Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Let’s delete this post and never speak of this again.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

JFC, are there no editors left at that goddamn rag?

Our job is not to persuade republicans but to defeat them.

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

I did not have this on my fuck 2020 bingo card.

I really should read my own blog.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

Consistently wrong since 2002

Usually wrong but never in doubt

We are aware of all internet traditions.

Women: they get shit done

Not all heroes wear capes.

Nevertheless, she persisted.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

It’s been a really long fucking year.

All your base are belong to Tunch.

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

What fresh hell is this?

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Respite Open Thread: I Get Emails

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Kirk Spencer sent this to me this morning… and I have to agree, chills. These are some of the National Guard troops taking shelter from the cold in DC while protecting the Capitol:

These soldiers singing inside the Library of Congress will give you chills

I am a poor wayfaring stranger
I’m travellin’ through this world of woe
Yet there’s no sickness, toil, nor danger
In that bright land to which I go
I’m going there to see my Father
I’m going there, no more to roam
I’m only going over Jordan
I’m only going over home
I know dark clouds will gather ’round me
I know my way is rough and steep
But golden fields lie just before me
Where God’s redeemed shall ever sleep
I’m going home to see my mother
And all my loved ones who’ve gone on
I’m only going over Jordan
I’m only going over home
I am a poor wayfarin’ stranger
I’m travellin’ through this world of woe
Yet there’s no sickness, toil, nor danger
In that bright land to which I go
I’m going there to see my Father
I’m going there, no more to roam
I’m only going over Jordan
I’m only going over home

Steeplejack sent me this about a week ago, and I must share:

And finally, for anyone wanting Omnes’ Trifle or Boston Baked Beans recipe, I have PDFs here.

I think that catches you up on the fun things jackals sent me this week…

Respite open thread

Reader Interactions

67Comments

  1. 1.

    Alison Rose

    Damn, that first video…definite chills!

    But I have to say, any time I see a video of a random animal other than a cat or dog just chilling loose in a car, all I can think is…………………….but is it gonna poop everywhere???? I mean, even cats or dogs might do so, but they’re slightly less likely as they’re trained to go in certain places (in general). But a duck? Isn’t a duck just gonna be like “quack quack crap” wherever it is?

    ETA FRIST!

  2. 2.

    trollhattan

    Some Starbucks employee has the best “can you top this?” crazy thing that happened at work story one could ask for.

  4. 4.

    TaMara (HFG)

    @Alison Rose: They make diapers for chickens and ducks. Believe it or not. Ducks make great therapy animals, diapers are very helpful when you bring them to nursing homes, etc.

  5. 5.

    narya

    Got shot #2 yesterday. Arm is DEFINITELY sore today, maybe a little more than last time, and I have a very slight fever (99.5 or so). Feeling a bit lethargic, but it could be because it’s Saturday. Also, already did 5 loads of laundry, so . . . So excited to have the shots that I just ordered some more masks, from Buff, who have filter versions; I’ve been using their neck gaiters that I had around for . . . 15 years? I double the tube and then put a piece of paper towel between the layers, but I think having something with a pocket will be better. And the masks go around the head, not around the ears, for anyone who’s looking for that.

  6. 6.

    Kent

    @narya: Pfizer or Moderna?

    My wife is a primary care physician and says they are seeing worse 2nd shot reactions with Moderna than Pfizer. Her second Moderna shot kind of knocked her out for the rest of the day. The first one was no big deal.

  7. 7.

    Raoul Paste

    When you’re a nice young lady you can make a request for your duck at the drive-through and get ice water with strawberries

    If I did that they’d send a SWAT team

  10. 10.

    Suzanne

    @Kent: Thanks for the tip. SuzMom and SuzAunt are due for their second shots in two weeks. SuzMom got Moderna and SuzAunt got Pfizer. I’ll tell them this so that they know that a different reaction is expected.

  12. 12.

    Brachiator

    A great video of a woman named Jackie Weaver deftly handling blowhard bullies during a Zoom meeting of a UK parish council meeting. Funny as hell. Could be a sitcom

    A woman at the centre of a social media storm after a virtual parish council meeting spiralled into chaos has been left surprised by her fame.  …

    Jackie Weaver has had “nothing but positive support” after remaining calm on the Zoom call which had insults, laughter and members being kicked out….

    During the heated meeting, Ms Weaver kept her cool amid some members being abusive and muttering under their breath as others tried to speak, hysterical laughter and participants answering phone calls.

    Video also available here.

     

  14. 14.

    narya

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: Yeah, I’ve heard that too–a doc at work had little reaction, but her spouse had a high fever for a day or two. But knowing it’s expected/not uncommon is very reassuring, too.

  15. 15.

    LuciaMia

    I think Im gonna start every conversation from now on with, “I have my pet duck with me…”

  19. 19.

    Almost Retired

    My  youngest son (age 21) got the Pfizer vaccine last week because he’s working for Sean Penn’s CORE organization doing COVID testing at Dodger Stadium and elsewhere.  No reaction at all.  Same with my 87 year old mother, who also got the Pfizer first-dose.  No reaction.  Maybe we’re genetic vaccine super-freaks.  Patiently waiting for mine, but I’m at the back of the line.

  20. 20.

    The Fat White Duchess

    @Kent: The physician who does a presentation/Q&A at my temple on Saturdays after the service was asked about that this morning. He says there’s no evidence of a difference in side effects, between Moderna and Pfizer.

    (I got my first shot this week. Pfizer, though I wanted Moderna.  My primary care doc said to take whatever I could get soonest.)

  21. 21.

    Kelly

    @narya: Near as I can tell my 84 year old Mom had only minor soreness at the injection site after each of her Pfitzer shots. She considers “not one to complain” high praise so…

    Across the road a couple guys are loading the remains of another burnt home into a dump truck with an excavator. Quite a lot of banging and the screech of steel sliding on steel. It’s the 7th of 10 homes burnt in the Beachie Fire cleaned up in our neighborhood of originally 26 homes. 70% burnt buildings cleaned up seems like a good guess for the overall Beachie Fire. Burnt trees will take all year.

    It really helps my attitude as the cleanup progresses.

  23. 23.

    germy

    For respite, I turn to the ancients. I found this thread fascinating:

    1) Lucretius argues for the existence of atoms…in 60 BC:

    "Things cannot be created out of nothing or reduced to nothing. You may distrust my words since atoms cannot be seen with your eyes? Think however of all the tiny particles you do not see, but which we know must exist.." pic.twitter.com/VqTlbMqPgp

    — Gareth Harney (@OptimoPrincipi) February 6, 2021

  24. 24.

    pat

    Got the Pfizer last week, no reaction except a very slight soreness if I touched the spot of the injection, so I didn’t touch that spot. Second one coming up on the 19th.

  25. 25.

    germy

    And another thread that travels from ancient Rome all the way to Tolkien:

    1) A stranger than fiction Roman ring mystery thread: this enigmatic Roman gold ring was found in a ploughed field near Silchester in 1785. The square bezel has a portrait of the pagan goddess Venus, inscribed backwards SUNEV for use as a signet ring by the owner. Curiously… pic.twitter.com/Ls0QcDVNzq

    — Gareth Harney (@OptimoPrincipi) July 10, 2020

  26. 26.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    @germy: That story sounds familiar. I think somebody posted it here when it first appeared last July, but I’d forgotten it till I was rereading it. It’s a fascinating story and makes me want to know more.

    I love the little touch that even people in ancient times (and presumably under Roman rule?) got their Latin wrong.

  27. 27.

    Ken

    @Brachiator: Ms Weaver kept her cool amid some members being abusive and muttering under their breath as others tried to speak, hysterical laughter and participants answering phone calls.

    Not seeing how this was different from every other Zoom call I’ve been on…

    I think the hardest thing for people to learn and remember is that there is a delay of a second or so, leading to lots of accidental interruptions and talking-over.

  28. 28.

    df

    That first video was lovely. Sounds like the Library of Congress is a great space to sing. I used to sing in a choir, BC (Before Covid), and hearing people singly beautifully in large spaces really tugs at my heart strings. Sometimes I listen to our old recordings and I tear up a bit. Fortunately, music has survived plagues before, and I have no doubt it’ll survive this one.

    As for the second video, omg I died from cuteness and my ghost is writing this. Ducks are fantastic little creatures. A former coworker shared a video of her ducks running around and eating, and they’re just the cutest things. I mean, they’re so innocent, and not mean like geese or swans. They just want to float, maybe stick their butts in the air to bob for stuff, and waddle around (and sell you insurance or something?).

    Finally, I bought some chocolate cold brew from a local coffee place, even though it’s like 20 degrees here. It’s nice not to have to make coffee, especially since I managed to burn out my last electric kettle in a frightening, smoky accident (and now I’m a little afraid to use my other one).

  29. 29.

    trollhattan

    @The Fat White Duchess:

    My primary care doc said to take whatever I could get soonest.

    I don’t think this can be emphasized enough. Get the jab via whatever path opens for you–don’t be a Karen deciding whether the kale is sufficiently organic.

    I have an appointment next week at a local university, actual on-campus location is very murky and am expecting an adventure of some sort.

  31. 31.

    Kent

    @Almost Retired: Shrug.  Officially I doubt they would ever admit to it because they don’t want people being picky about which vaccine they are getting.  And justifiably so.  They both do the job equally well and no one has died or been hospitalized due to reactions to either vaccine out of the millions already given.

    I’m just reporting that my wife, who is on various Covid task forces and deals with this every day, says that anecdotally they are seeing more second dose reactions from Moderna.  People just feeling sicker and such for a few hours.  It’s always the second dose that is worse, apparently.  As would be expected.

    But yes, get whichever one you can get.  For sure.  The side effects are trivial.

  32. 32.

    Felanius Kootea

    The acoustics in the Library of Congress are amazing.  Chills hearing both those soldiers sing.

  33. 33.

    JoyceH

    I just got a call an hour ago, and I’m going to get my first shot TODAY in a couple hours. White tent in front of the hospital, they said. I was too gobsmacked (I’d JUST the other day found the right form to get on the right list) to ask if it was Pfizer or Moderna.

  34. 34.

    germy

    Any other Horlick’s drinkers here?
    This thread on its history:

    Malted milk is a powdered gruel made from a mixture of malted barley, wheat flour, and evaporated whole milk. The powder is used to add its distinctive flavor to beverages and other foods, but it is also used in baking to help dough cook properly. pic.twitter.com/3IeC1IYMVn

    — WikiVictorian (@wikivictorian) February 4, 2021

  35. 35.

    jeffreyw

    @df:

    It’s nice not to have to make coffee, especially since I managed to burn out my last electric kettle in a frightening, smoky accident (and now I’m a little afraid to use my other one).

    They should put a warning on those things:  Not for starting charcoal!  (Use your cast iron skillet)

  36. 36.

    trollhattan

    @germy:

    Wowzers, that story has as many twists and turns as a cross-mountain highway.

    On that topic can recommend “The Dig” new on Netflix.

    https://www.netflix.com/title/81167887

    It’s about a history-changing archaeological dig in pre-WWII UK that for the first time established the Anglo-Saxons as being very advanced and not a crude tribal lot. Spoiler: a very large burial ship containing art treasures is unearthed in a mound on a farm near Ipswich.

    Article with photos of some of the finds.

  38. 38.

    df

    @jeffreyw: It was so bizarre! I dumped the water out, then put the kettle back on the base, and it started trying to heat up the empty kettle. I don’t know if I only hit the power button once (instead of twice to turn it off) or if it malfunctioned, but I’ve had this brand of kettle for almost two years and I’ve never had a problem. (I also could’ve sworn it had a failsafe built in for that, but I guess not.) So yeah, I leave it unplugged now heh. That was enough excitement for the week.

  41. 41.

    Dan B

    @Kent: It seems to me that a strong reaction is potentially indicative of a strong immune system response, although Pfizer and Moderna supposedly have 95% efficacy so who knows what’s up.

    I’m scheduled for 30 days from now because the supply to WA is so uncertain, even though I’m in 1b, first tier.  Are there some Trump plants still embedded who hate Inslee’s criticism of the Orange Psycho?

  46. 46.

    Elie

    @Kent:

    I got my first shot (Pfizer) as did my husband.  We both got sore arms and a couple of days later felt fatigued and achy.  No fever though. Hubby got it worse and was out of sorts for 2-3 days.  I kicked it faster.  We are both due for #2 on Weds.  Hopefully won’t experience anything worse than after first shot —

  48. 48.

    Elie

    I loved the Natl Guard singing in the library.   His/their voices were a balm to my spirit but its beauty was haunting given the context of why the Guards are there.  What sad times for our country!   I so value that there was the gift of this voice and that others heard and appreciated it.   Small miracles….

  50. 50.

    Ken

    @jeffreyw: Have you read Tom Holt’s Who’s Afraid of Beowulf?  Loosely based on Sutton Hoo, with a sinister spin of sorts.  Holt does comic fantasy, somewhat hit-and-miss IMO, but I like that one.

  51. 51.

    sab

    @Dan B: Ohio has been incredibly slow on vaccine rollout. According to today’s newspapers, it is because DeWine is very focussed on nursing homes, where more than half our fatal covid cases have occurred. And Ohio has a huge nursing home population.

    So now I am much less angry about the slow rollout.

    Nursing homes aren’t just the elderly. They are also the caregivers, mostly young POC mothers. And they were eligible for vaccination if they wanted it.

  53. 53.

    Another Scott

    (Everything goes better with duck??)

    I kept reading the duck’s name as “Manchin” until I slowed down.

    That is all.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  56. 56.

    Bob7094

    @df: 

    When I was in Australia in the mid ’70s the motel I was staying at (Highway Motel, Carnarvon WA) had an electric kettle, tea bags, sugar, and a little pitcher of milk in the fridge. When the water started to boil the kettle would violently eject the 254VAC power cord. I don’t know if that’s unusual for an Australian kettle, or not.

  57. 57.

    Brachiator

    @Another Scott:

    Jackie Weaver certainly is a patient soul.

    I kinda liked how one blowhard said, “You can’t cut me off…” just before she disconnected him from the Zoom meeting.

  59. 59.

    Another Scott

    @Bob7094: something, something, Coriolis Force cross Magnetic Induction dot Quantum Entanglement cross Turbo Encabulator something, something.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  62. 62.

    CaseyL

    Thank you for the video of the soldiers singing – and thank you, @Alison Rose:,  for sending me off to Google to see ducks in nappies.

    Been an interesting end-of-week for me:  my fridge went to that Great Kitchen in the Sky.  I bought a new one, but it won’t be delivered until the 11th.  The perishables are parked out on the patio and in a cooler with blue ice, but I’m not sure about some of the items.  A friend suggested I treat myself to an ordered-in meal ot two, and I have decided to do exactly that.

    So I ordered some French delivery for lunch.  Hopefully it will get here OK even though I hit the wrong button and didn’t sign up for the message updates.

  63. 63.

    NotMax

    Trifle or Boston Baked Beans recipe

    The mind rebels at the very concept of trifle baked beans.

    :)

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