Another Open Thread
By John Cole February 29th, 2012
I have nothing to say other than that I am still awake and y’all filled up the last thread with your inane babble. I’ll just pretend that the content of the post prompting said inane babble was actually important (ZOMG I LUV CABBAGE).
It wasn’t.
Oh, did talk to the blogmistresses tonight and we may end up having to buy a server or two to deal with traffic issues. Would you all mind pitching in for that? I hate asking, but it has been two-three years since we did a fundraiser, I believe (other than the send Kay to Netroots last summer). If not, I will look into other options.
Posted in Open Thread
I would consider kicking a little in, but I’m unemployed, and can’t afford much.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:26 am
I say we put on a carnival in the barn. And maybe a good old fashioned dunking booth. And a cake walk.
Or you could just go with the tip jar, but it’s not nearly as colorful. I’m in.
(as soon as my taxes come back – ungrateful leech that I am)
February 29th, 2012 at 1:28 am
@The prophet Nostradumbass: Then don’t. My goodness, if you are unemployed, I can’t imagine why you would give money to a website that will keep on keeping on regardless. This is for an upgrade. Keep your money to yourself, you need it, you silly but generous bastard.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:28 am
I can’t give a lot, but I will give what I can.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:29 am
If I can remember my PayPal password, I’m in. I think it was two-three years since I last looked for it, come to think of it.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:31 am
Do the fundraiser. I know Grumpy Code Monkey and I will kick in.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:34 am
Silly question, but why buy a server instead of getting on a cloud server somewhere? It’s cheaper and never needs upgrading.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:36 am
After 2-3 years since the last fundraiser surely I owe ya. (Yeah, I know, you’re name’s not Shirley. But seriously though, I recall some years back you had some funky name other than John Cole appear on the billing? Like Francis John or Willifred John or Gouverneur John Cole or summat like that?)
Also, I forget where to send it. Can you add a link?
February 29th, 2012 at 1:37 am
@binzinerator:
There’s probably one on this page somewhere…
February 29th, 2012 at 1:42 am
@jacy: A carnival, like this one?
February 29th, 2012 at 1:43 am
Actually pay money to something that wastes countless hours per week? Sure, why not? Where else can I read about the clueless who suddenly realize they’ve been drinking litter-box water? What a hoot!
February 29th, 2012 at 1:43 am
Geez,
I just grabbed while lurking a half dozen recipes from that inane babble thread, copied & pasted to my recipe file (oh thank you recipe people, including the pinch-of-this and that folks), so I owe this website, so, yeah, I’d kick in for an upgrade.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:43 am
Today in depressing statistics, we have the number of meth labs busted in West Virginia for 2012. Unfortunately, it is a lot. On average, state police there have uncovered a total of 1.09 home meth labs per day so far this year—59 labs discovered in 54 days, through February 24. That volume is on track to make 2012 a record year in meth-lab seizures in the state, according to today’s Charleston Gazette. “At the current pace, meth lab busts would exceed the state’s record seizure of 353 labs in 2005.” Current pace, by the way, yields 400 busted labs. The 2011 total was 229.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:45 am
No. Stop. Don’t donate anything tonight. I don’t even have the server estimates yet. We just talked about it.
I’ll let you know when.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:46 am
Rachel Maddow has a book coming out? Why had I not heard of this before?
February 29th, 2012 at 1:51 am
@nellcote: 400 labs would be one meth lab for every 4500 people in the state. By comparison, there’s about one dentist for every 2500 people in the state.
So yeah, that’s a lot.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:53 am
@Martin: My eye is totally distracted by the ad of the hawt babe with the JFL hair lounging in bed in a negligee and the caption over her saying “The 4 Dangers Destroying Men”.
Gimme a minute… oh there’s actually lots of links here . Hmmm. “Donate via Paypal”. That’s prolly it. One last glance, then I’ll go…
February 29th, 2012 at 1:53 am
I’m in. Worth it fursure.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:54 am
@The prophet Nostradumbass:
How did you know my secret weakness is old BBC programming? I must be spending too much time here.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:54 am
@John Cole:
When you do, make it known, because I’m in for $20 plus the PayPal fee of 2.9% + 30 cents. So I’ll cover what I want you to get and the fee you get for my contribution.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:55 am
The shirts don’t count, right?
Got my eye on a Tunch FEED.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:56 am
@binzinerator: The hawt babe would be Angelina Jolie, so yeah, good eye.
February 29th, 2012 at 1:57 am
Oh, and wipe the drool off your chin, Cole.
You know you loved the last thread.
Nom-nom.
February 29th, 2012 at 2:00 am
@kdaug: Shirts go to Charlie’s Angels Rescue. Same with calendars.
February 29th, 2012 at 2:00 am
I’m doing a dry run on my taxes this week, but I’m up for a few bucks. Let us know.
@nellcote: How to make Sudafed from meth.
1. Read PDF.
2. ?
3. PROFIT!
February 29th, 2012 at 2:02 am
@The prophet Nostradumbass:
I don’t think the book was actually in the closet.
February 29th, 2012 at 2:03 am
Please can you ask the webmistress to change the css for the h3 tags?
February 29th, 2012 at 2:04 am
@The prophet Nostradumbass:
How much were you thinking? I’ll pitch in, in your honor.
February 29th, 2012 at 2:05 am
This lurker owes BJ more than a few nickles. I’m in.
February 29th, 2012 at 2:06 am
@Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason:
Good point. Cole read the last thread for the recipes, but keeps his litter-water to himself.
Selfish bastard.
February 29th, 2012 at 2:06 am
I will chip in though I’m not ‘murkin.
Will it be a separate post or you will have the fund raiser linky on the right ?
February 29th, 2012 at 2:08 am
Make sure you put your pleading fat mug on the post when you ask for money, with the piglets. Heh.
February 29th, 2012 at 2:09 am
@MikeJ: Because they look like links? (Noted in the change sheet I’m running for John.)
February 29th, 2012 at 2:09 am
so snowe quit, huh ?
sign of toxic us politics ?
February 29th, 2012 at 2:11 am
@Cain: Oh, yes.
In fact, I want the Cole shirt with “CASH” to match the Tunch one.
February 29th, 2012 at 2:17 am
Oh well. Too late. Buy a doggie treat for that sweetie Lily. Or put it toward a maille coif for your self, so you can sleep without fear of bleeding out during the night from your sharp clawed and disgruntled overlord, Tunch.
February 29th, 2012 at 2:17 am
@Cain: Me? I was thinking in the 10-20 dollar range.
February 29th, 2012 at 2:28 am
Do the fundraiser.
February 29th, 2012 at 2:29 am
Waitasecondhere. I thought this blog was supposed to pay for itself.
February 29th, 2012 at 2:30 am
@John Cole:
Oops. Too late….
February 29th, 2012 at 2:37 am
@PeakVT: Tunch discovered yellowfin. Costs have been adjusted accordingly.
February 29th, 2012 at 2:38 am
I will gladly pitch in. This site is invaluable.
February 29th, 2012 at 2:39 am
@PeakVT:
it will happen, but like the seventh seal, it may some day be the only thing standing between us and peak wingnut.
February 29th, 2012 at 2:43 am
I mentioned Rachel Maddow above, there’s a bunch of videos on her MSNBC page about an appearance she made at the Steinbeck Center at San Jose State last weekend. I haven’t watched all of them, but they’re very, very good.
February 29th, 2012 at 2:45 am
@gex:
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
February 29th, 2012 at 2:48 am
@Marcellus Shale, Public Dick: Well, since you put it that way, I’m in for $20.
February 29th, 2012 at 2:58 am
hi JC, mebbe do a fundraiser, & split the proceeds w/ Charlie’s Angels? i’d bet that most folks here want to keep BJ running, & throw some support towards the young kittycats, too.
February 29th, 2012 at 3:00 am
in
February 29th, 2012 at 3:01 am
@Martin: Okay. This site is worth $20 to me.
February 29th, 2012 at 3:07 am
TPM:
Is there anything that says cheesy hierarchical GOP scam like the phrase “opulent Amway Grand”?
.
February 29th, 2012 at 3:16 am
TPM:
Is there anything that says cheesy hierarchical GOP scam like the phrase “opulent Amway Grand”?
.
February 29th, 2012 at 3:16 am
@The prophet Nostradumbass:
http://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblo.....ety-on-jfk
February 29th, 2012 at 3:20 am
@amk:
Pretty much. It’s gonna be portrayed as a both sides are too partisan story, but it seems clear that Snowe got sick of dealing with the ungrateful Tea Partiers and other miscellaneous wingnuts attacking her from the right — both at home and in the Senate.
.
February 29th, 2012 at 3:28 am
@binzinerator:
Okay, I had to google/bing JFL — which I’ve linked as a public service for everyone else equally behind the linguistic curve.
.
February 29th, 2012 at 3:32 am
Sadly, JC, the whole unemployment thing is preventing me from donating to a lot of causes. Even my own.
February 29th, 2012 at 3:47 am
Cole, your fundraising pitch needs a little work. Nevertheless, I’m happy to oblige when the time comes.
February 29th, 2012 at 3:54 am
@JGabriel:
The DeVos family, founders of (sc)Amway, pretty much own that section of mid-Michigan. And if anyone thinks the Mormons are the meanest bunch of nasty self-satisfied authoritarian fundamentalist godbotherers in America, they’ve never met a paid-up member of DeVos’ “Christian Reformed Church in North America”, a/k/a “the Dutch Calvinists”. I’m sure Sanctorum felt very much at home there… but my Michigan friends who’ve been there say it’s pretty nice for a business-centric Midwestern hotel.
February 29th, 2012 at 4:10 am
I’d be honored to pony up, JC, if only to help you feed your poor, malnourished cat.
February 29th, 2012 at 4:19 am
@Anne Laurie: didn’t the entire devos gang endorse rmoney before the primary ?
February 29th, 2012 at 4:23 am
The Michigan Mandate:
You can trash my job, but don’t tell me what to do with my sexy time!
February 29th, 2012 at 4:26 am
Okay, full stop. I just took the trash out and right next to the dumpster was a bike. A mountain bike/hybrid with a decent frame, flat tires, both shifters fuxxored, and the chain rusted redder than Mars, but other than that, the bike is in decent condition that I could gather. Do I junk it or do I go forward with incremental repairs? The bike itself and the frame has no real damage, but the chain, and the shift levers leading to the derailleur are defunct. The brakes lines are okay, but right now this thing is unrideable. From the look of it, this thing has been sitting out in the weather for years by the look of the chain and the seat. Do I junk it, or is it worthy of recovering?
February 29th, 2012 at 4:45 am
I’m confused. I hit the link in the plea for dough and get the 2009 thread where it says to stop giving. Whatup wit dat?
February 29th, 2012 at 5:01 am
John, I’ll chip in a few dollars. The recipes on the previous post are worth a few dollars although I’m not sure about cooking with peanut butter.
February 29th, 2012 at 5:15 am
@JPL:
George Washington Carver wept.
February 29th, 2012 at 5:24 am
I’m in. I get all my political news from y’all. Money well spent.
Y’all make me laugh, too. Life is good.
Thanks.
February 29th, 2012 at 5:24 am
@JPL: How do you make your Thai peanut sauce?
February 29th, 2012 at 5:26 am
@freelancer: Fix it! I found a really nice bike in similar condition a few years back. I’m not mechanically inclined, so I took it to a bike shop for rehab instead of fixing it myself. I ended up with a first-class cruiser for around $50.
February 29th, 2012 at 5:38 am
@jacy: Instead of a carnival, let’s put on a show!
I’m in for some cash for a new server. Just let me know.
February 29th, 2012 at 5:43 am
@Raven: He’s not ready to accept donations yet. He still has to crunch numbers to see what will be needed.
February 29th, 2012 at 5:48 am
Sometimes reading replies to trolls are worthwhile. The response by R.Schmidt-Orren to makeweewee in the Bannister thread was thoroughly enjoyable. Yes, republicans are perpetual whiners who want everything on the dirt cheap.
February 29th, 2012 at 5:53 am
@Soonergrunt: Thanks!
February 29th, 2012 at 5:53 am
@Raven: As you know living in GA means that you can find several places selling boiled peanuts. I still prefer my peanuts roasted.
February 29th, 2012 at 6:00 am
Oh, you know I’m in, Cole. SOMEONE has to make sure Tunchie gets fed.
February 29th, 2012 at 6:07 am
eegads, Santorum is one ugly mofo
ICK!
February 29th, 2012 at 6:18 am
@asiangrrlMN: Hey! Howya doin?
February 29th, 2012 at 6:19 am
@Unabogie: above asked about cloud serving. I’m curious why that wouldn’t be an option?
February 29th, 2012 at 6:27 am
@Betty Cracker:
That’s my instinct too. I felt it as my eyes ran over the frame, my Dad’s handyman genes kicked into high gear and I thought “Holy Shit!”.
All this thing needs is a strip down, repolish, some new shift lines and Maybe a new seat (20 bucks tops), different tires on these rims, and I got me a city bike!
My bike that I have right now is a 1980’s Raleigh Record Sprint road bike that my dad rebuilt and is lighter and quicker than ghost-shit and is made for pure speed on the open road. I lurve it, but if I had two bikes at the same price, that would be even better!
February 29th, 2012 at 6:33 am
@The prophet Nostradumbass:
i guess b/c she’s not pimping it to death like Chris Matthews and his JFK book – but you’d think somebody on MSNBC would mention it!
February 29th, 2012 at 6:35 am
@freelancer: If you don’t feel like doing it yourself, there may be a charity organization that fixes up bikes in the area for those in need you could donate it to.
February 29th, 2012 at 6:35 am
i can’t get the cat to shut up until i crank the heat up about 3 degrees so she can lay in front of the vent. her “sister” wouldn’t let anyone near the vent for many, many years – so it’s kinda sad in a way – normally i wouldn’t turn up the heat but i do it just for her b/c i’m sorry for the past and just because.
February 29th, 2012 at 6:39 am
@Raven: Good! How you be? I’m eating dinner and just about to hit the sack.
February 29th, 2012 at 6:39 am
Come on Cole. You used to be a Republican. Can’t you find a billionaire of your very own?
February 29th, 2012 at 6:48 am
@Egg Berry:
Thanks. I’m inclined to take Ms. Cracker’s advise and treat the frame as an incremental fixer-upper. My Pop was a genius at this kind of thing, and I inherited his interest in most things mechanical. Kind of a “don’t look a gift horse in the mouth” kind of thing, but if I end up with a bike I have no practical use for, I will definitely look into paying it forward to someone who can use it in more beneficial ways than I can.
February 29th, 2012 at 6:49 am
I’m in.
February 29th, 2012 at 7:33 am
Also in. Fire up the BJ bat signal when you’re ready.
February 29th, 2012 at 7:42 am
I LURV me my Balloon Juice, so okay. I’ll pay.
February 29th, 2012 at 7:53 am
@asiangrrlMN: Not too shabby! nite nite
February 29th, 2012 at 7:54 am
@John Cole: Oops from me too – mind you I only put in a weeny bit of money just now so I’m good to put in a bit more when you do the fundraiser proper. Is your middle name really “Griffin”? That’s a good middle name.
February 29th, 2012 at 7:55 am
Yeah,well,like what happened to all the Soros money Cole? I know Tunch is expensive to feed but jeez Bill Oreilly said you were cashing a big fat check from George Soros himself.
February 29th, 2012 at 8:20 am
Oh sweet monkey-Jeezus, Cole. I just felt safe turning on NPR without having to be harangued for cash from local land-developers. Now I have to support your stray-animal habit too? Ok, Fine, I am in for some cash-monies.
February 29th, 2012 at 8:31 am
In a year or two, is Anonymous going to target John Cole for not protecting his donations electronic info enough and we get all the e-mails released of him bragging about how he tricked all these readers into being ACORN dupes?
February 29th, 2012 at 8:38 am
@freelancer: That bike is sexy. Judging from the frame you must be rather tall; will the bike you found be tall enough for you?
As far as the cost of rehabbing it, I second the suggestion to take it to a shop. Try a bike coop if you have one, or look on Craiglists maybe for someone who does tuneups/repairs out of their home. A few years ago I found a somewhat trashed Specialized Crossroads hybrid on a garbage heap when the semester ended and all the students went home. I liked my older Crossroads, but I wanted a commuter with drop bars. I ended up buying everything but the frame and my garbage heap bargain ended up costing about $300, but even so, I don’t regret it. It’s bombproof as a grocery getter and still fun for commuting. I wish I had a before, because it was pretty sad, but here’s an after.
February 29th, 2012 at 8:46 am
@El Cid: God, I hope so.
February 29th, 2012 at 8:47 am
These somewhat bashful, apologetic fundraising requests from bloggers whom I respect and frequent always remind me of Steve Gilliard’s more forthright appeals.
As I recall and paraphrase (inadequately), Gilliard declared that regular readers who would not hesitate to pay for subscriptions to magazines, journals or newspapers should be willing to contribute an equivalent amount to websites/bloggers who work determinedly to create independent and insightful perspectives, almost always without commensurate reward or recognition.
That’s yet another reason why I admire(d) that fine and lamented man.
So, of course, I’m in for a contribution to this site when requested. (A vehicle other than Paypal would be appreciated if possible.) But please no guest appearances by Andrea Bocelli, Andre Rieu, or Irish step dancers. Perhaps with new servers, even more “Dangers Destroying Men” will be disclosed.
February 29th, 2012 at 9:01 am
I will be glad to throw in a little bit. I will keep my eyes open for the contribution thread.
Erik Erikson is calling on Bobby Jindal to ride in and save the party this morning.
Bobby. Damn. Jindal.
What would make anybody think that Bobby Jindal would be a better candidate than Mitt?
February 29th, 2012 at 9:02 am
I will gladly chip in for a couple of servers or two, in honor of the great white whale that wakes John Cole up in the middle of the night and demands attention, and in honor of our own great grey whale with similiar inclinations, his skinnier brother who steals socks like a thief in the night, and the other feline denizens we serve.
February 29th, 2012 at 9:15 am
I’ll toss in a buck or two. The finances are easing up a bit and this place is many times the only sea of sanity I can find.
February 29th, 2012 at 9:25 am
Happy to contribute something toward the upgrade JC.
February 29th, 2012 at 9:32 am
@Unabogie: Not so fast. A server in Amazon’s EC2 cloud costs between $1k and $6k per year to run, depending on size. That’s hardly chump change. Plus, they hit you for disk storage. Plus, they charge you each time data goes in or out of the cloud. It adds up. On the other hand, you are right that with the cloud, Amazon incurs the hassle of maintaining and upgrading the equipment. However, if you think that any of this will save a single minute of the John’s or the Blogmistress’ time, you are dreaming. A virtual machine in the cloud has all of the software hassles of a real machine, with extra cloudy goodness! I’m not knocking the cloud, per se, but it’s no magic bullet, and the startup costs can be daunting.
/geek off/
If there’s a fundraiser, I’ll chip in.
February 29th, 2012 at 9:41 am
I’m in even if the folks at your state university don’t know what it means to honor a contract. :-)
February 29th, 2012 at 10:04 am
I’d be happy to contribute to the site John.
February 29th, 2012 at 10:07 am
Done – this site is my lifeline for political sanity
February 29th, 2012 at 10:45 am
Cole, you need to post stuff like this on the first day of the month, not the last day! I will gladly contribute! Tomorrow. After I get paid.
February 29th, 2012 at 10:47 am
Done. $50 is yours John.
February 29th, 2012 at 10:56 am
Testing
February 29th, 2012 at 11:12 am
I realize this thread is hours old now but if anyone is still reading (John) I’m in for some dollars.
February 29th, 2012 at 11:32 am
Bake sale.
February 29th, 2012 at 12:39 pm
Anyone else notice this?
North Korea agrees to suspend nuclear activities, US says
February 29th, 2012 at 2:54 pm
@JGabriel: Thanks for the clarifying link.
Back in my day, we called it “combed with a pillow”.
February 29th, 2012 at 5:40 pm