Althouse: At the Friday Night Café...

January 24, 2025

At the Friday Night Café...

... you can talk all night.

76 comments:

Spiros said...: I just went food shopping -- $ 5.99 for a loaf of sour dough. I don't see how Trump brings these costs down. I guess Trump might target market concentration in the food retail sector with antitrust suits and strengthen and enforce the Robinson-Patman Act. But other than that, what the heck can Trump do to bring food prices down?; 1/24/25, 5:49 PM
john mosby said...: I'm being prosecuted in DC for pushing a subway dancer away from me on the Green Line Metro. My trial, for misdemeanor assault, is scheduled for March 10. Topsy-turvy two-tier justice. Hoping Trump's new US Atty for DC will redirect the AUSAs to more productive pursuits. I don't want to give away my defense strategy in an open forum like this, but I would appreciate any ideas you all might have.

Thanks - JSM; 1/24/25, 5:55 PM
mongo said...: Based on our last experience with big inflation I don’t think you can expect food prices to come down. The best we can hope for is that eventually our income will go up enough to cover it.; 1/24/25, 6:02 PM
rhhardin said...: Violinist without chin rest, trending the opposite way from the chin-rest plus frame modern players. It tends to make you look like a crazy lady though.; 1/24/25, 6:02 PM
Mason G said...: "I guess Trump might target market concentration in the food retail sector..."

Food retailers don't make that much of a profit by percentage, seems there's not a lot to cut there. From: Margins by Sector (US), net margin for "Retail (Grocery and Food)" is 1.97%.

https://pages.stern.nyu.edu/~adamodar/New_Home_Page/datafile/margin.html; 1/24/25, 6:09 PM
john mosby said...: Hardin, does sans chin rest = big breast? Can’t tell with your example’s baggy black dress. Makes sense that a female fiddler might not want the draw poking into her boobage, and/or the boobage itself provides enough cushioning. This question could give you the rational for more musical-mammary studies…

JSM; 1/24/25, 6:18 PM
rhhardin said...: Prices that have gone up will stay up, unless barriers to entry are removed and new competition sees an opportunity to make money, when prices get unreasonably high.; 1/24/25, 6:19 PM
rhhardin said...: I bought an audiobook on Amazon that turns out to have soft background music, which makes it unintelligible. How can they miss that you can't do that?

Maybe it comes from musical literacy. Music gets parsed in the same centers as language - sort of an unconscious awareness of what note those are - and it takes over from concentrating on what's being said.; 1/24/25, 6:23 PM
tcrosse said...: Energy is a big part of the cost of food production and transportation, plus keeping the lights and fridges going at the supermarket. Trump might be able to increase the availability and decrease the price of energy.; 1/24/25, 6:26 PM
Money Manger said...: A (common) family joke: when my wife gave me two ties for Christmas, and I wore the red one first, she'd say "so you don't like the blue one ?"

---Trump Is Touring Pacific Palisades. Altadena Residents Wonder Why Not Their Neighborhood--
---NYT headline.; 1/24/25, 6:39 PM
Eva Marie said...: “I bought an audiobook on Amazon that turns out to have soft background music”
What kills me is when the narrator starts to whisper!
I prefer the old narrations before audio books became so popular and every narrator thinks they’re a great actor. When the narration was more monotone I could concentrate on the writer’s skill rather than the reader’s skill.; 1/24/25, 6:50 PM
Gospace said...: Just a story from a few years past. My son and I following a Scout meeting walked into our local convenience store after a Scout meeting, wearing our Scout uniforms. We live in ruralville, it was harvest season for one thing or another. The store was filled with migrants when we walked in. Empty 30 seconds later.

Various anecdotes popping up saying illegals are already self deporting. As in one area 30% of farmworkers didn't show up to work, and in another, 40%. And, OMG- food prices are going to rise! Looks like one of two things is going to have to happen. Invest in more automated harvesting machinery, or pay Americans enough to do the job. Or a combination of both.

It's fascinating watching videos of automated harvesting. And in the not too distant future I can see fields fully covered by fully automatic laser weed and bug zappers, reducing insecticide and herbicide use. That's research and deployment the government ought encourage. A lot more useful then low range long to charge battery automobiles.; 1/24/25, 6:58 PM
NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...: Hardin, does sans chin rest = big breast?

No, he means chin rest. It's on the top lower right bout of the violin and you rest your chin on it. Not everything is Freudian.; 1/24/25, 7:00 PM
Gospace said...: I can still buy a 21 oz store brand White Bread Made with Whole Grain at a local grocer for $2.49. Was $1.99/ 2 for $3.00 before the covidiocy. Or I can go to Walmart and buy Sara Lee Artesano Original Bread, 20 oz, for $3.48. ($3.79 at the grocer...) No kids at home now, just the two of us. Sara Lee has a variety of those breads, all pretty good.

Or we could buy the store made sourdough full loaf, 21 oz, probably the equivalent of what you're buying, for $6.48. Your food costs can be controlled by what you're buying. We've always had real maple syrup in the house. Yes, we can both tell the difference, and it's better. But bread? Eh, it depends. We never got the really cheap stuff- it falls apart when you try to spread peanut butter. But until the kids all moved out, we didn't get the expensive bread either.; 1/24/25, 7:11 PM
Mason G said...: AP reports:

President Donald Trump has ended the federal security detail for Dr. Anthony Fauci, the infectious disease expert who advised him on the COVID-19 pandemic, a person familiar with the matter said Friday.

When asked about Fauci and former national security adviser John Bolton, Trump said, “They all made a lot of money. They can hire their own security, too.”

“You can’t have a security detail for the rest of your life because you worked for government,” Trump said.

https://apnews.com/article/fauci-trump-security-detail-4b2e317dc9e7768c0571df30750e863a; 1/24/25, 7:17 PM
rhhardin said...: Narrators that do various obscure British accents aren't a treat either.; 1/24/25, 7:22 PM
Breezy said...: Fauci’s ended last September, per contract. Before Trump. He’s buying his own security now. That’s good - we don’t need to pay for it.; 1/24/25, 7:51 PM
Mason G said...: That's interesting. On a google search for "fauci taxpayer funded security", the entire first page of results are for stories claiming that Trump is responsible.; 1/24/25, 8:05 PM
DINKY DAU 45 said...: Raise your hand when you believed trump would bring prices down. Wait until tariffs hit,if you hand is raised ,no eggs for you! Egg prices continue to soar across the United States amid a supply shortage, as President Donald Trump faces pressure to fulfil his campaign pledge to bring down their cost.
The Consumer Price Index shows egg prices are up 36.8 percent from this time last year.
The average price of a dozen Grade A large eggs was $4.15 in December, nearly $2 higher than the cost per dozen in December 2023, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Wait until he has no other way than to shut government down,,,he loves that, only 35 days his last debacle.Most of the trumps upin here love shutdowns, GENIE says your wish comes true. STOP the silly cancer research ,thats a wonderful move...sometimes you do get what you deserve..Oh and good job on DOD guy hes perfect ,just like don , all similar qualities..Beautiful Lets go more; 1/24/25, 8:19 PM
DINKY DAU 45 said...: Oh also how about that BILLY RAY show at the unbibled swearing in party.VILLAGE PEOPLE,KID ROCK BILLY RAY,, and you cant get a guitar amp to work or a PA to work ,the tech billionaires kind of appropriate for the chaos kids huh! Yikes get some music taste for goodness sake,; 1/24/25, 8:25 PM
Jimmy said...: hawaii bread prices- 7.00 for normal wonder bread style. sour dough or anything decent, 8-10.00, a loaf. I haven't seen bread at under 3 dollars in 20 years.; 1/24/25, 8:27 PM
Jimmy said...: The availability of farm workers can easily be fixed. They come in, under work permit, with out family. Thats the way it used to be in california. Can be again. Just a matter or organizing things again. and keeping track of who comes in, and where they are. Also, big ag can afford to build shelters for these workers, and I mean decent ones.
so many people act like 20 years ago we were all starving with out 10 million illegals to work for us.; 1/24/25, 8:32 PM
Jimmy said...: Pete Hegseth confirmed on tie vote, Vance cast tie breaker. Good to know we have a good man at defense now.; 1/24/25, 8:37 PM
wildswan said...: What they should do is simply reclassify those Hurricane Helene sufferers as illegal aliens (special category - simulated Haitian or Venezuelan or what have you.). Then they would have access to all the expedited forms of aid the illegals are getting.

*; 1/24/25, 8:37 PM
NorthOfTheOneOhOne said...: The agricultural visa program still exists and is in use. Anything you hear from Democrats about crops rotting in the fields is pure bullshit.; 1/24/25, 8:40 PM
Leland said...: Mitch McConnell stabs Republican voters in the back one more time. It won’t be the last. Pete Hegseth still confirmed as SecDef.; 1/24/25, 8:45 PM
Gospace said...: Eggs are a commodity item. Price goes up, price goes down, and it's almost a absolutely perfect supply/demand curve. Millions (or tens of millions depending on where you get the number from) of layers have been slaughtered- the standard response to bird flu outbreak. One bird in a henhouse gets it- they all go down. Then the flock needs to be rebuilt. Takes 2-6 months to raise a layer before they start pushing out eggs. IIRC, the price rise started about two months ago, so the breeders are already raising the next generation. 6 months from now the price of eggs will drop.; 1/24/25, 8:46 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: "Not everything is Freudian." Indeed. A while ago, I said something about getting a facial and someone suggested I desist, TMI.; 1/24/25, 8:49 PM
Big Mike said...: I just saw that, too. That was harder than it should have been.; 1/24/25, 8:49 PM
robother said...: Pee Wee Herman was gay? Who could've imagined that?; 1/24/25, 8:52 PM
traditionalguy said...: J D to the rescue.; 1/24/25, 8:53 PM
wildswan said...: Food prices will fall if the gas it takes to deliver them falls in price. Or if the regulatory burden is eased so that overhead is lower all along the line farm to store, then grocery prices will fall. Or if trucking regulations are changed so that diesel power is not penalized in favor of electric engines. grocery prices can then fall. Yes, and utility bills for grocery stores would fall if costly wind and solar power stopped being required and then procery prices could fall. If grocery prices did not have to cover the cost of the huge increase in shoplifting allowed by the Dems then grocery prices would fall for the consumer. So I think that the various Federal agencies which have boosted prices by different sorts of regulations could lower prices by repealing those same regulations. And I think that Trump or the Doge Boys or both will do just that. I know Hollywood thinks Trump will the Feds want to round them up but I think Trump will want the Feds to deregulate to bring down prices.; 1/24/25, 8:55 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Here is an idea. Pardon Luigi in exchange for Luigi serving as Fauci's personal bodyguard.; 1/24/25, 8:55 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Trump coming back allows marginalized senators to become relevant again.; 1/24/25, 8:59 PM
Narayanan said...: I am curious > vaccines are grown in eggs?
so hen with bird flu will lay eggs with vaccines?
vaguely recall smallpox wrt cowpox and milk?; 1/24/25, 9:01 PM
Narayanan said...: Sci-Fi have tales of whole planets as automated food plantation
Rebel alliances find that convenient for hideout; 1/24/25, 9:04 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Wijipedia: "The United States Constitution designates the vice president to serve as president of the Senate and to cast the tie-breaking vote in the case of a deadlock. To carry out these duties, the vice president has long had an office in the Capitol Building, just outside the Senate chamber."

JD's home away from home.; 1/24/25, 9:04 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: NTTIAWWT; 1/24/25, 9:05 PM
traditionalguy said...: Greg Gutfeld is totall anti-Democrat tonight.; 1/24/25, 9:13 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: The misinformation/disinformation could be part of the grand scheme, which Trump coming back may slow, but not really kill root and branch.; 1/24/25, 9:18 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: That video 👆🏽 reminded me of Trump "they are eating the pets" line at the debate.; 1/24/25, 9:27 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Speaking of anti-Democratic: "Derek Jeter Calls For Hall of Fame Voter Accountability After Ichiro's Unanimous Snub"

I loved Ichiro, everybody loves Ichiro. But there may be as many criteria for being voted in as there are sports writers. The idea that Ichiro should have had the nod unanimously smells of collusion. I thought collusion was a bad thing.; 1/24/25, 9:38 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: NBC News: "Amy Schumer credits internet trolling with diagnosing Cushing's syndrome"

"Following an interview on "Call Her Daddy," Amy Schumer revealed that internet trolls played a role in her being diagnosed with a serious and rare condition. She shared that while promoting her work, trolls mocked her appearance, claiming her face looked swollen. Initially, she dismissed the comments, but when medical professionals began weighing in, it led to her diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome."

#Not all trolls; 1/24/25, 9:50 PM
Readering said...: Impressive McConnell statement explaining his no vote on Hegseth.; 1/24/25, 10:05 PM
Readering said...: Jeter was also 1 short of unanimous. This Yankee fan wants both votes investigated.; 1/24/25, 10:07 PM
Jaq said...: I don't think Trump has an actual clue about what to do in Ukraine because he still believes the Ukrainian propaganda that gets passed off as news in the US, but his heart is in the right place, and he wants the war to end. The so called "foreign policy expert class" has led us into war after war after war, I became aware of it in the Viet Nam era, but it hasn't stopped yet. Somehow, despite the expertise of these guys, we just keep stumbling into these wars though no fault of our own. So I will go with Trump, who might actually just be making shit up to try to create a new dynamic where a settlement is possible. I don't know. He has, like Steve Jobs was said to have, a "reality distortion zone" around him that allows him to find solutions other people can't see, so I am still giving him the benefit of the doubt. But I don't get what his plan could possibly be.; 1/24/25, 10:08 PM
David53 said...: I had a dog with Cushing's. The treatment was expensive but it extended his life by a couple of years.; 1/24/25, 10:11 PM
Peachy said...: Egg prices are up because of progressive governors.; 1/24/25, 10:31 PM
Peachy said...: McConnell - what a jackass. He is so old - did a pack of Biden's handlers rush over to McConnell?; 1/24/25, 10:33 PM
Peachy said...: How that old insider probably corrupt jerk is elected time after time in Kentucky is troubling.
Come on Kentucky - you can do better.; 1/24/25, 10:37 PM
Peachy said...: In CO - the governor and his animal freaky deaky husband pass all sorts of laws that end up harming wolves, egg prices and people who run small businesses as dog and cat groomers. FACT.; 1/24/25, 10:39 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Looks like California politicians were better prepared for Trump's 'uncoordinated' visit, than they were for the fires. Link to video; 1/24/25, 10:46 PM
Peachy said...: McConnell voted for Lloyd Austin.; 1/24/25, 10:47 PM
Peachy said...: Trump loves flattery. So they flattered him. Too bad. Trump needs to stop being swayed by BS.; 1/24/25, 10:47 PM
RCOCEAN II said...: tried to listen to sean hannity with Trump. but once again Hannity was so dumb I couldn't take it.; 1/24/25, 10:51 PM
Howard said...: Currently there is a national egg shortage due to the bird flu and a culling of the herd.; 1/24/25, 11:00 PM
Howard said...: Did anyone else see Trump's Q&A at a Davos panel of top CEOs, including B of A.

Trump on his A-game ripping the EU a new one on trade and outrageous regulation permit roadblocks. He also went after B of A for not working with conservatives. The Davos CEOs took it all smiling.; 1/24/25, 11:12 PM
Jim at said...: Impressive McConnell statement explaining his no vote on Hegseth.

We all know McConnell is a shitweasel. You don't need to confirm it.; 1/24/25, 11:16 PM
Jim at said...: He also went after B of A for not working with conservatives.

Not working with conservatives? They were debanked. Accounts closed. No explanation given. High-profile conservatives. With proof.

The BoA CEO is a lying piece of shit.; 1/24/25, 11:18 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Reddit: ”Scottish accent at its finest”; 1/24/25, 11:37 PM
wendybar said...: It's been 4 days. It is hard to change 4 years of terrible chaotic policy in just 4 days. Be patient you dink. It takes time to clean up after irresponsible idiots who hate America. Trump has ALREADY done MORE for Americans in 4 days than the Progressives did in Bidens 4 years.; 1/25/25, 2:07 AM
wendybar said...: Wow. If this is what you are complaining about, sit down and shut up. Grow up fool.; 1/25/25, 2:08 AM
wendybar said...: After he voted against Pete, McConnell hobbled over to his party bosses...the Progressives, to shake their hands. He thought he did a great job of destroying Trump...but he only destroyed himself...MORE.

This is what a TRAITOR looks like.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1882988079327191545; 1/25/25, 2:24 AM
wendybar said...: I just got WORDLE in 2 again!! What a great week or so!!; 1/25/25, 2:27 AM
rehajm said...: quelle suprise; 1/25/25, 3:32 AM
Christopher B said...: Google says vaccine manufacture doesn't use run of the farm eggs, and no it doesn't work that way. The flocks producing eggs for vaccine production are specially sequestered to keep them from contracting avian flu viruses which would interfere with the process.; 1/25/25, 4:55 AM
Ann Althouse said...: "I just went food shopping -- $ 5.99 for a loaf of sour dough...."

We went food shopping yesterday — just for the next few days — and it came out to over $400.

Admittedly, we go to Whole Foods and buy whatever we want without looking at the price, but we don't eat that much — notably, we don't eat dinner.

The dozen eggs were $10, and the filet mignon was $37 a pound. I only eat half of a little filet steak at a time. But what could add up to $400 for an old couple that systematically avoids eating too much. I buy blueberries that cost $6 for 11 ounces, and I buy 33 ounces — that's $18 in blueberries alone, just for me.

I'm not going to change what I buy, but still... $400 is, for us, a new breakthrough at the Whole Foods cash register.; 1/25/25, 5:03 AM
Kakistocracy said...: Seems frankly rude and bitter to hold the Hegseth vote without an open bar.; 1/25/25, 6:34 AM
BUMBLE BEE said...: Whole Foods is also known as "Whole Paycheck".
Michigan has institutes a law that all eggs be "Cage Free". So there's that.
As we all know, every crop/commodity requires diesel. Growing season requires heat. Fertilizers are petrochemical in some instances. $$$$$; 1/25/25, 8:19 AM
Rusty said...: Dinky. Listen to Howard.; 1/25/25, 8:24 AM
Rusty said...: Well, Wendy. Dinky is only 12 years old and his parents have indulged him his whole life so he's used to getting his own way. Right now!; 1/25/25, 8:26 AM
Leland said...: Did you buy OTC meds and vitamins at Whole Foods?

We served 2 beef tenderloins for our Christmas guests along with sides and desserts. All of it was about $200 from H-E-B.; 1/25/25, 8:28 AM
Rusty said...: Would it kill ya to shop at Aldi? And have Meade shoot a deer. After the equipment, lisences and travel venison is $75 a pound.; 1/25/25, 8:31 AM
Rusty said...: Ya ever try and find a baguette? I mean a real baguette like they have in France. Nice hard crust and soft chewy middle. It's inpossible. At least around here. Even the bakeries that claim to have French baguettes don't measure up. I'm gonna keep looking though. There's a new place in Wheaton I haven't tried yet.; 1/25/25, 8:35 AM
Jersey Fled said...: I could never understand why you kill all of the chickens so that some of them don’t die of bird flu.; 1/25/25, 9:49 AM
Kakistocracy said...: Musk exploring blockchain use in US government efficiency effort ~ Fortune

L-O-freakin'-L 😅; 1/25/25, 11:03 AM