GlibFit 4.0 – Swimming

by | May 1, 2022 | GlibFit | 436 comments

It’s been a long week. My creative juices are at low ebb and I’m on deadline to get this article written. What to do for inspiration? Turn on Baywatch.

As hot as the women are, and most of them were smoking, none of them looks like they actually swim. David Hasselhoff is supposed to be a retired Navy SEAL who became a lifeguard but looks like the male model he used to be. The rest of the guys are beefcake. And then there’s Newmie. He really was a lifeguard and looks it. Here’s some more. Don’t say I never did anything for lady and ghey Glibs.

So, let’s examine swimming for fitness. The good people at swimming.org say these are the top 8 benefits of swimming:

Full body workout. Swimming uses all the muscles in the body so whether you swim a gentle breaststroke or hammer butterfly, you will get a full body workout. Plus, exercising in water makes your body work harder so 30 minutes in a pool is worth 45 minutes of the same activity on land.

Great for general wellbeing. Just 30 minutes of swimming three times a week alongside a balanced, healthy diet and lifestyle is one of the best ways to stay fit and healthy and maintain a positive mental outlook. Do it with friends, and it’s even more fun!

De-stresses and relaxes. Whether it’s work stressing you out, the kids being a nightmare, or just life in general, we all get times we just want to SCREAM. Well, help is at hand. Swimming regularly can lower stress levels, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve your sleep patterns. Feeling the mental benefits of swimming takes just a light swim. No lane pounding needed.

Burns those calories. Swimming is one of the most effective ways to burn calories. A gentle swim can burn over 200 calories in just half an hour, more than double that of walking. And a faster swim would see that chocolate bar gone quicker than if you went running or cycling.

Lowers the risk of diseases. As well as being a great form of cardiovascular exercise, swimming just 30 minutes a week can help to guard against heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Supports the body. Water supports up to 90 per cent of the body’s weight. So, if you sprained an ankle at Monday night football or have a long-term injury or illness, swimming is a brilliant way to stay active.

Increases your energy levels. Inactivity and not ageing is often responsible for people’s lack of energy. Just 30 minutes of swimming three times per week can boost your energy levels through increased metabolic rate.

Exercising without the sweat. If sweating puts you off other forms of exercise, fear not! As a swimmer, you’ll never feel sweaty no matter how hard you work because the water around you is constantly cooling you down.

They lost me on the last one. One of my joys is breaking a sweat. I have no idea why, but it gives me a sense of accomplishment. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

This week’s music is Ted’S worthy. Feeling unsatisfied? BrettL shared this favorite during the week. Rock on Glibfitters.

About The Author

Chafed

Chafed

I'm looking California but feeling Minnesota

436 Comments

  1. Sean

    I peed in your pool.

    • pistoffnick

      I threw a Baby Ruth candy bar in your pool.

      /that actually happened at the pool where I lifeguarded.

  2. deadhead

    “…so 30 minutes in a pool is worth 45 minutes of the same activity on land” Hmmm… I would guess that swimming on land is more taxing than swimming in water.

    You know who else was at Alfred College?

  3. Grosspatzer

    Also: for us older folks with creaky joints, swimming is less painful than the alternatives. Time for this geezer to spend a little coin on a pool membership.

    • juris imprudent

      High capacity meme generator – nice, very, very nice.

  4. Grosspatzer

    Speaking of joints, I found this amusing:

    https://nypost.com/2022/04/30/nyc-dealers-selling-weed-that-looks-like-ice-cream-to-kids/

    “Yet the Inwood pot purveyors act like brazen carnival barkers, running into the street and flagging down cars to buy an eighth of “gelato” — a strain of weed, not the Italian ice cream — for $25. ”

    LOL. The legal dispensaries here in NJ are charging $65 for the same product. It’s cheaper to drive across the GW Bridge even after figuring in tolls and gas.

    • rhywun

      WTF? I live in the wrong neighborhood.

  5. westernsloper

    Beans on toast. They may be the signature of a student’s staple diet but they’re actually really good for you – there’s lots of protein in the beans and wholemeal toast provides your complex carbohydrates ready for a workout or a swim. Remember to go for low-sugar beans or, healthier still, buy some mixed beans and make your own version!

    Don’t take health advice from Brits. While sometimes good and I like a full English breakfast as much as the next person, there is negligible protein in beans. Ya know what has lots of protein? Meat.

    • Mustang

      Beans are also an incomplete protein at that. The only non-meat source of a complete protein I’m aware of is quinoa. I believe if you do beans and brown rice it makes a complete protein. The brown rice has the aminos the beans don’t. Don’t quote me on that though.

    • Tulip

      Since you’re just eating meat, are you eating offal? That’s where many vitamins are.

      • juris imprudent

        Considering the amount he drinks you expect he’d be knocking down plenty of menudo.

    • LCDR_Fish

      Doesn’t it depend on the beans? I used black soy beans for a few recipes (keto equivalent). Worked out well and tasted fine – but very difficult to find without ordering online (and hence pricier).

  6. Grosspatzer

    Some misinformation about climate from a right-wing nutjob.

    https://nypost.com/2022/04/30/deaths-in-climate-disasters-declined-99-from-a-century-ago/

    Another Twitter suspension coming up?

    “Instead of headline-chasing with dodgy math and frightening language, the UN should do better—and it should be focused on championing the importance of innovation and adaptation, to save more lives.”

    Burn the heretic!

    • Hyperion

      “Another Twitter suspension coming up?”

      Yeah, I don’t know. I hear some dangerous shitposting extremist owns Twitter now. Only the Ministry of Truth can save us.

    • Pope Jimbo

      I would think that the improvement in weather radars and the ability to get that information out to people would be a much bigger factor in reducing deaths than any changes in climate.

      146 people died in the Armistice Day blizzard in 1940. A fast moving blizzard swept across the plains and took a lot of people by surprise.

      • Chafed

        It’s a lot more than that. AC has literally been a lifesaver. Heat related deaths have declined precipitously. Better materials and building codes have also contributed.

  7. westernsloper

    The wind kept blowing out the smoker so fuck it (I will never buy a gas smoker again). The Brisket flat is finishing in the oven. It does make the shop smell good though.

  8. Scruffy Nerfherder

    Swimming is my preferred exercise, but shoulder/neck tension was leading to neuropathy and other problems. I’d like to try to get back to it.

    • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

      I got bad case of bilateral Brachioradial Pruritus from tension in my neck’s scalene muscles (much worse on my right side). My doc (otherwise a good egg) had no recommendations for me except gabapentin, but I found a talented and highly-educated physio in Calgary several years later who figured out the problem and gave me a successful course of treatment — amongst other things, I was able to quit the gabapentin, which was giving me serious memory problems as a side-effect. I still have Nounal Amnesia (a sub-type of Anomic Aphasia), and the SU claims I’ve never been the same since the gabapentin.

    • Zwak,The Baddest Johnny on the Apple Cart

      I don’t think we need a Jacket-Hoff in this thread.

    • Chafed

      There’s an electric jacket Hoff?

  9. Nephilium

    Weight has been stable even through the Vegas trip. The weather is finally changing to the point where I can git rides in after work, as well as plan longer rides on the weekends. I may have committed myself into doing at least one beer mile with my brother in law at the end of the month. I may have to train for the running portion of it.

    • westernsloper

      Right now my biggest copout excuse for not going on a ride is wind. Holy shit I am sick of the wind. That and being tired all last week. Early mornings. In short I am a pussy.

      • Hyperion

        “Holy shit I am sick of the wind.”

        I have news. You might want to reconsider that Midwest thing.

      • Nephilium

        My ride last Sunday involved going out through a valley that became a wind tunnel, and the ride home was 17-20 MPH headwinds the whole time back. It was somewhat brutal.

        Once the trees start growing leaves, they’ll help to blunt some of the wind.

    • Not Adahn

      /laughs in Oklahoman

  10. Hyperion

    It’s the Sunday afternoon dead thread killing post.

    • Chafed

      Thanks. That’s really flattering.

      • Hyperion

        That was in no way meant to be not flattering. It was just my typical Sunday afternoon shitposting. I would have said that no matter what it was.

  11. one true athena

    I should find a place to swim. I didn’t for a long time because my bad eyesight made it difficult – I was afraid of losing my contacts, but goggles always were uncomfortable. But now I’ve gotten corrective surgery, it would be really good for my back I think.

    I saw earlier that Sean ordered Muppets minifigs. I also have some on order so we should get a thread going on the forum for the dupes and castoffs when they get here.

    I’ll be in Dallas this weekend, so if anyone has a Must-See to recommend, let me know. MrAthena and I will be there to support our kiddo at the VEX Robotics Worlds Competition at the convention center, but we’ll have some time to go close-ish, esp if there’s a place to eat for dinner that we shouldn’t miss.

    • Zwak,The Baddest Johnny on the Apple Cart

      Mmm… Isn’t Glibs already a home for “dupes and cast-offs”?

    • Sean

      I ordered two six packs. I hope they don’t screw me and I get six doubles.

      • one true athena

        yeah, me too. It’ll be nice if you get doubles on everything I don’t and vice versa, but we’ll probably end up with six Statlers and no Beakers at all.

      • Not Adahn

        Ain’t gonna lie, a Statler and Waldorf set would be pretty cool.

        Rolf and Janices otoh…

      • l0b0t

        The best thing about minifigs in the store is that you can fondle the bag so as to deduce which one it is by head shape and accessories.

      • The Hyperbole

        That’s going in the euphemism HOF.

      • rhywun

        I did read that as “minifags”.

  12. Hyperion

    “Great for general wellbeing. Just 30 minutes of swimming three times a week”

    But, fuck, I can do that with 3 hipster juice in a single setting. Looks like this swimming thing has been thoroughly debunked.

  13. Rat on a train

    Just 30 minutes of swimming three times a week alongside a balanced, healthy diet
    Swimming along with milk, juice and toast is part of a complete breakfast.

  14. l0b0t

    Ozark finale was an absolute letdown. Now I’m strangely enthralled by the 1978 BBC adaption of The Four Feathers. It stars Beau Bridges, who drifts in an out of terrible British accent.

    • Nephilium

      That’s disappointing. I’m on the second to last episode now.

    • Rat on a train

      I have the 1939 version. I haven’t seen the 1978 BBC production. I assume the 2002 version butchers the story for modern audiences.

      • Ted S.

        C. Aubrey Smith is always worth watching.

    • Semi-Spartan Dad

      I really wanted to like it but bailed at some point during the first season. Just seemed absurdly light for a show about Cartel money. Like one of the Cartels is going to let an accountant loose with 10 mil in cash without giving him a couple guys for protection at the very least.

  15. Mustang

    The lead up to swimming and the effort afterwards are a pain. I guess it’s really no different from putting on gym clothes and working out but I can’t stand swimming. I can do it but it feels like such a chore. I don’t like exercises that feel like chores.

    • Nephilium

      There’s a reason that while I like bib shorts, I will not wear them for long rides.

      • Hyperion

        Hey, if you guys are going to wear assless chaps, could you please warn everyone first?

      • Nephilium

        I don’t even own a pair of chaps.

        If you were unaware… bib shorts.

      • Hyperion

        I thought bib shorts where when you cut off the legs of your bib overalls so you could get in the concrete pond?

      • rhywun

        That is the most heinous thing I have ever seen.

      • Hyperion

        Them looks like highwaters to me.

      • Hyperion

        Them there is French Negroes, rhywun.

      • rhywun

        One of them is German.

      • Chafed

        Wow! GL has taken a page from Ted’S.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Extremely highwaisted if they’re not bib shorts.

        I can’t believe rhywun hasn’t seen this before.

      • rhywun

        Oh, I’m sure it’s appeared on the TV at some point while I was in the room. Never watched it as the music is horrible.

      • Gustave Lytton

        That’s Grammy award winning music there.

      • JaimeRoberto (shama/lama/ding dong)

        I prefer my flesh colored bike shorts. They drive the ladies wild.

      • PudPaisley

        All chaps are assless.

    • Gender Traitor

      I do love swimming, but it does take a lot more time before and after, and one factor for me was that the chlorine was rough on my ridiculously expensive hair. For the time being, I’ve switched to going into the exercise room and getting on a treadmill or recumbent exercise bike. While I’m doing that, I can surf Glibs and/or listen to my SiriusXM app (lately, I’ve been catching the previous night’s episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight.)

      At some point – maybe when the weather gets warmer – I may go back to swimming. It does take me to my happy place.

    • Hyperion

      Cathy Young ??
      @CathyYoung63
      Replying to
      @shadihamid
      You do know that during the Cold War the CIA literally covertly financed magazines intended to counteract Soviet disinfo?

      Well, I don’t know what a Cathy Young is, but it’s not sentient.

      I’d have to ask a Cathy Young, if it was sentient, what Soviet disinfo our new Ministry of Truth is trying to counteract? For one, there is no Soviet Union today. 2, if there was, I am sure said Ministry of Truth would be it’s biggest ally. 3, there is no Soviet Union today.

      • TARDis

        the CIA US taxpayer, without knowing, literally covertly financed

    • Gustave Lytton

      Good lord

      Cathy Young ??
      @CathyYoung63
      Well, my question is, what’s this board going to do. If it’s a resource center for counter-disinfo, I’m for it. If it engages in actual content suppression I’m against it

      Cathy Young ??
      @CathyYoung63
      A lot of the CIA operations were also intended to affect the information field domestically.
      In any case depends very much on what this board does. Provide resource for counter-disinfo? Fine. Control availability of content? bad

      ?‍♂️

      • Brochettaward

        It really hasn’t been hammered home how insulting and incredibly revealing the argument that disinformation is some great threat to democracy. The argument of the left, and their cosmotarian libertarian enablers, is that there is an existential threat to democracy because people will have access to the wrong information. How dumb or disingenuous does one have to be to put forward this argument: while claiming to be a defender of democracy?

        Beyond that, while the ship has long since sailed on this subject, it really isn’t the government’s job to try and control what the populace thinks. At least I’d say not from a libertarian perspective.

      • Gustave Lytton

        People are too stupid to evaluate information for themselves. Huh, that’s exactly what propagandists believe too (as if the misinformation proponents aren’t that).

      • juris imprudent

        people will have access to the wrong information

        Don’t you understand, that’s how people don’t know what is in their own best interests. [Which praise be to all the gods, no one says that to me within striking distance, because I have an absolutely autonomic response].

      • Raven Nation

        “there is an existential threat to democracy because people will have access to the wrong information. How dumb or disingenuous does one have to be to put forward this argument: while claiming to be a defender of democracy? ”

        From the POV of the people promoting this, Exhibit is Trump getting elected. That’s proof that “wrong information” is dangerous.

      • rhywun

        If it’s a resource center for counter-disinfo, I’m for it.

        So, so stupid.

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        Young is intelligent enough to know what will happen, so she’s lying here. She’s carrying water for the nomenklatura and trying to sell an abomination by making it appear that even libertarians are on board.

      • rhywun

        It could be that Putin broke her brain.

      • juris imprudent

        It was Trump. [delivered like Carlo in the Godfather to Michael about Barzini]

      • rhywun

        Or both. It seems to be a common affliction.

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        As much as Young hates the Soviet Union, she turned out to be a fine totalitarian.

    • rhywun

      At least she’s on the right side of that war we’re not involved in.

      • dbleagle

        I addressed this (partially) in the now dead thread. If the biden propaganda machine was in the State Dept, like the Cold War Voice of America, then I maybe might possibly believe what the mission is. But it is in the DHS, an internally focused law enforcement Department. The focus will be internal to our borders and on criminalizing wrong thought.

  16. Zwak,The Baddest Johnny on the Apple Cart

    Trashy, as you asked about lamb, aside from all the other good things that were mentioned, making a stew with green beans, tomato sauce and lamb is quite good over rice. Also, it can make a nice, and different, taco meat. Mixed with cumin, it works as a northern Chinese style stir-fry. Also, see all Russian, Georgian, Caucus and central European dish (that isn’t pork)

    Here is a nice recipe to start with:
    Lobio khortsit could pass as the Georgian version of Hamburger Helper–“the Caucasian equivalent of spaghetti and meatballs,” says Anya von Bremzen–but it’s so much better.

    I tweaked Anya’s recipe a little, but this is the basic idea: Saute a large, chopped onion in olive oil till golden; add a pound of ground lamb and cook for 10 minutes. Then add a can of chopped plum tomatoes, plus their liquid, two cloves of crushed garlic, 1/2 tsp. hot Hungarian paprika, 1/8 tsp. cinnamon, 1/8 tsp. cumin and a pound of trimmed, blanched green beans. Cook on low heat for 15-20 minutes or so, until the beans are very tender–Georgians like their green beans well done, and I do too. Eat with rice.

    • Hyperion

      I don’t get lamb. It is the weirdest tasting meat, I find it, not good.

      • Zwak,The Baddest Johnny on the Apple Cart

        Well, you drink Heineken, so… Taste buds might not be there?

      • Hyperion

        Actually I have not had a beer in about 2 months or a little more.

        But I’ve tried lamb several times and it has the weirdest alien taste. It might just be me, the way some people think Cilantro tastes like soap? I don’t know, but my wife doesn’t notice it either, or think that, but the taste to me is not even tolerable it’s just so weird.

      • Hyperion

        Seriously, first time I tied it, I didn’t even know what it was. I asked my wife and she told me it’s lamb and I was like WTF is wrong with it? She was completely stumped, there’s just something about it that for me makes it repulsive. No other meat is like that for me, in fact that is the only type of commonly eaten meat in the USA that I will not eat, I mean it’s so bad for me that even thinking about it gives me a gag reflex. And I would belive I just got some bad lamb except that no one else thought so and I’ve tried it a few times again, and it’s the exact same experience for me.

      • rhywun

        I don’t like it either.

      • Hyperion

        Nice to know I am not the only freak lamb denier.

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        Freaks

      • l0b0t

        #metoo I only like it in gyro form. Ditto goat, goat’s milk, and goat’s milk cheeses; those all taste like dirt to me. There is, however, a sheep’s milk feta from Bulgaria that is absolutely Heavenly.

      • rhywun

        I had a pecorino (sheep’s) romano cheese recently that was so off-putting I couldn’t decide if it had gone bad or something. I could not believe that was how it was supposed to taste. A common supermarket brand, too – their parmesan is my usual go-to – not some exotic import.

      • Hyperion

        I hate goat too. First time I tried it was in Brazil and I was like WTF is this? They said ‘Bode’, pronounced ‘Bodgee’. Nasty shit.

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        One of my best friends doesn’t like lamb (particularly as a roast), and he’s the most avid carnivore I’ve ever met. I suspect he’s a space alien.  8^>

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        Pecorino Romano is heavenly. The SU does not like it, although when we were in Rome in the fall of 2019, she enjoyed it in several dishes. ???

      • Hyperion

        I suspect lamb is a space alien.

      • Zwak,The Baddest Johnny on the Apple Cart

        I will be honest, I love lamb, but any cheese other than pepper jack is just gross.

        And the wetter the grosser. Blech.

      • Not Adahn

        Braised lamb shanks are food of the gods. And those “lollipop” rib chops? *Homer noises*

      • Not Adahn

        I couldn’t decide if it had gone bad or something. I could not believe that was how it was supposed to taste. A common supermarket brand, too – their parmesan is my usual go-to – not some exotic import.

        It went bad.

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        ^^THIS. If it’s the “common supermarket brand” I’m thinking of, NEVER. BUY. IT. It’s basically flavoured wood-pulp, as far as I can tell.

      • UnCivilServant

        You say that like it’s a bad thing.

      • rhywun

        Not in a bottle. A block.

    • Gustave Lytton

      Forgot about stew. Mmm… Irish stew. Shepherds pie. Ragu with pork/beef/lamb mixture.

      • Hyperion

        My wife first learned about Sheepherders pie a few weeks ago when she bought some at the market having no idea what it was. Then she made some, it was pretty good. I mean admittedly, it’s hard to get hamburger, mash taters, corn, and a pie crust wrong.

      • Nephilium

        If it’s got beef, it’s a cottage pie, not a shepherds pie.

      • Hyperion

        Really? All the ones I’ve ever eaten in my entire life had ground beef and I never heard it referred to anything except Shepherd’s Pie. I guess it’s Shepherd’s Pie for we uneduated Hillbillies.

      • Hyperion

        You just cofused me more:

        “the French version of shepherd’s pie sandwiches the meat between two layers of potatoes” So, a Frenh version of Shepherd’s Pie is not Shepherd’s Pie. OK, I get it, the French suck.

        So here’s the thing. I’m pretty sure my version is the Appalachian Hillbilly version, which apparently has spilled over into Murland, which is of course Appalachian in the Western part. Because every Shepherd’s Pie I have ever bought here, has ground beef and no one calls it Cottage Pie, today is the first time I have ever heard of a Cottage Pie.

        Only thing worse than French is Hillbillys, it is known.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        Oh Bullshit, it’s called whatever Mom called it,

      • Hyperion

        You veel call it Cottage Pie, and you veel like it! And you von’t own any Cottage Pie, and you veel like it! /your betters

    • pistoffnick

      Aldi sometimes has boneless leg of lamb for sale. I find lamb with garlic and rosemary tasty.

      • juris imprudent

        Cube that up and make kebab!

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        I have two Indian recipes (one for kebab, one for a lamb “pot roast”) which are aMAZEing; both require at least 24 hours in a marinade (the pot roast is better if it goes three or four days in marinade).

        Aw, dammitall, now I’m really hungry.

      • Ted S.

        I’d think Indian would be a bit stringy.

  17. Brochettaward

    Praise be The Firster, First of his name and kind. I give these Firsts as an offering of my devotion. Woe be the seconder who dares to defy His word.

  18. ttyrant

    A few years ago, I used to mix in swimming one day a week. It was a wake up call in terms of my level of basketball fitness not necessarily being transferable to other fitness activities. I was in pretty good basketball shape, but whenever I got in the pool, I was sucking wind after a few laps while the old folks in the pool looked like they could go all day. It’s definitely a good workout – even a hard 20 minutes of laps should be a good workout for most folks.

  19. hayeksplosives

    Swimming is the best exercise for me; it takes weight off my fractured ankle (which will never be the same) and off my lumbar fracture I suffered in 2018z

    The feeling and sound of the water is soothing.

    When I was young in in decent shape (pre-epilepsy, pre injury) in my early 20s I lived in a suburb north of Stockholm. There was a nice inlet of the Baltic Sea that I would swim in several nights a week. It was COLD. Damned COLD. But it was invigorating and sure melted the pounds away, partly just to keep myself warm!

    Im outside now, looking at my pool, which is still pretty chilly. Considering a “fuck it” plunge.

    • Zwak,The Baddest Johnny on the Apple Cart

      There is a small beach, that back in the eighties was right up against East Germany, in Schleswig Holstein. All you could see was fist size rocks, speedos, and topless grandma’s. And damn, that water was cold. But when I was there you got an excellent view of the Soviet tanks stationed at the border.

      • Ted S.

        So you’re saying you want to see HE topless.
        Or, you’re wearing just speedos.

    • Nephilium

      hayeksplosives,

      In response to your questions about vanilla, most artificial vanilla on the shelves is vanillin. I’m also aware of oak being a large source for artificial vanilla extract.

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        The reason artificial vanilla extract tastes bad isn’t because of the vanillin (which is in the genuine article), it’s the absence of all the other water-and-alcohol soluble compounds that get extracted from actual vanilla beans during the marinating/maceration process. There’s hundreds of additional compounds that contribute to real vanilla’s taste — vanillin’s just one of the more dominant notes.

      • Nephilium

        I’m aware, and always recycle my vanilla beans into a canister of sugar. The girlfriend didn’t understand why I did that until she started trying the vanilla sugar as an addition to anything everything.

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        Yeah, vanilla sugar’s great, and wildly overpriced in the stores. I should bury a bean or two in my canister of demerara sugar (which already tastes like molasses/rum to me and is ++awse in fresh-brewed coffee).

      • Nephilium

        Demerara sugar is my go to for cocktail syrups, just for the richer flavor.

        For baking, I like using a blend of demerara and vanilla sugar (proportions depend on the baked good in question).

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        Great, just great. Now I’m hungry and thirsty.  ?

      • Nephilium

        Name’s BEAM. James BEAM.:

        My work here is done…

      • Ted S.

        Sugar in coffee? Does not compute.

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        Feckin’ jar-head!  ?

      • kinnath

        Which is why barrel-aging give vanilla notes to wine, cider, and beer.

      • Nephilium

        And to go deeper, you can get barrel aged vanilla extract, or barrel aged maple syrup with a vanilla bean in it.

        Both are ridiculously pricey.

      • Not Adahn

        Picked up some barrel-aged honey but I’ve yet to try it.

  20. hayeksplosives

    Swimming is the best exercise for me; it takes weight off my fractured ankle (which will never be the same) and off my lumbar fracture I suffered in 2018z

    The feeling and sound of the water is soothing.

    When I was young in in decent shape (pre-epilepsy, pre injury) in my early 20s I lived in a suburb north of Stockholm. There was a nice inlet of the Baltic Sea that I would swim in several nights a week. It was COLD. Damned COLD. But it was invigorating and sure melted the pounds away, partly just to keep myself warm!

    Im outside now, looking at my pool, which is still pretty chilly. Considering a “fuck it” plunge.

    • whiz

      Attention! Squirrel infestation in aisles 23 and 24.

    • JaimeRoberto (shama/lama/ding dong)

      Your Indian name is now Swims With Squirrels.

      • hayeksplosives

        ?

  21. The Late P Brooks

    It looks and feels more like March than May, today. All this talk about shepherd’s pie is making me hungry. If I knew where I could get some, I’d be there.

    • Hyperion

      Yeah, global warming has stalled. I blame the Twitter sale. So can we go back to the old normal now that climate change is no longer a threat? Maybe the Ministry of Truth can contact Fauci and Klaus to find out?

      • Penguin

        It’s Grosspatzer’s fault, he linked to an article about Bjorn Lomborg above, who questions the current GW narrative. We’ve all got to believe, or the warming will disappear!

        Seriously, there have been about 3 days so far this year where AC was necessary. In FL, that’s usually by April 1, not May 1.

      • Hyperion

        I just now put my houseplants outside yesterday. It is the first ime since I have lived here, 14 years, that I have not put them outside the first or 2nd week of March. That is a near 2 month delay in avg daily temps. But I am sure this is the warmest year ever. I have to believe that, I cannot believe my own lying eyes because I am not an expert.

        Now, could greenhouse gases actually cause the climate to warm, if only temporarily? There could be proof of that. For instance millions of vehicles off the road daily because of the pandemic and so many people working from home. I asked several progs about this and they had no reply at all, stone face, deer in the headlights shit. So, Eric Schmidt says, what climate change? Get your ass back in the office now! No, Eric Schmidt, I’m saving the planet, go fuck yourself. The hypocrisy with these assholes knows no limits.

      • Tulip

        Eh, last two years I’ve had the heat on in May – may 8th last year. Had the heat on today. Last hard frost is usually around the 15th of April.

      • Penguin

        Yeah, we’ve had mild days and cool evenings here. I’ve been glad to have my comforter nearby a few nights.

  22. hayeksplosives

    Ok, inspired by Chafed’s article, and being outside while I read it, I stripped down to my bra and undies and went for a swim. It’s my pool and I can swim in undies if I want to!

    • Brochettaward

      Go on.

      • hayeksplosives

        Well, I’m done swimming and am now drying out on a an outdoor lounge chair I put together a few weeks ago. Very comfy.

        The Nevada sun is brutal (esp at 3500 ft) but the winds provide a cooling effect.

        I don’t want a silly tan line up to so I doffed the bra. We have high masonry fences all around, so if the neighbors see my “substantial” person, it’s their own damned fault.

      • Chafed

        All hail HS!

      • Pope Jimbo

        Which is your silly tan line?

        Also, boo-fucking-hoo, HS! You are just humble bragging about the weather there as a big FU to your former neighbors here in Minnesoda.

        It has been such a miserable spring that I am pretty sure the next time the sun comes out the local police departments will be flooded with panicked calls from people reporting giant shining UFO’s because they have forgotten what the sun is.

      • juris imprudent

        The whole point of moving to the sunbelt is to lord it over the morlocksnortherners that have to wait for midsummer to enjoy the sun.

      • UnCivilServant

        Why would I subject myself to the hated daystar?

      • juris imprudent

        You’d love Seattle.

      • rhywun

        You’d love Seattle.

        The weather in San Francisco was absolutely perfect to me.

        Unfortunately the place is full of San Franciscans.

      • Nephilium

        Clevelands in the running as well.

      • Hyperion

        “The weather in San Francisco was absolutely perfect to me.”

        The clime in Simi Valley was perfect to me. Unfortuately, it’s in CA. I found the home I lived in there as a child on Google Earth, a 1500 sq foot ranch on a concrete slab with a small back yard with concrete block wall around it. It last sold for $750,000. Yeah, I won’t be moving back there, there are no climates worth that much.

    • Ted S.

      Hawt!

    • Hyperion

      Careful, Hayek, you’re in a chatroom full of pervs. Worst chatroom ever, I tell you.

      • creech

        ‘splosives has already flashed this chatroom and made us forget all about Lobster Girl.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        I guess I missed that.

      • Hyperion

        Yeah, me too, pics or it didn’t happen.

      • rhywun

        Oh, it happened.

        I’m not going to look for it but it happened.

      • hayeksplosives

        Yeah, it was an Ill-advised link to an Imgur gallery that I have since taken down.

        If you want to see “art shots” you’ll have to check me at handle @ ProtonMail

    • Pope Jimbo

      Your insistence on wearing a bra and undies is the reason that letting women into the Minneapolis Athletic Club was a bad idea. When it was still men only, members swam naked. The old timers were really mad when they had to start wearing trunks.

      I was hanging around there in the mid-’90s after they had gone coed so I never got to swim naked there.

      • pistoffnick

        My ex went to elementary school in Switzerland. Swimming was co-ed and naked.

        My father-in-law said the saunas at the gym he went to there were co-ed and naked.

    • TARDis

      Where’s the link to your webcam?

      • Hyperion

        I wasn’t going to say it because I am totally the only non-perv in this chatroom, which is the worst chatroom ever.

  23. Scruffy Nerfherder

    Halfway through the symphony and the teenager hasn’t passed out yet. Cross your fingers, she was an emotional wreck going into this.

    • MikeS

      Did she make it through?

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        Yes. Thank God.

        I was afraid she was going to fall out and it would be a formative moment.

    • Brochettaward

      The reputed hero had been credited with taking out as many as 40 Russian aircraft until he was shot down March 13 while battling an “overwhelming” number of enemy forces, the Times of London had reported.

      The Times identified the supposed Ukrainian war hero as Major Stepan Tarabalka.

      Remember, it’s very important that Russian disinformation is combated. And our own media which just completely accepts Ukrainian propaganda is far superior.

      • rhywun

        You’ll be surprised to hear that I’ve scrolled past a half-dozen stories about “him” in recent weeks on the very same website.

      • creech

        “True or not, this is EXACTLY the kind of inspiring story the resistance needs right now,” a user said on Twitter.
        Says every politician ever, except when Trump “told lies” about the 2020 election, the media agreed it wasn’t too cool.

      • trshmnstr the terrible

        Propaganda is good when it furthers my agenda.

        /short-sighted idiots

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        Narrative > Truth

        I despise it. It’s an appeal to our basest nature.

    • Chafed

      I can’t help but notice they omitted the cause of death. I don’t whether to root for or against someone seeing a green flash.

      • JaimeRoberto (shama/lama/ding dong)

        Choked on vomit, of course.

  24. kinnath

    Well, the lawn has been mown for the first time this year. It’s like fucking March outdoors today.

  25. Pope Jimbo

    I love swimming. I grew up in a town that had 412 lakes within 25 miles of it. I still love swimming around lakes and rivers (within reason) with a pair of goggles. When we visit Hawaii, I could spend all day snorkeling.

    I HATE swimming in a pool as exercise. My senior year, I had decided I wanted to be a triple letterman and to do that I needed to join the swim team. It had become clear that the basketball coach was never going to play me enough to get a letter. I swam a lot of AAU as a kid and did well.

    After a month of the swim team I quit after the first meet. I actually did very well in the meet but by that time I remembered why I hated swim meets. Lots of sitting around doing nothing and just a few races. BORING. Worse, practice was just a lot of laps. BORING.

    Last time I was swimming semi-regularly for exercise, I was using these waterproof mp3 players. They made swimming laps a bit more tolerable.

    • Gender Traitor

      I was using these waterproof mp3 players.

      Ooh!

      Temporarily out of stock.

      Dammit! #$%#^% “supply chain issues”! ?

  26. Pope Jimbo

    First lesson I learned from my father’s swimming lesson: It is easier to just tear through the burlap bag, than to untie the rope holding it closed. Even with small kid fingers, getting those knots undone was tough.

    • Zwak,The Baddest Johnny on the Apple Cart

      Let me guess, he said “I brought you into this world, I can take you right out.”

      And then gave a lesson?

    • juris imprudent

      You couldn’t use the other kittens to do the cutting?

  27. Gustave Lytton

    Asa Hutchinson is throwing his name out as potential presidential candidate. Apparently 70 is the new 50 for politicians.

  28. UnCivilServant

    “Blood on the Bricks” parts 2, 3, and 4 have been sent to the editors.

    It’s looking like Slaves of Baranga might not be as short as I thought and will likely be three parts instead of two.

    • Brochettaward

      I may grace your posts with my presence, though I won’t First them. No, I would never First those posts. Have you nothing First worthy?

      • Hyperion

        Be careful, UC, because by ‘first’ he means ‘grab your dick’.

  29. LCDR_Fish

    Thanks for the tips yesterday on the slow cooker spaghetti sauce – worked great (including adding 5 tbsp of butter). I have a ton of leftovers, but that’s fine. Once I finish the noodles (whole wheat), I can use the leftover sauce for plenty of other stuff if I don’t feel like making more noodles.

    • Sean

      ?

    • Semi-Spartan Dad

      Wife planted 12 san marzano plants yesterday just for spaghetti sauce. I’m interested to see what the actual yield in terms of jars will end up being.

      Ended up with over 520 vegetable plants, herbs, melons, and pollinator flowers in the ground.

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        Good God. I can’t imagine the work required — we had a coupla hundred square foot vegetable garden back in the Lower Mainland, and it was all we could do to keep up.

    • rhywun

      I bought the tomatoes and onion to try it out this week. I also bought a bulb of garlic to toss in there – any objections to that from the kitchen-competent?

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        An entire bulb? ?  I mean, I love garlic ‘n all, but unless you’re going to roast the bulb first, you might find that much garlic a little . . . overwhelming.

      • rhywun

        Maybe just a few cloves then. I’m going to fish them out, like the onion.

        I do love garlic.

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        Nah, leave ’em in. It’ll be fine. You can also crush ’em or press ’em into the sauce as it’s simmering.

      • Nephilium

        /thinks back to when I first started learning about cooking and didn’t understand the difference between a clove of garlic and a bulb.

      • pistoffnick

        Roasted garlic. Whenever I have the oven on, I slice the top off of a bulb and throw it in with whatever else is in there. After it’s roasted I refrigerate it for use during the week. Smash a couple of cloves into my morning eggs. Put it on top of pizza. Pop a clove straight in my mouth.

      • juris imprudent

        That is the Marcella Hazan recipe and I didn’t think it could be as good as it is for being so simple. It is.

      • juris imprudent

        oops – not including the bulb of garlic.

      • rhywun

        I was a little disappointed at the cost of a 28 oz. can of peeled tomatoes. I guess the end result will be cheaper than what I usually buy but not hugely so.

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        I thought New York was the centre of the Italian omniverse. You can’t buy a #10 can of chopped or crushed tomatoes?

        I haz a sad for you.

      • juris imprudent

        Dude – it was olive oil imports that was the Corleone legit business.

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        Who said anything about legit?

      • rhywun

        The recipe calls for whole, peeled tomatoes.

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        Which, if there’s any simmering involved, will break down. {insert Critical Drinker voice here}  ”It’ll be fine.”

        But you can also get #10 cans of whole tomatoes — domestic if’n you’re on a budget, and San Marzanos if’n you’re hankering for a sauce the way your Nonna used to make. ;-)

        Now, if the recipe is for truly *fresh* whole, peeled tomatoes, then very little simmering will probably occur; even Jamie Oliver can’t ruin a fresh tomato sauce briefly flashed in a hot sauté pan with salt, pepper and herbs. It’s magic. (It’s also a good reason to go easy on the garlic!)

      • rhywun

        I don’t know what a #10 can is but every supermarket here has every conceivable variety of tomatoes in every size. The cans on the bottom shelf are enormous.

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        If it’s about the same size as your head and holds between 109 and 117 fluid ounces, that’s a #10 can.

      • rhywun

        Dude. I live alone. I couldn’t use that much sauce before it goes bad.

      • Name's BEAM. James BEAM.

        The last of our elderly uncles in the generation ahead of us died about two weeks ago after a short and unexpected collapse in his health. Back in the day, he used to grow amazing tomatoes that the SU and I would turn into tomato sauce. I remember one year in particular, his tomatoes were like San Marzanos for sweetness but were incredibly meaty. We reduced gallons via food mill into a sauce which we flavoured with nothing more but salt, fresh-ground 4-colour pepper and (for half the batch) fresh Genovese basil.

        God damn, that was an outstanding sauce over whole-grain linguini. Didn’t even need cheese.

        He had one “secret” — he used to take scraps of wallboard (gypsum) and just lay ’em down between the rows of tomatoes, letting the sun, wind and rain break down the board and wash the gypsum into the soil. His tomatoes were also sold at the local farmers’ market where he lived, and he always sold out. Word got around. I found out later that, prior to the 20th century, gypsum was a very popular soil amendment for truck farms ‘n such. The calcium stopped blossom-end rot from happening.

  30. PutridMeat

    They lost me on the last one.

    And they got it wrong. If you ain’t sweating in the pool, you ain’t going hard enough.

    • Bobarian LMD

      I come to say that. Actually feeling yourself sweat in the pool is one of the weirdest physical experiences the first time it happens.

  31. LCDR_Fish

    dbleagle – just saw your post about info domains on the earlier thread.

    That one’s kinda weird. When I was in the Army Reserves, I was in 1st Information Operations Command – which was really an all source/all echelon type of operations – mostly for military deception, cyberattack/defense, planning/battlespace prep, etc, etc – encompassing small unit ops up to “strategic communications” (DoD, DoS, etc level) – but at the same time, the Navy’s term for Information Operations is almost exclusively “electronic warfare” focused (actually had a Navy officer in one of my training classes while I was at that unit and we had that discussion).

    But from your comments…it sounds like DoD is moving “Information” as a domain into the Navy setting – but maybe I misunderstood your reference.

  32. Brochettaward

    A great First is a lot like a tremendous iceberg. You can see and feel the throbbing tip instantly, but know that there is a massive girth just beneath the surface that will slowly but surely inch its way into you until you are completely fulfilled in your ecstasy.

    The Great First, The First That Will Change Everything, would be too much for any one being to handle., outside myself. That is why I am the vessel.

    • juris imprudent

      Suddenly picturing Bro as the male-ish version of Dooneese.

  33. The Late P Brooks

    Once I finish the noodles (whole wheat), I can use the leftover sauce for plenty of other stuff if I don’t feel like making more noodles.

    I used to take my left over spaghetti sauce and put it on a boboli pizza crust. Tasty.

  34. Sean

    @Rhywun

    I may know of an affectionate all black kitty near you that might need adoption. Any interest?

    • Gender Traitor

      Black kitties are the best! (There’s one asleep on my lap right now!)

    • rhywun

      In all honesty, I don’t think I want another animal to take care of at this time. But thanks for the suggestion!

    • Rat on a train

      Torties and calies are my favorite. I have one of each.

      • rhywun

        My favorite was an all-gray kitty we had when I was a teenager – Lucy.

  35. Hyperion

    Wait, just when you thought that Birkenscarfenstein had gone away.

    Be Afraid

    No, cunte, you be afraid, your narratives is in the latter stage of collapse.

    • rhywun

      That witch was the supervillain behind the scenes while Fauci was the face of their treachery.

    • Ted S.

      Article by Zachary Smith.

      I wonder if Robby the Robot will warn us of the idiocy in the article.

      • Hyperion

        Sure, he will, while brushing his hair and voting for democrats again.

    • whiz

      Speaking of collapse of narrative, FTA: “Though Covid-19 infections have more than doubled over roughly the past month, average Covid-19 deaths have decreased by 53% in the same period, according to CDC data.”

    • Chafed

      The only people who care are her media enablers.

  36. Semi-Spartan Dad

    We have an above ground pool in the backyard that the kids really enjoy. I use it more for throwing kids in the air and drinking margaritas. There’s going to be a tough decision in a few years whether or not it makes sense to put in an inground pool. Probably fiberglass.

    Pros– Could use it to swim for exercise.
    Kids would use the shit out of it in the summers.
    Also we live out in the middle of nowhere, so this would be a big draw to keep the kids around when teenagers.

    Cons– Virginia climate. It would be a no brainer for Florida or Texas, but how much use will we get out of it in VA. Maybe add a heater to extend the usage from May to September.
    And of course cost. It’d probably be in the ballpark of $20-30k. That may end up breaking down to $20-30 per person per use over the life of the pool. Not sure if that money isn’t better spent elsewhere.

    • trshmnstr the terrible

      how much use will we get out of it in VA

      Back in Indiana, the next door neighbors got memorial day to end of September usage most years. I forget if they had a heater.

    • juris imprudent

      We had a pool in San Diego, that pre-heater was a July into Sept proposition. When we renovated, we added solar heat and extended our useable time from late-April thru October. We also converted to salt-water chlorination and I cannot recommend that highly enough (also works very well with fiberglass, tough on everything else).

    • LCDR_Fish

      Think most of my friends locally who have pools have above-ground pools. Although my uncle in Fredericksburg does have an in-ground pool…that one’s probably almost 20 years old now (or older).

  37. The Late P Brooks

    Answer the fucking question

    “There’s a waiting list for EVs right now with the fuel price at $4,” Manchin told Buttigieg. “But they still want us to throw $5,000 or $7,000 or $12,000 credit to buy an electric vehicle.”

    “It makes no sense to me whatsoever when supply and demand — we can’t produce the product for the people who want it and we’re still going to pay them to take it? It’s absolutely ludicrous in my mind,” he continued. “But I’m thinking we are getting ourselves tangled in a situation that we’re not going to be able to supply … everything that’s going to be needed for this product.”

    The West Virginia lawmaker then asked Buttigieg if the Department of Transportation shared his concerns about EV shortages and credits.

    “We are following this closely and I think it’s a great example of one of the areas of manufacturing capacity that we’ve got to do more of right here on American soil,” Buttigieg responded. “If you look at the timelines that the physicists have laid out on climate, some of them can — in terms of our action and our need to rise to the challenge — could arguably be measured in months rather than years at this point.”

    “So, we feel a sense of enormous urgency to accelerate not just the uptake of electric vehicles, but, as you note, their production and our productive capacity for them,” he added.

    Mayor Petey is just as much of an incoherent blithering idiot as Kamala.

    • Hyperion

      Can someone please remind of where Mayor Pete is mayor of? Because I cannot find that in a browser.

      Oh wait, Mayor Pete bottle feeds, he doesn’t need to answer to anyone.

      • juris imprudent

        South Bend, IN – one of the 317 American cities with a population of more than 100k. Very exclusive company – much executive challenge.

      • rhywun

        He was the mayor of wherever Notre Dame is… Fort Wayne?

      • Hyperion

        Juris is right, was South Bend. What I am saying is where the fuck anywhere is he a mayor now? That’s not a lifetime title like democrats seem to believe.

      • Urthona

        Yeah man.

        There’s no such thing as any lifetime title and it irks me to no end that our sycophantic press will call an ex president “president”.

        We don’t have titles anyway. We have jobs. Even when you’re doing the job there’s no need to use a title. Fuck titles.

      • Hyperion

        It’s obvious they do this because they consider themselves some form of royalty.

      • The Hyperbole

        Normally I’d agree but “Mayor Pete” is more of a nickname than an honorific. They don’t say President Barry or President Donald.

      • Hyperion

        “Normally I’d agree”

        No, you wouldn’t, not under any cirumstances would that happen.

      • UnCivilServant

        We don’t have lifetime titles, but I think “Mayor Pete” gives him the proper small-fry unreadiness. We have towns that elect literal dogs as mayors. They’re a superfluous post, and it means he’s not ready for the big leagues.

      • Hyperion

        Dude, you forget, he bottle feeds, which makes him special.

      • Gender Traitor

        He’s STILL not eating solid food yet??

      • Hyperion

        I meant baby Mayor Pete, you know, the one he had as the first pregnant man?

      • Gustave Lytton

        The last mayor to serve as Transportation Secretary was child rapist.

        Just say’n.

      • Gustave Lytton

        Oops. I guess that is no longer the case. Anthony Fox was an ex-mayor as well.

      • rhywun

        The word “mayor” doesn’t even appear in the article.

        No, he’s now “Secretary Pete” for the rest of his life.

      • rhywun

        (Unless he fails upwards again, of course)

      • Hyperion

        This, royalty you know.

      • Rat on a train

        The aristocracy cherishes titles.

    • rhywun

      measured in months rather than years

      OFFS what a lying sack of shit.

      • Scruffy Nerfherder

        He’s an incompetent moron who has no idea how long it takes to bring production to scale. He believes that they can scale up just as quickly as he can destroy capacity.

  38. The Late P Brooks

    The Build Back Better Act includes an up to $12,500 tax credit for purchases of electric vehicles made with union labor using American batteries. EVs made in non-union shops would offer consumers much smaller credits.

    Biden has promised that 50% of new vehicle sales in the U.S. will be emissions-free by 2030 and every addition to the federal government’s 600,000-vehicle fleet will be electric by 2035.

    Fuck you, Brandon.

    • rhywun

      Party of the people, right there.

  39. grrizzly

    Last June my mom flew Aeroflot to the US. In mid-July I noticed that she had not received Delta miles and contacted Delta on her behalf. Only today I got a response from Delta–after Aeroflot was kicked out from the SkyTeam alliance and a proxy war between the US and Russia already lasted more than two months.

    • JaimeRoberto (shama/lama/ding dong)

      That’ll show Putin.

    • LCDR_Fish

      Should have gotten a credit for that though – over 8 months before anything “under consideration” took place. Should be workable if you’ve got the receipts.

      • grrizzly

        My mom lost her boarding pass for the trans-Atlantic segment. There was no hope. Even though it was a business class ticket it wasn’t enough earned miles to matter. Now Delta miles are completely useless for her.

  40. The Hyperbole

    DAILY QUORDLE ROUNDUP™©®
    (The ‘Welcome back Scruffy’ Edition)
    #97
    Champs
    The Hyperbole 18
    whiz 18

    PudPaisley 19
    Sean 19
    Grumbletarian 21
    trshmnstr the terrible 21
    grrizzly 22
    l0b0t 22
    Name’s BEAM, James BEAM 22
    Not Adahn 22
    Rat on a train 22
    Raven Nation 22
    Ted S. 22
    Tulip 22
    Tundra 22
    Ghostpatzer 24
    Grummun 24
    Scruffy Nerfherder 24
    kinnath 25
    rhywun 26
    MikeS 27
    TARDis 27
    Ozymandias 30

    Chumps
    SDF-7 123

    24 players, 26.833333333333333333333333333333333333 average, 15/9 TL, and only one chump. Not too shabby boys (and Tulip). Scrabble Score was 38. Sean, kinnath, and I continue our No-Chump streak at 19, who will be the first to drop. If you’re wondering whiz and Tundra are chasing with 16 and 15 respectively.

    • kinnath

      I am never going to be champ. That’s OK as long as I never be a chump.

      • rhywun

        You can do it! I’ve experienced the highs and the lows – the latter much more often.

      • Grumbletarian

        I have both stood at the top of the podium and scrubbed out the public toilets in Chumptown.

  41. juris imprudent

    Probably should’ve had this up on the last thread (since doggie pics).

    Dog on the left is going to do her intermediate hunt training tomorrow. The middle dog is our 14yo (and formerly my avatar). The boy on the right is our newest addition, 2 yo and fully hunt trained. You might have some idea on some of my retirement plans. Oh, and the sofa and background is our place down in SW VA. I met one of my new neighbors there (while walking Becca and Mickey) and he asked if I hunted my dogs – then told me how he had been out to South Dakota for pheasants last year; he has a group that shoots clays on his property and I said I’d like to do some habitat work on my place for quail. I think he and I will get alone quite well.

    • Scruffy Nerfherder

      Camouflage couch

  42. Mojeaux

    @Bro.

    Dude, this show is an incredible mindfuck. OMG. Husband went for a pottybreak and suddenly Glibs was surreal. Totally carried over.

    • Ted S.

      We haven’t changed. Perhaps your husband went surreal.

      • Mojeaux

        Oh, no. He’s solid.

    • Brochettaward

      I think Glibs would pretty much universally enjoyed it if they watched it.

      • Brochettaward

        I do worry it’s going to be one of those shows that constantly raises questions, but never really has any idea what the answers are so they just string you along. They probably consider the concept and philosophical issues the show explores more significant than details like what they’re actually doing down there, but
        I like closure and answers at some point.

      • Mojeaux

        I have the same concern, but so far in the storytelling, it seems like the end game has been solidified. I am at the part where Helly just came back from the break room.

    • Tulip

      What’s the show?

      • Mojeaux

        Severance on AppleTV.

      • Tulip

        Thanks.

      • juris imprudent

        I would’ve guessed The Prisoner (particularly from Bro’s last comment up there).

  43. grrizzly

    Stephanie Slade from TOS has an op-ed published in the NYT.
    The Party of Big Business Is Getting More Anti-Conservative by the Day
    It was hard to move beyond “the party of big business.”

    Too many conservatives seem to have no qualms today in wielding state power to punish their political opponents and shape the economy to their whims. This is not just a departure from the Republican consensus of the last half-century. It is a wholesale rejection of free markets and the very idea of limited government. It will make America poorer and the American people more vulnerable to tyranny.

    • Hyperion

      “The Party of Big Business Is Getting More Anti-Conservative by the Day”

      To fix this I’m going to coninue to vote for democrats.

      /TOS

    • rhywun

      The G.O.P. today may be able to win elections without fusionism, but it cannot serve the interests of Americans while wrecking the economy and undermining the rule of law.

      Yeah, look at Florida, swirling down the drain.

      GAY GAY GAY!

      • Ted S.

        Wrecking the economy and undermining the rule of law is a bipartisan thing.

      • rhywun

        inorite

      • R C Dean

        No, its only the conservatives who want to wield state power to punish their political opponents and shape the economy to their whims. Just ask her.

    • juris imprudent

      Yo Stephanie, when was the last time you actually saw anyone, R or D, actually accomplish something that limited govt? Now, I agree, it’s a great idea and the GOP got a lot of mileage out of promising it. They just never delivered, and of course, you wouldn’t be dumb enough to think the Democrats are going to do anything in that regard. So, how about you hop off of Winston’s back and stop cavorting with strawmen? It would do you a world of good to take a long hard look at what actual voting Americans care about – both those that vote for D’s and those who vote for R’s.

      • Ted S.

        But those actual voting Americans are *icky*.

      • juris imprudent

        *something*something* five minute conversation with an average voter *something*

    • Scruffy Nerfherder

      Spare me.

      One party has gone complete totalitarian and she’s whining about some pushback that may be outside norms. She’s really not going to like it when it takes a more militant turn.

      • trshmnstr the terrible

        Why do I hear echoes of “but he’s so nasty on Twitter”?

        The GOP may be straying from free minds and markets to fight the current culture war, but, quite frankly, free minds and free markets has failed as a governance strategy. Turns out culture mattered all along and we pissed it away.

      • rhywun

        The populist wing of the GOP doesn’t strike me as any less interested in what Reason professes to stand for than the corporatist or whatever the fuck wing they’re pining for. Does she seriously think the older Republicans fought for “free markets and the very idea of limited government”?! If so, they sure as hell failed at it.

  44. Evan from Evansville

    Folk around?

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      I squared up personally, but being around is easy enough,

    • Nephilium

      I’m trying to be less round if that counts.

    • Evan from Evansville

      Legit LOLs on all counts.

      I need a fucking break from the shit around. I have never had actual suicidal thoughts, have never harmed myself, and have no desire to do such. I just want this to all go away. Ten years ago I got my first femur sawn off and replaced, followed by the other, and then The Incident and the (unfun) hallucinations and seizures that can happen at any moment, to the interrogations and criminal shit.

      Do not worry. I am not going to be silly and do something I’ve never thought about doing. I have no desire to do that. I will not. No thoughts about it at all.

      I’m just in a really bad place. I want it to go away. Sigh. Patience is what I must rely upon.

      • juris imprudent

        Are you sure your life isn’t some Agile Cyborg manifestation?

      • Nephilium

        Evan,

        I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to meet up with you at some point in the future.

        Drinks will be on me.

      • Evan from Evansville

        Ha! My entire life has always been Agile Cyborg-esque in real time.

        I am not closer to escaping, but kinda? I got my papers from the lawyer and the “prosecution of Mr. Evan is probable” and I just have to wait. Really, I’ll just have to pay a fine. It’s not THAT big of a deal, but doing it in Korea is, for obvious reasons, very troublesome.

        I actually…have my 2 hour interrogation on audio. It might be interesting to hear, though that’s obviously a crazy time to ask of a listener. I’ve listened to it at least 100 times. It’s an obsessive need. I did pretty well.

        It is 10:30am here and I’m already drinking, which I know that I should not do. Escapism. That’s what my life is. Anything to just “Get Out.” Even if only for few hours. Those count. Otherwise I am imprisoned in my own mind. Alcohol opens the draft and lets the light in. It’s very dumb, but it works. I. Just. Want. OUT.

      • Q Continuum

        I know you’re a bit of a vagabond, but is the plan to stick around the US for a while once you get back? Seems like it might be a good idea. There are plenty of places to wander right here at home.

      • Evan from Evansville

        I have explored the world, I’ve done it, and although I still like to travel, the US is where I want to be. I’ve written and edited and want to make that my new career. I have NO desire to teach in the US, but I do intend on staying in the US. I just want a fucking break.

        @Nephilium: Drinks on you? DIG. I’d LOVE to hand out with any of y’all. The Other Kevin is in Indiana and I’ll be in Indy for at least a spell. Maybe new work will move me to somewhere else, but that’s where all my family is. That’s where I’ll be. Soon. Hopefully. I have 40 min until Lady wakes up and about an hour until my friend comes back to the apt that he’s hospitably given me for a week. She leaves for work about 1:50pm, (lord she can get awoke and ready and to work in less than ten minutes). Then I have her apt until she gets off at 10. Then she comes home. I will stay there tonight, assuredly. If something comes up I can get a Love Motel across the street.

        Another chapter of my life that’s not AN incident, nor THE Incident, but an ongoing fatigue of patience. I prefer the other ones. They were (relatively, depending on which one) immediate and understandable. Just wake up in the ER. Rehab takes work, but the goals are there. Now? Just Purgatory. I’d rather be in hell and KNOW it than just waiting constantly to find out where I’m gonna be. Seizure on Friday sucked worse cuz I REMEMBER it. All of it. Within reason. It’s the uncertainty and helplessness that is dragging me further down.

        This, too, shall pass. Onward, upward, always. Celebrate every victory you can. They all count. But now, patience is my best tool. It’s challenging. Once more, I’ll rise up from lament and tribulations, but going through it, I just want every second of it to disappear. Escapism. Something. Anything. Brain-damaged, homeless, unemployable and under criminal charges…yeah, that adds up. Anxiety is what brings on the seizures. It will be OK. I know it will, but it’s a fucking hard waiting game. (Especially for the court appearance(s).

        I want to meet all of you. You keep me sane and occupied. I will get through this.

    • Q Continuum

      Any closer to escaping?

    • pistoffnick

      Folk around?

      Folk around and find out!

      • Evan from Evansville

        If I’ve fucked around, I knew they were there, found my One…and took it to the hoop.

        They are orgasmically satisfied.

  45. The Bearded Hobbit

    Anyone remember biorhythms? Well, today must have been the wrong day on my cycles.

    Started when I was unloading the motorcycles that I bought* while in evacuation**.

    I had two bikes in the trailer and I wanted to the the wife’s car out of the garage to give me more room. I apparently misjudged the distance to the trailer and left a scratch on the fender and a gouge on the wheel.

    We started loading the motorhome for our upcoming trip. One of the LED lites was flickering so I thought I’d quickly replace it with a spare. The fixture is held into place by a mousetrap-like device that smashed my finger when the fixture came out. I snipped the wires and got the replacement ready, only to discover that the white wire had pulled back into the cavity and my fingers were never able to reach it.

    tl/dr: Mrs. Hobbit is sulking and I’m probably going to lose a fingernail.

    * Bought a street-legal dirtbike that I can ride to the forest roads around here and an itty-bitty streetbike that I can ride to town for fun.

    **We returned on the 29th, no damages except the stuff in our freezers.

    • rhywun

      Anyone remember biorhythms?

      Wow, time warp. Yeah, I remember a bit of the seventies.

      • Ted S.

        When I was a kid, I tried to color the people in the coloring books as wearing plaid pants.

        I vaguely remember biorhtyhms, too.

      • rhywun

        I seem to remember you could program them into one of the TI calculators my older brother received as a gift.

      • LCDR_Fish

        Carolla’s been talking about them a bit on some of his podcasts – someone found an old one that they messed around with a few times – as well as a website that apparently does the same thing as the old wheel.

    • Fourscore

      Good that all went well until you got home.

      Murphy’s Law is always active and non-forgiving. Hope your fingernail turns out OK but usually they grow back in a few months.

      • The Bearded Hobbit

        After Evan’s post above I realize that I came off rather whiny. First world problems, and all.

        Thanks for letting me vent. It’s been a rotten day; lack of sleep, fire evacuation status “set”, smoke everywhere.

        I’m feeling old, cranky, hurting, and grumpy.

  46. Fourscore

    I went to a birthday party today, the guest of honor turned 80. He was the youngest guy at the Big Boy table. Great food, great camaraderie, lots of “When I was a kid” stories.

    Almost all were Repubs or lib leaning Repubs.

    • The Bearded Hobbit

      “If you’re not a liberal when you are young you have no heart. If you’re not a conservative when you are old you have no brain.”

      • Hyperion

        I’m pretty sure, we can revise it to the 2022 version:

        If you area lefty, you’re a fucking idiot.

  47. trshmnstr the terrible

    10 more minutes in the canner for strawberry jam. It’s my first Time trying a jam, and it is dang good! I snuck a bit into wife’s frozen marg.

    I didn’t realize that jam was so easy…. Crush up fruit in blender, add sugar, boil until thick, and can it. Assuming I don’t completely screw it up in the canning phase (or it doesn’t set properly, but that seems unlikely given the consistency while hot), I’ll count this as the first canning win with no caveats. Everything before this was “good, but”.

    • Fourscore

      Are you supposed to add pectin (whatever that is?)?

      I had the missus make tomato jam one year. I liked it but we don’t eat much bread/waffles/pancakes. Now the neighbor ladies bring jam as a reciprocal gift so we never make any.

      • trshmnstr the terrible

        You can, or you can just boil it longer and use the natural pectin. I did the latter because I didn’t have any of the powder on hand and the strawberries were on the edge of going bad.

    • rhywun

      Mmmmm I love a strawberry jam on reasonably fresh bread. Memories of morgens in Deutschland.

      I just ate some ground up pigs’ livers and snouts on toasted wheat bread for supper – more nostalgia.

    • PudPaisley

      My Grandma’s made strawberry and raspberry jam like that. They would leave a few bigger chucks of fruit in it and the jam a little runny. It was great on toast / pancakes and also (especially!) mixed with vanilla ice cream.

    • PutridMeat

      I snuck a bit into wife’s frozen marg.

      I’m trying to cleanly parse that… Ah screw, I’ll just go with “that’s a hell of a euphemism”.

      • Sensei

        How long before somebody decides to make a woke version of CCBB?

      • Gender Traitor

        Remakes of better musicals than that haven’t done so pretty good at making filthy lucre.

      • Sensei

        It wasn’t West Side Story it was Woke Side Story.

    • Gustave Lytton

      The anime with the best music is hands down Heart Cocktail.

      https://youtu.be/r9YEYnpMlR4

      The only problem is Naoya Matsuoka’s music has a similarity across many different pieces.

      • rhywun

        Nice. Luv Lush.

      • Sensei

        Wait, wait, her mother Yasuko played Yasko – essentially a romanized version of her own name.

        1999

  48. The Late P Brooks

    My grandmother made AWESOME strawberry jam; not too sweet, big chunks of strawberry. Every so often, I wish i had a jar.

  49. rhywun

    “The Real Housewives of Walnut Grove”

    ?? Cozi TV does have some imaginative self-promotion

  50. PudPaisley

    I’ve been smoking 1.5-2.5 packs of smokes a day for 35 years (since I was 16). I’ve never been burdened by the habit, aside from staying at someone else’s house or going out. I work outside, have my own shop, and live alone, so I can mostly smoke whenever I want.

    I haven’t had any outwardly negative medical effects yet from smoking, although I seem to get winded easier when shoveling and wheelbarrowing heavy stuff all day. I consider this effect to both the smoking and just getting older. I guess it has caused some cosmetic damage by yellowing teeth, gum damage, and probably more wrinkles (although the sun is the bigger culprit).

    All that aside, I’m sure my lungs look pretty nasty. Knowing and seeing the long term effects of smoking, I figured I better quit now while I still might be able to undo a lot of the damage and increase lung health before I start getting old like Fourscore and Tundra. I’ve been psyching myself up for most of the last year to try and quit for the first time ever.

    I went and got the patch to start the year with the plan to quit sometime this spring. I kept putting it off, but suddenly decided to quit on 4/20. I roll my own, and forgot to pick up filters that night. So, I smoked all the cigarettes I had and quit the night of 4/20.

    So far I haven’t had a cigarette, and surprisingly really haven’t had the urge. The patch is definitely helping, but the big key is using a Vuse Vape Pen. Every time I feel the urge to hit a smoke, I take a few puffs on the vape pen. The plan is to ween off nicotine by using the patch at lower doses over two months, and do the same with the vape pen by going to lower concentrations over time.

    The one mistake I make after about 5 days was to cut the patch dose in half for two days. I felt absolutely terrible those two days, but the minute I went back to the higher patch dose I’ve felt fine. Definitely some junkie withdrawals going on. The bodily addiction is real. Other than that, I’m pretty happy with how this is going. Just gotta stick to the plan.

    I quit drinking cold turkey 7.5 years ago. I had a severe daily drinking problem, but I got through the withdrawals with heavy weed consumption. Those withdrawals only lasted about a week and was thankfully mainly the shakes. The nicotine seems to have a tighter physiological grip on my body. I think quitting drinking is making this process easier. I just put it in my head that I don’t smoke anymore. It’s no longer an option. I did the same with alcohol and haven’t touched a drop since I quit.

    • rhywun

      Happy trails. I *think* the switch to vaping is a huge win. I did it in 2018 and don’t miss the “real thing” one bit. The not coughing all the time is real nice.

      I held on to one pack of smokes for years and smoked my last real cigarette live here on Zoom a couple years ago.

      Of course, I’m still addicted to nicotine which kind of sucks but that’s a battle for another day.

      • Sensei

        My uncle manage to quit with the gum although he still chews several pieces a day.

        I’m willing to bet that is less of a PITA than the vaping, but understand how the delivery is part of the addiction and vaping helps with that.

    • MikeS

      …before I start getting old like Fourscore and Tundra.

      Heh. Heh, heh. ?

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      I’m vaping right now because I can’t afford my Cigars. Vaping works alright but there’s still something missing.
      Good luck to you Pud

    • The Bearded Hobbit

      I used to call myself the “Professional Quitter. I quit 20 times per pack”.

      Then the day came. I was driving and having a smoke when I suddenly began coughing hard, hard enough to cause nausea. “That’s it”, I said to myself as I threw the remainder of the cigarette out the window, followed by the remainder of the pack.

      Once I had made up my mind that I was an ex-smoker, that was it. If I ever felt physical withdrawal symptoms I never really felt them and any physical cravings were gone in just a few days, anyway. Much harder was the habit. Best example was phone calls. At work we did a bunch of stuff over the phone. When the phone would ring I’d answer it, then reach into my pocket to light up a smoke. Years later I still would automatically pat my pocket when the phone rang.

      Dad gave me some advice years ago about something unrelated. He said, “There are breeds of dogs who have to get their tails bobbed. It doesn’t do you, or the dog, any favors to do it a little bit at a time.”

      Decide that you are an ex-smoker and the rest is easy.

    • rhywun

      PS. If vaping had existed a few years earlier I might still be with one or another past significant other. Can’t blame ’em, really – I used to be the same way.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        I noticed when I came home from traveling last year, I walked through my front door and just about threw up the smoke smell was so bad, I get why people can’t stand the stench.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        It’s probably why the trip was cut short.

    • PudPaisley

      @Rhywun, your stories about quitting through the vape is why I decided to use this tactic to quit. I like the pen also because I can just put it in my front pocket, and when I get the urge it’s right there.

      @Sensei, when my sister quit, she chewed the nicotine gum for many years after (7-10?) before finally giving that up.

      @Bearded, for me it’s when I’m driving. I’m cracking the window and reaching for the lighter and smokes every time I get in my truck. I’ve even noticed when I’m driving I often have two fingers sticking up like I’m holding a smoke. I don’t imagine some of these habits will go away for some time if ever. Also, the mental part about telling myself I’m an ex-smoker is key.

      Thanks Yusef.

      • rhywun

        Gosh, I’m honored. The power of Glibs, a force for good. *hic*

    • Zwak,The Baddest Johnny on the Apple Cart

      I quit about 6 years ago, after smoking for 30+ years. I gradually tapered off over about 5 years, with only a little backsliding. Still think about them everyday, but never picked one up in years.

    • Sean

      It’s never the wrong day to quit smoking.

      Quit drinking? I don’t understand the concept.

      Seriously, congrats.

  51. Yusef drives a Kia

    Anybody watch Fall of Civilisations with Paul Cooper?
    He has a new one on a southern Indian city that died many centuries past, great stuff
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlMpxUYKTcU

    • hayeksplosives

      I love Cooper’s series! It’s one of the two things I support monthly through Patreon. (The other is CPRM!)

      The photography and narrative on “Fall of civilizations” is superb. But it does strike a bit of fear when you see the parallels to modern times.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        I thought you were a fan, the Indians could sure build, awesome structures that make the pyramids look plain,
        Do check it out.

      • hayeksplosives

        Will do!

        I finally finished his “kingdom of iron” episode just a couple of days ago.

    • PudPaisley

      Yeah, I like these too. Also a big fan of Hardcore History and some podcasts on the Civil War.

      Hayek, if you are still around, what is the name of the book on ancient history that I seen you mention somewhere. Is it good? I took some classes on ancient history and literature in college, but haven’t explored the topic much since then. I need to add some more books to my audiobooks library. Now that work is starting up again, I’ll have lots of time to listen to books.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        Good deal Pud, I always post a link when Dan Carlin or Paul has a new one out, watch for my links in the future.
        /We are all geeks

      • hayeksplosives

        Hi there!

        The series of books is by Susan Wise Bauer.

        The first is “The History of the Ancient World.”

        I got it on Audible but I’ve read that the paper or Kindle versions include helpful maps, which of course don’t translate to audible. But I sure love to listen to great books, whether to help sleep or to get me through my driving commute.

        She also has an edition for the Medieval world, and the Renaissance world.

        She didn’t mean to, but she has become a major figure in the home school movement because of how lame public school has become.

      • PudPaisley

        Thanks! This one isn’t in audiobooks right now, so I downloaded her History of the Medieval World.

        I still have 100 hours of Shelby Foote’s Civil War series left, which will take a twice that many hours to get through since I often get distracted while working and have to relisten to chapters. This should keep me busy to some time.

      • hayeksplosives

        Shelby Foote’s civil war book took me the first several months of commuting from Pahrump to Vegas.

        Loved every minute of it.

      • PudPaisley

        The only thing that would make Shelby Foote’s Civil War better would be him reading it. I love listening to him talk.

        I really enjoyed his interview with Brian ? from C-Span about his life and writing.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1Wganu0nZs&t=15s

      • Brochettaward

        Love his book.

        There’s no way in hell I could listen to him read thousands upon thousands of pages in that drawl. Just not happening. I’d stab myself in the ears before that.

      • PudPaisley

        On second thought, you are probably right. Plus, it would probably add another 10-15 hours to the audiobooks.

        That’s why you’re a Firster, and I’m just an admirer.

      • hayeksplosives

        Bro, the audible version of Foote’s three book series was not read by him. I didn’t really care for the narrator they chose (too much “up” voice at the end of sentences), but what I did discover to my delight is that you can change the playback speed in eh Audible app, so I sped it up to 1.1 times.

        On the History books by Wise Bauer, I actually slow it down to 0.8 times.

        It’s great because they don’t make it sound like Alvin and the Chipmunks. They apply a very good algorithm.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        That was a grind for me, I should reread them at a bit slower pace maybe….

      • PudPaisley

        I had to take that approach to listening to the books. A few days while doing snow removal I listened to 5-6 hours straight. It was too much and I retained very little. Now I’ll listen to just an hour or two at a time.

    • hayeksplosives

      Yeah the “sea people” has always been a fascinating topic, as are the Hyksos.

      History has not always been accurate…

    • PudPaisley

      Thanks! I just subscribed and I’ll check it out. I think it was one of your links about a year ago that got me into the Fall of Civilizations series.

      Your Dan Carlin link to his slavery episode was perfect timing a month or two back. I had a road trip the next day, so I downloaded it and listened to it on my trip.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        Glad I can help a fellow traveler, the slave episode was pretty daring but he pulled it off nicely.

    • Brochettaward

      All of history should be interpreted through the lens of Firsting and seconding. Once you use the correct analytical tools, everything falls into place. It all connects.

      • Yusef drives a Kia

        So you’re like Caesars Ghost? or Napoleon? probably Nappy because he never really won anything,

  52. hayeksplosives

    In completely worthless news, I’m going to attend a local bar’s Kentucky Derby event.

    One contest is “best derby hat”. My current profile pic is of a ridiculously ostentatious one I made from a Walmart hat, a bunch of feathers and flowers from Michael’s, and a ton of hot glue.

    I am gonna have to figure out my strategy for this year…

    And yes my current profile pic is the derby winner from 5 years ago.

    • Yusef drives a Kia

      How about the one when you wore your green dress, that was Hawt!

  53. UnCivilServant

    Morning Glibs.

    I’m not terribly in the mood to go into the office, but I’m not often in a mood to go into the office.

    • Ted S.

      Yeah, I took two days of PTO and go back to work tomorrow.

      • UnCivilServant

        The division director (who’s the one who should be approving my time off requests now) doesn’t seem to acknowledge I’ve made them so far. I’m not sure if I should pester her or just put my requested time on the shared calendar and act as if it’s been approved.

    • Sean

      Mornin’

      • Sean

        Frackin Mondays…

        Time to get ready for work. ?

      • UnCivilServant

        I know that feeling.

        I have to hit the road. I’ll see everyone when I reach the office.

  54. Sean

    khou.com/article/news/national/pedal-pub-crash-atlanta-driver-dui/85-35477f5e-91e1-4ee1-841a-0d35c5619398

    Obvious outcome is obvious.

    • Scruffy Nerfherder

      That entire story is a heaping pile of stupid.

      And what’s that bullshit about the criminalization of social media posts?

  55. Festus

    Mornin, Mornies! Just turned down an extra month of work. Fuck them. Tear the band-aid off. Stop playing with me. That would have been four months. I’ve got other fish to fry and Sunday was very difficult. I don’t know why the new company can’t admit that they have nobody to take my place. I warned them. I fucking warned them all! Sink or swim, asshoes.

    • Stinky Wizzleteats

      Probably a good move, if you’re anxious about not working you may as well get it over with.

      • Festus

        They’re worried about the contract. I lately need to fret about my footing in stairwells. Seems an easy choice.

    • Grosspatzer

      Mornin’, Festy. Good on ya, sounds like the right thing to do. A little peace of mind, and move on to the next thing.

    • Festus

      Sounds like every little bit of info coming from there. I trust none of it.

      • Stinky Wizzleteats

        It’s all propaganda coming from all sides. I’ve never seen the like.

      • Stinky Wizzleteats

        Heh…I had forgotten about that one.

      • Festus

        Feck Alan Alda and the preachy direction that he dragged that show into. The first two years of MASH were pretty damn fine. It’s like they were trying to out-woke All In The Family and didn’t realize that Archie Bunker was the protagonist. Soap was a good show at the start.

      • UnCivilServant

        Eh… from what I’d heard the minds behind the show intended Meathead as the protagonist, but ran into the issue where Carroll O’Connor was too good of an actor and very good at humanizing a person who had views he did not personally share, and Reiner was, well, a meathead in real life too.

        This is all secondhand rumor, so take from it what you will, but it rings true given what I know of Hollywood.

      • Festus

        It worked out in the end.

  56. Gender Traitor

    Good morning, Stinky, Fes, Sean, and U! Month-end report time yet again, but at least I had time last week to get a head start on the most tedious one. And two baseball games this week, so at least there’s some fun to look forward to!

    • UnCivilServant

      Mornin’ I’m afraid I didn’t finish Slaves of Baranga, despite the momentum I’d worked up over the weekend from the other two. It’s starting to feel like that story is cursed. I know the rest of the plot, I just can’t get it on the page.

      • Gender Traitor

        You did great finishing the other two, though! If it would help at all to get other eyes on what you’ve written so far and maybe try to describe what remains, feel free to send it over. Otherwise, I’ll look forward to seeing it whenever your muse gets her act together and lets you get it done.

      • UnCivilServant

        At the moment, I’m in the office, so all of my fiction is out of reach back home.

        I might send it your way later on.

      • Gender Traitor

        ????

    • Festus

      How much for a beer?

      • Gender Traitor

        I honestly don’t know – we always get soft drinks or water with our ball park food. Not cheap, but probably not as expensive as at big league parks.

    • Festus

      Heh! Stinky, Fes, Sean and U sounds like the little rascals. GT would be Darla.

    • Ted S.

      Fun being the five days you don’t go to baseball games, amirite…. :-p

  57. Festus

    That little red-suit on the left from the TV show is wee as hell! How is she supposed the rescue anything other than kittens?

  58. Grosspatzer

    Mornin’, reprobates. Another Monday, and still dealing with a nasty cold since last Wednesday. Officially worse than the ‘vid, which I had around Christmas. Why is there no “vaccine” for the common cold?

    • Festus

      It’s because you are weak, Patzie!

      • Grosspatzer

        True dat. Fortunately spawn #1 carries his 280 lbs pretty well on his 6’2″ frame and provides the muscle for Casa Patzer.

    • rhywun

      Ugh don’t give them ideas.

  59. Festus

    *Waves hands above head* “I’m a History nerd too!” I recognize every one of those sites.

  60. UnCivilServant

    At the end of this week, one of my consultants goes back to india for a month. I have to get all of the paperwork in for a half dozen server builds. And I have to figure out what the *bleep* [Redacted] is even talking about. The man needs to retire and let someone with some sense take over his unit.

    • UnCivilServant

      I forget how big we requested the subnets to be.

      This is going to be interesting.

    • Grosspatzer

      “And I have to figure out what the *bleep* [Redacted] is even talking about. The man needs to retire and let someone with some sense take over his unit.”

      You work with Biden?

      • UnCivilServant

        No, I work with a DB Manager who’s so stuck in the past I’m willing to bet all of the delays and performance issues with the new engineered system are because he’s trying to force them into his old way of doing things rather than even entertain the thought that best practices have changed in thirty years. He also wants me to send requests to have a database created through a group that has no involvement in this project and whose main job is to delay building servers in the x86 VM world. They have no known form to ask for just a database.

    • Festus

      I remember working at a saw mill and when the East Indian guy would lose his temper it always sounded like “BOOLAH BOOLAH BOOLAH!” You also had to keep in mind who was wearing which color of turban. The orange donned one seemed like the special one. They had their own lunch room. That was a hateful task.

  61. Tres Cool

    suh’ fam
    whats goody

    • Festus

      Internet friends are goody! Telling my overseers to go fuck themselves is better.

  62. Sean

    Seen on the way to work:

    Some dude standing halfway into the left hand lane on the expressway to change his tire. I’ll be amazed if there isn’t a accident caused by him/involving him.

    • Festus

      Saw something just like that this morning. Empty logging truck laid on the binders beside me. Some dude walking away from the casino.

    • Scruffy Nerfherder

      Summer’s coming…

  63. Grosspatzer

    Kicking off the week with a Chump. This one sucked big time.

    Daily Quordle 98
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    6️⃣5️⃣
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    ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜?⬜⬜?
    ?⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜?⬜⬜?
    ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜?⬜⬜?
    ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜?⬜⬜?
    ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜?⬜⬜?
    ?⬜⬜?⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
    ????? ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
    ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬜⬜???
    ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ???⬜⬜

    ⬜⬜??⬜ ⬜??⬜?
    ⬜⬜??⬜ ⬜??⬜?
    ⬜⬜?⬜⬜ ⬜??⬜?
    ⬜⬜?⬜⬜ ???⬜?
    ⬜⬜?⬜⬜ ?????
    ????? ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛

    • Ted S.

      Daily Quordle 98
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      ⬜?⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜??
      ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜?
      ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜?⬜⬜?
      ⬜⬜??⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
      ????? ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
      ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
      ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬜???⬜
      ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ?????

      ⬜?⬜⬜⬜ ?⬜???
      ⬜⬜??⬜ ⬜⬜?⬜⬜
      ⬜⬜?⬜⬜ ?????
      ???⬜⬜ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛
      ?⬜⬜?⬜ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛
      ????? ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛

    • The Hyperbole

      85
      73

      I was a little worried there but lucked out.

    • rhywun

      brain-farted

      Daily Quordle 98
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      ⬜⬜⬜?⬜ ⬜?⬜⬜⬜
      ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ??⬜⬜?
      ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ?????
      ?⬜⬜?⬜ ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛
      ????? ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛

      ?⬜??⬜ ?⬜⬜⬜⬜
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      ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
      ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬜????
      ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ???⬜?
      ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ?????

      to make up for it

      #Worldle #101 1/6 (100%)
      ??????
      https://worldle.teuteuf.fr

  64. Tulip

    Daily Quordle 98
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    • Sean

      Daily Quordle 98
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      ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜????
      ⬜?⬜?⬜ ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
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      ?⬜⬜⬜? ⬜?⬜⬜⬜
      ????? ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
      ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ?????

      ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜ ⬜?⬜⬜?
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      ????? ⬜?⬜⬜⬜
      ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬜?⬜⬜⬜
      ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜
      ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬜??⬜⬜
      ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ⬜????
      ⬛⬛⬛⬛⬛ ?????