Damn allergies.
LOOK AT THAT SMILE!
6th grade students at Detroit Lakes Middle School made sure to include Kale in the football game during recess.
Kale said it was the best day of his life❤?❤?Katieabiggar pic.twitter.com/qZz3DTn5Nl— GoodNewsCorrespondent (@GoodNewsCorres1) April 23, 2021
Our very own Just Some Fuckhead has some new adorableness in his life. Meet the grandbabies:
I can’t even with all the cuteness.
And in my world, the Duckteens are outside all day and should be spending the night in the coop with the big ducks once I screw up my courage. So far, they’ve kind of been obnoxious to the older ducks, so I’m keeping a watchful eye.
And finally, in honor of Shakespeare’s birthday, my library (which is the best!) posted this interesting list:
And in jackal news, on Sunday at noon EDT, we’ll be featuring Dorothy Winsor’s newest book. She’ll be available to chat. Which is good, because I have questions.
Respite open thread
Baud
Aww. Baby Fuckheads.
rikyrah
Are those really Nick and Nora?
Really?
So BIG!!
The babies…..squeeeeeee!!! so absolutely ADORABLE :)
Mary G
Congrats again, JSF. Those are two adorable babies.
Here is a video of a dog in a team work seminar:
sab
Good luck TaMara. When I married my first husband our dog packs never merged. His six golden retrievers and my three mutts just tolerated each other.
Mary G
I posted this before in a night thread, but since they are ducks I am repeating because it cracks me up:
sab
@rikyrah: I cannot wait until Nick lays her first egg.
Old School
The Detroit Lakes video is nice, but I was thinking the whole time, “Why aren’t any of these kids wearing masks? Or social distancing?”
And the grandbabies are adorable.
stinger
WANT
Baud
@sab:
Hmmm. I’m beginning to think Nick and Nora are not the grandkids.
CarolPW
Took me a second before I figured out Nick and Nora were not the babies names too.
Betty Cracker
I can’t believe none of the many pedants who read this blog have pointed out the horrifying error on the Shakespeare sign: it’s BATED breath! ?
PS: Such adorable little Fuckheads!
rikyrah
@Baud:
BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA AHA H AH
dmsilev
Well, today turned to shit an hour or so ago; my parents just lost their dog. Old age basically. He was 13 and fading, but today and especially this afternoon his body just seemed to shut down. They just got back from the vet.
Not much of a ‘respite’ comment. Sorry.
burnspbesq
It’s so on in the Premier League. With six matches left, three points separate fourth place (Champions League) from eighth (out of Europe altogether).
stinger
Great poster, except it’s not “baited breath”, as if you were exhaling something enticing. It’s BATED breath, short for “abated” — indicated that you’re holding your breath in suspense.
Not on the poster, but “passing fair” doesn’t mean she just barely makes the grade. It’s short for “surpassingly fair”, in other words, gorgeous.
TaMara (HFG)
@dmsilev: I am so sorry. Virtual hugs to all of you.
Baud
@dmsilev: My condolences to your parents.
zhena gogolia
Oh, JSF, how cute!!!
Tony Jay
I’m increasingly convinced that pre-Shakespearean English was a purely functional language like you’d use to command a sheepdog, because once you strip out the words and phrases he’s credited with debuting all your left with is “This good”, “This bad” and “Hungry”. Which is fine when interacting with most people, but makes relating a gripping anecdote really challenging.
OTOH, I love kids that young. They look like heads superimposed on comedy outfits, like their bodies got the call to action way too late and are only partly involved in the proceedings.
dmsilev
@TaMara (HFG): , @Baud:
Thank you.
VeniceRiley
Welcome to the world, baby Fuckheads. You’re adorable!
Please tell me they’re going to be named Pfizer and Moderna.
WaterGirl
Cute babies! Why does the photo somehow remind me of American Gothic?
TaMara (HFG)
@rikyrah:
@sab:
Nikki’s gender is up in the air. Nora for sure is a female, it’s all in the quack. But Nikki has what could be a drake voice, still too young to know of sure. Sometimes I’m sure she’s a female and other days I think I’m wrong. I may not know until a drake feather shows up or not.
Montanareddog
CDC Director Recommends Pregnant People Receive COVID-19 Vaccines
Apparently,NPR is confirming CDC advice that pregnant men as well as pregnant women should get vaccinated
JPL
@dmsilev: It’s always difficult to say goodbye, no matter how old.
Sorry
M31
@VeniceRiley: way less confusing than J and J
WaterGirl
@dmsilev: I’m so sorry, dms. ?
dmsilev
@JPL: , @WaterGirl: Thank you. I’m glad that I was able to travel here this week and see him before the end.
JPL
JSF.. The grand imps are adorable, and it won’t be long before you are crawling after them.
My second grandson is coming in July, and since they are naming him Elias, I tell everyone I know that Eli’s coming.
eclare
@dmsilev: I am so sorry, what a shock.
TaMara (HFG)
@sab: They are pretty much a flock now – it’s just the young ones are a pain in the ass – lots of following around to see what the big ducks are doing and the big ducks tiring of being bugged all the time.
Nikki has been a bit of a bully toward Mabel, but Mabel kind of started it. They will eventually work that out since they are so equally matched. Nikki just needs Mabel to know they won’t be pushed around just because they are younger – which is healthy – Mabel and Maddie are more likely to bond with them if they don’t see them as weak and a threat to flock survival.
Which is one of the reasons why only adult ducks (or Duckteens) are introduced to a flock.
sab
Had an eye exam this morning with dilation. Eyedrops 10:30 am. I still look and feel like a startled bat at 5:30 pm. Is this normal?
VeniceRiley
Is it babies Fuckhead, or baby Fuckheads?
eclare
The grand babies look like they are holding hands!
Redshift
This is government/politics, but I consider it respite-worthy.
This is from the opening to today’s email from Rep. Don Beyer, my congressperson:
Followed by details of the new unified system for signing up to get the shot, now that it’s open to everyone.
That’s how you do it.
Amir Khalid
@dmsilev:
When they’ve shared their lifetime with you, losing them is tough. My condolences.
Mary G
@dmsilev: Condolences to all your family.
Are you still visiting there? I hope so; it must be a comfort to have you to cry with them.
pluky
@Betty Cracker: saw it but, for once, scrolled down to see if someone had beaten me to the punch.
Another Scott
@Betty Cracker: Made me look, because spelling was, er, flexible back then.
ENotes:
It’s not using Royal Copenhagen Musk mouth wash??! I am disappoint.
Thanks.
Cheers,
Scott.
Amir Khalid
@Betty Cracker:
I was going to get to it, honest.
Miki
Who’s gonna tell Baby Fuckheads’ parents their BJ-christened nyms?
JoyceH
We can thank John Milton for the word “pandemonium”, which was the demonic equivalent of “pantheon”. Also for the expression “All hell broke loose.” Once you know it refers to a grand rebellion against heaven, doesn’t it sound more impressive?
VeniceRiley
@Miki: Pfizer Fuckhead is some nice alliteration :-D
sab
@Amir Khalid: Sad commentary on Americans’ English, but accurate commentary on yours.
Is that grammaically correct? I don’t know. I’ll check with a guy in Malaysia. His Englush is pretty good.
dmsilev
@Mary G: Thank you, and yes, I’m here through the weekend. It does help to be here.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Baud: Who knows, they are, after all, Fuckheads.
rikyrah
@dmsilev:
????
?BillinGlendaleCA
@dmsilev: Condolences to your parents, I went through that two months ago with my Conni and my remaining dog, Nikki, is not eating well.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@JPL:
Must be fans of the Giant Evil Corporation.
tom
@sab: 6 goldens!? That’s a lot of, um, cleanup.
Miss Bianca
@Baud:
I should have known you’d be right there with the first thought that went through *my* head! LOL!
sab
@tom: Goldens don’t poop. They are perfect.
Actually they are very nice, and like all dogs they poop a normal amount ( a lot.)
Dorothy A. Winsor
Those babies! Double cuteness.
Catherine D.
Hmm, are those actually babies or are they two American Girl Itty Bitty Baby dolls? ?
OzarkHillbilly
Meh. You should see mine. ;-)
SiubhanDuinne
@Old School:
Why aren’t the grandbabies wearing masks? Or six feet apart?
thruppence
Aw, dang. One of the original bloggers, Lance Mannion has passed away. Digby has posted an appreciation.
CaseyL
@dmsilev:
My condolences to you and to your parents. Losing someone who’s been part of your family that long… it’s hard.
JSF – Twins?? Twins!! Adorable!
The Duckteens are soooo cute. I like how they’ve got their lettuce, and the older ladies have their lettuce, and everyone is behaving themselves. At a distance.
SiubhanDuinne
@dmsilev:
That’s sad. I’m so sorry. Condolences to you and your parents.
prostratedragon
Congratulations to Grandpa Fuckhead. They’re so precious!
SiubhanDuinne
@CarolPW:
Huck and Molly :-)
The Fuckhead babies are absolutely adorable. And so are the ducks.
prostratedragon
@VeniceRiley: I promise you, it is happening somewhere.
RSA
TaMara, I made strawberry bread last weekend. It was a treat! Thanks. I passed your recipe on to my brother and sister-in-law, and their kids loved it too.
debbie
The JSFettes are mighty cute, but I really, really feel like I’ve seen them before.
SiubhanDuinne
@OzarkHillbilly:
We would love to! Please send WG or TaMara a photo so we can all ooh and ahh and squee.
sab
Eye exam. Got my eyes dilated at 10:30 am. 6: 30 pm still look like a bug eyed fruitbat, fully dilated. Is this normal?
Satby, where are you? ( accountant not opthamologist so ethically she cannot weigh in on anything except my horrible spelling.)
JPL
@?BillinGlendaleCA: Maybe the Three Dog Night. Sometimes it is
importantimperative for me to just say nice.prostratedragon
@sab: No change at all? I’ve had varied experience in subsiding, from a couple of hours to about a day, but in the latter case there is a noticeable, if slow, return to normal after a while. Perfectly good reason to call your doctor’s office if you have a concern.
prostratedragon
@dmsilev: My condolences. And if I may speak for the group, we are at your service.
debbie
@prostratedragon:
It’s 6 to 8 hours for me. Though it ends pretty suddenly. You’re blind one moment, then the next, you’re fine.
prostratedragon
We begin on a barge in the Nile:
sab
Seems better now, but also it is darker outside.
Weird day today.
prostratedragon
@debbie: One time I felt like I could hear it subsiding.
Matt McIrvin
Did Shakespeare really coin all of those, or are those just phrases for which he’s the earliest known source (because his works were very widely preserved)?
Dan B
@sab: I’ve had that reaction to drops before. Six hours of crazy dilation is enervating. I was glad that my exam at Costco had the latest technology so drops were an option, not a necessity. It was a $30 upcharge. The equipment did a high resolution retinal image. I got to look at my retinas which are apparently in great shape. Good news!
rikyrah
???
2RawTooReal ?? (@2RawTooReal) Tweeted:
Dear Fox News,
I want all the ? I’m tired of y’all harassing President Joe Biden & Vice President Kamala Harris @FoxNews
https://t.co/IP5lu7jyVE https://twitter.com/2RawTooReal/status/1385456141136769024?s=20
zhena gogolia
@OzarkHillbilly:
Let’s see ’em!
JoyceH
@Matt McIrvin: don’t know about the Shakespeare quotes, but I recently learned that the expression “it is a truth universally acknowledged” was a fairly common expression in Jane Austen’s time. (Though the humorous twist was her own.) It was used where we would use “it goes without saying” for something blindingly obvious.
Old School
@SiubhanDuinne: They’ve been quarantining together. I’m not worried about them.
WaterGirl
@OzarkHillbilly: Yes! Send pics or pics and a writeup.
Ken
If by “flexible” you mean “non-existent…”
debbie
@rikyrah:
Then you won’t want to hear the slurs Glenn Beck was hurling at Joy Reid this morning. I was so sure he was a real Christian. //
Ken
Twelve years from now…
“Mom, how did we get that awful nickname?”
“Well, shortly after you were born, your grandparent” (pause for well-practiced glare at JSF) “decided to share your picture on a blog, with some so-called friends…”
Jeffro
@prostratedragon: Nice (and thanks!)
I was listening to Achtung Baby, but this is much more on-point for a relaxing Friday evening. =)
columbusqueen
Moderna #2 yesterday. Feel like crap, but grateful to be done.
JustRuss
I had no idea Shakespeare was the father of knock-knock jokes.
prostratedragon
@Matt McIrvin: Good question. I imagine part of his talent was an ear for popular speech.
MomSense
Our TV remote is possessed. Instead of Buster Scruggs we ended up with Barbie dolphin magic. It’s just jumping and selecting things on its own.
rikyrah
@columbusqueen:
Yeah ??
Just Chuck
We can go back all the way to Homer for “bite the dust”. Or at least whomever translated the Iliad to use that phrase.
Ken
@JustRuss: It’s from the Porter scene in Ma– in the Scottish Play. A bit of unfunny comic relief to give the principals a break and a chance to change costumes.
mrmoshpotato
@Just Chuck:
The electric bass definitely didn’t exist back then. Acoustic?
ETA – or if he was the original, another one didn’t bite the dust for centuries?
Ken
@MomSense: April 23, 7:04 PM Eastern time, SkyNet became sentient and started watching TV. 7:15 PM, humanity was wiped out in a multi-megaton nuclear exchange after they tried to fight for the remote.
John Revolta
@Matt McIrvin: I was just gonna Well Actually this but you saved me. The answer of course is nobody knows for sure in most cases, but it’s likely some of these phrases must’ve been abroad in artsy London society before Will wrote them down.
Glory b
What!?! Don’t tell me that amongst these educated folks I’m the first to remember “My salad days, when I was green in judgment” am I?
And I went to an inner city public school too (Peabody HS in the East Liberty section of Pittsburgh, in case anyone is wondering).
Just Chuck
@mrmoshpotato: Now I’m picturing an ampitheatre full of toga-wearing greeks all going stomp stomp clap …
Ruviana
Those bebes remind me of that Talking Heads album cover.
And mention of the Giant Evil Corporation makes me wonder, will Mnem ever come back?
Glory b
@rikyrah: I loooove 2 raw too Real! My favorite Twitter folks are the gay black guys. Are you familiar with chris_notcapn?
All part of the Khive.
J R in WV
@dmsilev:
Sorry to hear of your loss. Always hard. Take care, lots of hugs with the parents!
Martin
Oh my, JSF, those are some cute babies. Tell mama to take the rest of the year off.
MomSense
@Ken:
Ha!!
dexwood
@TaMara (HFG): We once received some good advice from an old chicken wrangler about introducing adult hens to an established flock. Wait until dark, lift the hatch to the sleeping section, put the new chickens inside. It always worked for us. There was never any fighting or territorial squabbles and by morning it was like the newcomers had always been there. Don’t know if it works for ducks, but worth a try.
sab
@sab: 7:30. Still a startled bat with huge glistening mostly blind eyes. 10 hours since the eyedrops. This may be normal. I wish they had warned me.
Ken
@sab: I’d call the ophthalmologist . Ten hours is much longer than I’ve ever experienced.
Rob
@Ken: Same for me. Ten hours is a really long time! Call your ophthamologist?
Rob
@dmsilev:
I’m sorry to hear this.
Suzanne
@dmsilev: I’m so, so sorry. Hugs to you and your parents.
danielx
Dueling tabbies
Tabbies absorbing Vitamin D
Tabbies at rest
Annnnnd…..
Natasha the Good
Suzanne
Fuckhead’s little minis are F A B U L O U S! Congrats!
Another Scott
@Ken: [ snort! ]
Cheers,
Scott.
Dan B
@dmsilev: Such sad news of your parent’s puppy. It’s good you got to see him before he passed away.
Eunicecycle
@SiubhanDuinne: and they’re wearing hats!
Amir Khalid
@JustRuss:
Nobody’s perfect.
Sure Lurkalot
@sab: Anecdotal but I have the same issue with dilation, takes like 12 hours to get back to normal and is very annoying!
MomSense
JSF congratulations on your gorgeous grand babies.
Dan B
@rikyrah: That was a giant gift basket of truth. I’m not sure they’re using the N word when no black people are around but they are dog whistling and believing with every fiber of their being that the inferiors should have no influence and be grateful for what they’ve got.
And punished, or at least shunned, if they’re not extremely grateful.
Dan B
@debbie: Maxine is not grateful. That is the most terrible thing that can be done to a person!
Mean words melt white snowflakes!!
Miss Bianca
@columbusqueen: Moderna #2 this morning. Just starting to feel the fatigue level from last time. Going to munch some sweet potato fries and hit the hay early tonight!
NotMax
Was half-watching something when out of the corner of my eye saw this ad.
That’s a whole lotta prep work on sets and costuming for a 15 second spot.
:)
debbie
@Dan B:
That just might be a viable strategy…
MaryRC
@thruppence: Thank you for this — I’m so sorry to hear it. I remember that Lance used to allude to some difficulties that one of his sons struggled with but it was obvious that he dearly loved his family. I donated a little to a GoFundMe account that Digby linked to; apparently the family could use some help.
Steeplejack (phone)
@sab:
This just in from ophthalmologist Bro’ Man: The effect can take up to 24 hours to wear off. The younger you are and the darker your eyes, the quicker it tends to go away. Older and “light-complected,” it can take longer. Not to worry.
Dan B
@debbie: Could be. It is mind blowing ti me that white right wingers feel mean words are the equal of the horrors visited upon minorities in this country. They equate disagreement with the psychological terror and physical terrorism that is rained down on minorities. Their first reaction to mass incarceration, poverty, abd discrimination is that the people suffering are responsible.
That’s why Maxine, Val, AOC, and others get under their skin. They won’t be quiet, well mannered, and polite. They’ve decided that the rules of hood manners are an acceptable substitute for empathy and having a soul.
geg6
Those are some precious babies, JSF.
And TaMara, your travails with those ducks has had me in stitches. The baths are my favorite.
zhena gogolia
@danielx:
Very sweet.
zhena gogolia
@Steeplejack (phone):
That sounds right. It used to take just a couple of hours for me, but now seems to stretch out longer.
smedley the uncertain
@stinger: I didn’t know that…
debbie
@Dan B:
They just will not stay in their place! ?
ET
Well one Shakespear-ism that was missed
First thing we do is kill all the lawyers
rikyrah
@Glory b:
I love him too ?
Just Some Fuckhead
Thanks for the kind words. The boy looks like his dad. The girl looks like her mom. It’s like they had mini-mes.
quakerinabasement
@stinger: Thank you. Saved me the trouble.
Chris T.
Wait: “Nick and Nora”? Does that mean my suggestion actually got adopted?!
And, re “dead as a doornail”: I thought that was due to Dickens, but https://grammarist.com/idiom/dead-as-a-doornail/ says that Shakespeare used it and that it was already in use before then, in the 1300s. So I don’t think we can necessarily say Shakespeare here.