During this unpleasantness, OMWC and I have been fortunate to still be working. I always work from home, so my routine hasn’t changed much at all. He is still going to his laboratory every day and still getting paid. We are, as I said, fortunate.
Not everyone we know has been.
The governmental overreach on all levels has been truly horrifying, as Glibs know all too well.
In an effort to try to help, besides making extra loans on Kiva.org, we have been patronizing many local, small businesses who have morphed to take-out, curbside pick-up, or delivery.
We’ve started purchasing from a restaurant at which we have never dined, although we are frequent customers of the attached small-but-very-good wine shop. The restaurant has been offering special menus every day and has added delivery, including of wine and cocktails. Their emails have been a bright spot in my day; full of humor and just the right amount of snark.
We are 45 minutes outside their delivery area, and food would be cold by the time we got home if we picked it up, but in a bid to help their purveyors survive in a time of no farm markets and practically non-existent restaurant demand, the restaurant started offering a farm box with produce from several of the farms that supply the restaurant. Every week they have added extra products to the list of available items. This week fresh farm eggs, several kinds of flour from a local mill, polenta and dried garbanzo beans from a farm on the Rez were all available.
We have made it a point to have an outing and drive over each Saturday afternoon to pick up wine and the farm box, and several other items. They’ve included a nice little surprise in the box, too. Several weeks it has been a different house-made-and-bottled cocktail mixer for two; one week it was a roasted chickpea snack. As much of a win-win-win as one can hope for currently.
In another instance, one recent afternoon my security cameras and The Wonder Dog all lit up to warn me of someone on the front porch. Not an unusual occurrence because: a) I heart AMZ; and b) here in the suburbs there are constant real estate and landscaping fliers and cards left in one’s door. This was a new and interesting flier, however.
A local, family-owned gelato shop wanted us to know that, although the storefront was closed, they had decided to offer (free) delivery in a bid to remain solvent. Did we order? Well, of course we did! Every week since. And it’s delicious.
The businesses adding extra options to try to remain in business are not just food-related. Our local dry cleaner has added free front porch pick-up and delivery of garments and bedding items (no minimum). Although many more people in Arizona are still going out to work than elsewhere, I imagine the dry cleaner is quite acutely feeling the pinch. Nobody wears an entire suit, for an entire day, just to talk on Zoom. However many people are using the enforced isolation BS to do some spring cleaning. Great opportunity to have comforters cleaned affordably and hassle-free while helping out a local business.
I have many more examples, but this post is long enough. How have small businesses in your area tried to cope?
Also, you may consider this your Sunday Night Open Post!
Folks are not faring well here.
Typical of the casualties is a discount store, important to low-income people, known as “Army & Navy.” Established in Edmonton in 1919, and celebrated their 100th anniversary last year (they also opened up a very important location in New Westminster, British Columbia). A&N has officially declared bankruptcy and is disappearing forever. Generations of university students also used their stores to buy their necessities.
This is depressing, and it’s gonna get worse.
What the fuck do those icky low-income people need necessities for? They should all get essential jobs.
Learn to code, peasants!
The surplus stores have been drying up around here, and the ones that survive sell mostly Chinese made junk. Not like the old days when they’d be full of genuine de-accessioned stuff.
Aw fuck. I went to the Army & Navy store in New Westminster (actually a year ago tomorrow, what a cowinkydink). It was awesome.
Also in New Westminster, I ate dinner one night at El Santo. I sat at the bar, and had the pleasure of conversing with the owner/entrepreneur. Over drinks, he told me his story of immigrating from Mexico, being a dishwasher, bus boy, server, bartender, maitre de, manager of fine dining restaurants in Vancouver. He then went on to conceptualize and open a number of fine dining establishments in BC. Great dude, great story. Reaffirmed my belief in restaurants, human endeavors, capitalism, and all that yadda yadda.
The (many) cocktails were comped. The braised pork shank was perfectly cooked. Melty gooey pork fat.
Just looked it up on Yelp, and it looks like this COVID-19 bullshit has closed the restaurant down permanently. Fuck a duck.
I hate this fucking bullshit! Hate it! Ggggaaaaashhhhhh!!!!!! Make it stop!!!! Make it fucking stop!!!!
My immigrant great grandfather ran a restaurant in BC. French-Canadian, and not the Quebecki type.
I wasn’t really patronizing small businesses before all this since I’m not that well off, but I notice that the local ice cream stand that I pass by after work if I’m going to be stopping off at the supermarket reopened for the season, I’m assuming takeout only and that you can’t use the picnic benches. I should probably visit, although it’s on the wrong side of a busy street meaning I’d have to make a left turn where there’s no light.
Ok, grandma.
It’s a busy four-lane highway. Heck, turning *right* onto it from those locations that don’t have a light takes some time.
There are relatively few places we ever go. We just have better food at our place. (Yes, we’re also modest.) However, we’ve been making a point to order once a week from local restaurants that deliver. We have family members who work in food & beverage service in New York State, and we know how hard it is for small places to stay open in the best of times.
A current problem those family members are reporting is that trying to open back up for takeout or delivery is proving very difficult because their trained employees are sometimes making more money per week on unemployment than they were making working. (That’s with the extra $600 per week on top of what they would have received from unemployment in regular times.) Thanks, government!
Yup, my wife has zero incentive to go back to the fitness studio, even if it were to open back up. She’s paid by the number of people in the class. $25 for 12 people up to $55 for 36 people.
Either she can stay on unemployment that is calculated based on pre-virus attendance numbers (plus the $600) or, when they open back up, she can teach classes of 12 people (the new max capacity) for little more than gas money.
I’ve been frequenting strictly local prostitutes during the pandemic. None of those traveling out of towners.
Now that’s a Glib with a heart.
Well, if you were located in Gallup, NM, the governor would have kept those carpetbagging entrepreneurs out to help make that resolution even easier for you!
Fuck those carpet shaggers.
Dinner tonight is a farm box special. Gratin of root vegetables and kale. And by “gratin,” I mean, “Having absolutely no redeeming nutritional qualities of a vegetarian dish. Julia Child would approve.”
Salad dressing will use some local olive oil as well.
May I invite myself to dinner?
What time should I be there?
I have been getting take-out more often than I would eat out. I have been patronizing the same couple of places. They are businesses that I like and I want to see survive. I would get take-out from the local Irish pub but they closed. I expect they will reopen once Clown Prince Sununu deigns to allow indoor dining.
I talked with the owner of a beer bar/restaurant/beer store the other day. He closed the bar and restaurant, but kept the beer store open. He said Clown Prince Sununu’s gracious allowance for outdoor dining will do nothing for him. The restrictions on how close tables can be together mean he would only have one or maybe two tables on the part of the sidewalk the city allows him to use for outdoor dining. This is not worth it to him. He agrees with me that Clown Prince Sununu’s plan will drive more restaurants into bankruptcy. He expects Clown Prince Sununu will change the dates and allow indoor dining earlier as too many restaurants are going to be fucked over.
One of the local brewpubs is going to start outdoor dining on the 18th. I am trying to get some folks together to get some dinner there as soon as possible after the 18th.
A friend of mine in PA is struggling. He is open for lunchtime take-out only. It brings in enough business to justify staying open, but it’s not been easy.
Several relatives of mine in PA have been unemployed for the duration of this mess.
A brewery in PA that I like normally has a festival the first Sunday of May. I would have gone this year except that didn’t happen. They’re planning a virtual festival. I have not signed up for it but I will. You have to buy a t-shirt as part of signing up for the festival. I see that as a small price to help the place keep going.
Yes, the restriction here on how many tables the restaurants can have in the amount of space is ludicrous. If one needs 80% table occupancy to make a profit, but one is “allowed” only 50%, why bother re-opening if one can squeak by a few more weeks?
Until they change the goalposts again, that is.
Yep.
Clown Prince Sununu has deigned to allow barbers and hair salons reopen as of tomorrow, but with lots of limits including how many customers can be in the shop at once. Barbers and hair salons will run into the same problem.
We were planning on getting an expensive takeout dinner at my wife’s favorite little local French restaurant tonight for Mothers Day. Nice for her and also helping a nearby small business. Called to order, and oops, they are closed, but will reopen on Tuesday as usual. Seems like they missed a great income opportunity given the day, i can’t believe we’re the only ones who would have patronized them tonight. Perhaps they are rolling in dough and didn’t need the extra cash, who knows.
The brewpub I mentioned tried opening for take-out on Sunday. Not enough business to justify being open for take-out on Sunday so they stopped.
Today being Mother’s Day might be different, but no, they were closed today.
Lowest number of cases and lowest number of deaths in six weeks. I know they’ll go back up Tuesday but still good news.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/
A gun shop in the UK has a youtube channel and has done some collaborations with Bloke on the Range. I like the look of the gun room.
A video on the P-14 rifle. One quibble: Some early Mausers were cock on close.
Hmm… I think that’s a L39A1 on the left hand side of one of the racks in the background.
Most of them were. The 1888/91/93/95 and 94/96 Swedish were all cock-on-close, only the 98-pattern actions were cock-on-close. There was some theory around the camming action of the bolt applying all the action in primary extraction (this was back when ammo wasn’t as consistent as it is now) and the Mausers thought it unwise to use some of that force to cock the striker. The success of the Model 98 pattern kind of ended the debate.
The pre-98s had some other design characteristics that made them weaker than the 98s: No gas flange on the bolt shroud to deflect gas from a burst case away from the shooter, no safety lug on the bolt, no reinforcing web in the receiver ring behind the barrel threads. That’s why it’s unwise to chamber pre-98 actions for cartridges that generate much over 30-35k psi.
A few years back Kimber was offering 96 Swede actions barreled for .243 and .308. Not a good idea. I’m surprised there were no incidents with those guns.
only the 98-pattern actions were cock-on-
closeopen.Damn you, lack of edit function!
A few years back Kimber was offering 96 Swede actions barreled for .243 and .308. Not a good idea. I’m surprised there were no incidents with those guns.
Yikes.
I know many people in the bar & restaurant industry. Everyone, big and small, from the producers to the dishwashers, is getting hammered. There are plenty of businesses that only cater, figuratively and literally, to gatherings. There is no curbside pick-up for weddings. For many of them, this time of year is the only way they stay open.
It’s not just an economic cost. For many of these people this is their life. It’s their identity. And it’s been stolen.
Oh, and by “producers” there are plenty of companies that only make things for bars & restaurants. Even for things everyone can buy at the supermarket, the packaging, distribution, etc. is different.
We have been hitting as many local restaurants for delivery here as we can, as well. The wife is working from home for the moment, as the university is… vacant. She is the person leading the corona response, along with her other duties. So, we are fine there. I, on the other hand, normally work from home, but my client base has taken a beating. Small shops owned and run mostly by old people (antique shops) they have totally shut down. I know a few are doing eBay to move product, but half of them don’t even use email. So, that aint gonna happen. I did a quick refund for my current project, with a disclamor that I would get back to them in 3-6 months. So we shall see. But, my tenant is paying his rent, so that is nice. Retirees for the win.
I am not sure how this whole thing will shake out, as it really seems that a lot of businesses were very over extended, a sure recipe for death in a crisis. I am very sick of every fucking commercial on the radio starting with some jack about challenging times or whatnot. But if I shut that off, I will have no contact with the world.
And the fucking government-sector workers who are supposedly “heroes” on the supposed front lines being offered discounts, not the people forced out of work by governors’ ukases.
it really seems that a lot of businesses were very over extended
Yup. Easy credit and 10 years since the last recession makes for some bad situations. That said, very few businesses are set up to be able to survive complete cessation of operations for 8 weeks.
Hey man, in these trying times, I understand that you get frustrated.
I’ve been buying food and refilling growlers and leaving nice tips at our favorite pub. A little hole in the wall bar I go to often doesn’t serve food so they’re closed but owner put up go fund me for the bartenders so I contributed to that. Had to help out one our daughters as well. I’m grateful that we’re both working and we’re able to do what we can. Pretty pissed off at the media right now. Not going to get over that.
The media has been absolutely awful here.
TV media is irredeemably retarded.
My buddy’s joint (gourmeltz.com) is still closed and doesnt plan to reopen until gov blackface allows unrestricted access – with his model he doesnt think it’s worth it for partial business (starting sometime this week).
That said, hes still waiting on any ppp loan/etc info.
Stopped by to see him yesterday and hes been working his butt off upgrading his facility (from his savings) – built a massive new deck in the parking lot, an oversized bar inside the main place – sliding doors will let him serve folks inside and outside. Looks awesome. Wishing him all the best – guess it’s probably a good thing his plans to open a 22nd place in NoVA fell through last winter.
Figures he should get most of his employees back when things get back to normal.
2nd – hes not that far along.
I was buying sandwiches to go at the corner pho restaurant.
Only problem was I’m not used to eating so much white bread and was gaining weight. I had to switch back to my meats and vegetables.
Mmmm… Ban Mei. We just got a decent Pho place and I wish they would add them.
[bans zwak]
tEDz all Talk.
How to be an adult.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1259638112688304129
Musk has been on a roll of late. I really hope he makes good on his threat to leave California.
He will. And he’s going to Texas.
I weep for my state, a paradise that has turned into progtopia. This was once a place where people from all over the world could come to invent themselves, open businesses and try to realize the dream. Right now it needs a serious spanking. I don’t know if it will help, but I pray for the tech industry to start fleeing for better business climates.
I came here in 1991 for the reasons you describe KSuell. If I had known what would happen then I would have moved to Nevada or Texas.
Sadly, not only have the progs failed to see any error in their ways, they are doubling down on insane policies and acting like once the pandemic has passed that everything will be exactly like it was before. I’d think that anyone should be able to see that the virus will change the way people work permanently — it’s being recognized there’s no need for large expensive downtown office space, when the majority of your employees can work from home literally anywhere in the country — so the idea that there will continue to be a flood of commuters all heading to the same downtown “job center” in the future is nonsensical, and no doubt many people will soon be fleeing the Bay Area for more affordable places to live while still keeping their same jobs via telecommuting. And people will be far less likely than previously to want to live in dense apartment complexes, which they recognize to be petri dishes for pathogens, but rather many more will want to be in more spacious and private individual homes than did just a few months ago.
So what are CA politicians currently doing? Trying to turn the Bay Area into one large metropolis of high-rise condos, exactly the opposite of what many people will likely be wanting or choosing in the coming years. While they think no one is watching, they are trying to fast track new laws which will effectively make it illegal to have single-family home zoning in ‘affluent suburbs’, along with high-density incentives that could mean a 12-story building could go up in the middle of your bedroom neighborhood cul-de-sac, and there’s absolutely nothing you, your community, even your city or county could do to stop it! I’m not exaggerating here — this is a list of four laws currently moving super-quickly through the CA legislature, I guess they’re hoping they can pass them before anyone has time to stop and think there may not be any housing shortage in the Bay Area next year, but rather perhaps even a housing glut as people and their companies move away:
SB 902 (Wiener) “SB 50 But Much, Much Worse”
AB 3173 (Bloom) “Luxury Walk-In Closets, Not Housing”
AB 1279 (Bloom) “120 Units Next to Your House”
AB 725 (Wicks/Wiener) “Density Via Deception”
Yup, they really have no fucking clue. I was just talking with my Irish developer neighbor this morning about those same things. They don’t realize that they are killing the golden goose. They think they can keep this charade up. Eventually the reality is gonna hit hard here. All those big tech companies will decide to keep a small office in SF and move most of their operations out of the area as their workforce largely work from home.
She’s a dangerous imbecile.
Every time they say “new normal” it chaps my hide. We won’t have a “new normal” for another year, if even that quickly.
It’s the new abnormal.
This.
Sounds like an oxymoron. So, perfect for the age of stay safe, stay home.
Every time I hear “new normal” I want to buy an epidemiology textbook. Not to explain how their position doesn’t make sense. But so I can hit them in the nuts with it.
Yeah, it really grinds my gears. I also managed to fuck up a 2-3 shift earlier today while horsing around on an on-ramp. That also really grinds my gears.
If you can’t find ’em, grind ’em.
Sage advice, for many scenarios.
Indispensable Top.Men.
Like Ted’S, we haven’t frequented many small businesses because we never did to begin with. We haven’t been frequenting anything for quite a while because we can’t afford to, so… for us, nothing has changed.
So, my (third favorite) uncle is dying from complications of Agent Orange (he is old, good man, has had a very good life). I want to know what is normal about barring a wife of 52 years from seeing being at her dying husband’s bedside?
Assholes.
YES! This, more than any other thing, has infuriated me so much I can barely speak.
#metoo
Sorry.
Nothing normal about preventing his wife from being there. Fuck those assholes barring her from being there.
Well she might infect him with the WuFlu and then he could die. you monster!
RIGHT?!
I want to know what is normal
Lust for and exacting power is normal. But I say the wife should ignore the powers that be and see her husband as much as she can while there is time.
My Dad is probably in the last months of his life from cancer. I don’t see how hiding out is going to improve his quality of life.
I’ve been buying takeout from local restaurants more often.
We also have a local screen printing business that is getting decimated by the lack of concert tees they specialize in. They make great concert t-shirts for festivals all over the country, but this Lear has been a bust so far. They had the great idea to make shirts at cost for multiple local businesses and give 10$ a shirt to the business as advertising and income.
It’s a great idea for all involved as it makes income to keep the screen printer’s employees working and making a wage, it gives the businesses income that they need, and the consumer gets a well made tshirt.
We purchased 10 of them so far. The promotion has made over $69k So far.
https://stores.inksoft.com/the_shirt_off_our_backs/shop/home
Love this.
The local Irish pub teamed up with a t-shirt shop for some similar deal. I bought a shirt.
I did contact a recommended locksmith after I moved in last week. Originally it sounded like he wouldnt be able to get to me until after things reopened, but then he contacted me directly because some prescheduled stuff was falling through – so I’ll see him tomorrow – got a few special requests in addition to the usual lock changes so hopefully that’ll help.
N real glib homeowner has to be extra careful to prevent orphans running wild in the neighborhood.
Make sure that you add reinforcement box or strikeplates in your door jambs for the deadbolts with three inch screws going into the stud. Door kick in attempts or pry bar attempts tend to break the jamb before the door (provided you have a good solid wood door with a solid deadbolt).
Hard lesson from SF?
Es mi negocio.
It’s almost like events are more complicated than they are given credit for. Assuming the veracity of this presentation, I conclude that it was a good idea to have not commented on the matter earlier and I am glad I was not inclined to do so. As always I await and will accept new information as it is made available.
Fortunately the Wife and I are still working. She’s actually busier now than she has ever been. My work has slowed down but it’s slowly creeping back up. We try to eat out twice a week. Usually one local restaurant but not always. We realize everyone not just local need to make money so we have no guilt in occasionally going to a chain.
Rule Britainnia…Britons never something something.
Speaking of watercraft jaunts, I am subscribed to Yamaha’s marine channel and they keep dangling 3 months of no payments in from of me while I do not have to pay student loans again until October…To be responsible or to buy a Waverunner? That is the question.
“kamala harris stans are now looking up the weather in 1993 deciding if it was “warm enough” to see if tara reade was or was not wearing pantyhose”
https://twitter.com/shoe0nhead/status/1259327145622614017
Stans?
Obsessive fans.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WU9DzMhdeEo
For the site admin, I just got a screen saying the site was down for maintenance while posting. I exited the window and opened another to find the comment posted anyway. Just fyi in case there is an issue.
No issue. I just had to do a quick update, which automatically puts up the maintenance screen while I load it.
Looks really good now.
Even “essential” businesses here have decided to close for the panic-demic. Local and small-chain hardware stores that support other local businesses and tradespeople have, I guess, decided that without regular business, it’s not feasible too stay open. Various local businesses haven’t survived. No cash reserves I guess. I’d like to have ordered in food from a couple of local places but I myself can’t afford to support these local businesses. I don’t think we’ll ever be clear of the restrictions. The country has changed dramatically and most people seem to just go along with it. The mob sneering at scofflaws, despite no harm bring done, the obsequious deference to “experts”, hateful cops, and the cult of the NHS worries me far more than the virus.
Absolutely this. The virus doesn’t really worry me at all. I have been very carefully not talking to my British friends about this stuff because I am sure a couple of them are completely behind the government on this.
Some still resist
https://dailydits.com/2020/04/idiot-displays-fk-the-nhs-sign-in-window-of-car/
Easier to find. Just inspect hands Friday morning and the one without chafed raw hands from clapping like a circus seal must be the guy.
Don’t read the article.
I’ve avoided talking to one of my good friends here because of this. He went on a rant about how Trump was responsible for it and I decided I had better not say anything if I wanted to keep the friendship. I have just about zero fear of this virus personally. I have been working out and about throughout it in apartments, houses, businesses, and a hospital. I think we had it back in early January, but even if we didn’t, I am not going to live in fear of a fricking virus, especially this one. There’s a fair amount of people, even here in the heart of proggie central, that are of close to the same mindset.
Had that problem with my Mom today. Dropped off some flowers and stayed away from her, per her request. She’s bought in, totally, with Moo Goo Flu panic. Went on a long rant about how terrible Trump was for our situation. Being Mother’s day, and all, I smiled and nodded.
Peter Hitchens agrees with you.
TCM’s theme is Asians in classic Hollywood. Why aren’t they showing Charlie Chan movies?
*Considers asking questions about Arbery case, wisely STFU*
I just ordered from the Black Bear Diner, if it weren’t for CV I may never have gone there,
There’s a sign out front of the one in Grants Pass “have you had a grizzly encounter today?” that makes me smile when I drive by it.
Giant Fresh baked Bear claws, filled with Blackberries, Yum….
Lucky here that the Bad Back monopoly is still getting their checks.
I contracted with a local roofer for a metal roof at the cabin and asked him about the biz. He said he had enough work, wasn’t overwhelmed. Said the problem was that his unemployed people were making so much unemployment (with the $600) they didn’t want to work. Anyway they showed up on Thursday, 4 employees plus Mike, the owner. Got the roof on in a day.
Has a 60 year guarantee on the materials, I asked Mike if it failed in 59 years would he be back out to replace it. He seemed like a nice enough guy but somehow sort of took it the wrong way. Just my luck he’ll sell the biz and the new owner won’t remember me.
The town where I went to high school, about 15 miles away, is mostly dried up but has about 5 restaurants, counting Subway. I’m betting some won’t be around when things finally break loose. All the other stores are long gone when the mining closed some 50 years ago.
I have my issues with Tucker but he is on point here.
Yeah, that’s actually the best MSM piece on this that I’ve seen.
He is, and it’s very scary.
People really don’t seem to get it that it was the Frau Karens who were the operating front line of the Third Reich. The Nazis would have been a small, practically unknown footnote in history had the “good people” of Germany refused to enforce the new normal of the time.
Pretty good.
Possibly a small, pedantic point but I wish he would stop saying that politicians are claiming a right to do these things when what they are claiming is the authority to do them. Only the people have rights. Elected or appointed positions have authority to do things – and in this case most of what the people in those positions are doing they clearly lack that authority.
For all the trash talking that Tucker gets from the Left, how come they haven’t delivered a defense of liberty half as good as that?
Because real liberty allows people to do icky things?
Because the left isn’t in favor of liberty?
For the most part, no.
Since the lockdown started, the local pizza place/multitap has been selling stuff like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, wipes, cleaning products, etc., along with bulk food items like big packs of chicken that it’s getting through it’s commercial supply chains. This is along with their regular menu and growler fills (since apparently it’s safe to get a growler filled with (a) beer that doesn’t match what’s printed on the growler and (b) at someplace other than the actual brewery, but only if there’s a virus going around). I’ve been trying to go there about once a week, which is about how often I took the kids there in the before-times.
Anyways, I went out a couple of times today, first for coffee and breakfast stuff, then to the grocery store. People seem to be mostly wearing masks while in the grocery store or in line for takeout at the local food places, otherwise nobody seems to be wearing a mask around here.
The outdoor communal dining area for the fast food places at the local shopping center was roped off for a few weeks, but now it’s not. I saw some little signs on some of the tables, presumably advising people not to sit close to anyone else lest they DIE, but I didn’t actually walk over and look at the signs.
At the grocery store, all the employees wear masks, although the teenage boys they have wiping down the cart handles outside have them pulled down so they don’t cover their noses. Probably 95% of the customers are wearing masks. I wore a mask because there’s a sign at the front of the store politely asking people to please wear a mask.
There’s now tons of toilet paper at the grocery store, but it’s all store-brand or a some other brands I’ve never heard of. No Charmin. Paper towel section appears to be fully stocked, though. No other shortages that I noticed.
Things have been mighty tight in our household. Neither of us are able to work our normal gigs. Thankfully, the woman still has her job as an editor…but their sales were terrible even before this all started. Starting to worry about what the next few weeks hold. I had saved up a fund to work on my dream project next summer, a book on the Appalachian Trail that I was going to shoot on actual film, but I’ve been tapping into that just to pay bills.
Locally, things are bad. I currently live in a community right outside Buffalo called Grand Island. Largest freshwater island in the world. There were only three or four bars on the island. My two favorites, both wretched hives of villainy, were pretty empty before Cumo sent us into a death spiral. One is closed for good.
That being said, when I do takeout, it’s at a restaurant only a block and a half from my house. Not real charity, mind you, since it’s also one of the best places in the region. Jenny lost her joint in New Orleans during Katrina. Local charity helped her relocate and set up a new place here in Western New York.
I also support a comic book store, Pulp716, that has managed to stay open (operating as a take out bubble tea joint, it allows them to also sell their four color wares)
Finally is the local liquor store on the island. I love the guy who runs it. Don’t shop their often, except to fill up on well liquor for the home bar, but with al this going on, I’ve settled for a smaller selection and higher prices in exchange for supporting local. The bottle of scotch I picked up for my 50th birthday this week was not nearly as nice as I had planned, but it felt good to give my sheckles to a good dude.
I’m sick of this shit.
Happy birthday?
My plan was to be out of town for this one. Damn you, Winnie the Flu. Now people will drop by, and it’s bad form to shoot at them.
Happy 5-0. Welcome to the party, pal!
As Groucho would say, I wouldn’t want to be at any party that would want to have me at it.
Same. It’s kind of a relief, ain’t it? Enjoy GB.
Happy birthday brother!
Putting 50 in the rear view is actually kind of cool.
Had many a peep who didn’t make it. I should be happy about it.
Happy Birthday, hope the scotch worked some of 50 year kinks out. Hopefully your new year will start better and end much better.
There are some benefits to setting the bar low.
Happy birthday my fellow Taurus!
Let’s have a toast to our stubborn nature. Or don’t. We’re stubborn.
Happy birthday, you young punk!
I think many on here might agree that although it doesn’t get said much, your fifties may well end up being your favorite decade.
I was surprised by how good and….interesting…my forties were. Hell, in that decade, I was married, divorced, got rich, became poor, started a business, lost the business, and had a pretty good time in the process. Who knows what another decade will bring.
Now that’s an article.
Happy Birthday!
Many thanks.
HBD!
Hate Blind Dogs? I do not, sir, and I will not subscribe to your newsletter.
Happy Birthday! Enjoy the scotch, and do something subversive to celebrate.
I may go for a hike and randomly lick people.
Happy B’day! Five-Oh is significant. I’ve known too many who didn’t make it.
Right? Hell, I shouldn’t have. I think about all the knucklehead behaviors and situations I got up to back when I was a young little punk. I got lucky.
I think I was lucky when I was 12 – had an experience which stuck with me. I was free climbing across the face of a rock cliff when I momentarily lost my grip, started involuntarily leaning away from the cliff when I managed to grab the thinnest edge of a crack in the surface with my fingertips and pull myself back against the cliff. I looked down and realized that the fall would definitely killed me then and there. That one incident really made me think more carefully about taking risks like that.
Happy bday gbob. I hope you can pull through this and get your film/book done. I’m right there with you, been sick of this shit since the day it started. I’ve spent the last two months depressed and angry as fuck. This is not a natural state for me. I don’t get down for very long and I don’t stay angry for very long. One of the worst things about this is watching how most everyone just buys into the bullshit. They just moved the goalposts quite easily from “let’s not have the hospitals overwhelmed” to “we are waiting for a non existent end date”. It’s terrible in too many ways to count.
I’m right there with you KSuell.
Saturday night is El Rodeo night here. We were there for their grand opening and have become good friends with the family who owns it. Seriously, when we go there I get at least two or three hugs on my way to the table. I fucking miss that and I hate the motherfuckers that are denying me my friends.
My rage is unhealthy.
All the best, SP.
We are trying out a few new local places, just to support them. Found out the local seafood market serves takeout sandwiches, and their lobster rolls and crab cake sandwich are very tasty. Let’s hope they keep up the takeout after Gov. von Wolf decides we’ve had enough of his shit.
http://archive.li/L40Mr/072757bc75e61dc6a1c836264f57a92d4e3087fd.jpg
NSFW.
http://archive.li/8hC5m/6548405e9e46ef9d71e6dfd9a1f9690d4ebdb4bd.jpg
NSFW.
http://archive.li/PWVKR/2bd6ad68beb2a9b6083dbc13a899a3d2f3edd115.jpg
NSFW.
http://archive.li/G0bwB/5412f7700ccb4049a199ed757fc8df3e15b0a163.jpg
NSFW.
That’s a local business that deserves my support.
1 and 3 hawt
2 and 4 not
Happy Mother’s Day.
https://coloradocommunitymedia.com/stories/castle-rock-business-draws-crowd-against-public-health-orders,298725
“New guidelines”
Mistakes were made. Now is not the time to point fingers. #lookingforward
https://twitter.com/cnnbrk/status/1259527975676121088
JFC. NY deserves him.
So looking at the scratches from the weekend of clearing brush, there’s patches of puffiness not directly associated with scratch lines. I guess I’ll see tomorrow if it’s what I suspect. Yay…
Poison ivy, poison oak or poison bush. Only one is worth the price.
Oak. No ivy or sumac here.
Yuck. Hope it’s not too widespread.
Go get some Tecnu!
Too late. 24-48 hours after exposure. It’s not going to do anything now.
Not a doctor, but I like to play doctor with women.
That expertise tells me that it’s obviously a case of gonorrhea from having sex with the bush.
Sorry to be the one to tell you.
Watching the LP debate from the other day. Jesus. This is the best and the brightest they can offer? That being said, Vermin Supreme may be the best option.
That you, TPTB for giving us Glibs a home…because these knuckleheads ain’t worth a thought.
Because I’m lucky enough to work for a financial institution, I’ve been working throughout this nonsense. Our lobbies have been closed, and our branch staff employees have been alternating working onsite and WFH. Most of the folks in the back office (where I work) are working from home (not me,) and will continue to do so for a while. Tomorrow we’ll open half of our branch lobbies with various precautions in place, including masks. Starting last week, the few of us working onsite at the back office were told to wear masks when we’re away from our desks. Happily, my boss mostly shares my disgust with the whole mess, so if we’re in each other’s offices, we dispense with the masks.
As I’ve mentioned, Tom Teriffic and I are not foodies at all, so we’ve been happy to have the excuse to get carry out – usually 4 or 5 evenings a week – mostly from local mom & pops near us. (The exception is usually on Pizza Night, when it’s from one chain or another.) This has probably has some negative effect on my Glibfitness. Other retail is due to start opening this coming week, and I’m scheduled to take some vacation, so I may try to locate some local clothes and home goods shopping options.
When a new law is made, some things are bound to happen:
-people will break it
-the ones who follow it will resent those who don’t and demand merciless punishment
-it will not be enforced logically, consistently, or fairly
-it may do little or no good or make new problems that are even worse
There are probably other effects.
The best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly.
Abe.*
*Not the one I see on TV every day.
today I learned
Polish people were advised not to buy fresh milk after the Chernobyl accident. The US offered to send many tons of powdered milk as humanitarian relief. The communist govt of Poland responded sarcastically by offering to send blankets to NYC’s homeless.
***
In Washington Sen. Paul Simon (D., Ill.), who drafted the milk resolution, said Tuesday: ”Our offer was not made to embarrass the government of Poland, but to help the people of Poland. I hope the government of Poland will show the same concern.”
A Simon aide said the senator discussed the offer with a Polish diplomat, who was encouraging, before the resolution was introduced. But after the resolution was adopted on voice vote, the diplomat spurned the offer as an effort to embarrass his government.
***
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1986-05-14-8602030660-story.html
Just got back from a Tongan pig roast. I’m stuffed.
Long Pig?
We have a local pasta place which was the M-I-L’s favorite where we probably dropped in at least 50 times a year. We have been taking out from there even thought the ambiance of eating at home isn’t the same. Our evening walk takes us by the place so we have noted that they are serving dine-in but don’t get a lot of customers so last week we did drop in one evening. I’m glad the local authorities leave a lot of discretion up to the restaurant managers.
It’s weird that some stores of the same chains are open for dine in and others aren’t. Looking at you Gusto and Dotour.
This one is a small, non-chain shop. It has a pseudo-Indian restaurant on the 2nd floor with this pasta place downstairs on the 1st floor. Papa runs the Indian shop with his adult daughter working the pasta place. We’re pretty sure papa owns the building which keeps operating expenses low enough to weather most economic storms.
Moar Musk.
https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1259644131686543360
Never had much interest in the guy. But I am starting to like him.
SCIENCE!
Science, motherfuckers, try this, then talk to me about science.
I have great respect for the space stuff Elon has done.
I enjoy that he’s completely all out of fucks for this shutdown. Some of it is business related – because Alameda county is personally fucking with him, as I’m sure he sees it – but some of it seems to be he’s just done with this bullshit, like many of us.
And anybody who calls Reich a moron gets points from me.
Pretty depressing first person report from owner of Jax Cafe in Minneapolis.
We are witnessing a real life demonstration of the broken window fallacy.
Step 1 – issue edicts which bankrupt most businesses and cause 25% unemployment
Step 2 – ?
Step – Prosperity, somehow
Step 3- RULE THE ASHES!!!
We would normally end up ordering takeout at least twice a week due to late work, or other activities. Since the lockdown has started, we went from a couple of bucks tip for bagging it all up to the 20% tip that we would have left if we’d gone in and sat down.
I was so looking forward to ordering japanese takeout from the local joint for mother’s day, worked out my menu, plus a backup menu, and then when I called to order, no dice. They never picked up. Either they folded, or closed for mother’s day. So we ended up driving all the way out to Winchester so I could go to Sonic and pretend things were normal. The place was fucking packed, and as a bonus that warmed my heart, when the carhop brought our order, while she had the state-mandated facemask, it was adorning her neck like a scarf, and she openly scoffed at the ‘bullcrap’ we were all enduring, and I suddenly felt a surge of hope for humanity.
A bit of good news, small business-wise. Mrs. Shpip’s and I’s local is a family-owned pizza shop with an attached cocktail lounge. They have five or six locations now in Jax, and one in our little college town.
Since the owners’ youngest child was diagnosed with a form of cancer some years back, they’ve always included a “V for Victory” line on their receipts, in case anyone wants to donate to a fund dedicated to pediatric cancer patients and their families.
With that said, here’s part of the Derpbook post from about a week ago:
In the last 4 weeks, check this out:
We served over 30,000 meals to our loyal customers, transforming our restaurant into a 100% “to-go” business from a restaurant that only used to do 5% take out business.
And because you so graciously supported us, we also did this:
Served over 1,000 hospital and ER staff at 11 total hospitals in our areas…completely free.
Served food to women’s and children’s shelters completely free.
Also, in the month of April, we served over 400 meals to families battling cancer, absolutely free to them, through our V for Victory charity.
All of those things were possible because of your love and support of us… and we couldn’t appreciate you more for it!
We maintained the absolute highest standards with regard to health and safety for both our employees and our customers. I am very proud to say that with our procedures, not one of our hundreds of employees had even a hint of a scare with regards to this pandemic.
The food’s damn good (they have custom-made ovens shipped over from southern Italy, and everything’s wood-fired) and they’re on point with engaging with the community.
If you ever have a reason to be in NE Florida, look up V Pizza. They deserve your custom.
Next time I am driving through, I shall check them out. I usually stay in Gainesville. Thanks!
That’s my little college town, with the pizza place / craft cocktail lounge.
Assuming you’re one of TPTB, you can access my email address easily. Give me a few days’ notice, and the missus and I would be honored to buy you dinner and drinks.
Wife works from home; I work at my job. For a change that she would normally like, it seems to be grating on her (she hates the job, refuses to attempt to get another long before this). My life has hardly changed, beyond places being open that I would normally go. Long time wait for a haircut, but, that changes in less than two weeks.
Once again, my apologies for my late-night crew who were unceremoniously dropped from the Zoom chat, due to the bastard laptop’s forced reboot.
See, I never want to be in charge, but everyone else always fucks up. I think my end up being my campaign slogan if I ever run for office again.
CPRM — just was talking with my parents today. Apparently all summer events are canceled in Three Lakes, including their amazing July 4th parade and fireworks show. The area ‘leaders’ are asking people not to come up to their summer places in the area, as they are concerned if they all get the Wuhan Flu it will overwhelm the meager area healthcare system. Essentially they want to completely close this very popular summer destination. My condolences for the local businesses who rely on the summer to make ends meet.
May have to wait until 2021 until I can buy you a drink in northern WI again.
Yeah, a lot of the stuff up there I think will close if there are no summer tourists.
Now, THIS….this is how you troll, and, own your governmental betters.
If it was covered earlier, enjoy the redux.
I’ve gotten a few take-out meals from the two places in town that are still serving (out of 3). One now does delivery, a first for our town. I wonder if they’ll keep that up once things finally go back.
On a personal note, ebay says my replacement birthday gift for the one that I got scammed on arrives tomorrow! One more week of being laid off. Amazon now says all my pc parts are due by the end of the week, so hopefully that’ll happen as well.
Good news
, everyone! I am looking at a particular item arriving on, or before, Wednesday.Sweeet.
Oooh, now, I want a Rascal scooter!
A Hoveround is more maneuverable in tight spaces.
SOLD!
My dad had one, his grand kids loved playing with it. Came in handy even after he passed when the next year I injured both knees somehow.
I’m still waiting on a 1000 rd. box of 9mm that I ordered back in March (but they haven’t billed me for it, so whatever). Also waiting for a handbag that I ordered for the ladyfriend’s birthday (already past, but luckily I had several other presents for her).
I ordered the original birthday present for myself in Feb. from China. Latest estimate for arrival was earlier this week. Turns out the seller up and closed shop and ripped me off.
Make good use of that week. I know I haven’t been operating at full capacity. Ugh.
Something to ensure I get everybody pissed off.
https://i.imgflip.com/40xpjt.jpg
Oops. Wrong one.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EXtUCWXUcAIeS8W?format=jpg&name=small
Ray-cuck. Nah; sounds like some kind of argument about the latest Star Wars movies…
Are those all pictures of the same guy? (joke)
“Inorite?!”
-Karen
Our local Chinese place, despite having a telephone message claiming they are open from 2pm – 9pm, have not been open for two days. We ordered from a local Mediterranean /Egyptian place and they sent me what might be the best falafel I’ve ever tasted. It was Egyptian style, which apparently means using fava beans instead of garbanzo, and they were stuffed with feta and finely chopped olives. They were scrumptious.
Awesome. I wish we had more Middle Eastern and North African food around here (Dayton Ohio area).
I want to get take-out from one of the local Chinese joints, but they all seem to be closed on weekdays when I take my lunch break (9PM; I’m on second shift).
NYC has thousands of very bad – mediocre Chinese places. Finding a good one is a total crap shoot but fantastic when you win. Also, NYC has a type of restaurant I’ve never seen anywhere else, the combination Chinese/Tex-Mex places. It sounds odd, but sometimes, you need some shrimp soft tacos to go with your pork buns.
If I actually wake up in the morning I might finally get a chance to make up my eggs a chorizo, got some left over soft taco shells, so maybe some small brefast burritos. Sounds so good now, but I’ve been waking up late and without an appetite.
I wondered, and feared, what that link would be. Bon appetit…teat…good eating.
We’re doing takeout from some of our local places to eat, and we brought my hair stylist into our house to do a Speakeasy Cut, but I pass the small stores near me that have been closed for months now and I wonder how many will open again. It’s so sad and infuriating.
My son got to go back to his golf lessons yesterday for the first time in two months, so at least that’s back, but that’s all. Thanks California.
I live in a big city and do not have a goto neighborhood family business restaurant or something… Most restaurants have switched to delivery though. Some small shops stayed open some seem closed, but around me they are the kind of shops I did not patronize so I don’t know what they do to cope I suppose delivery. But can’t be easy.
Woke up a bit late today. Mornin glibbies
Howdy, Pie.
Mornin’ there Pie.
good morning
“The governmental overreach on all levels has been truly horrifying, as Glibs know all too well.”
/whisteled for Pteet….fuckin loadd….goed tyo bed
/doesn’t collect reward
Meat shortage explained.
https://mobile.twitter.com/Mufaa6/status/1258951907114180614
Oh, straff–not the livestock!
Saves the slaughter house some time. (BTW, that doesn’t look like a livestock trailer, doesn’t look like security footage and has pixelation on the top of that ice machine that makes it look like the video has been manipulated in some fashion. Just wondering about those things)
I mean the cows that lived through that deserve a pardon.
Paging Dr. Grandin…
I’ve seen this movie, one of those cows is wrongly accused of killing his wife.
Paging
ChafedGustave…/sorry–old habits, and all
Hah! Reminds me of my internal monologue watching a match for the first time other than clips.
Like most sports, this month’s tournament was cancelled. One in July is supposed to go ahead, but audience free like March’s was. Just isn’t the same without a crowd to react to what’s going on, but I’ll take it. Guy on YouTube that’s been doing yeomen’s work by webcasting the bashos live and then deleting the stream before the copyright police show up, did a solid by replaying a past match the other night.
I
resentresemble thatcommentvideo!So….”grainy”?
Anyone have fun plans for the week?
Fun? Eh….well, wife’s birthday is…now, as a matter of fact. Won’t really call it fun, unfortunately.
I am looking forward to my new USA hat, though. Add a tooth, and I’ll be living in am H&H cartoon!
Not fun in general or not fun under the circumstances
I not a fan of birthday celebrations. I am a fan of getting packages. (Phrasing!)
Hmmmmmm………..?
Ehh…….I’ll go with both. I guess, it is what it is.
it is what it is +1
Don’t get me wrong–I like birthday celebrations well enough. However, when any attempt to be positive about it is met with silence, the whole thing gets tiresome.
Ugh…sorry, that sounds like a tricky spot to be in.
Thank you.
I am hoping the utterly fantastic weather in the area continues on. It’s been some of the best I’ve experienced in quite a while. It entices me to get out and risk getting near the various proles. Uh, I mean, the lovely and charming citizenry!
/that’s the ticket.
Morning, Glibs
Banjos ain’t here yet, dude.
Who you mornin’ at?
The pre-lynx crowd that shows up in the two hours before the links drop.
Morning, UCS. And you, too, Shpip. Welcome to (for lack of a better term) The Breakfast Club. [Disclaimer: Have never seen movie by that name, so don’t know if that’s a name the usuals would want to claim.]
[Disclaimer #2: Am not actually eating breakfast, but I AM drinking coffee.]
We’d accept it. Most of seem to be at the cusp of Boomer and Gen-X. That movie irritated me to no end but I was never a John Hughes fan. Breakfast Club it is.
*waves at the early shift*
Evenings, Civs.
Today is my last day of work before a two-week vacation…during which I won’t really be able to travel anywhere. After a weekend getaway in February, we’ve earned a free night in any of Ohio’s state park lodges…and I have no idea when they might reopen again.
Hey GT! Enjoy your back yard and have many mojitos. That’s what I’d be doing except I’m deemed “essential” and I didn’t take vacations even before these trying times. Enjoy! Need to build a deck and stairs tout d’suite this spring plus garden boxes for the Wifey. You Tube classes here I come.
Lots of morning back porch time IS on the agenda – as soon as it warms up enough! Only 38 degrees F right now, with a forecast high of 51. Supposed to warm up by late in the week. ::crosses fingers::
Still getting down near freezing at night. I want to do this deck right so I’m not regretting it five years from now. I know it needs to start from the base up and am fairly handy with saws. I have a tendency to over think my projects, though…
https://www.pennlive.com/entertainment/2020/05/jerry-stiller-dead-seinfeld-star-syracuse-university-alumnus-dies-at-92.html
?
“You wanna piece of Me?” Too bad but 92 years is a pretty good run. RIP.
Our June trip to Lake of the Ozarks is still on. We vacation there annually with the kids, along with the oldest daughter’s in-laws, who have a great big party barge. We have rented cabins and the week will be spent drinking beer, boating and fishing. I gather the resort has had plenty of cancellations, but not us; we’re on.
I haven’t been around my online hangouts much lately, and I’m sorry about that. Real life has gotten interesting lately. What free time I have right now I’m devoting a chunk of to producing Glibs articles, but my commenting time has had to scale back. Hopefully this will resolve soon.
Really enjoying “The Chronicals”, Animal!
Mr. GT (Tom Teriffic, if he ever starts hanging out here regularly) is from suburban St. L and spent my happy summers on Lake of the Ozarks as a kid. A few years ago, I found an online store that would make custom cribbage boards bearing a map of the lake of your choice, so I bought him one with L of the O on it.
Looking forward to more of your writing. Any more gun history in the pipeline? TT would almost certainly find that interesting.
(Custom Lake Art Cribbage Board)
Neat.
I’ve never played.
TT taught me how a long time ago, but I’ve forgotten.
I actually have a gun history article in the queue now. I’m sure glad everyone is enjoying my scribblings.
I’ll watch for it and bring it to TT’s attention. He’s off-and-on fed up with Facebook, and I think he’d fit right in here.
Is this your summer coat? Your fur was paler last time I saw you.
This version better suits my mood during the Moo Goo Gai Panic lockdown.
Good for you. Lost our camping trip this spring. 🙁
https://news.yahoo.com/inter-species-lockdown-meet-japan-aquarium-000118117.html
???
::squees like a little girl at the pic of the otter and beluga::
https://www.livescience.com/constipated-lizard-record-breaking-poo.html
? ?
If it hasn’t passed, it’s only a bolus, not a poo.
https://www.ozarksfirst.com/local-news/ice-cream-shop-closes-one-day-after-reopening-after-patrons-harass-workers/
Massholes.
Collect the anmes and pictures of the hassassers and ban them from the store for life.
Saw a good bit of this when we ordered takeout from our favorite Mexican joint on Cinco de Mayo. They were predictably overwhelmed by orders so pickup was going very, very slow, and several people waiting started to get abusive towards the young waitresses who were bringing the orders out, as if it were their fault. My wife ran to the ATM while we were waiting so we could slip one girl in particular a 20 – she has this one rich bitch Karen type screaming at her and looked like she wanted to cry afterwards.
So many people are fucking worthless.
At the end of my three week experiment on Twitter. About what I expected. Then again when I get likes from people like this, I wonder if I should reconsider and continue.
https://twitter.com/AndoBaruka/status/1259811559859089408
Keep it up! My falling on my tail-bone last weekend has resulted in my starfish feeling like it was kicked by a cowboy boot. Really enjoyed the tour last night, Straff!
Good. It’s a sleepy little suburb.