Monday Afternoon Links

How’s everyone today? The pestilence is still abiding at my house, with the wife probably having strep and the oldest an earache and light fever. I ran out to pick him up from school because he didn’t quite reach the threshold for having to be sent home, and if I come and get him, I can send him to school tomorrow if he’s better. Hoping the doc has space for me to slide in and get some antibiotics. Honestly, though, with the shit a five-year-old’s fingers touch every day, I’m surprised they don’t have permanent infections.

Dammit. I don’t even know how I would improve this story: Florida Man vows to destroy town with army of turtles.  h/t: Playa Manhattan

The Day Trump Broke Cher. By which I mean, arrives at a reasonable conclusion on the limits of the welfare state.

China (who has crossed its borders to attack the US in Korea in the last century) says the US treats Latin America like its backyard. It’s called the Monroe Doctrine and its been in place for a while.

From the funhouse mirror: Sudanese protest leaders demand end of ‘deep state’. I lol’d.

Here’s a song about turtles. And probably drugs.

Comments

755 responses to “Monday Afternoon Links”

  1. Playa Manhattan

    “I ran out to pick him up from school because he didn’t quite reach the threshold for having to be sent home, and if I come and get him, I can send him to school tomorrow if he’s better.”

    That’s an expert dad move.

  2. Private Chipperbot

    No. I said Bud Light.

    1. Private Chipperbot

      Construction worker – “No. I said Bud Light.”

      That’s better.

    2. ElspethFlashman

      Surgeon: I said “Butt light!” /old dad joke.

  3. It’s an army of Turtles!

    Slowly walk around the army, and roll them on their backs. It will neutralize them long enough for the rest of our forces to stop laughing.

    1. mexican sharpshooter

      Why don’t you just jump on their heads?

      1. And send the shells careening towards our troops? That’s madness

        1. mexican sharpshooter

          We’ll just have to find a Fire Flower.

    2. I’m Here To Help

      You laugh, but those bastards are relentless. My wife works from home. One day she hears a thumping at the front door. She goes and looks out the window, but there is nobody there. And yet the thumping continues. She checks again, but still nothing visible. Thump. Thump. Thump….

      She finally actually opens the door and finds a large turtle trying to walk through the door. It never dawned on the bugger to walk around the house to get to the lovely swamp on the other side of the yard. He was determined to go through the house. Given enough time, I am fairly certain he would have succeeded. This bugger was big and probably really old – his shell measured about a foot and a half long and had moss growing on it…

      1. Enough About Palin

        I saw an alligator turtle on TV yesterday. Was 50 years old and weighed 150 lbs. They said they can live to be 100 years old and reach 200 lbs. Damn!

      2. Tonio

        Hopefully IHTH’s turtle wasn’t a snapping turtle. Those things are nasty and often mossy.

        1. And surprisingly good eating.

        2. I’m Here To Help

          Nope, was a placid, but very determined, critter. Wife just moved him to the back of the house roughly in line with where he was heading. She went to check on him every hour or so to make sure he was still moving in the same direction, and he eventually made it across the yard.

          She said he did seem to be quite disgruntled at the fact that someone put a house in his path though….

  4. …so, any sign of a general turtle mobilization???

    1. That one just took a step!

      *blam**blam**blam**blam**blam**blam**blam**blam**blam**blam**blam**blam**blam**blam**blam*

      *reloads*

      *blam**blam**blam**blam**blam**blam**blam**blam**blam**blam**blam**blam**blam**blam**blam*

      Damn thing keeps dodging!

      /cop accuracy

      1. Hyperion

        There’s one of them over there! It’s coming right at us!

        1. Trigger Hippie

          -1 furtive movement

          1. Hyperion

            That turtle foot looked just like a gun!

    2. Chipping Pioneer

      <a href="

    3. Chipping Pioneer
  5. Drake

    Do we need a new Cher now? That one was getting pretty old anyhow.

    1. My media server in college was named Cher. It was supposed to be “Share”, but my friend decided to be a wise guy.

      1. Bobarian LMD

        Cher and Cher alike?

    2. Tonio

      [golf clap]

  6. Michael

    I apologize for my boorishness in hijacking this thread instead of commenting on Brett’s links (which I’m sure are of highest quality), but I may have made a very notable discovery today. I believe that I might have found the elusive Dumbest Person on the Internet:

    Every year, we put a bit extra into our taxes so that we get a refund to pay for an inexpensive vacation or some yearly bills. EVERY year, we have gotten a refund, for the past 20 years. This year? We got a tax BILL. We barely managed to pay it. I can’t imagine how we could have paid it if we hadn’t been taking a bit out with each paycheck. Trump’s Tax ‘Cut’ made us pay MORE in taxes this year. You can bet your bottom tax dollar that Trump and his cronies got a real cut, though.

    From the comments here:

    https://www.facebook.com/the1ashow/posts/2640986219306792

    1. grrizzly

      And these people vote.

    2. invisible finger

      And you know these idiots hand their tax return job to “a professional” and never look at the damned thing after it is returned to them.

      1. Drake

        #metoo

        But my professional compares my total YoY taxes paid and discusses strategies.

        1. invisible finger

          There’s the difference – you actually pay attention to what the professional has to say.

          I was about to start using a professional because my investment stuff was getting more and more complicated, until this new scheme came in, Now I’m back to the standard deduction so it hardly seems worth it. I’m sure when I retire and it gets complicated again I will go to a professional.

    3. Negroni Please

      Many years ago, I once had a conversation with a half dozen college educated coworkers who assured me they paid no taxes because they got a refund every year.

      No explanation worked. I had to beg them to pull up their own 1040’s and look at the line that says TAX. They still didn’t believe me.

      Many of these individuals were early career professionals with no assets and a single W-2. Unsurprisingly they paid tax preparers to spend 3 minutes filling out their 1040EZ because they could’t figure out how to do it.

      1. *sigh*

        I can’t even.

        People should have to do their taxes by hand, even just once, so that they can understand what tax returns are.

        1. JaimeRoberto: Gentleman, Scholar, French Tickler

          +1040

      2. Tonio

        This is precisely why employers should not be required to withhold taxes from your payroll. Sure, you are free to setup automatic bank account deductions to move money to an escrow account, but that should all be on you.

        And tax day will be moved to the day before election day.

      3. Pope Jimbo

        My wife did a few stints with H&R Block years ago, and the thing that killed her was people paying a fee to get a “Rapid Refund”. They’d pay a hefty fee to walk out of the office with their “refund”, but it was actually a short term loan secured by their refund. So when the real refund came through, it went to H&R Block. She said in most cases if you figured out the interest it was over 100%, but the yahoos didn’t care because they didn’t have to wait a couple weeks for the money.

    4. Stinky Wizzleteats

      You know, that person really is an idiot but the Republicans cheesed it on the PR aspect of the tax cut by not increasing the refund at the end of the year rather than doing what they did. People don’t realize they’re receiving it in smaller increments during the year it seems.

      1. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was an intentional decision by the IRS to fuck up the withholdings. I was expecting to owe a couple hundred bucks based on the previous tax regime, but it turned out to be $2600, instead. I changed nothing, but I was getting hundreds more per paycheck.

        1. My federal withholding last year was $65 less than in 2017, despite my having made rather more.

          To be fair, however, I had to write a bigger check because of a 1099 I got. Without that I think I would have written a rather smaller check.

        2. kinnath

          I read that the IRS change withholding requirements for this tax year. Normally, it’s about 2/3rds of people get a refund of some sort. The IRS wanted fewer people to get refunds (closer to 50%).

          This means that my wife and I make several thousand more in 2018 and had a net tax bill about one thousand less than 2017 (thanks tax cuts). And yet we were somehow $5700 underwithheld. That was a painful check to write.

          The fuckwads at the IRS are clearly trying to fuck over the Trump administration.

          1. And amazingly, a lot of people are falling into the trap.

          2. kinnath

            My state refund was about 80% of the refund I got last year.

            And yet I went from owing $2k last year to almost $6k this year on a lower total tax bill from the Feds.

          3. creech

            The theory I heard from the local prog was that the withholding tables were rigged to put more money in the taxpayer’s pocket so they would have more to spend every two weeks and that would make the terrible Trump economy look good due to the increased consumer spending. Now the economy will crash because people have smaller refunds to spend.

        3. AlmightyJB

          We actually ended up owing similar to last year based on similar earnings. Go figure.

  7. Hyperion

    Is this old news, when did Notre Dame cathedral burn down? Did that just happen?

    1. TODAY, it is Still on fire right now.

      1. AlmightyJB

        I would have loved to have seen it. I love cool architecture and stained glass. Too late now. Sad.

        1. But Enough About Me

          Saw it, and the Holocaust Memorial (Mémorial des Martyrs de la Déportation) on the Île de la Cité back in the late 90s; there were young couples everywhere snogging and enjoying life, and the cafés were full to bursting. I’m amazed that they could fit “hundreds of firefighters” on the amount of real estate of the Île.

          As of right now, both of the rectangular towers appear to have been saved, and hopefully the main structure of the transept. Fingers crossed.

          1. Tundra

            Yeah, but to what end? Do you keep that section open? You can’t rebuild.

            This sucks. I never got to see it.

          2. But Enough About Me

            Well, you can rebuild, but yeah, for the next few hundred years, people who go into the rebuilt section(s) will be reminded that they’re in the “new” part of the cathedral.

            Given how long it’s taken to build Gaudi’s masterpiece Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, I’m sure I’ll be long dead before Notre Dame‘s completely restored/renovated. Hell, I might not make it to see the Familia completely finished.

          3. Rhywun

            There are entire towns in Germany that were rebuilt from nearly scratch. You get over it.

          4. But Enough About Me

            Yep. Stuttgart comes to mind — a friend there showed us the “rubble mountain” of the town after the Allies had bombed the bejeezus out of it during the final days of WWII. For all practical intents and purposes, they voted to rebuild the town exactly the way it was prior to the bombing campaign, including all the annoying little streets that meandered hither and yon and didn’t take vehicular traffic very well.

          5. Rhywun

            Same in Würzburg (I lived there for a year). And most towns in the West. In the East – not so much. Lots of their obliterated rubble areas got turned into Soviet-style blocks that look like ghetto housing.

        2. OneOut

          I’ve seen it.

          The gargoyles were so impressive they were actually a little scary.

  8. Old Man With Candy

    No Happy Together for the song? Asshole.

    1. invisible finger

      Too litigious.

    2. Try clicking my music links.

      I dare you.

      1. Old Man With Candy

        Right after I click a couple of Heroic Mulatto’s links.

      1. Old Man With Candy

        Much better.

        The Kaylan-Volman version always makes me think of Bwana Dik.

  9. Hyperion

    “Dammit. I don’t even know how I would improve this story: Florida Man vows to destroy town with army of turtles.”

    The funniest part is that the cops took him seriously. I bet they were ninja turtles, right?

    1. Floridaman

      Obviously, are there any other types of turtles?

  10. jesse.in.mb

    It’s called the Monroe Doctrine and its been in place for a while.

    Bruh, I think you want the Roosevelt Corollary here.

    1. Tonio

      Assume you mean Teddy, “talk softly and carry a big stick.”

      1. jesse.in.mb

        Yeah. The Monroe Doctrine roughly stated that the US would not abide European powers meddling within our sphere of influence and that if a colony wanted independence we thought that was peachy.

        The (Teddy) Roosevelt Corollary was that if an independent Latin American state was fucking up we’d intervene to prevent Europe from getting antsy and attempting to get involved.

  11. Trigger Hippie

    ‘Florida Man vows to destroy town with army of turtles.’

    Worst Steven King short story ever.

    1. I admit, it’s a slow burn, but it gets there in the end.

    2. Raven Nation

      Turtles promote home defense: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lg9scNl9h4Q

      1. Trigger Hippie

        Wow. Those ‘active shooter’ training videos they show the kids at schools nowadays are retro as fuck.

  12. Or, since you all marvel in awe at the terrible music I post, more turtle music

    1. Tundra

      Wow.

      You really have a gift.

      Or maybe a curse.

    1. jesse.in.mb

      Awww, I was hoping one of these links would be TBT.

      1. Tundra

        Minne boys, dontcha know.

        Here’s a beauty

        1. Here’s a beauty

          One in a million girl?

          1. blackjack

            I saw the tubes at Hollister independence rally 1998. Man they were terrible! I heckled them all the way through. It was epic.

        2. pistoffnick

          From Duluth, no less

          1. Tundra

            Ever seen them up there at Bayfront?

          2. jesse.in.mb

            A few years ago I was doing a quick loop of northern Minnesota for a friendly competition to take selfies with Paul Bunyan statues and narrowly missed seeing them live in Duluth (I checked a few days after I’d booked everything and saw they were playing the weekend before). I was bummed. They’re fun live.

          3. Tundra

            I’ve never seen them and they are popular enough to not be around much anymore. I noticed they are gonna be at Red Rocks in July, but I’m gonna be in Canada.

            Eventually I’ll see them.

          1. jesse.in.mb

            My boyfriend is insistent that if you leave any Pandora playlist long enough it’ll play Where Is My Mind. So I put it on and the first song up was TBT’s cover of it.

  13. Dr. Fronkensteen

    It’s Shredder and his minions you have to worry about. Not the Turtles.

    1. Trigger Hippie

      Growing up, I had a husky friend we nicknamed Bebop. He hated that.

  14. Motherboard is here. For the record, the Processor was indeed an i9-9900x (LGA2066 Socket).

    Sadly, the heat sink is still on the way. So tomorrow, I have a confluence of the heat sink, after-hours work that requires me to not disassemble my desktop, and the Marauder II release.

    1. Hyperion

      Which board are you putting that in? I’m looking at the ASUS Prime X299-Deluxe 2. It has 8 DDR4 slots, so I figure I can stick 2 16s in there and add some more later. I think I’m going to go with the 7820X i7 8 core though. I’m balking at spending a grand on a chip, I can get the 7820X for $629.

      1. I have an ASUS TUF x299 Mark 2, also has eight memory slots, of which four will be populated when I put it together.

        1. Hyperion

          That’s a nice board also. I’m also eyeing a Thermaltake Tower 900 E-ATX Vertical Super Tower case for the new board. I said I won’t mess with water cooling, but I love how it looks.

          1. I’m using my existing case… I don’t know what it is, but it’ll fit the board.

          2. Hyperion

            I have a black Thermaltake case now that is a monster. 13 drive bays. Even with the huge heat sink on the CPU, the 1080ti and 3 SSDs, it looks really empty. But I like the tempered glass cases, so I might finally replace it.

          3. I don’t see my tower most of the time. It’s in shadows under my ‘desk’.

            Come to think of it, I should use this moment to move from this piece of plywood on a shelving unit over to my actual desk made of actual wood that is sitting in the same room but didn’t get used because I set up my computer before I moved any furnature into the house.

          4. Sensei

            Nvnme drive on my new MB was a huge win.

          5. *stares blankly*

            I’m not sure if that was a typo or tech I’ve never heard of.

          6. Eh, I’m not suffering from read/write time. I need more capacity.

          7. There are two m.2 ports on this motherboard.

            I’m not sure if I’m going to use them, or what they support for throughput.

          8. Sensei

            In my qualitative view they seem to make apps open noticeably quicker.

            My slower desktop outperformed my old much faster gaming rig with a sata ssd.

    2. Trolleric the Goth

      are you SLIing 2080Tis or something? I’m wondering why you went go Skylake-X, but not higher core count? You paid a huge platform tax to get on LGA2066 and paid $500 extra over the 9900K for 2 more cores, but not $600 for 4 more? not to mention the higher all-core turbo on the 9900K, and latency penalty from the mesh bus on Skylake-X

      1. Here’s where you’ve erred.

        You assumed a higher level of research than I actually cared to do. My process started at the problem. My problem was memory. I started from there and walked towards CPU.

        Also I can’t tell from the phrasing if you’re claiming the 14 core model is only $100 more than the ten, or not.

        I have actually never had an issue where I ran out of CPU cycles since the introduction of a second core way back when.

        1. Trolleric the Goth

          the 8C/16T 9900K (LGA1151V2 platform) is $500 and what I’m comparing against

          10C/20T 9900X (LGA2066 platform) is $1000
          12C/24T 9920X (LGA2066 platform) is $1200

          2066 motherboards are typically 50-100% more expensive than 1151V2 boards

          (but it’s an extra $200 now, intel’s SRP and street pricing has diverged)

          I kinda figured you’d research something like this, especially if you hold onto computers for as long as possible.

          1. There’s a limit to the amount of frustration I’m willing to put up with in figuring out “Will this work with that?”

            The reason I stick with the same box for so long is I hate the work to get it running. I’m not going to notice two more cores, so I probably could have gotten away with only 8. And if I’d spent a week, I could have min/maxed the price tag while I was at it.

            You’re not going to talk me into buyer’s remorse over wanting to get something ‘working’ as fast as I could manage.

        2. Hyperion

          The 14 core is $300-400 more than the 10 core on Amazon. The way I see it is that you are future proofing your rig because you probably won’t find anything to tax that thing for many years to come.

        3. Sensei

          Only on my low powered HTPC rigs have I had CPU cycle issues.

          Regular desktop and gaming rigs have never been big issue. Oculus Rift finally pushed me to upgrade. It actually handles multi threading well enough to take advantage.

          The games themselves don’t thread particularly well, but all the VR processes do.

    3. Sensei

      Air or water cooled? I’m not a fan of leaks so I have an insanely big air cooler with slow speed fans.

      Very good noise levels. I value quiet over absolute performance.

      1. Air.

        I’m sticking it in my existing tower, with the existing hard drives, power supply, and video card.

      2. Hyperion

        Leaks scare me also. That’s why I’m hesitant to do water cooled. Frying a couple thousand dollars of hardware would really suck.

        1. Yeah, I am not going to put that investment at risk like that. As long as I can maintain operating temperature, I’m good. Overclocking is for people who do research.

  15. Rufus the Monocled

    Re celebrities. Slowly. Slowly they’re figuring it out.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2fLfeHfz0M

    We all knew it was projection in most cases and that the people doing the screaming had bigger problems personally than anything to do with Trump.

    1. Hyperion

      Am I the only one who remembers Trump going on Oprah and there was no talk of him being a Nazi and a monster? It really has nothing to do with Trump anyway, it’s because he beat Hillary and he’s unafraid of them and won’t apologize. They’re used to just being able to shout down everyone or label them a racist and have people groveling. They could have gotten that with Jeb, but that didn’t work out.

    2. Michael

      Chelsea Handler = would.

      Don’t come at me with the hot/crazy matrix stuff. I know and don’t care.

      1. Don’t come at me with the hot/crazy matrix stuff.

        How about the fact that she has always been a bit too bony, has a massive case of resting bitch face, and she’s starting to show her age?

        1. Michael

          The boniness and RBF weirdly seem to work in her favor as far as I’m concerned. I’m also starting to get a little rusty in the undercarriage myself, to her age is a plus to me too. If she was to ever quit drinking and somehow discover libertarianism through sobriety, I think my boner would explode with the force of a thousand nuclear bombs.

          1. Bobarian LMD

            That sounds like a nasty venereal disease.

      2. Sir Digby’s The Golden Age of Ballooning

        Don’t come at me with the hot

        For Handler? No problem-it’ll be quite easy to not do so.

    3. Count Potato

      I think she is trying to save face at this point.

  16. Rufus the Monocled

    I just found out Gram Parsons isn’t in the country music hall of fame?

    Wow.

    1. Private Chipperbot

      Sounds like a project is needed to get him in.

      1. Sensei

        Alan is on it…

    2. invisible finger

      He’s a goddamn pussy.

    3. JaimeRoberto: Gentleman, Scholar, French Tickler

      I wonder what metric they use to decide who gets in.

      1. Gustave Lytton

        A pretty good one apparently, although they’re letting in too many people recently. Don Williams wasn’t inducted until 2010. There are a lot of others left out that should be in there before OD boy.

  17. robc

    Notre Dame looks like a total loss happening.

    1. I have to remind myself to wait for information. Don’t jump to conclusions or speculate.

      I just find it very suspicious to have a famous cathedral on fire in the week leading up to Easter.

      1. Stinky Wizzleteats

        They’re doing construction so it
        could be grinding, welding, etc. That’s the likely cause but what I assume you’re hinting at wouldn’t surprise me either.

        1. This is why I’m reminding myself of the “Wait for more information” Principle I purport to live by in such situations. (ie, not directly involving me and easily sensationalized)

          1. Rufus the Monocled

            *If* it would be *them*. The reaction will be telling of it all.

            Destroying cherished Western monuments and Churches on home soil shouldn’t be tolerated full stop.

          2. jesse.in.mb

            Are you secretly Glen Beck?

          3. *sound of all the pieces clicking together*

          4. WTF

            I will admit, with this happening during a holy week, The thought did pop into my head to wonder if there were any Muslims on the renovation crew.

        2. slumbrew

          Hanlon’s razor applies. Cock-up over conspiracy.

      2. Hyperion

        It may have been some idiot leaving a lit cigarette somewhere near flammable stuff.

        1. Rufus the Monocled

          Fricken Parisian mimes and their cigarettes and berets.

    2. The Other Kevin

      What exactly is burning? I thought that except for the roof the whole thing was made of stone. (Please forgive my ignorance of architecture and engineering).

      1. Raven Nation

        Roof, one of the spire has collapsed. It’s already on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vgVExkZ9GE

        1. robc

          They just said the fire is completely out in the Bell Towers, but the fire in the cathedral proper seems out of control.

        2. B.P.

          Whelp, that’s terrible.

      2. dorvinion

        Exterior is stone, but there is a lot smaller wooden rooms that I would guess function as residences for a few priests, as well as storage and display of artifacts.

        1. robc

          Wooden trusses too, I just heard.

          The Archbishop of Paris has his office there.

      3. Trigger Hippie

        It looked like the entire structure was surrounded by wood scaffolding prior to the fire. I wouldn’t jump to conclusions just yet either. Simple negligence is most likely at this point.

      4. Hyperion

        Apparently not. Look at some of the pics of the spire burning. Looks like a lot of wood there.

    3. Tundra

      They got a bunch of the artwork and relics out, it sounds like.

      1. robc

        Yes, a bunch of statues were taken off the roof last week and other stuff got removed today before the fire got lower. I just heard them say they aren’t sure how many were lost though.

        The stained glass is all gone, I think.

        1. Chipwooder

          And that’s the most notable thing of the entire place. Notre Dame’s stained glass was arguably the finest on earth, featuring hues that have never been recreated in nearly a thousand years since.

          1. Creosote Achilles

            Such a tragic event. So much beauty being wiped out.

    4. Rufus the Monocled

      That’s terrible!

      It better be an act of God.

      1. Scruffy Nerfherder

        Nope, not me.

    5. Raven Nation

      Somewhat related, has Just Sayin’ been around lately?

      1. Tundra

        Shut it down. You win.

      2. He’s over on the Reasonoids mailing list.

    6. Not an Economist

      Once it got going, there was very little they could do to put it out. Based on expert opinion.

      He sounds right.

  18. The Late P Brooks

    It sounds like we need common sense candle control.

    1. Pine_Tree

      I’d bet the more mundane answer is a run-of-the-mill hotwork failure or something left running (e.g. shop vac) forever that shouldn’t have been. I think the Cutty Sark fire was a shop vac left on.

      1. robc

        Construction worker and cigarette?

        1. Hyperion

          I’d say a likely candidate.

        2. Dr. Fronkensteen

          Would really hate to be that construction worker right about now.

          1. Floridaman

            They all smoke, good luck figuring out who done it.

        3. We’re not talking about a nuclear submarine here.

          But yeah…fire watch not doing their job.

    2. Pope Jimbo

      Huh, I figured some cheapskate priest wouldn’t spring for lube and the altar boy was a bit tighter than anticipated and the friction started thing on fire.

  19. The Late P Brooks

    a half dozen college educated coworkers who assured me they paid no taxes because they got a refund every year.

    QED.

  20. The Late P Brooks

    I just found out Gram Parsons isn’t in the country music hall of fame?

    Tell him to keep trying.

    1. Rufus the Monocled

      He should leave that island where he lives with Andy Kaufman, Elvis, Janis, Jimi and Jim.

  21. grrizzly

    Alternative family arrangements: bald eagles.

    1. jesse.in.mb

      MMF threeways = freedom (occasionally).

      1. Bobarian LMD

        Jesse: “I thought she’d never leave.”

  22. …Latin America IS in our back yard, though.

    1. Dr. Fronkensteen

      So is Russia.

    2. Stinky Wizzleteats

      Latin America may have it rough but I think they still made out better than Tibet.

    1. Bobarian LMD

      Looks like she had the tires inflated some.

    1. slumbrew

      Holy smokes, Brooke Burke – looking good for 47. Looking good for any age, really.

      ISTR she married a big-time Beverly Hills plastic surgeon, so there’s a bunch of work there, but it’s high-quality.

      1. slumbrew

        or not Brooke’s first marriage to plastic surgeon Garth Fisher ended in divorce in 2005 – at least, not on the arm.

      2. Scruffy Nerfherder

        She’s phenomenal

      3. The “I have one smile” smile.

  23. Rufus the Monocled

    All you need to know about climate change in 30 seconds. Idiot.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuOMuI0okmY

    1. Count Potato

      He’s like a stiffer, stupider, Al Gore, if that’s possible.

  24. Winston

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hunchback_of_Notre-Dame#Title

    Victor Hugo began writing Notre-Dame de Paris in 1829, largely to make his contemporaries more aware of the value of the Gothic architecture, which was neglected and often destroyed to be replaced by new buildings or defaced by replacement of parts of buildings in a newer style. For instance, the medieval stained glass panels of Notre-Dame de Paris had been replaced by white glass to let more light into the church.[1] This explains the large descriptive sections of the book, which far exceed the requirements of the story. A few years earlier, Hugo had already published a paper entitled Guerre aux Démolisseurs (War to the Demolishers) specifically aimed at saving Paris’ medieval architecture.[2]

    1. Rufus the Monocled

      It was an angry tome against the modern architecture of the day.

      It’s better he’s dead because it got even worse.

  25. Rufus the Monocled

    If there’s any team that can come from 0-3 down it’s Tampa.

    Just saying.

    1. Boo!

      Go Jackets!

      1. Rufus the Monocled

        It’s not likely. CBJ is playing, like, totes amazing.

        1. Rufus the Monocled

          are.

          waaatevah.

      1. Old Man With Candy

        Michael Malice beat you to that one.

        Next up: Talking Heads.

      2. Trigger Hippie

        For us ex-raver, gen x kids:

        https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wmin5WkOuPw

        1. Rufus the Monocled

          The inspiration for Mugatu?

          1. Trigger Hippie

            Holy shit.

            *glass shaters*

            Mixed with a bit of late eighteenth century French nobility prissy pants and you may have something there.

          1. Count Potato

            I thought Bob Mould was your uncle.

          2. “….and Bob’s your uncle!”

            /common British expression that doesn’t mean much, there you go.

        2. Count Potato

          That was after they stopped making techno though.

      3. Floridaman

        I would have gone with this.
        https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=U3NoDEu7kpg

        1. Count Potato

          That’s the most on topic.

      4. Juan-Baptiste Emmanuel Seguin
    1. Winston

      Was Jimmy Savile the host back then? Extra irony.

      1. We usee extra irony on Jimmy Savile Row tailored shirts. Starchee extra.

    2. Count Potato

      I saw him play this live, a long time ago.

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5PoIrcyd34

      I know his politics suck ass, but he played a great set.

      1. Rhywun

        Bravo!

  26. Winston

    Someone just edited the Wikipedia page on the Hunchback of Notre Dame to add this:

    Years later they are discovered and, while trying to separate them, Quasimodo’s bones turn to dust ultimately acting as the kindle which would later burn the Cathedral down.

    1. Rufus the Monocled

      Lol. Sometimes I love life and humans.

    2. Scruffy Nerfherder

      Impossible, Pie is the hunchback and she has a rock solid alibi.

    3. Winston

      And the section I quoted has now been deleted. Hmm…

    1. Floridaman

      Ehh, it died when this place formed. This was merely burying the remains.

      1. I’m surprised they announced it.

        1. Floridaman

          No no no, don’t you see now that they got rid of that pesky free speech we are finally on the cusp of the libertarian moment, they had to tell everyone.

          1. So they have no comments section anymore?

          2. Floridaman

            Yeah, I just checked some articles, no comment option.

          3. Winston

            There still are comments, just a lot harder to find.

          4. wdalasio

            They still have comments. But, the comments have definitely been demoted.

          5. Hyperion

            The departure of all the quality commentariat at one time, doomed them.

          6. slumbrew

            The departure of all the quality commentariat…

            Along with the rest of you guys…

          7. BakedPenguin

            Looks like it. I checked out a couple articles and didn’t see anywhere to put comments.

          8. BakedPenguin

            Or what Winston & wdalasio said

          9. B.P.

            There’s a pink quotation box at the top of each article along with a half dozen other icons (twitter, etc.).

    2. Juvenile Bluster

      It’s for the best.

    3. Winston

      So is the Suckification of Reason over?

      1. Dr. Fronkensteen

        Depends, Is TDS still a thing?

        1. Dr. Fronkensteen

          No, just like your mother.

          Sorry, I forgot to pile on.

      2. wdalasio

        Not over, so much as complete.

      3. Winston

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reason_(magazine)

        Hit & Run is Reason’s group blog. It is maintained and written by the staff of the magazine. It was started in 2002. Then-editor Gillespie and then-Web editor Tim Cavanaugh, both veterans of Suck.com, modeled the blog in some ways after that website: they brought along several other Suck.com writers to contribute, fostered a style in the blog matching that former website’s sarcastic attitude, and even the name “Hit & Run” was taken from what had been a weekly news roundup column on Suck.com. Reason editors referred to this co-opting of the former website as the “Suck-ification of Reason”.[16]

        1. Old Man With Candy

          Fuck Timmy. Bastard banned me.

          1. Spudalicious

            Something, something, broken clock, something.

          2. robc

            He is the only one I ever respected.

            Now I know why.

    4. Rufus the Monocled

      Fill me in. Why is this a bad thing?

      1. I don’t know. Did they disable comments?

        1. Trigger Hippie

          Most of the remaining commenters were disabled so they just ran with it.

      2. Spartacus

        It’s not a good thing or a bad thing, just evolution at work.

        1. Spartacus

          I do feel a little nostalgic though, because I remember when Hit&Run first started.

          Ob-la-di, Ob-la-da.

          1. Old Man With Candy

            It’s a sad thing for me- I met folks from there who became close and long time real-life friends. At one time, it had a terrific atmosphere and there was some excellent and spirited discussion. That changed, but I suspect that from a commercial standpoint, this is no big loss to them.

          2. Bobarian LMD

            This.

            I suspect that those of us who donated to the site were just a drop in the bucket.

            I’ve been reading Bob Poole’s memoirs about working and building up Reason; and it’s kind of sad where it’s gone to.

          3. Gustave Lytton

            Do the memoirs charge an extra fee for each page you turn, on top of the original purchase price?

    5. Trigger Hippie

      RECOMMENDED
      2016 Was a Hell of Year. Lucky for You, Reason Is a Hell of a Magazine.

      Yeah, it was. Then November, 8th came and went and three-quarters of your staff lost their fucking minds.

      The King is Dead. Long Live the Glib!

    6. The Other Kevin

      * Fastens seat belt, braces for sudden influx of commentors*

      1. Dr. Fronkensteen

        And cat butts.

      2. Hyperion

        Heh, you have a point there. I’m sure one of Shreek’s socks will make another attempt soon.

        1. Bobarian LMD

          you’ve been here for a while already.

      3. robc

        We need some loyal opposition.

    7. Old Man With Candy

      Virginia Postrel’s posthumous victory.

      1. Playa Manhattan

        RIP gone too soon

      2. Tundra

        IT WASN’T MY FAULT!

        I don’t even speak Spanish.

      3. Hyperion

        Ahh, the Ice Queen. She’ll have to miss us forever now.

    8. Stinky Wizzleteats

      All the articles I clicked on still have comments sections.

      1. Yep – cloud icon icon on the very bottom of their “articles”

    9. Scruffy Nerfherder

      It was a career liability for the writers.

      1. Winston

        How so? The comment section hasn’t been abolished (for now….)

      2. db

        Don’t talk about Lucy

        1. Old Man With Candy

          I’ve seen her naked.

          1. db

            YOU LIE!

          2. Old Man With Candy

            Rumors of her penis are somewhat exaggerated.

    10. Playa Manhattan

      About a decade ago, they were voted one of the best blogs on the internet.

      This is a defeat. There’s really no other way to describe it.

      1. wdalasio

        Defeat or slow suicide?

        1. Playa Manhattan

          Both, I guess.

      2. Winston

        Well they still have money and cocktail party invites…

    11. db

      Wow. I think my first comment over there was in 2002? Maybe 2003. Good times but i wasted so damn many hours there…sad to hear it is gone but i suppose i don’t really miss it.

      1. Old Man With Candy

        About the same for me (four or five handles back).

        1. l0b0t

          Were you there for the first group mutiny from H&R (Grilliad or something like that)?

          1. db

            I was for a while

          2. Old Man With Candy

            No. I found Jennifer remarkably annoying and was glad to see her go.

            For some odd reason, MNG took a liking to me.

          3. Bobarian LMD

            That’s a name I’d almost forgot.

          4. jesse.in.mb
          5. Rhywun

            Wow. Lot of familiar names there. I’ve never been.

          6. Gustave Lytton

            Me neither, and ditto on the familiar names.

          7. B.P.

            Wow, it’s still going. Splitters!

        2. Gustave Lytton

          four or five handles back

          tulpa confirmed!

    12. The Bearded Hobbit

      I recall, quite a few years ago, when Hit&Run was one of the top 10 blogs according to (I think) Playboy magazine among several others. Then they dissed Sloopy’s Mom and the rest is history.

      1. l0b0t

        I went by last week and was gonna comment on a Fruit-Sushi article but found my handle was a reference to their ignoring Sloopy’s mother. I changed it way back then but then cut out for this, far superior, place. Then I saw a comment wherein Crusty Juggler was being accused of being a brand new Libtard troll, so I scurried back here. I miss Liberty, it was the magazine that led me to Reason and it was a great read.

  27. Gadfly

    China (who has crossed its borders to attack the US in Korea in the last century) says the US treats Latin America like its backyard.

    They’re just jealous.

    1. Rhywun

      ^This.

      Their recent actions in Africa and elsewhere show every intent they have to project global power.

    2. Playa Manhattan

      It is kind of our backyard. Or front yard, depending on which way you’re facing.

    3. Spudalicious

      And China treats Tibet like an open air latrine.

  28. Well, that point is moot

    The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
    2.4 hrs on record
    last played on Apr 14

    No refunds past 2 hours.

    At least it was only $15

  29. Count Potato

    A company sent me the wrong part. It probably cost them fifty cents to make, but they wanted it back anyway. So they sent me two separate boxes via UPS. One box had the replacement part. The other box? It had a FedEx return label.

    SMDH

    1. I ordered two brass rods from Amazon, the package (and it was just an envelope wasn’t like they were shrink wrapped together and bar coded or anything) only had one. There was no way for them to send me one more, they had to send me two more and I had to send one of the three identical rods back.

      1. Count Potato

        That’s just retarded.

  30. >>>>arrives at a reasonable conclusion on the limits of the welfare state.

    According to a few open border advocates, the US can easily handle the population of 1 Billion people. So just triple our current population and – uh – profit?
    https://openborders.info/blog/billion-immigrants-change-american-polity/

    1. oops wrong article – but whatevs.

    2. Hyperion

      The same idiots will tell you that unless we reduce the global population to 500 million or less, the earth is unsustainable. I mean, I guess unless we put all 7.5 billion in the USA and give them free shit, then it’s OK.

      1. Akira

        Unless you put them in sanctuary cities. Because despite the fact that they are literally advertising to illegal immigrants by designating themselves as such, they actually scream and cry if someone proposes the idea of shipping the illegal immigrants there.

        1. Rhywun

          It’s amazing how easy they are to troll when you DGAF.

  31. Playa Manhattan

    I’m roasting a 30lb suckling pig with some friends on Saturday.

    I’ve been doing some test kitchen type experiments to make sure we get it right, and don’t ruin an expensive piece of meat.

    Just finished a test run with a sodium phosphate brine (36 hours). It is SO MUCH BETTER than the control. Juicy, succulent, flavorful. I’m going to consider this mandatory from now on.

    1. Scruffy Nerfherder

      Interesting, keep me posted

        1. Playa Manhattan

          Although, they do have an all in one blend for injection, if you don’t want to make a brine from scratch:
          https://www.amazon.com/Make-Meaty-Injection-Base-gallon/dp/B00OVA8N8G/

    2. jesse.in.mb

      Do you need any meat glue? I still have a bunch of meat glue.

      1. Playa Manhattan

        If the head falls off, you’ll be my first phone call.

      2. Any time I need to hold my meat in place, I just click a Q link.

      3. Bobarian LMD

        Is it in a 55 gallon drum?

    3. Urthona

      I’m suckling a 30 lb roasting pig.

    4. Tundra

      How will you be roasting it? Hawaiian luau style?

      1. Playa Manhattan

        Rotisserie over a flat bed of coals, with a few applewood chunks.

        I’m not the lead on this, but I’m trying to exert as much control as I can. My neighbor wanted to pick the pig up on Friday for a Saturday morning start time. HELL NO. It needs to brine for at least 2 days, if not more.

        1. Tundra

          Take some pics if you wouldn’t mind. And yes, your neighbor is crazy. Hell, I let my tri tips brine for two days. Makes a big difference.

          1. Playa Manhattan

            He’s Canadian, here on assignment for 3 years. I assume that he doesn’t know any better.

        2. db

          Did you kill it yet?

          1. Playa Manhattan

            El Gaucho Meat Market of Lawndale, CA took care of it for me.

          2. jesse.in.mb

            Careful there. Folks might realize you’re not a Player from NYC.

          3. db

            Good to have a posse

      2. mexican sharpshooter

        *blows into conch shell*

    5. The Bearded Hobbit

      I used to do a pig roast about once per year, generally around the 4th of July. We didn’t do a 30lb pig, closer to a 150lb pig.

      1. Dig a big-ass pit (6 ft deep or so and large enough to fit the pig)
      2. Throw a bunch on rocks in the bottom.
      3. Build a big-ass fire in the pit starting about mid-afternoon. Stand around said fire drinking beer.
      4. Stuff the pig carcass with a bunch of veggies and cover liberally with BBQ sauce. We used to use Powdrells
      5. Wrap the pig with a sheet then cover with water-soaked gunny sacks. Place the whole thing on a piece of remesh
      6. Drop the assembly into the firepit around 9PM. Cover with dirt and go to bed.
      7. About 2-3PM the next day, dig up pig, pull out of the pit with the remesh and unwrap.
      8. Enjoy the most succulent pig you’ve ever eaten.

      1. Rhywun

        Are you Andrew Zimmern?

  32. Gadfly

    Amusing story for tax day: since Meghan Markle hasn’t renounced her US citizenship –

    That’s because as US citizens, both Meghan and her baby — who will be seventh in line to the British throne — will be liable to pay US taxes, which could potentially open up the notoriously private royal accounts to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

    1. Not Adahn

      *giggles*

    2. leon

      There is still an amendment kicking around that would strip citizenship of anyone who accepts a title of nobility.

      1. Gustave Lytton

        Extend it to anyone who continues to use their former office as a continuing title and I’m sold.

  33. Chipping Pioneer
  34. l0b0t

    Wifey is chaperoning a field trip to Hotlanta so it’s me and the kids for 2 days. We just fried a bunch of chicken and okra, made biscuits, and I’m introducing them to the cartoon delight that is Thundaar The Barbarian. Life is good.

    1. slumbrew

      Oh, fuck yeah. Thundaar was the joint.

    2. Great taste on both counts!

      1. l0b0t

        I had forgotten how much I love fried okra. We had to make a second batch.

        1. Need to figure out where I can find that regularly – home batches (frozen, etc) don’t work well for me. Walmart has it in the deli periodically, but not recently. One of my favorites.

          1. Old Man With Candy

            I love that stuff. A lot of restaurant supply places have it frozen in bulk, if you’re feeling adventurous.

    3. jesse.in.mb

      Thundaar The Barbarian

      Every few years in my Google search history is an entry along the lines of “cartoon comet moon split magic” because I can’t remember the series name.

      1. slumbrew

        It’s so ingrained in my childhood that I started laughing when I heard of the band Ookla The Mok

    4. Sean

      ? that show

      http://www.itsaturday.com/Thundarr-the-Barbarian-1980-1984

      All the episodes watchable at the link above

        1. Sean

          I got mine at Amazon.

  35. Suthenboy

    An army of turtles. Hmmm.
    Unless they are named after renaissance artists couldn’t you just walk fast and outrun them?

    1. l0b0t

      Being Florida, they are sure to have a cadre of suicide gopher turtles. Their mission is to plant themselves on the roadway and act as speed-bumps. Once the townsfolk have been slowed down, it’s TERRAPIN TIME!!

    2. Hyperion

      Pretty sure you can walk slowly and outrun them.

      1. Rhywun

        I can walk slowly and outrun a bus around here. Fun fact: on the block where I used to live around the corner from my present location, there was a stop at both ends. The system appears to be designed for the senior set, and every time someone points out there’s way too many damn bus stops, they let you have it.

        1. l0b0t

          Do they have those stupid double-length bifurcated buses over by you? They are far too long for these early to mid-20th century Rockaway roads.

          1. Rhywun

            No. Never seen the like in Brooklyn. Only Manhattan, and rarely then.

          2. l0b0t

            They are all over the place out here and they can snarl up traffic like you wouldn’t believe.

  36. slumbrew

    First-world problems – I’m reluctant to leave the house because my shipment of wine is “out for delivery, signature required”.

    1. Playa Manhattan

      Shipment of wine? That sounds very illegal.

      1. slumbrew

        Totally legal in Mass, thanks to Drew Bledsoe.

        1. slumbrew

          I spoke it into existence – wine has arrived! Now to catalog it, label it and put it in the basement. It’s like collecting baseball cards! But you eat the cards, and they get you drunk? I dunno, that analogy may be flawed.

          1. Spudalicious

            Catalog it and label it? How big is your cellar?

          2. jesse.in.mb

            These euphemisms!

          3. slumbrew

            That all sounds grander than it is; there are around 120 bottles, spread between the cabinet up here, a little wine fridge and a rack in the basement.

            I use https://www.cellartracker.com/ to keep track of what’s where; the ‘drinkability report’ is handy, in that it uses an age x quantity formula to let you know what’s ready to go, if you don’t have something particular in mind.

            I’d be fine without CellarTracker, but it appeals to my inner librarian.

          4. Spudalicious

            I like CellarTracker reviews and the drinkability reports.

          5. pistoffnick

            If he asks you to put lotion on before going into his cellar – RUN! RUN AWAY! IT’S A TRAP!

          6. slumbrew

            The house is from 1890-something, with a fieldstone foundation, so it’s got a nice Silence of The Lambs vibe.

        2. grrizzly

          Even before Drew Bledsoe, wine could be shipped to Massachusetts customers. But wine shipment companies had to have local distributors/representatives.

          1. slumbrew

            True, true – this particular shipment would have been right out as they’re a tiny place with no local representation that I’m aware of.

  37. Some random music: Ronnie Lane of the Faces/The Small Faces had a good solo run before MS took its toll
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ0AI_w_70w

  38. Rhywun

    Today in pulling numbers out of our ass.

    The researchers say between 2018 and 2037 the label would prevent more than 354,000 new cases of cardiovascular disease and 600,000 fewer cases of type 2 diabetes — translating to more than $31 billion in health care costs.

    The kicker to me would seem to be that every product I look at already states the amount of sugar in grams/serving.

    1. Count Potato

      Or you know, humans can how sweet food is.

    2. Chafed

      But this time it will work.

  39. Spudalicious

    Looks like the fire started in the attic, where they were doing renovations. Based on the fire load, the age of the timber and the point of origin, this was a done deal before the first engine ever left the station.

    1. Old Man With Candy

      Listen to him, folks, he was the top arsonist in Contra Costa County.

      1. Spudalicious

        “Only thing better than fighting them is lighting them.”

        I did put some fire on the ground.

      2. Timeloose

        OMWC I saw you took to the charcoal grill. If you haven’t already, I would invest in a good chimney starter and a grilling stone for pizzas.

        1. Old Man With Candy

          The grill is a bit too small for our stone, but for small pizza, we have an electric unit with a stone that works surprisingly well.

          Building a chimney is a project for next weekend.

          1. Timeloose

            Nice, do you own a spot welder?

          2. Old Man With Candy

            Torch. I’m old school.

      3. Contra Costa County?
        That’s where I live.

    2. B.P.

      Oh, I’m sure the contractor posted enough bond to cover the loss of the Notre Dame Cathedral.

      1. Rhywun

        That’s going to take the GDP of a small country to rebuild.

        1. Not Adahn

          I pick 2137 as the start date for reconstruction, and never for the final date.

    3. Not Adahn

      So… insurance, Catholic Church, or French Gov’t funds for reconstruction?

      1. MikeS

        Yes. And throw in a bunch of UNESCO funds as well.

      2. Gender Traitor

        Monks all over Paris are frantically handwriting and illuminating “Goeth Thou and Fund Me” pages.

        1. ElspethFlashman

          Ok, I lol’d.

        2. Trigger Hippie

          [golf clap]

    4. Playa Manhattan

      The smallest timber in that roof is 12″x12″ beams.

      1. Spudalicious

        The cheaper way to go would be with cased gluelam beams. I can’t imagine what the cost for full dimensional lumber would be in today’s dollars. The other question is whether modern building codes would apply?

        1. Tundra

          OSHA would kill any project like that stone dead.

        2. MikeS

          Or steel beams “boxed” in real wood.

          Of course, it’s very possible that none of us will be alive to see what the rebuild looks like.

          1. Not Adahn

            As I understand it, these trusses aren’t visible from public areas. They’re structural, so there’s no reason for them to be wood.

        3. Playa Manhattan

          May as well just replace everything with Ikea furniture.

          1. Spudalicious

            It would take twice as long to rebuild just because of the assembly instructions.

    5. straffinrun

      Just to stoke the conspiracy fires, you never know.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Namdaemun_fire

    6. I. B. McGinty

      Spud are you currently or have you lived in CCC? I grew up in Martinez, but left many years ago.

      1. Spudalicious

        I lived in central CCC for 30 years. The last 20 in Pleasant Hill.

        1. Spudalicious

          We moved to Idaho seven years ago.

        2. Tundra

          CCC was a big part of my life. My great-grandparents had a ranch in Antioch. And every job I had seemed to take me to Concord.

          It’s all very different today.

          1. Spudalicious

            First house I ever bought was in Antioch within walking distance of the Contra Loma reservoir. Every time we go back to see my kids, it’s worse. I have zero regrets for leaving. I got to enjoy it before it became a shithole.

          2. Tundra

            When I was there in the ’70s it was paradise! We could ride minibikes everywhere, hunt rabbits and pick fruit in the orchard. I was probably only one of a handful of MN yutes who had experience harvesting almonds. By the late ’80s it was declining and now I don’t recognize it.

            The family still owns a bit of land there, but no one cares.

            I just wish my kids could have seen it back in the day. I was really fucking lucky.

          3. I. B. McGinty

            I’m glad I left in ’94, but enjoyed growing up there.

          4. We’ve lived in Orinda for 20 years now.

        3. Old Man With Candy

          Heh, I remember when we were moving up there from SoCal and the place across the street from you went up for sale. Both wives said in chorus, “NO!!!”

          Well, those days are gone. So are those wives.

  40. Timeloose

    My tortoise said that water’s for suckas and wack as turtles.

    1. Hyperion

      I’m pretty sure that being funny is offensive to the woke crowd, so probably not.

    2. Playa Manhattan

      Whatever SNL does, someone else does it better:
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fEfwyt5-VbQ

        1. Trigger Hippie

          I’d say during its run Mad TV was consistently funnier and more willing to shit on the famous and powerful than SNL over that time period and I thought SNL possibly had its most well-rounded cast.

    3. Suthenboy

      Who is that? They are not SNL. I dont know any of those people and they aren’t running around with their hair on fire repeatedly yelling “Trump is a poppyhead!”

  41. MikeS

    Joaquin Phoenix is playing Jesus in new film but refused to do one thing: ‘Who the f— would do that?’

    An early scene in the movie required the 44-year-old actor, who recently played Joker, to perform a miracle from John’s gospel, in which Jesus healed a blind man by rubbing mud in his eyes (portrayed by a woman in the film).

    “I knew about that scene from the Bible, but I guess I had never really considered it,” Phoenix told CNN. “When I got there, I thought, ‘I’m not going to rub dirt in her eyes. Who the f— would do that?’ It doesn’t make any sense. That is a horrible introduction to seeing.”

    For some extra eye-rolling:

    The film, set for release on Good Friday, looks at the story of Jesus from a more feminine perspective, as many biblical scholars have lableled Mary Magdalene, played by Phoenix’s real-life girlfriend, Rooney Mara, the “first feminist.”

    1. slumbrew

      “Let’s make a movie about Jesus that Christians won’t want to see!”

    2. Not Adahn

      Who the f— would do that?

      Oh I dunno — Jesus, maybe?

      Look Joaquin, your Joker was excellent, but do you really think you know more about performing miracles than the Lamb of God? You couldn’t even bring your own brother back from the dead.

      1. Raven Nation

        “You couldn’t even bring your own brother back from the dead.”

        Harsh, but fair.

    3. Suthenboy

      “Shut the fuck up and follow your lines. You are a prop, that’s all.”

  42. Hyperion

    I’m making a gallon of my fresh salsa. Now with MOARZ SOAP WEED!

    1. Playa Manhattan

      Did you roast the tomatoes first?

      1. Hyperion

        No, it’s fresh salsa, I don’t cook anything.

    2. Count Potato

      *shudders*

    3. Spudalicious

      SOAP WEED, FTW!!!

      1. Tundra

        Love the soap weed, man. Love.

        Cilantro is good for the liver, you dumb shits!

        1. SP

          You just continue to disappoint me.

          1. Tundra

            Did you hear the part about the liver?

            I have to disappoint you today so I can be alive to disappoint you tomorrow.

          2. Hyperion

            Maybe the soap weed is why I was able to almost kill myself drinking while being overweight and sedentary, yet my liver function was 100%. Made of cast iron and teflon coated no doubt.

          3. Spudalicious

            Srsly? All it took was cilantro to draw you out of hiding?

            Cilantro, cilantro, cilantro!

          4. Tundra

            *chops cilantro*

          5. Not Adahn

            I think you need to be looking in a mirror when you say that for the summoning to work.

          6. SP

            I commented on something the other day.

            But really, Ivory Soap is just too disgusting to put in food.

          7. Rhywun

            I’m on the fence. It’s essential in salsa but some idiot put leaves of it in my salad I have to think by mistake once and it was disgusting.

        2. Count Potato

          It’s already been scientifically proven that people who like cilantro are genetically inferior.

          1. Hyperion

            You spelled superior wrong. Yo, edit fairy!

          2. Spudalicious

            I like it when I committing cannibalism on a baked potato. Just sayin’.

        3. Hyperion

          I feel bad for people who can’t taste cilantro the proper way. That’s not a life. It’s like not liking spicey food, miserable existence.

      2. Suthenboy

        I love you people but….what the hell is wrong with you?

        1. Sean

          I drink too much, like cilantro, and want my steaks and burgers served medium rare. No apologies.

          1. Tundra

            This kid gets it.

  43. Tundra

    Bruins/Leafs or Caps/Canes? Decisions, decisions.

    Oh, and Kadri is a dumbfuck.

    1. slumbrew

      *searches* out for the rest of the 1st round – dumbass.

    2. Rhywun

      Tronna here.

      1. Tundra

        O Canada is a solid anthem.

        Fight me.

        1. Rhywun

          It is. And I hate that they wokified it. I wonder if they’ll take “God” out next.

        2. But Enough About Me

          It was more solider before it became partially woke. Oh well.

        3. Count Potato

          I think it sounds better in French.

          1. But Enough About Me

            Doesn’t everything? {waggles eyebrows suggestively}

          2. Winston

            Um Quebec?

          3. Winston

            The French version has totally different lyrics by the way. The English version is not a translation of the French version.

        4. The Last American Hero

          Do I have to pull your jersey over your head first or do we just start swinging?

      2. Tundra

        Nice start. Good speed.

  44. For Swiss and any other Catalan fans… https://www.verkami.com/projects/23040-edicio-integral-de-la-saga-datlas-axis-en-catala

    Atlas and Axis is a fun book. The creator is crowdfunding to publish a Catalan language edition.

    1. Rhywun

      I’m reminded of Asterix & Obelix – which I read in German.

      1. I definitely recommend it. Posted a review on my channel last year. The English-language version is from Titan Comics/Statix Imprint. You should be able to order on amazon or from your local comic book store.

        https://www.amazon.com/Atlas-Axis-Pau/dp/1782763503/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=atlas+and+axis&qid=1555371730&s=gateway&sr=8-2

  45. LJW

    I know I’m posting a Facebook link but read the comments. Also take note of the laughing emoji response and who’s posting them.

    https://www.facebook.com/1757782394471400/posts/2287076098208691/?sfnsn=cl

    1. I don’t see any comments.

      1. Rhywun

        #meneither

      2. Not Adahn

        Ils est la, mais ils sont en Francis.

    2. Suthenboy

      I had to watch the twin towers collapse live while I screamed at the TV. The commenters were all scratching their heads “Did someone do this on purpose? Whut happen?” while I screamed at the TV “yes you fucking idiots, someone did this on purpose. Yes, the steel is going to fail and they are going to collapse.”
      Then I had to watch people leap from 100 stories high to their deaths to escape the flames.

      I am going to hold my tounge this time until more info comes out.

      1. Tundra

        Smells like worker fuck-up to me.

        Worse than terrorism, really.

        1. slumbrew

          Yeah, as I wrote earlier, Hanlon’s Razor time – half-assed French workers vs. arson? I’ll go with the former.

          1. Not Adahn

            It’s because they were working too many hours a week to maintain high safety standards. 12 hour week now!

        2. Spudalicious

          I’m surprised that they were still at work at 5:30.

      2. Suthenboy

        I remember the landings. From the images they were just splashes. red splashes with clothing. That is all that was left. The loud splash, the red splat and the empty clothes that used to be a human being.

        Things that some people did. To this day I would set off neutron bombs over Mecca if I could.

        1. Spudalicious

          What got me was all of the chirps from the firefighter PDLs(personal distress locators) after the towers were down. Every single one represented a down firefighter who had run into a burning skyscraper on the verge of collapse.

  46. OT: I was called for jury duty this morning, and had another shoulda-gone-to-law-school moment. Un/fortunately, didn’t get picked, so my entire daily routine got wacked, so I read DIRTY JOB by Christopher Moore. Forgot how much I love his books.

    1. Tundra

      I read Lamb every Easter.

      1. Yep, I’m staring at its spine this very moment. Truly LOL work.

    2. Hyperion

      You need to have the pleasure of being called to jury duty in the city of Baltimore. The most dysfunctional and corrupt clusterfuck you will ever see. I got called 5 fucking times in 4 years. I only once ever made it to the courtroom. 11 out of 10 times, it will be a first degree murder case. Ponder that shit.

      1. Rhywun

        Shit, I haven’t been called in years. Probably past due.

        Don’t they have some you-can-only-do-it-every-x-years thing there? That’s how it is in NY.

        1. Hyperion

          Nope. They can call you as often as they want to unless you have actually served on a jury. Then it’s every 3 years or something. You have to consider that being one of Baltimore’s 50 or so non-felon citizens, you’ll get called a lot.

          1. Rhywun

            Good lord. I think it’s every six years here, and you don’t have to serve either.

          2. Hyperion

            You don’t have to serve here either unless you want to make an appearance in court to explain why you didn’t show up. Unless you did show up, but act crazy enough that they don’t want you to serve. That appears to be the popular option. I just tell them that I won’t vote to convict anyone unless the evidence is overwhelming and that my religion doesn’t allow me to judge people any way, and also, I’m a registered libertarian. Or at least I was before Maryland outlawed registering as a libertarian.

            I can’t even explain what a total joke that place is. There was this guy down there, the only time I ever made it inside a courtroom, who would just randomly stand up and say ‘May I be excused now, motherfuckers!?’. Seriously. Everyone else would just look around like ‘When the fuck am I getting out of this hell hole’?

          3. Rhywun

            I meant even if you don’t get into a courtroom, you won’t be called again for another six years.

          4. Hyperion

            That’s actually very nice. Out of my 5 times total called, 3 I didn’t even have to show because they didn’t call my number. One time I just sat there all day and then got dismissed. I’ll be gone from here before 2 years from now, so I hope the hapless bastards don’t call me again before then.

          5. slumbrew

            Similar deal in Mass – you’re off the hook for X years just for showing up.

          6. Hyperion

            Maryland has some of the oldest laws on the books, and no matter how stupid they are, they aren’t giving them up. In fact, the more stupid they are, the less likely it is they will ever be repealed.

    3. Suthenboy

      Seems kinda odd. i have lived in this parish of 15K for almost ten years and I have never been called for jury duty. The crime is so low here I guess we almost never have trials.

      1. The two being empaneled today were both civil, although one was probate.

  47. Suthenboy

    Putting a hamburger together is an art. An art that only Americans seem to understand, and every individual seems to have different ideas about how that should be done.

    *takes a huge bite*

    1. straffinrun

      Chopped onions, bread crumbs, egg. You mix those in the meat before cooking? I’m torn on those.

      1. That’s the beginning of meatloaf.

      2. Not Adahn

        You just made meatloaf.

      3. Timeloose

        That’s meatloaf nota burger.

        1. straffinrun

          LOL. Democracy has spoken.

      4. Rhywun

        That Food Lab guy taught me and I agree that you don’t mix *anything* into the burger – it’s vastly improved my results. Also, I smash them now.

        1. Tundra

          ^^This!^^

          1. Tundra

            You win.

          2. Hyperion

            “Yeah, I’ve seen the people that are lookin’ for a moonbeam
            Yeah, ya spent a lot ya got lost in the jet-stream”

        2. straffinrun

          I cook for what my wife, daughter and I like. If it turns out to be a meatloaf burger, so be it. Lately, I’ve been adding tempura mix to the meat. It works.

          1. Spudalicious

            I can’t even.

          2. Tejicano

            My wife adds ground up carrot and other veggies because that’s the easiest way to get our picky sons to eat enough veggies.

            Maybe it’s a Japanese thing?

          3. Not Adahn

            Just be sure to let your kids know that it’s a mitorofu, hot a hanbaagaa.

        3. commodious spittoon
        4. robc

          Also, flip often. But I already knew that.

          1. Rhywun

            Nah. You only need to flip once.

          2. slumbrew

            But it doesn’t matter how often you flip, so you’re both sort of correct.

          3. Rhywun

            True, but I prefer lazy and less chance of breakage.

          4. Sean

            Wait…is this still about burgers?

          5. straffinrun

            *Snort*

          6. Spudalicious

            Flip often? What the hell is wrong with you?

        5. Count Potato

          You mix things into the meat if you are making sliders.

        6. Akira

          I learned about the “no mixing” principle from Binging With Babish, but I still don’t know if I buy it.

          I usually go with a recipe that won some kind of worldwide burger award. I don’t remember anything from it except that you mixed a *small* amount of Indian curry powder into the burger. Not so much that you recognize it as curry powder, but just enough to give it a bit of spice that other burgers don’t have. It does require mixing it in, but I think it’s worth it.

          1. Rhywun

            Powders are fine. The no-mixing thing really just ensures that the burger holds together. I had in mind things like onion or Worcestershire sauce.

    2. Hyperion

      I just cannot do it right. Smashburger though, I love there burgers.

  48. deadhead

    OT: You know why so many people hate running? ‘Cause it’s annoying.

    1. But Enough About Me

      It’s true.

    2. Hyperion

      Running for what?

      1. deadhead

        Tradition … tradition!

    3. deadhead

      OTOH, it does give one an excuse to have dinner from Total Wine: Allagash Curieux, guinness Rich Chile Chips, “Creative Snacks Co.” Pistachios, Element Brewing Company “Altoberfest Interval Ale”, with an emergency bag of Cape Cod Sweet & Spicy Jalapeño chips in waiting. Most of that is “local” to Boston. Whee!

    4. slumbrew

      Random running or were you in the Boston area today?

      1. deadhead

        I was indeed in the Boston area, although I started in Hopkinton.

        1. deadhead

          Oh, and I’m staying at an AirBnB w/network probs. So when I disappear for a while it’s not because I’m blowing anyone off; it’s that I’m too cheap to pay for a hotspot on my ancient phone (which can’t do Google maps in time for me to drive safely in these parts).

          1. slumbrew

            What area are you staying in? Likely some good local watering holes.

          2. deadhead

            I’m in Everett, but I wound up going to Total Wine to bring stuff back to consume, because my iPhone 5 can’t navigate for shit between being slow and also having a bunch of roads closed due to construction.

            Thank your wife for the cheer. It’s pretty awesome.

          3. slumbrew

            You’re probably quite close (short Uber ride) to Night Shift brewing, which is excellent.

        2. slumbrew

          Congrats! Weird weather day.

          My wife was out around 20.5, cheering people on.

          1. deadhead

            I was looking forward to the rain, although I poured enough water over my head that it was probably the same. I ran my second fastest marathon, but I still didn’t make my goal. I suck at running.

          2. slumbrew

            Almost PR in sketchy weather is still damn good.

            We have some friends who did the Tough Ruck yesterday, including one who ran the Marathon today and the 5k on Friday – lunatic. He came in second in the civilian heavy category.

            Not as tough a course as the Bataan, I’m sure, but still a ton of work.

          3. deadhead

            I think there’s a good chance I’ll Tough Ruck next year. I thought about doing it this year (and I did do the Run as One on Saturday), but thought I’d hold off so I could BQ today. Of course that didn’t happen.

            Oh, and my back is still fucked up from BMDM and on top of that I borrowed a friend’s GR-1 and ran a bit about a week or so ago and my shirt hiked up and I wore a two by five inch patch of my back off.

            It’s all good though.

            Run as One in Boston started and finished at the USS Constitution. We (well, at least _I_) had a few libations, then we went back and saw the cannon fire @ dusk. Awesome. To some extent, hanging with my Team RWB brothers and sisters was the highlight of my trip.

          4. slumbrew

            I’m not sure non-runners appreciate how intensely social the running can be. Wife took the day off work to see people and we went into town to meet people from all over the country this weekend.

            I’m not a runner but that aspect is pretty cool. Plus, they don’t mind me drinking their beer after the races.

          5. deadhead

            It’s crazy social and trail running is even more so. I don’t want to denigrate the marathoners, but it’s super easy to fall into a “I’ll fix my mistakes and do even better next race” trap when marathoning. Trail runners seem to just say “Hey! That was fun. I can’t wait ’til the next one!”.

            Speaking of which, I do a really tough training “run” (mostly a hike, especially with all the snow) on Saturday. Then a week later I run a 50k on Saturday and ride my bike 100 miles the day after. Whee!

    5. Akira

      I just got back from doing five miles (it’s about 50 degrees here – I would prefer 60 or so, but it’s nice to run without overheating).

      I think running clears my head. I’ve noticed that no matter how bad the day has been, I cannot feel depressed or angry when I’m running. I do think about problems in my life when I’m running, but it’s more of a confident, how-to-fix-it kind of way rather than the doom and gloom that normally occurs if I sit there and dwell on them. And of course, if I’m in a good mood, running just makes it better.

      1. deadhead

        Indeed. It’s free (good!) drugs, if you do it right.

        One of us!

  49. ElspethFlashman

    Work this afternoon featured sentencing. But part of representing my own clients involved hearing a 1/2 hour long “victim impact” statement by a murder victim’s family. My clients were there for OUI and drug use. But all the courtroom gets to hear the victims statements.

    Murder Victim was allegedly raped twice, then when she named the defendant as her rapist, he allegedly murdered her to avoid having her testify. He maintained his innocence on the murder charge, but lost. His attorney let the court know at sentencing that his client had already completed the appeal paperwork. Tough time to be there,

    I should make it a personal rule not to sit in court for stuff like that until the media leaves.

    1. But Enough About Me

      Daaaaammmmmnnn.  :-/

    2. Hyperion

      I don’t really know how you can do it. I fucking hate drama, period. This is one of the reasons why I love the fact that my wife live more than 600 miles from our closest relatives and more than 4000 miles from the rest. The only drama is on her novelas. It’s so quiet and peaceful here. Serenity now!

      1. Hyperion

        Wife and I

      2. But Enough About Me

        …I love the fact that my wife [and I] live more than 600 miles from our closest relatives and more than 4000 miles from the rest.

        Workin’ on it.

        1. But Enough About Me

          Gonna get several mountain ranges in between us, too, if the stars align.

    3. Playa Manhattan

      “His attorney let the court know at sentencing that his client had already completed the appeal paperwork”

      That’s a good way to get the maximum sentence.

    4. Sean

      A grim reminder that there are truly evil people among us. ?

    5. Suthenboy

      Elspeth, you need to seek another area of law to practice. Property? There is more money in that than tears.

      1. What type of law did Michael Avenatti practice? Seemed to be a lot of money in that….

        1. Hyperion

          Well, Avenatti was a whoretourney, so it’s self explanatory.

        2. Suthenboy

          I cant find the quote but Lincoln said to the effect that all a lawyer has to offer is his council. It is true, and good council is valuable. Good, honest council more so.
          I dont think Avenatti meets that standard. I suspect Flashman does.

          20 years ago to my father: “Has Jim Lossin saved or made you more money than he has cost you?”

          A: ” Oh yeah. Many times over. It’s not even close.”

          *Shameless plug for Jim Lossin – oil, land and timber*

          1. ElspethFlashman

            I’ve done property too, and that can be crazy. People get “married” to the property, in their minds, so it becomes quite personal. Only way to do property is for commercial transactions, in my opinion.

      2. Hyperion

        My wife is like that. She’s not a lawyer here, but was in her native country. She would only take business law cases, she hated criminal law and just would not do it.

        1. Suthenboy

          Me to wife’s cousin, former criminal lawyer: “Why did you stop practicing criminal law?”

          A: ” I could build a castle with the bricks that were thrown through my window at night. “

        2. Criminal law, divorce law, and bankruptcy law. Three disciplines where your best day is still the worst day in your client’s life.

    6. deadhead

      You’re doing God’s work (says the atheist). Stay strong.

    7. Spudalicious

      I was fortunate enough to only have to testify twice in my 30 year career. I hate going to court with a white hot heat.

  50. Michael

    Clinton, never one to miss an opportunity*, uses the Notre Dame tragedy to sneak a stealth shit onto individualism:

    https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/status/1117868843446276096?s=19

    *except in Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania

    1. Rhywun

      The comments OMG

      1. slumbrew

        I made the mistake of reading a few of those.

      2. Tres Cool

        mmmhmm…what I expected

      3. Suthenboy

        “…the true president of the US…”

        They still cant come to terms with it. Good Lord.

        1. Hyperion

          Sometimes, you really cannot sure stupid.

          1. Hyperion

            cure

    2. deadhead

      You’re blaspheming George. I don’t believe you.

    3. KSuellington

      Reading some of the comments cheered me up a bit. I just found out we owe an extra ten grand in taxes. Fuck those people, I hope they are still moping over that evil bitch losing.

    4. creech

      I wonder how many peasants living in hovels had to pay taxes to erect Notre Dame? Do you think God wants these palaces or instead wishes rulers to show more concern for thelives and liberties of their subjects?

      1. Akira

        That always boggled me about religious groups constructing these colossal, grandiose buildings… I’m not religious myself, but if I imagine myself to be so, it seems a bit odd to spend all that money on jewel-encrusted cathedrals/temples when you could have used those resources to build dozens of homeless shelters, free daycare centers, soup kitchens, and even charity hospitals.

        But I guess that’s a world I’m not part of.

        1. I’m reading a book that addresses this topic. The author contends that you can’t really impose enlightenment Era ideals like individualism on pre-enlightenment societies. They simply didn’t think that way. Egalitarianism was as strange to them as castes are to us.

      2. Heroic Mulatto

        God wants his palaces.

        And blood. God wants blood.

        1. slumbrew

          Blood for the Blood God!

  51. Tres Cool

    Hey! Great customer service, Veteran’s Administration !

    1. Single-payer health care for the win!

      1. Tres Cool

        I honestly cant think of any other hospital (or business) that “struggles to curb parking lot suicides”.

        Heh. Curb.

    2. Hyperion

      What? Are you saying that the VA didn’t clean up the dead bodies from the parking lot? I don’t get it.

      1. Tres Cool

        Most of the employees are unionized AFGE. I doubt they did it.

    3. Suthenboy

      My Doctor: “The only people pushing Medicare are people who haven’t been on it”

      Single payer advocates should go sit on a sharp stick.

      1. Hyperion

        What our media doesn’t tell you, is that everyone who has it (government ran healthcare) and has to depend on it, don’t want it. Apparently the only people who want it are American idiots.

        1. Hyperion

          {Deleted to protect whomever from whatever ~ SP}

          1. Hyperion

            WTF?

          2. Tres Cool

            Isnt ‘rogene’ that cream for “feminine hair replacement” ?

          3. Hyperion

            Vaginal discharge is the term I hear. It’s caused by your toxic masculinity. Ruining panties everywhere.

            WTH was that? That was not what I wrote. Is that a bug with the site, or is my puter having a flu?

  52. Sean

    So, I finished Scratchman over the weekend. As a huge fan, it was very satisfying. There was one teeny tiny little bit I didn’t like. Anyone who reads it will easily see it.

    Next up is Hail to the chin by Bruce Campbell. Off to a good start too.

    1. Rhywun

      Sweet. More 4 is always a good thing.

  53. slumbrew

    Should anyone care, hound update:

    https://imgur.com/a/62FOiMl

    Fur is growing back nicely; she play-bowed and started tearing-ass around a friend’s backyard yesterday, with no obvious limping today. Recovery seems to be going well.

    8 years old, today; a minor bright spot to tax day.

    On a related note, that couch is really never going to be the same.

    1. But Enough About Me

      Two thumbs up!

    2. Tres Cool

      Happy lookin’ woofer-hund

      1. slumbrew

        She’s got a good life; she’s a happy pup (other than needing to show other female dogs who the fuck is in charge).

        1. Tres Cool

          So….a typical woman ?

    3. deadhead

      I’m sure we all care; some of us are mute because figuring out the right thing to say is hard.

      1. slumbrew

        Oh, no worries, I wasn’t fishing for sympathy or anything – just don’t want to be one of _those_ people prattling on about their pets.

    4. Suthenboy

      Dog, leather couch.
      Been there, done that.

      *facepalm*

      1. slumbrew

        “It’s a patina!”

        It was a mid-ranged couch, price-wise, so I’m not too bothered by it. I wasn’t expecting it to be some family heirloom.

    5. Tundra

      I care. My almost-12 yo boy is pretty much back to normal after his tumah surgery.

      Never fun, but definitely makes you appreciate the little shits.

      1. slumbrew

        Yeah, that big patch growing back on her belly was a mast-cell tumor – that seems to be doing well, incision healing nicely, pathology showed clean edges (i.e., they got it all). Hopefully smooth sailing for awhile.

        She’s turning into the most expensive “rescue” hound ever.

        1. Tundra

          Good to hear! Hopefully it’s boring for awhile.

          Oh, and sofas are for dogs.

  54. Hyperion

    Man, this salsa is pretty damned hot. It will light you up for a few minutes, but then fade fast. It’s good, very good, but hot. I wondered why wifey came in here huffing and puffing about how here face was on fire, lol.

    1. Tres Cool

      Report back in tomorrow morning…..

    2. Spudalicious

      It should tone down over time.

    1. Suthenboy

      I am still cracking up over your earlier link and the “Holy shit, #3 is my aunt!!!” comment.

      I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later.

      1. slumbrew

        I keep half-expecting to see one of my nieces in one of those collections. That would be… awkward.

  55. commodious spittoon

    Bill Weld is running for president! Kennedy with the only possible take.

    1. Rhywun

      LOL

    1. Hyperion

      Socialism in a nutshell?

    2. creech

      Probably will be anticipating a visit from the Easter Bunny on Sunday morning, too.

      1. commodious spittoon

        Why wait? The bunny’s available now…

  56. For aviation Glibs.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5jALTAeHLbQ

    Largest airplane ever.

    1. commodious spittoon

      CHONKY BOAT

      SHE THICC

      1. Rhywun

        BEDONKADONK

  57. DenverJ

    Huh. 500 plus comments. I’ll give you guys an old poly sci paper i wrote if you need content.
    Also, first!

    1. Spudalicious

      No one is going to read it before commenting, so by all means.

  58. Gustave Lytton

    As sad as the loss of Norte Dame is, I’m not all that choked up about it. Way too much preservation going on these days to the point of hoarding. 1092 UNESCO World Heritage sites, not even counting the number of national and local heritage designations. Then there’s the 508 elements of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The world should not be a giant open air museum. Some spring cleaning would do some good.

    1. quincy

      Indeed, imagine what marvelous things could be built on that site. Central Paris location, and everything!

    2. Akira

      I do think there’s value in preserving old buildings, but I think it could just as easily be done by a private foundation that purchases the property and maintains it with donations. If “the community” wants it, they’ll pay to keep it there. If not, the land will be put to a better use.

      I live in a historical neighborhood, but thankfully my house is not part of it (it’s not so much a geographical area as it is a designation of specific houses as “historic”). There are all kinds of restrictions on what you can do with the house as far as remodeling if you are designated historic.

      1. Heroic Mulatto

        In Notre Dame’s case, it wasn’t just an old building just sitting there. It’s owned by the Catholic Church and is a functioning cathedral. A mass was being held when the fire broke out.

    3. Rhywun

      It’s not even close to lost. Except the steeple which is fairly recent and a hole in the roof.

      1. quincy

        The spire crashed through the nave, The vaulted ceiling is probably gone. That’s a bit more than a hole in the roof.

        1. Rhywun

          Just going by the photos I saw here.

          1. quincy

            I want to be wrong about this.

          2. Rhywun

            Yeah, there could be further damage to come, esp. in the roof. But I bet the stone parts are fine.

          3. Spudalicious

            The major question will be whether the fire burned quick enough that it didn’t impact the integrity of the stone. The stone structure is still intact. If there was no structural impairment, they will be able to rebuild. Much of the history and the artifacts are gone forever, but Notre Dame will endure.

            Because the roof was the first part to give out, the heat went up, and not out. That’s a big deal.

    4. straffinrun

      *First suspect emerges*

  59. Winston

    So what do people think of the French Revolution? I personally think it shows that all the weaknesses of classical liberalism and the faults of modern liberals where there from the very beginning: collectivism, authoritarianism, war, censorship, economic interventionism were all there and not the result of angry reactionaries or disgruntled socialists. I mean Robespierre went from opposing war, spreading revolution through war, censorship, arbitrarily arrest and the death penalty to an enthusiastic proponent of all them once he gained political power.

    1. Heroic Mulatto

      I agree.

      When you’ve lost Tom Paine…

      1. Winston

        So Burke or Paine?

        Another amusing thing is how Robespierre claimed that War would lead to a Cromwell and it was his own brother who supported Napoleon.

        1. Heroic Mulatto

          I have to say, I still do have a soft spot for Paine’s radicalism. That having been said, I wouldn’t like his proto-Henry Georgist economic plan.

          1. Spudalicious

            I would say that a lot of Paine’s words were misinterpreted here. He was speaking to the French in the language of a French athiest, so that they would understand what he was saying. In no way was he an athiest himself.

    2. Winston

      I forgot: another weakness is the tendency for TOP MEN who follow Reason, Logic and Science to totally upend society and create a new one and how only superstitious yokels or elites losing their privileges would dare oppose them which was clearly show in that time.

    3. Akira

      I think it shows that positive, lasting change does not typically come about overnight. The underlying cause of totalitarianism (a culture that is not liberty-oriented) was still there after the revolution, so things got pretty barbaric very quickly.

    4. quincy

      One more reason to say “Fuck the Metric system!”

  60. Heroic Mulatto


    Suh?

    1. Tundra

      That’s my college roommate! WTF?!?

      1. Heroic Mulatto

        How you been, bruh?

        1. Tundra

          I kinda knew he’d end up that way.

    2. Not the best thing I’ve ever fapped to, but I made it work.

      1. Sir Digby’s The Golden Age of Ballooning

        So, you “worked it”, eh?

    3. straffinrun

      The snuff film screen grab vibe really adds class to this joint.

  61. Heroic Mulatto

    Pussy be warm af ?. And womens have the nerve to ask “why you buss so quick ?”? What happens when you put a hotdog in a microwave for 2 minutes????.Exactly stupid bald head bitch??. don’t ask me no dumb shit like that.

    1. That’s why I only fuck dead chicks.

    2. Tres Cool

      ball-headed bitch?
      Give her back her wig

      1. l0b0t

        I LOVE TRES COOL!!!!!! That, sir, is one of my all time favorite songs; I can’t stop myself, it makes me sing along and dance whenever I hear it – I’m frightening the cats with my Dervish like gyrations right now.

        Yes, my momma told me, and your good friend too. When you get that wig that’s the way you gonna do.

        Back in the 1980s, Tampa’s Ybor City had a wig store named BABY, DON’T BE BALD!

    3. Spudalicious

      Did she have false teeth too? Cause getting a gummer would be hawt.

  62. Lucky me, I’ve been in the market for a high quality ball-spreader for a while.

    https://www.askmen.com/dating/love_tip/sex-toys-for-men.html

  63. straffinrun

    Haven’t heard this song in years and forgot how good Layne was. He got too grunty when he was with Alice in Chains and what a waste of amazing pipes.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5Ok7_KFuZw

    1. Winston

      There is no such thing as too grunty:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A43JOxLa5MM

    2. Spudalicious

      “I have to go grunty” was something we said as a small child when we had to take a shit.

  64. Winston

    https://www.aier.org/article/revolution-and-counterrevolution

    It’s fascinating to see how little has changed in 70 years. One the one hand, you have what we might call the merchant class that has the strongest interest in sound money, the freedom of trade, emergent social institutions, and constitutional government.

    I wonder how many of these “merchants” support all four things that Tucker sets out here. “Freedom of trade” is definitely there but the other three…

    He quotes Harwood:

    Several hundred years ago Western Civilization consisted of many vast feudal estates, innumerable peasant holdings of small farms, un­counted villages, and towns, and a few cities, small by today’s standards

    Once again we see how big cities are the ultimate form of progress yet they themselves are major supporters of the “counterrevolution”.

    Anyway the downside of all of “we are the Real Progressives!” Talk is that it assumes that every agrees that this “progress” is good and that no one will ever challenge it especially those that benefit from it.

    1. Heroic Mulatto

      I don’t think you are being entirely fair to Tucker. From reading the essay, Tucker seems to define “progress” as an increase in personal liberty. Other things, such as technological innovation, etc. follow from a society that is free. Harwood’s opening sentence is a statement of historical fact. If urbanization has a connection to progress in liberty it is due to the fact that under feudalism, serfs were bound to their lord’s land, and couldn’t move to cities to peruse economic opportunities even if they wanted to. Hell, internal passports are a fact of life in the People’s Republic of China today for this very reason. I don’t believe you can accuse Tucker of an overall disdain of traditionalism as one of his best known works, Bourbon for Breakfast argues for a sort of reactionary dandyism in dress and manners as a way to protest against the encroachment of the state on personal freedom.

      1. Heroic Mulatto

        You’ll also notice there is a dude selling a paperback copy for 5,512 dollars.

      2. Winston

        Sorry if I came across as too negative toward Tucker. My reply to the first quote wasn’t me trying to be snarky towards him but I am genuinely wondering how many people believe in all four of those things rather than just free trade.

        As for urbanization well I have been on that for a while since I have been wondering what went wrong. If urbanization in the past was pro-liberty why are the current urban areas electing politicians who oppose liberty? What happened?

        And for “progress” I wasn’t attacking his view of “progress” but referring to age old problem of people over time becoming dissatisfied with the status quo and changing their ideology in favor of something they prefer.

        1. Heroic Mulatto

          I am genuinely wondering how many people believe in all four of those things rather than just free trade.

          It depends on just which group of people he is referring to by “merchant” class. If he is referring to our modern-day titans of industry in Silicon Valley, I agree with your skepticism. But, if he is referring to small business owners, and I think he is, then I would wager that many of them do, if not part of a consciously held set of principles, then as a gut instinct.

          If urbanization in the past was pro-liberty

          I think the direction of causation is reversed here. In my example, urbanization is a sign of increased liberty as it reflects the individual’s freedom of geographic mobility in pursuit of economic opportunity. Urbanization isn’t pro-liberty in and of itself.

          why are the current urban areas electing politicians who oppose liberty? What happened?

          If anything, I would wager that it’s just a numbers game. Most people do not support liberty. The concept of being responsible for one’s own self frightens them. Likewise, why are crime rates higher in cities? Because criminals know there are more targets there. As such, wannabe tyrants are attracted to cities as they know they can lord over a greater amount of people and resources.

          1. Winston

            But, if he is referring to small business owners, and I think he is, then I would wager that many of them do, if not part of a consciously held set of principles, then as a gut instinct.

            Possibly. Also in this scenario what sort of class would “modern-day titans of industry in Silicon Valley” be in?

            By the way are most “small business owners” Republicans or Democrats? If your interpretation of Tucker is correct then they don’t seem to have a lot of influence in that party.

          2. Heroic Mulatto

            Also in this scenario what sort of class would “modern-day titans of industry in Silicon Valley” be in?

            Grand-Burghers

            By the way are most “small business owners” Republicans or Democrats?

            I found this report from 2016. In short, while 50% of SBOs (n = 860) affiliate themselves with the Republicans, 75% of SBOs do not vote a straight party ticket. 40% say the GOP best represents them as an individual and 40% say neither party represents them as an individual.

          3. Winston

            You messed the first link up but thanks for both links!

            I don’t believe I have heard of “Grand Burghers” before let alone that they were a distinct class in German history.

            In short, while 50% of SBOs (n = 860) affiliate themselves with the Republicans, 75% of SBOs do not vote a straight party ticket. 40% say the GOP best represents them as an individual and 40% say neither party represents them as an individual.

            Hmm….

  65. Count Potato

    In case you might have been wondering, woke twitter is celebrating the burning of Notre-Dame.

    1. Winston

      Let me Guess: It was built by homophobic, racist, imperialist, privileged white cishet male bleefers?

    2. straffinrun

      They’re glad the Jacobins work was finally completed.

      1. Winston

        Well the Hebertistes can now build a Temple to Reason now…

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_of_Reason

        The official nationwide Fête de la Raison, supervised by Hébert and Momoro on 20 Brumaire, Year II (10 November 1793) came to epitomize the new republican way of religion. In ceremonies devised and organised by Chaumette, churches across France were transformed into modern Temples of Reason. The largest ceremony of all was at the cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris. The Christian altar was dismantled and an altar to Liberty was installed and the inscription “To Philosophy” was carved in stone over the cathedral’s doors.[9] Festive girls in white Roman dress and tricolor sashes milled around a costumed Goddess of Reason who “impersonated Liberty”.[14] A flame burned on the altar which was symbolic of truth.[15] To avoid statuary and idolatry, the Goddess figures were portrayed by living women,[16] and in Paris the role was played by Momoro’s own wife Sophie, who is said to have dressed “provocatively”[17] and, according to Thomas Carlyle, “made one of the best Goddesses of Reason; though her teeth were a little defective.”[18]

    3. Count Potato

      Here is a bit of it:

      https://twitter.com/MrAndyNgo/status/1117906541225463808

      But there is way worse out there.

    4. one true athena

      Oh, and we must not forget that a fire ALSO broke out at Al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem for about five minutes today!

      I’m seeing that passed around more than anything on the cathedral. Woksters are so desperate to believe it’s an equal tragedy, not one has RTFA, so far as I can tell.

      Sometimes, I just have to hand it to the Muslim Brotherhood/CAIR and the rest that have played the Left like fiddles for the past ten-twenty years.

      1. Heroic Mulatto

        Al-Aqsa mosque

        You mean the Temple Mount?

        A church and a mosque caught on fire on the same day? Perhaps God is telling y’all whom he really chose before this first day of Passover. 😉

        1. Bobarian LMD

          Mormons?

          1. Heroic Mulatto

            Close enough for jazz.

  66. Michael

    I swear, the Obamas’ true calling in life was celebrity for its own sake. I’ve tried so fucking hard to find any redeeming qualities they might have for an entire decade now and am still coming up completely empty handed.

    https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1117928853182341121?s=19

    1. Akira

      We will never hear the fucking end of those two as long as we live. And it’s only going to get worse when they die since Lefties are going to frantically rename every single fucking structure in America to the “Barack H. Obama Memorial ___________”.

      G.W. Bush may have been a shitty president, but he’s the best ex-president of my lifetime – just jets off to his ranch and keeps to himself.

    2. Rhywun

      +1 frowny face

    3. straffinrun

      Living with a divorced dad for the weekend is supposed to be a bad thing? Probably better than living with that bitch he used to be married to.

    4. CPRM

      So cookies and ice cream for dinner and The Best birthday gifts?

  67. straffinrun

    Leave it to that guy to announce on the day Notre Dame burned down.

    https://twitter.com/GovBillWeld/status/1117895075726417921

    1. Winston

      Gov? Has he not had that title since 1997?

    2. Rhywun

      “Gov”? Dude hasn’t been Gov for 20 years.

      1. straffinrun

        I just read it as Guv’ner and imagine he’s drooling on some bangers and mash.

    3. Raven Nation

      Butt-what’s his name managed to announce at about the time Tiger was on the 17th.

  68. Winston

    So what will Weld’s campaign strategy be: Open Borders and how Bill Clinton is Teh Awesome?

    I wouldn’t mind a “Fuck You Trump for not cutting Spending and Regulation enough” but that is not going to earn him any cocktail party invites.

    1. Rhywun

      He’s going to be the Sensible Adult In The Room™.

      1. Bobarian LMD

        Like anyone going to let his ass in the room.

      2. Winston

        That seems to be the Libertarian goal these days. Worked for Gary Johnson until it didn’t.

        1. Winston

          I mean to the left libertarians are nothing but a useful stick to beat up Republicans with. When Republicans are too statist, fiscally irresponsible, pro-war, nativist or so-con bemoan how unlibertarian the Republicans are. Conversely whenever Republicans actually try to reduce the size of government then bemoan how the GOP is filled with anti-government libertarian nutjobs.

          1. Winston

            Most of smoked some bad weed that day…

          2. Winston

            *Must have* Goddamn it!

    1. I’m going to guess that’s where they went from 9 seconds on ‘Hanger’ to 8 seconds. Or rather 8.97 because the ingame timer rounds down fractions and they were only one frame under 9 seconds.

  69. Count Potato

    “Despite a codified bill of rights being my number one goal, I will be working with Elon Musk to pursue my dream of government issued genetically engineered cat girls.”

    https://twitter.com/CountDankulaTV/status/1117457830351646721

  70. Heroic Mulatto

    Can I get a booty pic with your panties on and one without them on? can I also get three different picture of your booty is any position? also can I get just a normal pic of your pussy from the front and one where it’s spread a bit open? can I get a picture of you fingering yourself? can I get a pic of you doing a kissing face but also with your boobs in it? can I also get a pic of your pussy and ass from behind in one shot? Can I also get a pick your full front body in just a bra and panties? and can I get a pic of your ass or your panties are all up? and can I also get a pic of your boobs while you’re in the shower? can I also get another pussy pic while while you’re in the shower for the rest of the pics can you just send whatever all the sexy things you want? for the videos can I get a video of you twerking in just really short shorts and one of you fingering yourself and one of you actually cumming? Also can I get one of you play with your tits while not wearing a shirt?

    Thank you for listening to my TED talk.

    1. Spudalicious

      And here I thought you were channeling Larry Flint.

      1. Heroic Mulatto

        I’m not that sedentary.

        1. Spudalicious

          So, not wheelchair bound.

  71. straffinrun

    Countless temples, shrines and castles had to be rebuilt after war, fire or earthquakes destroyed them. Osaka castle has been basically rebuilt at least 3 times AFAICT. Sucks that Notre Dame burned down, but you rebuild using the closest techniques possible that were used in the original construction and move on. I’ve been to Osaka castle a few times and it looks a lot like the original depections.

    1. Heroic Mulatto

      Yes, but Paris has never had to experience anything like an invasion before.

      1. Bobarian LMD

        They’ve never had to resist one, anyway.

        1. Winston

          Paris Commune has a sad.

    2. Rhywun

      This little fixer-upper took a few decades to rebuild after WWII. Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

    3. CPRM

      And some times the spot of the destroyed temple is occupied by opposing force for some 400 years and the believers aren’t even allowed to try to rebuild. Buildings are neat, but they don’t really mean anything in the end… *spends dying breath to keep family homestead from collapsing*

  72. Plinker762

    It was an ugly cathedral anyway.

    1. CPRM

      Trump got OWNED for his brain fart! Suck it Tumpistas! No way any other president has ever said anything stupid offhand!

    2. commodious spittoon

      Man, Youtube needs to reign in those comments.

      1. Rhywun

        I disabled them with the Stylish plugin. Youtube is tolerable again.

        1. Sir Digby’s The Golden Age of Ballooning

          I just use HerpDerpTube. I mean, I can’t read shit in the comments. Then again, I can’t read shit comments.

          1. Rhywun

            HerpDerpTube

            I am so pleased that that is a thing.

          2. Sir Digby’s The Golden Age of Ballooning

            So true. The downside is having to turn it off (damned extra mouse clicks!!) to see posts that are likely not toxic. Of course, you expose yourself (looking at you, fellow glibs) to ones that most certainly are, as they can take many forms.

            But, I can attest that, for me, is has often curbed my reflex to counter-post snark and call out bullshit.

    3. Spudalicious

      I think helicopter bucket drops would have been an asset. Hit the perimeter and then move inwards.

      1. Heroic Mulatto

        Why, it’s as if someone who owns a bunch of skyscrapers and other large properties knows something about their maintenance!

        1. commodious spittoon

          Well, no, I wouldn’t describe it as a “skyscraper,” but “large property” is accurate, and yes, I know something about manscaping.

          1. Winston

            manscaping

            Huh…

        2. Spudalicious

          Not that simple. It’s a mindset thing. Inner city firefighters in Paris have little knowledge, or interest in wildland firefighting tactics. I said it would have helped, the Seine river is right there after all, but the firefighting infrastructure and mindset is not in the equation. As I said earlier, this was a done deal before the first engine left the station. I’m impressed they saved as much as they did.

          1. Winston

            The part about restoration possibly becoming a National Front cause celebre is interesting…

          2. CPRM

            Good thing Europe ain’t like us with a separation of Church and state. The French government can spend all the tax cattle’s money on rebuilding a church! We should be more like Europe, they say…

          3. Spudalicious

            That’s really not surprising. On top of that, life safety is paramount. Water on the fire was delayed because there were still workers in the fire zone that had to be evacuated. I still think, based on where the fire was located, that it was a fait accomplis.

  73. Sir Digby’s The Golden Age of Ballooning

    Sweet mother of pearl: 600+ comments…what do you think I do, read?

    ::starts to read the links::

    1. Chafed

      We’ll see your next comment around 3 AM.

      1. Sir Digby’s The Golden Age of Ballooning

        HA!! 11:22, mutha fukkas!!!

  74. Mythical Libertarian Woman

    Woke Charmed update: my sister and I had the bright idea of marathoning it so I could get out ahead on my recaps. This was a Mistake. We got partway through episode 4 and blood started pouring out my nose. So apparently my brain can only handle one of these a week. However, you’re all in luck because I already wrote the ep 2 recap and I managed to watch all of ep 3 before my brain started bleeding so ?

    1. commodious spittoon

      Your Woke recaps remind me of this silly New Zealand show, The Almighty Johnsons, about the Norse pantheon being reawakened, Neil Gaiman style, in New Zealand, for some reason.

      But mine is stupid and fun, and your causes nosebleeds.

    2. CPRM

      Ooo, adding a sister into the mix, now it’s becoming a proper romance novel love story. *waggles eyebrows*

      1. Mythical Libertarian Woman

        All we need is a mysterious third one to pop out of the woodwork and we can form a sacred coven destined to destroy the Charmed trio. The Power of Three will set us free.

        1. CPRM

          Hey, I’m fine with three women (not really, I’m just trying to be tough, I’m a one woman man, morals always fuck me)

    3. Chafed

      I appreciate your derp mining. It’s hard work and clearly takes a physical toll. FWIW, I was laughing out loud reading your last recap.

      1. Rhywun

        #metoo

  75. Winston

    https://twitchy.com/sarahd-313035/2019/04/15/oh-thank-goodness-seth-meyers-expanding-this-thursdays-late-night-show-to-give-context-to-mueller-report/

    Seth Meyers will be having a special 90-minute episode to deal with the Mueller report. The full Dan Rice/George Carlinization of late night tv series is over.

    1. Winston

      I meant “complete” not “over”.

    2. commodious spittoon

      So the idiot media children who pretend not to be solely influenced by comedy writers are… what, going to pretend this isn’t indicative of anything?

      They don’t get all their news from lefty late-night hosts, asshole. They get some of it from lefty late-night hosts doing telethons!

    3. Rhywun

      There’s also an interview with Pete Buttigieg and a Game of Thrones recap with Leslie Jones.

      Set your DVR’s!

      I kind of forgot he HAD a late night show. Haven’t watched that stuff in a couple decades.

      1. CPRM

        Only for lols, I hope Buttgag is the Trump slayer, I could make some great cartoons just based on the name!

  76. Winston

    Oh any McGill grads or fans? “Redmen” name for their sports teams is being retired due to offending the natives despite the fact that the name does not actually refer to them,

    1. Winston

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McGill_and_McGill_Martlets

      The name “Redmen” was first published in 1928 as “Red Men” and was used to describe the red uniforms worn by McGill sports teams. According to McGill historian Stanley Frost, the name may have also been a nod to McGill’s Scottish roots, since Celts were known as “Red Men” for their red hair.[1]

      Subsequent 1950s McGill team logos featured Aboriginal Canadian iconography and reports by news sources in the 1950s which refer to the “McGill Indians” in their sports reporting.[2][3] Furthermore, a McGill women’s team was referred to as the “Squaws” in the 1960s.[4] Stereotyped Indigenous iconography was on McGill jerseys and helmets until 1992.[5] In a 2018 referendum organized by McGill’s student union, 78.8% of 5,856 participating students voted in favour of changing the teams’ name.[6] On April 12, 2019, McGill announced that “McGill University’s men’s varsity teams will cease to be called the Redmen.”[7] The new name will be announced in 2020-2021 season and in the meanwhile the team will be known as the McGill Team.

    2. Gustave Lytton

      I think Leap went there.

  77. People will end up preferring almost anything to the nihilism of social justice if they’re given an alternative.

    https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/why-convert-to-islam/

    1. Winston

      Insert Big Lebowski quote…

        1. Winston

          Good one.

          Fun fact: Goodman’s character is based on John Milius. And who started her career working as his assistant? Kathleen Kennedy!

          1. CPRM

            It’s been a few years since I heard an update on Milius’ condition. About 5 years ago he awoke from his stroke induced coma when his son played the sound track of Conan for him, haven’t heard anything since. I pray for his recovery. He is one of my inspirations.

    2. Rhywun

      I guess I just don’t have the God-gene cuz I don’t get any of that. I mean, yay, more power to him but not everybody is looking for something “spiritual”. And no, I don’t practice nihilism.

        1. Rhywun

          *twitches nose in Q’s direction*

          1. Rhywun

            That’s in honor of my birthday-mate who was inexplicably left off this morning’s roundup.

          2. CPRM

            The jews never did take kindly to those who could perform miracles.

          3. l0b0t

            She lived just down the street from me in Boca Grande for many years. She was quite nice to us neighborhood yutes and very tolerant of our trespassing and picking her kumquat trees clean.

          4. KSuellington

            *nods approvingly thinking of Elizabeth Montgomery*

          5. Winston

            Her Daddy was not very woke:

            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Montgomery_(actor)

            Active in Republican politics and concerned about communist influence in the entertainment industry, Montgomery was a friendly witness before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1947.

            ….

            In 1954, Montgomery took an unpaid position as consultant and coach to President Eisenhower, advising him on how to look his best in his television appearances before the nation.[9] A pioneering media consultant, Montgomery had an office in the White House beginning in 1954.[10]

            On the other hand:

            In 1935, Montgomery became president of the Screen Actors Guild

            After World War II broke out in Europe in September, 1939, and while the United States was still officially neutral, Montgomery enlisted in London for the American Field Service and drove ambulances in France until the Dunkirk evacuation. He then returned to Hollywood and addressed a massive rally on the MGM lot for the American Red Cross in July 1940.[6]

          6. KSuellington

            I knew she came from good stock.

  78. PieInTheSky

    This renovating shit better be worth it cause right now it is mighty uncomfortable

    Good morning gliberati

    Is the Paris Church still burning?

    1. Gustave Lytton

      Did you take the train or fly?

    2. Winston

      You Know Which other Romanians wanted to see something burn?

      1. CPRM

        Was Heath Ledger’s Joker of Romanian descent?

    3. KSuellington

      If I had to make a wager right now, I would say that the workers left a pile of solvent laden rags around that combusted.

      Or an ennui laden Frenchman tossed the last bit of a Gauloises in a corner as he lamented the state of Europe and the angst of modern life.

      1. Playa Manhattan

        I’m guessing welding.

        It’s almost always welding.

        1. KSuellington

          That would be my third guess. Really, it’s got to be some type of worker idiocy combined with crappy supervisors not paying attention to what the underlings were up to .

        2. KSuellington

          At least the stained glass got saved. I’ve never been there but would have loved to see it one day. Maybe the rebuild will be finished by the time I’m ready to dirt nap it.

          1. Playa Manhattan

            I saw it 20 years ago. Can’t say I remember much.

            Random locksmithing question: I saw an automated key-cutting machine at the store the other day.

            How do they deal with some of the basic CA laws, like the “DO NOT DUPLICATE” stamp?

          2. KSuellington

            I’ve seen a couple of those but haven’t looked into how they deal with that. There are a few levels of DND. The most basic is just a stamp on a commonly available blank, if you bring it around someone will duplicate it. Then you get to restricted levels. Those machines definitely don’t do those, but I wonder if they would do a regular one.

          3. KSuellington

            If it was on a standard blank or if you could ID it as the correct blank you could likely easily get the key copied if it was just a regular DND.

          4. Playa Manhattan

            Yeah, I’m thinking of the stamp. Standard 5 pin Schlage, but with a square paddle.

            The HOA wants to charge me 200 bucks per gate key, and I have kids who are old enough to walk to school.

          5. KSuellington

            An SC1 you can get cut almost anywhere. One of the most common in the state. Don’t pay more than 3 bucks a copy.

          6. Plinker762

            I had to look at my pictures. I visited it in 1984.

          7. Gustave Lytton

            Does the DND carry the force of law?

          8. Playa Manhattan

            AFAIK. But if there’s no person to charge….

          9. KSuellington

            In California, as I understand the law, a licensed locksmith cannot copy a DND for someone not authorized. Random key cutters are not bound by that law. That is for regular DND keys. Restricted ones are different.

          10. Playa Manhattan

            What do you mean by “restricted”?

          11. KSuellington

            Schlage, Medeco and other companies make high security keys and elctronic high security keys that they sell the rights to. For instance I own the partial rights to a keyway. Even if someone wanted to copy that they could not unless they found the few others in the country that had the other rights to the key. Higher levels you have the entire keyway, Government buildings, military, large businesses buy those.

          12. Gustave Lytton

            Huh.

            http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC&sectionNum=6980.54.&article=7.

            Too bad keys are impossible to transport to another state or country for duplication.

          13. Playa Manhattan

            This is all new to me.

            I’m probably going to read about this until I fall asleep.

          14. KSuellington

            If you had CNC machine or a precise milling machine you could make anything if you knew what you were doing. The higher level stuff is “impossible” to pick. Essentially that just means more time than possibly worth. Time, tools, and knowledge. Cheap stuff just one of those, more for the better constructed.

            If you are ever in SF I will give you a one hour primer that would give you a good deal of what to look for.

          15. Rhywun

            I’ve been to Paris but I honestly can’t remember if I saw the Notre Dame or not. It was only a weekend and I was alone and mugged by some dude who wanted to take my sweet teen ass home with him on the first night so the rest is kind of hazy.

        3. Tejicano

          I remember hearing about a factory in China that was obliterated down to the foundation.

          They figured out what happened from two points of information –
          1) one employee who had gone home for lunch remembered seeing some guy welding something at the loading dock, and
          2) a trucking company was missing a truck (and driver) who was scheduled to deliver a pallet of explosives at about lunch time.

          1. Playa Manhattan

            Tianjin?

          2. Tejicano

            I never heard the location. It was just offered as yet another example of “safety” in China – basically, if nothing bad has happened yet it is known to be safe.

          3. Playa Manhattan

            It’s a place where things happened.
            https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iv5g2MhPT5I

          4. Tejicano

            I believe that Tianjin incident was a fireworks depot. The one I heard about was decades ago and was only one huge blast.

      2. Not an Economist

        I would bet it is an accident.

        But what if it isn’t? What if it was an act of arson? Or even terrorism? What would France do? Would we even hear about it?

        1. invisible finger

          I’m going with terrorism until I see solid evidence that it was an accident. This is because government in general – and the French government in particular – can not be trusted to ever state the whole truth.

          Government never gives me the benefit of the doubt, so I’m giving them the exact same courtesy.

  79. Gustave Lytton

    It’s after 10pm. Shut the goddam fuck and start using quiet voices. Shitty paper thin Holiday Inn Express walls.

    1. Tejicano

      Do what I do – start shouting “WHAT THE FUCK!!! (Kicking steel ammo cans around) I HAD THREE THOUSAND ROUNDS OF 30 CALIBER BUT NOW I ONLY COUNT TWO THOUSAND!! WHAT THE FUCK! OH! THERE IT IS. Now I can load these magazines.”

      1. Gustave Lytton

        It’s a bold strategy, Cotten.

    2. Playa Manhattan

      Bow chicka bow bow

    3. Sir Digby’s The Golden Age of Ballooning

      “Fukk you biyatch! I’m on vaycay!”

      /shitty vacationers

  80. Gustave Lytton

    Ergonomic adapter and brace for Shockwave
    https://youtu.be/TjK-TtqD5Xc

    1. l0b0t

      AWESOME! I picked up a Shockwave in 12 gauge but gave it to my brother as soon as the 20 gauge came out. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the wee 20 and now I need a brace, for to make my wrist more comfortable to be sure.

  81. Chafed

    Sit down before you read this. Valerie Jarret may be involvedcin something that isn’t on the up and up.

    https://dailycaller.com/2019/04/15/valerie-jarrett-book-tucker/

    1. Gustave Lytton

      I think this has come up a couple times here that the NYT book list is phonier than a three dollar bill.

      1. Rhywun

        Yep.

    2. Sir Digby’s The Golden Age of Ballooning

      Valerie?? But, she seemed so nice….

        1. Sir Digby’s The Golden Age of Ballooning

          That’s some bad hat, Harry Steve.

  82. Akira

    OT for the early morning crowd:

    Why the fuck does the Left hate Julian Assange so much? From some light Googling, all I’ve gathered is that they think he’s a Russian puppet (and we all know how sturdy those theories tend to be) and they’re mad that he embarrassed the Democrat Party.

    Are they really so blinded by rage against the Bad Orange Man™ that they’ll reinforce and broaden the precedent of bringing down the hammer on anyone who exposes government wrongdoing? (I know, I know, why do I even ask…)

    And why the fuck is he being called “not a real journalist” when nobody gives that title to the news organization that thought “Trump had two scoops of ice cream” is somehow newsworthy?

    1. Stinky Wizzleteats

      Without Assange teaming up with the Russians to steal the Clinton emails and publish them Trump would not have been elected. She was such a great candidate there’s no other way she could have lost so that’s obviously what happened and anyone who believes otherwise has suspect loyalty. It’s delusional, I know, but that’s basically it.

    2. *shrugs*

      I never really figured it out.