Thursday, July 18, 2013

Open Thread

John Sebastian - Welcome Back
 
It occurs to me that I haven't thanked the people that come and "lurk" and don't comment.
This post is my way of thanking you too. Including those of you that I have overlooked, those of you that have commented but I didn't acknowledge
**** 
Open Thread, means we talk about whatever we want, just like before.

123 comments:

Eric the Fruit Bat said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Eric the Fruit Bat said...

For my lunch today, I packed a little tub of Greek yogurt for dessert. The problem was I forgot to pack a spoon and all I had was a fork and a knife.

So what to do? Well, I loves me some yogurt so I ate it with the fork as best I could, doing my best not to dribble it down my front.

After the yogurt was mostly gone from the tub, I used the knife to scrape the sides.

It worked okay, I guess. But I really missed the lovin' spoonful.

rhhardin said...

A butter knife is the universal tool.

It's the only utensil that works on peas.

edutcher said...

Lurkers are 90% of the people that visit any website and, yes, we should give them props for that.

A couple of tidbits for those interested:

Congressman accuses State and Defense of forcing Benghazi survivors to sign non-disclosure agreements.

It ain't goin' away.

IRS abuse led by Choom appointee.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

I realize "welcome back" could, in the minds of some of our brethren's and sisterhran's, mean that I'm purporting to be someone who I'm not.

that's not it.

"Back" is about the comments.

It's 'Back to Comments', which we have been saying, as far as I understand it. Comments are it's own thing.

Freeman and Rh are the experts in that area ;)

Beta Rube said...

Wow Lem, if I were to describe to someone based on this site I would quote West Side Story:

"It's alarming how charming he feels."

There is a grace and hospitality here that is communicated by you in the simplest terms. This is a gift. Thank you.

Hazy Dave said...

Good afternoon, Lemmings!


(This isn't going to catch on, is it?)

Amartel said...

Nope. Heard it too many times from that lol thing over at the other place.

ndspinelli said...

A fork works on peas..press firmly.

deborah said...

Homies.

Freeman Hunt said...

An older relative of mine once assumed "homies" must have been street slang for gay people.

Chip Ahoy said...

Lemmings. Those and ostriches. These must be the two most misunderstood creatures of the political class.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

@freeman lol..

deborah said...

An understandable error :)

Beta Rube said...

I look forward to the day when scientists discover that lemmings have IQ's well over 200 and the ability to see through clothes.

Chennaul said...

Okay--this is a headline at Yahoo.

Family surprised by note on receipt.

[Know in advance I'm not getting this exactly right]

"I bought one of your pizzas and thank your wife for breastfeeding!"

Waitress--not waiter so there is that.

harrogate said...

Chip Ahoy,

But what about locusts?

edutcher said...

Hazy Dave said...

Good afternoon, Lemmings!


(This isn't going to catch on, is it?)


Homers and Homelies isn't getting it, either.

How 'bout Homies?

Beta Rube said...

Tiger is in the clubhouse at -2.

Rabel said...

A question -

If you were an early retiree with no children in the house and were considering relocating in a year or two and were free to go anywhere in the US, where would you go?

East Tennessee, and the Florida Gulf Coast are on my possibles list.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

As long as is not Tallahassee.

I don't think I could ever learn how to spell Tallahassee. forget it if I had to do it cursively.

Paco Wové said...

"How 'bout Homies?

Lemuels?

Paco Wové said...

"East Tennessee, and the Florida Gulf Coast"

Why those places? What is it that you are looking for in a relocation site?

rhhardin said...

via Maggies Farm
Law Professor Defends Polygamous And Incestuous Marriages

I don't take it as the slippery slope but the opposite.

Everybody recognizes polygamous marriages as marriages; everybody recognizes incestuous marriages as marriages.

They're just illegal. A political matter, a social policy matter.

It's good to argue about them.

Same sex marriage on the other hand isn't seen as a marriage at all.

SSM is legal but not marriage.

Exactly the contrary.

harrogate said...

"If you were an early retiree with no children in the house and were considering relocating in a year or two and were free to go anywhere in the US, where would you go?"

I'd say Western North Carolina, in which case we'd prolly (assuming you snubbed Florida in the end) be within driving distance and could have a beer now and again.

On the outside, maybe San Francisco. I love it there. But prohibitively expensive.

Beta Rube said...

Are you boycotting States with "stand your ground" laws ala Stevie Wonder?

Chennaul said...

A question -

If you were an early retiree with no children in the house and were considering relocating in a year or two and were free to go anywhere in the US, where would you go?

East Tennessee, and the Florida Gulf Coast are on my possibles list.


***********

San Diego.

Chennaul said...

The Florida Gulf Coast in places can get kind of remote--if you need serious health care.

The beaches are superb however.

Rabel said...

"Why those places?"

Weather, taxes, demographics.


San Diego has the misfortune of being in California.

Rabel said...

Also, East Tennessee would make my Instapundit stalking much easier.

exhelodrvr1 said...

I would recommend staying away from San Diego, due to housing prices and the fact that it's in California, with the associated fiscal/immigration/school system/etc. issues.

Rabel said...

"The Florida Gulf Coast in places can get kind of remote."

The edges of Pensacola or Tampa/St. Pete are more like what I was thinking.

Chennaul said...

San Diego has the misfortune of being in California.


***********

Completely true--although it has lots of pockets of military and retirees--so....but taxes and Babs Boxer-so there is that.


Between Pensacola and Tampa?

I think Tampa might have better healthcare systems.

Just a suspicion however.

edutcher said...

Paco Wové said...

How 'bout Homies?

Lemuels?


How Gulliver of you.

Chennaul said...

Hurricanes though.

That has displaced a lot of people that I have known in Florida.

Paco Wové said...

"How Gulliver of you."

Are we not the washed-ashore survivors of a wreck, metaphorically speaking?

Dust Bunny Queen said...

A fork works on peas..press firmly.

No no....mashed potatoes and peas. The peas stick wonderfully to the mashed potatoes.

We have an abundance of avocados right now. A friend's family owns a huge estate in the San Luis Obispo area and they grow avocados. He must have given us at least 40 fabulous Haas avocados. I never thought I could get sick of avocados.

We have had avocado, turkey bacon sandwiches (ala Chip Ahoy), shrimp, brie and avocado quesadillas, avocado, grape and chicken green salads, avocado, cheddar, mushroom omeltes, filled the avocado halves with a hot sauce mixture and ate them with a spoon.

Tonight we are going to have a guacamole, salsa, sour cream and chips feast with some other thingies like chicken taquitos.

God I will be glad when we eat the last avocado.

:-P

Chennaul said...

I ate a rotten avocado once--that kind of fixed me for awhile.

Ugh.

bagoh20 said...

Best retirement location?

If money is no object, then that location would be a different place every month. No home to worry about. A nice Paris hotel one month, a Canadian ranch the next, a beach house on the Big Island after that, and round we go...

For climate in the U.S., Hawaii is unmatched, but there isn't much to do there, mostly small towns. For climate and culture, So Cal is da bomb and within easy driving distance of massive mountains, the ocean, snow, desert, forest, lakes, and history. 5 hour flight to Hawaii, 1 hour to Vegas, 2 hours to San Fran, 2 hours to Mexico.

If money is a factor, Florida is warm and cheap. North Carolina is beautiful and moderate in all things.

bagoh20 said...

If you want to be in warm weather, Florida is a fantastic deal. You can buy a 2 bedroom house with a big yard there a mile or 2 from the beach for around $50K. That's a mortgage payment under $200/mo, and no income tax.

KCFleming said...

"If you were an early retiree with no children in the house and were considering relocating in a year or tw"

Try Minnesota.

It'll make you leave in a year, and thank God for wherever you end up.

Dust Bunny Queen said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Dust Bunny Queen said...

"If you were an early retiree with no children in the house and were considering relocating in a year or two and were free to go anywhere in the US, where would you go?"

Depends on what you want to do. I would, personally, avoid high humidity places because I can't take that kind of weather.

What is important to you is what counts.

Access to cultured events, plays, concerts?
Outdoor activities? Fishing, skiing, swimming.
Nearness to the ocean? Mountains? Parks.
Lots of people around you? Not very many?
Arts and crafts, hobby opportunities.

Me: I would love Paso Robles or San Luis Obispo area. Near but NOT on the ocean. Beautiful warm mild Mediterranean climate. Close enough to get to a big city if you wanted to do. Lots of wineries and fabulous restaurants. Fresh produce that can't be beat. A gardeners paradise. Many art galleries and artists. Small town feel but with the amenities of a larger place.

Yes, the housing to purchase might be more expensive than the areas that you mentioned. EVERYTHING is more expensive in California. But if you are only planning to relax for a few years this is heaven on earth. IMHO

Chennaul said...

Hawaii is unmatched, but there isn't much to do there, mostly small towns.

************

Rock Island Fever

Same thing happens in Key West--unless you have a boat.

You begin to understand why Hemingway loved boating, Cuba and/or shot himself.

Synova said...

OMG the song!

I remember loving Welcome Back Kotter... then I watched an episode at 48 instead of 14.

I suppose we expect something different now and writers learn from the past, but some shows older than that are still good every single time such as Beverly Hillbillies and Hogans Heroes and various other shows.


KCFleming said...

I suppose I'm not much help.

Mitch H. said...

How 'bout Homies?

Lemuels?


Lemurs?

To be honest, I like "Lemmings". These sorts of nicknames should be vaguely insulting, like the AoS Morons and the LGF Lizardoids.

The Dude said...

North Carolina is the worst state in the nation. Do not move here. Er, there.

Rube said...

To Rabel,

We have been retired for 22years.I did a lot of research and we ended up in Hendersonville NC near Ashville in the western part of the state. We only lasted for 5 years because we went south to get away from snow and ice. We moved 75 miles south to the upstate of South Carolina, the Seneca area best move we ever made. Less expensive, great medical, Clemson University with a wonderful climate. Plenty of lakes and rivers and Mountain Hiking and walking trails. SC has the lowest gas prices in the country. Lots of luck in your search.

AllenS said...

How about Lemites? You know, like Sodomites. No, wait. Forget it...

Rube said...

To Rabel,

We have been retired for 22years.I did a lot of research and we ended up in Hendersonville NC near Ashville in the western part of the state. We only lasted for 5 years because we went south to get away from snow and ice. We moved 75 miles south to the upstate of South Carolina, the Seneca area best move we ever made. Less expensive, great medical, Clemson University with a wonderful climate. Plenty of lakes and rivers and Mountain Hiking and walking trails. SC has the lowest gas prices in the country. Lots of luck in your search.

Synova said...

I've tried to think of where I would go live if I could go anywhere at all. It's not an "adult" thing or at least not any part of my reality. We go where he can find work, and when I get done with school we might go where I can find work. And retirement is still as much of a financial decision.

I have thought... If I was on my own and had enough funds to disappear and write that my fantasy would be to drive into some tiny town in the middle of nowhere and rent a room. But that's meant to be temporary from the very beginning. And I have no illusions about very small towns and what it means to be an outsider in one of them. Still, I might like to be a gypsy that way.

My Big Dream (at this point) is working for Planetary Resources interpreting data on asteroids and that would mean a move to the Seattle area. I'd need a sun lamp and the politics might be annoying but it ought to be good for gardening and not cold in Winters and the ethnic food would be very good.

I'm finding that food variety is a really big deal. Albuquerque actually compares well to the Bay Area. Florida was pretty bad if you weren't Cuban or Jewish.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Hi synova, could you check your blog under ARts!?

Synova said...

Freeman has suggested Arkansas before and was pretty darn persuasive.

KCFleming said...

Srsly, St. Paul, MN.
No, really.

Bring your boots.

And wads of cash.
It's for the school administrators. Such a thankless job.

Birches said...

Just me, but I would rather live out West than anywhere back East.

Synova said...

I spent a couple of years in Mary Esther, Florida (near Eglin AFB down a bit from Pensacola). We were stationed at Hurlburt Field and the gunship range was behind our house. We could see the water from our house and were only a few blocks from the road that followed the coastline. The white sand beaches are amazing though we didn't go anywhere much.

When we weren't listening to guns we were having thunder storms. I don't mind thunderstorms. Ran the A/C in February and then got a freeze in March, but that was unusual. Local food was BBQ and gumbo. (I think they do a wet BBQ there.)

KCFleming said...

Oh, and bring some food.

We do have Mall food courts. But you may want other fare.

Amartel said...

"If you were an early retiree with no children in the house and were considering relocating in a year or two and were free to go anywhere in the US, where would you go?"

Central Oregon or the Oregon coast. Great natural beauty, real seasons (not rainy all the time; that's a myth), low cost of living, easy to pop over to Portland (or Ashland) for cultchah and to refresh the library at Powells. Liberal pols (whaddaya want, it's the west coast) but starting to slightly tilt in the direction of thinking about considering a more conservative perspective. Maybe. Once read the Wall Street Journal and didn't faint. Nowhere near as bad as Cali in terms of social engineering/community organizing. Portland prides itself on being "weird," but, in fact, has too many actual weirdos to reach consensus on what is weird.
P.S. No sales tax

harrogate said...

Synova,

Time I have spent in Arkansas represents some of the best times of my life. Secretly, that state has everything.

Freeman Hunt said...

Freeman has suggested Arkansas before and was pretty darn persuasive.

Yes, but not just anywhere in Arkansas. Only Northwest Arkansas.

Low cost of living, tons for outdoor types, tons for culture types, low crime, great schools, lots of excellent jobs (not that that matters for a retired person), good manners, friendly people, people from all over the place, etc.

Freeman Hunt said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Freeman Hunt said...

I'd say the biggest negatives of this area are that flying out of here is sometimes expensive depending on destination, and the seasons are extreme. Summer is HOT, and winter is COLD. Summer isn't as hot as a Texas summer, and winter isn't as cold as an Illinois winter, but the range is big.

Freeman Hunt said...

Also, no physical access to any top colleges or universities if you're a retiree who wants to audit courses.

Lydia said...

Lurkers are 90% of the people that visit any website and, yes, we should give them props for that.

Hate being called a "lurker." It’s something that should be reserved for a creepy guy watching from behind a bush.

I think of myself more as a Cheers Norm-like person, just sitting here sipping my beer, enjoying the conversation between folks I like (for the most part), but mostly never saying anything. Is there a word for that?

harrogate said...

Freeman,

For a second you had me thinking I was misremembering my geography but I "google mapped" it and Fayetville is indeed Northwest!

Why the slam on University there?

Joe Schmoe said...

I think of myself more as a Cheers Norm-like person, just sitting here sipping my beer, enjoying the conversation between folks I like (for the most part), but mostly never saying anything. Is there a word for that?

If this were the military I'm sure they'd come up with some unintuitive acronym like NCP for "Non-Commenting Patron".

KCFleming said...

Then there's Duluth MN.

What can you say about a town that gets ice-wrapped for six months, and one entire month of summer, but gimme summa dat!

harrogate said...

Lol @ Pogo. But any love for Twins baseball?

Freeman Hunt said...

Why the slam on University there?

That's not a slam. It's a fine university. I don't think anyone would argue that it's something like a Caltech or a Stanford though.

Dust Bunny Queen said...

Yes, but not just anywhere in Arkansas. Only Northwest Arkansas.

Hubby's mother is from Meena Arkansas. They still have some land there and go back to visit the family homestead. Little Rock is fabulous too.

Too much humidity for me. And insects :-O

KCFleming said...

"But any love for Twins baseball?"

Geez, I almost forgot.

We did win the world series once about 25 years ago. I saw it on Wheaties boxes. They still sell those at garage sales. Full.

After the apocalypse, the few remaining humans will survive by eating all the unopened boxes of Twins Wheaties in garages across the state. Still frozen.

Freeman Hunt said...

Too much humidity for me. And insects :-O

Those are the other parts, not this part.

Freeman Hunt said...

Oh yeah, one thing that people love about the university here is that we have SEC sports. Really. I know transplants who never want to move away for that reason alone.

Freeman Hunt said...

Actually that's probably just me projecting something else on the university. It's fine. You could audit courses there, and I'm sure they would be fine. Ignore my earlier comment on the subject.

exhelodrvr1 said...

Lydia,
How about "lounger"?

Joe Schmoe said...

If you were an early retiree with no children in the house and were considering relocating in a year or two and were free to go anywhere in the US, where would you go?

Man, that's subjective. I don't think I'd want to be anchored to one spot. Summer and fall in the north, winter and spring in the south. East coast for us due to family considerations. Within an hour of the ocean and a decent-sized city. West coast is nice, but I'd rather visit than live there.

KCFleming said...

MN also has the myth of Paul Bunyan.

His giant steps made the 10,00 lakes, and Babe the Blue Ox's shit made the city of St. Paul.

KCFleming said...

I say that with love, of course.

Rabel said...

Freeman,

Several older friends retired to Mountain Home, Ark. They really like it.

Minnesota is off the list (OK, it was never on).

Is there really any difference between East Tenn and West NC?

I ain't skeered of no hurricane.

Bag, we have a second home on the Florida east coast. I much prefer the gulf. East coast Yankees. I hate those guys.

I have a kid in Seattle and am planning a visit/scouting trip to the Great Northwest later this year. I hear it's Great.

Honeymooned in Hawaii. Loved it but I think I could duplicate the vibe in Florida.

I would like to be within spitting distance of a mid to large size metro area. For the symphony... and the stripper bars.

Freeman Hunt said...

Mountain Home is very pretty. Totally different from where I live though. I'm talking about the NWA metro area.

sakredkow said...

Lurkers are the bread and butter of any web site. They're the ones we're doing this for.

Okay maybe not but in my mind they are the ones keeping an accurate score.

Maybe not either, but I like to think so.

Amartel said...

"I think of myself more as a Cheers Norm-like person, just sitting here sipping my beer, enjoying the conversation between folks I like (for the most part), but mostly never saying anything. Is there a word for that?"

Lydia!
Cheers.
I've often thought of this as much like that TV bar except nobody knows your name.

KCFleming said...

"They're the ones we're doing this for."

Oh fer chrissake. You mean I'm not going to get paid???

caplight45 said...

My copy of Taken for Granted by Leslyn Amthor Spinelli just arrived from Amazon.

1. Dedication: “For Nick, my Renaissance man”

What does she know that we don’t?

2. The first paragraph:

Monday September 10

I was locked in the six- by eight-foot interrogation room with him. The burly inmate—stinking of unwashed hair and rotting teeth—sat on a gray plastic chair across the table from me, his thick wrists handcuffed to a chain around his waist, his fee shackled to a hasp in the cement floor. I suppressed a gag when his lips parted to form a smile.


Either this is how they met or ndspinelli is into some fairly creepy…probably the former.

3. Mrs. Spinelli is very pretty but you’ll have to buy the book to see her picture.

Gonna start it tonight!

Icepick said...

Also, East Tennessee would make my Instapundit stalking much easier.

Which brings to mind the story of the Butthole Surfers moving to Athens GA to stalk R.E.M.

Paco Wové said...

Hey! Detroit just went bankrupt!

sakredkow said...

Pogo yes, the lurkers are paying our salaries. The checks are coming.

edutcher said...

One more thing on the serious side and the headline says it all:

NSA Admits It Analyzes More People's Data Than Previously Revealed.

Forget six degrees of separation, try three.

ndspinelli said...

caplight, LOL! As I've said, I married up. We actually met @ Federal Bureau of Prisons halfway house in KC. I was not an inmate, I was a job developer.

deborah said...

One more thing on the serious side and the headline says it all:

NSA Admits It Analyzes More People's Data Than Previously Revealed.

Forget six degrees of separation, try three.


And what do they make of people who do not have Facebook or Twitter accounts? Surely they're potential Kazinskis who need kept track of.

Icepick said...

Hate being called a "lurker." It’s something that should be reserved for a creepy guy watching from behind a bush.

But what you're doing IS creepy! You're always RIGHT THERE, listening, never saying a thing. It's like you're the NSA or something. *shiver*

Icepick said...

How about "lounger"?

You mean like the Leisure Suit Larry lounge lizard types? Still creepy!

Icepick said...

For the symphony... and the stripper bars.

Tampa, then. And we can stop the discussion now.

Icepick said...

Surely they're potential Kazinskis who need kept track of.

Why do you think they're doing this to look for the Kazinkis of the world? Anymore than they were looking for the Tsarnaev types?

Anonymous said...

Lemlings has an affectionate sound.

test said...

Paco Wové said...
Hey! Detroit just went bankrupt!


Leftist economics in action.

Their reaction will be to note that if they controlled all the possible alternative locations they could still tax others to "save" Detroit. If you ask what will happen if they control the entire country and it becomes uncompetitive they will mock you. If you point out that's exactly what Detroit did when first facing international competition they'll change the subject. And 50 years from now when they're proven wrong again they'll be dead so they won't care about the economic morass they've driven the country into.

Birches said...

I guess Althouse isn't the only one who got tired of off topic commenters. ESPN went facebook-only yesterday.

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/tech/numbers/espn-tries-kill-trolls-facebook-comments-only

ad hoc said...

To Rabel,

Where to relocate is something I'm stating to think about seriously.

I like the Carolinas. Although I haven't been, I've heard Asheville is very nice, mild weather and lots of activities. The Carolina coast is also nice. The weather there is more moderate than DC.

Despite all the craziness associated with FL, it has good weather, hurricanes not withstanding. And it's good regarding taxes and living costs.

Trooper York said...

Actually the gay parole officer is based on Nick Spinelli.

Think Charles Nelson Riley with five o'clock shadow.

Trooper York said...

Mrs. Spinelli's book is a great read if you are fan of mystery.
In the league of Patricia Cornwell or Faye Kellerman.

Hard boiled but with a feminine twist.

test said...

Ken Cuccinelli just lost the Virginia Governor's race.



http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/virginia-governor-gop-candidate-ken-cuccinelli-launches-website-pushes-reinstatement-state-anti-sodomy-law-article-1.1402340

The Dude said...

Asheville is awesome. It has drum circles that never stop, Occupy has a huge number of supporters there, the filthy hippies and burned out dregs of the '60s have migrated there, communism is considered middle of the road, New Agers run everything, every odd trend, fad and urine-drinking quackery is practiced there and all in all, it is as nice as Santa Cruz without beaches.

Heaven on earth, I tells ya. Throw the i-ching, align your chackras, check your sun signs and move on down.

Icepick said...

Think Charles Nelson Riley with five o'clock shadow.

Good Lord, man, it's dinner time!

Rabel said...

Thanks for the replys. Mountains vs beaches. I just don't know.

Trooper York said...

"Talking Baseball with the disembodied head of Ted Williams"

"So here we back on the Red Sox network talking baseball with the disembodied head of Ted Williams. So Ted what do you think of the steroid story. I hear that A-Rod might get suspended for a 150 games."
"Like that matters. That greaser is never gonna play again. The Yankees have it all figured out. As soon as his rehab is over the league is gonna suspend him. Bud Selig will do whatever they want. I know the Yankees have a photo of Bud sucking the Milwaukee Bratwurst in the Brewers locker room and he don't want that shit to get out."
"Well why would that be a problem in this day and age Ted?"
"Waddaya mean why would that be a problem. Major League baseball hates the sissies. He could never go into a locker room again. What the fuck do you think this is the WNBA?"
"Well I think you are wrong but whatever. What do you think about the upcoming Yankee /Red Sox series?"
"The Yankees are gonna slaughter em like they always do. What did the fuckin' Sox beat them once in a 100 years. They shot their load. Just like Bud Selig on that Fairy mascot of his."
"But I thought you were a true Red Sox. How can you say that?"
"What do I give a shit about those scumbags. They let my idiot son cut my head off and stick it on a freakin' tuna fish can! Did they do that to Joe DiMaggio? NO! Did they do that to Mickey Mantle? NO! Did they do that to Fritz Peterson or Mike Keckich even though they swapped wives in the middle of the season? NO! The Yankees take care of their guys. Fuck the Red Sox and the toilet they play in. Now put me back in the fuckin' freezer my eyebrows are starting to melt."
"Ok Teddy Ballgame thanks for stopping by. Next up David Ortiz will try to speak English. Now a word from our sponser, Citgo Oil bringing you gas from a dead Venezuelan dictator."

ampersand said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
deborah said...

Wouldn't want to live there, but I could spend a month in New Mexico once a year.

Deb said...

I have a friend whose in-laws retired to Mexico.

So happy to see Trooper York again.

I've been reading post-apocalyptic fiction lately. Just finished the classic Day of the Triffids. About 3/4 through Canticle for Liebowitz, just started Earth Abides. I do this because sometimes I enjoy a book so much that it's difficult to start another one, so I overlap.

ndspinelli said...

Trooper, I just conveyed your comment to my bride. She's more than honored w/ the comparison. Thanks.

Actually, Broderick Crawford could play me. When he was making Highway Patrol he was toward the end of his alcoholic life. Sometimes he would stumble out of his trailer to shoot a scene but still had on his slippers. The director would just say "fuck it" and shoot. In some scenes, you can see Crawford wearing his slippers.

The Dude said...

I watched a few episodes of that show last year - the plots were nonsensical, disjointed, ludicrous, all filmed within a few miles of the studio, I assume, as they were either driving through orchards or the roads were lined with eucalyptus trees.

Saw an epi where Leonard Nimoy played an enforcer for a protection racket. Funny stuff right there.

The cool part was they were driving two door '57 Buicks - for cop cars. Oh yeah, rollin' in style at the CHP.

The Dude said...

Deb - I read CfL years ago. Never knew it was a blueprint for our present day.

I kid, I kid.

I think...

Icepick said...

"What the fuck do you think this is the WNBA?"

Actually, there is very little love for the Bratwurst in the WNBA, so it might actually be a shock there.

But the good news, the GOOD news, is that I am recording Sharknado as we speak! I hear tell it may be the greatest movie ever made.

exhelodrvr1 said...

If you like shark movies, you absolutely must see Megalodon.

Deb said...

I read CfL years ago. Never knew it was a blueprint for our present day.

No kidding. Scary.

Icepick said...

Alternate titles for the blog:

Bloggenstein (a suggestion I first heard from Lem hisownself)

Open for Comments
Open Comments
Probe (Not really appropriate of anything, but it's from Monty Python, and it always makes me laugh)

I'm Ann Althouse, Bitch! subheader: "Come over here and have sex with Laurence Meade." (derived from Dave Chappelle)

Alternating days call it
WE ARE ALTHOUSE COMMENTERS
WE ARE NOT ALTHOUSE COMMENTERS
(suggested from various confused autobiographies from Leonard Nimoy)

Dust Bunny Queen said...

Trooper, I just conveyed your comment to my bride. She's more than honored w/ the comparison. Thanks

Very apt comparison. Right up there in quality, plot and writing with the best of them. I am about 5/8 done and enjoying it very much. Very well done, and I am looking forward to the next book. Grats!!!!

I would love to give you an email review.

The Dude said...

Deb, is Earth Abides the book about a forest fire in the Sierra? If so, I read that one about 40 years ago, too.

test said...

Sixty Grit said...
Deb, is Earth Abides the book about a forest fire in the Sierra?

Plague. Depressing even beyond the plague as I recall.

The Dude said...

Oh. Never mind...

The Dude said...

The Dude abides, I get.

Deb said...

I just bought the Kindle version of Taken for Granted. Taking a break from plagues and nuclear holocaust.

ndspinelli said...

Deb, Thanks, very much. My bride wants folks opinions so please let me know your thoughts.