I’ve decided 2020 has broken me. I’m finding it more and more difficult to focus each day. I’ve had a lot of complicated financial work to do and have been second-guessing myself on the more complicated documents. I’m just keeping my head down and hoping it gets better.
I did get my parents on the list to get their vaccine as soon as their county goes to level 1B. The woman I spoke with said it wouldn’t be long – but that was before the horrible news broke today that, shocker, the orange disease administration lied about the vaccine numbers.
I’m also on a list, only because Kaiser is gearing up to start vaccines (again, before news broke today). I have absolutely no qualifications – age, pre-existing or work related reasons – and I’ve already had Covid, so I’m okay being at the end of the line. There have been very few reported cases of re-infection, so masks and distance it will be for the foreseeable future.
I stumbled upon this video from Twitter and I wanted to share. Two blue-eyed white comedians go undercover to the insurrection rally thinking they’d do what they’ve done many times before – record funny bits for their comedy vlogs. What really happened, well, it’s worth a watch, especially to the end. I fast-forwarded through most of the really awful magats, but the commentary and riot video around it was worth wading through that.
I hear the awful-one wants a big send-off on Wednesday. I think, despite the reporting, it won’t happen, but they’re telling him this to get him to the plane. Like dropping M&Ms one by one for him to follow until they can slam the door shut behind him and signal the pilot to gun it and take off.
I will try to post some respite this weekend. I’ve got some cute animal photos…maybe some food. We’ll see.
Meanwhile, open thread
ETA:
I meant to add, Leslie Jones live tweeting TV gives me life.
Ok Jason filling in!! Juanita you dressed up for Jason? pic.twitter.com/7UDUBO7XF7
— Leslie Jones ? (@Lesdoggg) January 15, 2021
Please someone tell me what is up with this dude!! pic.twitter.com/WesAtvEIYL
— Leslie Jones ? (@Lesdoggg) January 16, 2021
Just Some Fuckhead
TV going on and on about how close Pence was to being captured by the insurrectionists and I’m like, yeah, that woulda been a damned shame, lol.
Josie
I was furious at the idea of the red carpet and the military band, etc., so I hope you are right that they won’t actually give in to his ridiculous fantasy. I guess it would be worth it to finally get rid of him, but it really pisses me off.
Brachiator
I know the feeling. I was feeling more relaxed and chipper knowing that Biden had won, but the madness of January 6 is still wearing on me.
Hang in there. It will get better.
ETA: My tax related work is going to get crazier. Last year, electronic filing started on January 27. This year, because of Covid and last minute tax law changes, it won’t be starting until February 12.
The filing deadline will still be April 15.
The Ohio Department of Taxation warns that if people there file paper returns, it might be months before they are processed.
SiubhanDuinne
On The West Wing, “How Was Your Day?” was “What Kind of Day Has It Been?”
“What Kind of Day Has It Been?” is also the name of the first-season finales of both the series Sports Night and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, as well as the series finale of The Newsroom, all of which were created by Aaron Sorkin.
(ETA: Second paragraph lifted from Wikipedia.)
MobiusKlein
My day was good.
Had a useful & productive meeting,
Nice lunch with fabulous bread and roasted chicken, with arugula and such. Took the tree out (finally) and the day was warm and balmy – warmer than summer (SF is nutty sometimes)
Not that folks with bad days are at fault, but I’m seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Slowly.
We’re going to make it, and cook some great things this year along the way
Baud
Haha.
“The people that helped me, thank you, but fuck you for being there.”
Capitol police officer on Chris Hayes.
TaMara (HFG)
I just added two Leslie Jones tweets up top, just to lighten the mood. :-)
Chetan Murthy
@Baud: DC Police Officer. Your’e talking about Officer Fanone, right? He’s MPD I’m pretty sure.
Baud
@Chetan Murthy:
Ok, I missed that. I thought he was Capitol police.
TaMara (HFG)
@Brachiator: I’ve been doing PPP loans for clients, as well as some county grants. Then on to closing out 2020 and 1099s.
Really, there should be ice cream in my freezer to get me through this and there isn’t. :-(
Chetan Murthy
@Baud: No worries. It hasn’t been discussed much, ,how DC’s MPD came to the rescue of Capitol Hill Police, when nobody else would. They really saved the day.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Just Some Fuckhead: Hayes mentioned that Pence’s family was with him when he was taken into hiding a minute before the trump mob chanting “Hang Pence!” broke into the Senate chamber. I heard some reports that Rep Greg Pence was one of the family who was with the Veep. This article makes no mention of that, but Greg still voted with trump later that same day
The voters of Pennsylvania somehow “disenfranchised” the voters (which means… they voted, they exercised the franchise) of his district, from Bumblefuck to Hanover to French Lick.
It hasn’t gotten enough attention, but good on ol’ Tim Kaine for calling out the historically abusive use of the word “disenfrachised” by the Sedition Caucuses and their allies.
Mo Salad
@Brachiator: And add to it PPP2 loan applications, PPP1 forgiveness applications and the retroactive opening of the Employee Retention Credit to those who received PPP loans in 2020, my office is dying.
If you were ignoring the ERC because of the PPP, look into amending client’s 941s immediately. The numbers are massive. You just have to not use the same wages for the credit and for PPP forgiveness, so some excel work with some @if formulas will be needed to sort the wages out.
JMG
I find I’ve been going to bed earlier and getting up later since New Year’s. That might just be seasonal, but it’s a new thing for me. Also, I feel so damn tired. Had to make a town dump run this morning and it left me feeling drained. The idea that the outside world, hell, the outside, presents a possible deadly threat wears you down.
zhena gogolia
@Baud:
That is such a perfect line.
Leslie Jones is also my fave.
Sister Golden Bear
Same. Just trying to muddle through.
gwangung
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Someone ought to tell Pence that his district got outvoted, not disenfranchised. The two terms are not the same.
Baud
@Chetan Murthy:
They really did. I hope they are recognized appropriately once we get over the threshold of inauguration day.
raven
@Brachiator: I was fine until the two mask posts today.
Nicole
I saw a tweet where someone said they think that 2021 may just be three 2020s in a trenchcoat and I think that’s the best thing I’m going to read for quite a while.
debbie
@Brachiator:
Bummer. I am really very uncomfortable filing online.
Ksmiami
@Brachiator: funny me I thought you wrote you wanted to put Trump in the wood chipper… but yeah 2020
frosty
Yesterday we started southbound on our 7th Annual Snowbird Road Trip / 2nd Annual COVID National Park Challenge. When we made the reservations over the last year it seemed like things would be better. Currently sitting in the trailer in a South Carolina State Park sipping a cocktail.
We’ll see how this works out. Traveling this way isn’t much different than being home. However, based on the post this morning we’ll be doing more curbside pickup this time around.
raven
@Brachiator: All kids of new rules too huh?
debbie
@Chetan Murthy:
I saw that interview. Very harrowing, but I must admit I was surprised by that neck tattoo.
Omnes Omnibus
@debbie: You still file paper returns?
lamh36
I’ve been tasked with this project at work that involves created something via Excel.
I’m pretty good at Excel, but some parts of the project I need a bit more tricks.
Any recommendations on a good all purpose/all inclusive reference book for Excel?
I prefer paperback instead of a Kindle read since I plan to highlight and write notes directly on the pages.
laura
Tonight is cavalcade of leftovers – I just put the scraps of cheese and ham and spinach quiche in the oven for dinner with a salad. Spouse is having loco moko with last night’s egg fu yung gravy and we’re watching hockey. Our neighbor is buying breakfast from a restaurant up the street for wednesday morning and we’re going to stand at the curb’s edge apart together and toast the inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Tomorrow I’m planting some tulip bulbs that I didnt know how much I needed.
It feels like crawling from the wreckage of a bad accident what with the waves of disorientation and all.
debbie
Nominated for rotating tag.
raven
@frosty: Which post(s)?
frosty
@raven: Me too. I’m not going to be able to score the masks everyone recommends. I read all the comparisons over the summer and the cotton ones I got were good enough. Damned if i know what to do – just try to keep away from people even more I guess.
raven
Doc Sardonic
So far 2021 has been 2020 wearing a pork pie, sunglasses, trench coat and some taped on pants legs. Wandering around trying to get you to take a look at the $6 Rolexs.
chris
@frosty: Wouldn’t be Per Dee State park would it? (It’s 30 or so mins from me)
ETA..I see you said NATIONAL parks…carry on…
westyny
Not just 2020, but the last four years. Nevertheless, I love the Match.com ads where Satan and 2020 are dating.
debbie
@Omnes Omnibus:
Worse. I fill in the PDFs, print, and then mail them. I won’t be getting any refunds this year, though.
raven
@frosty: Early in this mess someone said they washed their hands every time they walked from one room to another.
frosty
@raven: The one about the more transmissable variant and being more careful and oh yeah, your mask is no good. Mainly the Vox article that was linked.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
also many phone calls, until late into the evening
Mike in NC
Military sendoff? Take Fat Bastard up for a joyride in a B-52 and drop him out of the bomb bay like Slim Pickens in “Doctor Strangelove”.
Anotherlurker
Decent day, today. I registered with the Contra Costa County Health Dept for a vaccine appointment. I’m 68, in good health with no co-morbidities. According to the site, I figure I’m about 150,000th in line, in my county. This was before the horrible, but predictable news of trump’s people’s incompetence or malice regarding the vaccine supply.
Got in about 3 miles of walking with Addie, my Chinese rescue Golden Retriever and spent a good hour at the dog park, letting her get to know other dogs and scoping in on who has the treats.
raven
@frosty: Fuck, I read the info, ordered masks and then evidence was produced evidence that they aren’t effective. I just don’t think I’m going to start doing anything different now that I’m getting the damn vaccine.
frosty
@chris: Huntington Beach SP at the moment. Next NPs are Biscayne, Far Tortugas, and Hot Springs.
Just Some Fuckhead
@lamh36: Google has all the Excel help you could ever need. Today I had to work out a formula to return the fiscal year based on a date. I used a nested If/And statement. Turns out there was a short formula that would do it only a google search away.
debbie
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Did you see that photo of the My Pillow Guy walking into the WH with his visible notes about that? WTF does he even know about that kind of thing?
TaMara (HFG)
@Anotherlurker: Everything in this sentence is awesome.
Chetan Murthy
@raven:
20 January can’t come soon enough. Fuck. No evidence of kill and capture teams. Fuck.
TS (the original)
@Just Some Fuckhead:
Read it – and my only reaction was to laugh. I fear for my humanity after 4 years of trump. Never want to hear from any of them again.
debbie
@lamh36:
This is a great series of books about all things computer. I taught myself Photoshop, etc. using them. Paperbacks, concise with step-by-step instructions, screenshots, the whole nine yards.
Anotherlurker
@TaMara (HFG): Thanks! She is an awesome Pup!
Amir Khalid
@Josie:
It may not have occurred to Trump that a military parade of any size is not a spur-of-the-moment thing. It must take a lot of time to organise all those people and all that stuff. I can’t imagine the DoD doing a big send-off parade for POTUS on very short notice without a really good reason. If he demanded one just to upstage Biden, he was never going to get it.
Just Some Fuckhead
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: It was just his shitbag brother Greg Pence.
frosty
@raven: Sounds like my plan if I was getting the vaccine. I’m crossing my fingers that we can get it in one if these states we’re going through. Florida is such a CF that I’m betting it will be there.
Brachiator
@TaMara (HFG):
I’ve had some clients ask me, “What is this 1099-NEC? Is it new?”
I remind them that they are supposed to take tax law update classes, and also pay attention.
I cycle through various types of comfort food. I had not had a pastrami sandwich in a long time. Had a very nice one yesterday.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@raven: Listening to Rachel Maddow, not watching, and very tired, but I’m pretty sure she just said a guy from Minnesota told investigators that his intention was to kill Nancy Pelosi if he could get his hands on her, I think is the phrase she quoted
raven
@frosty: My friend from Colombia said she knows people from there who went to Florida and got the shot!
raven
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Oh she’s sounding the alarm big time.
Just Some Fuckhead
@TS (the original): We have to be better or an NPR totebagger burns in hell for all of eternity.
O. Felix Culpa
Got the all clear on my mammogram this morning, so that’s good (the radiologist’s brow was furrowed at the last one). My parents are scheduled for their vaccinations in ten days, also good. We’re keeping our Christmas tree up until the end of the month because the lights give us cheer. And my term as county party chair ends in two months – yay!
Jim, Foolish Literalist
twitter tells me that Hollywood has made a new version of Godzilla vs King Kong and the ten year-old boy inside of me is very excited. (He also wants to know how and why I got so fat. You and me both, kid. You and me both.)
I just hope it doesn’t suck. Or at least that it sucks in all the right ways.
MisterForkbeard
@Josie: What if the military band plays the Benny Hill song? Then it would be just great.
raven
@frosty: The redfish are still biting in the creeks.
BruceFromOhio
I got so tired of this. My job and teammates were beginning to be affected by severe attention deficits, and I realized it was from a constant, low-grade fever of anxiety, anger, sadness, and isolation. I’ve started avoiding insurrection riot news, as the long grinding reach of law enforcement (as completely fornicated vertically that it is) is going to take some time to identify, charge and prosecute these soulless criminals. Same with impending impeachment. I can’t do anything about either of these except hound my stupid senators’ staff about voting to impeach the dumpster fire. So I turn it off or keep scrolling. Other than quick takes on the buckeye body count and hospitalizations, same with COVID news. Keep scrolling. Ain’t denying it, just not letting it rob my tattered focus any more than it already has for the last ten months.
OTOH, eldest YAFromOhio has two rescue cats that are beautiful and flourishing in their new home, and she posts almost-daily pictures on IG. Gives MrsFromOhio and I both something nice to scroll to.
My counsel is carve out small spaces to indulge in news and social media, stuff them into those spaces, and then do not let them out. Give your soul and your psyche room to breathe, and your focus will return.
Brachiator
@Amir Khalid:
Trump could go to North Korea and visit his boyfriend, Dear Leader. They have military parades all the time. I’m sure they could accommodate him. Maybe even strap him to a missile.
Immanentize
@JMG: I am totally with you re: sleep and exhaustion, but mine includes two plus hours wide awake 2-4. We are suffering from Insurrecta-dementia and Covidheimers.
NotMax
Drove elderly landlady (93 y.o.) to an eye doctor appointment. Afterwards swung by the hospital so she could go in and see about setting up a vaccination appointment in person as she has no computer, no cell phone and no e-mail, the only ways listed to arrange one I could find online (plus was told same on a follow-up phone call). Well whaddaya know, they took her immediately as a walk-in and administered the first shot.
Geminid
@frosty: Huntington Beach! A great place to camp. Fort Pickens, near Pensacola, is as good, maybe even better. It’s part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. I hope you have a safe and happy journey.
MisterForkbeard
@Chetan Murthy: I mean, other than them saying they want to kill pence and pelosi, bringing zip-tie-cuffs, having organized plans to inflitrate and ‘hold’ the building…
Yeah. Thanks, prosecutors.
Immanentize
@NotMax: so great! Congrats to both of you. Well done.
Just Some Fuckhead
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: You ate a whole 10 year old? No wonder you are fat.
raven
@Immanentize: I’m usually 3-4 but I’m putting down as age.
Immanentize
@MisterForkbeard: only the main prosecutor for a few more days.
burnspbesq
Retail therapy: yet another overpriced but cool-as-fuck Apple product (Air Pods Max).
I can play two songs on mandolin: “Sunny Skies” and “St. Thomas.” Working on “Smiles and Smiles to Go,” but riffs that sit comfortably under your hand on guitar require some long stretches on an octave mandolin.
Immanentize
@raven: so I gain an hour of no sleep every five years?
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Just Some Fuckhead: you trying to get me on Marjorie Taylor Green’s list?
JanieM
@Brachiator:
Me too. I ate a whole box of Famous Chocolate Wafers on Sunday. The very idea of a pastrami sandwich is making my mouth water. Luckily (or unluckily, depending on how you look at it), my son is doing my shopping for me, so I’m not asking at risk of impulse eating all that often right now. I think the first thing I’m going to do when we can safely eat in restaurants again is go somewhere and eat sushi until I can’t eat any more.
NotMax
@Immanentize
Immp engrained back at Rice or are they still on distance instruction?
gene108
@Chetan Murthy:
I read that as the U.S. Attorneys think they cannot prove it beyond a reasonable doubt in court right now.
BruceFromOhio
@Mike in NC: Minus the ordinance, please.
raven
@Geminid: Ft Pickens is awesome, the pictures of Geronimo on the cannon are great! Here’s a shot of the fort.
lamh36
@Just Some Fuckhead: Yeah I tried to google what I needed, but maybe I wasn’t quite phrasing what I want to do well enough for Google to decipher. The search results I kept getting weren’t helpful
raven
@MisterForkbeard: Or the National Anthem of the United States of America from “The Dish”.
MisterForkbeard
@Immanentize: Is that true in a “this prosecutor is a political appointee and leaves automatically” way, or a “Biden’s DOJ will clean this shit up” kind of way?
burnspbesq
@frosty:
Have you tried Blue Bear Protection?
Chetan Murthy
@gene108:
As @MisterForkbeard: says, aside from all the evidence of kill-and-capture teams, sure. This fucker just doesn’t wanna paint a target on his chest, is all. Gonna go all coward until he can slither away.
rikyrah
Reading your first sentence made me??
I was weary, but hopeful when the vaccines were announced.
And, then came the news of the new, more contagious strain, and I just want to ???.
My family circle is not big. I don’t make emotional connections easily. The thought of losing any of them breaks my heart. But, I feel my luck is going to run out.
raven
Oh man I gotta get some of this tommiecopper masks!
burnspbesq
@raven:
Not the first time a local AUSA got too far over his or her skis and got reeled in by Main Justice.
All of these fuckers should be denied bail. If they are on the street, they will sure as shit re-offend.
frosty
@Geminid: We visited Ft Pickens in 2019 while camping at Big Lagoon. I’ll talk to WG about posting OTR from time to time.
Immanentize
@NotMax: I was supposed to return him this coming week. His GFather is not doing great and it might be the last time I would see him. But Rice waived all students off until at least mid-February. Not because Rice is bad, but because Houston hospitals are overwhelmed and if any kid, say, had a burst appendix, there is no room at the Inn for the Immp. My realistic guess is mid-March for his return to school. Hoping my FiL can hang on.
raven
@frosty: St George Island?
Immanentize
@gene108: Erecting a scaffold with a noose is such ambiguous evidence donchano.
gwangung
This needs the modifying clause “for a jury with at least one MAGAt”, I think…
MisterForkbeard
@Chetan Murthy: My guess is that they don’t have a ton of evidence that the pre-planned groups who wanted to ‘hold’ the building had specific plans of murdering Pelosi/Pence etc before entering. So we’re looking at groups that were clearly open to the idea and came prepared to do it, but they can’t find any proof that it was assigned and purposeful.
It’s not going to help them much. A prosecutor can still have a giant field day with these idiots if they want to. If you break into the Capitol Building with some arms, restraining equipment, plans to take and hold the building, and you’re hanging out with folks yelling “Hang Pence!” it’s pretty obvious what you’re up to.
In other words, the “direct” in “no direct evidence” is doing a LOT of work here.
Geminid
@raven: That’s a cool photo. The 20th century fortifications at Ft. Pickens are neat also. My tent site had it’s own concrete machine gun nest. It was filled in with dirt, with a nice flowering bush growing in it. And there is a small fishing pier on the bay side, no licence required. Now I want to go back.
raven
@MisterForkbeard: They should start by clarifying that the only kind of “planning” is “pre-planning”.
frosty
@burnspbesq: Tough to do on the road, but I might have a friend’s address they could send them to.
Immanentize
@MisterForkbeard: Sherwin is an Acting US attorney, so he is probably 50/50 a political rather than career attorney the way Trump has operated. (I haven’t looked it up, but most Acting have themselves been political appointees because they must be Senate approved except in special circumstances). But in any case, as of the 21st he should not be Acting USA anymore. So the ultimate charging decisions will be up to another.
ETA. And I expect we will know much more by then!
raven
@Geminid: The windswept trees on those bunkers are wonderful.
danielx
I’m needing music in a serious way at the moment. Daughter unit got BAM infusion on Wednesday and for reasons I am at a total loss to explain, this has been an on and off earworm since then. I’ve had worse…
Larkin Poe – Black Betty
frosty
@raven: Big Lagoon State Park, on the mainland, inshore(?) from Gulf Island near Pensacola.
raven
Here’s Geronimo at Ft Pickens
raven
@frosty: Sorry, I was recommending St George.
TS (the original)
@Just Some Fuckhead:
Sad fact – I can’t imagine anything/anyone NOT being better than trump and his sycophants. That so called intelligent men, leaders in their fields, have supported for 5 years the political reality of trump is just too far beyond my thought limit.
raven
The Tiger Woods doc on HBO is sad.
Immanentize
@raven: Those are some big ass cannons
frosty
@raven: Gotcha I’ll look it up.
frosty
@Immanentize: When we were there I sent a picture of the historic plaque to my son (NG Artillery). He was impressed!
burnspbesq
Anyone know who the next President pro tempore of the Senate is going to be?
The last time the Dems had control, it was Pat Leahy, and he is still around, so that would be my guess.
HumboldtBlue
My day just got a little better.
I laughed openly at this.
JanieM
@lamh36: This will probably not be all that helpful, but I learned almost everything I know about Excel by studying other people’s stuff at work. Every time I looked at something someone else wrote/did, I learned something new. That included obvious things like formulas, but also huge macros that ran client updates on various kinds of data.
Sometimes Microsoft’s own documentation is useful, but that tends to be when you already know, let’s say, what built-in formula you want to use, but can’t remember the parameters.
After I retired I wanted to learn to write macros in Word. I had written many thousands of lines of macro code in Excel by then, I thought it would be a breeze. In Excel, you can say “record macro” and get at least a basic idea of how to do something, although usually you have to generalize what the “record macro” process gives you. It turns out that doesn’t work in Word — or at least I never figured out how to make it work. It took me a long time to find any good resrouces for writing macros in Word – apparently almost no one does it. But I did find them after a while, just a couple of websites, and (surprise surprise) some of Microsoft’s own documentation.
Maybe we should have an Excel Q/A thread one of these days. ;-)
raven
@Immanentize:
15 inch Rodman gun
Uncle Cosmo
If you’re very, very lucky. I filed 4 years of taxes last April, 3 in arrears, all electronically except the oldest which was no longer eligible – and that paper return still has not been processed by either Feds or the state of MD. And because its ramifications cascade down into the later years, all four years of tax returns have been held up for the last 9 months.
raven
@frosty: THAT is a gunbunny!
Anotherlurker
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: I loved the 2014 version where the Big Guy trashes S.F. I loved the tension and the set-up. It was a tribute to Ishiro Honda’s 1954 original, not the butchered Raymond Burr version.
Now that I get to sail The Bay most every weekend it makes for interesting conversation on the boat.
I absolutely hated 2018’s “Godzilla, King of the Monsters”. The Monsters were awesome but the story was so shallow you could ground a rubber raft in the middle of the channel. They managed to get 1 dimensional performances out of some fine actors. It reminded me of the shallow pap of Cameron’s “Aliens” or of his comic book version of “Titanic”.
Immanentize
@raven: “shot and shell.” Just imagining how much shot, chain, etc. could come out of one of those…. Nightmares.
And on that happy note, pleasant dreams, friends. A domani.
HumboldtBlue
@NotMax:
That’s great news.
lamh36
@JanieM: At this point, I’m probably the one who knows more about Excel than my co-supervisor, next step would be IT.
My company has a couple of Excel modules that one can kinda use to get familiar, but I’d like my own book reference that I can use at home.
I’ve got about a month on this project and I’ll be allowed to work from home maybe once or twice a week so that I can have time. That’s one of the main reason why I’d like my own reference material to use at home
NotMax
re: masks
May not do as well for everyone but the handcrafted made-into-a mask ones I most use are the best fitting and most comfy of any have tried. Snug around the edges, don’t slip down, convex shape so don’t sit right up against the mouth, plenty of room for beard, sunglasses sit well on top of the mask. Sturdy double-ply fabric, and washable.
Began with these.
Used a paper punch to put a single hole on each of two opposite sides, just inside the edge seam.
Looped an elastic ponytail hair tie through each of the holes.
Voila – elastic ear loops.
Although I like them even better with the elastic running under the ears and around the back of the head, held in position with one of these, which once adjusted to the right length needn’t be fiddled with again.
.
@raven
“Not recommended for outdoor use during lightning storms.”
;)
Sister Golden Bear
@Amir Khalid: Perhaps the military could quickly organize the equivalent of a Klingon Discommendation ceremony.
Alison Rose
@Anotherlurker: Okay, I don’t know how, but as I scrolled past, my eyes thought that said my Chinese reading Golden Retriever and I was like, damn they really can train those dogs to do anything, can’t they??
NotMax
@burnspbesq
99 out of 100 percents agree.
;)
Soprano2
@lamh36: I like the “Dummies” books because they assume you don’t know anything. You might be able to skip the early chapters. I taught myself Access with one of those books, although I’ve probably forgotten most of it.
Major Major Major Major
I was definitely broken by late 2019, if not even earlier, and other than some touch and go bits in March and April I think I’ve been doing pretty well. In being already broken, well medicated, and not all too social, the year just didn’t drive me as gibberingly bananas as it could have…
Of course, I had to stop coming here for a while to stay sane since I was consuming so little politics (relatively speaking)… but hey, gotta cope somehow.
Tonight I have just finished up my writing and Internet chores and am watching Fringe, yay
TaMara (HFG)
@danielx: Such a great song…and a for sure earworm.
BR
I’m pretty much certain that pardons are coming for the insurrectionists. Whatever we think would be the most appalling thing that takes the least actual work is what is coming, and that’s it. A better run insurrection isn’t likely because that’d take work, but having the pardon office draft a long document that needs one signature at the end is no work and has maximum terrible impact.
mayim
As usual, I am late to this thread ~ but, yeah, 2020 [and the 2021 epilogue] have pretty much broken me. Not that I was already somewhat cracked before. But definitely a horrible year. End of February 2020 was wonderful ~ went to Salt Lake City for a week, a genealogy librarian’s dream. Four days of conference, three of Family History Library fun with occasional tourist breaks.
Then all the bigger world stuff… and the building that the library I work at had catastrophic HVAC failure. So I’ve spent way to much of the last six months planning a move and carrying it out in crisis mode.
It’s all been too much for my mental health. Love my work [even the move has let me do some stuff I’ve been wanting to do ~ rearranging collections to be more user friendly, developing a YouTube channel with what patrons tell me are very helpful genealogy programs] but so much struggling with anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Especially the chaos that the ADHD brings ~ my coping mechanisms are blown away, which means my life outside of work is just nothing but chaos and crisis. Trying to get help to avoid an immediate huge crisis issue brought on by the mental health stuff and related lack of financial skill but everywhere I might get help is either non-functional or overwhelmed.
My cats are wonderful ~ and pretty much the reason I’m still alive and as sane as I am. If you need cat tax pictures, I’ve linked the Twitter account I started for them with my nym ;-)
lamh36
@Soprano2: I’m def leaning towards that
Quiltingfool
I make my news rounds in the morning — then I start working on the current quilt project. It is a pleasant distraction from the crazy. My current project has lots of kitty appliqués, very fun. A fellow jackal commissioned a quilt; she wanted a bright quilt to celebrate making it through the last four years of terrible. I am done with the top, on to the quilting. I’d like to have it finished after the Inauguration so I can send her a picture!
Anotherlurker
@Alison Rose: Lol! She is good at Math! (wink, wink!
To add to the awesomeness of Addie, I also deleted my FB account today.
Major Major Major Major
@mayim:
Alexandra Petri called it “bonus content for 2020 superfans”.
JanieM
@lamh36: Ah, so you’re the local expert… ;-)
I used to go to Borders (when there was Borders) or B&N to just browse the technical books until I found one that I thought might work for me, for whatever I was trying to learn at the moment. I haven’t been in a bookstore, or much of anywhere else, since COVID arrived, but you’re in Houston now, right? So there must be some fairly well-stocked bookstores, if you’d be comfortable going into one.
Good luck, anyhow. :-)
Ruckus
@Mike in NC:
Something faster and that flies higher. They may have to drop him over the water, so as to not hit anyone on the ground……
Cameron
January 15, 2021. What sort of a day was it? A day like all days, filled with those events that alter and illuminate our time. (Yes, I’m old enough that I used to watch You Are There.)
mayim
@lamh36:
I like the Teach Yourself Visually series ~ it’s the first one I hand patrons.
While I love books and sticky notes, there are also some very good videos at YouTube that demonstrate how to do things.
It’s also worth checking whether your local library or state library provides any on-line tutorials for using Excel and other programs. If anyone needs resources like this and lives in Maine, start at library.digitalmaine.org and see what is offered. Many other state libraries have similar resources; otherwise, check out a large nearby system if your local library doesn’t. If you live anywhere in MA, you can get a Boston library card; ditto for NYS and [NYPL? Brooklyn? Queens?] and OH for Columbus ~ probably includes ebooks as well as databases and instructional videos.
Ruckus
@NotMax:
I could go to the VA and sit and wait for 5 other people to walk in and get it. 6 doses/vial so they have to have 6 arms at time for the appointment. I made an appointment, 2 weeks from today.
sab
@debbie: 15 years undercover in narcotics explains it.
mayim
@lamh36:
One advantage to having a book is that ~ even if you end up needing a video or otger online resources to really figure out the details of what to do ~ you can find the vocabulary to get set up a search so you get the right video or help page.
Scout211
@Ruckus:
How did you get an appointment with VA so soon? My husband called and they just told him that they would put a note in his chart but weren’t offering appointments. Should he call the local clinic directly?
TaMara (HFG)
@BR: I thought the impeachment meant he couldn’t pardon anyone involved in any articles of impeachment. IMNAL…so maybe someone can answer that.
Ruckus
@Amir Khalid:
There is so little that occurs to shitforbrains that if it wasn’t for autonomic functions he wouldn’t even be breathing.
patrick II
@Brachiator: The military sendoff I envisaged involved a blindfold. Only after a proper trial of course.
Sister Golden Bear
A really good read. tl;dr version:
sab
@Immanentize: Me too. I go to bed early every night, and then pop wide awake in the middle of the night. I can’t do anything then (music, tv, computer) because I might wake up some of the cats or the old dog. Irritating. Then when actual morning comes I am cranky because I have been up half the night and only just got back to sleep.
Ruckus
@Scout211:
Was at an appointment on Monday and walked past the vaccination staging area on my way to the hospital. Had a chance to return and ask a worker there about procedure. He said I could wait for a total of 6 bodies to show up and get a shot or I could make an appointment. Took some effort to find a number to call and then I had to get my primary to request a time because of comorbidities but this morning I got a message in MyHealthyvet that I had to call the appointment desk they are, as of this morning taking all enrolled vets over 65. Called, got a decent appointment. Could have gone sooner if I wanted to take off work. They also made the appointment for the second shot.
My understanding is that the vaccine is only being given at VA hospitals as they have the facilities for storage. Do not know if that is absolutely true. Where are you folks located?
CarolPW
@danielx: Really hope the infusion helps her. A commenter said that the morning after a covid vaccination they woke up with ABBA earworms. I like both ABBA and Larkin Poe, but if I had a choice it would be for the post-vaccination earworms rather than the earworms after a covid treatment for one’s kid. So sorry.
Barbara
@Major Major Major Major: Nice to see you back.
Ceci n est pas mon nym
I thought I was doing all right, but every once in a while I do something so incredibly stupid that I wonder if I’m losing my mind. Here are two recent events.
bluefoot
That video is good. Interesting and disturbing. Watching how the tone changes from the beginning through the events of the day was interesting. What I liked best was the acknowledgement of how huge this is, and how it’s going to take time to process and figure out what to do next.
2020 basically killed me, and now I feel like 2021 is waiting to finish the job. It’s hard for me to stay productive at work, which is really demanding, and I haven’t had regular sleep in almost a year. I’m holding out hope that we start turning things around.
catclub
I filed paper last year – federal. It was finally processed around dec 31
BR
@TaMara (HFG):
He hasn’t been convicted. The pardon caveat regarding impeachment, in my understanding, refers to the fact that the president can’t pardon people to get them out of impeachment.
Scout211
@Ruckus:
Thank you. We live in Calaveras County and he sees his primary doc in the VA clinic in Stockton (California). The clinic in Stockton is part of the Palo Alto hospital system but he’s never been to the hospital there. That’s a 3 hour drive for us. We have our names on our county list but we thought he could get on a list with VA since he is way over 65. LOL.
Ruckus
@Immanentize:
@sab:
I’ve been a late night/early morning person all of my adult life (and long before that actually) so 2am is not a strange time to me but I find myself looking at the clock and seeing 3:30-4:00 am a lot these days. Work days I often run on 5 hrs of sleep. I don’t think this is particularly good for a person, but whata yo gunna do?
Luciamia
Has 2020 broke me? Well, I find myself yelling at my crossword puzzles.
Starboard Tack
@Ruckus: I got the first Pfizer at UCHealth in Denver. UCHealth is my health care provider. It’s a very large conglomerate health care provider associated with CU Hospital.
Sebastian
@NotMax:
Aw you are a good person and great folks at the hospital!
Auntie Anne
@lamh36: John Walkenbach has a series of Excel books called “The 20xx (insert year for the xx) Excel Bible.” They are pricey – roughly $40 – but were invaluable when I needed to learn how to do some sophisticated formulas in Excel several years ago.
HumboldtBlue
She said I’m not the one…
Starboard Tack
@Ceci n est pas mon nym:
I’m used to forgetting things I meant to do, or have done. In the last few months, I’ve been forgetting what I’m doing while I’m doing it. I’m hoping the fog will lift a bit in the spring.
NotMax
@Ruckus
One thing I neglected to mention is that as a part of the program, when one follows the signs and drives up to the hospital entrance for the vaccination, they offer no-cost valet parking.
MomSense
@rikyrah:
??
Ruckus
@Scout211:
It’s 43 miles across LA county for me, on a good day 45 min each way, on a bad day it’s taken me about 2 hrs. The closest clinic is 40 min by train, which is why I just go to the hospital, better appointment times – and more of them. Also I end up being able to see the same docs most of the time.
Jeffro
The first half of 2020 left me stunned; the second half made me furious.
2021 has me in a rage that we haven’t yet driven the orange moron and his followers right the fuck out of civilized society and left them adrift in a dinghy, as a hurricane is bearing down.
Let’s see about that.
Odie Hugh Manatee
@gene108:
Gee, they haven’t picked up all of the insurrectionists nor has there been any kind of investigation(s) of them. What I am hearing about is what fine, upstanding patriotic citizens the insurrectionists are and that for most of them, this is their first criminal act. This means that they aren’t regular criminals, just poor conservative souls who got a bit overexcited so let’s be nice to them and let them go with a pat or two on the hand. They wouldn’t have held mock trials or harmed anyone they might have captured that day if they had been that lucky, such as AOC, Nancy Pelosi or any other Democrat for that matter. Heck, they just broke in so they could have a talk with Pence and let him know their feelings.
The more of this I see, the more I write to my congresscritters (DeFazio/Wyden/Merkley) to let them know I want full investigations into every aspect of this attack. I am also telling them that they should ignore the outcry on the right as the Sedition Caucus is all about supporting the people who want to give them complete power.
Anyone who says that they can’t prove anything right now is making excuses for criminals in the hopes of getting them off, only because they are their voters.
I want Democrats to BENGHAZI!!! the fucking Republicans, but this time it’s sedition and their supporting it.
JanieM
@TaMara (HFG):
@BR:
This seems to be a matter of some debate.
NotMax
@Jeffro
Hang in there, outauguration is a-coming.
;)
CaseyL
I had one really good personal thing happen in 2020, when I got my current job. A good job, with good people, and I’m very grateful for it. And my temperament has been amenable to life in lockdown, another thing to be grateful for.
2020 ended on a high note, with Biden/Harris winning the Presidential election. To quote a line from one of my favorite novels, “Things might not get better, but at least now they won’t get worse.” Caveats apply, since Shitweasel and his bags-of-vomit accomplices are still in charge for a few more days, ready and willing to trash what they can out the door.
2021 doesn’t really start until the 20th. That’s my position and I’m sticking to it. Biden’s speeches, laying out the plans for his first 100 days, are like teaser trailers: you desperately hope the actual movie will be as good as the coming attraction makes it out to be.
The… interregnum, though, is really hammering me. The tiny lift in spirit I got from seeing Shitweasel’s legal challenges all fail, and the Democrats take the Senate, got good and smashed at the attempted coup (maybe I should say “ongoing attempted coup,” since the GOP has decided that insurrection is indeed a hill they are willing to die on).
So. Keep on keeping on. That’s all I can say.
sab
@NotMax: You are very good with that language thing.
Steeplejack
@lamh36:
Microsoft Excel books:
Microsoft Excel 2019 Bible, by Michael Alexander et al. All-in-one reference.
Microsoft Excel Formulas and Functions for Dummies, by Ken Bluttman. Good explanations and examples for specific formulas.
sab
@Ruckus: I always thought the whole concept of the tv series 24 was hilarious. In real life 24 one hour episodes, most of them entirely sitting in traffic. But it did give us David Palmer, which made Barack Obama believable.
Ruckus
@Starboard Tack:
How was the stick?
MomSense
@Major Major Major Major:
Where are you watching Fringe? I love that show. It’s fun knowing the places the story is set. There is a warehouse/office building in Medford I watched being built in the late 80s to replace a really old broken window falling down warehouse. The warehouse never had any cars in the parking lot. At the time I had a joke with my friends that it probably had aliens in the basement – or they conducted gruesome human experiments and then I saw that same warehouse on Fringe with some really freaky things going on in the basement!
MomSense
@mayim:
Sending you a big hug.
Starboard Tack
@JanieM:
I’m having weird cravings for Kraft Blue Box mac & cheese with sliced weinies in it. I’m not giving in.
Ruckus
@sab:
Couldn’t get excited about that show. But great actor….. Maybe it was the sitting in traffic. I once spent 4 hrs driving/parking the 33 miles to work just SE of downtown LA. I would have turned around and gone home but the traffic going the other way wasn’t going any faster. Every major freeway interchange had major accidents at the same time, screwed up traffic for most of the day.
Starboard Tack
@Ruckus:
No problem. A little burning on injection. A little soreness for a few days but no major after effects. I’ve heard some people have a stronger reaction on the second dose.
NotMax
@Major Major Major Major
Lawdy, we’ve got an entire political party showcasing more fringe than a Victorian sitting room.
:)
sab
@Ruckus: We watched when we first got married. It was a weekly ritual. We always ordered pizza and insisted the kids not bother us for that one hour.
That Christmas our pizza shop sent us chocolate because we were such regular customers.
Ruckus
@Scout211:
Forgot to add that with the VA I am my own relentless advocate. Always nice, always willing to discuss, always willing to be flexible. But always relentless. Always ask. No is an absolutely acceptable answer, but I make them give me an answer. Often one has to ask a number of people/places. And I will follow up and will push. The meek may inherit the earth, but only when they are all that’s left. I don’t have that kind of time.
NoraLenderbee
@lamh36: It depends on what type of data you have and what you need to do with it. I’m experienced with *some* aspects of Excel and I’d be happy to help if you need what is in my area. I use it data analysis, charting, and macros. If you are working with financial formulas, I can’t tell you much.
Ruckus
@sab:
So, just trying to get away from the kids for a bit…..
I had a step daughter for a while and I understand. She was 5, smart and a lot of fun and a handful. She’s graduated from college. Time flies when you aren’t looking. Of course if you are, it slow walks everywhere.
Ruckus
@Starboard Tack:
I’ve had no reaction to some things that others have major reactions to and major reactions to stuff that others have no reaction to. Once spent 9 days in hospital from inoculations in the navy, 7 days with a 105 fever. Passed out, standing in formation waiting for breakfast the day after being hit with every vaccine known to man, in about one minutes time. Air guns in both arms and a number of shots for those that need to be into muscle. Fun times.
JanieM
@mayim:
I missed this the first time, but coupled with your mention of Maine, and the HVAC thing, I’m thinking you’re very nearby, and I’m going to come and find you when COVID is under control, and see if you run any classes. I think I signed up for a genealogy class thru the State Lib. once a few years ago, but it didn’t run, and then I moved on to another desultory hobby and didn’t come back to find out if it was ever offered again.
JanieM
@Starboard Tack:
LOL.
TaMara (HFG)
@JanieM: That was the article I read – I just couldn’t remember, thanks for the link.
sab
@Ruckus: I dearly love my stepkids now, but not so much when they were in high school.
My theory of step-parenting is that stepkids are like other people’s cats. If you try to be friendly they will hiss at you and scratch. If you ignore them they will twine around your ankles to try to get your attention and affection.
Major Major Major Major
@MomSense: Amazon!
Ruckus
@TaMara (HFG):
That is great. I’ll have to listen to more of their stuff.
Also the Jam in a Van stuff is pretty good as well. Different groups in mobil studio.
Ruckus
@sab:
I had the exact opposite experience.
Mom……………
sab
@Ruckus: But your stepchild was five. Mine were between thirteen and eighteen.
Feathers
@MomSense: I only got into Fringe towards the end. My brother and his family came up to visit and had to watch Fringe, so I got the superfan narration during one episode and went from there. Maybe I should go back to the beginning and catch up.
I have to say, I was working at Harvard at the time, and half the fun was imagining who was having to do the paperwork to get all of that shit past the administration. It can be done, to a certain extent, but it is a super skill that usually takes having been there a long time and making many connections. Did think about writing fanfic about this person, but got too caught up in how it would really get done. Also read BACK FROM YET ANOTHER GLOBETROTTING ADVENTURE, INDIANA JONES CHECKS HIS MAIL AND DISCOVERS THAT HIS BID FOR TENURE HAS BEEN DENIED a few too many times.
Feathers
@lamh36: The best Excel Book I ever had was an old O’Reilly one (Excel in a Nutshell?) that basically just gave plain text, clear explanations for all of the functions, the mathematical formulas, what all of the variables were, and what output you got. Business school professors were astonished by my knowledge. And it was just thumbing through the book. There are entire theses in there just waiting to be written, said one grad student. It doesn’t look like it has been updated since 2000, but it is still the one reference book I’d keep. (Gave mine to grad student.) Other than that, I tend to stick with the Dummies books, as those are the ones I’m used to. Basic Excel books can be very basic, so If you know your way around check the table of contents to make sure the book has what you need.
O’Reilly now has a website with a subscription to computer reference e-books, from 200 publishers, mostly pitched to businesses. They do have a seven day free trial, if you want to check out the full text of a bunch of different books before trying. Link
Ruckus
@sab:
Yeah that would have made a huge difference. It also helped that I didn’t have to be as much of the bad guy in the child rearing saga.
mrmoshpotato
I’m 7 minutes into this Trump trash video, and wow. Just wow.
sab
@Ruckus: I refused to be involved in the childrearing. I fed them. Otherwise they were his kids.
The boys initially only liked me because they loved my dog (130 pound german shepherd) and my dog adored me.
Ruckus
@sab:
I helped with the rearing but no punishment duties. Which was OK by me. Once got home from a job road trip and the kid jumped down the stairs into my arms, which had my bag and computer case in them when she jumped. I think she liked me.
rikyrah
@NotMax:
????
rikyrah
@JMG:
So true?
yellowdog
@Mike in NC: I have this vision of him getting g his band, etc. and at noon everyone just gets up and walks away.
mayim
@JanieM:
You don’t need to wait ~ I’m doing lots of programming now. If you search YouTube for genealogy and the library name, you’ll get a bunch of videos I’ve done. There’s also a link in the video descriptions to sign up for my email list ~ if you do that, once you get an email from me, introduce yourself ;-)
Alternatively, Watergirl has my email address ~ feel free to get in touch. Any time I spend helping people with genealogy is less time moving books!
No name
@NotMax: Heh, good one.
No name
@rikyrah: Every word of this comment applies to me as well. I’m holding my breath until my father gets his first vaccine, has an appointment next week! Here’s hoping we get through this somehow.
JanieM
@mayim: I will get in touch soon. Cool!!!! And thanks!
lowtechcyclist
The interviews in those comedians’ video – the word that came to mind was brainwashed. Hadn’t thought about that word in years.
Those people have been, are being, brainwashed. By Trump, by the right-wing media ecosystem, and by Republican elected officials at all levels, many of whom have grown up on Rush and Fox, and have totally drunk the Kool-Aid themselves.
Clearly many of them genuinely believe that Trump really won, the Democrats stole the election, and they’re the patriots. I’m sure it’s not all of them, but certainly many of them.
But that didn’t happen just on their own. It took a lot of people telling them these things, over and over again. I don’t know what we do about that part, but there’s gotta be something.
Another Scott
@lowtechcyclist: I caught a bit of an NPR interview with a UDel prof who studies people who are caught up in QAnon. They story had interviews with people from a sub-Reddit who talked about their families and how they changed.
The prof said that it is indeed an emotional response, a type of brain-washing, and that the only way to combat it is via their emotions (not mocking, arguing, humor). Be willing to give them unconditional love, remind them of happier days before (playing together as children, etc.). She said it’s a long, painful process to pull them out, but it does work.
A related NPR piece.
Dannagal Young is the UDel prof.
Cheers,
Scott.