84 Comments
User's avatar
Susan Vass's avatar

LOVE the "I kinda like Franco" bit. When you are forced to choose between a pretty bad thing and a REALLY bad thing -- like the two choices in an elementary school cafeteria in the 50s -- one is still probably slightly less horrible.

Several summers ago when we spent 4 months up in Prescott, we ran into some quasi-conservative Californians in a restaurant. We started talking in normal conversational tones about DEI, the Deep State, Cali's particular horrors -- and the woman kept looking around in terror and encouraging us to lower our voices. I assured her that Yavapai County was a safe place to be conservative. I was torn between feeling sorry for her and saying, "Man up! If you speak up, you could find that MANY people feel just as you do." My experience in life is that cowering NEVER works. AG

Dennis Nicholls's avatar

John Derbyshire once wrote about an experience as a newly arrived Brit visiting Arizona. He was at dinner with two other couples. He mentioned it was strange being in a country where ordinary people could carry pistols. Did anyone present have a carry permit? The other four persons looked at each other, then all four produced a piece from their clothing and put it on the table.

Susan Vass's avatar

That is very funny. We first moved to AZ in 2010 from Minnesota, "The State Where Absolutely Nothing Is Allowed". Within a year or two there was an election for Sheriff of our County. At the fund-raising banquet, a very nice-looking AR15 was being raffled off. Raffle ticket sales were disappointingly slow. And the emcee announced that the reason was "everybody here already HAS one..." But, the first time I saw Open Carry of a .45 in Walmart, I do have to admit, my jaw dropped. Now, it just makes me feel safer.

AG

Free in Florida's avatar

I have a funny story along those lines. A few years ago in Massachusetts, we were in a cozy little BYOB restaurant with good friends and got to talking to the couple across the aisle. They obviously had two home grown bottles of wine on the table and we asked about them. We talked for a bit, got some of the history and the guy said to the four of us - “We’re having a grape picking this weekend if you’d like to join us. There’s a good group and it’s always lots of fun. And I’ll give you one bottle ahead of time as your thanks.” The four of us almost as one chimed in and said, “Oh no. We can’t take the wine before we finish the work but we’ll see you this weekend.” The guy got a big smile on his face - leaned over and said in a soft voice (It was Massachusetts!) - “You must be Republicans!” We replied that, yes, we were but how could he tell. And he said, “Because you wanted to do the work before you got paid.” We all had a good laugh.

MLP's avatar

I agree! But here in Minneapolis, it became very clear in 2020 that if our very, very tolerant and inclusive neighbors knew we're Trump supporters, they'd have burned our house down. As it is, we let them assume the colorful chairs on our front lawn mean something.

Tony Petroski's avatar

I'm completely against cowering.

Susan Vass's avatar

You're a big guy, Big Guy. You would not cower well. AG

Dennis Nicholls's avatar

But I'll bet that Tony has been a cow-worker from time to time.

Doplar's avatar

"like the two choices in an elementary school cafeteria in the 50s-- one is still probably slightly less horrible."

You wouldn't be talkin bout liver and onions now would you. I was a strange kid, I reckon, even before I became an adult. Probably age 5 or 6 I'd beg my mother to buy liver when I went to the store with her. One of my favorites at the time. Still is but I don't have anybody to cook it for me. And I don't cook like that - Liver and onions in brown gravy.

So when liver was served for lunch at school I made out like a bandit because most kids didn't like it, and I could ate theirs too. Well, as much as I could. So much liver so little stomach space. ;-)

(I don't recall us having a choice at my school. It was liver or nothin, cept for whatever might have been oh the plate as a side. And milk of course)

Susan Vass's avatar

I could be remembering wrong, but I thought we got two choices with milk and a slice of Wonder Bread and butter. What I do know for sure is that it cost a quarter for a lunch ticket. We would buy them by the week -- $1.25. Imagine! And I liked Fridays because to accommodate the Catholics we either got Fish Sticks or Mac & Cheese. AG

Peigin's avatar

My mom and my grandma both cooked in school cafeterias in the Portland Public Schools. The school cooks had to get to work early to start the dough for home made sandwich buns, pizza crust, dinner rolls or the school favorite, wiener wraps! Mom said it was wonderful to be able to use pounds of USDA surplus butter, cheese and meat in their recipes. Most things were good. I never remember them having liver and onions on the menu. Now most schools have all the food brought to the schools. No more homey smell of baking bread, cake or cookies in the school hallways.

Margaret's avatar

At our high school around 1958-59, it was scrambled eggs, usually served about once every 3 or 4 weeks until one day word was passed that we were going to go on strike and reject the entree. They were not served again that year. I like scrambled eggs but the way they were prepared made them unpalatable.

Jackson74's avatar

I know that cafeteria.

RAM's avatar

The best Super Bowl halftime would be an extended poetic reading from Fauci's diary delivered by an AI double.

Free in Florida's avatar

RAM - and a hanging? Could we have a hanging? It doesn’t hurt a girl to ask.

(He’s already doing it reputationally. That works.)

RAM's avatar

How can we allow violence at a football game?

Joe Redfield's avatar

Eh...hanging is so 19th Century...how about drawing and quartering?

Free in Florida's avatar

Thanks, Joe! That’s really where I wanted to go but thought it best to gently tiptoe in. I should know this audience better. Just go for it. In my heart, I’ll always take the medieval route first when it comes to setting things right with people like Fauci.

RAM's avatar

My earlier advice is more humane. Send him on a mission to really deep space. Elon says we're meant to inhabit other planets, so, as Science says, let's test the concept. He can let Fauci ride free.

Free in Florida's avatar

RAM, you’re just nicer than I am. The thing is - with all the damage and heartache Fauci caused, I’m not particularly into “humane” with him. But I salute you for being kinder. Now - if he were catapulted to a planet of beagles who knew his history, I might go for your solution. There is that.

RAM's avatar

Travelers need to get their shots. Rand Paul could inoculate Fauci as appropriate.

Steve's avatar

Yes! Wearing a space suit packed with sand fleas and roaches. Yes. BAMN.

Susan Vass's avatar

And the parts arrested. AG

Susan Vass's avatar

Leave it to an Art History major to want a "hanging". Cuz, I'm sure THAT'S what you meant, right? A PICTURE of Fauci being hanged "in effigy". Right? AG

Free in Florida's avatar

Well, a double major - don’t forget the history. LOL

That works - People are hanged and pictures are hung. (Oh goodness. Let’s not go there. 😂)

But, yes, thank you for saving me, Susan. The only hanging is metaphorical. Am I in trouble?

Susan Vass's avatar

Not here. But the Internet is forever. Run for office and find out! Lol. AG

Steve's avatar

Not here you are. But that knock at your door? Is that the Fibbies?

Brian Miller's avatar

If not a hanging at halftime, Fauci should become a urinal for each team to use.

Max Cossack's avatar

Boy George is wonderful here. It's been a long time since I saw a music video about something real. The feeling reminds me of the time I went to a non-reform synagogue and heard the rabbi say something positive about Israel. At last! Someone who gets it!

Brian Miller's avatar

40 years ago, I'd have never thought that Boy George would be a voice of reason...

But here we are. Strange times indeed.

Dennis Nicholls's avatar

Heck Piers Morgan is becoming a voice of reason.

Susan Vass's avatar

I'm going to "Like" you, Dennis, because I DO.. but my experience with Piers is that he's not terribly trustworthy. Like so many people, it's enough to make a grrrll cynical. Why, I remember when Candace Owens seemed like a very sensible, sane, young lady of color. Now she has achieved Max's "trifecta of terrible": "crazy, evil and stupid." AG

Susan Vass's avatar

Joe "encouraged" me to watch the video. I am so APPALLED at the whole 10-7 and especially the aftermath of support for the atrocities that I didn't think I could even watch it. But it is UNBELIEVABLY BRAVE, BRILLIANT AND EVEN MUSICAL!! I could not say I had ever even heard his voice before and it is very pleasant. God Bless Boy George to the moon and back. "I'm not brave -- just trying to be HUMAN." That can go a long, long way, dear man.

And then he spells it out entirely: "In case you're confused -- I'm with the Jews!" One does not realize how demoralizing the Muslim/commie cabal's response to 10-7 has been, how actually terrifying. To hear someone not even Jewish say that...well, I am knocked out of my socks. AG

Tracy Thompson's avatar

I liked Boy George's song. Did you notice that he sang the words and the yellow subtitles read "If you're ever confused, I stand with the Jews", but the white subtitles at the bottom read "If you're ever confused, I stand with the truth". I wonder who is responsible for that creative editing. 😬

Max Cossack's avatar

Disgusting and tiresome. Good catch!

Ira Siegel's avatar

Upon rewatching - I see 2 changes to the lyrics in the "white" subtitles. The "yellow" subtitles for the English appear to be completely correct.

The first "white" change: "When you're attacked" changed to "when you're tired." That change makes no sense whatsoever.

The second, spotted by "Tracy Thompson," that is , "I stand with the Jews" to "I stand with the truth," does not even closely rhyme with "confused." On the other hand, it does make sense with the rest of the lyrics (even if it does weaken Boy George's express stance).

See my brief response to Steve's article further down (if you scroll from oldest to newest comment).

Mike Doherty's avatar

I will accept something dark, but only if it's also entertaining, such as whether or not Enes Kanter Freedom is drafted into the WNBA. I'm curious about what's being said in the deepest recesses of the WNBA HQ and in the player's locker rooms.

RAM's avatar

The WNBA thugettes, coaches, and management are all repulsive. And threatened or assaulted star teammates are even scared to stick up for each other. What we have here are the anti-Knicks.

Susan Vass's avatar

To see Sophie's "coach" call a news conference at which she is apparently forced to attend, while the coach -- married to a woman, it goes without saying -- actively and loudly defends the ASSAILANT instead of Sophie -- well, I have rarely been more shocked by anything in my life. When a "spat" erupts in baseball, the benches on both sides clear and race does not enter into it. You are either WITH and ON your team or you are AGAINST it. This horrible coach is AGAINST her own team and her white players. She is in thrall to the racist thugs of the WNBA. FIRE HER. AG

RAM's avatar
7dEdited

Their socially destructive attitudes prevent their own prosperity. In a different place, but like Hamas in their own sorry way.

In the real NBA, coaching and teamwork can pay off spectacularly:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH2Mm9WkVOI

After the next and final game:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x78nBb0jaQ

Tracy Thompson's avatar

Too bad Don Imus isn't here to add a spicy comment or two.

Jolie's avatar

The Boy George video wasn't the best music video ever but I've seen much worse and 10/10 for heart.

Free in Florida's avatar

And 10/10 for the message!

Dan Cooksey's avatar

I have to admit I'm looking forward to the "Lesbians for a Free Palestine" women in Burkas. That has to be an improvement.

Susan Vass's avatar

Yes, indeed, sir. I always laugh outloud at the bitter, unattractive women announcing to the world that they are withholding sex in order to make some political point, and I can't help but think of the relief of whatever partner they are pretending to have. Also, because I worked for decades in a 90% male environment, I recall one popular quip: "My GF can't cut me off -- she doesn't know where I'm gettin' it." AG

Dan Cooksey's avatar

Withholding sex is the only real contribution they make to our great country.

Steve's avatar

I am NOT looking for them to be in burkas. I am looking for them to be in baskets. Just like Danton and Robespierre.

CO2Greens's avatar

Hopefully you can do some sampling in Rioja.

Max Cossack's avatar

"Homage to Catalonia" is a very good and revealing book, and by coincidence or not, relevant to my upcoming post this week (assuming I get it finished).

Joe Redfield's avatar

And his refusal to lie about events he both witnessed and experienced in Spain led to his becoming a pariah among English socialists.

RAM's avatar
Aug 10Edited

Catalan Jewish prayer book for the holidays, from around 1300 CE. now in Israel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQxQLlI9cIM

New siddur edition, after extensive research:

https://sidurcatalunya.com/en/siddur-catalonia/

Tony Petroski's avatar

"You know the world has turned upside down when conservatives want (checks notes) Boy George to perform at the next Super Bowl halftime show. (That’s if we can’t get the NFL to have Weird Al Yankovic, which is the halftime show America wants and deserves.)"

Boy George? Boy George? Wasn't Bad Bunny bad enough? Conservatives want Boy George?

I know how to square this circle: Invite America's Sweetheart, Lizzo to twerk for everyone at halftime. Lizzo could even play her flute for you.

And since it's old joke day, what is the penalty for bigamy in the State of Minnesota? Two wives.

Susan Vass's avatar

Yes, when the Seals finally tracked down Osama to give him a nice, humane burial at sea, the joke was that being in hiding for years with four wives, he had called in the hiding place himself! Funny! AG

Steve's avatar

God, Tony. Give it up. Please. Every time you mention Lizzo, I see her naked. My God, please stop it!

Tony Petroski's avatar

Wow. What an image.

I always picture Lizzo doing the limbo at Commenter Con Five.

Tracy Thompson's avatar

I think we should take up a collection at CC5 to enroll you some humane shock therapy in order to rid you of your obsession with the flute lady.

Steve's avatar

Don't email us for money for this, Cat Lady. Might as well ask for shock-therapy money for Hillary, AOC, Omar , Tlaib, Bernie, Gavin Gruesome or Joe Potato (God rest his soul. . .soon).

Tracy Thompson's avatar

I hope Biden holds out until the end of President Trump's term. I'm picturing Joe Potato wrapped in tinfoil lying in state . . .

Steve's avatar

Tony, you are the master of comedy, but you are beginning to lose your mind in your old age. Does you wife read your posts? If she does, she must have an enormous capacity for tolerance of your eccentricities. Lizzo! Lizzo! God help you. You need to look at Sydney Sweeney pictures to cleanse this disease. Or even those of the now-dead Raquel Welch, God rest her BODY.

Tony Petroski's avatar

My wife claims she doesn't read most of the comments but somehow she finds out about them.

As for Lizzo, who can account for tastes? She's a whole lot of woman. And her talent is enormous. The only problem: She's a Democrat.

As the saying goes, Lizzo should just shut up and twerk.

Steve's avatar

Yes, she's a 2-ton Annie, going doing the road and you feel a heavy load. . . you know the rest of the ditty, I'm sure.

Tracy Thompson's avatar

I think the leak is coming from inside the family unit. Check her phone records for calls from Florida.

Dennis Nicholls's avatar

I went to Spain on business in early 1980. Franco had died 5 years earlier. Talking to some locals, they decried the local street crime, saying "this wouldn't happen if Franco was still alive".

I was there to work on a P3 for Lockheed at Rota. While waiting for spare parts to arrive my co-worker and I spent the day in Seville.

Steve's avatar

The last time my wife and I and our children were in Spain, we got pickpocketed during a Holy week procession in Seville and then again in Barcelona by two Magrebians. There are so many robberies and pocket-pickings in Barcelona that the local police stations have the toll-free numbers for every major credit card in the world so the victims can call right away to report their credit cards being stolen. Other than that, our family had a wonderful time. Really. Our teen-aged children even got invited to have soft-drinks with some pop band [can't remember the name- 30 years ago] that was famous at the time that was staying at our hotel [Barcelona Meridian] when they met them in the lobby. We would not set foot in Spain today.

Peigin's avatar

I'm not sure I'd set foot in Europe today. Maybe Poland.

Steve's avatar

Poland is allowing Ukrainian companies to import workers from Columbia. No *hit. Google it. The kind of folks who post here and their children and grandchildren are doomed. . . everywhere.Even my ancestral homeland, Croatia, is doomed because it began allowing non-Croatians to buy its farmland. Guess which country began gobbling it up? Clue: pick Ireland or, way back, Argentina as the beneficiaries. The latter the source of most beef in . . .? And the former of the most popular resorts.

Steve's avatar

Apologies to all: Colombia, not Columbia, of course.

Susan Vass's avatar

Apropos of not much, a former Democrat governor of Minnesota, Rudy Perpich, was a friend of mine when he was Lt. Gov. He was a very nice and principled man, unlike the cabal of grifters, looters and "knuckleheads" in MN govt today. I mention this, Steve, because Rudy was a proud Croatian. AG

Steve's avatar

Thanks. I din't know that. Croatia has sold its soul to the Germans, sadly. they are eating up all the arable land to build German/Soviet style high-rises and multi-unit condos, for sale to other escapees from Germany. That is why we gave up on relocating there.

Eugene Kriegsmann's avatar

I was never a fan of Boy George or really anyone in his generation of artists. However, I love Bob Marley and reggae, and, of course, Israel and Jews, so I was quite pleasantly surprised by that video and enjoyed it enormously.

Susan Vass's avatar

#MeToo, Eugene! We had the good fortune to see Bob Marley live and it was a wonderful performance. One day I saw a young black man in Walmart with a Bob Marley t-shirt and when I told him I had been a yuge fan and had seen him perform shortly before he passed away, he looked very disappointed that an old white lady was a fan. I bet when he got home, he burned the shirt. LOL.

Eugene Kriegsmann's avatar

What can I say to that other than ROFLMAO! I love Marley. I never saw him perform, but there was a time when all I listened over and over was his music. I was living with a woman for a while back in the 1990s. She had two little kids, both blond haired and beautiful. I can't remember where we were, somewhere in Oregon on a long camping trip. I had Marley on the stereo in my car when came to a entry point. The kids were in the back seat singing along with the Marley CD. The guy in the entry booth looking inside and got the strangest look on his face seeing those two white little kids singing reggae.

Tracy Thompson's avatar

Rasta Cats. (For those who don't know -- X out any Facebook popup that comes up and unmute the video.)

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1923153888248608

Betsy's avatar

The 2017 video was magical. I watched the eclipse with my daughter near Madras, Oregon. I will never forget it. Really look forward to this year's video!

John Taliaferro-Barber's avatar

Hearkening back to Chevy Chase doing weekend update: "General Fransisco France is still valiantly struggling to remain dead."

Cas's avatar

Alas, there are persons in Russia that still "kinda like Stalin." Putin is one of these kinda likers.

Dennis Nicholls's avatar

The 2017 eclipse crossed over the Basque country here in Idaho. I got a nice central location in a park about 30 miles north of Boise.

CharlesMartel3's avatar

The Boy George joke is now told about Gavin Newsom.