole’s new music video ‘Wet Dreamz’ tells a tale of young love through adorable puppies
80.
PurpleGirl
@Iowa Old Lady: Are you using IOL as your nym at WereBear’s blog?
ETA: I left a comment there and have refreshed a few times and still don’t see a comment from IOL.
81.
nancydarling
The little Ozark hamlet of Eureka Springs, Arkansas is voting today on whether to keep the civil rights for all (especially the LGBT community) ordinance passed by the city council in February. I am reasonably confident it will pass. The ordinance was passed in response to our xtianist, redneck (mostly) legislature which passed a law saying cities and counties can’t pass civil rights ordinances. The state law doesn’t go into effect until later this summer. Outside groups have come in and organized the opposition.
I am reasonably certain the ordinance will be affirmed. In one of the ads that ran in two local newspapers, one of the opposition themes was “For Jobs, Faith, Freedom, and Bathroom Privacy”.
The Duggar (the one with many arrows in their quiver) clan has been in the forefront of the opposition. They seem especially concerned about being molested by some transgendered person or a cross dresser.
I live about 20 minutes from Eureka and I bless the place every time I go out to dinner. There are some first rate restaurants there where you can have a drink before dinner or wine with dinner. Nothing like that exists in my little town. It also has a thriving music scene. I have many gay and lesbian friends as well as a few BT friends.
The first couple of days are quite a bit les, and the altitude isn’t that great. The highest elevation is only 6,700 feet (though there’s 22,000 feet of elevation gain over the 93 miles.
The first few days are shorter than 20 miles. The last day is the longest, though the last portion is largely down hill.
Day 1: 15 miles Longmire to Klapatche
Day 2: 18 miles Lkapatche to Mowich Lake
Day 3: 13.4 miles (+8 mile spray park loop if I want) Mowich to Mystic
Day 4: 21.4 miles Mystic to Summerland
Day 5: 25.4 miles Summerland to Longmire
83.
cahuenga
Engaget, Tech Crunch and Huffpo are AOL subsidiaries, soon to be Verizon’s.
It’s worth noting that Verizon shuttered a tech blog it owned last year when it came to light that their writers were banned from writing on net neutrality or government surveillance.
84.
bemused
I’m waiting for Jeb Bush to explain how he “misheard” the Iraq War question.
It’s worth noting that Verizon shuttered a tech blog it owned last year when it came to light that their writers were banned from writing on net neutrality or government surveillance.
Nothing to me, I stopped reading the SIdeBoob Gazette years ago.
I read both tech sites however and I’m not sure what this means to those. No doubt Verizon will be in the back of my mind when I read any articles there.
You have to watch this cat video before you see Skrillex. Actually you will want to see it over and over so that if they play this song, you will have your moves ready. Wait for the bass to drop.
91.
Iowa Old Lady
@PurpleGirl: Nope. I used one of my other nyms. I’m right after you.
I love Eureka springs. When we moved to FV in 1995 we stayed at the holiday inn there while looking for an apartment.
Lovely town.
93.
Betty Cracker
@bemused: I hope the son of a bitch comes up with a believable answer. I think Jeb(!) is the ideal stooge to oppose Hillary Clinton (where “oppose” = “lose to”), so I’m hoping the worthless prick doesn’t blow it before his enormous financial advantages enable him to jettison the riffraff in the late stages of the primary.
Actually, I think it’s not that far-fetched to believe that he DID mishear Kelly and was just too slow on the uptake to adjust when she reacted to his answer. He mumbled something about the whole world believing the WMD lie, which doesn’t make sense if he were answering a “if you knew then what we know now” scenario. My theory is he has been over-coached on responding to questions about W’s fuck-ups.
let me shout this.
let me be clear.
Mr. Lang,
GO PHUCK YOURSELF.
If you’re looking for sympathy?
GET DA PHUQ OUTTA HERE.
You wanna be this stupid.
Then, so.be.it.
95.
Iowa Old Lady
I’m listening to Rachel Maddow from last night, and I’m struck by how much she disses the MSM, just like Fox only for different reasons. When did the MSM become bad enough that all sides see them as bad?
96.
Germy Shoemangler
@Iowa Old Lady: That’s a good question. Has it been a long slide ever since the birth of Fox News, and fox calling them liberal? And so they’ve been falling over themselves trying to bend over backwards? But since there is no pleasing Roger Ailes (he based his network on the “alternative to the librul meedja”) all they’ve done is alienate progressives.
@Betty Cracker: Actually, I think it’s not that far-fetched to believe that he DID mishear Kelly and was just too slow on the uptake to adjust when she reacted to his answer.
Yup. He had his programmed answer for the word “Iraq” and just launched, or rather, stumbled into it. I was quite surprised to see a former Obama-ite (Bill Burton? I think the first press sec?) say that mentioning Hillary was “clever”. I thought it was a sad and sweaty moment, a ham-fisted variant on “so’s your mama”.
@Germy Shoemangler: I love the way she kind of growls “Southside..” You can tell it’s a warm memory. I will be making my first donation to an ex-president’s library.
Reminds me of that old joke about the fundy preacher who climbed up on his roof to avoid the flood! So along comes the VFD in a boat, he says to them, “No thanks, boys, I’m depending on the Lord to save me!” So then the next day, comes a National Guard helicopter to save him, and he says “Thanks, men, but I’m awaiting for the Good Lord to save me!” and so they fly away.
Then he drowns. And when he gets to the pearly gates he says “Lord, why did you let me drown in that flood? I was countin’ on you to save me?” and the Lord says, “Well, first I sent a boat, and then I sent a helicopter, what did you want me to do?”
This is the TeaPartyHealthPlan in a short humor story. “We provided insurance to everyone, what were you waiting for?”
Djumasses. All of them!
103.
Elie
I’m having to roust a Mama starling from her nest (unfortunately). She has mostly finished her first brood, but then I saw she had nest making stuff in her beak that she was bringing back to the vent she is nesting in. From what I read, that means she is setting up for brood #2. I can’t have that. The side of the house under the vent is a mess of unbelievable amounts of poop. Apparently starlings have an affinity for vents, so a word to the wise. I have hired a humane animal remover for the job and wish that I didn’t have to “put Mama on the streets”.
104.
Paul in KY
@the Conster: That cat is a real good sport. Can see he’s getting a bit pissed by the end.
Is a funny video though, especially when the drop comes.
If you like having her around but for the poop issue, is there a birdhouse you can move her to or something? Though the danger will always be that she’ll move back to her preferred spot.
I think some birds like to build their nests close to where human activity is because it scares off potential predators, if that helps you decide where to have the best moved to.
Shamelessly promoting my X-Files fanpage here for Senseless ‘Shipper Surveys – if anyone remembered those things back on the USENET: http://xfilesshipper.blogspot.com/
Thanks for your suggestion, but I don’t have a bird house for her and don’t know that she would accept it anyway. I waited as long as I did to try to give her time to raise her brood. As I said, starlings seem to like vents and this can include dryer vents — which can be dangerous for your home, causing fires. The vent has to be cleaned out as well to prevent mold and other noxious problems.
I think that the biddies are gone and that she is between broods. The humane animal guy will do what he can but he will also cover all the other vents (there are two others near this vent) to prevent a re-do.
111.
Howard Beale IV
@Steeplejack: Now you’ve given me a (albeit lame) excuse to replace my blown power supply in my HTPC. As far as storage goes, I can put a spare 5 TB in the HTPC backed by a 10 TB RAID5 in my Home Server.
Isn’t Mad Men available on Netflix/Hulu?
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Cervantes
[I can’t improve upon that.]
WereBear
Love it!
I’ve got a new post up:
How I became a feminist when I was eight
Baud
Do any of us really have anything?
Baud
@WereBear:
I didn’t know Betty Cracker wrote a cookbook!
danielx
Got a question….how do I get rid of the rabbits living under the deck and transmitting their fleas to the felines, short of dropping firecrackers down a knothole or something?
Jerzy Russian
This blog should be called “Betty Cracker Juice” instead of “Balloon Juice”.
Germy Shoemangler
Bumped up from below:
Zimmerman’s shooter is a white guy (which is what the RWNJs were all wondering)
http://www.wesh.com/news/george-zimmerman-involved-in-shooting-in-lake-mary-police-say/32943828
Which means we won’t be hearing much about it from them. If a black guy shot at him, we’d be in an endless news cycle: “Was Zimmerman right? Are they all dangerous animals? Up next on Fox”
dmsilev
I’ve Got Plenty of Nothing
Germy Shoemangler
@danielx: mothballs?
ammonia-soaked rag?
Baud
@Jerzy Russian:
Mistermix has disappeared.
GHayduke (formerly lojasmo)
I received my permit to hike the Wonderland Trail in September (around mount Rainier) so I’ll be spending five days hiking 93 miles (or maybe 101 if I feel up to it….side hike.)
This will be my first through hike, my first long distance hike, and my first time camping in 30+ years.
Germy Shoemangler
Last night we watched Michelle Obama’s commencement address. We got tired of seeing tiny little fragments of it on the news. The college posted the whole speech.
Baud
@GHayduke (formerly lojasmo):
How awesome. I’ve only done day hikes. That area is beautiful.
Jerzy Russian
@Baud:
Yeah, it is like he went off and got a job or something.
PurpleGirl
@GHayduke (formerly lojasmo): What kind of training regimen are you going to follow?
donnah
Spring finally came back to SW Ohio. We had summer with 90 degree temps last week, so dropping down to the seventies is a huge relief.
I have to go write a rebuttal to some idiot’s letter to the editor in the local paper today in which he ranted about lazy bums on food stamps. There’s a handy SNAP myth buster website that debunks that crap, and I will be referencing it.
Good lord, people are so stupid.
Baud
@Jerzy Russian:
Asshole.
Steeplejack
DVR Alert!
AMC is running the entire Mad Men series—91 episodes—starting at 6:00 p.m. EDT Wednesday as a run-up to the series conclusion at 10:00 p.m. Sunday.
This is a golden opportunity for technophobic shut-ins with no streaming access, those with capacious DVRs and fans who just want to take a dip or catch up on a missed/favorite episode or two. And insomniacs, of course.
PurpleGirl
Betty Cracker: considering your insomnia earlier today, I thought you’d be sleeping.
Germy Shoemangler
@Steeplejack: Is Don Draper D.B. Cooper?
Someone somewhere was putting that forward as a theory.
Steeplejack
@GHayduke (formerly lojasmo):
Eighteen miles a day seems a bit ambitious.
MomSense
@Germy Shoemangler:
Incredible speech.
JPL
@Germy Shoemangler: The right whackos are having a meltdown about it. I guess the speech hit a raw nerve and by ranting about it, only proves her point. She is an amazing first lady and an amazing woman.
Germy Shoemangler
There is a new biography out. I haven’t read it yet. Read one review, mentions an incident in college where her roommate’s mom didn’t want Michelle living with her daughter.
Has anyone read it?
PlanetPundit (used to be Sir Laffs-a-Lot)
Moar pix of that bundle of lovin’ Daisy would not go amiss.
Germy Shoemangler
I can’t remember a time when a republican first lady’s commencement speech (or any speech) was criticized. Maybe I’m wrong. (I mean criticized by media people, not internet commenters)
OzarkHillbilly
@GHayduke (formerly lojasmo): As one who used to do fair amount of long distance hiking, let me say that 93 miles in 5 days sounds like a bit much for someone for whom “This will be my first through hike, my first long distance hike, and my first time camping in 30+ years.” Especially at elevation.
Just googled it and found this:
The Wonderland Trail is about 93 miles (145 km) in total. There are numerous side-trips that can be tacked-on, adding to the total trip mileage. Almost every day on the trail is spent climbing or descending the steep glacially carved valleys of the stratovolcano’s base. The cumulative elevation change over the 93 miles is about 22,000 feet (6,700 m). According to the Park Service, the average Wonderland Trail backpacker hikes this distance in 10 days.
That sounds more like it. The last time I did such a hike, it was about 100 miles at elevation (12,000 max) and I took 12 days to do it. I planned for a couple “freebie days” for side trips so my actual mileage was closer to 115.
Anyway, enjoy it. It is an experience you won’t forget.
Paul in KY
Heading down to Gulf Shores, AL tomorrow for The Hangout! Gonna see Foo Fighters, Zac Brown Band, Beck, Skrillex, Paramore, My Morning Jacket, Spoon, TV on the Radio, Damien Marley, Foster the People, Drive-By Truckers and many more!
Sorta excited at this point…
Betty Cracker
@GHayduke (formerly lojasmo): Wow, have a great time! You’re quite ambitious!
@PurpleGirl: Can’t! J-O-B!
MomSense
@Germy Shoemangler:
I remember reading an article about an incident like that. I think the story came out around the election in 2012.
Did you see the video about the Obama library choosing the South Side?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=154&v=d2Q3xFpf-KE
Paul in KY
@WereBear: Very nice article!
Paul in KY
@danielx: You could run a hose down there & try to kill/get them out via that method. You could also get anti-flea medicine for cats & just enjoy the rabbits.
Germy Shoemangler
@MomSense: That was her grandfather’s nickname? I’m loving it!
I want Michelle to write a book about her White House years.
Paul in KY
@GHayduke (formerly lojasmo): Sounds really cool. Make sure you take lots of pictures.
Benw
I got nothing either. But here’s a comment about it.
OzarkHillbilly
@OzarkHillbilly: Also from that site, this:
On the other end of the spectrum, there’s the one-percent of individuals who go ultralight and clobber and trail-run the route in three to five days. At four days, this is the equivalent of trail-running a marathon over an extremely challenging course for four consecutive days, all while wearing a backpack.
GHayduke (formerly lojasmo)
@OzarkHillbilly:
Yup. It’s ambitious. I hope to do some other stuff in the PNW (cough cough, meetup) while I’m there…
I’m fit. I walk (a lot) every day, and run most days, and lift weights. I hup my pack (with 50 pounds of rocks) up a hundred flights several days a week.
I’m just looking to do some stuff I never could have done when I was still drinking. This is my first one.
Jerzy Russian
I recently learned that there was a Supreme Court justice by the name of “Bushrod Washington”. One evening, my daughter out of the blue asked “who names their kid Bushrod?” I looked it up, and evidently the brother of the former president named at least one of his kids Bushrod.
MomSense
@Germy Shoemangler:
He was a big jazz aficionado and well known in the community. The Obamas are the best.
Germy Shoemangler
This is what happens when a liberal brings a video camera to a Rand Paul rally.
A Rand staffer licks the camera.
Howard Beale IV
Verizon to acquire AOL for $4.4 billion.
If Verizon succeeds in this, watch how fast their articles take more ‘friendly’ tone when an issue with the mothership breaks.
Jerzy Russian
@Howard Beale IV:
Wait, AOL is still around, and it is “worth” $4.4 billion?
Punchy
@GHayduke (formerly lojasmo): Talk to Mark Sanford. I heard he has some experience with hiking trails.
MomSense
@Germy Shoemangler:
I thought only Democrats were lizard people???
geg6
@Howard Beale IV:
Seriously? AOL is still around and worth that much?
geg6
@Jerzy Russian:
Heh! Great minds and all that.
Germy Shoemangler
@MomSense: I know, right? Rand is the ultimate frat boy and his staff are all frat boy bros.
He has no chance of winning anything, does he I hope?
MomSense
@Germy Shoemangler:
New Hampshire. They are serious Paulhards up there.
OzarkHillbilly
@GHayduke (formerly lojasmo): Well, I would say you’re certainly fit enough. How much time are you giving yourself to adjust to the altitude? I took a buddy once and he had real trouble, got altitude sickness on his first day. Almost wiped out the trip.
The other aspect is pschological/emotional and that is hard to prepare for except by doing. I feel the need to reiterate this part:
On the other end of the spectrum, there’s the one-percent of individuals who go ultralight and clobber and trail-run the route in three to five days. At four days, this is the equivalent of trail-running a marathon over an extremely challenging course for four consecutive days, all while wearing a backpack.
I never even tried such a feat. I didn’t hate myself that much. ;-)
Again, enjoy yourself and have fun. Otherwise, what’s the point?
Germy Shoemangler
@MomSense: Well let’s hope it goes no further than that. Because if Rand won the presidency, the lens-licking guy would be secretary of the interior, or some such thing.
Germy Shoemangler
Maybe Verizon will buy hotmail next.
Betty Cracker
@Germy Shoemangler: I don’t think he has a chance on a national scale. Presidents can be (and many have been) arrogant pricks, but they’ve got to be able to credibly project an affable persona. Bush II was able to pull that off. Paul II isn’t.
Germy Shoemangler
If Obama’s or John Kerry’s or Al Gore’s staffer licked a camera lens it would be on the front page of the NYTImes.
rikyrah
Good Morning, Everyone :)
Tommy
I just messed up. I turned on my TV. I was told bears are bad. This mom and her cubs I felt was amazing. Told they will endanger people. Really?
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
@Jerzy Russian: There’s a current Chicago Bear whose last name is Bushrod, so my guess would be that it was Justice Washington’s mother or grandmother’s maiden name. Lots of that in the antebellum US, especially if said mother brought in a substantial part of the family fortune.
Edit: Yep. The Justice’s mother was Hannah Bushrod.
OzarkHillbilly
@Germy Shoemangler:
No no no, WH Press Secretary. Can’t you just see the press briefings on television? All tongue, all the time.
Paul in KY
@Germy Shoemangler: Health & Human Services, probably.
rikyrah
@Germy Shoemangler:
It was a fabulous speech.
Love our FLOTUS
Germy Shoemangler
@rikyrah: She is my favorite. I really hope she writes a book.
Botsplainer
A genuinely delightful change of pace in Kentucky political primary advertising – in an election cycle where 3 of the 4 GOPclowns for Governor are falling all over themselves trying to claim to be the most conservative and pro-life (while savaging their opponents for being inadequately pure), a Democrat running for state treasurer is running ads in direct opposition to what the ad calls “bad Tea Party ideas”.
It is glorious. The D gubernatorial primary isn’t competitive; the candidate is AG Jack Conway, the guy who refused to contest the injunctive action against Kentucky’s gay marriage ban. Looks like it’ll be white hot “blue dog on teatard” action this year, with a good chance that one of the unhappy conservative pro-life candidates will mount an independent insurgency this fall.
MomSense
@OzarkHillbilly:
Treasury. Dude will be naked in his office rolling in bills.
Iowa Old Lady
@WereBear: You were a perceptive reader of that cookbook. I left you a comment.
Botsplainer
@geg6:
MBA culture – it’s all about the short term growth in share value, never about lasting value presented by innovation in core markets, product delivery upgrades or consistent dividends.
Peale
@OzarkHillbilly: Gold Dust as press secretary. I might vote for that.
(I’m probably alone in my WWE fandom so I’ll just sit down now$
Doug R
@GHayduke (formerly lojasmo): 20 miles a day? Yikes. Maybe bring a SPOT with you. Also what OzarkHillbilly says.
Felonius Monk
The guy who took a shot at Zimmerman apparently says it was self-defense. Whether true or not (and I’m betting true), ol’ Georgie is still a piece of shit.
Paul in KY
@Botsplainer: What do you think about Comer having to fess up that he received & liked a book (from the ex-GF) that was written by Lowell Weicker!
Once they (KY Repub primary voters) figure out who Sen. Weicker was, don’t think they will cotton to ole Mr. Comer liking that commie, socialist, pointy-headed eastcoaster.
ThresherK (GPad)
@Germy Shoemangler: This just in: Has GZim been demoted* from white to Latino because the other guy is white?
(H/t Yip Harburg)
Tommy
@Germy Shoemangler: She is a rock star. Just like my mom is a rock star. Moms rock. I’d like to have a beer with her more than her husband.
catclub
@Jerzy Russian: The Time Warner deal had AOL at $165B, so it has fallen a looong way.
Germy Shoemangler
@ThresherK (GPad): that’s a good one.
Is he still a poster boy for freedom and gun rights and stand your ground? Or is the right slowly backing away from him?
What does Sean Hannity have to say?
Or is he still too busy complaining about Michelle Obama’s speech?
Yatsuno
@Germy Shoemangler: Eh. White guy shot at Messican who waved a gun in his face. Who cares that he has a German last name?
dexwood
I started out with nothing and still have most of it left.
WereBear
@Paul in KY: Thanks so much!
@Iowa Old Lady: Well, boredom will focus a child’s mind as much as anyone’s :)
Omnes Omnibus
@Baud: I’ve got my health.
Jerzy Russian
@Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism: Thanks for the information. I have been educated, and it is not even 8:00 am yet!
OzarkHillbilly
Conservative spurns Obamacare and insurance — but blames Obama now that he’s going broke and blind
The stupid…. the ignorance… the willfulness of both…. Life has hit him upside the head with a 2×4 and unlike a mule, he still doesn’t get it. As a conservative, he thinks it is his God given right to get something for nothing.
Germy Shoemangler
Rapper J. Cole’s new music video ‘Wet Dreamz’ tells a tale of young love through adorable puppies
PurpleGirl
@Iowa Old Lady: Are you using IOL as your nym at WereBear’s blog?
ETA: I left a comment there and have refreshed a few times and still don’t see a comment from IOL.
nancydarling
The little Ozark hamlet of Eureka Springs, Arkansas is voting today on whether to keep the civil rights for all (especially the LGBT community) ordinance passed by the city council in February. I am reasonably confident it will pass. The ordinance was passed in response to our xtianist, redneck (mostly) legislature which passed a law saying cities and counties can’t pass civil rights ordinances. The state law doesn’t go into effect until later this summer. Outside groups have come in and organized the opposition.
I am reasonably certain the ordinance will be affirmed. In one of the ads that ran in two local newspapers, one of the opposition themes was “For Jobs, Faith, Freedom, and Bathroom Privacy”.
The Duggar (the one with many arrows in their quiver) clan has been in the forefront of the opposition. They seem especially concerned about being molested by some transgendered person or a cross dresser.
I live about 20 minutes from Eureka and I bless the place every time I go out to dinner. There are some first rate restaurants there where you can have a drink before dinner or wine with dinner. Nothing like that exists in my little town. It also has a thriving music scene. I have many gay and lesbian friends as well as a few BT friends.
GHayduke (formerly lojasmo)
@Doug R:
The first couple of days are quite a bit les, and the altitude isn’t that great. The highest elevation is only 6,700 feet (though there’s 22,000 feet of elevation gain over the 93 miles.
The first few days are shorter than 20 miles. The last day is the longest, though the last portion is largely down hill.
Day 1: 15 miles Longmire to Klapatche
Day 2: 18 miles Lkapatche to Mowich Lake
Day 3: 13.4 miles (+8 mile spray park loop if I want) Mowich to Mystic
Day 4: 21.4 miles Mystic to Summerland
Day 5: 25.4 miles Summerland to Longmire
cahuenga
Engaget, Tech Crunch and Huffpo are AOL subsidiaries, soon to be Verizon’s.
It’s worth noting that Verizon shuttered a tech blog it owned last year when it came to light that their writers were banned from writing on net neutrality or government surveillance.
bemused
I’m waiting for Jeb Bush to explain how he “misheard” the Iraq War question.
Germy Shoemangler
@cahuenga: Verizon will own Huffpo???
cahuenga
@Germy Shoemangler:
If the purchase of AOL goes through, yes.
Germy Shoemangler
@cahuenga:
What does this mean for a Verizon-owned HuffPo?
cahuenga
@Germy Shoemangler:
Nothing to me, I stopped reading the SIdeBoob Gazette years ago.
I read both tech sites however and I’m not sure what this means to those. No doubt Verizon will be in the back of my mind when I read any articles there.
AliceBlue
The last land battle of the Civil War was fought 150 years ago today at Palmito Ranch, Texas. Ironically it was a Confederate victory.
the Conster
@Paul in KY:
You have to watch this cat video before you see Skrillex. Actually you will want to see it over and over so that if they play this song, you will have your moves ready. Wait for the bass to drop.
Iowa Old Lady
@PurpleGirl: Nope. I used one of my other nyms. I’m right after you.
GHayduke (formerly lojasmo)
@nancydarling:
I love Eureka springs. When we moved to FV in 1995 we stayed at the holiday inn there while looking for an apartment.
Lovely town.
Betty Cracker
@bemused: I hope the son of a bitch comes up with a believable answer. I think Jeb(!) is the ideal stooge to oppose Hillary Clinton (where “oppose” = “lose to”), so I’m hoping the worthless prick doesn’t blow it before his enormous financial advantages enable him to jettison the riffraff in the late stages of the primary.
Actually, I think it’s not that far-fetched to believe that he DID mishear Kelly and was just too slow on the uptake to adjust when she reacted to his answer. He mumbled something about the whole world believing the WMD lie, which doesn’t make sense if he were answering a “if you knew then what we know now” scenario. My theory is he has been over-coached on responding to questions about W’s fuck-ups.
rikyrah
@OzarkHillbilly:
let me shout this.
let me be clear.
Mr. Lang,
GO PHUCK YOURSELF.
If you’re looking for sympathy?
GET DA PHUQ OUTTA HERE.
You wanna be this stupid.
Then, so.be.it.
Iowa Old Lady
I’m listening to Rachel Maddow from last night, and I’m struck by how much she disses the MSM, just like Fox only for different reasons. When did the MSM become bad enough that all sides see them as bad?
Germy Shoemangler
@Iowa Old Lady: That’s a good question. Has it been a long slide ever since the birth of Fox News, and fox calling them liberal? And so they’ve been falling over themselves trying to bend over backwards? But since there is no pleasing Roger Ailes (he based his network on the “alternative to the librul meedja”) all they’ve done is alienate progressives.
OzarkHillbilly
@Iowa Old Lady: CNN was the beginning of the end.
NotMax
Awakened at 4 in the a.m. by sinuses on full red alert.
GHayduke (formerly lojasmo)
@OzarkHillbilly:
I blame Wolf Blitzer circa 1991.
OzarkHillbilly
@GHayduke (formerly lojasmo): I blame Wolf Blitzer for everything.I know he’s responsible somehow someway.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Yup. He had his programmed answer for the word “Iraq” and just launched, or rather, stumbled into it. I was quite surprised to see a former Obama-ite (Bill Burton? I think the first press sec?) say that mentioning Hillary was “clever”. I thought it was a sad and sweaty moment, a ham-fisted variant on “so’s your mama”.
@Germy Shoemangler: I love the way she kind of growls “Southside..” You can tell it’s a warm memory. I will be making my first donation to an ex-president’s library.
J R in WV
@OzarkHillbilly:
Reminds me of that old joke about the fundy preacher who climbed up on his roof to avoid the flood! So along comes the VFD in a boat, he says to them, “No thanks, boys, I’m depending on the Lord to save me!” So then the next day, comes a National Guard helicopter to save him, and he says “Thanks, men, but I’m awaiting for the Good Lord to save me!” and so they fly away.
Then he drowns. And when he gets to the pearly gates he says “Lord, why did you let me drown in that flood? I was countin’ on you to save me?” and the Lord says, “Well, first I sent a boat, and then I sent a helicopter, what did you want me to do?”
This is the TeaPartyHealthPlan in a short humor story. “We provided insurance to everyone, what were you waiting for?”
Djumasses. All of them!
Elie
I’m having to roust a Mama starling from her nest (unfortunately). She has mostly finished her first brood, but then I saw she had nest making stuff in her beak that she was bringing back to the vent she is nesting in. From what I read, that means she is setting up for brood #2. I can’t have that. The side of the house under the vent is a mess of unbelievable amounts of poop. Apparently starlings have an affinity for vents, so a word to the wise. I have hired a humane animal remover for the job and wish that I didn’t have to “put Mama on the streets”.
Paul in KY
@the Conster: That cat is a real good sport. Can see he’s getting a bit pissed by the end.
Is a funny video though, especially when the drop comes.
Mnemosyne (tablet)
@Elie:
If you like having her around but for the poop issue, is there a birdhouse you can move her to or something? Though the danger will always be that she’ll move back to her preferred spot.
I think some birds like to build their nests close to where human activity is because it scares off potential predators, if that helps you decide where to have the best moved to.
PaulW
Shamelessly promoting my X-Files fanpage here for Senseless ‘Shipper Surveys – if anyone remembered those things back on the USENET: http://xfilesshipper.blogspot.com/
The show is coming back on Jan. 24th in 2016!
FortGeek
@Benw: Here’s my obligatory late-to-the-thread comment relaying my own experiences in having nothing to add to a comment thread.
tybee
@AliceBlue:
not so fast, my friend…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Columbus_%281865%29
fuckwit
@danielx: Get a dog and set them loose on the rabbits?
Elie
@Mnemosyne (tablet):
Thanks for your suggestion, but I don’t have a bird house for her and don’t know that she would accept it anyway. I waited as long as I did to try to give her time to raise her brood. As I said, starlings seem to like vents and this can include dryer vents — which can be dangerous for your home, causing fires. The vent has to be cleaned out as well to prevent mold and other noxious problems.
I think that the biddies are gone and that she is between broods. The humane animal guy will do what he can but he will also cover all the other vents (there are two others near this vent) to prevent a re-do.
Howard Beale IV
@Steeplejack: Now you’ve given me a (albeit lame) excuse to replace my blown power supply in my HTPC. As far as storage goes, I can put a spare 5 TB in the HTPC backed by a 10 TB RAID5 in my Home Server.
Isn’t Mad Men available on Netflix/Hulu?