Even this one. I thought we could use a little distraction before the big predictions come in.
I finally reloaded my video software (thanks a lot Win 10 update) and downloaded their play session. The video is much TOO long, but I love watching them and got lost in the joy of it all while editing.
And in the interest of equal time – two of my kitties relaxing in the morning sun:
There is an actual Bixby and Bailey update here, along with more kitty and puppy photos.
In election news, my FB feed is flooded with positive Hillary posts because I was lucky enough to be added to a secret group (keeps out the trolls). It is inspiring and makes me smile. One woman flew back to Colorado to vote because her absentee ballot was lost. And it seems to be a trend to give your barista your name as Nasty Woman. Love it!
Open thread!
Major Major Major Major
Nice cats. Eeeek!
Good luck, America–and don’t fuck it up.
WereBear
I love that.
Frankensteinbeck
Thank you for an open thread. I did not want to interrupt people’s joyful voting stories for this. A petition is going around asking the DoJ to stop the police at the NoDAPL protest. Am I correct that the DoJ has no short-term power over this at all?
Anyone but Trump
I think we are in same club, so much love on that feed!
Feathers
There is a hashtag #makeamericafluffyagain for cute animal pics on Twitter right now.
Punchy
Some days you cant get 3 posts before noon. Today we get >3 per hour.
So the dog we’re dogsitting did the “scoot” thing on the carpet (never seen this before), leaving a stain that nearly made me want to puke. After steam cleaning the beejesus out of the carpet, I’m left to wonder if this is a good sign or bad sign for today. Is it “here’s the start of a very ugly Tuesday” or “now things can only get better from here on out!”.
Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism
@Major Major Major Major: It was a Thing here a few years ago to modify Ron Paul yard signs to say Ru Paul.
geg6
Love the tug of war. Pups just love playing tug. Koda and Lovey, despite all the size differences, have epic tugs of war. I love watching them at it, too.
And that secret site has kept me sane the last few weeks. Really great, heartening stuff there. And the media has missed all of it.
Poopyman
@Punchy: That Depends on whether the dog still has access to carpeting.
Major Major Major Major
@Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism: Oh yeah, I remember that!
Iowa Old Lady
That would be one the unenthusiastic Clinton supporters?
I’ve decided the “lesser of two evils” crowd are mostly Rs who recognize Trump’s failings and want to excuse it by saying the Ds nominated someone bad too.
John Cole
They are so quiet while playing. Thurston and Rosie sound like all hell is breaking loose when they play.
geg6
@Punchy:
You can’t possibly be very close to many dogs, then. That’s a pretty common thing and there are several reasons it might be happening, some of them benign and others a signal something is wrong. But most of the time, it’s just them doing it the way humans use toilet paper.
Dork
@Punchy: Maybe this dog nicknamed the carpeting “Trump” and wanted to show his feelings toward the man on the appropriate day. Be thankful you saw this happen live and were able to clean it up quickly; if it had dried, woo boy the mess and smell are fantastic, not in a good way.
Major Major Major Major
@Iowa Old Lady: Or Bernie-Or-Busters who are oh so bravely voting for the bitch.
TaMara (HFG)
@John Cole: In the house it sounds like a riot is going on…but outside they hardly do more than just low growl. Lucky me.
Punchy
@geg6: Actually, we have 2 dogs, but they’re greyhounds, and they dont scoot. In fact, it’s really hard for them to get their ass on the ground when sitting or “kneeling”; there’s no way they could scoot. I think the vet helps with the anal gland release thingy, unless they have some secret method they use while we’re away at work.
the Conster, la Citoyenne
Giselle is denying she and her husband are backing the pu$$y grabber. LOL. I wonder how many marriages won’t survive Trumpism.
RoonieRoo
What a beautiful example of good dog play. That’s exactly the type of video my trainer uses when training people to learn the signs of good, healthy dog play. Nice loose bodies, when they run and move they do the rocking motion, they take turns on the pull (or rather Bixby seems to be teaching Bailey the turn concept), you can tell Bixby is handicapping himself with the strength of his pull. A really beautiful video.
Jerzy Russian
@TaMara up top: It looks like you got the acacia flooring? It looks nice!
ruemara
Those cats are perfect for me. Well, I don’t get to vote, but I’ve done my donations, shared voting info and exhorted people to vote. If I wasn’t working I’d have volunteered to drive people to the polls. One of the things that always impressed me about America was our peaceful transfer of power. Not sure if the Trumpster is about to destroy that too, but I’m hopeful.
And if I hear one more Facebook friend talk about their sadness at “Uncle Bernie” not being on the ticket, I’m going to slap something.
SiubhanDuinne
@WereBear:
I love it too. Wish I had had the presence of mind to give that just now. I’m driving from precinct to precinct in Gwinnett County, GA, stopped at a ‘Bucks en route, and my barista was so excited to see my Democratic Party Poll Watcher name badge that she took a selfie with me! LOL.
amk
Can’ you just get them two of them round thingys? Miser.
Frankensteinbeck
For a nicer open thread comment, I’m reading the 1812 edition of the Brothers Grimm fairy tale book, the one before they started editing. It contains many strange things. I expected stuff like gold-farting donkeys. I did not expect to learn that Snow White was seven years old. Today’s fresh weirdness is encountering the phrase ‘afraid for his credit rating.’
RoonieRoo
@Punchy: Not all dogs scoot or have anal gland problems. If your dogs have enough fiber in their diet, they are released when they poop. I’m sure that is a visual you really needed. :) But that could be the main reason you have never experienced this before.
FlipYrWhig
@Frankensteinbeck:
I guess all that new gold being spun was creating inflation.
schrodinger's cat
@John Cole: Smaller the dog, bigger the noise.
hovercraft
I just came back from casting my ballot for Hillary Clinton, the next president. It took me an hour to vote, the first time I’ve ever waited for more that 10 or 15 minutes, and I’ve been voting here for over 10 years. People were very cheerful and patient. My Mom voted at the same place this morning just after 6, and she waited 20 minutes. Late afternoon/ early evening is usually the heavy voting period for this area, so I’m glad I got it out of the way before the busy period.
Looks like the people of Perth Amboy want to make sure that Trump gets the message strong and clear that he’s not welcome here.
bemused
We were doing facetime with our son, dil and baby boy when one of our dogs barked and immediately their dog barked in reply. Their dog was probably thought our dogs were in her house.
Big Ole Hound
@RoonieRoo: Actually only male dogs have anal glands. My Golden has had to have his popped but olny in cold weather for some reason. He takes care of them himself in warmer times.
RoonieRoo
@Big Ole Hound: Oooo, I did not know that. I am always learning new things. I’ve never had a female dog so that is probably why it’s never come up for me. Cool.
ETA: that can’t be right the more I think about it. I know my sister had helped my dad’s female dogs with their anal gland issues.
amk
Brady’s wife : hell, no.
donnie dick a fucking liar till the very end.
RoonieRoo
Okay, Dr. Google is telling me that all dogs have anal glads. Why did you think that only male dogs have anal glands?
Jeffro
@hovercraft:
Just about to head out and vote, then put in a 3-hour canvassing shift…hopefully the mid-morning timing will work out, but if the lines are long then oh fucking well, that’s just more nails in Orangemandias’ coffin.
Btw Biden was ON FIRE last night here in NoVA and while I loved his speech, one minor quibble: yes, we need the country to come together; no, I will not meet Trump’s followers in the middle or split the difference in any way. Biden noted that while some of Trump’s support included people who were angry for reasons of bigotry (paraphrasing here) “some have genuine economic concerns and anxiety”. Ok, great: let’s tell them what the Democratic party has to offer them and see if they take us up on it. They’re welcome to join in at any time.
Frankensteinbeck
@RoonieRoo:
Female dogs having anal glands is just the beginning of the horrors we can expect from a Clinton presidency!
JMG
I’m not sure many Trump supporters will reach out to us if he wins, to put it mildly. But if (please, make that when) Clinton wins, I’ll be willing to forget the whole election until after New Year’s if they will.
Cacti
Could one of you kind front pagers post these contact numbers for general consumption for attempts to prevent anyone from voting:
(866) OUR-VOTE for the ACLU
(800) 253-3931 for the U.S. Department of Justice
Major Major Major Major
@Frankensteinbeck: soon all 63 genders of dog will have anal glands!
mai naem mobile
Went and voted for Hilz,Kirkpatrick for Sen, against Arpaio and an acquaintance who’s running for a school board position. Also voted for weed and a minimum wage hike. 45 min wait. I normally vote in the early afternoon so I don’t know if this is normal waiting for morning rush. My afternoon wait is generally none to 15 mins. I live in a college town but FWIW, the people in line were vast majority wimmen,young uns and non white folks. I think three middle aged or older white men.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Because Trump has spun politics off into a different dimension, I have been looking at the twitter feed of a Cruz Republican, and I thought this minirant was interesting
I have several things planned today to distract me from the computer and the TeeVee. I’m genuinely curious to see if I am successful
FlipYrWhig
@Jeffro:
You know who else said pretty much the same thing? Hillary Clinton. That’s the other basket.
Mike J
Live feed from Susan B Anthony grave.
Anoniminous
Good read.
Who Goes Trump?
amk
There you have it from the maestro himself.
hovercraft
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
The other day when the talking heads and the Trump campaign were going on about how he is poised to win Florida, Rick Wilson threw cold water on their bs, he said Steve Schale has been a ground game operative in Florida for a long time, and if he says the numbers for Clinton shows she’s going to win, she will win. That is barring something unforeseen happening. He’s a Never Trumper so his opinion is biased, but still he has a reputation to uphold.
I feel good about Florida, North Carolina I’m nervous about because they were able to really suppress the early vote.
Eight o’clock can’t come soon enough for me.
LAO
Bixby and Bailey are awesome, hope you are enjoying the new puppy. For me, it’s been “interesting.” Two weeks ago, I brought little Maggie to visit my folks where she (21 lbs) and my parent’s lab Milo (85 lbs) got into a spirited game of tug. Maggie won via cheating. Every time she growled Milo dropped his end, so she growled a lot. Poor guy. He can never win!
TaMara (HFG)
@LAO:Anytime you want to send me photos, I’ll post them. That goes for anyone else – send them to me or Anne Laurie – we love posting the pet pix.
PaulWartenberg2016
I’m dying for a Walter update.
JPL
The NYTimes crossword puzzle blog Wordplay, had this video up.. link. Baby sloths are cute and the music is soothing.
I’m going to watch it again this evening.
Gretchen Diefenderfer
@Punchy: They might have worms – makes their butts itch if they do. Sorry –
hedgehog mobile
I’m in that Facebook group too (just added yesterday). Loving all the stories.
Mnemosyne
@Punchy:
I stepped in a big puddle of dog pee on my way to the polls and now my shoes stink. Let’s call it a good sign.
LAO
@TaMara (HFG): Well, she certainly doesn’t deserve it again since you graciously posted pictures of her a while back and she is flat out the most stubborn puppy I have ever dealt with — but I will eventually! Especially pictures of her in the “cone of shame” after her spaying.
debit
@PaulWartenberg2016: Well then you’re in luck! He got his fourth shot of Adequan this weekend and it really seems to to be making a difference. Here’s a shot of him in action this morning.
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@LAO: A stubborn beagle? Surely you jest; I cannot imagine such a thing. Heh..
LAO
@debit: Walter is unrecognizable (in a good way)! You and John have done something really great here.
@a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q): She’s only part beagle — the part that howls and the part that only does what she wants.
TaMara (HFG)
@debit: That is just not the same dog. Wow, good for both of you. Such a great thing to see. <3 Walter.
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@LAO: The beauty of the hounds – willful, stubborn, and noisy. I love them. ?
hovercraft
Looks like the ride home was pretty loose.
https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/status/795955854059171840/video/1
Don’t Stand Still Vote Today!!
TriassicSands
Dogs! So easily amused. It’s embarrassing really.
Cats would never do anything as silly as play tug-of-war. No way. They save there energy to do important things…like chase a laser pointer.
hovercraft
@debit:
Wow, he looks great. It’s amazing what love and care can do for an animal. You are good people.
Pogonip
@debit: Wow! Look at him go! Will he be able to stay on it?
A long time ago, in school, I walked past a yard in which a small dustmop-with-legs was playing tug-of-war with a huge mastiff-type dog. Cutest thing you ever saw.
Pogonip
@TriassicSands: I’ve tried to interest cats in tug-of-war. No dice. They will watch you play it with the dog but when you wave the old towel invitingly at the cat, he just doesn’t get it.
Big Ole Hound
@RoonieRoo: My vet told me . I am told males spread their scent this way.
TriassicSands
@Pogonip:
Doesn’t get it? Nonsense. He just realizes it’s pointless. Not like that laser thingy…
Note: Typo alert –there? nope, their. That’s what I get for letting one of my cats do my spell checking for me.
debit
@Pogonip: If his mobility declines again then I’ll schedule him for another series (assuming my vet gives me the go ahead). Meanwhile he’s able to now go down the stairs with all four limbs instead of bunny hopping with his hind legs.
Gindy51
@Big Ole Hound: The only dog of ours that ever had her anal glands removed was female…
Larkspur
@debit: Hey, I looked up Adequane and that shit’s expensive! Does the Walter bank need any more deposits? Cause I’ll chip in.
TriassicSands
@Pogonip:
Besides, the cat realizes that there is no point in pulling back and forth on something when the whole point is to KILL IT!
debit
@Larkspur: That’s really sweet but I’ve got it covered. A series of shots should last for a few months, so it’s not like it’s a huge ongoing expense. But thanks so much for the offer. This community really is amazing, and I’m always humbled when I think of how fast you all pitched in to get Walter home.
RoonieRoo
@Big Ole Hound: I think that means you need to get a new vet.
Pogonip
@debit: I sort of have to bunny-hop myself so I have a pretty good idea of how he feels.
Although I haven’t met him, Walter seems like the sweetest dog in 4 counties. I hope that evil man (barring mental illness) who locked him up gets locked up himself. If the guy IS mentally ill I hope his caseworker can keep him from getting his hands on any more animals.
RoonieRoo
@debit: Wow!! That is such a change!
ruemara
You guys need different cats. They can play tug of war, but not exactly like a dog.
Jeffro
@FlipYrWhig: well that other basket is welcome to come join the Democratic Party
Kay
We had a rescue greyhound when my children we little. She lived a long time and has since died, but she really was sweet. The thing is she was dumb as a rock. If I moved her water bowl she would wander around until I pointed her at it. Anyway, I told my kids “she doesn’t even know her own name” and they were playing and I heard them asking her “Jilley! what is YOUR NAME?”- she would stare at them and they would crack up and ask her again. I just loved how that was insane on every level. A good fit, those kids and that dog.
sherparick
@amk: I hope so. I know he is accessing private polls that we don’t have access to. For a contrary opinion check Steve M at “No More Mister Nice Blog”
http://nomoremister.blogspot.com/2016/11/im-concerned.html
For what a Trump Presidency will be like, this New Yorker article probably gives one a good start.
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/09/26/president-trumps-first-term
Two things he omits. The environmental catastrophe Trump will unleash, short, medium, and long term. Second, the focus on trade and trade disruption and the deportations on economic life misses somewhat the point. Between the tax cuts and surge on Government spending in regard to military and domestic repression, Trump may trigger a short term, demand side boom in 2017. However, he intends to appoint a high interest, hard money, gold bug to run the Fed. Jacking up interest rates and cuts in non-law enforcement domestic spending, will cause a slack in demand and also raise the value of the dollar, which will mean bigger trade deficit, with Trump then trying to do something drastic to curtail it. It will be this rise in interest rates that will cause the recession. How much this will hurt Trump may depend on how the media reports this and who will be allowed to vote in 2018 and 2020.
EBT
Ferrets love tug of war.