As for the picture with me and the very much taller Mr. Lucido behind me -- this was taken at Commenter-Con 4. I was about to introduce him as the final speaker before the band went on. After the Katie Porter fiascos, I wanted to caption that picture:
"Tony, get the bleep out of my shot!" Wouldn't that be funny? AG
Greatly enjoyed conversation with you at the CC4 banquet. If I had known in advance I would be seated next to a celebrity I might have even showered 😉. I do have one quibble with your PQ column category. Instead of “The Mayo Man” which is totally incomprehensible for us non-biologists, it really should be something like “A Side of Mayo”
I was there Gandalf, 3000 years ago at CC4, for the epic Ammo vs. Mayo battle. I was there! The Mayo was tossed, like it was in a salad. To paraphrase some unknown person from the past … “If Mayo brings a knife to the fight, we bring Ammo”
So. . . it turns out that Substack's minimum annual subscription price is $30, so the email version saying $25 is wrong. I have updated it online, but everyone who gets the email version of this post will see an incorrect number. Very sorry! I'm still figuring out all the quirks of Substack after a year.
Technical question. Steve, I subscribed on September 20, 20 and am having trouble finding on substack where I can renew for next year. Could you please direct me?
Remember those signs in airports when they are under construction? "Thank You for your patience." Substack is -- according to Max who knows such things -- not an easy platform. So, it may take some time to get everything exactly the way Steve wants it. If the technical aspects were left up to me, we would be communicating with two Dixie cups and some string...
Bari Weis certainly figured it out.... I think that is the real reason you switched. Steve offered you a 10% cut of the $100 million he plans to cash out for.
Who knew Substack writing syndicates would become the new Internet 1.0?
As a veteran of those glory days of 1999, I would discourage you from making any promises to pay your grandchildren's college tuition from the windfall Steve promised.
I've noticed that in your inaugural remarks that you passed over the distinguished Prof Yoo. Remember Susan, every successful blogging platform needs it's Paul Meringoff. The difference here is enough community members at Political Questions wouldn't dare attempt to drive away the guy who found legal precedents for "enhanced interrogation" and likely still has Dick Cheney on speed dial...
I am a fan of Mr. Billingsley as well. Standup type writing is all about the rhythm and that was just too many names to mention at that time...no offense at all intended.
And now, dear commenters, I must be out of pocket for an hour or two as the mobile vet van is coming to vaccinate our five identical coal black little kitty-cats who are almost 8 weeks old. Because they are identical, we must bring one out at a time, lest one gets two rabies shots and one gets none! Carry on in my absence. I've seen you do it. AG
Many moons ago a college chum talked about his (ROTC) summer camp: Ranger School. During running portions of PT the trainees are expected to also sing/chant "Jodie's," "clever" ditty's. One began "I wanna be an Airborne Ranger, I wanna live a life of danger," but quickly morphed to "I wanna be a chairborne ranger, I wanna live in paper danger, I wanna go to the Pentagon, once I'm there I can do no wrong."
Now those folks near the Potomac are called Power Point Rangers, but oddly are still at risk from paper cuts.
What a lovely surprise. I was perusing my favorite blog site, the Professor Hayward location called "Political Questions," (for Lanai Jack: "perusing" is roughly equivalent to "browsing," "browsing" being roughly equivalent to "lookin' at stuff") and what do my wandering eyes perceive?
A new and exciting guest poster, a college-educated woman named "Marie."
“'There are no Second Acts in American life.' Well, guess what, F. S. Marie Vass disagrees."
I love this new column by F.S. Marie Vass. May she continue posting for the indefinite future as she seems to be outstanding.
Oh, yippee, skippee. What would I do if I woke up, fed many feral cats, powered up the ol' 'puter and didn't see a single Petroski? It would break my heart. AG
Hi Tony, so good to see you here. I've been missing my PLB buds. Looking forward to seeing the gang on this different platform. Anybody know if memes will be allowed? Asking for a friend possibly named Tracy.
As arbiter of the Fogey Rule, you are in the clear. The Fogey Rule applies to stating a time interval or a date that would make any Commentarian feel like...well, a fogey. You did neither.
Professor Hayward added a note at the end of Susan's article to indicate that he's trying to figure out how to enable memes in comments. Till then, no dice, apparently.
The CCIV video is due out soon. It will be far more controversial than Blazing Saddles, and I await the approval of the American Censors of America before distributing it to worthy parties.
I woke up here in The Valley of the Sun yesterday, and it was 57 degrees. I screamed in delight, opened all the doors and shouted, "I LOVE BEING COLD!!!" By Arizona standards, the summer was not "terrible", but hot and very very long. It's over! And now for many months, it's our turn to laugh.
A good opportunity for flagrant self promotion. MTG says that the manuscript that was still going to be in progress when he died at 106 will probably be available next weekend. I'm proofing "the Volunteer" now. Still on the slim side (about 250 pages), this is the story of a fellow who graduates from Yale in June of 2015 and by August 2015 he is in Alsace as a driver for the American Ambulance Field Service. Romance, hard work, dedication, thoughtful courage and a tribute to the "frat boys" who helped to save thousands of French and American soldiers.
Every book Geoff has written has been excellent. I've still got to get a CD of all the Marty Robbins songs after reading that book. I know many of those ballads but don't actually own copies of them.
hahahah. What a great, incisive comment: "Some things don't pair well with posterity." As MANY people have commented "Thank God I was a teenager before the Internet."
Phil...have a slider or twelve for breakfast for me.
Fear not, there is only a small clip of perhaps seventeen minutes of the four of us making a nuisance and closing-down the place. Nobody was arrested which means all's well that ends well.
If you have watched The Chosen (and if you haven't you really should) there is a recurring "trope," I guess you'd call it, about the meaning of "soon" between Jesus and his disciples. Sadly the next season isn't until 2027 which is the Crucifixion. I think I will watch the whole thing again. It was that well done.
Admit it, Tony. From what little I know of Jack (all of it through your comments on another site), "perusing" is "ogling". Jack, please feel free to defend yourself and correct that impression left by your loving brother!
Lanai Jack is a lovely man and I shall not have you slander him on this platform! Brother or no brother! Btw, where IS he? I'm pretty sure I sent him the email. I sent everyone I've ever KNOWN THE EMAIL. AG
While it's true that if everything at PowerLine was wonderful no one would leave, there is room for speculation.
However, I'm quite happy to leave it as a mystery. If there is grievance, the telling would bring no one joy, and I hate to see friends fight.
I did miss being able to comment on Susan's writings. From them I learned of our parallel paths. From Democrat to Conservative. From central Minnesota (Alexandria and Long Prairie) to Arizona.
I certainly hope that Steve and Substack can resolve the no memes issue. I will miss yours, if they don't. You are w/o a doubt the very best on the Internet. Queen of Meme!!
Hey there M2. One of my high school mates was named Jim Gay. You can bet he took his fair share of good-natured ribbing...not that there is anything wrong with that.
Ammo Grrrll, as surprising as this may be to hear, since I am uber loquacious, I do not have the words to express how happy I am that you have chosen to write your wonderful columns here at PQ. You have joined a team of all stars, and I'm confident that your talent will aid these other voices to get to the next intellectual level.
So, for today, I'll just say that your first column here was, as usual, first rate. As for the future, Break a Leg!!!
Friday morning is now complete, DLV resident, AmmoGrrrll, has been found and read. It was somewhat interesting, and somewhat odd that your image again appeared this morning with a post from Scott in Powerline, WHERE’S MY GRRRLL?. Even with an obvious humor vacuum there, I will still be a Powerline regular along, now, at PC on Substack.
On your nudge, I figured out how to update the image in the profile. :-) Having lived in Minnisnowda, I was hoping to visit this summer but the timing just didn’t work out. I’m still batting .750 at CCs and hoping CCV happens.
I was a relative newbie to PLb (3 yrs or so) when I discoveredTWIP and AG. I weathered the 3-4 lifetime bans for some minor illegal use of the mouth infractions The Sister was known for imposing, because the audience that you bring, educates, edifies and entertains me every Fridy without fail. My last comment at PLb was that I would be happy to join If half the cost was going to your column. And to think that not only are you (and the whole gang) back, but turns out it was half price. Sucha deal!
I am absolutely delighted to be free of Scott Johnson's petty algorithmic censorship. I realize that AG is justifiably grateful for the opportunity that PL provided. However, I spent a significant amount of time over the 12 years that I followed AG, trying to make sure that my comment didn't have to spend hours in timeout.
My dear friend and all-too-Italian/Jewish (what a combo plate!) personality: ANY minor grievance I might have had was immediately erased with this mantra:
WITHOUT POWERLINE, I NEVER WOULD HAVE MET ANY OF YOU. AND WHAT A LOSS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN TO MY LIFE!!! Word!
Susan, I really do understand that. My personal beef with Scott is no reflection of your relationship with anyone at PL. That was exclusively your business, and none of mine.
I do also note your wonderfully laudable loyalty to PL. Again, you are the real deal and have integrity on steroids. It's one of the reasons that you are so popular.
Nonetheless, there are, at least, a half dozen other folks, who've commented here this morning, voicing some level of dissatisfaction with Scott Johnson's censorship.
Putting it another way, Scott's approach significantly interfered with my ability to interact with the other commenters on Fridays. While, like you, I appreciate his willingness to support your columns over the decade, I didn't appreciate the petty way he dealt with me, as well as other inoffensive, non-trolling, commenters. That's it in a nutshell.
So, as I promised elsewhere in this comment chain. I am done commenting about any issue involving PL. Period. I won't waste another nanosecond on this beef.
I do look forward to your future columns here. Like the vast majority of your fans, for me, Friday mornings are all about ruminating about the humor and wisdom that you share with us. I intend to enjoy your work and interact with your other fans in this new environment.
Amen! The ratio of time spent trying to figure out why the Flaming Eye of Disqus banished a comment to the time spent actually writing the comment was about 5:1. It was ridiculous.
I was always grateful it wasn't allowed to become the open sewer too many comment thread are - but he could have relaxed a little. It's sad when a grown man is not adult enough to play with balls.
TonyP173: Your first sentence says it all for many of us. And the second. OK , AND the third. I barely know Steve at all but HE knows US and we are all hoping he will be far more - ah- "understanding" about the way we AG fans interact. Bless his heart for hosting our own Ammo Grrrll! I SO look forward to continue encountering the gang from PL that has become so dear to me.
Well, Tony, I'm actually giddy at the prospect of being able to use the word, "ball" w/o spending hours waiting for Scott to review my post and break up any possibly of establishing a rhythm with another commenter. So, if Steve is tolerant of the words, baseball, football, and basketball, I'll do well here.
I just had an operation on Wednesday, and I'm still in the recovery phase. When I'm back on my feet, so to speak, I'll go onto to PL and cancel my subscription.
I give genuine kudos to Scott, John, and others no longer on PL, who were true pioneers in establishing the blog, and then achieving a successful run. With AG's retirement from the site, I have little reason to go there anymore (save the opportunity to interact with friends, like you, that I made over the years commenting on Susan's columns").
Besides, if I want a heavy dose of TDS, I don't have to wait for one of John's columns, I can tune into CNN or MSNBC, or read Andy McCarthy's almost daily diatribes at NRO.
There, I feel better now. I will, henceforth, promise not to mention PL or its founders on this site ever again.
Tim, when one is starring into the abyss, the genuine caring and support of others, like you and the wonderful folks here, is critcally important. I cannot overstate how important it has been for me.
It appears you've entered a whole new ball game. Here's hoping we all make it into extra innings. Perhaps those so inclined can enjoy a Bloody Mary while castigating Dick Cheney's daughter.
Seems to me that John and to a lesser degree Scott are ceding a big chunk of PL to Bill Glahn, whom I like well enough but to me, he seems a little “scattered” along the lines of Lloyd Billingsley (sometimes). (And yes, I do believe Lloyd writes for PQ now on occasion.)
It is incumbent on each of us to use our freedom thoughtfully, though. One reason we left Glenn Reynolds was the excessive use of obscenities by commenters.
I don't know. It's a little hard to find my way around this new territory. I don't think I was censored -- just used the innocent words that usually trigger the long arm of Sister Mary.
I, too, am happy to see Susan here instead of PL. I was only kicked off of there twice (and immediately made new accounts), but departed when they decided to make a paid VIP membership a requirement to comment.
Goodness gracious! I remember when Steve H asked at CC2 how many people in the audience had been banned, and a definite majority raised their hands. Several, like John and Susan above -- THREE times. Well, I'm very glad you're here.
One, two, three, testing . . . I saw the neighbor's pig chewing up my only copy of "Moby Dick" and thought I bloody well get over there see if he's still claiming to be a lesbian.
Now if those 4 words don't attract the ire of a Sister Mary lying in wait, we won't worry so much about being unjustly banned.
A bunch of lesbians once made me an "honorary lesbian". (Yes, there was bourbon involved. And a Lake Effect squall) I opined to Scott that if the title was given to me as an honorific, it certainly wasn't an insult.
Much to my frustration as a young man, a lot of the women I was attracted to were batting for the other team.
Trying very hard not to LOL. Mrs.-what’s my name here?? Oh yeah, I’m outed. Not Mrs. Goodheart, not Mrs. Hughes—just had Act I of a root canal that started at 7 a.m.
Or the casings for inspection were lined up for her. She was also an amateur classical pianist who could play pieces by ear, and once met Paderewski on his tour. Her father came from Vilna by way of Scotland. They had a big hilltop house in Dorchester. The girls learned piano and became the home entertainment center.
God Bless her memory and ALL the women who worked on the homefront. Yes, long before even radio, to say nothing of television, anyone who could play a musical instrument was much prized as home entertainment. I think CONVERSATION was even still a thing then!
That makes me very happy! When my mother was 90, I traveled with her to a 110-year centennial celebration of their tiny South Dakota hometown of 237 souls. She and a friend who was 92 sat on the screened-in porch of her lovely home and recalled the name of EVERY single person who had comprised that community! They mentioned a lady who used to write poetry but during the Depression the Sunday School teacher would save the little nubs of pencils for her to use. One day her daughter found a NICKEL in the street and bought her two spanking new #2 pencils for Christmas. She cried with joy. The hard times that made those tough people!
It so happens that this morning while visiting my nearly 96 year old mother, I came across my paternal grandfather’s piccolo. He supplemented his living as a printer by playing piano for silent movies in the Bronx.
I absolutely love stories like this. Mr. Doug, I know you know this, but get ALL the history of your family that you can written down by talking to your dear mother (bless her heart, not in the way Southerners use that). We know a lot, but every once in awhile a question arises which now has no answer since I am the oldest member of my extended family. So, what I don't know, will remain unknown. AG
You know, of course, that Southerners also say "Bless her heart," when they really mean "I hope and pray that God and all people shower blessings upon this woman." It is sad that the bitter ironic euphemistic usage has become the default assumption.
I enjoyed that Max...Judy Garlard and Fred Astair at their best in "Easter Parade."
In North Minneapolis our family had an upright player piano much like the one Astair was "playing." I used to pump those peddles until my parents couldn't stand it. My favorite "roll?"
Your comment reminds me of my favorite video ( “TV” is so 20th century) series ever: Foyle’s War. It brings folks like your grandmother alive. Writing, plots, acting all superb. And with no condescension of the past whatsoever.
We stumbled upon some DVDs of Foyles War and just loved them. We've watched every British police show we can get our hands on ever since.... including the whole "Morse" series - which I'd also recommend
So in theory a tuning fork would be able to sort in or out of tolerance. Strike the case, strike the fork, listen to the beat frequency. Too quick, too far out.
As Bruce Willis says in Die Hard “welcome to the party, pal”. Good to see you here as part of Professor Hayward's long form band. It does take a little more investment (in time, mostly) but the rewards are great. I am an early adopter for Substack, ironically introduced by my very left SIL. Ironically as, apart from said in-law, all my feed is considerably slanted to the right. And soon, The Professor will be my first paid subscription (not even family gets that).
As for the picture with me and the very much taller Mr. Lucido behind me -- this was taken at Commenter-Con 4. I was about to introduce him as the final speaker before the band went on. After the Katie Porter fiascos, I wanted to caption that picture:
"Tony, get the bleep out of my shot!" Wouldn't that be funny? AG
You should have simply asked the photographer to hold the mayo
Touché!! 🤣
(AKA “Scofflaw” 😉)
Scoff: great to see you 'round these parts!
Greatly enjoyed conversation with you at the CC4 banquet. If I had known in advance I would be seated next to a celebrity I might have even showered 😉. I do have one quibble with your PQ column category. Instead of “The Mayo Man” which is totally incomprehensible for us non-biologists, it really should be something like “A Side of Mayo”
Mr. Scofflaw, so good to see you here! (Proud Deplorable)
good to see ya Scoff .... hope all is well
Perfect!
Someday, when that photo of AG and the Mayo Man is justifiably famous, I'll thump my chest proudly and say, "I was in the room!"
And when Henry Scott, Third Duke of Buccleuch, is in its 4th season as a mini-series, I shall say the same thing! AG
Buy the streaming rights now from your enormous profits from book sales!
I was there Gandalf, 3000 years ago at CC4, for the epic Ammo vs. Mayo battle. I was there! The Mayo was tossed, like it was in a salad. To paraphrase some unknown person from the past … “If Mayo brings a knife to the fight, we bring Ammo”
For a guy who is repulsed by mayo, it’s ironic that he’s often called “Mayo!” 😂
Yes, the cruel irony of it buuuuurns us, Precious!
I'm seeking an injunction from Judge Boasberg.
As I commented to Mayo, it was a great pic.
"...and the very much taller..." could apply to many of your friends and fans.
Hahaha. And several grade school children and large pets.
So. . . it turns out that Substack's minimum annual subscription price is $30, so the email version saying $25 is wrong. I have updated it online, but everyone who gets the email version of this post will see an incorrect number. Very sorry! I'm still figuring out all the quirks of Substack after a year.
Hi Steve,
I'm one of the subscribers whose subscriptions you've not yet extended by hand. (What a host!!!)
Ira
I tried just now. Check and see if it worked.
Yes. Thanks, Steve!
Hey there Ira. Great to see you here.
I pray all is well with you and yours.
Technical question. Steve, I subscribed on September 20, 20 and am having trouble finding on substack where I can renew for next year. Could you please direct me?
Remember those signs in airports when they are under construction? "Thank You for your patience." Substack is -- according to Max who knows such things -- not an easy platform. So, it may take some time to get everything exactly the way Steve wants it. If the technical aspects were left up to me, we would be communicating with two Dixie cups and some string...
keep the cats away from the string please .. we got vital issues at hand to solve
Bari Weis certainly figured it out.... I think that is the real reason you switched. Steve offered you a 10% cut of the $100 million he plans to cash out for.
Who knew Substack writing syndicates would become the new Internet 1.0?
As a veteran of those glory days of 1999, I would discourage you from making any promises to pay your grandchildren's college tuition from the windfall Steve promised.
I've noticed that in your inaugural remarks that you passed over the distinguished Prof Yoo. Remember Susan, every successful blogging platform needs it's Paul Meringoff. The difference here is enough community members at Political Questions wouldn't dare attempt to drive away the guy who found legal precedents for "enhanced interrogation" and likely still has Dick Cheney on speed dial...
I am a fan of Mr. Billingsley as well. Standup type writing is all about the rhythm and that was just too many names to mention at that time...no offense at all intended.
Oh surely you don't have a soft spot for our beloved "squish" on 3WHH?
I guess we need to keep Prof Yoo in the mix to remind us of the Bush Jr days and all the success we had running a respectable Mitt Romney...
Remember: It is still better to hunt with Dick Cheney than to ride with any Kennedy (except the gentleman from Louisiana)
Done!
And now, dear commenters, I must be out of pocket for an hour or two as the mobile vet van is coming to vaccinate our five identical coal black little kitty-cats who are almost 8 weeks old. Because they are identical, we must bring one out at a time, lest one gets two rabies shots and one gets none! Carry on in my absence. I've seen you do it. AG
I thought Max wrote "No more cats". Must have imagined it.
I'm the one who imagined it!
You obviously didn't manifest it quite enough. Maybe should have made a vision board.
hahaha. Or Power Point Presentation. AG
Many moons ago a college chum talked about his (ROTC) summer camp: Ranger School. During running portions of PT the trainees are expected to also sing/chant "Jodie's," "clever" ditty's. One began "I wanna be an Airborne Ranger, I wanna live a life of danger," but quickly morphed to "I wanna be a chairborne ranger, I wanna live in paper danger, I wanna go to the Pentagon, once I'm there I can do no wrong."
Now those folks near the Potomac are called Power Point Rangers, but oddly are still at risk from paper cuts.
What a lovely surprise. I was perusing my favorite blog site, the Professor Hayward location called "Political Questions," (for Lanai Jack: "perusing" is roughly equivalent to "browsing," "browsing" being roughly equivalent to "lookin' at stuff") and what do my wandering eyes perceive?
A new and exciting guest poster, a college-educated woman named "Marie."
“'There are no Second Acts in American life.' Well, guess what, F. S. Marie Vass disagrees."
I love this new column by F.S. Marie Vass. May she continue posting for the indefinite future as she seems to be outstanding.
Congratulations Marie!
Oh, yippee, skippee. What would I do if I woke up, fed many feral cats, powered up the ol' 'puter and didn't see a single Petroski? It would break my heart. AG
Mrs...I don't know how to properly address you. Madame Vass?
Somebody needs to wake up my brother Jack. I fear he's still passed-out on the "lanai" after a night of "listening to the opera."
Hi Tony, so good to see you here. I've been missing my PLB buds. Looking forward to seeing the gang on this different platform. Anybody know if memes will be allowed? Asking for a friend possibly named Tracy.
I'm ready when they are.
I can tell you this Trace...the place seems just a bit empty without man's best friend being here, the cat.
I guess we can still trade interesting and inspirational cat stories.
And I'll be happy to post photos and videos of Tony's main squeeze, Lizzo, plus various explosions and train wrecks!
So glad to see you here in the Halls of Ivy (Fogey rule self-denunciation: starring Ronald Coleman. I could sing you the theme song).
As arbiter of the Fogey Rule, you are in the clear. The Fogey Rule applies to stating a time interval or a date that would make any Commentarian feel like...well, a fogey. You did neither.
Professor Hayward added a note at the end of Susan's article to indicate that he's trying to figure out how to enable memes in comments. Till then, no dice, apparently.
I guess the Political Questions' Week in Pictures will be a bit lame until things are sorted out.
Good morning Silliest.
Welllll Dowgie as Jed Clampett used to say.
Great to see you out and about once again Mr. George Starner!
Mr. Petroski .. which comes first .. Blazing Saddles 2 or a CCIV video ?
The CCIV video is due out soon. It will be far more controversial than Blazing Saddles, and I await the approval of the American Censors of America before distributing it to worthy parties.
Good Morning Tin Man.
I hope there is not a canned bean scene .... blessed morning to you Tony.. winter is knocking on the door here already
I woke up here in The Valley of the Sun yesterday, and it was 57 degrees. I screamed in delight, opened all the doors and shouted, "I LOVE BEING COLD!!!" By Arizona standards, the summer was not "terrible", but hot and very very long. It's over! And now for many months, it's our turn to laugh.
Only high-minded stuff for mostly high-minded people...of course, there are a few gutter jokes for the likes of Lanai Jack and Tracy.
And who are we? Chopped liver?
We have to figure out how to change the handle, though. -- MTGD
yay! With me from the very first column at PL! Awesome.
Most of the names are familiar to me but these goofy icons are throwing me off.
Is that "out soon" measured in weeks or years?
Mere months. The thumb drive will make a great stocking stuffer for those of you who still wear stockings.
A good opportunity for flagrant self promotion. MTG says that the manuscript that was still going to be in progress when he died at 106 will probably be available next weekend. I'm proofing "the Volunteer" now. Still on the slim side (about 250 pages), this is the story of a fellow who graduates from Yale in June of 2015 and by August 2015 he is in Alsace as a driver for the American Ambulance Field Service. Romance, hard work, dedication, thoughtful courage and a tribute to the "frat boys" who helped to save thousands of French and American soldiers.
Um, did you mean 1915 per chance?
Sounds like a great read this "The Volunteer."
Run, don't walk to your nearest bookstore to buy it. Or alternatively, use the interwebs that Al Gore created for us.
Every book Geoff has written has been excellent. I've still got to get a CD of all the Marty Robbins songs after reading that book. I know many of those ballads but don't actually own copies of them.
Time is relative.
Yes. When relatives you don't like visit, time seems to go much more slowly.
Please say the video finale is not the Tuesday night Cragun’s bar closing scene starring you, me and Ken. Some things don’t pair well with posterity.
hahahah. What a great, incisive comment: "Some things don't pair well with posterity." As MANY people have commented "Thank God I was a teenager before the Internet."
But posterity would like to see it.
Hey there Deb. Where's the famous author?
As before, we're both chiming in. The famous author is brushing his remaining teeth.
Phil...have a slider or twelve for breakfast for me.
Fear not, there is only a small clip of perhaps seventeen minutes of the four of us making a nuisance and closing-down the place. Nobody was arrested which means all's well that ends well.
I swear sliders were not on today’s menu. But now I gotta do a Castle run. Right now! Later.
So for those of us who very sadly could not get away from the farm, how can we get a copy of this opus? Will there be a way once "soon" becomes "now"?
Yes.
If you have watched The Chosen (and if you haven't you really should) there is a recurring "trope," I guess you'd call it, about the meaning of "soon" between Jesus and his disciples. Sadly the next season isn't until 2027 which is the Crucifixion. I think I will watch the whole thing again. It was that well done.
Admit it, Tony. From what little I know of Jack (all of it through your comments on another site), "perusing" is "ogling". Jack, please feel free to defend yourself and correct that impression left by your loving brother!
It's true, Lanai Jack is an ogler.
Lanai Jack is a lovely man and I shall not have you slander him on this platform! Brother or no brother! Btw, where IS he? I'm pretty sure I sent him the email. I sent everyone I've ever KNOWN THE EMAIL. AG
Lanai is a lovely man but I don't want anyone to know it...compliments make him insufferable.
Lanai will make an appearance soon. Right now he's "listening to opera" on his Lanai and the fat lady hasn't sung yet.
He's rooming with Lizzo?
Lizzo is top flight, she's a beautiful woman and an enormous talent.
She would not give Lanai Jack the time of day if he was doing the final countdown for the flight of Apollo XI
Well Tony, perhaps your use of "perusing" is worthy of "sanction."
From https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/peruse
1
a: to examine or consider with attention and in detail : STUDY
b: to look over or through in a casual or cursory manner
2: READ,
especially : to read over in an attentive or leisurely manner
Shazam! Thanks Ira.
I've learned more here in this one comment thread today than I learned in the two and half years I spent in the seventh grade.
Curious that definition 1a and 1b seem to be somewhat contradictory, as is the last one as well.
Frustrating, too.
While it's true that if everything at PowerLine was wonderful no one would leave, there is room for speculation.
However, I'm quite happy to leave it as a mystery. If there is grievance, the telling would bring no one joy, and I hate to see friends fight.
I did miss being able to comment on Susan's writings. From them I learned of our parallel paths. From Democrat to Conservative. From central Minnesota (Alexandria and Long Prairie) to Arizona.
Be Welcome Susan.
Speaking for many of the PLB commenters who will "migrate" back and forth, "We're here, we're queer (in a good way), get used to it."
I certainly hope that Steve and Substack can resolve the no memes issue. I will miss yours, if they don't. You are w/o a doubt the very best on the Internet. Queen of Meme!!
Thank you, Mr. Tony. Hoping for your continued healing.
Thank you! So far, so good!
Excellent news.
"We're queer?" Can you say that here my dear? (I still can rhyme) although I'm doing time.
Trace. Did you know that I turned 21 in prison doing life without parole? That was a real downer.
Nice to see you out and about.
Back when Frank White was governor of Arkansas, they had a day in honor of his wife, Gay.
Gay White Day. My how times have changed.
Hey there M2. One of my high school mates was named Jim Gay. You can bet he took his fair share of good-natured ribbing...not that there is anything wrong with that.
Tony, was Jim's father's brother named "Ben"? A certain HoundDog wants to know.
Yes.
In Baltimore, there’s a Gay Street. It happens to intersect with the old red light district. Fancy that. 🤣
There's also a Gay Street in Boulder.
(Not, however, in Gunbarrel, just outside Boulder, where I live.)
Ammo Grrrll, as surprising as this may be to hear, since I am uber loquacious, I do not have the words to express how happy I am that you have chosen to write your wonderful columns here at PQ. You have joined a team of all stars, and I'm confident that your talent will aid these other voices to get to the next intellectual level.
So, for today, I'll just say that your first column here was, as usual, first rate. As for the future, Break a Leg!!!
Hi, everyone! I took the credit card by the horns, and subscribed so I could find Susan and the Tonys and Lewis and Clark and ... well, everyone!
For an introduction, Susan, that's a humdinger. ^_^
Thank goodness. I got up this morning and thought I wouldn’t get to read Ammo Grrllll for the first time in many years. So glad you are here.
Friday morning is now complete, DLV resident, AmmoGrrrll, has been found and read. It was somewhat interesting, and somewhat odd that your image again appeared this morning with a post from Scott in Powerline, WHERE’S MY GRRRLL?. Even with an obvious humor vacuum there, I will still be a Powerline regular along, now, at PC on Substack.
Make it so! We absolutely need All Hands On Deck in these perilous times. AG
If my house ever had any thought of being cleaned, it surely has abandoned all hope now.
Mr. GreatHairGuy. I miss the great hair icon...you always have great hair.
And we missed you at Commenter Con IV. Great to see you here.
On your nudge, I figured out how to update the image in the profile. :-) Having lived in Minnisnowda, I was hoping to visit this summer but the timing just didn’t work out. I’m still batting .750 at CCs and hoping CCV happens.
Now that is great hair.
Nice going Sir.
How? How?
You are why I joined.
Awwww...thank you. AG
I was a relative newbie to PLb (3 yrs or so) when I discoveredTWIP and AG. I weathered the 3-4 lifetime bans for some minor illegal use of the mouth infractions The Sister was known for imposing, because the audience that you bring, educates, edifies and entertains me every Fridy without fail. My last comment at PLb was that I would be happy to join If half the cost was going to your column. And to think that not only are you (and the whole gang) back, but turns out it was half price. Sucha deal!
Cool! I've missed being in your audience since being kicked off PL for saying something snotty about something or other.
I am absolutely delighted to be free of Scott Johnson's petty algorithmic censorship. I realize that AG is justifiably grateful for the opportunity that PL provided. However, I spent a significant amount of time over the 12 years that I followed AG, trying to make sure that my comment didn't have to spend hours in timeout.
My dear friend and all-too-Italian/Jewish (what a combo plate!) personality: ANY minor grievance I might have had was immediately erased with this mantra:
WITHOUT POWERLINE, I NEVER WOULD HAVE MET ANY OF YOU. AND WHAT A LOSS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN TO MY LIFE!!! Word!
Susan, I really do understand that. My personal beef with Scott is no reflection of your relationship with anyone at PL. That was exclusively your business, and none of mine.
I do also note your wonderfully laudable loyalty to PL. Again, you are the real deal and have integrity on steroids. It's one of the reasons that you are so popular.
Nonetheless, there are, at least, a half dozen other folks, who've commented here this morning, voicing some level of dissatisfaction with Scott Johnson's censorship.
Putting it another way, Scott's approach significantly interfered with my ability to interact with the other commenters on Fridays. While, like you, I appreciate his willingness to support your columns over the decade, I didn't appreciate the petty way he dealt with me, as well as other inoffensive, non-trolling, commenters. That's it in a nutshell.
So, as I promised elsewhere in this comment chain. I am done commenting about any issue involving PL. Period. I won't waste another nanosecond on this beef.
I do look forward to your future columns here. Like the vast majority of your fans, for me, Friday mornings are all about ruminating about the humor and wisdom that you share with us. I intend to enjoy your work and interact with your other fans in this new environment.
Amen! The ratio of time spent trying to figure out why the Flaming Eye of Disqus banished a comment to the time spent actually writing the comment was about 5:1. It was ridiculous.
I was always grateful it wasn't allowed to become the open sewer too many comment thread are - but he could have relaxed a little. It's sad when a grown man is not adult enough to play with balls.
Thank you, Clark. You said it better than I.
But this will render my meme of "Sister Mary: All Things in Moderation" moot on this site.
A hearty welcome to the at least two of you.
"We are Legion."
Bless you, AHM.
TonyP173: Your first sentence says it all for many of us. And the second. OK , AND the third. I barely know Steve at all but HE knows US and we are all hoping he will be far more - ah- "understanding" about the way we AG fans interact. Bless his heart for hosting our own Ammo Grrrll! I SO look forward to continue encountering the gang from PL that has become so dear to me.
AND you share the same birthday -- how cool is that???
Hey there M'Lady. Great to see you here.
Indeed! And forsooth!
Good morning Colonel TonyP of the famed One, Seven Three.
"I am absolutely delighted to be free of Scott Johnson's petty algorithmic censorship."
Ain't it delightful? Ain't it grand? Of course, I haven't tried my luck yet with "Moby Dick" or one of my favorite films, "Free Willy," so who knows?
Well, Tony, I'm actually giddy at the prospect of being able to use the word, "ball" w/o spending hours waiting for Scott to review my post and break up any possibly of establishing a rhythm with another commenter. So, if Steve is tolerant of the words, baseball, football, and basketball, I'll do well here.
I just had an operation on Wednesday, and I'm still in the recovery phase. When I'm back on my feet, so to speak, I'll go onto to PL and cancel my subscription.
I give genuine kudos to Scott, John, and others no longer on PL, who were true pioneers in establishing the blog, and then achieving a successful run. With AG's retirement from the site, I have little reason to go there anymore (save the opportunity to interact with friends, like you, that I made over the years commenting on Susan's columns").
Besides, if I want a heavy dose of TDS, I don't have to wait for one of John's columns, I can tune into CNN or MSNBC, or read Andy McCarthy's almost daily diatribes at NRO.
There, I feel better now. I will, henceforth, promise not to mention PL or its founders on this site ever again.
Best wishes to thee, TonyP one seven three!
Tim, when one is starring into the abyss, the genuine caring and support of others, like you and the wonderful folks here, is critcally important. I cannot overstate how important it has been for me.
So, thank you, sir!
Tony. You sound like you are on the mend. Thank God.
So far, so good, my friend.
(My Irish eyes are smiling.)
It appears you've entered a whole new ball game. Here's hoping we all make it into extra innings. Perhaps those so inclined can enjoy a Bloody Mary while castigating Dick Cheney's daughter.
Seems to me that John and to a lesser degree Scott are ceding a big chunk of PL to Bill Glahn, whom I like well enough but to me, he seems a little “scattered” along the lines of Lloyd Billingsley (sometimes). (And yes, I do believe Lloyd writes for PQ now on occasion.)
I don't think this group needs to be monitored, but I fully expect someone will come along to muck it up.
See my test comment right above yours. If it's still there, we are free at last from PAC (petty algorithmic censorship).
It is incumbent on each of us to use our freedom thoughtfully, though. One reason we left Glenn Reynolds was the excessive use of obscenities by commenters.
Very well said. It's everyone's personal responsibility.
Amen, Tracy!
I cannot find it. Were you censored?
I don't know. It's a little hard to find my way around this new territory. I don't think I was censored -- just used the innocent words that usually trigger the long arm of Sister Mary.
I, too, am happy to see Susan here instead of PL. I was only kicked off of there twice (and immediately made new accounts), but departed when they decided to make a paid VIP membership a requirement to comment.
It's a big club ... 3 time member >;0)
Me too!
Me three!
Goodness gracious! I remember when Steve H asked at CC2 how many people in the audience had been banned, and a definite majority raised their hands. Several, like John and Susan above -- THREE times. Well, I'm very glad you're here.
One, two, three, testing . . . I saw the neighbor's pig chewing up my only copy of "Moby Dick" and thought I bloody well get over there see if he's still claiming to be a lesbian.
Now if those 4 words don't attract the ire of a Sister Mary lying in wait, we won't worry so much about being unjustly banned.
A bunch of lesbians once made me an "honorary lesbian". (Yes, there was bourbon involved. And a Lake Effect squall) I opined to Scott that if the title was given to me as an honorific, it certainly wasn't an insult.
Much to my frustration as a young man, a lot of the women I was attracted to were batting for the other team.
Trying very hard not to LOL. Mrs.-what’s my name here?? Oh yeah, I’m outed. Not Mrs. Goodheart, not Mrs. Hughes—just had Act I of a root canal that started at 7 a.m.
Trace. You made it through.
But, the claims adjuster in me wonders...will they (there's always a "they") ratchet things down like some miserable Nurse Ratched in the future?
As the Rolex said to Big Ben: "Time will tell."
Finally a writer here to lend an air of gravitas to this den of rapscallions!
Welcome here ! I proudly support both sites with my money.
Ditto. Both great places.
Same here.
My mother's mother from Boston was a true ammo girl in WW1. She inspected artillery shell casings for US Ordnance using a simple go/no-go tool.
I bet she didn't have to stand in line, did she?
Or the casings for inspection were lined up for her. She was also an amateur classical pianist who could play pieces by ear, and once met Paderewski on his tour. Her father came from Vilna by way of Scotland. They had a big hilltop house in Dorchester. The girls learned piano and became the home entertainment center.
God Bless her memory and ALL the women who worked on the homefront. Yes, long before even radio, to say nothing of television, anyone who could play a musical instrument was much prized as home entertainment. I think CONVERSATION was even still a thing then!
She'd write poems and letters for special occasions in perfect handwriting and lived to 99.
That makes me very happy! When my mother was 90, I traveled with her to a 110-year centennial celebration of their tiny South Dakota hometown of 237 souls. She and a friend who was 92 sat on the screened-in porch of her lovely home and recalled the name of EVERY single person who had comprised that community! They mentioned a lady who used to write poetry but during the Depression the Sunday School teacher would save the little nubs of pencils for her to use. One day her daughter found a NICKEL in the street and bought her two spanking new #2 pencils for Christmas. She cried with joy. The hard times that made those tough people!
Wow!
And grateful people.
It so happens that this morning while visiting my nearly 96 year old mother, I came across my paternal grandfather’s piccolo. He supplemented his living as a printer by playing piano for silent movies in the Bronx.
I absolutely love stories like this. Mr. Doug, I know you know this, but get ALL the history of your family that you can written down by talking to your dear mother (bless her heart, not in the way Southerners use that). We know a lot, but every once in awhile a question arises which now has no answer since I am the oldest member of my extended family. So, what I don't know, will remain unknown. AG
You know, of course, that Southerners also say "Bless her heart," when they really mean "I hope and pray that God and all people shower blessings upon this woman." It is sad that the bitter ironic euphemistic usage has become the default assumption.
Paderewski was the most renowned concert pianist of his era!
Oscar Levant met him too. Levant asked him how he memorized pieces (always a challenge). He replied, "Muscle memory."
He had a major political career, too:
https://www.classicfm.com/composers/paderewski/pianist-composer-polish-prime-minister-treaty-versailles/
From Bob Dylan, Nobel Prize-winning songwriter from Hibbing, Minnesota:
"I love a piano, I love a piano, I love to hear somebody play.
On a piano, a grand piano, it simply carries me away.
I know a fine way to treat a Steinway.
I love to run my fingers o'er the keys, the ivories.
and with the pedal, I love to meddle,
when Padarewski comes this way.
I'm so delighted if I'm invited,
to hear that long haired genius play.
So you can keep your fiddle and your bow
Give me a p-i-a-n-o, oh, oh.
I love to stop right beside an upright,
or a high toned baby grand."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DPUS_J65pw&list=RD6DPUS_J65pw&start_radio=1
I enjoyed that Max...Judy Garlard and Fred Astair at their best in "Easter Parade."
In North Minneapolis our family had an upright player piano much like the one Astair was "playing." I used to pump those peddles until my parents couldn't stand it. My favorite "roll?"
The Notre Dame Fight Song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3Uzi0Vndbo
The full Rach 2 audio, including all three movements, is available here for free download: (the 24BIT FLAC option has best clarity)
https://archive.org/details/Helene-Grimaud-Claudio-Abbado-Sergei-Rachmaninov-piano-concerto-no-2-in-c-sharp-minor-op.-18-r-1
Your comment reminds me of my favorite video ( “TV” is so 20th century) series ever: Foyle’s War. It brings folks like your grandmother alive. Writing, plots, acting all superb. And with no condescension of the past whatsoever.
Thank you. I will check out Foyle’s War.
We stumbled upon some DVDs of Foyles War and just loved them. We've watched every British police show we can get our hands on ever since.... including the whole "Morse" series - which I'd also recommend
My mother was from Savin Hill.
Hmm. A really good musician might be able to gauge the powder charge in a casing by tapping it. "G above middle C -- add five grains!"
In her case, the casing hadn't been filled yet. It just had to meet dimensional tolerance.
So in theory a tuning fork would be able to sort in or out of tolerance. Strike the case, strike the fork, listen to the beat frequency. Too quick, too far out.
Their method was pass-fail. She had perfect pitch, but the system couldn't take that skill for granted.
As Bruce Willis says in Die Hard “welcome to the party, pal”. Good to see you here as part of Professor Hayward's long form band. It does take a little more investment (in time, mostly) but the rewards are great. I am an early adopter for Substack, ironically introduced by my very left SIL. Ironically as, apart from said in-law, all my feed is considerably slanted to the right. And soon, The Professor will be my first paid subscription (not even family gets that).