Ha! And if he were disappointed? Or is that too terrible a thought to fathom?
3.
Central Planning
We just got a new vehicle because our minivan got totalled, and it comes with a 6 month or 2GB free in-vehicle WiFi.
I just set it up and made the SSID “Any Democrat 2020”. Hopefully that will get somebody’s attention
4.
eclare
My kitty spent most of the day trapped in the basement. There is an open panel in the bathroom closet that lets her down there, and I mistakenly left that door open. The basement door has always been sticky, today it was completely stuck.
After multiple tries with a screwdriver and hammer and WD40, no dice. She finally figured out the cavalry wasn’t coming, and she emerged from the bathroom closet after pathetically mewing at me all day. Of course, no thank yous for trying.
Steve is magnificent.
5.
RepubAnon
Steve is just biding his time – he still remembers being shaved…
I hate this new website! Is it up and running yet? I don’t know if I’ve seen it. This looks the same! Why can’t I see the new, awful changes I hate? Fake news! If there’s anything different about it that I haven’t picked up on, it sucks! If the changes aren’t public yet, then I hate them anyway! They all suck! Nobody ever listens to me!
@eclare: Glad the kitty eventually figured out an escape route.
11.
Mary G
Republicans who were in yesterday’s meltdown meeting leaking about how he’s 100% worse than he was and generals were very upset with him. Nice try, but put your name on it, or it doesn’t count. You suck for staying as he breaks up. Go to Schiff or blow the whistle..
A Republican source inside the Trump-Pelosi meeting described attendees as “shaken” and “shell-shocked” by the President’s demeanor. “He is not in control of himself. It is all yelling and screaming.” —@jamiegangel reports pic.twitter.com/OMxR0o7sTX— Josh Campbell (@joshscampbell) October 17, 2019
Also, Steve is easy to photograph, because he’s always asleep.
12.
realbtl
I don’t post much but you folks were so kind when my old girl Sioux passed a few months ago that I will pass on some info on my other Weim rescue Jada, a perfect example of breeding gone wrong. She was bred as a show dog and got all the weird genes in one pkg. It took 3 months before she would let met pet her. She is easing into her role as one and only dog pretty well, spending more time with me rather than in the other room. One on one she wants to be a big floppy lab but just can’t quite do it w/o scaring herself.
Dogs, thanks for the support.
And yes I have been here since the Stormy/BIRDZILLA days. I kinda miss BIRDZILLA.
13.
eclare
@Dorothy A. Winsor: Me too! I now have a still stuck door with drips of WD40 all over it! Professional help will be called.
If that isn’t enough to dampen your spirits, here’s a documentary about the Roma population of Sofia, Bulgaria, that will leave you heartbroken and sad.
Our letter seeking an Inspector General investigation of Sec. Elaine Chao, led by @RepSires:
“..serving as the Secretary of Transportation and using that role to prioritize project grant applications in her husband’s home state of Kentucky is evidence of a conflict of interest.”
Rep. Don Beyer added, Albio Sires Verified account @RepSires
Today, along with 14 of my colleagues, I sent a letter to the Department of Transportation Inspector General, asking for an investigation into conflicts of interest at the DOT.
5:56 PM – 17 Oct 2019
I’ve been very, very impressed with Beyer. He’s very good, and I’m glad he’s my rep.
Cheers,
Scott.
16.
NotMax
Shall likely repeat this in a future open thread but wanted to mention it before I forget.
On Thursday, tech hawk Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced a sweeping new data privacy bill aimed at forcing tech platforms to mind their own business and face tough penalties if they fail to meet new privacy and security standards.
Wyden’s “Mind Your Own Business Act” is the official version of a draft bill he circulated around to other members and consumer groups late last year. The legislation would empower the Federal Trade Commission with new authorities to fine tech companies that violate user privacy and bolster the agency with more resources to better regulate the industry in the future.
[snip]
FTC Chairman Joe Simons has pleaded with Congress to empower the Commission with new authorities to fine companies for first-time privacy violations. Wyden’s bill would do just that, and also make it a crime for senior executives of tech companies to knowingly lie to the agency in regards to privacy.
[snip]
Wyden’s bill would institute a federal Do Not Track requirement, giving users the option to opt out of data tracking that’s used to target ads. Platforms like Facebook and Twitter would also be required to offer “privacy-protecting” versions of their products for a fee. Interestingly, Wyden’s measure would extend the Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline program for low-income people to use to obtain these privacy-focused versions of products so “privacy does not become a luxury good,” as his office put it. Source
@Mary G: What are they going to do when Trump proves via public confession on the WH lawn that he is B.D. Cooper and the guy who paid they guys who knew the guys who put Jimmy Hoffa on ice?
Surely the Secret Service will do anything and everything to keep Trump away from Fifth Avenue
19.
Immanentize
@eclare:
My credo:
If it doesn’t move and should? WD40.
If it moves and shouldn’t? Duct Tape.
This works for people as well.
20.
C Stars
I love that cat, too.
21.
Mnemosyne
I’m back on the wagon with Weight Watchers. Blech. I know it works for me but I’m annoyed I let it get to this point.
22.
Immanentize
@realbtl:
I still am sorry for your loss, but your poor pupppy left without a four foot buddy. You too, but that made me sad and want to send you powerful hug-like vibes.
23.
Central Planning
@Immanentize: And if your boat is cut in half and shouldn’t? Flex tape.
D-40 is a fantastic product that can be used to displace moisture and lubricate moving pieces throughout your home, garage, or workshop. But one place where you should not use WD-40 is a squeaky door hinge, as the lubricant can attract dirt and dust, and may eventually cause the hinge pin to turn black.
27.
realbtl
@Immanentize: Thanks, Sioux had a good run with me 5-14 and things are going well.
Daniel Dale @ ddale8
20m20 minutes ago
Trump says that foreign leaders, including “dictators” who don’t like to go by the title dictator, always tell him, “Sir, congratulations, sir, on what you’ve done.” That story usually has only one Sir.
Daniel Dale @ ddale8
Trump with some of his most aggressive words about unmasking the federally protected whistleblower: “Who is the whistleblower? Who is the whistleblower? We have to know! Is the whistleblower a spy?”
35.
eclare
@RAVEN: Oh…will clean the hinges again tomorrow. Thanks!
36.
Immanentize
@Raven: Yes! I have a grease gun but quit that in home stuff. White litheum — stick and can. It doesn’t seem to gather crud like plain grease.
37.
zhena gogolia
We just saw Downton Abbey (or Downton Abby as it said on the marquee in our dumb little town). It’s a camp classic! I loved every minute of it.
It was good to have a Cheeto Benito-free couple of hours.
38.
Aleta
No power, no heat. Would love to have a big warm sleeping cat beside me, but instead I have a stealth surprise attack (SSA) cat. This building is not well-prepared for losing electricity. I have a a camp stove and three inflatable solar lights. Bright enough when inflated. Tonight I found that the SSA cat has been wrestling two of them— they have his signature tiny claw indentations on their sides and don’t hold air anymore. I think he associates them with the bugs they attract when they’re lit. (He’s a dedicated entomologist, the type who must pursue and eat what he studies.) So, I’m down to one decent solar light that I have to hide from him at all times.
39.
eclare
@realbtl: I’m sorry about Sioux, it’s so tough. Hope things continue to get better with Jada.
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: I’m following Daniel Dale too. Did you see Trump’s claim that Louis Gohmert is really smart? I rolled my eyes and decided to read a book instead. Fewer brain cells would die.
46.
dexwood
@Immanentize:
Locks, too. Don’t use it in locks. It eventually gums up the works a locksmith once told me.
For future reference,this doohickey is great as lighting during outages. Only caveat is that one must remember to charge it up maybe every two months. Often on sale, too.
Effusive thanks after blackouts from those I’ve given it to as a gift.
50.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
The Republic is collapsing and Rachel Maddow is spending half her show with… Andrew Yang?
Daniel Dale @ ddale8
Trump after bashing Hunter Biden’s China business dealings after flying there on Air Force Two: Can you imagine if Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump or Ivanka Trump? (He trails off.)
Trump on the Bidens: “You-know-what and pillage. It’s the R-word. You-know-what and pillage. You know what word I’m talking about, right? I don’t want to use it ’cause they’ll say it’s a horrible word that Trump used.” No evidence Joe Biden ever profited from his son’s dealings.
54.
Aleta
@eclare: Right now, midcoast Maine. I usually don’t mind it, but things like candles, matches, oil lamp, wood stove are foolishly missing from the bldg. I’m in. It’s old and uninsulated (the difference between inside and outside is one board) with lots of large windows…. it was lots of fun til the heat pump went out. : )
55.
dmsilev
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Someday, Cole will figure out white balance. Today is not that day.
Landlady’s garage door opener gave up the ghost on Monday. I’ve been on call all week to open or close her garage door manually as needed. Thankfully the appointment to have a new unit installed is tomorrow.
Inside of Gohmert’s skull still has that new no brain smell.
T,FTFY
64.
Immanentize
My son is obsessed with espresso. Gotta go and calm him down about 500 buck espresso machines. “But Dad, there are 15,000 dollar ones!”
Damn.
65.
Aleta
@NotMax: Thanks! I’ve given the solar lights I have as gifts too. I was very impressed with them until the cat identified their perfect size and resistance as rolling punching body kick bags. He’s good at finding trouble and weak spots in very useful things that I thought were working well.
My understanding is he’s capable of building an espresso-making robot.
;)
67.
Aleta
@Immanentize: Try to keep him away from the espresso before he shops.
68.
Mary G
Trump says it was good to let the Turks attack the Kurds. "Sometimes you have to let them fight like two kids,” he tells rally in Dallas. “Then you pull them apart."— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) October 18, 2019
At a minimum, remind him that Black Friday sales are coming up fast.
70.
Gin & Tonic
@Immanentize: He’s not wrong, you know. And if he’s spending another year in the old domicile, a nice La Marzocco will only set you back about five large, and will certainly make him very happy.
‘Trumpian’, adj., describing a level of stupidity compared to which Louis Gohmert appears to be smart.
Win
76.
Ken
@NotMax: I suppose he’s too old for “If you’re a good boy, Santa might bring you one for Christmas”?
77.
Mary G
Hell hath frozen over:
If it comes to Trump vs. Warren, the only plausible choice is Warren. Over the past month Trump has given us fresh reminders of the exceptional ways he corrupts American life. You’re either part of removing that corruption or you are not. https://t.co/hL25UfEJmL
Tomorrow’s ProLeft podcast might be an hour of him ripping into Brooks.
81.
Barbara
@Immanentize: I have read that it is a mistake to buy a high volume machine for personal use. They are faster not better and they require a lot of maintenance. However, most of the mid-range espresso makers require you to now use cartridges. So you have to go up enough in price to still get the real thing.
@Immanentize: Tell him to get this one. Millions of Italians, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and assorted other cultures have used it successfully for centuries.
88.
dmsilev
@Mary G: Somehow, and quite unfairly, this diminishes Elizabeth Warren.
@schrodingers_cat: I saw your request for a one volume book on US history. I’m not sure if it can be covered in one volume. If you’re willing to read more than one, the best single volume I’ve read on the US Civil War is McPherson’s Battle Cry of Freedom. The runup in the 1850s is eerily similar to the last decade.
94.
Ken
@Mary G: Oh, sure, once David Brooks gave her cover…
95.
RedDirtGirl
@Aleta: I just flew up to Mount Desert Island to visit family. Not cold yet, but awful dark. Luckily my sister has a lot of flashlights around!
Amazing the things one learns on this here full service blog.
;)
97.
Mary G
Seriously inappropriate:
"I’m not just an overrated general. I’m the most overrated general," Mattis says. "I'm honored to be considered that by Donald Trump because he also called Meryl Streep an overrated actress. So I guess I'm the Meryl Streep of generals, and frankly that sounds pretty good to me." pic.twitter.com/Hzpe5lUeje— NBC News (@NBCNews) October 18, 2019
I’m with them:
Stand up. Speak out. Fewer jokes. More patriotism.— Paulette Feeney (@PauletteParis1) October 18, 2019
98.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Mary G: I think every R Senator and more than half the House caucus would vastly prefer President Pence to trump, if they thought they could get rid of him without blowback
Jesse Lehrich @ JesseLehrich
GOP Rep. Francis Rooney not ruling out impeachment after Mulvaney’s confession:
“I remember too many people saying, ‘Oh, this is a witch hunt against Richard Nixon,’ and come to find out it wasn’t a witch hunt.”
@dexwood: I’ve been watching a lot of videos on restoring old computer and audio equipment and arcade machines, and a theme that comes up a lot is that WD-40 turns into a gluey substance after several years.
101.
eclare
@frosty: Seconded. Excellent book spanning decades, lots about the build up.
102.
lamh36
‘Sup BJ!
Alright…another test down. No more test until the Monday before Paris! So now I can finish up my Paris planning!!! Woo woo!!
Current Paris itinerary…
Day 1 arrival…maybe hop on hop off while we wait on check in since we arrive EARLY.
Day 2 Louvre and exploring
Day 3 Versailles and exploring
Day 4/5…nothing “scheduled” or pre-bought…guess explore an shop?
Day 6 is my birthday. Early morning/brunch tour for Eiffel Tower, night time dinner cruise on Seine
Day 7…fly back to the states.
I guess we’ll do some Champ Elysses “shopping” and the Arc de Triomph on days 4/5?
103.
lgerard
Interesting pictures of the fashion show that is a trump Texas rally
@lamh36: Also too… Sorry guys, deleted tha last comment by mistake
it’s that time again to decide how much money should I exchange if any? It’s a 6 day trip, and I’d like to use my CC only at legit places, so if I can pay Euros, I will. How much should I get?
My friend said I should get like 100 euros and use my CC for everything else.
I was thinking that that might be a good idea. I’ve been reading alot of stuff that talked about how bad pickpocketing is out there. So having less cash might be a good way to not draw attention to my wallet and such..hnnm
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: I’m not sure that argument would work with a lot of Republicans, since they’re mostly convinced Nixon was railroaded and did nothing wrong.
107.
frosty
@RAVEN: WD-40 is not good for bicycle chains either. Fortunately I found this out before I tried it.
108.
MisterForkbeard
@Mary G: Nah. She’s saying it was wrong but hasnt said anything about impeachment from what I could see.
It’s just dipping her toes into water of responsibility.
re: you query about American history books, good suggestions there from when you first asked about that (at #174) back in March.
111.
Mary G
Just kill me now:
Secretary Mattis lets loose “I earned my spurs on the battlefield; Donald Trump earned his spurs from the doctor”.— Martha Raddatz (@MarthaRaddatz) October 18, 2019
He’s at some kind of white tail dinner where he’s supposed to be funny?
112.
eclare
@lamh36: There is some cathedral on one of the islands in the Seine that has beautiful stained glass. Dates back to around 1400, at least. I can”t remember the name, but you should be able to google. Enjoy!
@lamh36: Oh gosh, lucky you. You will likely need some diversion for day 1 because your hotel might not be ready for check in. Hanging out in a cafe for a while works, but also consider the Musee du Moyen-Age, the Musee Rodin, if not still closed for renovation, or Sainte Chappelle. Were it me I would go to Chartres or Fontainebleau for the day trip — both easy train trips — but you can’t really go wrong.
@lamh36:
Think about Musee d’Orsay? Great impressionist art in a stunning building (former train station).
@eclare:
Sainte-Chapelle. Great stained glass.
@frosty: *Is* WD-40 good for anything? I get the impression it can be good for removing caked-on gunk from things, as long as you somehow get the WD-40 off afterward.
124.
frosty
@lamh36: Days 4/5 find a sidewalk cafe. We lucked out to be staying near the Place de la Contrescarpe, probably one of dozens like it, with a fountain in the middle of a sort of roundabout ringed with cafes. Left Bank, near the Sorbonne.
Other than that, you’re hitting the high spots.
ETA Congrats on the tests!!
ETA ETA On our trip to London/Normandy/Paris and our most recent one to Quebec, we didn’t have much cash. I’d say take $100 just so you can get something to eat when you arrive jetlagged after an overnight flight. ‘Cause that’s what we needed to do.
125.
Matt McIrvin
@divF: BIG second on both Musée d’Orsay and Sainte-Chapelle.
@Matt McIrvin: If you don’t need penetration there are far better lubricants. But for things that you can’t take apart (like a car door) you’d be hard pressed to find something better.
129.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@lamh36: if it’s reopened, the Musee Carnavalet (history of Paris) is worth a visit, and the neighborhood around it (the Marais/place des Vosges) makes for a great walking tour. On a clear day, Montmartre/Sacre-Coeur or the Tour Montparnasse, for the view (opposite ends of the city). I much prefer Montparnasse as a neighborhood for exploring
130.
Barbara
@eclare: On a sunny day Sainte Chappelle is amazing, as is Chartres. I like the museum of the middle ages because it is built on the ruins of the Roman setlement and has a well curated display of the best of pre-renaissance art. It is in a nice neighborhood as well, near the Sorbonne.
131.
mrmoshpotato
@NotMax: I’d say so. I’ve only seen El Topo and Santa Sangre, and that was some time ago. Lynch and Cronenberg crossed my mind while watching this. It’s no Scanners, but still weird.
132.
Matt McIrvin
@eclare: I remember thinking Sainte-Chapelle was more beautiful inside than Notre Dame when I was there. It was originally built to house the relics that were eventually moved to Notre Dame (and saved from the recent fire).
133.
eclare
@Matt McIrvin: Unfortunately I didn’t hear about it til a coworker told me. Definitely will see it next time, the pictures are astounding.
Rick Steves always says that a money belt or neck wallet that you wear under your clothes is the best idea, because it’s a lot harder for pickpockets to get to.
137.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Barbara: @lamh36: I love the Musee d’Orsay, but then I do love the impressionists and earlier 19th cent art. Especially at this time of year when it’s less crowded. The Louvre is overwhelming to me, even the maps are overwhelming. Make a plan beforehand if you can. The Musee Rodin is another one that’s best on a sunny day, since the garden is the best part.
You remind me of the Art Buchwald classic, “The Six Minute Louvre”.
139.
Barbara
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: For better or worse my favorite museums are either small or built as museums, and the Louvre is neither of those. But I would still go!
140.
Ruckus
@mrmoshpotato:
Empty except for the smell of a rotten dumpster behind a cheap diner the day before trash pickup. Nothing else, just that smell of rotting everything.
141.
Ruckus
@JR:
There are a number of spray lubes that are better. However WD is relatively cheap and works great as a lube for machining certain plastics. And has enough solvent base to clean, which is why it works to unstick stuff. DuPont makes better ones though but WD is available pretty much anywhere.
No recollection of who the comedian was who coined the term but have long used his/her description of an agglomeration of pernicious smells as “zoo dust.”
143.
Aleta
@RedDirtGirl The wind has started up again here. Mt. Desert is across the water from me. The landscape is so beautiful and wild right now (when daylight comes). Nice to think of you nearby.
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something fabulous
He is awful handsome.
mrmoshpotato
Ha! And if he were disappointed? Or is that too terrible a thought to fathom?
Central Planning
We just got a new vehicle because our minivan got totalled, and it comes with a 6 month or 2GB free in-vehicle WiFi.
I just set it up and made the SSID “Any Democrat 2020”. Hopefully that will get somebody’s attention
eclare
My kitty spent most of the day trapped in the basement. There is an open panel in the bathroom closet that lets her down there, and I mistakenly left that door open. The basement door has always been sticky, today it was completely stuck.
After multiple tries with a screwdriver and hammer and WD40, no dice. She finally figured out the cavalry wasn’t coming, and she emerged from the bathroom closet after pathetically mewing at me all day. Of course, no thank yous for trying.
Steve is magnificent.
RepubAnon
Steve is just biding his time – he still remembers being shaved…
?
Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.)
I hate this new website! Is it up and running yet? I don’t know if I’ve seen it. This looks the same! Why can’t I see the new, awful changes I hate? Fake news! If there’s anything different about it that I haven’t picked up on, it sucks! If the changes aren’t public yet, then I hate them anyway! They all suck! Nobody ever listens to me!
?BillinGlendaleCA
Never knew Steve was green.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.): That’s the spirit!
schrodingers_cat
Sweet sleepy fuzzy kitteh
Dorothy A. Winsor
@eclare: Glad the kitty eventually figured out an escape route.
Mary G
Republicans who were in yesterday’s meltdown meeting leaking about how he’s 100% worse than he was and generals were very upset with him. Nice try, but put your name on it, or it doesn’t count. You suck for staying as he breaks up. Go to Schiff or blow the whistle..
Also, Steve is easy to photograph, because he’s always asleep.
realbtl
I don’t post much but you folks were so kind when my old girl Sioux passed a few months ago that I will pass on some info on my other Weim rescue Jada, a perfect example of breeding gone wrong. She was bred as a show dog and got all the weird genes in one pkg. It took 3 months before she would let met pet her. She is easing into her role as one and only dog pretty well, spending more time with me rather than in the other room. One on one she wants to be a big floppy lab but just can’t quite do it w/o scaring herself.
Dogs, thanks for the support.
And yes I have been here since the Stormy/BIRDZILLA days. I kinda miss BIRDZILLA.
eclare
@Dorothy A. Winsor: Me too! I now have a still stuck door with drips of WD40 all over it! Professional help will be called.
HumboldtBlue
The Kurds are under threat of being ethnically cleansed, the protestors in Hong Kong will soon be disappeared and the Turkic minorities in Northern China are being actively ethnically cleansed.
And we have Trump in the White House.
If that isn’t enough to dampen your spirits, here’s a documentary about the Roma population of Sofia, Bulgaria, that will leave you heartbroken and sad.
Another Scott
Fuzzy green kitty monster.
ObOpenThread – Twitter:
I’ve been very, very impressed with Beyer. He’s very good, and I’m glad he’s my rep.
Cheers,
Scott.
NotMax
Shall likely repeat this in a future open thread but wanted to mention it before I forget.
HumboldtBlue
Well, here’s the link to the documentary
jl
@Mary G: What are they going to do when Trump proves via public confession on the WH lawn that he is B.D. Cooper and the guy who paid they guys who knew the guys who put Jimmy Hoffa on ice?
Surely the Secret Service will do anything and everything to keep Trump away from Fifth Avenue
Immanentize
@eclare:
My credo:
If it doesn’t move and should? WD40.
If it moves and shouldn’t? Duct Tape.
This works for people as well.
C Stars
I love that cat, too.
Mnemosyne
I’m back on the wagon with Weight Watchers. Blech. I know it works for me but I’m annoyed I let it get to this point.
Immanentize
@realbtl:
I still am sorry for your loss, but your poor pupppy left without a four foot buddy. You too, but that made me sad and want to send you powerful hug-like vibes.
Central Planning
@Immanentize: And if your boat is cut in half and shouldn’t? Flex tape.
Mnemosyne
@?BillinGlendaleCA:
I think Cole shot him with a night vision camera so as not to disturb Steve’s beauty rest.
Immanentize
@Central Planning:
Just so. With spray flex.
RAVEN
@eclare: @eclare:
realbtl
@Immanentize: Thanks, Sioux had a good run with me 5-14 and things are going well.
Immanentize
@RAVEN:
It’s true. Sad but true. Grease
James E Powell
@Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.):
Now who can argue with that?
lahke
Is that picture of Steve current? Because my mostly Maine Coon kitty was shaved down at the same time and is now way floofier.
Immanentize
@realbtl: good.
And you with Sioux, I gather. And now with Jada. We are fortunate humans.
eclare
@Immanentize: Words to live by!
Raven
@Immanentize: White lithium is great!
Jim, Foolish Literalist
eclare
@RAVEN: Oh…will clean the hinges again tomorrow. Thanks!
Immanentize
@Raven: Yes! I have a grease gun but quit that in home stuff. White litheum — stick and can. It doesn’t seem to gather crud like plain grease.
zhena gogolia
We just saw Downton Abbey (or Downton Abby as it said on the marquee in our dumb little town). It’s a camp classic! I loved every minute of it.
It was good to have a Cheeto Benito-free couple of hours.
Aleta
No power, no heat. Would love to have a big warm sleeping cat beside me, but instead I have a stealth surprise attack (SSA) cat. This building is not well-prepared for losing electricity. I have a a camp stove and three inflatable solar lights. Bright enough when inflated. Tonight I found that the SSA cat has been wrestling two of them— they have his signature tiny claw indentations on their sides and don’t hold air anymore. I think he associates them with the bugs they attract when they’re lit. (He’s a dedicated entomologist, the type who must pursue and eat what he studies.) So, I’m down to one decent solar light that I have to hide from him at all times.
eclare
@realbtl: I’m sorry about Sioux, it’s so tough. Hope things continue to get better with Jada.
mrmoshpotato
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
No, Dump, the whistleblower is a whistleblower.
NotMax
@zhena gogolia
Double billed with A Dog of Landers?
:)
eclare
@Aleta:
My sympathies, no power sucks. I forget where you are?
Raven
@Immanentize: Thick as a brick!
Gin & Tonic
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: According to Josh Marshall on Twitter the crowd was warming up by singing “YMCA.”
Irony is dead, buried, and rotted.
Dorothy A. Winsor
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: I’m following Daniel Dale too. Did you see Trump’s claim that Louis Gohmert is really smart? I rolled my eyes and decided to read a book instead. Fewer brain cells would die.
dexwood
@Immanentize:
Locks, too. Don’t use it in locks. It eventually gums up the works a locksmith once told me.
Ken
@Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (formerly Mumphrey, et al.): Since you are posting in the “Nightly Steve Open Thread”, you are seeing the new blog. The old blog did not have that feature.
mrmoshpotato
@Dorothy A. Winsor:
Dump’s completely lost it.
NotMax
@Aleta
For future reference,this doohickey is great as lighting during outages. Only caveat is that one must remember to charge it up maybe every two months. Often on sale, too.
Effusive thanks after blackouts from those I’ve given it to as a gift.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
The Republic is collapsing and Rachel Maddow is spending half her show with… Andrew Yang?
Just One More Canuck
@BillinGlendaleCA: it ain’t easy
zhena gogolia
@NotMax:
Oh, I just got it!
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Aleta
@eclare: Right now, midcoast Maine. I usually don’t mind it, but things like candles, matches, oil lamp, wood stove are foolishly missing from the bldg. I’m in. It’s old and uninsulated (the difference between inside and outside is one board) with lots of large windows…. it was lots of fun til the heat pump went out. : )
dmsilev
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Someday, Cole will figure out white balance. Today is not that day.
dmsilev
@Dorothy A. Winsor:
‘Trumpian’, adj., describing a level of stupidity compared to which Louis Gohmert appears to be smart.
Keithly
@?BillinGlendaleCA: It’s the humidity.
NotMax
@zhena gogolia
♫ By George, she’s got it!
:)
eclare
@Aleta: I thought you were New England. One board in Maine, wow.
NotMax
@dmsilev
Inside of Gohmert’s skull still has that new brain smell.
Immanentize
@dexwood:
Graphite there in locks
NotMax
Landlady’s garage door opener gave up the ghost on Monday. I’ve been on call all week to open or close her garage door manually as needed. Thankfully the appointment to have a new unit installed is tomorrow.
Martin
@NotMax:
T,FTFY
Immanentize
My son is obsessed with espresso. Gotta go and calm him down about 500 buck espresso machines. “But Dad, there are 15,000 dollar ones!”
Damn.
Aleta
@NotMax: Thanks! I’ve given the solar lights I have as gifts too. I was very impressed with them until the cat identified their perfect size and resistance as rolling punching body kick bags. He’s good at finding trouble and weak spots in very useful things that I thought were working well.
NotMax
@Immanentize
My understanding is he’s capable of building an espresso-making robot.
;)
Aleta
@Immanentize: Try to keep him away from the espresso before he shops.
Mary G
$Not.EvenHuman
NotMax
@Immanentize
At a minimum, remind him that Black Friday sales are coming up fast.
Gin & Tonic
@Immanentize: He’s not wrong, you know. And if he’s spending another year in the old domicile, a nice La Marzocco will only set you back about five large, and will certainly make him very happy.
zhena gogolia
@Mary G:
Oh, my God, what are we going to do?
Mary G
SFAW
@NotMax:
Isn’t that from My Fair Lad?
CaseyL
Steve has a new superpower: he changes his coloring to blend in with the surrounding furniture.
Sleeping animals are so lovely. Cats in particular just seem to melt into whatever they’re sleeping on. Including, especially, laps.
SFAW
@dmsilev:
Win
Ken
@NotMax: I suppose he’s too old for “If you’re a good boy, Santa might bring you one for Christmas”?
Mary G
Hell hath frozen over:
mrmoshpotato
@Mary G: What. The. Fuck?
Another Scott
Twitter:
I know!!
Cheers,
Scott.
(“Who is pretty sure it was Underdog.”)
mrmoshpotato
@Mary G: Have at ‘im, Driftglass!
Tomorrow’s ProLeft podcast might be an hour of him ripping into Brooks.
Barbara
@Immanentize: I have read that it is a mistake to buy a high volume machine for personal use. They are faster not better and they require a lot of maintenance. However, most of the mid-range espresso makers require you to now use cartridges. So you have to go up enough in price to still get the real thing.
Doug R
@dmsilev:
Usually the answer to that is “busing”.
Barbara
@Mary G: JFC. That is obscene. Like war is a cartoon where the combatants rematerialize after a bomb goes off or they fall over the edge of a cliff.
GregMulka
@NotMax:
Just don’t ask it to make tea or it will refuse to do anything else while you’re being blasted out of space.
rikyrah
Hi Steve???
NotMax
@Immanentize
Fast web crawl found this option.
Emma
@Immanentize: Tell him to get this one. Millions of Italians, Cubans, Puerto Ricans, and assorted other cultures have used it successfully for centuries.
dmsilev
@Mary G: Somehow, and quite unfairly, this diminishes Elizabeth Warren.
rikyrah
@Mary G:
Demon ??
NotMax
@SFAW
Or a musical about a female London bus conductor, My Fare Lady.
:)
Mary G
zhena gogolia
@Emma:
Simple and foolproof.
frosty
@schrodingers_cat: I saw your request for a one volume book on US history. I’m not sure if it can be covered in one volume. If you’re willing to read more than one, the best single volume I’ve read on the US Civil War is McPherson’s Battle Cry of Freedom. The runup in the 1850s is eerily similar to the last decade.
Ken
@Mary G: Oh, sure, once David Brooks gave her cover…
RedDirtGirl
@Aleta: I just flew up to Mount Desert Island to visit family. Not cold yet, but awful dark. Luckily my sister has a lot of flashlights around!
NotMax
@Ken
One can be too old for that?
Amazing the things one learns on this here full service blog.
;)
Mary G
Seriously inappropriate:
I’m with them:
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Mary G: I think every R Senator and more than half the House caucus would vastly prefer President Pence to trump, if they thought they could get rid of him without blowback
Mary G
@dmsilev: It’s fucking condescending, yes.
Matt McIrvin
@dexwood: I’ve been watching a lot of videos on restoring old computer and audio equipment and arcade machines, and a theme that comes up a lot is that WD-40 turns into a gluey substance after several years.
eclare
@frosty: Seconded. Excellent book spanning decades, lots about the build up.
lamh36
‘Sup BJ!
Alright…another test down. No more test until the Monday before Paris! So now I can finish up my Paris planning!!! Woo woo!!
Current Paris itinerary…
Day 1 arrival…maybe hop on hop off while we wait on check in since we arrive EARLY.
Day 2 Louvre and exploring
Day 3 Versailles and exploring
Day 4/5…nothing “scheduled” or pre-bought…guess explore an shop?
Day 6 is my birthday. Early morning/brunch tour for Eiffel Tower, night time dinner cruise on Seine
Day 7…fly back to the states.
I guess we’ll do some Champ Elysses “shopping” and the Arc de Triomph on days 4/5?
lgerard
Interesting pictures of the fashion show that is a trump Texas rally
https://twitter.com/KevinMcFromTX/status/1184933518075420672
lamh36
@lamh36: Also too… Sorry guys, deleted tha last comment by mistake
it’s that time again to decide how much money should I exchange if any? It’s a 6 day trip, and I’d like to use my CC only at legit places, so if I can pay Euros, I will. How much should I get?
My friend said I should get like 100 euros and use my CC for everything else.
I was thinking that that might be a good idea. I’ve been reading alot of stuff that talked about how bad pickpocketing is out there. So having less cash might be a good way to not draw attention to my wallet and such..hnnm
JR
@Immanentize: Aeropress.
Matt McIrvin
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: I’m not sure that argument would work with a lot of Republicans, since they’re mostly convinced Nixon was railroaded and did nothing wrong.
frosty
@RAVEN: WD-40 is not good for bicycle chains either. Fortunately I found this out before I tried it.
MisterForkbeard
@Mary G: Nah. She’s saying it was wrong but hasnt said anything about impeachment from what I could see.
It’s just dipping her toes into water of responsibility.
Matt McIrvin
@lamh36: That sounds amazing!
NotMax
@schrodingers_cat
re: you query about American history books, good suggestions there from when you first asked about that (at #174) back in March.
Mary G
Just kill me now:
He’s at some kind of white tail dinner where he’s supposed to be funny?
eclare
@lamh36: There is some cathedral on one of the islands in the Seine that has beautiful stained glass. Dates back to around 1400, at least. I can”t remember the name, but you should be able to google. Enjoy!
NotMax
@lamh36
Nothing to argue with in this selection.
mrmoshpotato
@NotMax: Just finished Seconds. I think we can retire the terms Lynchian and Cronenbergesk.
eclare
@eclare: And it isn’t Notre Dame, but that is impressive too.
West of the Rockies
@lgerard:
Christ. Talk about a confederacy of dunces.
eclare
@eclare: I think it is Sainte Chapelle.
Barbara
@lamh36: Oh gosh, lucky you. You will likely need some diversion for day 1 because your hotel might not be ready for check in. Hanging out in a cafe for a while works, but also consider the Musee du Moyen-Age, the Musee Rodin, if not still closed for renovation, or Sainte Chappelle. Were it me I would go to Chartres or Fontainebleau for the day trip — both easy train trips — but you can’t really go wrong.
Ruckus
@NotMax:
Still has that always empty smell.
divF
@lamh36:
Think about Musee d’Orsay? Great impressionist art in a stunning building (former train station).
@eclare:
Sainte-Chapelle. Great stained glass.
mrmoshpotato
@Immanentize: Show your kiddo this video.
Much less expensive.
mrmoshpotato
@Ruckus: Roomy in here!
Matt McIrvin
@frosty: *Is* WD-40 good for anything? I get the impression it can be good for removing caked-on gunk from things, as long as you somehow get the WD-40 off afterward.
frosty
@lamh36: Days 4/5 find a sidewalk cafe. We lucked out to be staying near the Place de la Contrescarpe, probably one of dozens like it, with a fountain in the middle of a sort of roundabout ringed with cafes. Left Bank, near the Sorbonne.
Other than that, you’re hitting the high spots.
ETA Congrats on the tests!!
ETA ETA On our trip to London/Normandy/Paris and our most recent one to Quebec, we didn’t have much cash. I’d say take $100 just so you can get something to eat when you arrive jetlagged after an overnight flight. ‘Cause that’s what we needed to do.
Matt McIrvin
@divF: BIG second on both Musée d’Orsay and Sainte-Chapelle.
NotMax
@mrmoshpotato
Heh. Can we hold on to Jodorowskyish?
IMHO Rock Hudson was totally out of his element, fumbling his way through it.
mrmoshpotato
@dmsilev: Also, David Brooks can shove it.
JR
@Matt McIrvin: If you don’t need penetration there are far better lubricants. But for things that you can’t take apart (like a car door) you’d be hard pressed to find something better.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@lamh36: if it’s reopened, the Musee Carnavalet (history of Paris) is worth a visit, and the neighborhood around it (the Marais/place des Vosges) makes for a great walking tour. On a clear day, Montmartre/Sacre-Coeur or the Tour Montparnasse, for the view (opposite ends of the city). I much prefer Montparnasse as a neighborhood for exploring
Barbara
@eclare: On a sunny day Sainte Chappelle is amazing, as is Chartres. I like the museum of the middle ages because it is built on the ruins of the Roman setlement and has a well curated display of the best of pre-renaissance art. It is in a nice neighborhood as well, near the Sorbonne.
mrmoshpotato
@NotMax: I’d say so. I’ve only seen El Topo and Santa Sangre, and that was some time ago. Lynch and Cronenberg crossed my mind while watching this. It’s no Scanners, but still weird.
Matt McIrvin
@eclare: I remember thinking Sainte-Chapelle was more beautiful inside than Notre Dame when I was there. It was originally built to house the relics that were eventually moved to Notre Dame (and saved from the recent fire).
eclare
@Matt McIrvin: Unfortunately I didn’t hear about it til a coworker told me. Definitely will see it next time, the pictures are astounding.
eclare
@Barbara: For my next trip! Thanks!
Barbara
@Matt McIrvin: Sainte Chappelle is like standing inside a faceted gemstone, at least on a sunny day.
I was disappointed by Musee D’Orsay, but everyone should go once, especially if they like impressionist art.
Mnemosyne
@lamh36:
Rick Steves always says that a money belt or neck wallet that you wear under your clothes is the best idea, because it’s a lot harder for pickpockets to get to.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Barbara: @lamh36: I love the Musee d’Orsay, but then I do love the impressionists and earlier 19th cent art. Especially at this time of year when it’s less crowded. The Louvre is overwhelming to me, even the maps are overwhelming. Make a plan beforehand if you can. The Musee Rodin is another one that’s best on a sunny day, since the garden is the best part.
Ken
@lamh36:
You remind me of the Art Buchwald classic, “The Six Minute Louvre”.
Barbara
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: For better or worse my favorite museums are either small or built as museums, and the Louvre is neither of those. But I would still go!
Ruckus
@mrmoshpotato:
Empty except for the smell of a rotten dumpster behind a cheap diner the day before trash pickup. Nothing else, just that smell of rotting everything.
Ruckus
@JR:
There are a number of spray lubes that are better. However WD is relatively cheap and works great as a lube for machining certain plastics. And has enough solvent base to clean, which is why it works to unstick stuff. DuPont makes better ones though but WD is available pretty much anywhere.
NotMax
@Ruckus
No recollection of who the comedian was who coined the term but have long used his/her description of an agglomeration of pernicious smells as “zoo dust.”
Aleta
@RedDirtGirl The wind has started up again here. Mt. Desert is across the water from me. The landscape is so beautiful and wild right now (when daylight comes). Nice to think of you nearby.