Friday Afternoon Links

by | May 15, 2020 | Daily Links | 349 comments

Its Friday, and I have already been cried at twice by my wife. It was all my fault. I’m not sure, still, exactly what I did wrong, but I’m man enough to admit that it was all miy fault. Also, after an epic fight that makes They Live‘s alleyway wrestling scene seems short, my four year old after (a) agreeing to a tuna sandwich at a sandwich shop (b) denying he wanted the sandwich and refusing to even taste it (c) knocking over my drink and being carried off to the car (d) requesting that we put it on “regular bread” after we got home (e) still refusing to eat it and demanding a “regular” tuna sandwich while lying on the floor crying… ate the sandwich and declared it good two hours later. He really annoys me, but I respect his stubbornness and can’t wait to see it aimed at the larger world.

Obviously, I can relate to the boyfriend here.

Is anyone else sick of lockdowns?

The Hat is really trolling hard now.

This is the worlds stupidest… no, maybe this afternoon’s stupidest… slap fight.

About The Author

Brett L

Brett L

Brett set out to find America, the real America, the America of strip malls and serial killers, of butthole waxing and kelp smoothies, of cocaine and maggots. He sought it in the most American part of America—Florida: swamp gas and fever dreams, where love arrives on a rickety boat and leaves when it doesn't have the money for its fourth abortion. Oh, where has Brett gone? He’s drinking at the neck of America’s wang, chewing its foreskin and working its shaft. Brett is becoming legend. Brett can never die. Brett can never die. Brett is America, facedown in his own patriotic puke: the red his blood, the white his stomach lining, and the cold, cold blue his gas station slushie, spiked with coconut rum and tetracycline.

349 Comments

  1. tripacer

    The sun has entered a ‘lockdown’ period

    I thought this was all caused by MERCURY RETROGRADE

    • Grosspatzer

      I’m withholding judgement until Greta weighs in on this.

      • Ted S.

        HOW DARE YOU!

      • DrOtto

        I thought CNN had her on Lil ‘Rona now?

    • Plisade

      Global Waffling

    • R C Dean

      Oh, how I will laugh and laugh when (not if, when) we enter a cold period due to solar activity and the “fringe” scientists arguing that fluctuations in the source of heat for our planet actually are responsible for fluctuations in global temperature are proven right, and the “mainstream” scientists arguing there is no way it could work that way, that its all due to CO2, are proven wrong, wrong, wrong.

      • Grosspatzer

        Remember the ’70s when global cooling was the panic du jour?

        Pepperidge Farms remembers

      • kinnath

        1974 – Another Ice Age? (Time Magazine, June 24, 1974)

        Time disappeared this article a decade ago.

      • grrizzly

        The “mainstream” scientists will explain that the drop in temperatures was caused by the drastic drop in CO2 emissions due to the 30-year long Great Depression II.

      • pan fried wylie

        *the drastic drop in CO2 emissions due to the 3.7billion killed by COVID-19.

      • pistoffnick

        I guess that IS one way to sequester carbon – kill a bunch of people and then bury them.

      • Fatty Bolger

        If we’re going to worry about the global climate, we should be worried about the next glacial period, which is due any day now (in geological time).

  2. Fourscore

    I have dreams that my girlfriend is cheating on me with her husband.

    • Suthenboy

      And once again you make me laugh. I am stealing that.

  3. Winston

    Obviously, I can relate to the boyfriend here.

    Who does she think she is, Jean Grey?

  4. Donation Not Taxation

    ‘The sun has entered a ‘lockdown’ period’

    What happens if the Sun’s Corona gets the Virus?

    • kinnath

      my corona

      • l0b0t

        Fun Fact – My friend Bobby and I were published in the letters column of Mad Magazine back in 1982 or ’83 for penning a Mad Magazine themed parody of My Sharona.

      • Donation Not Taxation

        +1 published or perish

    • Grosspatzer

      Go long on Dos Equis?

      • Donation Not Taxation

        +1 ‘Stay Thirsty My Friends’

      • Grosspatzer

        That’s interesting.

      • Donation Not Taxation

        What you did there, it was seen.

  5. Stinky Wizzleteats

    “ Our sun has gone into lockdown, which could cause freezing weather, earthquakes and famine, scientists say.”

    Earthquakes?

    • Grosspatzer

      And volcanic eruptions!. Q hardest hit.

      • R C Dean

        – 1 virgin

    • juris imprudent

      Shh, the scientists are on a roll.

      • Rhywun

        Well, 97% of them.

      • Fatty Bolger

        lmao

    • PBRstreetgang

      Good thing the Earth has been warming for decades!
      Mother Gaia to Sun: Checkmate.

    • Tonio

      Yeah, I wondered about the earthquakes, too. Increased ice weight on the plates?

      • Count Potato

        Shivering.

      • Fatty Bolger

        Jörmungandr doesn’t like the cold.

  6. leon

    The “Modern World” has only been around for ~150 years tops.

    Are we foolish to think that this is a permanent state of affairs, or have we reached a “new normal”

    • Tonio

      I fucking hate the phrase “new normal.” There is nothing normal about it. Humans evolved over millions of years as highly social creatures.

      • leon

        It certainly reeks of “This time is different”.

        My question was about the current “modern” state of affairs. Is modernity tenuous and are we on the verge of being pushed back several hundred years? Or is progress fairly secure and it would take something truly chaotic to regress?

      • Tonio

        I think it would take a major event (meteor, year without a summer) to knock everyone back to pre-industrial levels.

        But having said that, it is quite foreseeable that a lesser event would knock the “developing world” back to a more chaotic and wretched level from which it would take them a long time to recover. It will be really ugly if other countries experiencing serious food shortage and stop sending them food aid.

      • Ted S.

        Call it “The New Abnormal”.

  7. Fourscore

    Intellectual famines seem to be plentiful though.

    • Mad Scientist

      No, this is the opposite of that. If it were a famine, we’d all be hungry for knowledge but unable to obtain it. In this case, there’s knowledge everywhere but most people don’t want any.

      • juris imprudent

        It’s a knowledge desert!

      • Lackadaisical

        Oh God, they’re going to start using this, just so you know.

  8. R C Dean

    My kids are so stubborn, its almost like some traits are heritable.

    I LEARNED IT FROM YOU, DAD!

    • Fourscore

      I am amazed of how similar I am to my dad. Not in looks or appearances but in temperament and attitude. He would have been a libertarian if there was such a thing. My kids keep demonstrating traits that their mother exhibited, not necessarily the good ones but occasionally surprise me with I learned ….,Dad

      One is a CVcondriac, the other nonchalant in today’s environment

    • hayeksplosives

      And yet you sneer at Elon Musk calling a spade a spade on Twitter. His stubbornness has taken him a long way. Just need talent, drive, a plan, and some freedom.

      Elon Tweet:

      The politicians & unelected bureaucrats who stole our liberty should be tarred, feathered & thrown out of town

      • DrOtto

        Interesting seeing lots of his fans regretting their Tesla purchases on the twitters. I wonder if TX gov Greg Abbott has reached out to him yet. TX loves poaching CA businesses.

      • one true athena

        He did already, a few days ago. “we’ll welcome you to Texas!” or something like that. His PR people were definitely on the ball.

  9. Tonio

    NASA scientists fear it could be a repeat of the Dalton Minimum, which happened between 1790 and 1830 — leading to periods of brutal cold, crop loss, famine and powerful volcanic eruptions.

    Well, it will hopefully shut the global warming people the fuck up (looking at you, Swedish Child).

    But yeah, that’s going to suck if it turns out to be correct.

    • Mad Scientist

      On the upside, the climate alarmists wouldn’t get much of an audience any longer.

      • Count Potato

        They have covid now.

    • R C Dean

      I see a correlation with volcanic activity. What’s the causative mechanism, though?

      • Raven Nation

        According to Wikipedia, the reduced temps may have been caused by increase in volcanoes rather than tother way ’round.

      • Tonio

        Xenu comin’

      • C. Anacreon

        Hide your heart, girl

    • leon

      1790 and 1830

      That is when the most racist, evil and malignant country in the world was created.

    • Ted S.

      The Maunders have a sad.

    • Raven Nation

      Here’s a quote from a 1989 NASA study:

      The historical record of large volcanic eruptions from 1500 to 1980, as contained in two recent catalogs, is subjected to detailed time series analysis. Two weak, but probably statistically significant, periodicities of ∼11 and ∼80 years are detected. Both cycles appear to correlate with well-known cycles of solar activity; the phasing is such that the frequency of volcanic eruptions increases (decreases) slightly around the times of solar minimum (maximum). The weak quasi-biennial solar cycle is not obviously seen in the eruption data, nor are the two slow lunar tidal cycles of 8.85 and 18.6 years. Time series analysis of the volcanogenic acidities in a deep ice core from Greenland, covering the years 553-1972, reveals several very long periods ranging from ∼80 to ∼350 years and are similar to the very slow solar cycles previously detected in auroral and carbon 14 records. Solar flares are believed to cause changes in atmospheric circulation patterns that abruptly alter the earth’s spin. The resulting jolt probably triggers small earthquakes which may temporarily relieve some of the stress in volcanic magma chambers, thereby weakening, postponing, or even aborting imminent large eruptions. In addition, decreased atmospheric precipitation around the years of solar maximum may cause a relative deficit of phreatomagmatic eruptions at those times.

      • R C Dean

        The things I learn here. I would have thought that the impact of solar flares on the magnetosphere would give more of a “jolt” than changes in atmospheric circulation patterns. But I am no scientician.

  10. leon

    I learned the other day, that the alignment of Venus, Earth and Jupiter may be what causes the Suns 11 year cycle of solar maximums to minimums

    • Tres Cool

      “work the other side of the street!” -NotAdahn

  11. DEG

    I’m a woman in kind of a classic millennial sex pickle: I’m really repelled by heterosexuality politically and personally, but I’m also really into dick. I’ve been thinking maybe I should look for bi dudes/ bicurious gay dudes, but I am not sure how best to do that. Rich, what would you think of a woman being on Grindr or Scruff? I do want to be respectful of gay men’s spaces and not horn in where I’m not welcome, but I really would love to find a guy with queer politics who would be up for casually dating a woman. What do you think? If you were me, where would you look?

    Oh boy. Run away.

    As for the guy dreaming about his boyfriend having sex with other men, it sounds like he just needs to come to grips with him being a cuckold.

    Our sun has gone into lockdown, which could cause freezing weather, earthquakes and famine, scientists say.

    SCIENCE DENIER! I have it on good authority that climate change is man-made.

    Hanley said he has, for many years, had a “sneaking suspicion” that the Tesla boss is “an arrogant ass.”

    “Sneaking suspicion”? Fuck.

    • juris imprudent

      But she might actually be hot. I doubt it, but you have to allow for the possibility. And she absolutely has crazy down, 100%.

    • R C Dean

      I am not googling “millenial sex pickle”.

      • DEG

        I enacted my own labor for you.

        First hit.

      • R C Dean

        *hovers, sees reddit, confirms nope still in place*

      • DEG

        I know.

        It doesn’t even have the redeeming feature of being porn.

      • C. Anacreon

        “millenial sex pickle” sounds like something you’d relish

      • Gender Traitor

        a dilldo?

    • Certified Public Asshat

      Pajama boy hardest hit.

    • Winston

      How is one repelled by heterosexuality “politically”? And for someone who is personally “repelled” by heterosexuality she sure seems to like fucking the opposite sex.

      • Rhywun

        Her brain was probably turned to mush in college.

      • Pope Jimbo

        That is why you make gals wear a helmet while doing it doggy style. So their brains don’t get pounded into mush by repeated banging into the headboard.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Poor Prof Kingsfield.

    • Gender Traitor

      I’m a woman in kind of a classic millennial sex pickle: I’m really repelled by heterosexuality politically and personally, but I’m also really into dick.

      I have bad news for you, honey: If you’re a chick into dick, you’re heterosexual. Fortunately, with the appropriate therapy, you MAY be able to live a semi-normal life.

      • Winston

        Well it seems we have finally met the reversal of the guy who hates homos yet likes to have sex with men. Progress!

      • EvilSheldon

        Do you ever feel like there are some people who just don’t deserve a normal life?

    • grrizzly

      A threesome with a third guy might help.

      • EvilSheldon

        So would a shitload of Xanax and Chardonnay.

    • Chipwooder

      I’m really repelled by heterosexuality politically and personally, but I’m also really into dick.

      That…..makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

      • hayeksplosives

        She is going to fall at the feet of a Ron Swanson type guy someday;1!; throw all her feminist bloviating behind.

      • Francisco d'Anconia

        Don’t you realize that engaging in hetero sex means you hate the homos?

      • Fatty Bolger

        She wants gay woke creds, but she’s not actually gay. It’s that simple.

    • Gustave Lytton

      Uh, no one suggested a strap on? Have your cake and eat it too.

  12. Donation Not Taxation

    From the article: ‘Such shenanigans have a deleterious effect on other members of society,” he explained. “It is becoming fashionable now, as the coronavirus crisis drags into its 9th week, for some people to claim — loudly — that all health directives, whether at the city, county, state, or federal level, are unconstitutional violations of their personal liberty.’

    https://www.marketwatch.com/story/green-tech-blogger-slams-elon-musk-as-a-self-important-jerk-reconsiders-buying-a-new-tesla-2020-05-14?link=MW_home_latest_news

    From Winston’s Mom: ‘This was not underlying weakness, market fluctuations, or even the markets adjusting to changing times it was the government forcing people to not leave their house and engage in commerce. First amendment rights were ignored, second amendment, fourth, fifth, and even sixth amendment rights have been infringed upon during these lockdowns.’

    https://www.glibertarians.com/2020/05/economics-corner-with-paul-krugman-and-winstons-mom-17/

    ‘green-tech’ Corner with Paul Krugman and Winston’s Mom

    ‘he’ = CleanTechnica blogger Steve Hanley = wrong

    Winston’s Mom = Somehow, less wrong

  13. Grosspatzer

    He really annoys me, but I respect his stubbornness and can’t wait to see it aimed at the larger world.

    Sounds like my youngest. 19 now, somehow the target hasn’t changed. Need to recalibrate his sights.

    • The Last American Hero

      He’s 19. Surely some woman will come along and rearrange his priorities.

      • Grosspatzer

        If he’s anything like his father (and he is), it’s going to be another 20 years.

  14. juris imprudent

    That Slate bit was as d-r-a-m-a-t-i-c as it was dreamy. Where do people ever come up with gay stereotypes?

  15. Winston

    Speaking of M*A*S*H how many people are aware of the movie and that said movie was based on a book? And said book had several sequels that have nothing to do with movie or tv series?

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M*A*S*H_Mania

    In late 1974, Hawkeye Pierce, by then over fifty, is feeling a need for some rest, and after the usual eccentricities he accepts Spearchucker’s suggestion to interview an up-and-coming young doctor named D’Artagnan Maguire. Although Pierce’s language is as overtly racist in the mid-1970s as at any time previously, he is blithely unconcerned at the news that Maguire is Black, offering an immediate start and a generous salary and also house-room for himself and his family under Pierce’s own roof while he is establishing himself. Meanwhile, the psychology department, who are viewed as useless by the surgeons, have gained approval to psychoanalyse the entire staff. Pierce and company set about playing pranks upon them including having Juicy “Big Dumpsmell” Larkins masquerade as Doctor Maguire and be psychoanalysed in his stead. Once they have had their fun, Hawkeye announces that it is time for the mental health department to be transformed, which he will supervise on his return from holiday.

    And yes the “overly racist” language includes That Bad Word. This same book includes Hawkeye expressing a desire to beat up liberals. Along with the gibes at psychiatrists and Rape counselors it certainly seems like the main purpose of the book is to be a giant middle finger to Alan Alda.

    • Tonio

      [raises hand]

      I suspect the sequels, particularly “MASH goes to Maine” were ghost-written. They were crap as I recall.

      • Winston

        You are correct except that “M*A*S*H goes to Maine” was one of the two sequels that was not ghost-written apparently.

        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_M*A*S*H_novels

        After the success of the M*A*S*H TV series, a long series of “M*A*S*H Goes to ______” novels appeared, beginning with M*A*S*H Goes to New Orleans in 1974. Although credited to Hooker and William E. Butterworth, they were essentially written by Butterworth alone. The sequel novels added many additional characters, mostly satiric caricatures of public figures from the 1970s: for instance, operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti is parodied in the form of a singer named “Korsky-Rimsakov”, and news anchor Dan Rather becomes the egotistical “Don Rhotten”. The tone of the Butterworth novels is also markedly different from Hooker’s original books, being much more broadly comical, less darkly satirical, and unrealistic.

        After the conclusion of the “Butterworth” series with M*A*S*H Goes to Montreal (1977), a final “Hooker” novel was published, M*A*S*H Mania, which ignored the events and inconsistencies of the intervening novels and picked up where M*A*S*H Goes to Maine left off, depicting the original characters in middle age.

    • C. Anacreon

      A hospital wouldn’t have a Department of Psychology with Psychiatrists in it, the opposite would be the case. This must be a ghostwriter, because a real physician would know the difference between a Psychiatrist (MD) and Psychologist (PhD).

    • J. Frank Parnell

      I knew that, because I think my mom had the entire series.

  16. dorvinion

    I’m not sure, still, exactly what I did wrong, but I’m man enough to admit that it was all my fault

    My kid never does anything wrong.

    Child: I didn’t spill the drink/food all over the floor, you made me do it.
    Child: I didn’t make a mess of the toys by throwing them all over during a fit, you made me do it.

    As for home arrest, they never really had it here in Iowa per se (I suppose my barber friend may think different), but I’ve ceased caring.

    Last weekend we went out of state to visit family who have also ceased caring. Best weekend in 2 months.

    • Nephilium

      I mentioned in a work chat today that our patios are starting to open up. One of the responses was hoping that everyone maintains social distancing and proper hygiene during the re-openings.

      Me, I plan on going to a couple of places tomorrow. How many will depend on weather, available seating, and what’s open. Next weekend, when interior seating is allowed again, I’ve got time off of work to just go and sit in a fucking bar all day.

      • AlmightyJB

        I ended up taking Memorial week off. So yeah, I’ll be doing some day drankin’. 🙂

    • Lackadaisical

      I just cancelled a trip to SC for memorial day because I’m from NY I must have the virus and it is illegal to rent to me there, at least that is how best I could read the 20+ executive orders…

      • dorvinion

        My sister told me that in her state (AR), hotels were not allowed to book out of state guests.

        They ended that order a couple days before we came, not that it mattered since we lodged with them.

        The worst part of our trip was that we couldn’t eat in restaurants, had to let kids eat in the car (new car so kinda wanna keep it clean)

      • pan fried wylie

        In a just world, people would’ve been able to refuse service to NYers before covid.

  17. Certified Public Asshat

    BREAKING: NFL owners will vote next week on a resolution that would improve a team's draft position if it hires a person of color as head coach or general manager, per sources. Currently there are only 2 black GMs & 4 HCs of color, matching 17-year low?? https://t.co/867umaUe4o— Jim Trotter (@JimTrotter_NFL) May 15, 2020

    Wut.

    • leon

      NFL is hopelessly racist, this is too little too late.

    • Grosspatzer

      Breaking News: Jets hire Bruce Banner as GM. “We were looking for someone who could combine the traditional green of our organization with a greater emphasis on SMASHMOUTH football.”

      • Winston

        I read that as Bruce Jenner. Even better!

    • The Hyperbole

      Isn’t that why the Bengals kept Marvin Lewis around for so long.

    • Chipwooder

      The NFL doubling down on woke.

    • Lackadaisical

      If passed I’ll boycott seeing their games for free on the internet.

    • PBRstreetgang

      Only 44%? I think in PA its something like 70%.

    • Akira

      Everybody knew right from the start that this was going to hit old people with pre-existing health conditions the hardest. The worst part of this whole episode is that authorities failed to make use of this info. They just promoted the line that “everyone is at risk”, kind of like with AIDS (then of course, it turned out that AIDS is almost entirely endemic to gay men who have unprotected sex and IV drug users).

      If they would have focused their efforts on isolating and protecting the elderly and putting some extra protocols in place for nursing homes, most of the deaths could have been prevented, and it wouldn’t have come at the cost of flushing the economy down the shitter.

      It’s just fucking dumb. For pretty much every other health condition, the strategy to fight it involves recognizing if it’s 90+ percent in one particular demographic, and you focus your efforts there. It’s the same reason nobody is telling men to get mammograms every five years even though some men do get breast cancer. It’s just a poor use of time and resources… But that all went out the window with COVID for some reason.

      • Nephilium

        I still can’t wrap my head around how COVID caused the freakout that it did. If it was just one state/country, it could be explained as an overreaction. Almost everyone going over the top with the shutdowns and lockdowns makes no sense to me.

      • kinnath

        People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals. And you know it.

      • AlmightyJB

        I don’t get it either. And it’s still happening even with new info and dropping numbers! Next year is going to be a shitshow.

      • The Hyperbole

        People want to be involved in something big, other than 9-11 we’ve been coasting along on a pretty even keel for a long time. No big war, no going to the moon, no presidential assassinations. It’s why every election is always ‘The Most Important Election Ever!!”, I think deep down most people realize that they are crisis-larping but admitting that means admitting that our time here on earth has been one big Meh.

      • Gender Traitor

        ^This. On some level, these people are bored, but they can’t admit to themselves that they really crave drama. Throw in a golden opportunity for virtue signaling, and there you go.

      • Rhywun

        I like boredom. WTF is wrong with these types?

      • Shirley Knott

        They’ve never lived a non-boring life; thus, they are unable to appreciate its pleasures.

      • Chipwooder

        I agree. I made a comment on here like six weeks ago saying that I bet a lot of the people who are the most panicky outwardly deep down love this shit. They live for the drama.

      • Nephilium

        But why COVID? There wasn’t a mass panic like this over SARS, MERS, Swine Flu, or even fucking HIV.

      • Grosspatzer

        Orangemanbad. Duh.

      • Nephilium

        Reagan and Bush good?

      • Shirley Knott

        Social media. The opportunity for participating in “something bigger than themselves”, which they helped foment.

      • Francisco d'Anconia

        That may be true. But I suspect after the recession/depression(?) this causes, people will be slower to repeat such an overreaction again in the foreseeable future.

      • Lady Z

        That’s easy, they need Jesus.

      • Nephilium

        Now you’re my favorite. I’ve linked that exact song several times in the past. Sorry if I’m getting a bit personal here.

      • Lady Z

        Only country music has such a way with metaphor.

      • R C Dean

        Drama addicts, enabled by (i) a media complex trying to make this Trump’s Katrina and (ii) power-crazed politicians and bureaucrats not letting a crisis go to waste.

        And yes, I am agreeing with The Hyperbole. I feel shame.

      • Hyperion

        They still never would have went this far if they didn’t think it’s their last Hail Mary to get rid of badorangeman.

      • Sean

        Well, they got three trillion dollars to pass out and punished some deplorables in the process too.

      • Hyperion

        They’ve also punished their own supporters. Collateral damage you know. Useful idiots not useful anymore, there’s always more to replace those.

      • Gender Traitor

        Teh Hyp has been suspiciously silent. With so many agreeing with him, his head may have exploded.

        Mission accomplished.

      • The Hyperbole

        It’s like one of those libertarian rules.

        No two libertarians agree on everything

        Every libertarian will agree with The Hyperbole on something.

      • Count Potato

        Wrong.

      • The Hyperbole

        I’ve never admitted this but I think Demi Rose is super hot.

      • Mojeaux

        Count’s girl is Amber Rose.

      • The Hyperbole

        Shit, I need to update the Big Board.

      • Count Potato

        It’s the media.

      • grrizzly

        They didn’t have the right plan.

        Just like before WW1.

        Nicholas wanted neither to abandon Serbia to the ultimatum of Austria-Hungary, nor to provoke a general war. In a series of letters exchanged with Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany (the so-called “Willy and Nicky correspondence”) the two proclaimed their desire for peace, and each attempted to get the other to back down. Nicholas desired that Russia’s mobilization be only against the Austrian border, in the hopes of preventing war with the German Empire. However, his army had no contingency plans for a partial mobilization, and on 31 July 1914 Nicholas took the fateful step of confirming the order for general mobilization, despite being strongly counseled against it.

      • Gustave Lytton

        then of course, it turned out that AIDS is almost entirely endemic to gay men who have unprotected sex and IV drug users

        Poor forgotten Ryan White.

      • RAHeinlein

        I remember how everyone pretended Ryan White was just a normal kid who somehow got AIDS – forgot to mention the hemophiliac part.

      • Gustave Lytton

        As a kid in the 80’s, that was a big part of it. I don’t remember that part getting glossed over at all. Got it through contaminated blood like a lot of hemophiliacs did at the time.

      • Mojeaux

        Correct. Much was made of Ryan White being a hemophiliac.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Not me. In fact I’m not sure I remember the plots of any episodes other than vagueness. And the intro/music of course.

      • Tres Cool

        That show….ex Mrs Tres was a Richard Grieco fangirl. Nearly every episode she’d slide out of her chair like it was newly varnished.

      • Count Potato

        I thought Magic Johnson was more of an influence on the public.

    • DEG

      NH now issues weekly reports which have a separate line for long term care facilities. According to the most recent report 75.9% of deaths in NH are associated with long term care facilities.

      They were the first thing Clown Prince Sununu locked down.

  18. LCDR_Fish

    Well, John Ringo grows ever more prophetic….plague + solar minimum….

    In other news still working from my phone at home though I should have better internet access tomorrow doing a remote drill weekend from my “corporate” office.

    Quick question – saw this referenced in Nomads excellent post yesterday. I’m interested in an HSA type instrument for long term medical savings plan – but as a contractor, the only HSA/FSA options I’ve seen are all annualized with virtually no rollover. Are there any independent plans that permit long term medical planning options….or am I just better off with a high interest online savings account or something else? Thanks.

    This is for anticipated medical outlays – elective and otherwise, but nothing in the immediate term.

    • Winston

      Not sure what is so “prophetic” about predicting a plague though.

  19. Count Potato

    “Is anyone else sick of lockdowns?”

    The Sun writing about the Sun?

    • Grosspatzer

      That’s a hot take.

  20. Hyperion

    “The sun is currently in a period of “solar minimum,” meaning activity on its surface has fallen dramatically.”

    Scientists have been predicting this for years, that there will be a solar minimum that could last 30 years or so. It’s just that they were drowned out by the global warming hysteria. If we know what is good for us, we’d best get those SUVs gassed up and running now.

    • Lackadaisical

      Sucks if true, especially ata point in time where everyone is burning less fuel.

      • Hyperion

        It does suck. And it means we’d better burn more fossil fuel.

    • Mad Scientist

      So we can go back to the climate alarmists predicting snowball earth, like they were in the 70s?

      • mexican sharpshooter

        *Checks weather in Phoenix.*

        I can go for some snowball Earth.

  21. Shpip

    So today marks four weeks since Jacksonville, Florida reopened its beaches. You might remember the dire predictions, or how #Floridiots was trending on Twitter. Yet the spike in illnesses and deaths never took place. Is that because:

    a) A sunny, windy, salt-laden locale is inhospitable to a virus,

    b) The type of folks who go to the beach for exercise and recreation have an Infection Fatality Rate to this virus measured in a fraction of a percent,

    c) The doomsayers, social media shamers, and CoronaKarens were flat out wrong, or

    d) All of the above.

    • Hyperion

      C is a given, the rest are open to debate.

    • DEG

      D

    • Lackadaisical

      I’m thinking there may be more and more evidence for D.

    • Count Potato

      “$2 trillion U.S. Coronavirus bailout?

      That’s $6,100 for every man, woman and child in America!

      For a family of 4: $24,400.

      If, after this is over, you do not have that money in your account …

      Guess whose pockets it went into:)”

      https://twitter.com/officialmcafee/status/1260911449083346944

      He has a point.

  22. Tres Cool

    “…but I respect his stubbornness and can’t wait to see it aimed at the larger world.”

    Make sure you explain how police love their jobs to him.

    • kinnath

      qualified immunity

      the process is the punishment

      obey or die

    • Winston

      “Definitive”?

      • Donation Not Taxation

        That is her claim.

    • Count Potato

      That’s a long, and probably incomplete list.

      • Donation Not Taxation

        Hope you enjoyed it.

  23. Lackadaisical

    My kids are so stubborn, its almost like some traits are heritable.

    Thats racist.

    I’m not sure, still, exactly what I did wrong, but I’m man enough to admit that it was all miy fault.

    Its not about the seatbelt!

    • Mojeaux

      Its not about the seatbelt!

      I remember that discussion!

      • Lackadaisical

        Your advice and others’ here was useful.

  24. DEG
    • Count Potato

      He even found the same shirts.

    • Lady Z

      Disappointing. He took what, two months to even touch the lockdown and this is all we get?

      I guess a lot of big L’s are cool with the orders.

      • Winston

        They are. It’s science and all. Cocktail parties. And this lockdown will spur innovation!

      • Lackadaisical

        Sad if true.

        I will say this is below his normal standards, hopefully that is lockdown related more than anything. Reason has been pretty soft on this issue, imo.

  25. DEG

    Andru Volinsky, candidate for NH governor who received an endorsement from Bernie Sanders, will also get a Ben and Jerry’s flavor.

    Barf.

    • Hyperion

      Commie Cream endorsement?

    • KSuellington

      Nobody needs 28 flavors of ice cream!!!

  26. Swiss Servator

    “Dream Warrior”, you have behaved dishonorably toward your bf…

    There is only one way out…

    *Hands over rice paper, quill pen, ink and a knife*

      • Sean

        Thank you.

  27. commodious spittoon

    Why does Windows 10 suck so much at basic Bluetooth functionality? Android (and I imagine iOS) gets the plug-and-play functionality. Windows 10 makes it an ordeal to get it to recognize my earbuds (usually having to toggle Bluetooth off and on a few times), then having to switch playback devices, and then it’s 50-50 whether it actually outputs what I’m playing in my browser. A couple times I’ve had to restart my machine after switching playback back to my monitor because it just won’t recognize that channel.

    • Nephilium

      Because audio drivers have always sucked. Now and forever.

    • Yusef drives an Island

      ASIO, google it, bypasses Windows sound manager completely, and it’s free

    • commodious spittoon

      Granted, I’d be pissed if merely turning on a Bluetooth device in the vicinity immediately stole focus and redirected audio or whatever, but I wish Windows would remember devices I pair, and let me tell it what to do when it’s paired.

    • Mojeaux

      My 8yo Win7 machine is on the fritz. Mr. Mojeaux has ordered me a new laptop with Win10 Pro. I’m biting my fingernails over moving computers and starting in with Win10, but my Win7 machine is getting intolerable.

      • Hyperion

        Win10 is far superior to 7. And there’s a free add on that will make the desktop look exactly like 7.

      • Hyperion

        “looks like 3.x”

        OK, so you just have to stop that, there’s a time when your security blanket needs snatched away, and burned in this case.

      • Mojeaux

        No!

        *stomps foot*

        *sticks thumb in mouth*

        *glares at Hyperion*

      • Fatty Bolger

        If your old laptop didn’t have a SSD drive, you’re going to love it.

      • Mojeaux

        Oh, it does. My video and sound are fritzing. My husband could make this last longer but he doesn’t want to since Win7 is not supported anymore. He persuaded me to just bite the bullet.

      • commodious spittoon

        I’m not a power user by any means so I don’t have a whole lot of complaints about Windows 10. UCS does, but his use case is very different.

        Another Bluetooth quibble I forgot: I’ll change playback to my monitor and find that Windows is outputting Youtube to my monitor and game audio to my earbuds.

      • Mojeaux

        I don’t know what constitutes a power user. I make ebooks and print books, but I’m on it 14-18 hours a day and I run Adobe products (Illustrator and Photoshop) almost constantly.

      • Hyperion

        A power user is generally someone considered by IT folk, to know enough about PCs to not need a lot of hand holding. So in general, a basic working knowledge of the OS, basic Windows configuration, and apps like Excel, Word, all that. Someone who can setup a printer and a WiFi connection and not call one day and say ‘Everything on my computer just disappeared, I lost everything!’ in a panic, because the accidentally hid their desktop icons, or they can’t find their taskbar, because they drug it to the top of the screen.

      • Mojeaux

        Oh. I guess I qualify.

        I know how to do all that stuff. I would rather just let Mr. Mojeaux handle it.

      • Hyperion

        My wife tries to do everything on her puter, she only calls me to help if she gets frustrated.

      • Sean

        We’re not doing phrasing anymore?

      • commodious spittoon

        Oh. I always thought of power users as IT folk, or IT adjacent.

      • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

        If you have changed something in the registry (in windows), your a power user.

      • Mojeaux

        *raises hand*

      • Hyperion

        Shit, I know low level IT people who are terrified of the registry.

    • Oy the Billy-Bumbler

      Shorter version. Why does Windows suck so much?

      • The Last American Hero

        Because it has to be all things to all people on a huge variety of machines with radically different capabilities.

      • Oy the Billy-Bumbler

        And because they are paying 50,000 people to code that need stuff to work on.

  28. Nephilium

    As is the tradition in these laborious times. I’ve set up a happy hour for tonight that I’ll kick off at 19:00 Eastern.

    • DEG

      I might join a little late. I gotta go get my dinner and get a few things done.

    • l0b0t

      Thank you.

  29. Pope Jimbo

    Tundra, Fourscore and Leap and the other Minnesoda Glibs better be on their best behavior of will slap the lockdown descriptions right back on!

    Looking at all the goal post moving in that story makes me think that they are setting us up for a failed opening. And again, they are using their modeling to predict bad things, even though the newest, best ever model that they unveiled this week predicted 1700 deaths by the end of the month (which would require about 60+ deaths every day when our max so far has been 30).

    And what is their obsession with the number of infected people? They should care about infected people who require hospital care.

    Minnesota appears to have a razor-thin margin of critical hospital supplies — including critical care beds and ventilators — to weather the surge of COVID-19 infections that is expected this summer, according to new state modeling results. But if reality proves worse than predicted, hospital officials said the governor will need to be quick about reinstituting restrictions that reduce face-to-face contact and the spread of the virus.

    Hospitals have dramatically increased their capacities over the past two months. As of Thursday, the state reported a supply of 1,443 ventilators in hospitals — with only 529 in use by patients with COVID-19 or other unrelated medical problems. The state also has a surge supply of 1,401 more ventilators and another 858 on back order for delivery, for a total of 3,702.

    As of Thursday evening, the state health department reported 13,435 lab-confirmed COVID-19 cases in Minnesota and 663 deaths. There were 498 COVID-19 cases that required hospital care as of Thursday, including 203 needing intensive care. Of all confirmed cases, 9,136 had fully recovered and were no longer required to isolated themselves to avoid spreading the virus.

    I clipped out a lot of stuff in between to help illustrate how weasely the numbers are. 529 ventilators are n use by patients with COVID-19 or other unrelated medical problems, but later you see that only 498 CV-19 cases even needed hospital care. And those total cases don’t tell you how many are current.

    I think the official line is that we should still be scared because we could still overwhelm the medical system. My takeaway is that we were told to hunker for two weeks (that was then extended to 8 weeks) so they could ramp up and now they still say they didn’t ramp up enough?!?

    • Pope Jimbo

      The new metrics we will be watching:

      State health officials on Thursday identified new metrics they will be closely watching for signs that the pandemic is taking a turn for the worse. One bad sign would be if diagnostic testing finds positive COVID-19 cases 14% of the time, or if the rate of positive tests increases by 5 percentage points over 14 days. The current seven-day average is a positive rate of around 12%

      Another threshold would be a doubling of COVID-19 cases every five days or less. The current rate is 9.5 days.

      Another new key metric for the state is the share of people whose infection sources couldn’t be pinpointed to others, such as their spouses or co-workers. The current rate is 36%, which is already above the Health Department’s threshold of a seven-day average of 30% that is concerning.

      That last one seems to be a way to keep pushing for their fancy new contact tracer department.

    • Hyperion

      We can’t be easing the lockdowns, or else people will start liking this new freedom thing and they may decide to not comply next time.

      • Fatty Bolger

        Welcome to The New Normal®

      • Hyperion

        I think that’s my new favorite phrase to hate.

      • Nephilium

        My brain keeps translating it to the New Dark Ages.

      • Francisco d'Anconia

        In a couple months it will morph to…

        “In our post COVID-19 world…”

        Fuck politicians! Fuck the media! Fuck the sheep!

      • Hyperion

        The media are the worst of the worst.

      • mexican sharpshooter

        Fuck the sheep!

        I didn’t know you were a Scot.

      • Francisco d'Anconia

        Montanan

      • C. Anacreon

        Your new favorite phrase to hate in “these unprecedented times”?

      • Francisco d'Anconia

        I think that people will start coming to the realization that “this” isn’t living. After enough goalpost moving from flattening curves to saving grandma, people are going to be unwilling to trade their lives to ensure grandma lives another six months. Everybody dies, eventually, of something. I’m not going to stop living my life to give someone else a slight extension. That notion is insane when you follow it down the rabbit hole and start applying it to other causes of death.

      • Hyperion

        If I was still a youngster, say 20s or 30s, I’d probably already be in jail. I’ve older and working from home at least part of the time for the past 12-15 years anyway. But man, like I said, if I was still a youngster, my patience for this shit would be zero.

        I still hate it though and want to see those to blame walk the plank.

      • EvilSheldon

        God I hope so. Modern America’s relationship with death is about as healthy as Victorian England’s relationship with sex.

      • Lackadaisical

        ^so much this.

        Which is why I have no hope that what Fd’A is saying will come to pass.

      • salted earth

        At the grocery store today, I passed by a clerk explaining to a customer why the vacuum shelf was nearly empty. And why it was likely to stay that way.

    • Lady Z

      Recycling scare tactics.

      • Pope Jimbo

        We’ve overwhelmed out demagoguery system! We’ve run out of boogymen!

      • Hyperion

        This is probably their last change. They’ll never be able to pull off like anything like this again in a generation. Climate change hysteria failed. This is working, for a while, but I also believe people’s patience are wearing thin.

      • Hyperion

        last chance…

      • Lady Z

        Yep, desperation is not a good look.

  30. Grosspatzer

    https://www.nj.com/news/2020/05/katie-brennan-settles-lawsuit-against-state-and-murphy-campaign-for-1-million-following-rape-allegation.html

    The state and Murphy for Governor, Inc. will pay a total of $1 million — with $600,000 going to a charity of Brennan’s choice and $400,000 to her attorneys. Neither side admitted any wrongdoing.

    No mention of the amount each will pay. And where will “the state”, which is broke, find the funds? Bailouts? /looks at tax assessment, passes out

    The 17-page settlement also says Brennan and Al Alvarez, the former Murphy campaign adviser she accused of raping her, will participate in a “restorative justice” program. It will include an anti-sexual harassment class for Alvarez and a meeting between Brennan and Alvarez with a facilitator within six months.

    That’ll teach him.

    • KibbledKristen

      Y’all. I’m going to a restaurant tomorrow. I’m beside myself.

      BTW, my dad is drunk. Don’t know if he will still be by 7pm. We can only hope.

      • Grosspatzer

        I’m going to a restaurant tomorrow. I’m beside myself.

        Enjoy the meal. I never thought going to a restaurant would be such a momentous occasion.

        But don’t be beside yourself in NJ. That would violate social distancing.

      • Nephilium

        I’m planning on it as well. Looks like I’ll have some options. I may even get to meet up with a friend and/or my niece.

      • Mojeaux

        Dad drunk = good thing?

        I wanted to go to Red Lobster for my birthday and barring that, Mother’s Day, but no (spent Mother’s Day afternoon in the ER anyway). Mr. Mojeaux informs me their dining room is open now and I’m like, meh. Those ships have sailed. Maybe Father’s Day.

      • Enough About Palin

        “I wanted to go to Red Lobster for my birthday”

        Red Lobster? Where do you live? I didn’t know they still had those aywhere.

      • Incentives Matter

        Oh, don’t worry, the ones remaining will all be destroyed by our governments any day now.

      • Mojeaux

        Kansas City.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Have fun!

        Lots of cargo plane action still out there, but looks like a lot of retirements happening. Particularly with 747-4 fleets.

      • Gustave Lytton

        er, -400.

      • Hyperion

        “my dad is drunk. Don’t know if he will still be by 7pm.”

        If not, it’s a sure sign he hasn’t drank enough, now get your dad another drink, woman!

  31. Pope Jimbo

    Well this sounds fun. Can’t wait to read more about Data Feminism

    Today, data science is a form of power. It has been used to expose injustice, improve health outcomes, and topple governments. But it has also been used to discriminate, police, and surveil. This potential for good, on the one hand, and harm, on the other, makes it essential to ask: Data science by whom? Data science for whom? Data science with whose interests in mind? The narratives around big data and data science are overwhelmingly white, male, and techno-heroic. In Data Feminism, Catherine D’Ignazio and Lauren Klein present a new way of thinking about data science and data ethics—one that is informed by intersectional feminist thought.

    Illustrating data feminism in action, D’Ignazio and Klein show how challenges to the male/female binary can help challenge other hierarchical (and empirically wrong) classification systems. They explain how, for example, an understanding of emotion can expand our ideas about effective data visualization, and how the concept of invisible labor can expose the significant human efforts required by our automated systems. And they show why the data never, ever “speak for themselves.”

    Data Feminism offers strategies for data scientists seeking to learn how feminism can help them work toward justice, and for feminists who want to focus their efforts on the growing field of data science. But Data Feminism is about much more than gender. It is about power, about who has it and who doesn’t, and about how those differentials of power can be challenged and changed.

    I’m sure they will put a stop to Q adding pairs of 0’s to all his data because they look like boobs

    • Grosspatzer

      The narratives around big data and data science are overwhelmingly white, male, and techno-heroic. In Data Feminism, Catherine D’Ignazio and Lauren Klein present a new way of thinking about data science and data ethics—one that is informed by intersectional feminist thought

      Hmm. I actually work with big data. Really big data. Somehow, this approach never occurred to me. Or any of my (((colleagues))). I should whip up a nice PowerPoint presentation for my management, I’m sure they will be amazed. Who knows, maybe I’ll get a promotion.

    • Lady Z

      they show why the data never, ever “speak for themselves.”

      Which is why we need to interpret it for you.

    • kbolino

      hierarchical (and empirically wrong) classification systems

      IFLS takes on philosophy

    • pistoffnick

      80085

  32. Pope Jimbo

    Positive news: I talked to a buddy yesterday who had completely flipped on the wisdom of the lockdown. When this started, he was 100% onboard with cowering in place and told me I was being even crazier than normal. Yesterday, he was scoffing at all the govt shenanigans.

    Maybe the normies are catching on more than I had hoped.

    • Hyperion

      Can we turn some Velociraptors loose in the State houses to remind them how far to stay apart?

    • Mad Scientist

      Women need help with distances. They get confused after so many years of us telling them this ‘ ‘ is 6 inches.

      • Grosspatzer

        SHRINKAGE! SHRINKAGE!

      • Enough About Palin

        + 1 frightened turtle

      • Nephilium

        I think that joke is old enough that it died from COVID.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Well, just the tip.

      • Lady Z

        That is hands-down the funniest thing I’ve read all day.

  33. Mojeaux

    Brett, I commend you on your bio. That’s some good writin’ right there.

    • The Hyperbole

      And you once said that you didn’t get SugarFree.

      • Mojeaux

        Sometimes clarity shines through with SF.

    • Ted S.

      Did he review Siouxsie too?

    • Sean

      I mean, I’d take one as a gift, but I’m not spending that kind of coin on one.

    • Hyperion

      I doubt it. For the same reason that there is not a vaccine for any other Rhinovirus strains. Don’t they just mutate too rapidly to make a vaccine for? Is there a vaccine for the common cold, or MERS, or SARS?

      • Sean

        Placebos for everyone!

      • Incentives Matter

        I think you meant coronavirus strains, and yeah, rapid mutation is one problem, but a bigger problem is that coronavirii like to invade epithelial cells in preference to cells deeper within the body, which makes it difficult to transmit large amount of messenger molecules to the immune system in order for it to say, “Whelp, I’m under attack — time to go kick some invader ass.”

        See here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/health/2020-04-17/coronavirus-vaccine-ian-frazer/12146616

      • Hyperion

        Thanks, I’ll check it out.

    • creech

      A date comfortably after the election.

  34. Donation Not Taxation

    ‘A team from the University of Harrisburg, PA, has developed automated computer facial recognition software that they claim can predict with 80 percent accuracy and “no racial bias” whether a person is likely going to be a criminal, purely by looking at a picture of them.

    “By automating the identification of potential threats without bias, our aim is to produce tools for crime prevention, law enforcement, and military applications,” they said, declaring that they were looking for “strategic partners” to work with to implement their product.

    In a worrying use of words, the team in their own press release, move from referring to those the software recognizes as being “likely criminals” to “criminals” in the space of just one sentence, suggesting they are confident in the discredited racist pseudoscience of phrenology they appear to have updated for the 21st century.’

    https://libertarianhub.com/2020/05/14/new-facial-recognition-software-predicts-youre-a-criminal-based-on-your-looks/

    • Hyperion

      Yeah, that’s going to fly, no problem.

      • Donation Not Taxation

        Would you have said the same May 2019 about ‘cower in place’ ?

      • Hyperion

        Yeah, sure, the first time they nab a few black guys minding their own business because ‘the app said they look like criminals’, no one will bat an eye.

      • Hyperion

        LOL. They only wish they were that smart. Instead, they dig a trap and fall into it on their face.

    • Sean

      Good thing masks are all the rage.

    • Tulip

      Hail phrenology!

    • Fourscore

      “Puts back second doughnut at friend’s house”

      /Not taking any chances

  35. mexican sharpshooter

    Obviously, I can relate to the boyfriend here.

    Last night I dreamt I was in line at a bathroom and somebody cut in line in front of me. So I did the sensible thing and urinated on that guy. I aimed initially for the crotch (obviously) but then puled the stream up towards his face. He seemed upset.

    Naturally, I woke up needing to use the toilet.

  36. Sean

    I’ve got a belly full of take out bbq.

    *content sigh*

    • hayeksplosives

      Yay! And someone else has to clean the kitchen.

      We had a relatively cool week, so I’m enjoying the warm sun today before we go back to a week of highs in the 50s. So I’m pretty content too.

      This solar minimum crap can take a hike.

      • Nephilium

        We may finally be out of frost/freeze weather here in Ohio.

      • Sean

        Mid 80s here today. Time for air conditioning.

      • Hyperion

        87 here today. Tomatoes and Peppers looking very happy. I had a LOT of tomato blooms, then we had that cool snap and not sure any tomatoes coming from those, but they are starting more blooms, and looks like pepper blooms within days.

        About to start hardening off my 2nd batch of maters, and put my 3rd batch of mater/peppers under the lights as soon as they sprout.

      • Tres Cool

        Yeah…Im out some tomatoes and a bunch of “filler flowers” I put in. Thanks, Gaia.

      • Hyperion

        I almost lost some peppers because of frost, but they survived.

      • Fourscore

        I have mine outside on the patio hardening off, looking at the 10 day forecast. I’m tempted but still hesitating. I did put out the cabbages/choi/broccoli stuff yesterday, that can take a little frost. Planted corn but that’ll be under the dirt for another week or more, should be OK.

  37. Gustave Lytton

    Did grocery shopping this morning. Seems like less people out shopping but hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, bread flour, and paper products were partially restocked. More random out of stock stuff and never seen before brands of cleaners/hand sanitizers. Still no IPA in consumer quantities. Meat department was thin.

    Online shopping volumes are either dropping or businesses are ramping up. Amazon restored Amazon Day and Target Sports shipped my order within a day or two of placing it.

    • Nephilium

      No IPA? That makes no sense to me. Several of our local breweries started bringing in mobile canning to can collaborations they had made before everything got shut down.

      /ignores that it’s probably an auto-correct.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Isopropyl alcohol.

      • Hyperion

        IPA? How much do you need? I can ship you semi-trailers from MD.

      • Gustave Lytton

        I’ve got it by the gallon at work. Thanks for the offer though!

        (whichever IPA you were offering)

      • Hyperion

        “(whichever IPA you were offering)”

        All of it. You’ll be paying for it though. It all sucks, bitter swill.

      • Lady Z

        Agreed! (sorry Neph)

      • Nephilium

        /crosses Lady Z off the list

      • Lady Z

        Fine, I didn’t want to be on your list anyway!

        *stomps feet*

      • Gustave Lytton

        Not a fan of hoppy beer and IPAs but I appreciated the gesture anyways.

    • Count Potato

      No hand sanitizer, sanitizing wipes, bread flour, and paper products near me. No bleach or disinfectants either. Lots of food items very low or missing.

      I did buy AP flour, but there were only a few bags left.

      There seems to be no aerosol spray disinfectant anywhere. Not even online.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Hang in there! Was in the same boat when others were finding it. Last week wasn’t so good, and then finally some that weren’t completely cleaned out.

      • Count Potato

        Last week I got the last bag of frozen peas. This week there wasn’t any.

      • Hyperion

        I’m sure he’s happy to know the grammar Karens have arrived, whether or not there are frozen peas.

      • Hyperion

        Do you have any property? How big is your current dwelling? I know it’s none of my business, just asking if I might be able to give a helpful tip.

      • Count Potato

        I do, but no place to garden.

      • Hyperion

        Indoors, a deck?

      • Count Potato

        I guess I could make room indoors, but then I would have to buy lights, etc.

        So far, produce isn’t as good as it usually is, but I can still pretty much find everything.

      • Hyperion

        It’s depending on how much work you want to do, but if you need any help I’m always here.

      • Count Potato

        I have some room on my deck/terrace/or whatever Hyperbole thinks is the proper name.

        It faces east so it only get sun in the morning though.

      • Hyperion

        Depends on what you’re growing. But you can grow an amazing amount of stuff on an east facing deck and the LED growlights out today, you can grow almost anything all year long. Also, dwarf species of plants, you don’t need as many hours of direct sunlight and they do great under good lights.

        I live in an apartment right now. I have a large deck thats about 10×24 south facing, but there a lot of trees and I still do pretty well with tomatoes and peppers. I’m going to invest in grow lights this fall and see how I do. I already have some small LEDs that I just use to start seeds.

        Also probably depends on how much time you want to commit to it. I’m really into it and we had so many tomatoes and peppers last summer I couldn’t give them away. Now comes the lights to keep it that way all years.

        Also, I’m pretty sure you can grow lots of peas on your east facing deck.

      • Hyperion

        What kind of bleach do you want? There is a ton of it available right now on Amazon. Looks like a 10 day wait to get it delivered. But you can guy as much as you want at our local supermarket. I still have not seen anything you cannot buy except TP.

      • Hyperion

        Buy goddamnit. I’m going to renew my fruitless beating dead horse request for an edit button.

      • Count Potato

        I was able to get a case of bleach shipped to me. Shipping was fast too.

      • Hyperion

        Great! Like I said, you just have to keep vigilant and wait for restock to happen. I’m pretty sure there’s a game going on with that right now. My wife treats it that way, anyway.

      • one true athena

        That’s how I got a case of paper towels. And honestly , the “projected ship date” was a complete lie. It took only an extra two days or so.

      • Hyperion

        Yeah, it works. Wife got stocked up on at least 3 years worth of her fav name brand TP that way. Still haven’t seen it in a local store, or even Walmart lately.

    • Ownbestenemy

      Finally got bleach that we needed to sanitizer the trailer…damn hoarders probably have 50 gallons just sitting around.

      Made some fresh bread the other day. Was a bit dense but still good especially for moppong up sauces.

      Tonight I feast. Lobster, bacon wrapped scallops and roasted asparagus.

      • hayeksplosives

        Mmm! Sounds luxurious!! Enjoy your well earned lobster

    • Hyperion

      Sewing masks is gay, I’m pretty sure our own Brockatard is going to kick his ass.

  38. hayeksplosives

    Cutting the cable is the clear trend in US households. Most of us get internet one way or another and then subscribe a la carte to services like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, or to channels like ESPN+.

    I have wanted a la carte TV for ages, and it’s even better that we can stream when we want. It’s great, no doubt.

    But I fear that once cable TV finally goes under, and the only choice left is streaming, Netflix and the other biggies will flex their muscles. They will end up with bundles and packages, and we will be right back where we were with cable.

    EXCEPT

    That the future streaming giants are now deeply integrated into politics. They censor, block, drop, promote at will. They know what you’re watching and will happily sell info about your demographic to political machines.

    Anybody see that turning out differently?

    (Feels guilty about using Netflix and YouTube)

    • Mojeaux

      At some point I’m just going to stop watching TV altogether and watch my DVDs endlessly. Maybe I’ll just find out what people are watching and buy the DVDs.

      The only service I have other than cable is Amazon Prime and I view that as more of a last-resort thing when I can’t find anything else I want to watch. I’ve seen every episode of Forensic Files twice, all the aliens shows, hoarders, and I cannot abide HGTV now at all.

      That said, Amazon’s put out some good stuff. “Good Omens,” “The Boys,” and now Mr. Mojeaux and I are watching “Upload,” which is weird and I like weird.

    • kbolino

      Modern cable systems can monitor your viewing habits as well as streaming services can.

      That having been said, no, I don’t think it will play out any differently than you think. Streaming is no longer “new media”, people will have unrealistic expectations about what it should and shouldn’t be, and the incentives are already there to muck with the programming and promotions to suit various agenda. No doubt there will also be some moral panic or another that leads to an industry consortium arising which will be designed to ensure our sensitive minds are never exposed to bad things; we can call it Hays Code 2: Electric Boogaloo.

      Their first act, no doubt, will be to crack down on the word “boogaloo”.

    • Sean

      I don’t see cable tv going away.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Video subs are dropping like a rock. Same thing is happening to the cable companies that telcos got hit by over the last twenty years ago.

      • Sean

        I could see major network tv stations go away, but cable tv in some form would continue, imo.

    • Rhywun

      I might drop cable for a smaller bundle like Fubo that includes sports (some day again) and other channels I watch now. Luckily I’m not much interested in anything like Netflix and all the zillion imitators.

      • hayeksplosives

        I do like Fubo. Might hang onto it. Amazon comes with my Prime subscription anyway.

        I am close to quitting Netflix. Too much liberal bias showing. Too many things you think are documentaries but have Obama, George Clooney, etc as producers. Vox too.

        I’d like to see a non political alternative to Netflix, but they have lots of exclusive contracts and they are quickly raising the barrier to entry.

  39. one true athena

    Thunderbirds were supposed to fly over LA today. I’m hope one of the Glibs saw but I was too far to see or hear them though we were outside with a view. Bummer.

    I am constantly amused by complaining socialists on twitter who comment things like “If you’re wondering why we don’t have national healthcare? It’s those SIX PLANES’ FAULT!”

    • kbolino

      If only that money went into Aetna’s pocket, instead of Northrup Grumman’s.

    • hayeksplosives

      I saw those six planes fly over Escondido! Spectacular.

      “The poor you will always have with you.”

    • Hyperion

      They flew over here a couple weeks ago, directly over my place. Sad I didn’t have a camera or my cell phone in hand, but you barely heard it approaching before they were gone. I got outside on the deck to see it, but my wife just missed getting out there to see it.

    • Tres Cool

      I wonder how much damage to the planet these flyovers do, CO2-wise

      • Hyperion

        Almost as much as that shitlord Musk and his toxic masculinity rockets.