Figured we could use one.
Legends of the fall
I am locked out of the blog from my work computer, due to the virus, but I can get on the wireless from iPad. A less kind under-blogger would ask what the over/under is on the number of “stop emailing me about how the blog is screwed up” posts we get over the next week or so.
I’ve just realized that in addition to the endless hand-wringing over volatile generic preference polls and discussions of whether it was liberal overreach or poor communications that ultimately doomed Democrats, there’s another type of pre-analysis of November’s elections, the “this event did nothing to change Democratic fortunes”. Mark Halperin has a classic right here, boldly asserting that Obama’s press conference, while “pretty good”, wasn’t nearly enough to stop the certain Republican tsunami. I thought this was pretty gutsy, given the conventional wisdom that Obama’s press conference completely changed the dynamic of these elections.
I haven’t figured out how to turn this into a drinking game yet, but I’d like your help in assembling a definitive list of all the signs that Democratic defeat is certain and all the things that pre-caused this terrible debacle.
Open Thread: Trumped!
After Donald Trump whored for more free publicity made a public offer to buy the Not-Ground-Zero Not-Mosque site, Gawker made a public offer to pay Trump to shut up.
Open Thread: Send Pictures!
I’ve only got a couple more Pet Rescue stories stockpiled, and I know you all have many tales to share. Send me your photos ([email protected], or click on the link near the top of the right-hand column) and you too can cheer up Glenn Greenwald be a front-pager for a day!
Cheerful Note Of The Day
In 1941, Imperial Japan understood perfectly well that it would be stupid to pick a fight with yet another superpower. They attacked anyway because Japan had essentially no choice. Japan had and has no domestic supply of oil, which means that the US more or less cut off their blood supply by embargoing oil imports from usual sources such as Indonesia. Barring preemptive retreat and surrender, Japan had no strategic option that did not involve knocking the US Navy out of the Western and Southern Pacific.
Anyhow, if oil does switch from a commodity to a strategic resource then everyone becomes Japan!
Here’s a cat that adopted a puppy.
Early Morning Open Thread: Oliver Twist
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From commentor WereBear:
When I first saw RJ, he was so thin his eyes looked odd; there was no subcutaneous fat in his eye sockets. The only way I could tell he was a long haired cat was the fur in his ears. He looked like an very old cat; instead of the four month old the shelter said he was. And this was after three weeks of medical care once the police had dropped him off as a material witness in an animal abuse case.
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I leaned close, hands behind me to show I had no grabby motives, and asked, “So what’s your story?”
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He extended his paws, claws held in, and patted my cheeks. And it was over.
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We named him Reverend Jim; because he had the same wide eyed astonishment, at everything. I knew, even as I signed the papers, that his problems were even deeper than the divots in his hips where the tendons stuck out like bridge cables. He hadn’t gotten to his developmental milestones; he couldn’t control his face; when we got him home, he didn’t know how to play.
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The third day we had him, he got an eye infection and was whisked to our vet. I drew the new guy for the first time, so I took RJ from his carrier and started talking about all the stages of his weeping eye… and noticed he was looking at me, really oddly.
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It dawned on me that he was debating calling the police. RJ looked that bad. Once I realized, I had my paperwork out in an instant.
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But I thought it was all fixable. And I was right. It helped that from the beginning he was the sweetest, cuddliest, happiest little fellow in the world. And, inexplicably, he smelled like cinnamon. So one of his nicknames is Muffin Head.
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After three years of proper care, and the help of some special games and toys I created to help his deficits, you’d have to live with him to know there was ever anything wrong with him. The final steps were helped along a year ago by RJ’s kitten, Olwyn, (gray, behind RJ,) who modeled the kittenhood he’d missed out on.
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Now, he can figure things out. He no longer “freezes up” when he’s confronted with something upsetting or puzzling. In fact, he’s become actually clever; and displays the wicked sense of humor that Maine Coons are known for.
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I knew, that day in the shelter, that he could make it all the way back.
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And he still, inexplicably, smells like cinnamon.
Open Thread: Thursday Night Menu
First, an update from Soonergrunt:
Chest hurts a little bit, but the pain drugs are working very well. They took the drain out earlier this morning, and I passed right out and slept until a few minutes ago. I’m in a regular ward and I hope to go home on Saturday morning.
I read the posting about the 12 Soldiers in the 2-2 Stryker Brigade. I don’t have anything to say about that right now. I’m reading the article in the Army Times in another window. I fade in and out a bit so it may take a while. I guess I was pretty loopy last night.
Thanks for the thoughts and prayers, and hug your loved ones for me.
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And then to our regularly scheduled TaMara posting:
The week has been a bit emotional. As you may know, there is a large wildfire burning in Colorado, near my community, and it has affected several people I know. 170 homes are lost, 6500 acres burned. I spent the morning on the phone offering assistance to those I know whose homes were lost. Yesterday I stopped at the Humane Society to drop off much needed food and supplies. I was heartened when I added my meager offerings to a mountain of donations they’d received in just 24 hours to help take care of displaced animals – I may be the only one who included people treats with the puppy and kitty treats. The staff is working hard to take care of everyone and I thought they could use some chocolate. High winds are predicted tonight, so we are all holding our breath and hoping the area will soon be contained.
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Tonight’s menu was a request I was glad to fill. These little sandwiches are called runzas in the Midwest, but I’m sure if you’ve made them before they’ve gone by different names. Whatever you call them, they’re tasty little sandwiches. And who couldn’t use a little strudel? Put your lederhosen on and enjoy.
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On the board tonight:
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German Pocket Burgers
Cucumber Tomato Salad
Apple Strudel
As ever, recipes and shopping list at the link.