Guys, Ron Fournier is a Democrat! A Democrat who loves George W Bush, said that Obamacare was Obama’s Katrina and Iraq, and works for a PR firm that has no Democratic clients (one is non-partisan). That same PR firm was in charge of crisis communications for MSU during their sex abuse scandal (and did a terrible job, I must say).
But, he’s a Democrat. A self-hating Democrat, but a Democrat nonetheless. As well as a useless posing douchebag.
Sab
Both sides carried to extremes: support one side, join the other.
hells littlest angel
But has he actually said, “I am a member of the Democrat party, which wants to open our borders to criminals and terrorists.”
Marmot
Ron Fournier is running that classic “real folks” propaganda technique. “I’m a Dem, but I’m a reasonable one. And I have serious misgivings about what the Dems are doing.”
News orgs should label him an “alleged Democrat” until he proves otherwise.
Tony P.
AFAIAC, a Democrat is anybody who vows, today, to vote for the Democratic nominee in November 2020 no matter who it turns out to be. Anybody who is NOT prepared to pledge that can stay the hell out of the Democratic primaries.
–TP
Dorothy A. Winsor
Fournier is a white man who sees people like him losing control of the Ds. He is alarmed. That the D positions are held by the majority of Americans doesn’t matter. The D party slipping from white male control is due to that fact, so down the memory hole it goes.
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
When the fuck will Ron Fournicator ever go away? I thought he had a GBCW moment a few years ago and dropped out of punditry?
Martin
@Dorothy A. Winsor: You could have stopped with “Fournier is a white man”. White men like me wouldn’t be offended.
Mary G
Once the Republican Party has met its well-deserved end, we will have to split the Democratic Party into the real Democrats and the fake ones. Decisions on who goes into which one to be made by blue-ribbon panels of black women.
The Midnight Lurker
Ron Fournier is a Democrat like I’m a fucking ballerina.
Check your watch – he’s about five minutes away from supporting Shultz!!
In the old days, when a town would get rid of a huckster, they tarred and feathered him, then ran him out of town on a rail!
I vote we bring it back just for Fournier.
Brachiator
The Fournier article is from 2013. History, and facts, have not been kind to it.
Tim C.
Was Ron the guy who was in charge (Or something like that) of the Associated Press at one point?
??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??
Random question: When do people running for president get security details? When they announce? There’s a lot of nuts running around these days.
VeniceRiley
The ratfuckers are coming out of the woodwork
Mike in NC
Ron Fournier is, in fact, an actual enemy of the people.
sharl
THE RONSTER! I love him because he was major component in the creation of (for me) beloved parody pundit Carl Diggler, who is now dormant, if not deceased. I won’t recommend the Chapo Trap House podcast in these here parts, but the two guys who gave life to The Dig discussed Fournier’s history in an early episode. The episode’s intro note:
tl;dr – by all appearances Fournier is a loving and devoted family man – good for him! – but he was a really shitty reporter; dunno how he’s working out as a PR guy, but he clearly still has (and is using) his media connections. If I recall correctly, he was a relatively obscure reporter in Arkansas, but thanks to the Clintons his star rose, or his boat lifted, or whatever. Regardless of his lack of reporting competence, his opinions rang sweetly upon the ears of the right people back in the day (or at least didn’t threaten their interests), and things (d)evolved from there.
Gravenstone
@??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka) ??: No, he just moved to Detroit and took his punditry to a smaller scale.
Yarrow
Didn’t he move back to Michigan for about five minutes a few years ago?
Plato
Ron who?
West of the Rockies
@Mary G:
What about Asian, Latino, Native American women?
Chetan Murthy
@Plato: Ahem, harrumph, [obligatory IIUC] Zizek!
marklar
Fournier analysis: the analysis of simplistic ‘insights’ expressed as a series of bothsiderisms, the frequencies of which form a disharmonic series.
Mary G
@West of the Rockies: They are eligible to be on the panels if they have receipts for as much work to support the party.
Kay
Its just so funny how much they love dress codes. Don’t even bother finding me a photo of Bush wearing whatever in the White House. It isn’t that it is or isn’t factual, it’s that it means so much to them.
Plato
@Chetan Murthy:
My mistake. Should have said ron who gives a shit about what he spews.
Dorothy A. Winsor
@Plato: There ya go.
trollhattan
@VeniceRiley:
There is a LOT of money to be made between now and November 2020. But one must be at the
tablefeeding trough.Chetan Murthy
@Plato: Oh sorry, I thought you were making a funny.
[Uh, IIUC, when somebody mentions “Slavoj Zizek”, it’s obligatory that somebody else says “Who?” Similarly, when somebody asks who some person X is, one is supposed to say “Zizek”. Or something like that. I am not aware of all internet traditions, though, so I could be mistaken]
Downpuppy
@The Midnight Lurker: Nah, Fournier has been slobbering all over Schultz for a week.
Kay
These people. You forget how horrible they are. “Not able to get health care”- which they had no shot of getting prior to the rollout! When Matthew Dowd was in charge they told them “fuck off- die, whatever, we don’t care”
In this fanciful telling Obama isn’t trying to get them healthcare, instead he is denying them healthcare.
Two years later the entire Republican Party tried to take it away, but that wasn’t Katrina – that was a victory for their agenda.
NotMax
Shades of Zell Miller.
Also too, ho hum.
schrodingers_cat
OT but sort of related:
I found this excellent protest song, Azaadi Give me freedom
Azaadi == Freedom
Bhookmari == Hunger
Sanghwaad == RSS (RWNJ) politics
Samantwaad == Feudalism
Manuwaad == Laws of Manu (Manusmriti, Hindu rule book like Leviticus)
We will take our freedom, no matter what you do.
* Direct rebuke against RWNJ central (federal) government in India led by PM Modi.
Brahmanwaad == Brahminism
Punjiwaad == Capitalism
Plato
So this traitorous thug went judge shopping all the way to deep red OK and got his nuts kicked?
Steve in the ATL
Question for the Bird Juicers: what’s up with all the robins in my yard this afternoon?
There were 15-20, hopping around and dining on the ground. Is it because temps rose from 25 to 50? Is it worm season in north Georgia? Might my yard have particularly tasty worms?
Seems a bit early for spring.
NotMax
@Steve in the ATL
A veritable caravan of robins.
;)
Kathleen
OT but Stacey Abrams will be featured in Super Bowl commercial to be aired in Georgia:
https://www.ajc.com/blog/politics/stacey-abrams-set-make-super-bowl-debut/jqKMteRwmj0Fs3IqwcNOXI/
misterpuff
The Fournier Transformation!
spudgun
Hi everyone – OT, I know this is not an open thread, but I’m sorta feeling lost right now and I need to tell someone: I just got laid off from my job. I’m terribly upset and could use a little encouragement. I know I’ll be fine once I get a plan of action together, but for now I’m in a tearful panic.
Sorry to hijack the thread…
spudgun
Oh, and fuck Ron Fournier.
ruemara
@sharl: If it’s from the Chapo guys, fuck those misogynist assholes. Not even for their old content. No thanks.
@spudgun: Hey, big hugs. Take a breath right now. It’s going to be ok. and there’s no hijack here. That’s what we’re here for.
Jay
Bette Midler
@BetteMidler
·
Jan 30
#HowardSchultz is a reminder of how wealthy, opinionated white guys are just like Starbucks: there’s one on every fucking corner.
Read an interesting theory this am.
Many mediocre white males eventually reach a position of privledge and power, like Manager, where some people stop telling them they are morons and their ideas are stupid. By the time they are VP or CEO, nobody in their lives tell them they are morons or their ideas are stupid, they just spend their time and effort trying to minimize, mitigate or prevent the damage.
The Moron Inversion.
Dorothy A. Winsor
@spudgun: Bummer. That’s always painful, especially at first. Many of us have been there. You have all our sympathy and support.
spudgun
@ruemara: Thanks Rue…
Cameron Ramey
To be fair Michelle Obama is a Democrat who loves George w Bush you guys. That kind of thing is part of why we lost the last election y’know.
WaterGirl
@Kathleen: That’s interesting!
If anybody has Tivo and isn’t interested in football, for the Super Bowl they have a way to skip through all the football and just watch the commercials.
Amir Khalid
@hells littlest angel:
Those were his exact words? Hmmm …
spudgun
@Dorothy A. Winsor: Thank you. This is the first time it’s ever happened to me, so my response might be a little outsized, but I’m sort of not-the-right-age (53) for job hunting right now and I’m panicking a little, thinking, “who the hell is going to hire this old lady?”
I mean, I KNOW I’m not old-old, but I am at that age where it’s going to be tougher for me.
zhena gogolia
@spudgun:
I’m so sorry! All best wishes to you. That is so upsetting and disorienting.
zhena gogolia
@Cameron Ramey:
Ochen’, ochen’ interesno.
hilts
Speaking of useless posing douchebags, there’s Matt Bai with his latest idiotic column:
https://news.yahoo.com/run-howard-run-100038721.html?soc_src=hl-viewer&soc_trk=tw
Fuck Fournier and Bai
zhena gogolia
@hilts:
ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME?
?BillinGlendaleCA
@NotMax:
Trump warned us about the caravan just this morning.
Steve in the ATL
@NotMax: indeed—they looked suspiciously Central American!
schrodingers_cat
@hilts: Our news media does not represent us well. They empathize and identify with the Schulzes and the Ts rather than we the people. Fuck them.
VeniceRiley
@spudgun: You can do it, SpudGun! Go file for Unemployment asap anyway, then get back up on that horse. We’ve all been through it. Fight the anxiety.
PS consider an age discrimination action if you think it is warranted. Those are winnable and offer employers will settle because they are guilty AF.
West of the Rockies
@spudgun:
Best wishes. I’ve been there. It’s disorienting, disheartening, and surreal. You may go through anger, fear, depression. All totally normal. At the risk of sounding a bit new age flakey, maybe the universe is giving you a chance to change course and reinvent yourself.
Steve in the ATL
@spudgun:
1. They’re all open threads;
2. That sucks; and
3. The good-ish news is that it’s a good time of year for a job search. Companies on calendar fiscal years have new budgets and are looking to hire, unlike later in the year when hiring freezes are common.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Steve in the ATL: Better call ICE.
Plato
@hilts:
Good gawd. Gag.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@spudgun: I know the feeling, I’m going though the same thing.
Amir Khalid
@hilts:
Is Bai serious? Transfoming how people buy and drink coffee may be a big freaking deal of a business achievement, but it doesn’t amount to a big change in their lives.
satby
@spudgun: there’s life after layoffs, but it’s hard when it comes out of the blue. Take some time to grieve a day or so. It’s ok to feel bad about it, but these days it’s not personal and not a reflection of your talents. So don’t let it undermine your confidence.
Things will get better.
dmsilev
@zhena gogolia: You have to admire the skill it takes to be that thoroughly wrong.
trollhattan
@spudgun:
Sorry.
If you’ve not been through this before, you already have a new job: finding a job. Structure each day around your new job and get to it. It’s also okay to build dolls of your former employer(s) to burn in a Santeria ceremony of your own design. Just sayin’.
Plato
@Amir Khalid:
By bai’s idiotic logic, ronald mcdonald should have been prezinent long time ago.
satby
@spudgun: nope, you’re not old, and you’re in peak working years. Smart managers know that people in your age bracket are a good hiring risk, so don’t sell yourself short.
trollhattan
@zhena gogolia:
Apparently Howie never saw “Diner.”
Frankensteinbeck
The press and its punditry are full of a special class of people who think of themselves as liberals/Democrats, but just happen to agree with Republicans on almost everything.
Jay
“The European Union has announced the setting up of a payment mechanism to secure trade with Iran and skirt US sanctions after Washington pulled out of the landmark nuclear deal last May.
The proposal of a financial instrument has been a key element in the EU’s strategy to keep Iran from quitting the 2015 nuclear agreement, which was signed to prevent Tehran from building nuclear weapons in exchange for sanctions relief.
The new institution, named INSTEX – Instrument In Support Of Trade Exchanges – will allow trade between the EU and Iran without relying on direct financial transactions. It is a project of the governments of France, Germany and Britain and will receive the formal endorsement of all 28 EU members.”
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/01/eu-launches-mechanism-bypass-sanctions-iran-190128084529234.html
trollhattan
With no prompting whatsoever Don Jr. steps on his own dick.
Smrt. The mela doesn’t fall far from the noma.
rikyrah
@spudgun:
It’s ok.
Know that things are tough now, but sending you positive thoughts. You will get it together (((Hugs)))
Kathleen
@WaterGirl: I’d love to see it but I’m in Ohio. I’m sure someone will post link to a clip on Twitter, which is where I found this story.
Steve in the ATL
@?BillinGlendaleCA: those wimps? I called the HOA.
schrodingers_cat
I read Bai’s piece.
Bahut jyada bakwas.
Jay
@spudgun:
Take time to mourn,
Fire up the resume/CV, ( theres a bunch of sites with the current resume tips, formats and how to minimize agism),
Get busy networking on Linked In.
Yarrow
@spudgun: So sorry to hear that. It’s terrible to go through. Depending how your job was you can be losing not only your income but also a friend group It’s one of the most stressful things you can experience.
Remember to be kind to yourself. You’ll be going through a grief process and that’s totally normal. Acknowledge it but don’t allow it to suck you down. If you have a bad day, that’s okay. Give yourself permission to have that bad day and then move forward the next day. Find joy in small things and let people help you if they offer.
You can do this! Lots of people have been through it before and gotten through it. Let us know how you’re doing. We’re here if you need to vent.
schrodingers_cat
@spudgun: That’s awful. Best luck in your jobsearch.
Kathleen
@spudgun: Been there. It’s like a punch in the gut followed by a stream of panic attacks about money and dread of trying to find another position. That’s how I felt anyway when it happened to me. Please don’t fixate on your age. Trust in yourself, your wisdom, and that you will find your right place where you’re valued. But first let yourself freak out as much as you need to followed by a focus on treats, comfort food, favorite book and TV show. That’s what has worked for me anyway. Just honor what feels right for you.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Steve in the ATL: Wow, you’re not fucking around on this.
Mary G
@spudgun: At least they didn’t pretend to fire you so as to deny you unemployment?
That is a kick in the guts, especially if you weren’t expecting it. Let yourself be devastated for a day or two.
The universe will send you to a newer, better job.
Gbbalto
@spudgun: Been through this. Best advice – do not broadcast some generalized resume. Target the best possibilities, research them, send a customized resume. Always worked for me (although it’s been 24 years since).
Mike in NC
This was reported in the New York Times about a Senate bill currently in the works:
My shocked face!
Gbbalto
@marklar: Well played!
BruceFromOhio
Ron … who?
Chetan Murthy
@Gbbalto: An MBA friend once told me that you tailor the resume for each job you apply to: it’s a sales-pitch. She said “nobody looks below the top half of the resume when triaging; your goal with the top half of the resume, is to get them to read the bottom-half …. and nobody goes to page two regardless”.
She also argued AT&T out of charging her for cellphone overages, and was the goto person for dickering with car salesmen, so I think she might have known what she was talking about.
Steve in the ATL
@Mike in NC: NYT is the new Fox News!
BruceFromOhio
@Steve in the ATL: The Robin Weather App said, holymosesitsfuckingcoldjustnorthofhere, so they stopped by someplace a little more temperate.
They like berries, if you’re short of worms.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Steve in the ATL: The New York Times is garbage.
spudgun
@zhena gogolia: Thank you Zhena.
spudgun
@VeniceRiley: Thanks VR! My company was actually pretty fair to me and I think their explanation of why it was happening (my boss got laid off too, along with some other folks) would be hard to fight in court.
But yes – unemployment, etc. Gotta get a plan going! But today I’m going to cry and maybe drink a little (LOT OF) bourbon… :-)
Gbbalto
@Chetan Murthy: That’s right, it’s a sales pitch! Show that you have tried to learn about your candidate employer and are demonstrating how your skills, knowledge, and experience will be of value. And do it briefly.
Patricia Kayden
@Tony P.: Very well said. That needs to be said a million times before the general election cycle in 2020 so that those who have already decided to hate various Democratic candidates can get a clue. Anyone on our side is better that the bigot in the White House. Period.
Comrade Colette Collaboratrice
@spudgun: Oh, crap! I’m so sorry. It’s a gut punch and it feels so personal, even if it was about them, not you. Are you somewhere you can go for a long walk, with a friend or a nice cafe or a well-lit, pleasant public library at the end of it? Job hunting can start tomorrow, or even Monday. Take a little time for yourself right now.
You’ll be OK. It’s a great time to look for a job. Where are you, if you’re willing to say? I recommend public agencies and universities for having a modicum less age/gender discrimination (which is indeed real and shitty and common) than private industry, and you’ll still have plenty of good working years to build up some retirement security, if that’s what you want or need. There’s great advice at Ask A Manager. But Monday is soon enough – let the next few days be for you. Hang in there, and come back here and vent/gripe/seek comfort often.
spudgun
@West of the Rockies: Thank you. Actually, I do believe this is my chance to make a change – it’s the uncertainty and I tend to be on the glass-half-empty side of the block. Trying to fight against it!
Lapassionara
@zhena gogolia: What kind of job skills do you have. I have a sister who had to move and find a job in her mid-sixties. She is very detail oriented, and she has been working now at the new job for almost 10 years.
spudgun
@Steve in the ATL: Thank you – #3 is actually a good thing for me to keep in mind, takes a bit of the anxiety away.
thalarctosMaritimus
And I am Marie of Roumania.
spudgun
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Oh, no! So sorry to hear that. Well, you’ve got company and a sympathetic ear here. :-) good luck to both of us!
spudgun
@satby: Thank you Satby!
Gbbalto
@spudgun: So that will all help in the interviews that I am sure that you will get!
WaterGirl
@Patricia Kayden: I see no problem with hating various candidates and loving others — that’s what the primaries are for, this is where it all that gets sorted out. The key is to absolutely know that you will vote for the democratic candidate in the general. And the candidates themselves have to not attack their competitors in a way that harms them in the general.
spudgun
@trollhattan: LOL – thanks!
Actually, this is good because I’ll be moving up to your neck of the woods (in the Bay Area right now) – much easier to get a Sacto jackal meetup going! :-)
Chetan Murthy
@spudgun: I know it sucks, and we’ve all been there, hence feel for you. My experience was at age 30: had to switch careers, having lost my job & career irrevocably. Spent a month staring at the wall in my mom’s house (she and my sibs went on vacation, but I couldn’t even be roused to go with ’em, I was so distraught). Then dusted myself off and started slowly digging myself out. It was painful. That was 25yr ago, and a lot’s changed.
These days, I suggest to colleagues who are in this situation, to make a plan for every day: the “key activities” they’re going to accomplish. Like reaching out to people on their Linkedin network, looking at second-level connections of their friends to see if there’s somebody there they would like to be introduced-to. I’m a programmer, so I always suggest books full of interview coding problems (b/c the interview is a battle, and you have to train for it (b/c completely unrelated to actual work)). I don’t know your field, so I can’t make those sorts of suggestions. But I think the most important thing, is to approach this like a job: figure out what you can do every day to make progress towards getting that offer.
It sucks. And it’s very often not fair. I’m sorry you’re having to go thru this.
Kathleen
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Sorry to hear that!
zhena gogolia
@Lapassionara:
I think you mean this to go to spudgun.
spudgun
@rikyrah: Thank you Rikyrah!
Patricia Kayden
@spudgun: That’s awful. I hope you find something soon. I’ve been without a job a couple of times and it’s goid to talk to close friends for encouragement. Good luck with your job search.
Haroldo
@spudgun:
First off, my sympathy: losing a job is no fun, and hunting for a new one is truly unpleasant (if my experience is anything to go by). However, there’re tons of good suggestions being given here. First and foremost – get to the Unemployment Office. Now you’ve time and some money to contemplate how you’re going to sculpt your future. Good fortune.
Plato
Ok, what legislation is that? And what exactly does it to do stop the totus thug?
danielx
Ron Fournier? This Ron Fournier?
The internet is forever, Fournier, you douche rocket.
Gbbalto
@Lapassionara: I had to change careers the last time around. Identifying transferable skills is essential. In my case, correctly identifying problems (not necessarily what customer thinks they are) and effectively determining solutions that are workable for that customer at that time.
spudgun
@schrodingers_cat: Thank you, S_C!
The Midnight Lurker
@Steve in the ATL: Spring comes early now, I guess. Down here in Texas we are lousy with robins. They’re industrious little bastards – eating, building the spring nest, eating. Many is the morning that they are up BEFORE daybreak.
They can get pretty territorial too. So don’t go poking your head into the tree to see what they’re up to.
@spudgun: As an old-old may I say that I (and many of my friends) have been through this over the years. It’s NEVER easy. The jackals are right – treat yourself to a nice dinner and get a good night’s rest. Then first thing tomorrow morning, suck up, ruck up, and move out. Not to be flippant, but this shit buffs out.
After all, if a turd like Ron Fournier can float to the top of the punch bowl, just think of your chances!
Shit! You could be President!
Alternative Fax, a hip hop artist from Idaho
@Steve in the ATL: They are confused. That kind of temperature shift is common in actual spring. Also there might be worms.
Full disclosure: I am not a Bird Juicer (that I know of) but I have seen early robins when it gets suddenly warmer even in OH in February.
Steve in the ATL
@?BillinGlendaleCA: totally forgot that you were in the process of becoming a 53-year old woman!
Patricia Kayden
@WaterGirl: I’m just fearful that the hatred won’t stop after the primaries. Hopefully, we won’t have a replay of the Bernie Bros debacle.
spudgun
@Yarrow: @Kathleen: Thank you so much for this – this is exactly how I feel, and very wise words.
Brachiator
@hilts:
New York Stock Exchange, organized at The Tontine Coffee House in 1793. Before this, they met at the Merchant’s Coffee House.
spudgun
@Mary G: Thank you, Mary G – no, they were actually very nice and very fair, can’t really complain. So unemployment’s there if I need it, but I hope I won’t!
Brachiator
@spudgun: Good luck to you. You might consider applying for unemployment compensation as soon as possible. You have a right to it.
Gbbalto
@spudgun: Sounds like they will provide a good reference.
Yes, apply for unemployment insurance asap. Don’t depend on hopes despite all the encouragement that you’re getting here.
satby
@spudgun: apply ASAP for unemployment. There’s a waiting period anyway, so if you’re off longer than you expect you have it started. And if you get a job fast you just notify them you are employed again. But don’t wait.
spudgun
@Comrade Colette Collaboratrice: Thank you, C3! I do feel lucky that I’m in a good area to go looking (SF Bay Area and environs), so I know after the initial shock wears off I will feel a little more confident about my prospects. But right now I want to eat a whole cake and hunker down with some booze and some Netflix! :-)
P.S. I love “Ask A Manager” – have it bookmarked and subscribe to the podcast!
Comrade Colette Collaboratrice
@spudgun:
I hope you don’t need it, too, in the sense that I hope you find a great new job really quickly – but don’t waste a minute filing for it. It’s a benefit you’ve absolutely earned and to which you’re entitled. If you qualify, there’s no reason not to get it.
And I thought you were one of us Bay Areans! I know so many people who felt forced to move to Sacramento for cost-related reasons, and ended up liking it for lifestyle-related reasons. All the best, but it makes me sad to hear of SF-area juicers leaving …
ETA: cake and Netflix sounds like a totally healthy and perfect plan. Do it!
spudgun
@Gbbalto: Thanks Gb!
chromeagnomen
how dumb is that fucker bai with his nobody used to meet for coffee before starbucks shit. people have been doing just that since…well…coffee.
douche.
sorry if a dozen people have been there before me. always playing catch-up.
Uncle Cosmo
@trollhattan: @Kathleen: I wonder whether CBS noticed this? My impression is that the networks &/or NFL are historically poised to stomp on any Stupor Bowel ad that bears the slightest relation to politics.
spudgun
@Chetan Murthy: Thank you so much, Chetan – this is very good advice.
spudgun
@The Midnight Lurker: LOL, thank you! This cheered me up a bit!
satby
@?BillinGlendaleCA: oh Billin, I missed this! So sorry!
spudgun
@Patricia Kayden: @Haroldo: Thanks so much!
And thank you to anyone I may have missed replying to – even as a lurker, I knew I could count on you all for sound advice, kind words, and cheerful LOLs! It’s really comforting to me right now—
Comrade Colette Collaboratrice
@?BillinGlendaleCA: @satby: Oh no! So sorry. How are you doing?
Gbbalto
@?BillinGlendaleCA: My best wishes! Lots of good advice from many jackals.
WaterGirl
@Patricia Kayden: I think real Dems are too smart to ever be Bernie Bro types.
WaterGirl
@spudgun: You should sign up first thing Monday, even if you think or hope you won’t need it. That gives you options.
spudgun
@Comrade Colette Collaboratrice: Yup! I meant to go to the last meetup and couldn’t make it…kinda bummed because I missed meeting, among other folks, Major4 and Steve in the ATL.
Yes, it’s the same for me – Sacto for cost, but also my family’s up there; I’m the last Bay Area holdout. Really sad to be leaving the area, but I think this worked out for the best.
J R in WV
@Tim C.:
NO, never! He was, however given a very powerful spot at Bureau Chief in Washington DC, at a critical moment in history, which he used to propagate right-wing memes into the mass media of the nation. He left the AP in June 2010 after spending several years trying to present President Obama as a communist, black power lover, etc, etc.
Now works on Craig Business Review in Detroit, which is way too much responsibility for a RWNJ like him. Quite a fall from one of the more responsible positions at The AP.
SectionH
@Steve in the ATL: If you have bushes/trees with berries in your yard, they may have been having the avian equivalent of a kegger, and getting “drunk” on the overwintering berries*. Our front yard in Kentucky has a very large holly tree, and we used to get scores of robins in the late winter/early spring, or even during a warm spell in January (which used to be pretty common in the Bluegrass). It usually happened only once a year, and not every year, but it was a spectacle.
*There seem to be 2 theories: one that the berries ferment enough to actually intoxicate the birds, or contain some substance which is mildly neurotoxic when eaten in extra-large quantities. It could depend on which berries I guess. The other theory is that the birds simply eat so much it disturbs their balance, and so can’t fly properly until they’ve digested a lot of their meal.
Googling “drunk robins” will give you a lot of links.
Uncle Cosmo
Ron Fumier is a stinking pile of manure. You could look it up.
Yarrow
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Sorry to hear that, Bill. I had missed it if you’d mentioned it before.
Alternative Fax, a hip hop artist from Idaho
@spudgun: All threads are open threads, as my beloved raven says often. I’m sorry to hear your distressing news.
Getting laid off is a big blow and it’s natural to feel some anxiety, especially when it’s sudden in terms of company trends. Take a few days to breathe, and let it settle. It sounds like you have a plan of action in place. I’m sure you’ll get lots of good advice from Juicers who are happy to give it. It’s what this place is for.
Steve in the ATL
@SectionH: Nandina, maybe got scattered around the yard. Or they were eating “second harvest” from deer spoor….
Steve in the ATL
@spudgun: too bad you missed it—was much fun and we had a great turnout!
schrodingers_cat
So how many Never Ts have jumped on to the Schulz campaign, or said positive things about him
1. Steve Schmidt
2. David Frum
J R in WV
@spudgun:
Getting laid off is without any doubt one of the more traumatic events in life, at least with no one being hospitalized.
I’m sure you will have some good luck soon, it really does come back around after a bad luck event. In the meantime, take care, try to plan ahead, best of luck!
And don’t forget: Keep In Touch!
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@spudgun:
You paid into it, it’s your damn money this is what UI is for, so use it.
Bemused senior
@Steve in the ATL: my daughter is named Robin in part because the robins are all around at this time of year. Her birthday is tomorrow. Of course I live in NorCal.
spudgun
@Alternative Fax, a hip hop artist from Idaho: Thanks so much for your kind words.
spudgun
@Steve in the ATL: I know, and you went to one of my fave spots, Thirsty Bear!! Totally bummed…
spudgun
@J R in WV: Thank you J R!
Brachiator
@schrodingers_cat:
Maybe he should run as a Republican.
spudgun
@Enhanced Voting Techniques: Exactly!
Kirk Spencer
@spudgun: During my time out of work the jackals here were very supportive. So I’ll pay forward, adding the one thing I didn’t see from anyone else yet.
What do you want to do? Because the pool here just might know of a way to get there.
And up or down keep us in the loop. It matters even to us lurkers.
neldob
@spudgun: You are wiser and more experienced. And unemployment is low, so take heart and best of luck. (and i know it’s scary as hell).
spudgun
@Kirk Spencer: Thank you Kirk – yes, the jackals are one-of-a-kind… :-)
spudgun
@neldob: Thank you for the kind words!
tybee
@spudgun: in addition to unemployment pay, you may be eligible for training paid for by the state. good way to pick up certifications and such.
WaterGirl
@tybee: I think raven was hoping you would show up. I think maybe in reference to B’s aunt? If you’re not caught up on threads, you might look for your nym in the comments.
sgrAstar
@spudgun: I am so sorry. Take care of yourself while our fellow Juicers provide encouragement and, perhaps, useful advice.
Hob
@Mary G: “At least they didn’t pretend to fire you so as to deny you unemployment”
I was once at a company that decided to get rid of about 90% of the staff, but rather than actually lay us off, they said “We ran out of money, so your jobs all now pay minimum wage. We hope you’ll stick with us till things turn around (yeah right).” Then they waited for everyone to quit, so we couldn’t claim unemployment. Everyone immediately informed them that that’s not how this works (seriously, their dumbass CFO had never heard of the “substantial change in wages/duties” rule). So they went ahead and laid everyone off.
Anyway, @spudgun, that sucks. I don’t have anything to add, just good luck and like everyone else said, go ahead and file.
Ben Cisco
@spudgun: I got home way late, but I just saw this and wanted to say: I understand. Just went through it and relocated in the process. The jackalteriat already weighed in with everything I would have said, so keep your head up. We’re pulling for you.