April 12, 2017

At the New Flower Café...

P1130135

... you can talk about whatever you want (and here's where I prompt you to consider doing your Amazon shopping through The Althouse Portal).

48 comments:

madAsHell said...

I fail to understand your loathing for Ringo, and I'm guessing you weren't a fan of J. Geils.

Rick.T. said...

Guessing Tulipa turkestanica?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tulipa_turkestanica#/media/File:Tulipa_turkestanica.jpg

Love the species tulips. Generally long-lived, unlike their domesticated cousins, if you give them the conditions they enjoy. Will naturalize as well if you are fortunate.

Trumpit said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Trumpit said...

Your post with the super Sammy Davis song made me think of this of old joke; Sammy had a glass eye, and a hip replacement.

The first date was going very well, so he rented a motel room. As they began to undress, she removed her wig and put it in a drawer. She also removed her false teeth, her prosthetic leg, her hearing aid, etc. and put them in the same drawer. He had a moment of quandary: Should he climb into bed, or into the drawer? Then, she began to softly hum:

Whether I'm right or whether I'm wrong
Whether I find a place in this world or never belong
I gotta be me, I've gotta be me
What else can I be but what I am

tcrosse said...

The Drudge headline today is Seals Train to Take Out Kim. My first impression was of the Sealed Train the Germans used to send Lenin to Petrograd.

Nonapod said...

Charlie Murphy (Eddie Murphy's very talented and underrated brother) has passed away from leukemia.

J. Geils died to today too.

rehajm said...

Interesting graphic of the history of legal immigration to the United States.'.

The most interesting graphic on the topic would overlay illegal immigration.

rehajm said...

Also:Charging Bull fights back against 'Fearless Girl'.

(I admit I'm rooting for the bull in this one)

J. Farmer said...

"Our strategy cannot presume to separate the fight against ISIL from the Syrian people's fight against the Assad regime. They are inextricably connected. Assad is a puppet of Iran, and as long as he continues to slaughter his own people, it will be impossible to destroy the radical terrorist groups that occupy Syria and the region, and the war will never end. Nor will the threat posed by these groups to our nation."

STATEMENT BY McCAIN & GRAHAM ON U.S. POLICY IN SYRIA

Oh brother. When are these two warmongering old fossils going to be put out to grass?

rehajm said...

...and why is 'Fearless Girl' a symbol of strength? One of the responsibilities of a parent is to instill rational fears in your children. 'Fearless Girl' is a failure of parenting and a symbol of stupidity for girl that's old enough to know better.

J. Farmer said...

...and why is 'Fearless Girl' a symbol of strength? One of the responsibilities of a parent is to instill rational fears in your children. 'Fearless Girl' is a failure of parenting and a symbol of stupidity for girl that's old enough to know better.

Hahaha.

Yancey Ward said...

While the band bore his name, the creative forces in The J. Geils Band were Peter Wolf and Seth Justman.

J. Farmer said...

While the band bore his name, the creative forces in The J. Geils Band were Peter Wolf and Seth Justman.

Sad to say the only song of theirs I ever knew was Centerfold, and I think that was mostly because of all the rumors that one of the women in the music video was early MTV VJ Martha Quinn. That, and I think it was the #1 song in the country when I was born in 1982.

Ann Althouse said...

"I fail to understand your loathing for Ringo..."

I don't loathe Ringo. I just didn't feel like hearing "It Don't Come Easy" one more time when there were many other channels and the possibility of hearing something I'd like better.

There's a good chance that Meade doesn't like "It Don't Come Easy" any more than I do, but just, on that one occasion, felt triggered to sing when I felt triggered to see what else was on.

I've had satellite radio in the car for a long time, and there's a certain sort of music that's likely to come on on the channels I tend to play and some of it is just stuff I don't want to hear anymore. Too much already! Ringo is hardly the worst of it. I like Ringo. His voice isn't too great though. You've got to admit.

Ann Althouse said...

As for The J. Geils Band... I never liked it, never cared at all. It always sounded commercial and empty of any real feeling. I remember the video for "Centerfold" from back in the days when I watched a lot of MTV.

madAsHell said...

His voice isn't too great though. You've got to admit.

Agreed, but he was always able to find material that was appropriate for his voice, or style. I'm not aware of anyone that covers any of Ringo's material. It's his. He owns it. Consider......."Octopus's Garden".

Rick.T. said...

madAsHell said...

"His voice isn't too great though. You've got to admit.

Agreed, but he was always able to find material that was appropriate for his voice, or style."

With a Little Help From My Friends and Act Naturally were pretty good.

William said...

I wonder what the most covered song is. I think it's Stardust. Of the Beatle songs, I'd go with Michelle......The cover versions of Beatles songs are nearly always worse than the originals. The cover versions of Dylan songs are nearly always better.

Big Mike said...

@Althouse, a few days ago commentator Inga ran away with the thread on one of your posts. The next morning you posted an angry comment that began with the admonition to "Stop the personal back-and-forth."

First, at around 2:00 on the day of your blog post I certainly did post a comment that was on point for the subject of your post. I invited you to respond then, and I'll re-extend that invitation: is there any way to stop Muslim terrorists without forcing moderate Muslims to have skin in the game? Perhaps you see a way, and can share your thoughts with us.

Secondly, there are certain regular commentators on your blog threads who I do not believe write their comments in good faith. Chuck and Inga are two of them, Freder is another. Since they are not writing in good faith they cannot be persuaded by objective reality, all that is left is to make fun of them, which I do. If you find this objectionable, I will cease and desist, and ignore their drivel. However I think that the village idiot from Hyde Park was right to say "Punch back twice as hard."

madAsHell said...

I overlooked "A Little Help from my Friends". Joe Cocker did a great cover, but again, a man with a distinctive voice and style.

cacimbo said...

Is anyone else having trouble visiting Althouse blog today? All day it has been very very slow to load. Other sites are all loading normally for me so the issue can not be my connection or computer.

cacimbo said...

@rehajam Agree, should be called "stupid girl".

J. Farmer said...

@Cacimbo Cacimbo:

Is anyone else having trouble visiting Althouse blog today? All day it has been very very slow to load. Other sites are all loading normally for me so the issue can not be my connection or computer.

I had problems like this a few days ago and was receiving 502 errors, particularly when trying to comment. It's problem an issue with Blogger, and the issues are usually geographically isolated.

Fernandinande said...

rehajm said...
Also:Charging Bull fights back against 'Fearless Girl'.


Only a Feminist Girl would be afraid of a statue...because all statues are potential rapists.

George M. Spencer said...

It seems surprising how calm the media seems to be about what may appear to be imminent war in Korea.

Aside from the fact that one of our carrier battle groups (and submarines) are steaming towards N. Korea in time for its planned missile launch or nuclear test, the Chinese media has begun to harshly editorialize against N. Korea, and N. Korean freighters carrying Korean coal have been sent back to Korea from China.

The recent op-eds by former CIA chief Woolsey are must reading...

https://www.wsj.com/articles/dont-underestimate-north-koreas-nuclear-arsenal-1488239693

http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/defense/326094-how-north-korea-could-kill-up-to-90-percent-of-americans-at-any

"The U.S. must be prepared to preempt North Korea by any means necessary—including nuclear weapons," Woolsey writes, regarding threat of a possible N. Korean EMP attack.

David Baker said...

Where's O'Reilly?

J. Farmer said...

@St. George:

The recent op-eds by former CIA chief Woolsey are must reading...

I wouldn't take anything Woolsey says very seriously. His brief appointment as head of the CIA was basically a throw away to the neocon faction that had supported Clinton in the '92 election.

First, North Korea would gain nothing from launching an attack on the United States except for total and utter destruction. The regime has not demonstrated any kind of behavior anywhere near that suicidal. If anything, the regime is obsessed with self-preservation, which is the primary motivation for North Korea's pursuit of weapons. Also, the Chinese would gain nothing from launching an attack against North Korea, which it views as a useful buffer state. Although, China does not like the instability that North Korea's behavior causes and is taking steps to reign the hermit kingdom in. Although, given the level of international isolation the regime has been willing to put up with, the Chinese have limited options in influencing the regime's behavior.

J. Farmer said...

@David Baker:

Where's O'Reilly?

Impromptu vacation, though he claims it was planned long ago. If that's the case, it's excellent timing. His advertisers are jumping ship.

David Baker said...

@J.Farmer;

"His advertisers are jumping ship."

Well, that explains Dana Perino.

Meanwhile, I've been busy cancelling all my orders; cars, air conditioners, accountants, well, you name it. After all, two can play at this game.

J. Farmer said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
J. Farmer said...

@David Baker:

Meanwhile, I've been busy cancelling all my orders; cars, air conditioners, accountants, well, you name it. After all, two can play at this game.

You're probably a much bigger fan of O'Reilly's than I am, although he probably is kind of getting the shaft. It's hard to hold settlements against him, because of course human nature is to assume he settled because he was guilty. Because he probably was. But still. The guy should have enough brains to know he can just go get a hooker if he's looking for a cheap thrill. Ringing up your insubordinates on the phone and talking dirty to them while you're masturbating probably isn't going to lead anywhere good.

dreams said...

Here is new video of the Doctor before he was dragged off the airplane. I heard on Lou Dobbs that some people are saying UAL might have to make an 8 figure settlement. He warned them that he would make lawsuit.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/video-emerges-moments-doctor-dragged-154700153.html

David Baker said...

@J Farmer:

"Ringing up your insubordinates on the phone and talking dirty to them while you're masturbating probably isn't going to lead anywhere good."

Reminds me of Madeline Kahn in "High Anxiety." (She didn't hang up)

Humperdink said...

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but United Airlines has a new motto: "United Airlines: come aboard as a doctor, leave as a patient".

George M. Spencer said...

J. Farmer--

It's the other way around. What do we, the Chinese, South Koreans, and Japanese gain by getting rid of the N. Korean regime?
The U.S. ends the threat of some insane impulsive move that might kill millions of Americans. The Chinese get to install a more docile pro-Chinese regime on their border. And the S. Koreans and Japanese sleep easier at night. Plus, it very well could be that Trump and Xi did a deal that's very favorable economically to China.

The latest is that the N. Korean capital is being evacuated, if you can believe Pravda.

J. Farmer said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
J. Farmer said...

@St. George:

It's the other way around. What do we, the Chinese, South Koreans, and Japanese gain by getting rid of the N. Korean regime?

If "getting rid of the N. Korean regime" were so simple, you might have some kind of a point. But since it isn't, you don't.

J. Farmer said...

@David Baker:

Reminds me of Madeline Kahn in "High Anxiety." (She didn't hang up)

As a fan of Hitchcock's and Brook's and Kahn's, High Anxiety is great. But unfortunately for O'Reilly, I think most of these women felt like Kahn in one of my favorite cult hit's and childhood favorite's, Clue.

George M. Spencer said...

J. Farmer...

I may not have a point, but the point of an American naval spear is heading directly for Korea. It doesn't matter whether or not I think getting rid of the N. Korean is a good idea, but it does look like our government--and possibly the Chinese--think it's a good idea.

dreams said...

This is good, I enjoyed watching the odious liberal Andrea Mitchell get scolded by the Russia Foreign Minister. More, more...

https://www.teaparty.org/hah-russian-foreign-minister-scolds-us-reporter-andrea-mitchell-blurting-question-brought-229541/

dreams said...

Here is a local story of the infamous UAL assault and battery of the now world famous Doctor.

"E'town doctor pulled off United plane"

"A day after video of a Hardin County man being forcibly removed from a United Airlines flight made worldwide headlines, Elizabethtown became the focal point during the search for him."

http://www.thenewsenterprise.com/content/etown-doctor-pulled-united-plane

J. Farmer said...

@St. George:

I may not have a point, but the point of an American naval spear is heading directly for Korea. It doesn't matter whether or not I think getting rid of the N. Korean is a good idea, but it does look like our government--and possibly the Chinese--think it's a good idea.

Not a chance in hell. The fact that a carrier battle group is heading towards the Korean peninsula does not mean there's an impending war. It's called a "show of force," and country's routinely use them to flex muscle in a region in an attempt to dissuade behavior. See the mid-90's Taiwan Strait crisis as an example.

dreams said...

And this.

"International media wait outside house of doctor pulled off United plane."

http://www.wdrb.com/clip/13242435/international-media-wait-outside-house-of-doctor-pulled-off-united-plane

George M. Spencer said...

J. Farmer--

I hear what you are saying; however, Sec. of State Tillotson recently said, "“Let me be very clear: the policy of strategic patience has ended. We are exploring a new range of security and diplomatic measures.”

To repeat: the policy of strategic patience has ended.

Patience has ended.

Sounds clear to me.

cacimbo said...

@J.Farmer - Thanks for the reply - that must be it.

J. Farmer said...

@St. George:

Sounds clear to me.

Yeah, it sounds like totally typical diplomatic boilerplate. The kind of meaningless shit that everybody says. "All options are on the table." Yeah, we get it. Not gonna change a damn thing on the ground. Attacking North Korea militarily would be an act of absolute lunacy. There's no way the South Koreans would stand for it, and they'd be the most directly effected if any such action was taken. An attack against North Korea would mean tens of thousands of refugees spilling across the border into northern China. The Chinese do not want this. If we were to attack North Korea, and the Chinese came to their defense, what then? We would be in direct conflict with a nuclear great power.

North Korean's saber rattling is partly for domestic consumption and partly an effort for the regime to extract what tiny concessions it can. All the evidence, historical and contemporaneous, suggests that North Korea wants nuclear weapons capability for defensive purposes. It wants a guarantee against invasion and regime change. It knows that nuclear weapons capabilities changes the balance of power. That is precisely why we don't want them to have them, because we know we could not dominate them in the same way. To this end, the regime has proven willing to give up a great deal. It's already one of, if not the most economically isolated nations in the world. It's total exports in 2015 were $2.8 billion. That's about as much as the US Virgin Islands, and a little more than Malta.

Ken B said...

United Airlines have upgraded their app. It now supports drag and drop.

Michael K said...

but it does look like our government--and possibly the Chinese--think it's a good idea.

Not a chance in hell.


No, I'm not ready to say it will happen but China has stopped importing Nork coal and may start importing from us.

This is a very big deal for the Norks.

Plus it helps the US coal industry. What's not to like ?