A Double Shot of Protests

by | Aug 20, 2020 | First Amendment, Liberty, Politics | 418 comments

Two groups organized protests in New Hampshire on Saturday, August 15th, 2020.  The Karen Testerman campaign organized a protest in the morning at the State House in Concord, NH against Governor Chris Sununu’s emergency order requiring masks at large gatherings8.3Leader organized a protest in the middle of the day in Central Square in Keene, NH against the new Keene, NH mask ordinance.  I attended both.  Grrizzly joined me for the protest in Keene.

Gov. Sununu referenced the Sturgis, SD bike rally when he issued Emergency Order #63.  There are two large events in NH coming up:

Gov. Sununu issued the order on Tuesday, August 11th.

The Karen Testerman campaign announced the protest against Emergency Order #63 on Wednesday, August 12th.  The protest was scheduled for Saturday, August 15th from 9 AM to 11 AM.

I wore my “My Governor is an Idiot” t-shirt.

I arrived at the State House at about 9:30 AM.  Karen Testerman had just finished speaking.  JR Hoel, Treasurer of Reopen NH, was starting his speech.  I estimated the crowd to be between 120 and 150 people.  Some folks liked my shirt, and I let some take pictures of it.

I liked JR Hoel’s speech the best of the speeches I heard at this protest.  He talked about the governor’s edicts, and mentioned Emergency Order #65.  This was the first I heard about that order.

JR also talked about lives lost.  His lead in was that while the economy is a concern, there are more than economic concerns.  He said it is tragic that families have lost loved ones to Covid.  He also said it also tragic that people have committed suicide due to the lockdowns, people have died to due putting off medical care due to the shutdowns, and that people in nursing homes have been dying alone.  Those people get ignored.

There were three or four other speakers.  I only remember what two of them talked about.

One of those two talked about how the government should not mandate a vaccine.  She says getting or declining a vaccine should be up to an individual.  This individual was also on a Zoom call with the NH Secretary of State and town moderators about the upcoming state primary and general election.  The topic of wearing masks came up.  There is a debate in New Hampshire about whether or not masks will be required to vote in person.  According to the woman, there was no decision.  She noted that officials on the call referred to people that don’t want to wear masks while voting in person as “unwashed” and “unclean”.

The other of the two talked about economic impacts.

During the protest a drone flew overhead.  Also during the protest a pickup truck with some women in it and a huge “WOMEN FOR TRUMP” flag drove past the State House with the horn blaring.

During and after the rally I met with and chatted with some folks that I met at other rallies.  It was good to shake hands, hug, see smiling faces, and talk.

While mingling, I found out that someone from the Karen Testerman Campaign staff counted attendees.  This person stopped counting at 120.

The only law enforcement presence I saw during my time in Concord was a Concord police officer in a SUV patrolling some side streets not far from the State House.  The State House grounds are under NH State Police jurisdiction, and I saw no NH State Police in the Concord area.

I left Concord to go to Keene.

I drove NH-101 instead of taking NH-9 to Keene.  On the drive along NH-101 I saw my first Biden signs in the wild.  I also saw some BLM protests in Dublin, Peterborough, and Marlborough.  The protestors were all white.

I arrived in Keene.  I saw a sign warning people entering the downtown area about the new ordinance.  I parked my car.  I was saddened by all the people wearing masks on the street.  Only a handful of people did not wear masks on Keene city streets.  I was one of them.

The anti-mask ordinance protest was at Central Square centered on the Gazebo.  I arrived at about 12:30 PM.

I noted, as I walked up to the Gazebo, a counter-protestor who had a sign which read, “WEARING A MASK ISN’T POLITICAL.  IT IS AN INTELLIGENCE TEST.”

The protest organizer was speaking when I arrived.  Shortly afterwards Karen Testerman showed up to speak.  I don’t remember exactly when grrizzly found me.  Grrizzly had been there long before I arrived.  Near the end of the speakers Nobody got up to speak.  Nobody is a libertarian activist who changed his legal name to Nobody and is running for governor in the Republican primary.  As things wound down, grrizzly and I mingled a bit.

During the rally, lots of people driving past the square blew their horns.

We had hecklers passing through the square.  A guy with a “FUCK TRUMP” t-shirt and a Biden mask walked through the crowd sometime after Karen Testerman finished speaking.  He looked angry but said nothing to anyone while he was in earshot of me.  A guy wearing a neck gaiter over his face, dress shirt, dress pants, and a tie walked through the crowd.  This guy yelled some stuff at the crowd, but there was too much background noise for me to hear what he shouted.

I saw no Keene police during my entire time in Keene.

Later in the day on the 15th, the Keene newspaper published coverage of the anti-mask ordinance protest.

It was a good day but strangely tiring.

Despite Karen Testerman being a long shot to defeat Sununu in the September 8th state primary, it is impressive that Karen Testerman got that many people to Concord on a Saturday morning with the possibility of rain and with that short notice.  Her support is building, but I think too slow to defeat Sununu in the primary.

Nobody is not going to defeat Sununu in the primary. I think he will only pull votes from libertarians and Free State Project members that register as Republican for the primary.  While I agree with just about everything he says, I can’t see any NH Republican, even the libertarian leaning ones I know, voting for him.

I was wrong about the LPNH and their suit against the state concerning ballot access.  I thought they would lose.  They won.  From what I’ve heard, they have enough signatures given the reduced requirements to be on the ballot in November.

There has been talk on groups I’m a member of about more protests and rallies.  If they happen and I can go, I will go and report back.

About The Author

DEG

DEG

Will work for guns, ammo, booze, books, and cool cars.

418 Comments

  1. straffinrun

    The suicide angle is a big one and you never hear people that support the lockdowns actually address it. An honest answer would be, “Yeah, it is causing spikes in suicides, but it’s worth it because overall it saves lives.” It’s similar to the gun debate and self defense.

    • Count Potato

      Also increase in OD, delayed treatments etc.

      • Urthona

        yeah.

        so this should be easy to calculate. what is the increase in suicides and ods so far? anyone know where to find the info. i can extrapolate.

      • straffinrun

        Those and all the things included in the “etc”. It’s impossible to measure all the negative side effects involved, but hubris enables people to declare with complete certainty that the lockdowns are worth the costs.

    • The Hyperbole

      Do we actually know that the suicide rates have spiked? I keep hearing that we can’t accurately tally Covid deaths because we won t have the numbers until we can compare them to the normal which is always a year or two behind. Wouldn’t that be the case with suicides as well?

      • straffinrun

        It’s one of those “all things being equal” type axiomatic truths. If you drastically reduce the amount of time humans can spend around other humans (we are social creatures even if it doesn’t feel like it), you increase the odds of negative psychological conditions.

      • The Hyperbole

        Ah, so it’s “Science.” I can dig it.

      • straffinrun

        There is a lot of literature out there showing a causal link of isolation and depression. You could say that people aren’t “isolated” because they can still see there families. However, there are people in the world that only meet other humans when they leave the house. Lots of old people here in Tokyo that go to the gym, not to exercise, but just to be around people. Widowers.

      • Rhywun

        I’m more or less immune to this effect, at least for now, but even I have to admit enjoying people-watching at the park today. But yeah, I recognize this is going to be a huge problem.

      • Fourscore

        The Old Timers’ Coffee Club in the small rural areas. Every small town has them, world problems solved locally by experienced guys

      • Gender Traitor

        Yup. My first FIL – a widower – lived in Libertyville, IL, and met his buddies every morning at the Liberty Family Restaurant.

      • C. Anacreon

        I grew up not far from Libertyville, even had a couple girlfriends from there during my HS days.

        We used to call that town “Libbyland”.

      • C. Anacreon

        At a hospital near us recently a trauma surgeon announced that suicide attempts had gone up 1600% at their center since the pandemic.

        The recent CDC study said 25% of young adults, and 11% of adults overall, had been contemplating suicide during the pandemic.

        You’re right, it’s hard to find the comparitors in a normal year for these. But having worked in ERs for the past 34 years, I can tell you the numbers in the past few months have been skyrocketing across the board, confirmed anecdotally by a number of colleagues.

        But exactly how much more than baseline is still not clear. OTOH, we should all be very concerned about this, these numbers are very far from normal.

      • Count Potato

        “1600%”

        Yikes!

      • Hyperion

        But you still have to admit it’s acceptable if we get rid of bad orange man. Omelets have to be made.

      • Tejicano

        …and fcuk you if you’re an egg

      • straffinrun

        It’s very hard to get real data in the fog of war, but I don’t think your experience is going to vary that much from the real numbers once enough time has passed. My mom has worked in alcohol/drug treatment for 40 years and she’s telling me similar stories.

      • westernsloper

        If we can’t accurately tally covid deaths why come I hear them reported as fact every fucking day?

      • Sean

        ?

      • DEG

        They have to be reported as fact or else people will stop living in fear.

      • The Hyperbole

        That’s kinda my point. it would work (or not work if one is honest) both ways. Can’t count Covid deaths over the average then you can’t count Suicides over average. yet depending on ones “side” people seem eager to accept one and dismiss the other and vise versa and versa vice.

      • westernsloper

        A suicide is pretty goddamned clear outcome of an act of violence against ones self. Pretty hard to fudge the numbers there. Covid deaths have been reported as being counted for people who have died in car accidents. Ya, not even the same thing as far as the numbers go. Throw in a monetary motivation for reporting a covid treatment and the elderly patient dies and ya, the numbers for that tally are way fucked. We are not in the apples to apples orchard.

      • Cancelled

        Thing is I keep seeing the claim. I do not see generally see numbers accompanying the claim, and I never see sourcing for numbers.

      • Cancelled

        See, I am with you on the not trusting them part. The problem is I do not, or I probably should say I try not to, go from “I do not trust them” to “I therefore believe the oppsite of what they say” because that is just as baseless as the “I trust them implicitly” position. Once agin, I am not making a position statement about the issue, just a meta position about how horrible the corruption of science is.

      • westernsloper

        I am at the I believe the opposite of what they say point. something something Hydroxychlorquine. (or however you spell it) They lie. Something something Russian collusion…………….ya, they lie.

      • Cancelled

        But the world is not binary. The fact that they say X may well mean not X, or it may mean that they don’t understand X, or that X and Y are both true, or that X is sometimes true. The lying guard in the logic puzzle is an accurate guide to truth, but in the real world he has agency and can tell some or all of the truth if it helps him get his way.

        To go back in time I can both believe that the Patriot Act was a blatant and direct assault on the Constitution and that those who wrote, voted for, and implemented it commied a violation of their oath deserving of execution, and accept that Islamic Terrorists did 9/11 with no help from the Mossad or US government, and should be fought.

      • The Hyperbole

        So you have the numbers? how many people offed themselves last year? what about in June year over year? Sure Suicide* is easier to determine than the Bullshit** Covid but both take time to aggregate?( probably not the right term but I’ve been drinking) My point is we don’t know yet for either and anyone claiming they do is more than likely full of shit or basing their conclusion on anecdotal and confirmation biases.

        * I won’t even get into how one knows whether it was suicide or just aggressive yanking gone horrible wrong
        ** I got no footnote here it’s bullshit.

      • westernsloper

        I could find the numbers but no I am not going to*. Plus I have to eat.**

        *I don’t work for you. We will take this up later perhaps Zooming. Hopefully Doc Anac could chime in.

        **I’m hungry

      • Cancelled

        and good luck getting any unbiased, unspun data these days. I’m with you on this one, it isn’t any better when we assume our conclusion that when they do it. It is likely that the stay at home orders, economic uncertainty, and all around added stress and conflict about every subject have worsened some people’s depression, and created added suicides and drug usage/ods, but that is not a scientific claim until you can measure it and really isolate the variables involved.

        Personally and anecdotally I am not isolating any more than usual, but I am very very tired of the constant lectures from BOTH sides about how I must/must not do every trivial thing because doing/not doing it will kill grandma/cave to tyranny. I vote we make our decisions ourselves and worry less about what someone else decides because it is after all, none of our damn business.

      • Count Potato

        “good luck getting any unbiased, unspun data these days”

        Once something becomes political, even something as basic as arithmetic goes out the window.

      • DEG

        I did a little digging.

        I remember reading about a California hospital that said it saw a year’s worth of suicides in the four months of lockdown. A fact checker said that the hospital’s claim isn’t quite right. There has been an increase in suicides so far this year which includes non-locked-down months.

        I found some studies that talk about a possibility of an increase in suicides, but in my five minutes or so of searching, I found no hard numbers.

        I suspect that we won’t know rates have spiked until later.

      • Hyperion

        You manage to convince all young people that they are living in the worst of times, when in fact, they are the most affluent, safe, and lucky generation of people who have ever walked the planet.

        There is absolutely no struggle for them, when from the beginning, the human condition has been programmed for struggle.

        Nothing could possibly go wrong.

      • The Hyperbole

        People aged 60 or older accounted for the more than 23 percent of Ohio suicide deaths in the 10 years covered in the study, the highest for any age group in the study. People aged 50-59 accounted for more than 20 percent.

        Spend 40, 50, 60 years dealing with this bullshit and then decide to check out, I don’t think you can blame that on end times propaganda brainwashing the yutes. Over thirty and cash in your chips? that’s your cal,l I’m not in any position to second guess that.

    • Mostly Peaceful JaimeRoberto

      I’ve been reading the obits in the local paper. I have yet to see a Covid death, though cause of death is often not mentioned in the obit. I have seen suicides. Maybe the suicides would have happened anyway absent the lockdown, but I bet the lockdown contributed.

      • Gender Traitor

        I’m shocked if suicide is actually mentioned in obits. In college, when I had delusions of becoming some kind of journalist and read the news on the campus radio station, mentioning that the cause of a death was suicide was verboten.

      • Hyperion

        You science deniers had just better get used to the new normal, the pandemic is raging and only experts can keep you safe!

      • Fourscore

        I see suicides among young people reported as “died at home” or such with no explanation as to cause of death. Often there may be reports like”No funeral is planned” or a “Memorial will be held later”. I’m always suspicious.

    • westernsloper

      Ready for what?

      • Rebel Scum

        Well, Sleepy Joe is behind Kommie-la. I assume he is ready for a good sniff. Do you think she is more Garnier Fructis or Head & Shoulders?

      • TARDIS

        Blowing all her SS agents.

      • KibbledKristen

        Yeah, this just made me flash back to the Hat & Hair Expanded from last week and I laughed & vomited at the same time.

      • straffinrun

        He’s always ready. That face.

    • Fourscore

      Kamala’s smirk says it all

      • Rebel Scum

        Democrat voters loved her so much in the primaries…

      • Hyperion

        Hey, she almost got out of the single digits! If not for all the misogyny and disrespect for working girls, she would be president!

    • Hyperion

      I’m sure Camela will be ready and Horizontal in a heartbeat if anyone is even interested anymore.

      • Gender Traitor

        If Trump is the incumbent, is Harris the recumbent?

      • TARDIS

        *golf clap*

    • Chafed

      Very interesting Kamala is centered in photo. It’s almost as if they are trying to tell us something.

  2. westernsloper

    I was saddened by all the people wearing masks on the street.

    Today was the first day of school here and I went to work late today for reasons. I was driving when kids were waiting for the bus and I saw two kids in different spots standing and kicking dirt as they waited. Both were masked. They were alone and outside. I will half buy into the masks indoors among groups might do something*, but you can take your mask outside standing next to the road alone rules and shove them up your ass.

    *I would buy that if this was something truly deadly but it seems to be not so much if you are under 70. I am in the this is the biggest hoax perpetuated on the world in world history camp. Throw in the rate of false positives that gets so little press and absolutely zero main stream press that I have seen and ya, this is getting beyond stupid.

    Thanks for the report Deg.

  3. KibbledKristen

    Thanks foe the report, D! Glad to hear about some freedom ringing up there!

  4. DEG

    According to the woman, there was no decision.

    An update:

    Communities can require that both voters and poll workers wear face coverings on Election Day to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, according to state officials.

    Attorney General Gordon MacDonald and Secretary of State Bill Gardner released a 10-page document Wednesday with guidance for the Sept. 8 primary and Nov. 3 general election. They said they agreed with town moderators that decisions about mask requirements should be made locally given the wide variation in the size of polling places, expected volume of voters and other factors.

    Communities that require face coverings for voters must, however, provide alternatives for those who can’t or won’t comply, the officials said.

    While the officials said they believe towns likewise have the right to require poll workers to wear masks, they also highlighted the “risk of a legal challenge” and urged local officials to consult their attorneys. They noted that some voters may feel uncomfortable encountering unmasked poll workers, and that it may be hard to attract sufficient workers without a mandate.

    The guidance also clarifies issues around absentee voting, which has been temporarily expanded to allow the coronavirus pandemic as a reason for voting absentee. Municipalities can set up dropboxes to collect absentee ballots from those who don’t mail their ballots — both before Election Day and on Election Day — but the boxes must be staffed by election workers.

    Towns and cities can not use the “drive-up” voting method that some towns used to adopt their town and school budgets this spring and summer.

      • Hyperion

        Viruses are little biological machines with code that writes itself. They are not alive anymore than your cell phone is.

        That’s why I hope you have a mask on right now, it can get in the intertoobz you know, and then reprogram your mouse to get you.

  5. DEG

    I guess I should have paid more attention to the featured image. The top of the shirt’s text is cut off.

    • SP

      Cropped.

      • DEG

        Thank you!

  6. Rebel Scum

    Has this bitch even read the Constitution?

    She added, “No one is above the law. This president has taken the position that he’s immune from prosecution. He’s immune from being indicted, and he basically can do whatever he wants to do. This is very dangerous. As a matter of fact, the Constitution could not have written everything that a president is not allowed to do, so it’s a very powerful position. The president must have integrity, must be about serving this country, and not being immune from the law, not being above the law. But he has indicated in everything that he’s done that he doesn’t care about the law, he doesn’t care about the Constitution. He has shown us that he’s willing to do whatever he thinks he needs to do, whether it has to do with a law being questioned or the United States Post office that he wants to dismantle.”

    Actually, the president CAN be indicted. . . by the House. Then he/she can be tried in the Senate. That’s how it works.

    • Hyperion

      “Has this bitch even read the Constitution?”

      You mean that old thing written by white slave owners in an old language that no one can even read today?

  7. Sean

    I begrudgingly accepted the mask bit to reopen the state. I’m over it.

    We’re being lied to every single day.

    • westernsloper

      There are rumblings here that there is another full blown shutdown coming in Oct/Nov. I am buying tinfoil if that happens.

      • Rhywun

        Of course it is. Flu season is coming up, after all.

      • Sean

        Tinfoil does nothing. Buy ammo/armor.

      • Hyperion

        There’s zero doubt in my mind that we’ll be locked down hard by the last week of Oct. And no one will be allowed to go outside, except for some antifa and BLM folks to protect the polling places in case any people try to unsafely not vote by mail. While the pandemic rages all around us.

      • DEG

        Same here in NH.

        More than a few business owners are worried.

        Even if there is no shutdown, restaurants and bars in four counties are fucked. That’s the timeframe they will lose outdoor dining/patios/etc due to weather. Restaurants in those four counties have their indoor capacity limited to 50% with tables being at least six feet apart. The extra tables from outdoor space is what is keeping them alive. Lose that, and they’re done regardless of the Clown Prince shutting things down.

      • Hyperion

        We don’t have to worry though, when Sleepy Joe wins and ends our national nightmare, everything will be back to normal on day one.

  8. KibbledKristen

    BTW, I think most people’s mental health, if not physical, have suffered a lot. Sometimes it’s hard to notice because you’re always reaching some kind of new baseline where you can’t remember what you felt like 6 months or a year ago.

    Personally, I remember how I felt a year ago. 2019 was one of the best years of my life. I’m so sad at the difference with how I feel now. I do continue to hope I’ll get that 2019 feeling again.

    • straffinrun

      ^This. The feeling of being trapped in limbo or feeling the sword of Damocles is about to fall any second. It’s going to cause big problems for a non small segment of the population.

      • Gustave Lytton

        The ones who have been clinging to denial as a survival mechanism are going to have the hardest time adjusting.

        Treading water sucks. I’m just about ready to punch out some days. I don’t care what happens.

      • straffinrun

        The Stoics had a saying: “You can always turn over your wrist”. Samurai also had a similar concept where they had to justify why they wouldn’t commit suicide. Facing those feelings is not a bad thing. I wouldn’t think it’s a good idea for most people to face them without someone around who is supportive.

      • EvilSheldon

        Yep.

        Since around March, I’ve found myself completely uninterested in most of the things that used to make me happy. It’s not pleasant.

      • SUPREME OVERLORD trshmnstr

        getting out of the house is a chore, and I don’t just mean the mask part. im lucky if I leave the house 3x per week

      • mrfamous

        I’m still very interested in the things that make me happy. The State however is very interested in keeping pretty much all of them illegal. No gyms, no bars, no concerts, no sporting events and, effectively, no dating unless you’re already dating the person. It almost feels like I’ve been targeted.

    • Hyperion

      Just vote for Gropey Joe and it will all go away. The end of our national nightmare on Nov 4, like an early Christmas present. So, vote like your life depends on it, for Gropey Joe, or else!

      • TARDIS

        Are you watching Tucker too???

      • Hyperion

        I don’t watch TV, so no.

      • TARDIS

        vote like your life depends on it, for Gropey Joe, or else!

        Tonight’s theme, making fun of the DNC convention.

        Obama and all the rest… what shitstains on history.

      • Rhywun

        They were going off on neo-cons too. I was kind of surprised at that, not being a regular or long-time viewer.

      • Brochettaward

        Who was going off on neo-cons? The Dems? I mean, when you are trotting out Kasich and Colin Powell…

      • TARDIS

        I have not had cable for years, but we have Hulu live. I don’t care about live TV, but I am paying for it so I have it running in the background. I’m not watching any sports so what else is there?

      • Rhywun

        Who was going off on neo-cons?

        Tucker and one of his guests. They were talking about all the GOP neo-cons who’ve shown up at the DNC.

      • TARDIS

        Tucker asked if Willie Brown was going to speak on Commie-la’s behalf.
        *chuckle*

      • Gustave Lytton

        If you believe that, you can also keep your doctor.

    • Sean

      Let the hate flow through you.

    • DEG

      2019 was not the best year of my life, but it was way better than 2020.

      2020 has been shit. Really shitty.

      • Fourscore

        2020 has been the best garden I’ve ever had. OTOH I’ve missed fishing because I need one of my old buddies to help putting the boat in and out. The ones that are still alive are afraid sitting in opposite ends of the boat would be life threatening. I am really surprised by the reactions of some of the old folks.

      • pistoffnick

        I can help you put the boat in. You just have to ask.

        2020 has been a poor gardening year for me. A bumper crop of cilantro / coriander – all of it volunteer. One cucumber, two habanero peppers, measly peas, and a few beans so far. Not one strawberry, raspberry or blueberry.

    • mrfamous

      I’m having my worst day in a long time. I’m sick of being alone. I’m sick of everything I enjoy doing being illegal. I’m sick of the masks. I’m sick of being unable to plan for the future. I’m sick of being worried about my job. I’m sick of not being able to see my dad.

      If I could get to the gym, at least I’d be able to set some sort of goal to work to and focus on that. And the end appears to be nowhere in sight.

      • Nephilium

        They’ve taken my concerts, they’ve taken my vacations, they’ve taken my ability to plan, they’ve taken all of my stress relief away.

        Fuck it. Have some appropriate music for tonight: Never Alone.

      • mrfamous

        Thanks. I ain’t doing well, but I’ll persevere. Plenty of people in history have had it far worse than this. I suppose why this sucks so much is that we’ve more or less had it pretty good relative to your average all-time human.

        Trying to stick with that to keep me going.

      • LemonGrenade

        If you have any sort of ability to do it, go camping, even if it’s just a weekend in a KOA Kabin (if you lack even a tent). Preferably in a red state, where some of the lockdown madness has eased up a bit. The people who are still camping haven’t lost their minds, there’s almost zero mask wearing at the campgrounds, and getting some vitamin D and fresh air can do wonders for your outlook. I was spontaneously crying, having random rant fests, and completely ready to burn the house down or go on a shooting rampage by the time I finally got on the road. It’s just about the last normal thing you can do right now, and it saved me from a nervous breakdown.

      • mrfamous

        I’m theoretically in a red state or at least my Governor is a “Republican” of sorts. Though by the end of the year we’ll have two Dem senators and a likely Biden victory. And by 2022 almost certainly a Dem governor, and that should be the permanent state of affairs from here on out.

        I’d have to drive quite a ways north to get out of the 115 degree heat, but I might do it. The closest state that might actually let me do what I want is _ironically_ Rocky Point in Mexico. That’s where we’re at in the US of A circa 2020.

      • EvilSheldon

        It’s funny you should mention that. The only thing I’m really looking forward to right now is hiking Old Rag next weekend.

      • LemonGrenade

        That’s a good hike. Hope the weather stays great for you!

  9. Rhywun

    Keene is a nice small city – I have family there. Libertarian-leaning, even. But yeah… it’s a college town, so you know what you’re going to get there.

    • DEG

      That’s the first time I’ve heard Keene described as Libertarian-leaning. The Free Keene folks seem to be widely hated.

      • Rhywun

        No, I was describing my relatives. 🙂

        OTOH it was surprising how many libertarians I ran into during my last visit. One of my brother’s friends was running for something or other, so that might have influenced the group we were hanging out with.

      • DEG

        I see. Yeah, that crowd would influence the types of people you meet.

  10. Hyperion

    “I wore my “My Governor is an Idiot” t-shirt.”

    Is there a ‘My governor is a squishy East Coast RINO’ shirt? Seems like a lot to fit on a t-shirt.

    • DEG

      The same seller has state specific versions. That might do.

      • Fourscore

        I would need several XX-large t-shirts to express my displeasure with Guv Walz

      • Fourscore

        I would need several XX-large t-shirts to express my displeasure with Guv Walz

    • Rhywun

      I misplaced my “My governor is a mafioso” T-shirt.

      • Hyperion

        So, I’m not the only one who thinks Cuomo looks like a 70s mafia boss? Damn, I though it was just me.

        Do Chicagoans get their choice of the pork jowled one or Beetlejuice? I mean, I know the pork jowels is governor, but I’m thinking the Beetlejuice shirt will just be all the rage.

      • DEG

        So, I’m not the only one who thinks Cuomo looks like a 70s mafia boss? Damn, I though it was just me.

        #metoo

      • Rhywun

        Damn, I though it was just me.

        You should witness it up close and personal like I have on several occasions. It’s uncanny.

  11. Gender Traitor

    Any woman named Karen who’s running for political office this year – especially if she’s much more of an anti-“Karen” – should make a point of having some fun with the name.

    • KibbledKristen

      Ayup!

    • grrizzly

      Karen Testerman gave a good speech in Keene. She’s got a degree in microbiology and hasn’t forgotten all the stuff like most “experts.” Like, immunity. She is able to talk about the coronavirus with much more knowledge than other politicians.

      • Gender Traitor

        Good on her! I hope she does well, even if she can’t unseat the incumbent.

      • DEG

        Yep.

        I should have described her speech in Keene.

  12. The Late P Brooks

    Gov. Sununu referenced the Sturgis, SD bike rally when he issued Emergency Order #63.

    Thus far they have managed to dredge up a single “case” in Sturgis.

      • westernsloper

        The New York Times characterizes the state among those where new cases are increasing and reports a seven-day average of 107 new cases counted per day.

        How many hospitalizations? How many deaths? This shit is really starting to piss me off more and more and I have been pissed off for months.

      • pistoffnick

        “…pissed off for months.”

        Piker! Wait until you’ve been pissed off for decades!

      • Fourscore

        Since the last century, right, Nick? And just getting started i the present century.

      • mikey

        “How many hospitalizations? How many deaths?”
        If they don’t tell you you can be sue the number is zero.

        Mentioning only cases is straight up lying by omission.

      • mikey

        Or you can just settle for being sure.

    • Hyperion

      “Thus far they have managed to dredge up a single “case” in Sturgis.”

      RAGING!

      • TARDIS

        Obama picks up phone, “We need an airstrike on Sturgis!”

        “Sir, you’re not in charge anymore.”

        /Obama stomping around

      • Festus' Mustache

        ^^^ Unloved comment!

    • Hyperion

      I’m totally shocked.

      6 years to life? That’s one hell of a range right there. What is up with that?

      • Count Potato

        I have no idea.

      • Hyperion

        The judge is into kiddies and there’s going to be some plea bargaining?

      • J. Frank Parnell

        Do pedos last 6 years in prison?

    • Hyperion

      Scroll down. I’m telling you, Zuckerberg is an alien. Look at that face! That ain’t human, he’s a gray!

      • Rhywun

        *yikes*

        I’m no looker, but that… dayum.

      • Hyperion

        You don’t need to be a looker when you have a few spare billion lying around. You can get your very own CCP wench to service you and some sweet sweatshop and censorship deals as a bonus.

      • Cancelled

        That might not be the best selling point for Rhywun…

      • Hyperion

        If he has a few billion lying around, he don’t need no stanking selling points!

  13. The Late P Brooks

    Under 25 now. Ooooo.

    Spreading

    like

    WILDFIRE!!!!!!!!

  14. Rebel Scum

    The cat was acting weird last night when I got home. Did greet me at the door bothering me to feed him like normal (I have to control his portions to control his weight). I still got the food and he ate. But he was still off, low energy and lounging around. Then he vomited…a lot. Took him to the emergency vet today because his situation hadn’t changed. I thought he may have eaten something like the wrong spider since he tends to eat spiders. It turns out he had a urinary block. Apparently this is a thing and I never knew about it despite having cats during my entire childhood. Needless to say, the vet said it would be more than too much to fix it and the cat is dead*.

    *Just kidding. The cat is alive and well (visited him earlier at the behest of the lady, he is behaviorally back to normal and we can bring him home as early as tomorrow, maybe…) and my wallet is significantly lighter. There goes the patio I wanted. I hope he appreciates it. This is his one time**.

    **Dude’s only six. I couldn’t let him die for something that sounded so routine to fix.

    • Rebel Scum

      Didn’t* greet me… (and I proofread, dammit…)

    • Hyperion

      “Needless to say, the vet said it would be more than too much to fix it and the cat is dead*.”

      You are a bad person.

      • Rhywun

        My heart skipped a beat. The bastard. 🙂

      • Hyperion

        I was already thinking up a Save the Kitty GoFundMe page before I started wiping the tears and trying to read the next paragraph.

    • Brochettaward

      I’m glad you’ll get to play with your pussy more.

      • TARDIS

        If only it wasn’t so expensive.

      • Gender Traitor

        It’s expensive because it’s worth it.

      • TARDIS

        ?Contemplates yesterday’s cat vomit.

      • Gender Traitor

        Oh, you’re talking about the CAT…

      • TARDIS

        Heh. The 180 hurt my neck.

        I wanted to say, “I’ve heard the same about divorce.”

      • straffinrun

        *Zing!

    • KibbledKristen

      My boy had urinary problems, too. He got fixed up pretty well with subcutaneous fluids once in a while (I think they said cats have a low thirst drive and get dehydrated easily) and a lower protein prescription food. It sucks seeing the animules in pain.

      My cat lived to 19, BTW.

    • DEG

      I’m glad your car is doing better.

      • DEG

        oof.

        cat, not car.

      • Festus' Mustache

        Just went through the same. The last one we lost nearly made 20 but it was a struggle near the end. Good kitteh!

      • DEG

        I’m glad your cat made it through too.

  15. The Late P Brooks

    If there have been any protests in Helena, there is a total news blackout about them.

  16. Mostly Peaceful JaimeRoberto

    Just got off a Zoom happy hour with my coworkers. What a bunch of bedwetters. All of them said they would be unwilling to go to a restaurant, even outside. They were shocked when I told them we took my mom to a restaurant for her 90th birthday. WTF. These are all healthy and relatively young people, with one exception, who should be careful. I don’t know what’s wrong with people. I don’t know if they are being serious or if they are putting on an act. I’m the crotchety guy who acts like it’s Festivus every day, so I told them they should grow a pair.

    • westernsloper

      ?

    • KSuellington

      I’ve noticed that the millennial crowd seems to have gone the furthest in on masks and such. The age cohort below them and the oldies seem to be the least likely to participate enthusiastically in the masquerade.

    • EvilSheldon

      Coddling helicopter parents and the 24-hour freakshow news cycle have combined to produce a generation that has zero ability to evaluate risk. They’re a lost cause.

      • KSuellington

        I do have some hope for the generation after the millennials (Gen Z I guess they’re calling it) will be better on the whole. I am teaching my kids to be very hesitant about trusting authority. They know that the Emperor is naked and only wearing a mask.

    • LemonGrenade

      One of my coworkers did not leave her house, even for groceries for over three months from March until July – she paid for delivery for everything. And she still complains about seeing people without a mask *at the beach.* Give that I just spent the past two months traveling the US, she thinks I’m completely insane.

      • Nephilium

        The girlfriend’s aunt has said she’s not going to come to Thanksgiving because we went to Put-In-Bay a couple weeks back.

      • KSuellington

        You dodged that bullet Neph.

      • LemonGrenade

        Wait, what? That’s *months* away. Even if you did contract the commie cough, you would have had plenty of time to get over it and no longer be contagious. People are so irrational. My younger sisters asked my mother to cancel her visit because they were afraid she’d bring it from rural Oklahoma out to Fairfax County, VA. And it wasn’t, “you’re old, you’re at higher risk and we’re worried you might catch it,” it was really “we’re worried you’ll bring the coronavirus with you.” I repeat, people are irrational.

      • Nephilium

        Yeah… not to mention that she would be more likely to catch it on the flight from LA to Cleveland than here.

      • UnCivilServant

        I’ve stayed in my house for months now, and I’m pissed when I see someone wearing a mask.

      • LemonGrenade

        But did you stay home because you wanted to, or because you were terrified the ‘rona was going to get you? it makes a difference, to me.

        The mask thing just makes me feel like an asshole, and causes me to wonder what – if enough people keep complying – they’ll escalate to next.

      • UnCivilServant

        I stayed home so I didn’t get into fights with wuhan worriers.

      • EvilSheldon

        To be honest, I’ve been digging the grocery delivery thing. The extra five bucks is totally worth not having to visit the store in person.

      • Nephilium

        If only the people doing the picking could select decent cuts of meat and good produce.

      • LemonGrenade

        That’s why I still have to do my shopping in person, that and the ability to substitute on the fly when what is on my list looks sucky and there are better alternatives available.

      • TARDIS

        My wife has left the house thrice this month. Once to help make sure her hairdresser doesn’t lose her business, once for groceries, and once to get my ungrateful daughter a birthday cake and snacks. She’s not afraid, just annoyed.

      • LemonGrenade

        That’s sort of what I’ve done. Fine, I have to wear a mask in most public places? I’ll minimize the number of public places I visit. My husband is a saint for doing most of the grocery shopping, although yesterday he had some old bat in one of the aisles try to shame him with, “Can’t you wear a mask?” and he just fired back, “Why? Isn’t yours working?” She huffed and walked away.

      • TARDIS

        “Why? Isn’t yours working?”

        I’ll have to remember that one.

        I work in a big place and I was in the men’s room. Someone I work directly with was standing two urinals down so I decided to crack wise. The middle urinal was covered covered so we don’t pee on each other share germs. I said, “I think my mask is broken because it still smells like ass in here.” The dude in the stall laughed.

      • Don did not Escape Bama

        real Americans are happy to flush twelve or fifteen times

      • Hyperion

        Wifey left today for I think the only time she’s been outside by herself this month. To get her car detailed. Then she had to tell me about how one of the guys were caught staring at her ass and how mad she was about that.

        I said ‘Sure honey, I always get outraged when that happens, I get it, makes me feel all cheap and stuff’.

        She doesn’t always appreciate my humor. Women, you know.

      • Gustave Lytton

        she had to tell me about how one of the guys were caught staring at her ass

        And that is how one humble brags.

      • Hyperion

        If women really wanted to not see guys leering at their ass, the’d stop wearing tight jeans. A burka might do it.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Meant your humble brag.

      • Tejicano

        You put it on display and I’mma gonna look.

        I’ll be discreet about it though. I’m not a cad.

      • Hyperion

        I’m a peacock. That’s what my wife says. I mean when I’m not fat.

      • grrizzly

        I probably spent more time at the beach this summer than any summer in the last decade. A much better chance to see people without masks than anywhere else.

      • Rhywun

        Good grief. I live in freaking NYC and I go out almost every day.

    • Nephilium

      I was on a call the other day and the people were talking favorably about the New Zealand lockdowns.

      SERENITY NOW!

      • LemonGrenade

        That’s why I’ve avoided work happy hour zooms for the past several months. They’re clearly all in on lockdowns, masks and living in fear, and I’d rather not start fights with them.

      • Nephilium

        There haven’t been any work happy hours (for that I’m thankful), this was an every other week meeting to discuss planning and projects. FFS, there were some managers saying they would refuse to go back to work in the office until there was a vaccine.

        As it stands, I have no idea if I’ll be going back into an office through next year.

      • Hyperion

        “They’re clearly all in on lockdowns”

        It’s because they want to work from home. I have conclusive evidence of this, do not be fooled by these people.

        I myself have started to declare that we have to work from home from now on forever because we have to save the planet. They eat that shit right up. When they try to fuck you over, you get on top and fuck them instead.

      • LemonGrenade

        I’d buy that in most cases, except the vast majority of the company already worked from home full time. In my case, they’re the media and they’ve swallowed the government’s line whole. (While congratulating themselves for their hard-hitting and essential work.)

    • Chafed

      You are the hero we need.

  17. commodious spittoon

    “WEARING A MASK ISN’T POLITICAL. IT IS AN INTELLIGENCE TEST.”

    Yes, every time I put on the mask, I think: Do I or don’t I feel like getting scolded by some bitchy low-T twerp today?

  18. KSuellington

    You mentioned the suicide angle DEG (and straff in the first comment) and I have mentioned it before, but I will again because it bears repeating. A couple months back for one of my favorite customers I changed the locks on one of his apartments in which the tenant killed herself due to the lockdowns. There wasn’t any mystery as to it. She wrote her friend and my landlord buddy letters saying that they would find her body in the apartment and that she was done with life because she saw no end to the lockdowns and couldn’t handle the loneliness any more. From what I have been reading it looks like the suicide rate has gone up as well as overdoses. These lockdowns will end up killing far more than they have saved.

    • Rhywun

      Pathetic.

    • Rebel Scum

      You’re correct – I was not invited to participate in any way.

      You’re always invited at casa RS. But I have assigned reading.

      • TARDIS

        Will there be a quiz? I tried reading it as a teenager, but I failed.

    • Hyperion

      She’s too nice and not crazy, and too good looking to be today’s democrat. And she wrecked Camela in the debates.

      • Mostly Peaceful JaimeRoberto

        Kamala wore a leather skirt when she spoke at my wife’s citizenship ceremony, and I have to say she looked pretty good.

      • Hyperion

        “Kamala wore a leather skirt when she spoke at my wife’s citizenship ceremony”

        What sort of hell were you in? No politicians spoke at my wife’s citizenship ceremony. I think there was a video where Trump was speaking?

        Was Camela pole dancing too?

      • Mostly Peaceful JaimeRoberto

        It was San Francisco.

      • Hyperion

        She was riding the Willy pole.

      • Gustave Lytton

        She didn’t sleep her way to the stop by being fugly.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Or to the top. Whatever.

      • Chafed

        Both work.

      • Brochettaward

        She has a masculine look to me.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Bags aren’t just for stuffing dead hookers in.

    • Hyperion

      It’s OK, Tulsi, we’re working on a Tulsi’s Tits Tribute over here at da Glibs. There is no higher honor that a commie can get.

      • Count Potato

        Isn’t your better half Brazilian?

      • Hyperion

        And?

      • KSuellington

        Ordem e progresso, a bunda faz sucesso.

      • Hyperion

        Yeah, but we were talking about Tulsi’s tits, not fake order and progress.

    • Count Potato

      They’re just jealous that she has the best ass.

  19. The Late P Brooks

    What a bunch of bedwetters. All of them said they would be unwilling to go to a restaurant, even outside. They were shocked when I told them we took my mom to a restaurant for her 90th birthday. WTF. These are all healthy and relatively young people, with one exception, who should be careful. I don’t know what’s wrong with people.

    Public “education”. They await instructions and then do as they are told. It’s what they have been taught to do.

    • Hyperion

      “Public education”

      The internet has been won for the day, folks. Thanks for your participation, you can all go home now.

    • Count Potato

      The family was planning to take my my mom out when she turned 90 this year, then after the pandemic, everyone was in agreement that we shouldn’t get together and do anything.

      • Tulip

        My mom would not be ok with that. She goes to the pool, to exercise, to play cards. She’s not willing to give up stuff like a birthday meal for this.

      • Count Potato

        My mom was OK with it, and this was back in March. So I can’t blame her or anyone else. I don’t think any place was even open.

        Also, if she caught covid and died because of it, I wouldn’t be able to live with myself.

  20. The Late P Brooks

    I cut through the Montana State campus this afternoon. Outdoors, on a beautiful day, I’d say it was maybe 50-50 masks.

    Some very nice round female bottoms, too.

    • westernsloper

      perv ^

      • Cancelled

        It would be perverted not to admire them. Admiring them is dead center in the normal sexuality.

      • Hyperion

        “Admiring them is dead center in the normal sexuality.”

        We can’t be safe until we get rid of you normies.

      • DEG

        YES

      • Hyperion

        They must look really good when I notice them, because every woman I’ve ever been with seems to notice them more than I do.

      • TARDIS

        Normal? NORMAL? How dare you? Bigot!

        My wife used to call me a pervert regularly. Then, one day, I mansplained some things to her. So far, so good.

      • Cancelled

        I’m not judging. But that is what the word pervert means. One whose sexual interest is abnormal (with an implication that such abnormaility is unacceptable). The use of that word for men who are attracted to the standard image of feminine beauty is a perversion of perversion.

      • Mostly Peaceful JaimeRoberto

        Damn right. I miss the months I spent in Budapest where the women get upset if you don’t admire what they’ve put on display.

    • Rebel Scum

      very nice round female bottoms

      Nubile coeds are the best.

  21. Rebel Scum

    I like how Democrats are highlighting the rights violations by Democrats in the middle of their 2020 convention. It is good to own one’s past.

  22. DEG

    I need to get up early so I’m dropping off. Tomorrow around lunch I’ll drop back in and respond to any new comments/questions/what-have-you.

    ‘Night folks!

    • Gender Traitor

      ‘Night, DEG. Thanks for the report!

    • Hyperion

      Light Weight! Quitter!

      Nite, bro.

    • straffinrun

      Thanks, Deg. Good stuff.

    • TARDIS

      Good night, tax cattle.

  23. Count Potato

    Does anyone else feel like it’s Friday?

    • TARDIS

      No, it’s Saturday 1 for me. Tomorrow is Saturday 2.

      *looks at bank account and sighs*

    • straffinrun

      Yep. Wait, huh?

    • Gender Traitor

      It’s Friday Eve! ::sips more wine::

    • Hyperion

      I do, because I took tomorrow off and am drinking copious amounts of beer.

      • TARDIS

        took tomorrow off

        Did you steal my ride? How was it?

    • pistoffnick

      “Does anyone else feel like it’s Friday?”

      Oh hell no. Tomorrow is a busy day at work. I’ve been working crazy hours. Last week I clocked 67 hours.

      • pistoffnick

        12.5 hours on Satdee

      • Gender Traitor

        Unless something unforeseen comes up, I don’t expect to have to brain at work tomorrow. Main items on the agenda: distributing the mail and the stuff from the interoffice bags, then marking bad addresses in the core data system from all the mail that’s been returned lately.

        Of course, it’s my boss’s last day before he has to get his tonsils out next week, so who knows what he’ll come up with that HAS to be done before he leaves…

      • UnCivilServant

        I’m not sure how many meetings I have tomorrow.

        I also have to go and tell the CTO’s office how technology works. Their best effort appears to be less than nothing.

      • Gender Traitor

        tell the CTO’s office how technology works

        Ohhhh, dear. : /

      • Nephilium

        He just needs to highlight the “Magic Happens” box in the flowchart.

      • Cancelled

        But is the Magic good wholesome diverse Black Magic, or evil oppressive White Magic?

      • Nephilium

        It depends on if it’s a slave process or not.

      • Gender Traitor

        Reminds me of the mojo filter Tom T used to keep in his home recording studio, though I think the “More Magic” switch was more functional.

      • UnCivilServant

        Background – Our external-facing reverse proxy is kept to the most modern version because it’s where the outside threats first hit. But the state also doesn’t want to pay for upgrading the older applications, so we have some backend systems that can’t talk on the newest protocols. As such we’re stuck creating intermediate proxies to translate between the two. Last time, I had the rights to build the box myself and got it done fairly quickly. These days, we’re stuck asking for everything. It’s like talking to a voince interface on a computer – it does the most literal and minimum amount to technically fullfil the most recent request. To paraphrase the past few weeks:

        US> Please build a server and install Apache on it.

        CTO: done

        US> Please grant user apache rights to the apache directories and to restart the service.

        CTO: done

        US> Please install apache with SSL support.

        CTO: done

        US> Please grant user apache rights to the apache directories.

        CTO: done

        US> This does not appear to support the protocols needed. Please install apache (other version) and openssl (other version).

        CTO: done

        US> Please grant user apache rights to the new apache directory and to restart the service.

        CTO: done

        US> Please install apache (other version) with proxy and ssl support.

        CTO: done

        US> Please install apache (other version) with proxy and ssl support linked to openssl (other version)

        CTE: We’ve encountered an error.

      • Gender Traitor

        Do you have to do this in person?

    • commodious spittoon

      Tomorrow’s half-day Friday (our team works 4 nines and a four), and even that’s getting cut in half so we can go golf on the company dime. Which is pretty bitchin’ except for the golf part.

    • DEG

      Yes. This has been a weird week for me as I took Monday off, and I’ve not been productive at work.

  24. mikey

    Georgeous orange sunset filling the western sky.
    The fires have started.

    • Hyperion

      Red sky at night, sailor’s delight. Too bad I’m not sailing anywhere tomorrow.

  25. The Late P Brooks

    The rock works! Tiger attacks are going down!

    States across the US are now seeing a decline in coronavirus cases, a US top official said this week, though he warned things could quickly change again if Americans aren’t careful.
    Trends are now “going in the right direction,” said Adm. Brett Giroir, the Trump administration physician overseeing US coronavirus testing, attributing the decline in part to safety protocols such as masks and social distancing.
    The daily average number official new coronavirus cases reported in the US has been declining for weeks. Cases over the past week averaged about 47,300 as of Wednesday, down from a peak average of 67,317 on July 22, Johns Hopkins University data shows.
    State leaders who have reported a leveling of new cases also attribute it to adherence to safety guidelines. In Washington state, where health officials say the rate of new cases is slowing, “face coverings have made a difference,” Secretary of Health Dr. John Wiesman said.

    Everywhere they look, they see just what they were looking for.

    And if you do everything you can to fend off any sort of herd immunity, when people let their guard down, infections are liable to rise.

    Lockdown today, lockdown tomorrow, lockdown forever.

  26. mikey

    Skwirrllzz attack the Bozone!
    Dead squirrel causes power outage in Bozeman

    https://flip.it/J2xvpU

    • invisible finger

      Live bureaucrats cause power outage in California.

  27. Hyperion

    DNC not helping dems

    Meh, whatever. I’m sure this is hurting them way more than if they had a typical convention and antifa burns the place to the ground. I’m disappointed, because I really wanted to see that.

    • Don did not Escape Bama

      how long until WordPress starts cancelling folk just for wishing ?

      • Hyperion

        On the day we’re saved from our national nightmare after Gropey Jo gets elected and utopia appears? Am I the only one who thinks these people go too far with their bullshit?

    • Chafed

      I wish the DNC had an in person convention in the year of antifa. That would have been awesome.

  28. Rebel Scum

    Oh. My God. They are parading a brainwashed kid with a stutter to pump up Senile Hidin’ Biden. These people are beyond cynical and they are fucking disgusting.

    • straffinrun

      I’m gonna virtually not watch any of these virtual conventions.

      • Hyperion

        Yeah, me too, I’m leaving it up to you fearless and brave Glibs to link me to the right Twatter coverage.

    • Sean

      This is the best they’ve got.

  29. Rhywun

    W00t Islanders!

    That is all.

    • slumbrew

      Nice – I’m assuming they play Philly next, assuming Philly wins or the Bruins, if Philly loses, correct?

      • Rhywun

        Not a clue. I don’t listen to any of the yapping.

      • I'm Here To Help

        If Philly wins against Montreal, it will be Philly v. Islanders/Bolts v. Bruins in the second round. If Montreal wins, it will be Bolts v. Montreal, Islanders v. Bruins.

        I think…

  30. Hyperion

    My presidential election prediction update.

    I’m still sticking with my prediction from way back in early 2020. Trump wins by slightly more than he did in 2016. There was way more enthusiasm for Hillary than there is for Biden. So it will be close, not a landslide, but Trump will get more electoral votes than he did in 2016. From where? Maybe Minnesota, Virginia, and Nevada. I can see those all going for Trump besides the ones he won in 2016.

    The media’s nonsense declaring Indiana, South Carolina, and Texas as swing states is beyond absurd, those states are not even in play.

    • KSuellington

      If Kanye is on the ballot in Colorado (and it looks like he may be) then Trump wins that state. I agree that he will win by a bit more than last time. I’ve been getting the bets in on that.

      • Hyperion

        I was going to say that CO might be the other state he can pick up. Good observation.

      • KSuellington

        Ha! I just looked up whether Kanye made it on the Wisconsin ballot and wouldn’t you know:

        “Ruhland entered the WEC building around 14 seconds after 5 p.m., a few minutes after she arrived outside the locked entrance to the building and called staff to let her in. Staff noted she then had to walk down the first floor hallway, access the elevator, ride it to the third floor and present the papers to the front desk, which they argued is “virtually impossible” to do in the 46 seconds needed to hit 5:01, which the West campaign argued was the actual deadline. “

        So close, sorry Kanye, we can’t let you steal votes from Uncle Joe.

    • Hyperion

      That’s funny, because I hate the Squaws and all their fans too. I mean except for Moj, I’m exempting her because she was once an undeserving and not appreciative wannabe worst, Tulpa Squad Prime the worst, monster.

      Anyway, fuck my won team for all these years as well. Fuck all of them. I remember when the Raiders picked up Beast Mode, and I thought, wow this is cool. And shortly after, I wanted to go down to Oakland Alameda Stadium and slap those Skittles right out of his mouth. Except for he’d probably kick my ass, and so I said, I don’t think this is worth the flight ticket right now.

      I’m fucking done. All of you ‘stars’ with your multi-million dollar salaries need to go fucking broke. Then you get to experience what your new ‘Woke’ America is like you poor retarded malcontents.

      • slumbrew

        I remember when the Raiders picked up Beast Mode, and I thought, wow this is cool.

        Running backs age awfully quickly. Especially ones who spent the last couple of years retired, smoking weed.

      • Hyperion

        Yeah, all of that contact will put some age on a body.

      • Gustave Lytton

        I’m not a fan myself but I’m sentimental because my folks’ friend, former next door neighbor, and my dad’s surrogate dad (grandpa died at a very early age) & fishing buddy was originally from KC and a lifelong fan.

      • Mostly Peaceful JaimeRoberto

        Forget about sleeping Lynch. Slap Davis and tell him to get a normal haircut.

      • Hyperion

        Forget about that. Mark apparently drives hundreds of miles to get his bowl cut, and he’s proud of it.

      • Chafed

        Which tells you something about his intelligence.

      • Fifth Knight of the Derp Table

        I hate you too, Hype. 🙂

    • Rhywun

      Wow. I would absolutely not go to a game with a dress code. Their building, their rules, their loss.

      • invisible finger

        I stopped going to Black Hawks games because I got sick of the one asshole fan every goddamned game asking me “Why come you no wear replica jersey You not true fan?”

  31. DenverJ

    First! Also, if this is a simulation, the programmers are drunk. I can’t decide- the stupidest of all time lines, or the most entertaining? Or both?

    • slumbrew

      It’s like SimCity, when you get tired of playing and just start maxing-out the disaster sliders.

    • Hyperion

      Don’t worry, I’m close to the source code. When I get it, I’ll still be drunk, but I’m a make it less retarded, because how can any drunk falling over into a ditch, not mange to do so even by accident?

      • UnCivilServant

        Your code manages the nebula projections. You might be able to put on a nice light show at nigh… you’re the one who inserted the aurora bug, aren’t you?

      • Hyperion

        The Virgo Superclusterfuck, coming to a galaxy near you, that was me.

      • slumbrew

        Mostly I design coastlines – I won an award for the fjords of Norway.

      • Hyperion

        That was pretty good work. Were you involved in the Italian peninsula?

      • slumbrew

        That was that hack Dave – all “his” good ideas were stolen from me.

      • Gender Traitor

        +1 fiddly bit

    • DenverJ

      All of your replies were entertaining, and I’m glad we’re in the same cult in this timeline. Do you think we’ll all remember each other after Hype reboots reality?

      • Hyperion

        Don’t worry, bro. I have megafucking terratetrabytes of quantum memory ready for the awakening.

        My first priority is making Glibs masters of the universe. How could it not be so?

      • Hyperion

        When Almanian said that he is making me Supreme Overlord in his absence, that is what I expected and nothing less! Princes, bah!

      • slumbrew

        Thank god you didn’t link to this. Don’t even click on that.

      • Hyperion

        Those dudes got Portlandia hats.

      • Chafed

        I’m cursing myself for ignoring your warning.

  32. straffinrun

    I’m finally figuring out what Hype’s objection was. Is it 100% certain that suicides have increased due to lockdowns? No. Is it highly likely given what we know about depression, anxiety, stress? Yes. CV19 deaths are going through the inevitable difficulty of categorizing them.

    If you were to have no lockdowns while at the same time as the media and experts like Ferguson were making predictions that turned out to be highly exaggerated, you’d have stress in the population. In that situation, you’d know who to blame.

    That being said, you can’t just hand wave away the suicide angle because there hasn’t been an exhaustive study done yet. They are making policy now and if you wait for unassailable empirical evidence,( even though you have axiomatic and other general psychological principles), you are making decisions without using all the info that can be useful.

    • Hyperion

      Are you speaking of the fake Hype?

      • straffinrun

        Just clarifying.

    • mrfamous

      One thing to mention in all of this is that, in the USA anyway, suicide and drug overdoses had spiked quite a bit in recent years and independent of COVID-19 and lockdowns probably is something that needed to be looked at and talked about. It’s hard to imagine then that an already emerging problem has been made _better_ by what’s going on.

      In a sense, it’s the same issue: prioritizing public health issues based on their political utility instead of their actual impacts on public health causes all sorts of problems. Even taking COVID-19 very seriously is extremely justifiable, but de-emphasizing the crosshairs this thing had trained on our elderly population and instead claiming that “we’re all gonna die!” and the “kids can’t ever go back to school again” for political purposes is a problem.

      • straffinrun

        “ prioritizing public health issues based on their political utility instead of their actual impacts on public health causes all sorts of problems. ”

        This would mean that govt act with humility and question whether or not what it’s doing is correct. Politicians do not get elected when taking that approach. We need a kind of Manchurian candidate that acts the demagogue in public only as a facade to get elected.

      • Rhywun

        suicide and drug overdoses had spiked quite a bit in recent years

        Yup. Just like people were already leaving NYC before the plague hit, but we’re only hearing about it now. How are you going to tease out cause and effect? Shrieking headlines are just click-bait.

    • KSuellington

      Stress is a killer. There’s been plenty of that heaped upon us the last half year.

      • Hyperion

        Life is hard. When it’s no longer, we’ll make it so.

        I’ve faced shit in my life that is so far worse than this, it almost seems like a joke.

        It’s only my last several years of relative affluence and good life that is making me feel stressed about this.

        To be honest, it’s not so much about fear than it is about wanting to see the people responsible for this, crushed like bugs. And I can assure you, I am not alone. Eventually this sort of repressed anger boils to the surface.

      • KSuellington

        I am a pretty optimistic and chill person by nature but this has thrown me for a bit of a loop because it has been a pretty close playout of some of my worst fears of government overreach. That, and having three little kids has me and the wife scrambling to try and figure out how to work and homeschool them.

      • Hyperion

        “homeschool them”‘

        Please do it. I’m convinced that besides the media, public school is public enemy number one.

      • KSuellington

        They are in a Catholic school that wants to begin classes but can’t due to the state. If this goes on another month or two we are pulling them out to truly homeschool them. I still hold out hope that maybe one positive effect of the lockdown shitshow will be a more jaundiced eye towards public education by many. I’d love to see the Dems get absolutely ran over in the election. They need to be slapped down hard.

      • Hyperion

        At least they’re not in public school.

        Go from there forward, good luck to you, wishing you the best. Our children are all gown now. Grandchildren are a mix of Catholic, private, and home school, with the exception of the one granddaughter in Germany who is still 2 years away from school age.

      • straffinrun

        Yeah, we probably should try to ween ourselves off the outrage porn sometimes. I’ve tried with some Jap lessons and other posts, but this place is a political place after all.

        “Nothing is either good or bad, but thinking makes it so”

        -Dead White Guy

      • invisible finger

        What if I’m outraged ABOUT outrage porn?

  33. Hyperion

    Don’t you guys even go to sleep on me now. This isn’t one of those one horse town roll the sidewalks up at 8PM places. This is the new place that never sleeps! I mean since that other place that never sleeps got locked down because of commie plague.

    • DenverJ

      That trailer park full of meth heads?

      • Hyperion

        Is that what they call NYC now?

    • Chafed

      Unfortunately Sir Digby is on vacation and CPRM got a job.

      • Chafed

        Thanks PP. I’m down for a respectful Sabbath cover.

      • Festus' Mustache

        Sure! What do you think those old farts were playing in the basement decades ago? I think it’s pretty cool!

  34. Chafed

    They seem nice. Which reminds me… what’s burning in Portland tonight GL?

  35. Chafed

    Nice write DEG. Sorry I didn’t catch you while you were “live.”

    • UnCivilServant

      Donno, never knew it existed to be cancelled.

      • Chafed

        Are you up late or early?

      • UnCivilServant

        Insomnia. I woke up in the middle of the night wide awake, I’m about to try to get back to sleep.

    • Ted S.

      It wasn’t funny?

  36. Gustave Lytton

    Something happened to La Victoria taco sauce. It’s more watery that it used to be once upon a time.

  37. Gustave Lytton

    I like screw tops more than corks on liquor bottles. It’s not 1850 and I’m not drinking out of a clay jug.

    • Ted S.

      I thought you preferred to drink wine straight out of the box.

      • limey

        Morning Ted. Hot tip: If you ever want to sneak wine into an event somewhere, take the bag out of a wine box and stuff it down your pants. It’s important to get the little tap front and centre so you can dispense via casually unzipping.

      • Sean

        ?

  38. limey

    Morning, Glibertariat and Gliberati. I’m going back to school in a couple of weeks! Learning ahoy!

    • Gender Traitor

      Morning, limey/JD. What will you be studying?

      • limey

        It’s secret, until someone doxxes me, but until then I’ll keep some of the details under wraps. Nevertheless, I’m guessing as a mature student I’ll be down with the kids. It’s a trade school type course.

      • UnCivilServant

        So something productive rather than Studies Studies?

      • limey

        Oh yeah, not any of that same old, rinse-n-repeat commie theory grievance doctrine dressed up as a humanities course.

    • limey

      On the contrary, I think it’s important to point out the futility/insanity of repeatedly re-building a covered bridge that’s still too low for the traffic that wants/needs to pass under it. That, or maybe take the roof off the school bus.

    • limey

      That’s pretty cool. I’m not sure why she’s talis-masked up for playing a marimba outdoors, but everyone gets there rocks off in their own way I suppose.

      • invisible finger

        I find people more attractive when they shut the fuck up.

    • invisible finger

      Women love wearing a mask because it saves them time and money on makeup just for a grocery run. Every woman related to me has said this to me, and every woman I am not related to denies it when I mention it.

      • Gender Traitor

        Makeup for a grocery run?? Pffft! I’m doing well to get any on to go to work. I desperately need it (red hair = pale brows & lashes…among other reasons I need it,) but I’d rather visit with you guys. On days I’m swimming after work, at most I’ll throw on some waterproof mascara, but no other makeup or jewelry.

    • EvilSheldon

      This is the very definition of trying too hard.

  39. The Hyperbole

    No way I’m going to watch it but since right Twitter isn’t blowing up with new “cornpop” type meme’s I’m assuming Joe gave a ho-hum run of the mill speech without any humorous gaffes.

    • limey

      It was a hologram.

      #holograndpa

      • Festus' Mustache

        *golf clap*

    • Festus' Mustache

      The CBC couched it in so many words that “He didn’t really fuck up that bad…” so I assume boiler-plate teleprompter pablum.

    • Gender Traitor

      Morning, UCS. Happy Friday!

      • UnCivilServant

        Maybe I can get some more written. Shame I have work.

      • Gender Traitor

        Vacation soon – hang in there!

      • UnCivilServant

        Just six more work days.

      • Gender Traitor

        I love the “=TODAY()” and “=DATEDIF” functions in Excel. (“=DAYS” in Open Office, which I use at home.) For instance, it’s now 74 days until the election. I keep little spreadsheets counting down to significant events like vacations.

      • UnCivilServant

        Any opinions on the stories leading up to the title novella in Lucid Blue?

      • Festus' Mustache

        Heh! I am the opposite. I don’t plan very far ahead in my day-to-day because there isn’t really much to look forward to. Two weeks ahead and the rest is is gauzy as a Bob Guccionne photo shoot.

      • Gender Traitor

        UCS – Liked “Ranger Roy” as a short “one of those days” interlude with familiar characters. Also liked the gritty setting and characters of “Omnirunner.” As I said, struck me as “Superhero noir.” I’m afraid “Reforger” didn’t grab me as much as the others. When it ended, it felt a little incomplete, as if more needed to happen before the resolution. I’ll give it another chance after a bit.

        Didn’t finish “Heartstrings” as I’d hoped last evening, but so far very sympathetic to Errol and intensely disliking Hephaestus. (Left off after practice/qualifying for the archery tournament.) Hope Errol gets The Little Red Haired Girl.

      • UnCivilServant

        Disliking Hephaestus in a “love to hate” or more of a “this character shouldn’t be here” kind of way?

      • Gender Traitor

        “Love to hate.” Makes me hope Errol does well just to show him. So far, Errol has multiple antagonists, but Hephaestus is the worst.

    • limey

      Good morning. How did your stew turn out? I need at least three adjectives, please.

      • UnCivilServant

        There’s something off in the flavor of the broth.

        Everything cooked in it was delicious, but the broth itself is not right.

      • limey

        You gotta make your own stock next time. It’s the only way to be sure, perhaps.

      • UnCivilServant

        I suspect it was the use of wine, actually.

      • limey

        Oh right well, FYI, you’re supposed to drink it while cooking, rather than actually put it in the food. Putting it in food was a myth made up by Karens who couldn’t square their alcoholism with being a sanctimonious jerk, so they could drink in the kitchen under the pretense of culinary sophistication.

      • UnCivilServant

        I can’t drink wine, something about it tastes terrible, and if it’s not cooked off, I retch when tasting that element.

        Wine-based sauces are okay because cooking seems to get rid of whatever that element is.

        (Since I can drink hard booze without problem, it’s not the alcohol)

      • limey

        Tanins?

      • UnCivilServant

        Not sure, because it was still there in supposedly tannin-free or low-tannin varieties.

      • Tres Cool

        Just tell yourself it’s “bœuf à la Bourguignonne”.

      • Festus' Mustache

        Too much or the wrong kind of wine can overpower a dish. Chin up, lots of time to learn.

      • Sean

        There’s something off in the flavor of the broth.

        Add more salt?

      • UnCivilServant

        If it were a simple matter of salt, I’d be able to tell that from taste.

    • Sean

      Mornin’ all.

      • Gender Traitor

        Mornin’, Sean.

  40. Festus' Mustache

    Up thread there was a discussion about the unintended consequences of the shut downs. Around here the OD deaths have sky-rocketed because people are using alone and there is no one there to Nax them. I notice a lot more despair in my travels, even if anecdotal. I weaned myself away from suicidal ideation a long time ago but that Black Dog never rests. Dog will hunt! Apathy and withdrawing from most interaction has stood me in fair stead but that’s just me. What about those people that crave social interaction? I’ve been doing fine because this has been a mere blip in my personal circumstances but what about those that crave company?

    • Festus' Mustache

      On that happy note, Mornin’ Glibs!

      • Gender Traitor

        Mornin’, Fes!

      • Tres Cool

        And to your mustache as well!

      • Festus' Mustache

        *mustache gives a saucy wave*

    • Chipwooder

      The Alien was a “black mother”? ????? What a goddamned moron. The creature in Alien was supposed to be translucent, but they couldn’t get the effect to look right, so they scrapped that.

    • Festus' Mustache

      OMIFUCKINGGOD

  41. Tres Cool

    I worked overnight, so like the rest of the 3rd-shift Glibs, Im enjoying a beer @ 7 am

    • Sean

      My poor liver. I suspect I’m almost sober by now.

      • Festus' Mustache

        You’d better get on that, Stat!

      • Sean

        I just got to work. I’m going to be sober for just over 12 hours, just to prove I don’t have a problem.

      • UnCivilServant

        Sheet, I’ve been sober for over twleve hours days months and it doesn’t mean I don’t have problems.

        Oh, you mean problems with alcohol.

      • Sean

        My over consumption of media recently might actually be worse than my alcohol consumption. There might also be some link there…

        *adds gin to weekend shopping list*

  42. Festus' Mustache

    2019 sucked donkey balls. One nut-punch after the other. Wifey and I calculated 12 in total. 2020 has been a breeze thus far in comparison but it isn’t quite September yet. Just 5 nut-punches.

    • Chipwooder

      Loathsome cunts

      • Chipwooder

        That said, why would you put a child into that situation?

      • Sean

        Because everything else is shut down? Because there were fireworks scheduled? I dunno.

        Still better than the nutjobs taking kids to an actual riot.

    • Sean

      I’m still rooting for the virus.