Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

Gastritis Broke My Calculator

Where tasty lettuce and good mustard aren’t elitist.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

This blog is Obama’s Katrina.

Women: They Get Shit Done

Mission Accomplished!

‘Forty-two’ said Deep Thought, with infinite majesty and calm.

Verified, but limited!

Also, too.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense.

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

We can agree to disagree, but I’m right.

Lighten up, Francis.

Good luck with your asparagus.

An army of rabid, anonymous commenters

I personally stopped the public option…

Today in our ongoing national embarrassment…

Militantly superior in their own minds…

The house always wins.

All your base are belong to Tunch.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

This is a big f—–g deal.

Word salad with all caps

Failed State

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Disney World reopened yesterday, and Florida public schools are supposed to open next month. The Republican National Convention is coming to Jacksonville on August 24. Then there’s this:

Florida breaks nationwide record with 15,300 coronavirus cases

TAMPA — In the last 24 hours, Florida’s Department of Health says 15,300 testing kits have come back positive for the novel coronavirus — shattering the previous record for cases reported by any state in a single day.

It was the highest daily total reported since the start of pandemic, surpassing previous highs — in California July 8 and in New York during mid-April — by more than 3,600 cases, according to data collected by the collaborative Covid Tracking Project.

We are so fucked.

I don’t just mean Florida; I mean America. It’s increasingly clear this virus can’t be controlled without national leadership, and we don’t have any and won’t have any until late January, at the earliest. It would be a kindness for another country to do a humanitarian intervention, but that seems unlikely.

At least the hummingbirds haven’t left us:

Failed State

Here’s a different wee birb, also from this morning:

I frequently see aerial sorties when a hummingbird encounters another plying the same firecracker bush and chases the rival away. I swear I’ve seen them fly upside down during these skirmishes. I don’t think I’ll ever manage to get a photo of that. They’re so damned fast.

Open thread.

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Forget the past, and just say yes

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Another intriguing Senate race is the one in Iowa. The state went heavily for Trump last time but the Democrats have a great nominee, Theresa Greenfield, who has held a small but consistent lead in the last polls for the last two months. Joni Ernst is a POS. All the Republicans in the Senate are (except maybe Romney) but she’s worse than most. Let’s send her home. Iowa is a state that Democrats usually won until starting about ten years ago. Let’s make it a Democratic state for the next ten.

Here’s a great article about Theresa Greenfield. She was widowed at age 24 when her husband was electrocuted at work.

At age 24, Greenfield was alone with a year-old baby, another on the way, and no income. It was two maligned entities, labor unions and government, that saved her.

On the phone with me, she repeats what she says at every campaign stop: “Social Security helped me put milk in the refrigerator, support my boys, and go back to school. I don’t want Joni Ernst to gut it.”

Let’s raise some money for Theresa Greenfield. This is a great pick-up opportunity.

Goal Thermometer

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No Fucking Mulligans

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Yesterday, after a busy day on Friday wiping his ass with the Constitution while commuting Stone’s sentence, Trump went to Walter Reed and (gasp!) wore a fucking mask. Incorrectly:

Then at least one White House reporter, representing the rest of them, was all like this:

She got ratioed into the earth, but no matter — you know in your heart that they’re so fucking ready to give Trump and all the red state governors a big old mulligan as long as they rise to a level of action that’s halfway close to what a leader should be doing in the face of a global pandemic.

Nope, nah, nuh-uh. The time for mulligans is long passed. It passed after Trump refused to build testing capacity in the US. It passed after he suggested drinking bleach and promoted a remedy that killed people. It passed after Abbott forbade towns in Texas to pass mask orders. It passed after Florida, Arizona and Texas re-opened willy-nilly. It passed after those states saw the cases coming and didn’t ask for retired medical personnel to come out and help, or for the armed forces to build and staff field hospitals. It passed after Trump threatened school funding if they didn’t re-open. It passed after these and hundreds of other moments of inaction, diversion and rank stupidity.

The only thing these death-eaters — these callous, careless, useless fucks — deserve is a seat in the bowels of hell after they gasp out their last breath while the infection they denied and refused to fight kills them. No fucking mulligans. None.

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Sunday Morning Garden Chat: WaterGirl’s Summer Vistas

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From our own indefatigable and ever-obliging WaterGirl:

Spring flowers are long gone, but summer has arrived!

Top pic: This is the round bed in front, and this picture was taken a few weeks ago. It will be a couple of weeks before the bed is showy again with hydrangea and coneflower blooms.

Favorite Pink Peonies

The peonies you see are gone, but here they are in a vase. I almost could have had a Martha Stewart look for a minute, don’t you think?

But no, my white cotton pandemic gloves were in the picture – on the floor of the porch, no less! They had been in quarantine on the porch – and they had apparently blown onto the floor. This is why I am a terrible photographer; all I see if a sweet pup or kitty, or a beautiful flower, and everything else is invisible to my eye. But not to the camera lens, of course.

We always get a big rain on the day after all the full peonies come into bloom. This time I was at least smart enough, first thing in the morning after a nighttime of rain, to cut a bunch of the stems that were dragging to the ground, weighted with all the rain, so I could enjoy them in a vase. Next year, I hope to be smart enough to cut them right before the rain starts, because I think the cut blooms will last longer if they haven’t been beat up by the rain.

Painted Fern & Blackberry Ice Huechera

My painted fern is happy again this year, and I always try to pair them with the blackberry ice huechera, for what I hope are obvious reasons. Two years ago, after being in the ground for at least 5 years, it suddenly got very unhappy, and it looked like it wouldn’t make it. I dug it up, figuring I would pot it for a bit so I could move it to the convalescent area on the patio until it recovered. Everything loves that side patio area that gets dappled sun. But it fell into 4 pieces when I tried to move it, so I ended up with 4 pots. They all did really well, so this one (the biggest piece) got moved back to the original location, and all is right with the world again.

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COVID-19 Coronavirus Update: Saturday/Sunday, July 11-12

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Lead story on the nightly news:


I frankly suspect his handlers dragged him to Walter Reed for an up-close-and-personal view of just what those ‘not so bad’ coronavirus victims are actually going through. Trump’s incapable of visualizing anything not Donald Trump, but seeing just how unflattering the full ‘hooked up to machinery’ look really is…

Also, while he couldn’t give a damn about the virus punishing his Base — pawns are fungible — signups for the ‘postponed’ Portsmouth rally might just have scared him into believing that if he didn’t start modelling mask-wearing, people wouldn’t show up for him any more. And then where would he get his adulation fixes? Mike Pence and Lindsay Graham just don’t do it for him any more!

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Late Night Open Thread: The Mascots 2020 Needs

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Spiritually related:

Also, for us history nerds:


(Click on the tweet for the full thread)

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Robert Mueller Speaks

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Robert Mueller has an op-ed in the Washington Post. He is getting tired of Trumpian misrepresentation.

I feel compelled to respond both to broad claims that our investigation was illegitimate and our motives were improper, and to specific claims that Roger Stone was a victim of our office. 

It’s short and clear, something that his earlier report could have benefitted from.

We now have a detailed picture of Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election. The special counsel’s office identified two principal operations directed at our election: hacking and dumping Clinton campaign emails, and an online social media campaign to disparage the Democratic candidate. We also identified numerous links between the Russian government and Trump campaign personnel — Stone among them. We did not establish that members of the Trump campaign conspired with the Russian government in its activities. The investigation did, however, establish that the Russian government perceived it would benefit from a Trump presidency and worked to secure that outcome. It also established that the campaign expected it would benefit electorally from information stolen and released through Russian efforts.

Anyhow, read the whole thing.

Open thread!

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Pop Culture Open Thread: Anime Suggestions for Lockdown

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We all have ways of decompressing from the current dystopian reality, and one of ours is rewatching favorite anime. I know, I know — it’s easy to assume that ‘anime’ means interminable sagas about gotta-catch-em-all marketing tie-ins, space opera ultraviolence, or softcore porn for extremely niche targets. But that’s like judging ‘American books’ by what’s available at an airport book stall!

Here’s a handful of my personal favorites, variously available through Amazon Prime, Hulu, Netflix, YouTube, and probably many other streaming services I don’t know (not to mention your local library). All of them are (mostly) non-violent, non-erotic (although frequently romantic!), and perhaps most importantly short. A 13-arc series of 23-minute episodes is approximately five hours of viewing, less than many mini-series… and you can usually tell by the end of the first episode whether a particular series is worth your time watching it. Also note the original broadcast dates in parentheses next to each title; in the older ones, some of the details are inevitably outdated, but the fact they’re still popular enough to be circulating is a testament to their worth.

Princess Tutu (2002)


Okay, this one is actually 26 episodes… but it breaks neatly into two parts, if that’s as much as you can stand. One of a kind is always special, Terry Pratchett would say — and I believe Sir Terry would’ve appreciated this completely individual saga based (very loosely) on Middle European folk tales as filtered through classical ballet. Gold Crown Town has been trapped in its bubble of magical realism ever since the inhabitants turned against an uncannily gifted author whose stories came true, but never happily ever after. There is a Sailor-Moon-style magical girl, with the inevitable power duels are settled with classical pas de deuxes. There is broad Harry-Potteresque classic-English-boarding-school-but-with-magic humor, and adolescent love triangles that turn into quadrangles and back again. And there is the overarching warning that all writers are bastards, and some of them are monsters. (Warning: Despite the ‘cute’ animation style, the second season in particular is rather too disturbing for young children.)

Princess Nine (1998)


Missing the boys of summer? High-school baseball is to Japan what high-school football is to Texas… if the annual football playoffs were on national television. Japan’s most powerful (and imperious) female CEO has decreed that female students should have the chance to compete against their male counterparts, and Ryo Hayakawa — inheritor of her late father’s renowned Miracle Pitch — is the keystone of that extremely ambitious plan. There’s plenty of teen drama, but also (I am informed by someone better equipped to judge) a decent introduction to besobaru. (Or you could hate-watch, to find out how badly I have been misled!)

Twin Spica (2003)


If you have fond memories of Robert Heinlein’s early young-adult novels, this one’s for you. Japan’s first space launch goes horribly awry, but little Asumi’s personal tragedy that day eventually leads her to a mysterious ‘guardian’ who will help her train for her dreams of becoming a ‘rocket pilot’. When an academy for (adolescent) potential astronauts is finally rebooted, Asumi and her new classmates win highly coveted slots… but can a girl (and a tiny little 4’9″ girl, at that) really aspire to astronaut status? Yet Asumi is so certain, so focused on her goal (like a good Heinlein hero) that even her ‘enemies’ can’t help but root for her…

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Furry Friends – J R in WV – A Few Beloved Pets Of Our Past

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No, it’s not On The Road, we just cheated and used the form.  This is such a lovely set of stories and photos from J R in WV that I can’t wait to read them a second time.  It’s looking like there will be two more installments after this, and I couldn’t be happier.

If you think you might like to have your furry family featured here, please send an email to watergirl at balloon-juice.com.  If you check out the banner picture for Furry Friends, you’ll see that we’re not limiting this series to cat and dogs!

~WaterGirl

*****

Life with J R and Family: Boomer, Step Aside Clyde, Happy Dawg, Harvey, Ralph, and Rufus

by J R in WV

Some time ago Watergirl asked if I would be interested in writing about and posting pictures of some of the many pets we have had over the years. So, after searching through files of photos and editing some up for public display, here we go. There are so many worthies I’m going to do a first set with some of our beloved pets who have passed, and this is that set. This is my second time through, I lost my first submission to a network error, and so now I’m writing the whole thing in LibreOffice, and will paste in into the submission form when I’m done.

It was a surprising amount of work, and I hate that I lost it all. After 45 years of using computers in my various careers, (in the beginning it was holes in paper tape, each hole was a bit) you would think I had learned my lesson long ago…

We have been rescuing critters, mostly cats and dogs, all our married life, so there have been many dozens, and I’m only going to hit a few I have good photos for. Five, to be specific.

On The Road - J R in WV - A Few Beloved Pets of our past 5
Here on the FarmJuly 8, 2020

Boomer, Up Close

This photo was taken by a next door neighbor and great friend, it’s about as close to Boomer as you could get, too. Boomer was dropped off at their house as a puppy, with a sister (who never looked anything like Boomer) and after his tail was docked. They asked if we would be interested in adopting him, and we were. But Wife and I both worked long hours at the time, so we asked them to keep him long enough for him to learn about going outside for his business. We all live in the rural wooded hillsides of W Va, and so our dogs (and cats) are free to come and go. So they did, and we did. (His sister was also adopted by a friend a little further away.)

By the time we brought Boomer home, a journey of maybe 400 yards, he was a big, friendly mutt. Everyone who knew Boomer liked Boomer. And he loved most everyone he ever met, with a few notable exceptions. He always wanted to please his folks, which included us and the neighbors who were also free to come and go on our farm.

We were next door (other side of the farm) with a crowd of friends and dogs, when some of the dogs chased the family cat up the hill, Not Boomer, tho!!! Boomer jumped into Wife’s lap to let her know Boomer wasn’t chasing any cats, no way!! He weighed around 90 pounds, but there was no way to tell him he was not a lap dog.

That whole chase thing was recreational both for the dogs and the cat, who knew she could climb a tree, but didn’t care to. And the dogs all knew that actually catching a cat was way more serious than chasing one, with a potential for a bloody nose! That’s a big deal to a dog!

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Dallas is a rich man with a death wish in his eyes

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There’s a really cool opportunity in Texas right now. The Texas House plays an important role in redistricting and Dems have a real change to flip it. I’d like for us to donate to this effort, but I’m not sure what group is the right one to give to. Sam Wang is giving to the Dallas County Democratic Party and Tarrant County Democratic Party and I may just do that. If there’s something better to give to, let me know.

More generally, this is a little morbid I realize, but COVID is a total nightmare in the Sun Belt and likely to get worse, so I’m thinking of hitting races in states where it’s a total shit show harder as opportunities could pop up. I’ll have more about this later. We’ll definitely give to Jaime Harrison in South Carolina – he’s already raising tons though and I want to read more about it before deciding how much of a priority to make it.

In the meantime, I’m raising more for Steve Bullock in Montana. Right now, AZ and CO are very likely Dem pick-ups with Maine and Montana toss-ups. It really could come down to this race and it’s great bang for your buck. Lots of enthusiasm the first time I threw these out there.

Goal Thermometer

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WereBear Guest Post: Adventures In Cat Rescue

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Since it’s Caturday, seemed likd a good time for this. It’s been a while since we’ve had a WereBear post, so glad she had one ready when I asked.  Take it away Kitty Whisperer:

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Sweet Reverend Jim

In a couple of months, it will be the Labor Day weekend, 13th Anniversary of my cat blog, The Way of Cats. That’s when I rescued Reverend Jim. Here’s the first post on my first site, Rescue of a Shelter Kitten. Because of course, it started with a rescue. That’s how it all started.

I never imagined my hobby would turn into my passion, and now, my destiny. The other day I was searching for my name and work online, an exercise in deeper meaning that yielded completely unexpected benefits. It turns out, I am an Antidote to Trumpism. And I couldn’t be more pleased.

WereBear Guest Post: WereBear 3

Antidote to Trumpism: Essays on Intellectual Honesty and Critical Thinking  by Luis Bernardo Mercado

 

I certainly don’t mind being associated with intellectual honesty and critical thinking. And I adore the idea of being a Trump Antidote. So say we all!

The kittens I adopted in the fall are becoming ridiculously elongated. They are also differentiating markedly.

WereBear Guest Post: WereBear

Bud is sleeker and more slender. He is currently going through a goofy stage. He becomes so intent on playing with his toy spring that he seems to inevitably bounce it behind the bathroom door. There he wrestles with it until he closes the door on himself.

Cognition will dawn one day, but that day has not yet come.

WereBear Guest Post: WereBear 1

Lou Costello has always gone over the top. Now he’s more muscular and fluffy. While he is a professional comic, he’s getting into thoughtful periods. When Sir Tristan woke me in the middle of the night, he led me to where Lou was flattened against the sill of the bathroom door like a kitten draft stopper. From here I deduced Bud had done it again.

Sure enough, I opened the door to find Bud slumped against the vanity cabinet like a sad clown doll. He was pathetically happy to see me. I praised Tristan for his teen cat management. I began propping a catalog against the door as my part of my bedtime routine, so Bud won’t get in trouble during the night.

The other evening, Lou wanted my attention drawn to the bathroom door. I realized I had forgotten to prop the catalog, did so, and told Lou what a smart young fellow he was. So he must have the brains right now.

These two share everything.

I seem to be in a Power Cycle right now.

The Way of Cats is available in paperback and on Kindle.

Visit the Way of Cats blog.

Feel free to chat pets and ask questions.

=========================

Thanks WereBear!

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Saturday Morning Open Thread: Saturday’s Child Works Hard for A Living

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COVID-19 Coronavirus Update: Friday-Saturday, July 10-11

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Late Night Open Thread: Flailing Luzer ‘Postpones’ Portsmouth Rally

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Be nice if he’d done it before the DeathCult-heads brought their plague caravan to New England, but he didn’t have a fresh reason to avoid reporters until after Roger Stone’s commutation was announced. From the local NH television station, WMUR:

… Tropical Storm Fay is headed toward the Northeast and is expected to bring heavy rains before it moves out Saturday by late morning or early afternoon. Although the rally was scheduled for the evening, the campaign said the storm was enough to have them reschedule the outdoor event.

With the rally postponed, the days are flying off the calendar until Election Day. Even though Portsmouth is one of New Hampshire’s liberal bastions, Trump has had some memorable rallies there…

The planned rally at Portsmouth International Airport at Pease promised more memorable moments for the president’s supporters, but the Trump base will have to wait. The campaign said it plans to reschedule within the next couple weeks…

Gonna be a tough few months for the advance team. The Squatter-in-Chief is desperate for more & bigger in-person hits of slavish adoration from his cultists… but they don’t dare expose him to long periods of public scrutiny, especially when there’s a new outrage against law and decency that might incite aggressive questioning. We can only suppose that the grift, in cash or contacts, is worth the increasingly futile effort.

Much safer to stick with “rallies” like this one:

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Of Course He Fucking Pardoned Stone

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I am not even remotely surprised he did. You shouldn’t be either. Donald Trump is a criminal and a fraud, and those aren’t just words or heated political rhetoric. He’s a fucking mob boss, and of course he rewarded the guy who didn’t snitch. I’m not happy about it, but there is the slight silver lining that he is just too fucking stupid and too impatient to wait until Barr can finish his dirty work for him, and now this shit is on Trump and the Republicans, who stand by him. And I, for one, intend to never let them forget about it.

In other news, I don’t give a fuck of that CEO of Goya apologizes. If he did, he wouldn’t mean it. It’s 2020- everybody knows who Trump is, so he didn’t misspeak of get excited and have a bout of logorrhea. He said what he meant. He’s just like Trump- the failchild of billionaires who thinks the world owes him everything, and he and Trump are in the same fucking club. So fuck him and fuck Goya brands.

Speaking of Goya, I used my last back of kidney beans tonight making chili out of the brisket left over from last weekend, and god damned it was good. I didn’t know what to do with the leftovers, and then it was 100 fucking degrees for the last three days so I figured I might as well eat like a Texan.

That’s it from home crap home. Starting my first run of kraut and pickles tomorrow. Excited about that. Gotta be prepared for when the supply chains and economy collapse in a couple months.

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