These cats look like they would rather not with the whole Christmas thing, particularly the one on the left:
I, on the other hand, am actually looking forward to it this year. I’ve uncharacteristically completed my shopping early, even the retaliatory gifts (miscellaneous items that are wrapped for quick tagging to whip out in response to unexpected presents from others).
Next week is our annual Drunken Aunties Cookie Bake-Off. Anyone got any good, simple cookie recipes to share?
Otherwise, please feel free to discuss whatever — open thread!
[Photo from Buzzfeed]
Walker
I have never understand how people can get their cats to wear these things. Mine won’t even wear a collar.
Felonius Monk
WTF is this? My drunk aunt could never even find her way to the bathroom let alone bake cookies.
benw
How tightly is “cookie” defined? Here’s a very simple and easy recipe for vegan chickpea blondies. So fucking delicious. No kidding.
jeffreyw
@Walker: They just need some subtle persuasion.
dogwood
Hey, Betty. I want to thank you for a post last week. The one one about Marsala shopping. I came home so frustrated that day after inspecting the wine aisle for about a half hour looking for the stuff and there was your post about the exact same experience. Made my day. It was a dead thread then, so I’m thanking you now.
ThresherK
Repost from downstairs:
Okay, those of you who’ve been following the adventures of my Superannuated Sentra know that I suffered a mishap Friday nite. (Translation: Some lady crashed into me, no witnesses, no injuries, no ticket on the police report.) I will be getting rid of the car in April, and just want to take the money and pocket as much as I can without risk to life and limb.
I’ve done valve-cover gaskets on four cars. I have replaced tires on my motorcycle and they point straigtht forward and haven’t fallen off. I replaced a burst main fuel line on a car without breaking anything by overtightening, without gasoline leaks, and without setting anything on fire or leaving a cartoon-like trail of gas which could catch fire and follow my car to blow it up.
Am I ready to replace my own tie-rod end? I’m a visual learner who has watched a couple of YouTube videos and it looks like its in my ballpark.
Manyakitty
So, to be clear, there’s no pet calendar this year, right?
cleek
pie filter is working… for now.
(v7.0.0)
http://ok-cleek.com/blogs/?page_id=19041
Big ole hound
Any one who thinks dressing up their pets is funny should go back to playing with dolls. A festive collar or something would be enough.
catclub
Those are cute kitties!
As to open threadness. I was thinking that the side tab, which is the link to the next thread, would people
like it if it told how many comments were in that thread, along with the thread title?
bemused
We were reading the District Court sentences (as one does in small town america to see if any names are familiar) when we had to laugh seeing the young man’s name his parents gave him.
Luke Skywalker Richard (last name omitted), 22, DWI, one year local confinement.
Betty Cracker
@Manyakitty: I don’t know a thing about it.
MattF
@bemused: So… Luke is going to the Dark Side!
Betty Cracker
@dogwood: Glad to know we’re not alone! Thank you!
debbie
Too late last thread, but am reposting because this is an open thread and I am pissed off:
In Ohio, Planned Parenthood has filed a lawsuit against the worm known as Mike DeWine, the Attorney General, accusing him of politicizing the issue of the disposal of aborted fetuses.
http://www.reuters.com/article…..8020151214
A couple of days ago, the AG announced that he had confirmed PP wasn’t selling the fetuses as had been charged, but he stated that he would file an injunction against PP for the inhumane methods of disposal being used. The language used in his announcement was totally inflammatory:
http://www.dispatch.com/conten…..mains.html
What’s really got me ticked off is that when the lawsuit was announced, it stated that DeWine’s investigation had begun 4 or 5 months ago, so either he moved before or just as the first of the videos were being released. DeWine’s never moved this quickly on anything else.
This tiny toadie has abused his powers once too often. I hope the PP lawsuit ends up hurting him.
rikyrah
the kitties look so cute.
debbie
By the way, isn’t doing that kind of thing to cats considered abusive?
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
Cookie recipes. The baker prefers quick and easy.
Roger Moore
@debbie:
Are they holding a contest to see which Republican can be the most despicable excuse for a human being? It’s the only way I can come up with to explain how they keep managing to slither under the bar, no matter how low it goes.
Manyakitty
@Betty Cracker: Fair enough. Thanks.
bemused
Ragdoll kitties are the only breed of cat that will docilely put up with being dressed up or just about anything. Definitely indoor cats only with other dogs/pets/ kids that respect that trait.
tsquared2001
Today is my birthday. I used to brag most heartily about December 14 – then a heavily armed fuck wit shot 20 little kids and the government and society I love did absolutely fucking nothing to ensure that this complete act of insanity would never happen again.
Instead, a really fucked version of doubling down occurred. That was quite a surprise.
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
Oh, forgot to ask. the aforementioned baker is in search of eggnog brownie recipes. Taking recommendations.
danielx
@ThresherK:
You might be able to but the car would need a front end alignment after the work was done, or so I would suspect. If you have to take it in for alignment after the installation anyway….
gvg
It depends on the cat. I had a purebred Angora former show cat that kind of liked being dressed up. she liked attention and knew she was gorgeous. The first time was kind of a dare as my sister said that cat will let you do anything to you. Cat used to ride draped on my shoulders. she had just fallen down my back perfectly relaxed and let me catch her behind my back, confident I was getting her. so I got out some doll clothes and she clearly liked the attention. No other cat I’ve had was like that but I haven’t had that many as mine have tended to live long lives.
She could charm people who said they were afraid of cats and sort of had some dumb blond habits in that she had found she could get people to do things for her by acting cute so she often didn’t bother to do them for herself. Not a stupid cat at all but peoples reaction to her looks had trained her to be charming. Kind of interesting to watch and think about.
Josie
Betty: This is one of my family’s favorites. Mine also because they are easy and quick. I do add the cocoa powder, of course, because chocolate makes everything better.
Snickerdoodles
Cookie
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup butter softened
2 eggs
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
Add 1/2 cup cocoa, if desired
Directions
Heat oven to 400°F. Combine all cookie ingredients in large bowl. Beat at low speed, scraping bowl often, until well mixed.
Stir together 3 tablespoons sugar and cinnamon in small bowl.
Shape dough into 1-inch balls; roll in sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Bake 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.
4 dozen
JGabriel
@Roger Moore:
Yes, it’s called the Republican Presidential Primary.
That’s no excuse for DeWine though, since he’s not currently running for PotUS.
Germy
@Manyakitty:
No, but there’s this:
Josie
Another easy one. My sons renamed these cookie crack.
Graham Cracker Toffee
Ingredients
16 graham cracker sheets
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup butter
1 cup chopped pecans
6 oz. milk or semi sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Line cookie sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.
Cover prepared cookie sheet with whole graham cracker sheets.
In saucepan, bring brown sugar and butter to a boil over medium heat. Boil for four minutes stirring constantly. Pour over graham crackers and bake for 8 minutes at 350 degrees F.
After baking, Immediately sprinkle chocolate chips over the top of graham cracker and let sit for about two minutes. Spread melted chocolate with a knife. Sprinkle nuts over the top.
Let sit for about two hours and them cut and serve. Sometimes, if I am in a hurry, I will cool the cookies in the freezer for a quicker serve time.
burnspbesq
Dreher is at least 98 percent idiot, but If you haven’t seen it, you really need to check this out. Will blow your mind.
Cardinal Dolan is even scuzzier than you thought
Debbie
@Roger Moore:
Then it’s some kind of sick, twisted contest. I’m glad PP is fighting back because most don’t, but the GOP’s death grip has to end.
PurpleGirl
@jeffreyw: Shelly Roche, of Tiny Kittens kitten cam fame, takes the most remarkable pictures of her fosters in costumes. Sometimes she only needs the kitten in the outfit for the time it takes to take the picture. Other times she tries to see how long the kitten will stay dressed. Often the kitten wriggles out of the outfit in a flash — like the one who didn’t want to be a dinosaur (kittensaurus?).
Patricia Kayden
“even the retaliatory gifts (miscellaneous items that are wrapped for quick tagging to whip out in response to unexpected presents from others).”
Never heard of such gifts but that’s a terrific idea.
schrodinger's cat
Not exactly cookies and a bit involved but they are delicious and keep fresh longer than cookies do.
Karanjis, think of them as turnovers with coconut filling.
WereBear
In this post:
Tristan wears a sweater
I tried getting my cat Tristan to wear a sweater for Halloween. He let me try it, let me take some pictures, then indicated he wanted it off him, so I did. No harm, no foul.
But then, he’s a bright and lively guy who needs to be Confused* quite often and the rest of us are happy to oblige. In the article, I described the step by step process one can try to see if their cat minds.
Most of them do. Don’t push it.
*Confuse a Cat, Monty Python reference
Elie
..Dunno about you but look at those kittie’s eyes. Those pupils are dilated and in my experience with kitties, that is not a “look of love”, but one right before they attack. Those cats are not happy. Sure, its still fun to see them in that get up, but there will be “payback” to the owners for this at some point. They truly do “know” when they are being made fun of or laughed at and if these cats are like mine were and are, they will make sure their human pals know this…
I don’t get the whole “dress up” thing with pets… Sure its funny sometimes but dogs seem to handle it better cause it takes advantage of their innate desire to please their humans. To me it seems like a gag with a short shelf life, once you get the first surprised laugh…
Ahasuerus
Hi Betty – did you accidentally a verb there? (snicker)
Those two remind me of a cat we had way back when I was but a wee bairn. Great cat, really mellow disposition. When he was a kitten he managed to crawl up into the clothes dryer vent from the outside, and my Dad had to unhook the dryer exhaust hose to get him out. Dad was pissed, but the cat was like “what’s your problem, bro?”
Patricia Kayden
@debbie: Hopefully people in Ohio are so outraged that they’ll vote out the AG and current Governor the first chance they get.
Funny how exorcised some people pretend to be over fetuses but could care less about how actual babies/children are treated when it comes to healthcare, public education and poverty. Talk about award winning performances.
Manyakitty
@Germy: OMG. O. M. G.
PurpleGirl
@PurpleGirl: Those kittens are adorable. Thanks for the picture.
maurinsky
@Walker:
My cat almost killed herself trying to get a collar off, so yeah, no clothing for our kitty.
I hate making cookies because my kitchen is tiny and there’s no place to hang out comfortably, so I outsource cookie making to my kids, and I have no idea what recipes they use.
JGabriel
Betty Cracker @ Top:
Recipe:
2-3 bottles of Barolo (Can substitute with Brunello, or other red wine to your taste)
1 pkg. refrigerated organic chocolate chip cookie dough.
1. Open wine. Drink. 1-3 glasses.
2. Bake cookie dough according to pkg. instructions.
3. Drink rest of wine. Serve / eat cookies as desired.
For variety, you can also try substituting brownie mix and pot for the cookie dough and wine. Bonus tip: try mixing the pot *into* the brownie mix before baking.
Personally, I prefer the wine version, but I know people who swear by the brownies.
RobertDSC (Quad Intel Mac)
Another birthday boy. Low key today, off from work and browsing the internets.
Big R
Betty:
Soft’n’Chewy Peanut Butter:
1 C peanut butter
1 C sugar
1 egg
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
Mix all ingredients into bowl. Spoon onto foil-lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for ten minutes.
So easy, even a drunken aunt can make ’em.
p.a.
@bemused: what speeder was he driving?
Debbie
@Patricia Kayden:
Not to mention always pinning the blame on the woman!
elmo
@tsquared2001: Happy Birthday. It’s mine too, and I said in the open thread this morning, it’s also the third anniversary not only of Sandy Hook but of my Dad’s death.
I’m going to shift to a summer birthday, and start celebrating June 14 instead. You with me?
PurpleGirl
To all our BJ birthday boys — may the day find you relaxed and calm, enjoying yourself the best you can. {hugs to all}
ETA: I kind of understand how you feel. One year I called my mom on my birthday and the first — the first — thing she said was “it’s a year since your brother got sick”. Not Happy Birthday to me, but a reminder about my brother and his stroke. Completely messed up my day. My boss saved the day by taking me out to lunch and having a cake brought in for afternoon coffee. (I was a temp and it was also my last day in the assignment.)
Elie
@Debbie:
I truly believe that while there are a lot of anti-abortion “screamers” (and unfortunately doers) out there, that these are a minority. I have conservative friends/acquaintances who support PP and choice. They don’t talk about it a lot, but they know what its about in terms of the issues around WOMEN, not fetuses. Its always been about controlling women. Always. sigh
Roger Moore
@Debbie:
My impression is that PP fights back because they have experience and know they aren’t going to get the Republicans to back off by being conciliatory. Lots of other groups don’t have the same history and don’t realize that giving in will just convince their enemies to attack harder.
Elie
@PurpleGirl:
Hear Hear! Happy b-day!
D58826
Obama just gave a briefing on military operations in Syria and Iraq. The short version is we are making progress but it will take time. The political types, including some D’s are impatient. They want Daesh destroyed ASAP if not sooner. Why is it so hard to comprehend that these things take time. The enemy has a vote. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on 12/7/41 and it wasn’t until Sept. 1945 that the war ended. From the time the US went to war with Germany it took close to two years to wind the battle of the North Atlantic against the U-boats.
p.a.
@JGabriel: Good thing I read the recipe not just your intro, otherwise I would’ve made a very unChristmassy comment about the crime of baking with barolo. ;-) Also too anyone who would bake with barolo probably frequents, I don’t know, a private equity fund blog page, not Balloon Juice.
c u n d gulag
My favorite holiday cookie, isn’t really a cookie – it’s a brownie.
And the recipe is easy!
Here goes –
How to make bourbon-brownies:
First, make or buy some good brownies.
Then take bite, and wash it down with some good bourbon.
Repeat.
CHEERS!
Mnemosyne (iPhone)
The holiday stress is already getting to me, unfortunately. It’s the curse of those of us who make handmade gifts.
tsquared2001
@elmo: Can we do July? I always preferred that over June.
elmo
@tsquared2001: Then you conflict with Bastille Day. You can, of course, but I was sort of going with the official “half-birthday” six-month mark.
I’ve also started celebrating Dec 13, as that was the last day my Dad was alive. Yesterday I cooked my favorite meal and got drunk with my wife.
Gin & Tonic
@burnspbesq: Nothing surprises me, having lived within sort of shouting distance of Bernard Law (although not within the perimeter of his area.) Have you seen the movie Spotlight? It is very good, IMO.
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
The Thin: Alton Brown
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg
2 ounces milk
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract ( I use 3/4 each almond/vanilla)
2 sticks unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips ( I used white chocolate & macs)
Hardware:
Ice cream scooper (#20 disher, to be exact)
Parchment paper
Baking sheets
Mixer
Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda in a mixing bowl. Combine the egg, milk, and vanilla and bring to room temperature in another bowl.
Cream the butter in the mixer’s work bowl, starting on low speed to soften the butter. Add the sugars. Increase the speed, and cream the mixture until light and fluffy. Reduce the speed and add the egg mixture slowly. Increase the speed and mix until well combined.
Slowly add the flour mixture, scraping the sides of the bowl until thoroughly combined. Stir in the chocolate chips. Scoop onto parchment-lined baking sheets, 6 cookies per sheet. Bake for 13 to 15 minutes, checking the cookies after 5 minutes. Rotate the baking sheet for more even browning.
Remove the cookies from the pans immediately. Once cooled, store in an airtight container.
Bex
I have not tried this, but depending on how much wine you drink you could try:
CAT POOP COOKIES
1/2 cup honey
2 cups all-purpose flour
2/3 cup butter
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup Grape-Nuts cereal
Microwave honey on high until bubbly (about 1 minute). Stir in the butter. Add the egg and mix well. Stir in the flour, cocoa, and vanilla. Mix well and chill dough for several hours in the refrigerator. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll chunks of chilled dough to resemble cat poop. Roll cookies in cereal and place on ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees 10-15 minutes.
ThresherK
@danielx: Oh, I knew. Yesterday I went to the Big Chain Auto place where I have lifetime 4-wheel alignment on this car, because (1) all the mechanics I’d go to were closed on Sunday, and (2) hoping, just maybe, the not-straight pointing of the wheel could be fixed with no parts and labor.
That I’m getting it aligned for free after any work is the easiest part of this all. Well, that plus my contract work schedule means I can get this done during the day.
bemused
I love chocolate kiss cookies but need a recipe with a chewier vs harder firmer base dough not using peanut butter.
Gene108
@tsquared2001:
Happy Birthday,
tsquared2001
@elmo: No way I mess with Bastille Day. I like to mess with people at work with my Bastille Day donuts so June it is.
I am green eyed with the pre-birthday celebration. Sounds brilliant altogether.
tsquared2001
@Gene108: Thanks.
raven
@ThresherK: Get a tie-rod end ball joint removing tool.
Snark Based Reality
Photo needs to be posted to /r/holdmynip.
Drugs were involved.
Elie
@D58826:
Thankfully, I believe that Obama can take the heat and not do anything too stupid in response. To answer your other question, I have no idea how the MSM and others thought a war against ISIS would look like, but Obama always said that we would have set backs and it would be a long effort. Not sure what that meant to them but we are seeing what it means. They also seem to take as gospel that Isis has become this crushing international foe with increasing capabilities. I am still not sure that is the case and that these international outbreaks of Isis like terrorism (frequently done by other terrorist organizations), signal the lashing out of a foe who is getting very squeezed in Syria and Iraq and has declining revenues in oil. I am not saying that we should ignore their threat, or make light of their ongoing capability to inflict terror and pain on the world, but the hysteria being shown by the US “elite” is not becoming of a poised “world power”. By the way, Marie Le Pen didn’t do so well in the recent elections after all. Take THAT right wing assholes! Here, we are deep in the throes of white Trump panic and I don’t see much hope of changing that any time soon. We should be ashamed, but somehow, cowardice and panic is the new gray for American White People who want folks to believe that they should rightfully run the world from under their beds.
Mnemosyne (iPhone)
@Big R:
I press ’em down with a fork to flatten them out a little before putting them in the oven. Plus they’re naturally wheat-free (grain-free, really) for those avoiding that ingredient.
I make fun of my Paleo coworker here a lot, but she does have an actual allergy to certain grains. She had a nasty reaction to sorghum flour this weekend and almost had to use her Epi-Pen.
Elie
— And to give perspective of how all animals including humans, are wired….
I have a hummingbird feeder outside my window that I keep stocked with nectar water. Yes, we now have hummers (Anna’s Hummingbirds) year round even when there is freezing weather. There are four ports on the thing — plenty to share for more than one hummer. I keep it fresh and thawed. They will not feed next to each other no matter what. Whoever is on the feeder, chases away all other hummers who try to feed from any of the three other available ports. Now get this — there is plenty for all! And still, the dominant hummer is willing to expend the energy to chase others off — like somehow his/her survival is impacted if they get any. Obviously, other hummers do get to feed — but only one at a time.
This is different behavior, btw than during the summer when they will tensely allow others to feed.
We are just animals — wired just like them and it appears, without the so called higher learning to be different without a lot of effort and training to override …
esc
The best easy recipe I have is the one on the back of the Tollhouse chocolate chip bag for chocolate chip cookies, but you increase the flour to about 3 1/4 cups. You get a nice, thick cookie instead of the thin, sad, greasy things a lot of people make.
JPL
The speech I wish the President had given is Of course, we are going after Daesh but we don’t tout it everyday because we don’t want them to know our plans. Shut the fk up.. I got this.
Might be why I’m not President, just sayin.
Mike in NC
@bemused: Not our ragdolls! They have no sense of humor in that regard.
catclub
@Elie:
As far as I can tell, Daesh has taken NO Shia cities in Iraq. Not as sure about Syria.
For a world beating organization, that is pretty weak.
Mnemosyne (iPhone)
@Elie:
There’s been some pretty interesting research lately that innate personalities fall into a few categories, with some people being naturally more open to differences and others being naturally more suspicious. It probably served us well back when we all lived in small groups because you had both diplomats who would communicate with other groups and wary people watching out for the group’s security, but it doesn’t seem to work quite as well when all of the suspicious people (or all of the open people) group together against each other.
Satby
Sigh. I see the mobile site has been updated, rats.
In the good news department, I accepted another job coaching job (only offer I had) and go back to work day after tomorrow. Part time for now, with full time potential very soon. Less money than before, but more stable hours. So small blessings.
Roger Moore
@Elie:
I think the human is holding something above and to the left of the camera to draw the cat’s attention. That’s what they’re staring at and threatening to attack, not the photographer.
JPL
@catclub: Where’s Adam when we need him? I think Raqqa had a large Sunni presence but I’m not sure. I do know that when ISIS overran the community to take back control from Al-Nusra (sp?), they destroyed all Shia relics.
Elie
@catclub:
I don’t think anyone knows much what is going on in Syria — probably too fluid. I mean, its the definition of QUAGMIRE — something we tried to avoid but couldn’t entirely.
Instead of saying, “Whew, this is bad but it could have been much much worse if we had sent American troops in to help “the rebels” a year ago (like the war thumpers wanted).”
Like we could tell rebels from friends for Pete’s sake! One thing is clear — the US does not know shit nor should it try to get familiar with every layered nuance relationship among the groups in this CIVIL WAR. We should just try to contain the worst, do major policing at home, disrupt communications where we can and stay the fuck out of as much as we can. And someone should ask Putin how he is liking how things look for Russia since he brought his man boobs into the fray…
gogol's wife
@Manyakitty:
I’ve never seen an answer to this. I too am wondering about it.
Roger Moore
@p.a.:
A T-16; he can bullseye womp rats with that thing.
WereBear
This is my fallback when it comes to certain human traits that seem currently counter-productive.
However, I am still clinging to my “environment nudges DNA” theory that lets us have more, or less, of certain traits. Since some of them seem connected to authoritarian/abusive parenting styles.
Jeffro
Btw top of the WaPo website has a column by Glenn Kessler on “which politicians made the most outrageous claims in 2015″…there are four pictures to go with the column:
– Barack Obama
– Hilary Clinton
– Elizabeth Warren
and
– Donald Trump
man that is some serious liberal bias right there…
Elie
@Roger Moore:
Probably true, but there is a spill over effect sometimes when they get amped up. The primary target may be the thing you mention but the frustration of the whole scene can result in a lunge at other parties. Just sayin what has happened to me —
Elie
@Mnemosyne (iPhone):
Wow! Just watched a male hummer literally physically drag another off the feeder by jumping on her back and grabbing her with his feet. Males are not always dominant in humming bird world and I have watched females attach the males before, but I have never seen any of them actually jump on another’s back like that!
Mike in NC
@Elie: In the local Sunday newspaper’s Opinion section yesterday, every cartoon, op-ed, and Letter to the Editor was about Trump or Muslims, or both. Old white people in their 70s and 80s (FOX News core demographic) in particular are obsessed with the “Islamic Threat”.
Matt McIrvin
Christmas preparations are always a late, hurried thing in my household, because late November/early December is taken up with our annual Thanksgiving trip to see my parents, followed by my daughter’s Christmas ballet performance and my wife’s concert band’s holiday concert.
But those are all done now, so it’s time to hunker down. At least we already got a tree up and got some shopping done.
geg6
I am not a baker, so no cookie recipes from me, thank dog. I am the vegetable whisperer in my family and I am in charge of all vegetables for the family Christmas dinner (and pre-dinner noshing). Not sure yet what I’m making other than my roasted carrots (if I don’t make them, I might as well run away and never show my face again). Looking forward to that particular dinner, though. The sisters are intent on a wonderful meal. Sister Patty, who will be hosting, is making prime rib for dinner and the rest of the hors d’oeurves (other than my veggies). Baby sister Mary Catherine is making her famous twice-baked potatoes. And oldest sister DeeDee is making a plethora of her fancy desserts (hopefully including her melt-in-your-mouth ladylocks, mini cheesecakes and pizzelles).
I have to just get through this week and then two weeks off. Looking forward to next week a lot. I have a girlfriend luncheon holiday party on Monday and a lunch/shopping trip planned with my sister Patty and our friend Tracey for Wednesday. We’re going to spend the day in Sewickley, a small but quaint and lovely town about 20 minutes from Pittsburgh, known for it’s fabulous old Victorians, craftsman and Sears homes and for being the home of some of the wealthiest people in Pittsburgh and America. They have a great bookstore (the Penguin, if you’re familiar with the area) there that I want to check out for a gift and another little shop called the Jewel Thief, which sells one of a kind costume jewelry for another gift. The only question is lunch: Lula or Andora or 424 Walnut or the Sewickley Hotel? I’d love to get sushi at the Slippery Mermaid but Patty is allergic to seafood, so I’ll keep that for another day.
Elie
@Mike in NC:
Well according to one poll, a majority of 15 – 29 year olds now favor invading the ME (yes American boots on the ground). This was a change from a year ago. I don’t have the link or know how the survey was constructed, but I was pretty disappointed, though not surprised.
SFAW
OK, so this is not cooking, drunk aunts, or cats/kittens, but:
Some good news from the world of sport.
WereBear
@geg6: Sounds like a great trip. Enjoy!
geg6
@Big ole hound:
Depends on what you mean by dressing up their pets. The pets in the pic Betty posted, yes, I agree, it’s demeaning to those poor kitties. But Lovey wears sweaters when the weather is cold (which she hasn’t had to do much…yet). And she looks adorable in them. But they aren’t for looks, they are for warmth. She’s small, not much in the way of long fur and shivers a lot when chilled. I’m putting sweaters on her and fuck anybody that wants to make an issue of it. She likes them (when it’s cold) and I love her.
SFAW
@srv:
Heart-related aspirin and statins and he’s the healthiest? Right.
And George W. Bush was the smahtest because he went to Hahvahd and Yale
Sherparick
I love the little sample of “white folks” accountability at the end where the Uncle of the hero who had 114 guns ( a third illegally modified) and explosives and apparently put a bullet through his wall and into his neighbor’s mattress that “They are going after guns, not criminals, ” he says “I blame Obama for this.”
http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2015/12/hes-so-vain-youknowwhoimtalkingabout.html
I wonder if Trump thinks this fellow should have been profiled
by digby
Probably not. He was just protecting himself from “radical Islamic terrorists” I’m sure:
Authorities seized an arsenal of illegal guns, grenades and bomb-making materials from a southeastern Sioux Falls apartment Thursday, days after a bullet pierced a neighbor’s wall.
Officers executed a search warrant at 4901 E. 54th St. as part of an investigation into how a .22-caliber slug wound up inside a next door neighbor’s mattress.
Darren Kyle Zafft, 29, and Jennifer Marie Cash, 35, were arrested and charged with multiple counts of possession of controlled weapons and explosives with criminal intent.
Police found 114 guns, including more than a dozen illegally modified rifles and shotguns. They found two handmade silencers, multiple grenades, about 10,000 rounds of ammunition and $20,000 cash. The bomb squad also removed gunpowder, fuses, and other equipment for making explosive devices.
“This could have been a very dangerous situation,” police spokesman Sam Clemens said.
County prosecutor Aaron McGowan called Zafft a threat to law enforcement, citing a photo of a burning police car on Zafft’s Facebook page. Zafft’s bond was set at $1 million, cash only.
McGowan said Zafft is believed to be primarily responsible for the explosives and firearms in the home. Cash’s bond was set at $5,000, cash only. Both made their initial court appearance Friday afternoon and were being held in Minnehaha County Jail.
The investigation began Sunday with a call from a resident of the apartment building who noticed a hole in his wall and later found a slug in a mattress. The property manager told detectives they had been in the adjoining unit recently and noticed several guns, Clemens said. A search warrant was issued Thursday.
“We don’t have an answer to why they had them,” Clemens said. “Whether or not we’ll ever find out what his intent or purpose of having it, we may never know. I don’t think we’ve had any indication that there was any type of plans to use these devices, but at this point we just don’t know.”
The family said they are all gun “collectors” which is the word we use for white people with a huge arsenal.
Family members were at the apartment Friday morning. A man who identified himself as Zafft’s uncle but would not give his name expressed frustration about the charges.
“They aren’t going after criminals; they’re going after guns. I blame Obama for this,” the man said.
I don’t know if they can prove the bullet that came through the wall and lodged in the mattress came from one of these scary gun nuts’ firearms. But if it did, they should be prosecuted. It’s really frightening to think that you can be accidentally killed in your bed by your neighbor’s gun going off.
geg6
@Patricia Kayden:
My mom did this. It really is a smart idea.
Roger Moore
@SFAW:
That is good news. It’s not entirely unexpected- Rose hasn’t shown any sign that he really understands why he’s in trouble or any effort to change himself- but still good to see.
Elie
@srv:
Lol – I very much doubt that…. That fat face, big belly and circumorbital fat and edema says “Liar, Liar pants on fire!”
Elizabelle
@Jeffro: Saw that. It’s sickening, and says everything you need about WaPost editors. Glenn Kessler is a dim bulb and biased, either consciously or unconsciously, although the WaPost has some good reporters and solid stories too.
Silver lining: align the reader comments by “best” and you’ll see the Post readers know Kessler’s list and photo illustration are bullshit. It’s clickbait for winger trolls, who are out in force.
Also, several readers linked to a way better NY Times fact checking column on political truth (vs. truthiness): GOP stacked up as liars, Democrats were most truthful.
All Politicians Lie. Some Lie More Than Others. Very worth a click.
Bernie Sanders has the best record, bar none, for “mostly true/true” statements, with both Clintons and Barack Obama right behind.
Ben Carson and Donald Trump have “truth” ratings in the single digits.
Not linking to Kessler’s column. It sucks.
D58826
@JPL: do like the ‘Shut the fk up’ part
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
@WereBear:
Not a theory. And the nudges are inheritable.
Mnemosyne (iPhone)
@WereBear:
Some of research on babies and toddlers seems to indicate that parenting can mitigate some of the innate traits — supportive parents can make suspicious babies more open to new experiences, and cautious parents can teach overexuberant toddlers to be more careful. Since I’ve been reading a lot of stories by people with authoritarian narcissistic parents lately, I know parenting can have a huge effect on how people connect with the world around them.
In retrospect, I’m lucky that my dad, who was himself raised by an authoritarian dad, figured out early on that I responded very badly to that style, so he tried really hard to do things differently than his dad did (though he didn’t always succeed). For one thing, he gave up on spanking very early when he realized it only made me more defiant. I hate to think what would have happened if he hadn’t been smart enough to discard those ingrained ideas of what he “should” do.
Elie
@geg6:
No worries — I support your efforts. The cats genetically without fur (can’t remember the name) also need sweaters and to stay in warmth to avoid getting chilled…
MattF
@Elizabelle: Also, I’ve been getting steamed over Cillizza’s ‘worst year’ award to Jeb! Bush and Hillary Clinton. I’m glad it’s fallen off the front page.
I can’t think of a single instance where Cillizza had anything interesting to say about politics, and this particular idiocy just confirms my views about him.
Another Holocene Human
@benw:
I call shenanigans. I have a big bag of chickpea flour because I can’t have gluten. It’s great as a breading on foods (in fact, there is a traditional sort of Near Eastern chicken patty that is made with chickpea flour). However, it’s lame as f#ck in sweet baked goods because everything ends up tasting like chickpea.
Also, I followed the link and the author claimed it was healthy, which between the peanut oil, added sugar, maple syrup (=mostly sugars), and chocolate chips (some sort of hard vegetable fat + sugar, oh and some cocoa sprankled* in there) is about as far from healthy as you can get.
*as we say in Gainesville
Gimlet
And unto us Basement Cat is born
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/60/50/d4/6050d472a5773c1d0b8f905bdfaefa99.jpg
Manyakitty
@gogol’s wife: I’m a little sad because I got used to looking at everyone’s happy, beloved critters (including mine). Oh well, maybe next year.
Another Holocene Human
Try flourless chocolate cake made with black beans. Now that’s healthy! So much fiber you’ll stop well before your cardiologist will want to call you. And black as Illinois loam.
geg6
@SFAW:
Yeah, I’d have to give the title of healthiest president every to our current one. Dude looks seriously good.
The Donald’s suit jackets seem to be getting bigger every day and I suspect it’s to cover a very ugly middle section. They just sit on his body the same way that suit jackets on guys who want to cover up the big spare tire around the middle do. Between his hideous hair(piece) and that fat gut, he’s about as appealing as Newt Gingrich in a bad wig. At least Newt has semi-normal hair and doesn’t need the swirly combover and really doesn’t seem to care if he’s overweight. The Donald is delusional about his looks, in addition to everything else.
schrodinger's cat
Did anyone see the Frontline, on the rise of ISIS? My one line synopsis: We blame Obama.
burnspbesq
I’m really having a hard time processing the idea that a large number of people apparently think that a horse is more deserving of being named SI Sportsperson of the Year than Serena Williams.
geg6
@burnspbesq:
Is the horse a black female?
If not, I’m not sure why you’re surprised.
Another Holocene Human
@burnspbesq:
Flashing back to Steve Carell: “Like I said, he’s a very sick boy.”
I actually laughed at how tame that stuff was.
ETA: I read on and it got more perverted, tabloid-esque, but the American Conservative was too priggish to print the details, so it’s not clear just what kind of water sports were involved. Hey, the public has a right to know! ///
schrodinger's cat
@Gimlet: You had a bebbeh Jeebus but I eated him. He was nutritious and delicious. I is your savior now.
SFAW
@schrodinger’s cat:
No, no no. It’s a representation of “And the Kitteh will lie down with the Lamb.” Or is it “Felus Dei”?
Mnemosyne (iPhone)
@schrodinger’s cat:
I don’t know if you saw me touting Michael Powell’s “A Matter of Life and Death” this weekend (aka “Stairway to Heaven”), but it’s available for streaming on the TCM website if you’re a subscriber. For some reason, this time I especially noticed how prominent Powell made the Indian colonial soldiers in Heaven — you see a group of them entering before you see the white British soldiers, and they have quite a few additional shots of them in the audience during the trial.
Another Holocene Human
@burns
So like a typical working class Roman Catholic family?
Except for the embezzlement part. MOST of them actually lift a fucking finger to buy THEIR house. Maria-sama ga miteru, after all.
schrodinger's cat
@Mnemosyne (iPhone): No has TCM subscription. Is it a movie?
Mnemosyne (iPhone)
@Another Holocene Human:
Well, as long as you don’t have any FODMAPs issues, it’s fine. But when it comes to cake, I’d rather be in pain from heavy cream than from black beans if I’m forced to choose.
ThresherK (GPad)
@raven: Thanks but it may now be out of my hands. No collision. A body shop recommended by my mechanic has an absolute gem of an owner who knows how to navigate this deal, the bright spot of this ordeal.
However, given the two damages (body & mechanical), the T-word has been mentioned. Also , I shouldn’t be driving the car given the mechanical–not really safe, says the guy.
So now we’re renting a car and seeing if we can move up the purchase timetable. And a slew of new Volvo listings just showed up on Craigslist.
Princess
@srv: The statins and baby aspirin don’t surprise me much — he looks like a heart attack waiting to happen.
ETA: He may well be the healthiest presidential candidate this doctor has ever vetted, however. Being the only presidential candidate this doctor has ever vetted.
ThresherK (GPad)
@Mnemosyne (iPhone): That’s not the same Michael Powell who served with no distinction as an FCC commissioner, is it?
Elizabelle
@MattF: I never read Cillizza. He seems to be a moron.
The Post has some good stuff, but too much trash and flash content. Website editors apparently love to feed the internet trolls who flock to the site.
Another Holocene Human
@SFAW: Felix deus/a vere.
Shana
Brown Sugar Shortbread Bars
1 cup softened butter
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
Preheat oven to 325.
Cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer at medium speed. Scrape down sides of bowl then add vanilla and flour and blend thoroughly on low speed. Spread in a baking pan to about 3/4″ thickness. I think I used a 9″ X 11″ pan last time I made them. Smooth the top as much as you can. Poke holes all over with a fork. Bake for 45-50 minutes. Let cool and cut into 1″ X 2″ bars.
Optional: Topping: 1 T butter, 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, 1 cup finely chopped pecans. Melt butter and chocolate chips, mix in pecan pieces, spread on baked shortcake. Let cool and then cut into bars.
These are plenty good without the topping.
gene108
@Mike in NC:
I find the older people get, the more paranoid and anxious they seem to be.
I think it’s the realization most of their life is behind them and not ahead of them and diminishing physical skills that make once routine activities more challenging and thus a cause of concern.
Another Holocene Human
@Mnemosyne (iPhone): I had a lot of FODMAPs issues until my guts healed from the gluten. Took about a year. Now I can eat all the beans I want.
rikyrah
Latest GOP Poll Nationally.
Done AFTER Trump’s ‘ close the country to Muslim’ comments.
The newly released Monmouth poll on the state of the GOP race nationally.
1. Donald Trump: 41% (up from 28% in a Monmouth poll in October)
2. Ted Cruz: 14% (up from 10%)
3. Marco Rubio: 10% (up from 6%)
4. Ben Carson: 9% (down from 18%)
The rest of the Republican field is at 3% or lower.
Another Holocene Human
@burnspbesq: Sour fucking grapes. It’s a popular beverage.
Mnemosyne (iPhone)
@schrodinger’s cat:
Very classic WWII supernatural romance starring David Niven and Kim Hunter. It’s so many people’s favorite that it’s easy to find on DVD. Gogol’s wife is a fan, too.
I got so absorbed in watching it that I forgot to give the kittehs their wet food treat on time! They were very sad that they got it over an hour late.
Elie
@geg6:
Yeah, that belly and the puffy eyes are consistent with “metabolic syndrome” where one’s blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides are out of whack, causing a cascade of risks and outcomes. These substances, particularly the out of whack sugar cause a lot of fat deposition in one’s arteries as well as inflammation of said arteries which can result in certain cardiac and vascular events. The treatment is diet and regular exercise more than just drugs for hypertension and to lower cholesterol. Stress (which he is definitely under no matter how much he says he loves it), through the impact of cortisol, makes the liver lay down even more fat and also elevates other stress hormones that increase the irritation in arteries and organs like the heart. He really should have tried to get in shape before he ran for this. Now all any of his docs and others can do is hope he is lucky and manage the obvious abnormalities in his clinical presentation. If he wins the Republican nomination, well — its going to be tougher for him to manage his health due to the nonstop campaigning, mood/anger issues and probably poor diet without much “good exercise”.
Another Holocene Human
@Gimlet: I hope that pottery isn’t heirlooms.
rikyrah
I just paid more yesterday for a gallon of milk and a carton of eggs than I did a gallon of gas.
Everytime it happens, I still shake my head.
Anders Aslund
@anders_aslund
Oil price collapse continues: Brent below $37/barrel, WTI below $35/barrel earlier today. RBS now foresees $26/barrel.
Another Holocene Human
@rikyrah: That rude raspberry sound you hear is the sound of the air coming out of Ben Carson’s balloon.
=sad trombone=
schrodinger's cat
@Mnemosyne (iPhone): You have well behaved kittehs, mine would have destroyed the house by then.
Mnemosyne (iPhone)
@Another Holocene Human:
No gluten issues for me — they stuck a camera up my butt to be sure.
;-) But not everyone is sensitive to the same FODMAPs — in fact, most people are only sensitive to one or two and just have to not overload on the rest.
rikyrah
Didn’t Jesse Jackson, Jr. just finish a stint in the federal pen..
FOR DOING THE SAME THING??!?!
……………..
Ed O’Keefe ✔ @edatpost
Sen. @BobCorker failed to properly disclose about $2M in income since 2007 – until @wsj’s Brody Mullins called: http://on.wsj.com/1O3T2WE
bemused
@Mike in NC:
Evidently not the experience the ragdoll owners I heard from! When it comes to kitties, don’t count on reputation of docility then!
Another Holocene Human
@Mnemosyne (iPhone): The problem is that the open people’s version of grouping is to throw a party, and the suspicious people’s version is to start a party … a fascist party. Or a lynching party.
Gimlet
@Another Holocene Human:
Especially the Sarah Palin Caganer
http://wonkettecom.c.presscdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/sarah-palin-caganer.jpg
catclub
@SFAW:
Those are completely normal for any man over 55 – purely preventative.
Having no other medications is a sign of pretty good health. Healthiest ever? Healthier than Kennedy.
Carter is now up in his 90’s and presently free of cancer.
I call shenanigans on no tobacco or alcohol. Really?
debbie
@Satby:
Congratulations! Hope it goes full-time soon and lasts you until you head south.
catclub
@rikyrah: I have missed all the GOP pols thanking Obama for bringing down gas prices. They sure blamed him when they went up.
schrodinger's cat
@Mnemosyne (iPhone): Until I began researching it recently I had no idea just how terrible British rule had been for India. In many ways India is still paying the price. I will check out the movie.
SFAW
@Another Holocene Human:
Which I’m sure would be a droll comment, if I spoke Latin.
I was just attempting a riff on “Agnus Dei.”
“Cat of God, You take away the rodents, cat treats, and squeak toys of the World”
Elizabelle
@catclub: I think I have heard that Trump does not drink.
Elie
@catclub:
Ha ha ha!
I agree with you on shenanigans.
Also, no mention of his marked overweight status other than he lost 8 lbs. Big deal…
His face is where I see the most evidence of problems. The ruddy red tone, the puffy eyes are not the signs of a healthy person.
Of course, only time will tell. I have to keep talking to myself to stop willing bad things to happen to this man
Elie
@Elizabelle:
Yeah, I saw that. Or smoke or do drugs. Apparently his older brother died of alcoholism and influenced him not to drink.
He obviously still eats however.
gogol's wife
I don’t think those kittehs look terribly unhappy. It looks as if a treat is being held up for them, that’s why their eyes are dilated. If they were unhappy they’d be outta there.
SFAW
@catclub:
Statins are prescribed, not OTC, I believe. Doctors don’t generally prescribe something like a statin unless there’s a reason – and the “reason” isn’t usually “Well, you’re really f-ing healthy, but JUST to be sure …”
Aspirin is preventative, and any old fart can take them if he chooses, but combine it with the statins, his apparent weight (based on one source giving his weight as 253) and BMI (32.5 if the 253 lb is accurate), and if he hasn’t already been diagnosed with coronary disease, his cardiologist might be incompetent. (I saw one website that listed his weight as 198 – that is, to be blunt, complete and utter bullshit. It would give him a BMI of 25.5 – which he ain’t.)
So, no, he’s not in the “normal over 55 male” group – unless you consider the typical overweight-to-obese American to be “normal.” He might be about the same as the average over-55 American male, but that ain’t “in excellent health.”
bemused
@Elie:
Can you imagine if he did…American Rob Ford.
benw
@Another Holocene Human: half shenanigans! It’s true that aside from the chickpeas, they’re not any more healthy than any other sugary treat. But trust me, with all that peanut butter and syrup in there, you can’t taste the chickpea. They are insanely delicious.
Elie
@bemused:
In some ways he still is…. only he is addicted to hate and primping and pimping himself…He IS also a very angry and resentful person — and that leaves its marks also
Elizabelle
First world problems: I feel bad for laughing:
Texas plumber trades in his work truck. AutoNation tells him not to peel his business logo and phone number off the door — it could mar the paint. Dealer then sells the truck at auction, it’s shipped to Turkey, and soon after appears in ISIS videos, toting masked and armed Islamic banditos around with the plumber’s company name and phone number prominently displayed. Mark-1 Plumbing.
Stephen Colbert takes note.
So now the guy’s getting harassed over the telephone. He’s taken to carrying a handgun for self-protection.
He’s suing the car and truck dealership. Jihad is berry, berry bad for business in Houston.
Here’s NYTimes story, with photo of the truck with jihadists at the wheel.
Another Holocene Human
@Elie:
Oh, you too? Although my maledictions are directed towards Antonin Scalia.
Another Holocene Human
@SFAW: I said the cat IS god, truly.
Elie
@SFAW:
My comment disappeared!
Well, to repeat myself, you are right about docs not prescribing statins without cause.
As to his BMI, I would agree with you that its up there and belly fat is never good even though your overall cholesterol may not be horrible. It also connotes a lack of physical activity and fitness.
Most of all, I just hate that this horrible person is considered to be representative of the US to the world — and to ourselves — He makes me feel deeply ashamed and sad for the people we have become, even as I do not support him. I still bear some responsibility for him….
Elizabelle
Court filing by the plumber suing the car/truck dealer.
It’s a bit overwrought, but entertaining reading. Not only was the Texas Truck segment on Colbert, it was on the last Colbert show, the most watched episode ever. And then the segment appeared on the Primetime Emmies, with almost 12 million viewers.
From the filing:
That they know of, anyway.
SFAW
@Another Holocene Human:
Thanks. Guessed that, but it was only a guess.
But if I were you, I’d worry about a smiting from FSM’s noodle-y appendage.
redshirt
Some hippy bookstore named Isis (after the Goddess of course) got smashed up recently.
America is ridiculous.
rikyrah
a@nonbinarynegro
missouri state legislature has proposed a bill to stop college athletes from boycotting injustice by threatening their scholarships.
SFAW
@redshirt:
Wonderful to see how much we’ve progressed in 55 years.
SFAW
@SFAW:
On second thought: it’s probably more like 77 years – Kristallnacht, to be specific.
How do you say “Arbeit Macht Frei” in Muslim?
different-church-lady
Actually the one on the left looks like it’s looking up the chimney and saying, “Oh my god… SANTA?!?“
NotMax
Cookies, Christmastime, cookies, Christmastime.
(Flips through mental Rolodex, pauses.) Ding, ding ding!
(Googles to find something close enough to item chosen to avoid extensive typing.) Snowballs for Florida.
Bonus #1: So many flavors of Hershey’s Kisses now sold, lots of variety possible.
Bonus #2: all that foil for your art pieces!
rikyrah
WATCH: Ohio gun nut oozes white privilege as he explains his ‘right’ to terrorize black neighborhood
Travis Gettys TRAVIS GETTYS
13 DEC 2015 AT 22:53 ET
A White gun owner and a black barbershop owner sat down to discuss their differences after an angry confrontation that was captured last week in a viral video.
Daniel Kovacevic said he was just exercising his legs and his rights by strolling around a black neighborhood with a rifle strapped to his back and a pistol holstered to his belt — but Deone Slater said the armed man made him nervous.
“He could have turned around and run loose like Rambo on the building,” said Slater, who owns Kangaroo Kutz in Akron.
Ohio allows for the open carry of firearms, and both Kovacevic and legal experts said he broke no laws because he did not point either of his weapons at Slater or verbally threaten him.
“I walk up and down the street for exercise — it just happens that I have guns with me,” Kovacevic said.
The 25-year-old Kovacevic has been stopped by police multiple times — including a recent incident near the University of Akron — after alarmed residents called authorities and posted photos of him walking around their mostly black neighborhood.
http://www.rawstory.com/2015/12/watch-ohio-gun-nut-oozes-white-privilege-as-he-explains-his-right-to-terrorize-black-neighborhood/
ThresherK (GPad)
@SFAW: I’m totally guessing blind, not peeking, but “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street”?
SFAW
@ThresherK (GPad):
Of course. (Although I later realized it was a sub-optimal analogy.)
SFAW
@rikyrah:
Sounds like a terrorist to me, because it seems like inducing/inciting fear in them coloreds was his goal.
One hopes that he induces fear in the wrong person, and that said person is protected by a “Stand Your Ground Against White-Privilege Assholes Who Go Around Trying To Scare People” law in Ohio.
Of course, that law would only protect “real” people, i.e., whites, because Ohio can’t have “those people” protecting themselves.
burnspbesq
@Gin & Tonic:
A pastor with a bondage master on speed-dial and a transparent Lucite chastity belt didn’t surprise you? I don’t think I wanna know about the other websites besides this one where you hang out.
Jeffro
@Elizabelle: That (the NYT piece) really is much more useful – thanks! I wonder what my wingnut friends and relatives will think when I send them a link.
No…no I don’t, actually. I know exactly what they’ll think.
But it’ll still be fun to expose them to something outside the FoxBubble. Thanks again!
Jeffro
@MattF: Exactly! How does Hillary’s year even begin to compare to Jeb?’s??? It boggles the mind. One is a near-lock for the nomination of her party for the presidency, the other has been repeatedly pantsed by an ignorant blowhard AND his own party’s voters.
Frankly, Hillary had a pretty good year, fending off challengers and making the Benghazi farce-hearings so radioactive that no GOP politician even wants to revisit it.
Jeb on the other hand…yeesh…
dnfree
This is the best sugar cookie recipe I know–have been making it for over 50 years. It is surprising the number of people who make sugar cookies that look lovely but have no flavor.
I refrigerate the dough overnight.
http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/classic-sugar-cookies/90993177-b5fe-4cc7-a6b6-8f58913d36e8