Althouse: Oh, I don't know.

May 3, 2008

Oh, I don't know.

What do you want to talk about?

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75 comments:

Ron said...: Are you happier thinking of leaving NYC or returning to Madison?; 5/3/08, 9:07 AM
Meade said...: What's left to talk about? Can't we just make out?; 5/3/08, 9:11 AM
Bissage said...: If someone walks into that thing, is it going to close up and, you know, digest them?; 5/3/08, 9:15 AM
JohnAnnArbor said...: Is there enough room to hang a hammock in that tree?; 5/3/08, 9:18 AM
Ron said...: Get a pack of Oreos, and eat them while sitting in that tree...; 5/3/08, 9:45 AM
dbp said...: It seems to me that Trooper York joined the commentary here around the time Ann went to Brooklyn. Will he keep commenting once she is back in Madison?; 5/3/08, 9:45 AM
Trumpit said...: Jinx was a sweet and playful white kitty that belonged to the next door neighbors. She was a good hunter; I found two dead rats lying about. She showed little fear of my dogs, more curious than anything. I think she was nailed by speeding car on our street. It's high time they put speed bumps on this bit of street. People are careless and reckless behind the wheel. I'm tired of cursing them. I think Jinx is an awful name for a pet. I miss you Jinx.; 5/3/08, 10:00 AM
Trooper York said...: If we knock on the door will Bilbo Baggins answer?

Ann Althouse said...
Actually, I did think about Bilbos at one point; 5/3/08, 10:22 AM
Fen said...: So the maples formed a union
And demanded equal rights.
"The oaks are just too greedy;
We will make them give us light."
Now there's no more oak oppression,
For they passed a noble law,
And the trees are all kept equal
By hatchet, axe, and saw. - RUSH; 5/3/08, 10:40 AM
Anonymous said...: For the second time in my life, I find myself in Kentucky on derby day. The fervor with which the good people of Kentucky celebrate a horse race is astonishing. It's one of those you-have-to-be-there things. You can't explain the energy and reverence that hangs in the air.

An interesting discovery this weekend. I play Guitar Hero much better fueled by rum. I wonder if the jockeys would fare better if they knocked down a few before jumping into the saddle?; 5/3/08, 10:53 AM
Ben (The Tiger in Exile) said...: Fish-eye lens makes me dizzy...; 5/3/08, 10:55 AM
Roger J. said...: Windbag: to do the derby you should be on the infield, drink (really bad) mint juleps, your lady should be wearing a hat, and you MUST cry when they play 'My old Kentucky Home." Oh--and enjoy the race and bet two dollars on the favorite to show.; 5/3/08, 11:07 AM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Bissage- I had the same thought about the beckoning tree.

Ann- how about this. What will blogs be chatting about in 50 years? Will race be an issue still? Will many Americans still be living in some of our small, down-on-their-luck industrial towns or will they have become ghost towns? Or will more and more people have the option of living the small town life by working remotely via the internet? How old will that tree be in 50 years? Will you still be blogging if you are able? Will the internet make universities an anacronymsm? (bad spelling I know). Who will win the NBA title? Where has Maxine been ? Why did she return the other day? Where is Doyle?; 5/3/08, 11:12 AM
Finn Alexander Kristiansen said...: @9:07:

Everyone is happy leaving NYC, until they are gone and realize what they have left. Or at least I was.

@9:11:

There are too many guys in here for us to make out I think. It would be awkward.

@9:45:

Trooper York will keep posting when Ann goes back unless she takes the internet with her.

@10:53:

Lots of horsey news today, like dwindling crowds for horse racing, but I guess attendance has been negative sloping for a while now.; 5/3/08, 11:13 AM
Meade said...: Finn Kristiansen said...
@9:11:
There are too many guys in here for us to make out I think. It would be awkward.

I see what you mean.

Hey, guys - don't you have some sports event you need to go watch?; 5/3/08, 11:31 AM
Meade said...: Now. Where were we? Oh yeah... bring that bottle of Merlot over here. Let's celebrate springtime!; 5/3/08, 11:36 AM
Chip Ahoy said...: Labour has suffered *glees* a serious blow *glees* throughout merry ol' England *glees* falling behind *glees* even the Liberal Democrats.*glees*

And this makes me sad.

How is it you always know when I lie? I'm confounded by this.; 5/3/08, 11:41 AM
George M. Spencer said...: Clinton has cut Obama's lead in NC by 1.5% from 8.5% yesterday to 7.0% today, based on an average of polls, according to realclearpolitics.

If that little trend continues, he would only have about a 4% lead on Tuesday, which means it could be dead even.

Weeks ago it was supposed to be a blow-out.

Watch for last minute anti-Clinton dirt in North Carolina today and tomorrow.; 5/3/08, 11:59 AM
vbspurs said...: I think Ron and Meade's questions are the best, so far.

As for me, anything but dildos, Oreos, and freakos (like Rev. Wright).

I've clicked on your photo, and noticed it's DSC_0081. Since I have the same camera, I know once you've hit 9999, it starts back at 0001.

So how many times have you "turned over" and started again since buying it?

Given your output, I bet it's more than me! (Once)

Cheers,
Victoria; 5/3/08, 12:21 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: I'm reading a Scottish cookbook. For roasted pheasant it begins; Shoot a pheasant. Remove feathers. Gut ...

For Salmon Gravlax it says; Catch one large salmon. Remove scales. Gut ...

For Rabbit pie it goes: Snare or shoot a rabbit. Skin entirely. Gut ...; 5/3/08, 1:18 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: Dig potatoes and carrots and onions out of ground. Remove dirt ...; 5/3/08, 1:20 PM
rhhardin said...: How dogs get into bike trailers short slide show.; 5/3/08, 1:32 PM
vbspurs said...: For Rabbit pie it goes: Snare or shoot a rabbit. Skin entirely. Gut ...

For Oreos: Open, twist. Gut.

Cheers,
Victoria; 5/3/08, 1:34 PM
al said...: For Oreos: Open, twist. Gut.

Dip in milk till slightly soft, then eat. Yum.; 5/3/08, 1:37 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: Duck and venison sausage, wot my friend killed himself with his own two hands, but made by someone else, but smoked by himself. A bit of back and forth there, and I must say, it is addictive. Potato with Parmigiano Reggiano cheese onion, garlic, and olives, wot I made myself just now.; 5/3/08, 1:49 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: Jinx, RIP. Or not, up there in mousy hunting grounds in the sky. Yes, you were unfortunately named.

Victoria, is it fair talking about a subject you put the kibosh on? Because here I am shutting up about the biscuit that must not be spoken.

European Nabisco®™ instant chocolate milk powder is altogether less sweet than American Nabisco®™ instant chocolate milk powder. Now why is that? It doesn't work to simply change a recipe based on how tastes are imagined to differ. I mean, they don't go making McDonalds hamburgers out of viande chevaline. Do they? I would hope not. But maybe they do. Oh dear, I hope not. That does it! No McDonalds in France for me! Evah! I read in a book, right here in this book, they get 1/3 of their horses from the U.S. But then my book was written by a British woman, so who really knows?; 5/3/08, 2:10 PM
john said...: Changing topics from food, I would like to know if anyone west of say, Chicago, would know who Elizabeth Wurtzel ("Bitch") is. Or perhaps, Philadelphia.

I just read her WSJ piece. As one who was "tragically lost in the Reagan '80s" (tragic?) is she now kept alive only by the NY/literati/narcissist set?; 5/3/08, 2:15 PM
Jim Hu said...: Returning to food... I'm blogging about fugu and tacos... and the laws governing both.; 5/3/08, 2:22 PM
Chris Althouse Cohen said...: So no one wants to talk about the fact that there's a Democratic caucus today?; 5/3/08, 2:27 PM
George M. Spencer said...: john--

You are more on the ball than 99.9 percent of the American press corps.

Here is what ya do:

Go to Amazon; find out who her book publisher is; Monday morning call its publicity department; get her agent's number; set up a phone call with her; ask her who all these cozy media people are who know more about Obama's relationship with Ayers than they're letting on; then call them.

Better yet, if you're in Chicago, get your video camera, find out where the guy lives, wait until he comes out, and ask him how long before 1995 he knew Obama and what their relationship was.; 5/3/08, 2:30 PM
Zachary Sire said...: Guam!

It could determine the next president.; 5/3/08, 3:09 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: I think that tree is actually several trees planted in the same hole, once emerged, naturally and sensibly and moved away from each other to avail themselves of maximum light. Stuck there together at their roots and unable to fully move away from each other, grown into one another at the base, set upon an endless struggle for supremacy in achingly slow motion. I feel sorry for those trees so woefully started and now unable to rid themselves of each other. How they would run in opposite directions if only they could. I'm sure of it.; 5/3/08, 3:34 PM
JohnAnnArbor said...: No one's suggested a video blog entry yet.; 5/3/08, 3:44 PM
Mortimer Brezny said...: Did you really cancel a meet-up because I joked about punching someone in the face? I really wouldn't do that.; 5/3/08, 4:01 PM
Anonymous said...: When Madonna has a cookout at her place, does she serve corn on the kabbalah?; 5/3/08, 4:24 PM
Fen said...: I don't want to talk specifically about Rev Wright, the election, or why Obama/Clinton/McCain should or shouldn't be president....

That said, I wish Obama was the man as adverstised. Wouldn't that have been a great thing? Ignoring his domestic and foreign policy for a moment, we need another Martin Luther King. For this century.; 5/3/08, 5:09 PM
Zachary Sire said...: That tree looks like a cunt.; 5/3/08, 5:33 PM
Meade said...: How would you know, Zachary Paul Sire?

Oh well, at least the tree doesn't look like Jeremiah Wright. Although, I suppose Jeremiah Wright is a bit of a cunt isn't he?

al said...
For Oreos: Open, twist. Gut.

Dip in milk till slightly soft, then eat. Yum.

Then eat another. Yum. And another. Yum.
And another. Yum.

Gut.; 5/3/08, 5:55 PM
Trooper York said...: Today was a party day in the store. So I served champagne and little Italian finger sandwiches of soprosata, provolone, prosciutto and fresh basil drizzled in olive oil with salt and pepper.; 5/3/08, 6:13 PM
Ron said...: Trooper, dog, I am ready for sandwiches like that! Can I come over? :)

When Madonna has a cookout at her place, does she serve corn on the kabbalah?

We won't know because she never knishes and tells!; 5/3/08, 6:21 PM
George M. Spencer said...: Here, Fen, are the words of our present day visionary. Not exactly a Dr. King, but one who has an even bolder dream:

"In many nations of the Middle East -- countries of great strategic importance -- democracy has not yet taken root. And the questions arise: Are the peoples of the Middle East somehow beyond the reach of liberty? Are millions of men and women and children condemned by history or culture to live in despotism? Are they alone never to know freedom, and never even to have a choice in the matter? I, for one, do not believe it. I believe every person has the ability and the right to be free.

"The advance of freedom is the calling of our time; it is the calling of our country....Liberty is the design of nature; we believe that liberty is the direction of history....Freedom...is not for us alone, it is the right and the capacity of all mankind...."; 5/3/08, 6:27 PM
Trooper York said...: Ron, Althouse regulars are always welcome. A couple have stopped by already. There are always sandwiches.; 5/3/08, 6:35 PM
Pastafarian said...: Here is, by far, the most interesting news item of the day:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7379554.stm; 5/3/08, 6:51 PM
vbspurs said...: Victoria, is it fair talking about a subject you put the kibosh on?

Did I? To be frank, though, I like the sound of that corn on the kabbalah better.

Chris, sure! Wai, there's a caucus today on Kenturky Derby Saturday? Gauche. Very gauche.

BTW, who won? I had a fiver on Z Fortune.

Cheers,
Victoria; 5/3/08, 6:53 PM
rhhardin said...: Another couple of swaths down the lawn today with the scythe in between rain showers.

I find the 10' wide pattern very pleasing, though in the spring you don't finish the back yard before you have to start the front again. Along about the end of June the whole yard looks neat at once, though.

The tracks are sneaker marks; sneakers advance about 6 inches per stroke.; 5/3/08, 7:15 PM
Meade said...: What a truly cruel sport horse racing is.; 5/3/08, 7:24 PM
rhhardin said...: What a truly cruel sport horse racing is.

You might be a little confused about what cruelty is.; 5/3/08, 7:31 PM
rhhardin said...: Here,, for example, an essay by Vicki Hearne suggesting that animals might live for their work ; which has something to do with their happiness.

Thanks to the wayback machine.; 5/3/08, 7:35 PM
XWL said...: As far as the Kentucky Derby goes, the favorite, Big Brown, won impressively, that horse appears to be a monster, and might win the first Triple Crown since Affirmed did it in 1978. He broke from the worst post position (20th), rode the entire race 3 or 4 wide (thus not conserving any distance), and still won by 5 lengths and looked capable of running another mile if need be.

Unfortunately, the massive filly (she was a hand or two taller than most of the colts in the race), Eight Belles broke both her front ankles (after finishing a game 2nd), and was euthanized on the track.

It's a sickening feeling being at a track when a horse breaks down, only thing worse is when a jockey is trampled (I've been at the track when both have happened).

With that said, these horses are bred for the purpose of running, they are magnificent animals to observe up close, and they are treated very lovingly and well, for the most part. They're probably 'too' thoroughly bred at this point, though, and those spindly legs aren't designed to support the acceleration and sustained speeds that they acheive.

Racing doesn't hold the popular imagination the way it once did, and tracks on non-big racing days can be pretty depressing to be around, but those animals are still amazing athletes (as well as those tiny, yet strong, jockeys who ride those beasts).

As far as Elizabeth Wurtzel goes (and I live way, way west of Chicago, though I suppose I live so far west of Chicago, that being on the 'other' coast that I'm subject to the same kind of 'bubble' that Manhattanites live in here on the Westside of the Los Angeles Basin), I totally wanted her back in the early/mid-90s, I had a thing for intelligent/manic/self-absorbed/fine-looking women back then.

I've since matured.

(and Bitch is a good (but very rambling) read, as is Prozac Nation, her output since has paled in comparison)

(her comments after 9/11, and her admission to Yale Law School, are inexplicable, however); 5/3/08, 7:48 PM
vbspurs said...: You might be a little confused about what cruelty is.

I think Meade might be referring to the euthanising on the track, of poor Eight Belles, as my dear chum XWL mentioned.

The further we go from the days where animals and humans depended on each other totally, not just for sustenance and companionship like today, the more these ideas that we're being cruel to animals outside of necessity, gets.

I'm anything but a country girl, but sometimes I think I was brought well about that. I'll pet and love a bunny, with the same enthusiasm as I'll hunt it and eat it.

Cheers,
Victoria; 5/3/08, 7:59 PM
XWL said...: OK, I thought of something else to talk about, let's talk about how awesome Robert Downey, Jr.'s performance in Iron Man is.

(Jon Favreau's direction ain't too bad either)

(and Terrence Howard makes a good love interest)

(or more like 'mancrush' interest, his character is in the Air Force, so he can't be a real 'love interest', afterall, at least not while telling (but if nobody asks, I guess it's alright)); 5/3/08, 8:41 PM
vbspurs said...: I know! Let's talk about our angry immigrant vaginas.

For a change.

Cheers,
Victoria; 5/3/08, 10:43 PM
Ralph L said...: I've never been to a horse race, and only ridden one twice, the last time in 1981, but I've long enjoyed Dick Francis' novels. I suspect his son is going to take over the franchise shortly.; 5/3/08, 10:47 PM
titusistyetyetonight said...: OK, I am very said that Eight Belles was euthanized on the track today at the Kentucky Derby.

I went to Lexington/Louisville last fall to watch some horse racing (because my parents enjoy it).

I did the tour of the farms, saw million dollar horses fuck, saw the new tracks with the new turf they were going to be using because of the horse that died last year, went to Keeneland and bet on the horses and did some other horse stuff I can't recall.

It's a business plain and simple and cash is king. The arabs are taking over many of the farms around Lexington. The Lexington Airport enlarged their runways just to accomodate some rich arabs large airplane.

I love animals and it is sad to see a beautiful animal collapse and then euthanized on a race track. Also, she was the only filley among I think 14 males. Another one died a week ago at the Kentucky Oaks.

On another note I can't stand seeing Lanny Davis on television. I would like to punch him. He just is so annoying and unlikable.; 5/3/08, 11:14 PM
blake said...: Let's not talk about anything. Let us talk solely in Internet clichés.

I, for one, welcome our new carnivorous tree overlords.; 5/3/08, 11:52 PM
titusistyetyetonight said...: OK, I just read Tom Friedman's editorial today and got kind of depressed.

Is America's best days behind them? Are we going to be overtaken by other countries? Are we already overtaken by other countries?

When I was in college in the late 80's and early 90's I had this good friend and butt buddy from Uraguay who I used to always tease about him being third world and me being the ruler of the world because I was from the US. My sense is that times are changing. I could be wrong but I think our day in the sun and has come and gone and we are now following from grace. Similar to some queens that I see around town every now and then.; 5/4/08, 12:11 AM
titusistyetyetonight said...: I meant "falling from grace" not following from grace.; 5/4/08, 12:12 AM
titusistyetyetonight said...: Maybe it is just the mood of America right now. Are we not feeling good about ourselves at this moment in history?

How do each of you feel about America at this time? Does it ever fluctuate?

My sense is there is a malaise hovering around the country today.

During the 90's and the dotcom craze living in San Francisco there was a combination of ectasy and hell.

Ectasy because everyone had the opportunity to make boat loads of money. Fabulous food, drink, money everywhere, clubs and etc. Hell because there were no drugs to save people from the evils of AIDS. It was a very weird time. Jobs and sign on bonuses, stock options, relo bonuses were plentiful while at the same time many very young were dieing atrocious deaths. Going insane, going blind, wasting away, talking in tongues, believing bugs were crawling all over them, having spots all over their former beautiful bodies.; 5/4/08, 12:25 AM
Chris Althouse Cohen said...: Obama wins Guam by seven votes. Votes, not points. Least consequential election ever.; 5/4/08, 12:56 AM
Ralph L said...: Yes, Titus, that was certainly the general feeling for most of the 70's. In addition to Watergate and the loss of Vietnam, there were gasoline, coffee, & sugar shortages, persistent inflation and slow or negative growth, and expanding Soviet power and influence. Reagan changed that, with more help from (some)Democrats than Bush has ever gotten in a real fightin' war.; 5/4/08, 1:07 AM
titusistyetyetonight said...: Althouse, I want you to know that I love you and respect you and am glad you are here.

I was very melancholy tonight.

I cried quite a bit. Actually, I cried all night.

I thought about the early nineties, San Francisco, love leaving me. Wondering where I will go or what will happen to me (selfishly).

I "hope" for a better future. Love, long life, an end to lonileness.

But if it doesn't come I still have Althouse, right?

We will meet.....some time.

And the Band Plays On......; 5/4/08, 2:14 AM
titusistyetyetonight said...: My one and only love died of AIDS. That is very difficult for me to say.

AIDS. It has such awful connatations.

I remember wheel chairs at Niemans with him. Him coming to my work spouting off insane comments. Him looking awful, going crazy, going to a hopice, him becoming senile.

Him dieing at the age of 26.; 5/4/08, 2:24 AM
Chris Arabia said...: Is there a fund I can donate to that would get Titus to go away? How much cash would it take? Titus squeezes molecules of comedic dysentery into acres of unreadable swampland. Awful.; 5/4/08, 4:10 AM
rhhardin said...: Thomas Friedman is America's one-note scold

At the NYT, nobody opens his emails.; 5/4/08, 4:51 AM
rhhardin said...: angry immigrant vaginas

The have furnished souls.; 5/4/08, 4:58 AM
Meade said...: I pity the poor angry immigrant vagina
Who wishes it would've stayed home,
Who uses all its power to do evil
But in the end is always left so alone.
That angry immigrant vagina whom with its fingers cheats
And who lies with ev'ry breath,
Who passionately hates its life
And likewise, fears its death.; 5/4/08, 6:28 AM
bearbee said...: El camino del Rey

Wiki; 5/4/08, 6:31 AM
al said...: OK, I thought of something else to talk about, let's talk about how awesome Robert Downey, Jr.'s performance in Iron Man is.

Fun movie. Loved the last line. Downey was truly impressive.; 5/4/08, 7:39 AM
Ruth Anne Adams said...: Stephen Snell: Oh! Would that it were that simple!

Titus is to Althouse as Tinkerbell is to Paris Hilton. He's the overcoddled little beast that Althouse uses as her accessory. She indulges him by dressing him up in little designer outfits and letting him piss all over her furniture.; 5/4/08, 10:19 AM
Trooper York said...: Wow that's a little harsh Ruth Anne. I mean I know he gets a little personal at times and it's not what I would do, but it kinda seems heartfelt. My instinct is to cut people a break, but don't mind me I'm just a chootch.; 5/4/08, 1:10 PM
vbspurs said...: Meade, that was great. And did Dylan really write that (linked)?

Maybe there's something to him, after all. You'd think on Althouse's blog I'd have come to that conclusion already.

Cheers,
Victoria; 5/4/08, 1:21 PM
Ruth Anne Adams said...: Trooper: I meant every word, you chootch.; 5/4/08, 2:08 PM
Trooper York said...: Oh, I know Ruth Anne, I guess I just have more tolerance for Titus, I guess it's just a lasse fairy attitude.; 5/4/08, 2:15 PM
Ruth Anne Adams said...: Trooper: LOL!; 5/4/08, 2:33 PM
Meade said...: Vic: In as much as Dylan writes anything, yes, I stole that directly from the old bard's trove of poetry boodle, did a quick and dirty cut & paste, and there you have it.

Had it.

Have had it. Probably up to here.

Thanks for noticing.; 5/4/08, 2:57 PM