Here’s my Christmas nativity. The figures come from many places and times in my life.
No jackals, though, so peace on earth and good will to all the jackals here.
This post is in: Open Threads
Here’s my Christmas nativity. The figures come from many places and times in my life.
No jackals, though, so peace on earth and good will to all the jackals here.
This post is in: Music, Open Threads, Riveted By The Sociological Significance Of It All
The reindeer are union and don’t work weekends. pic.twitter.com/kbD1bmxBzd
— shauna (@goldengateblond) December 9, 2017
In a minor seasonal miracle, our cherished holiday tree ornaments turned up last night, unearthed on a high shelf in the backyard storage shed when the Spousal Unit went out to make room for the half-dozen potted rose bushes we’re hoping to overwinter. So our mission today(with any luck) will be to buy a not-too-big tree… and a new tree holder… and some lights that won’t set fire to the whole mess.
Also, the Spousal Unit wants to hit the Lowes down the street for yet another wire shelving unit. And if the mob there isn’t too intense, I forgot to get the grocery gift card for our Sunday Globe delivery person…
Extremely tongue-in-cheek author Tove Jansson wrote a story (“The Fir Tree”) about the year when her hibernating Moomin heroes are rousted out of their snug beds by an aggrieved neighbor who tells them it is terribly unfair they don’t pitch in and do their share about Christmas. From her unhelpful complaints, as she rushes off to finish her other tremendously burdensome errands, the Moomins assume that “Christmas” is some kind of terrible monster who must be appeased with gifts of decorated trees and rich celebratory foods. Always wondered why that story wasn’t better known here!
Use the comments here to share your last-minute shopping, terrible travel, disastrous family gathering sagas. Or just to reminisce, if you’re in that kind of mood.
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I always thought the subtext to this next song was about bearing up through what seems like interminable trouble and effort…
Sunday Morning Holiday Stories Open ThreadPost + Comments (247)
by TaMara| 85 Comments
This post is in: Open Threads
I belong to an Art Deco group on FB and she posted a bunch of holiday cards, this is one of my favorites.
It is snowing like crazy here as we finish up Christmas Eve-Eve. Cookies are baking in my kitchen, everything that can be prepped for the Christmas Eve party has been done. The house is clean. The holiday dishware washed. I think I’m ready.
The menu is unusual this year – fajitas, rice with black beans and lime, chips and salsa and a ton of cookies. Simple, easy and manages everyone’s dietary issues easily.
What’s going on with you? Open thread.
This post is in: Hail to the Hairpiece, Open Threads, Clown Shoes, Fucked-up-edness, Riveted By The Sociological Significance Of It All
THE NEW BITCOIN’S HERE THE NEW BITCOIN’S HERE pic.twitter.com/CYyFtvVDXU
— Adam Weinstein (@AdamWeinstein) December 22, 2017
What's that thing from Harry Potter? Horcruxes? The challenge coin is obviously a horcrux, right?
— Adam Rogers (@jetjocko) December 22, 2017
Challenge coins are souvenirs. Humans squirrel away souvenirs; museums contain troves of antiquities whose only purpose was to proclaim WE SAW THE GREAT TEMPLE or I MADE THE PILGRIMAGE. The amazing part is that, given all his other responsibilities (getting his regular briefings from Fox News, playing golf, encouraging infighting among his minions, violating the Constitution), Lord Smallgloves still has time to cruft up something as minor as his challenge coin. From the Washington Post:
For two decades, the commander in chief has doled out distinguished-looking coins as personal mementos. Now, the presidential “challenge coin” has undergone a Trumpian transformation.
The presidential seal has been replaced by an eagle bearing President Trump’s signature. The eagle’s head faces right, not left, as on the seal. The 13 arrows representing the original states have disappeared. And the national motto, “E pluribus unum” — a Latin phrase that means “Out of many, one” — is gone.
Instead, both sides of the coin feature Trump’s campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.”
The changes don’t stop there. In addition to his signature, Trump’s name appears three times on the coin, which is thicker than those made for past presidents. And forget the traditional subdued silver and copper: Trump’s coin, a White House aide marveled, is “very gold.”
The aide said the president, whose real estate properties are known for their gilded displays of wealth and status, was personally involved in redesigning the coin. Trump, who also had a hand in creating his famous red campaign hat, “wanted to weigh in on it,” the aide said. “It’s beautifully made.”
The White House offered conflicting accounts of which funds were used to purchase the coins, with one aide saying they were paid for by the White House and a second aide later saying that the Republican National Committee is covering the expense. An RNC spokeswoman confirmed Friday afternoon that the party is paying for the coins…
… “They’re going to be used in ways they haven’t been in the past,” said the second White House aide, adding that they may be distributed at campaign rallies and to donors. Aides were not authorized to comment on the record and spoke on the condition of anonymity…
Sold at a ridiculous markup on his “campaign website”, I’m betting… once the media attention dies down.
He literally replaced "E pluribus unum" with "Make America Great Again" https://t.co/a2wBe6APZx
— Allan Smith (@akarl_smith) December 22, 2017
Other options for your presidential coin motto:
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) December 22, 2017
“From Russia With Love” (Made in China)
— Patrick Aliano (@AlianoPatrick) December 23, 2017
Vicious subtweet from Mattis: pic.twitter.com/xBaHDVyJcy
— On a Merry coXmas (@anamariecox) December 22, 2017
Open Thread: Quite the Challenge (Coin)Post + Comments (210)
by John Cole| 66 Comments
This post is in: OLD MAN YELLS AT CLOUDS
I suppose there is supposed to be an airing of grievances, but I feel like I have been doing that every god damned day since that loathsome toad became President. I just hate this man with every fiber of my being, and I am not a small man. Other than not having the money I want to do things to the house, and this shithead scumbag being President, things are going pretty well.
As for feats of strength, I am going to attempt to make ice cream tonight and not eat all two quarts as soon as I make it.
Good word is that the Balloon Juice calendar should be done soon.
No idea what I am going to do tonight other than read the news and stew in anger at Trump.
This post is in: Republican Venality, Russiagate, Our Failed Political Establishment
This is worth a thread, so that we can celebrate Christmas cheer on Betty’s thread below.
Donald Trump is attacking James Baker, the top lawyer at the FBI and Deputy Director Andrew McCabe. McCabe has announced he is retiring.
Some responses:
The president can obstruct justice by firing senior law enforcement officials and impeachment is a fully constitutional remedy, says Bob Bauer. https://t.co/nLPOyQh5ii
— Lawfare (@lawfareblog) December 22, 2017
Most Americans have never witnessed such a tactic because most of our presidents have acted in good faith in this regard, allowing the Department of Justice and the FBI relative independence to uphold the law.
— Evan McMullin (@Evan_McMullin) December 23, 2017
In many cases, this is accomplished by firing senior law enforcement officials en masse. Our norms make that difficult. So instead, Trump and his allies are working overtime to set the pretext for targeted firings, demotions, and forced retirements to accomplish the same thing.
— Evan McMullin (@Evan_McMullin) December 23, 2017
This taunting is important. It’s Trump’s way of signaling that he has purged the FBI. He doesn’t want anyone to think this is a normal retirement. He wants everyone to see it as a manifestation of his power—and for serving FBI agents & prosecutors to fear crossing him. https://t.co/FfupKzvGKq
— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) December 23, 2017
Now if FBI’s Andrew McCabe and James Baker testify against Trump, he will claim it’s sour grapes because he forced them out of their jobs. This is an inversion of reality but it will satisfy Trump’s base.
— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) December 23, 2017
History suggests that it's not a super-great idea for an American president to wage war against the FBI and CIA.
— Jeet Heer (@HeerJeet) December 23, 2017
And I expect there will be Republican congresscritters on the Sunday talk shows telling us it’s just fine for the President to attack particular individuals. Or maybe they’ll join in.
This post is in: Domestic Politics, Open Threads, General Stupidity
I’m having one of those damned days when every little thing goes wrong. Not big things, so that’s something. But the type of day when you try to fill your birdbaths and the hose gets away and sprays you in the face. You know?
Anyhoo, hope y’all’s Christmas Eve-Eve is progressing more smoothly. Open thread!