Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

I’m pretty sure there’s only one Jack Smith.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

Please don’t feed the bears.

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

I’m just a talker, trying to find a channel!

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

At some point, the ability to learn is a factor of character, not IQ.

This isn’t Democrats spending madly. This is government catching up.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

You’re just a puppy masquerading as an old coot.

Fani Willis claps back at Trump chihuahua, Jim Jordan.

The Giant Orange Man Baby is having a bad day.

A lot of Dems talk about what the media tells them to talk about. Not helpful.

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

It’s a doggy dog world.

I really should read my own blog.

Republicans do not pay their debts.

Despite his magical powers, I don’t think Trump is thinking this through, to be honest.

Good lord, these people are nuts.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

Marge, god is saying you’re stupid.

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

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

It’s easy to sit in safety and prescribe what other people should be doing.

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Drink of the week

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I’m not a big beer-drinker in general, but this year I’ve gotten really into pumpkin beers. The style isn’t done that well in general — I find that most pumpkin beers are either too subtle on the pumpkin or are over-spiced and overly sweet — but I like trying them anyway. A few days ago, I had one that was by far the best I’ve ever had and quite possibly my favorite beer of any kind I have ever had, the Southern Tier Pumpking. I read it about at New York Cork report:

What makes it the King? Hefty alcohol and a serious hop wallop, along with real pureed pumpkin so rich each sip tastes like inhaling Grandma’s pumpkin pie, makes this brew succeed where so many others fail: on the mid-palate and finish.

Pumpkin pie spices smell good, so it’s easy to make a pumpkin ale with a good nose: throw in a little cinnamon, clove, allspice and nutmeg flavor, and you’ve got a nice fall beer aroma. The problem with so many is a thin or watery mid-palate that just doesn’t satisfy like a mouthful of chewy pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie or pumpkin cookie. PumKing, however, is the dessert of fall beers.

It’s hard to find and a little expensive — 6 bucks for a 22 oz bottle — but it’s really worth trying if you ever come across it.

So…I’ve been thinking of trying to add more non-political features to the blog, especially on the weekend. Song of the week is going great, and I’d like to add drink of the week and maybe movie of the week. I can’t write these things myself, I just don’t have that much jam, so do any of you keep blogs about wine/beer/cocktails or about movies?

Any other ideas for non-political weekend features?

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Song of the week

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A personal favorite of mine, I have to admit. (EDIT: This and all songs of the week posts are written by JPK of Can’t Explain, not by me.)

Left Banke, “Walk Away Renee” (1966)
I know this is a favorite of DougJ’s and who am I to second-guess that? This exquisite mid-’60s chamber orchestra production is so artfully executed, so sad and yet so lovely, with its sawing strings and soothing flute solo (borrowed from “California Dreamin'”) and all its little touches, that it’s kind of hard to grok that it actually became a top 5 hit, but there you have it. Fun facts, courtesy Wikipedia: Boston’s Tom Scholz has said this was a primary inspiration behind “More Than a Feeling.” Rod Stewart named his daughter Renee because this is one of his favorite songs. Gwen Stefani’s middle name is Renee because of this song.

The other hit: “Pretty Ballerina”
More stuff at Can’t Explain.

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Song of the week

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Etta James, “Tell Mama” (1968)
Etta James (name at birth: Jamesetta Hawkins) and Muscle Shoals was a natural combination that maybe took a little longer than you might think to happen, but when it did, well, wowóeasily one of her best albums. She’s in complete control of this blistering number, playing off the horns and guitar that lead the charge just about perfectly. The story about a woman swooping in to nurture a good man cruelly treated is pretty good too, but mostly it’s the sonics that get this over. “I’d Rather Go Blind,” from much earlier in the decade, is a nice example of her way around a heartfelt ballad.

And another: I’d Rather Go Blind
More stuff at Can’t Explain.

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Open Thread: Large Easy Target

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Back in the spotlight, Newton…

Fort Dodge, Ia. – Same-sex marriage is a temporary aberration that will dissipate, Newt Gingrich said here today.
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“I believe that marriage is between a man and woman,” Gingrich said. “It has been for all of recorded history and I think this is a temporary aberration that will dissipate. I think that it is just fundamentally goes against everything we know.”

Found out about this from the inestimable Charlie Pierce:

In case you’re wondering how many punchlines are contained in the words “temporary aberration” in the context of Newt Gingrich’s thoughts on the institution of marriage, well, I’m into triple digits and it’s only lunchtime.
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All I can say is it’s got to be one helluva sturdy petard.

For those among us who are too big-souled high-minded for fat jokes, the key phrases would be “temporary, as with NG’s three-and-counting opposite-sex civil couplings” and “Genuis namesake fueling alternate energy sources via spinning in his grave”…

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Song of the week, early edition

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I realize things have been a bit slow around here lately. I’ll be live-blogging the Republican debate tonight. Here’s Song of the Week, a day early. Also too, feel free to consider this an open thread.

R.E.M., “Radio Free Europe” (1981)
I’m going to try being vaguely relevant just for a change of pace. I was plain surprised to hear the news that R.E.M. is hanging it up I figured by this point they were planning to just take it to their graves. Now they’re gone I’m casting my mind back … a long way. I remember well the offbeat wake-up call of that first single, though I couldn’t say at the time what struck so strong about it, and then the EP that built on that, and then Murmur, and so on and so forth. I admit I loved them beyond all sense at points, got tired unto the death of them at others, but they were always worth checking any time they came along with something new. Will miss them now, that’s for sure.

From Murmur: “Talk About the Passion”
More stuff at Can’t Explain.

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Late night song of the week

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Ray Charles, “Mess Around” (1953)
Crazy week here, hard drive meltdowns, computer to the indifferent shop, and offline for two long days. I realized, for better or worse, that online is basically where I live nowadays so I really felt lost there for awhile. But I can always put on something from The Birth of Soul and feel something like I have approximated coming home again. Maybe it’s like that for you too? Don’t miss the iconic moment here when Ray Charles drives the wedge of silence between the words “pit” and “barbecue” in the first line, and somehow launches the whole thing to high levels of excitement.

One more: “It Should’ve Been Me”
More stuff at Can’t Explain.

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