April 10, 2009

At the Peach Blossom Café...

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... you can talk about whatever you want.

I may need to take a nap in the window seat....

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79 comments:

Ignorance is Bliss said...

Got a bed!

save_the_rustbelt said...

Wisconsin trees or Ohio trees?

Peter V. Bella said...

A nap? Alone? Meaaaaade!!!!

I'm Full of Soup said...

So don't be making any noise Meade!

traditionalguy said...

Looks like University of Wisconsin, but peach blossims are early for there. Lay Lady Lay is the Dylan song of the day. Peace.

Nasty, Brutish & Short said...

Those are Ohio trees. I can tell because the underbrush is leafing out like that here, but not the leaves on the trees, yet. I think the tree is a redbud, but I can't really tell from the photo, the blossoms are the right color but they look too big.

The curiosity is killing me about who's estate this is.

FYI: Take your camera--and the dogs--to Red Bird Hollow.

Molly said...

I sleep in exactly the same position as Althouse. Weird to know!

Christopher in MA said...

I wish I had a window seat.

traditionalguy said...

A closer look reveals the peach blossom picture taken on Meade's estate and the sleeping child picture taken in a University Building in a town somewhere.

Peter Hoh said...

Latest developments on the anti-gay marriage front.

Maggie Gallagher's National Organization for Marriage, the same people who brought you this scary video just launched a new initiative: 2M4M.

Unfortunately for NOM, they forgot to nail down 2M4M.org before making the announcement.

And there's the little detail of M4M being well-known as the abbreviation for "Men looking for Men."

Must be a few gay moles in NOM or their PR agency.

Henry said...

Peter -- Funny.

My first thought was that 2M4M could be a Polyandry promotion. 2M or 4M is better than 1M.

Molly said...

Here's the question I hear over and over again as I participate in debates and interviews on same-sex marriage: How does same-sex marriage hurt you?

And here are the answers of everyday Americans who have felt the impact of same-sex marriage:
"I'm a California doctor who must choose between my faith and my job."

Huh?!

I've never understood how these people are "pro-marriage" when their goal is to stop people from getting married.

Lorelei Leigh said...

Must be a few gay moles in NOM or their PR agency.

Seriously. That's some bad staff work.

traditionalguy said...

Molly... You are right. But when the distinction between promoting a monopoly for marriage that procreates and raises children for 20+ years and promoting a new competing marriage that makes Gay people happier to be Gay, is lost this will become a strange new world. Not that there is anything wrong with that. Can the citizens vote on their strange new world or not? If not, why not.

MadisonMan said...

Have you seen this?, Professor?

I love how Meade is characterized by something he wrote to Michael. And that you are characterized as a conservative (the columnist must live on Jenifer St or something) Well, this article makes me think that Ursula would have been a lot nicer! Because, after all, Ursula Understands. Or did.

MadisonMan said...

rustbelt, those are Ohio Trees. Wisconsin trees are still hibernating.

Molly said...

It doesn't seem like a strange world to me, but I don't see any real difference between the married straight couples I know and the gay couples I know who have been in decades-long relationships. They have stable relationships, some of them have kids, they have the same commitment to one another. I think these are the things that define what marriage is, not sexual orientation. Surveys overwhelmingly show that younger people don't have any problem with equal marriage, so it's just a matter of time before we win that vote.

The Dude said...

Our muslim worshipping president has a problem with same sex marriage, so don't hope for any change in that area.

TMink said...

What was so frightening about that video?

Trey

Peter Hoh said...

Re. traditionalguy @ 1:27:

a culture that recognizes the marriage of Newt Gingrich and his most recent affair partner has already accepted a fundamental redefinition of marriage.

And citizens never got to vote on that change.

Peter Hoh said...

Trey, the really funny part was that someone leaked the audition tapes. NOM has appealed to YouTube to pull them, but I'll post a link if I can find one.

knox said...

In some past comment thread someone made fun of that skirt. They're stupid, it's really cool.

Revenant said...

That window seat looks extremely comfy.

rhhardin said...

Very nice photographic expression of just-want-to-be-here.

David said...

The nap photo is very sweet. So comfortable.

Anonymous said...

Actually Peter, society (through elected representatives) did vote to relax the divorce laws. And Vermont is actually voting for gay marriage.

But, I think it is impossible to argue that the relaxation of the divorce laws (and Hollywood glamorization of serial divorce) did not do harm to marriage. The proponents of easier divorce promised that it wouldn't harm marriage, would actually be beneficial to kids, etc, all of which has been tragically wrong.) I don't see why society should compound those mistakes by further eroding the institution of marriage.

Same-sex marriage may not affect my relationship with my wife, but it will weaken the institution of marriage. The resulting "families" that will be created (the word family has already been reconceptualized away from the traditional meaning) will look far different, and I expect that the traditional rights and responsibilities of parents towards their children will become "redefined" as well, with the state taking an even more intrusive role in family life.

Michael Haz said...

One of those two dogs is a really good photographer.

traditionalguy said...

Molly and Peter... I acept that times have changed. The State no longer regulates private sexual relations. As a natural result there will more and more be childless couples with the famous up-side down family tree, containing 8 grandparents and one grandchild or less. I hope we all learn to accept massive immigration from Catholic cultures south of the border as easily as we are accepting Gay Marriage as the equal of Old Fashioned Marriage.

rhhardin said...

The inverted family tree was an old MAD Magazine cover, The Population Implosion, probably in the 60s.

Buckley around the same ``population explosion'' time was asked by a Harvard(?) student whether his having 12 children wasn't contributing to the overloading the planet crisis, and responded ``I see what you mean.''

Holding his ground against the crisis in a way that escaped the hostile questioner.

rhhardin said...

The argument against gay marriage is that nobody knows exactly what a marriage is, but that isn't it.

Get your own word.

Anonymous said...

Traditionalguy,

I wouldn't count on the "Catholic cultures" to provide workers to pay for our retirees. Two of the countries farthest along on the upside down family tree are Italy and Spain.

BJM said...

The windows at Althouse's back makes me want to toss a snuggie over her.

Won't it be great to discard winter's layers of clothing and feel the sun on our bare skin again?

Hazy Dave said...

@MadisonMan:

Stay classy, Isthumus. I suppose that was the first time "foul language" has been printed in that rag.

Isn't anyone going to mention polygamy? How about "animal husbandry"?

Hazy Dave said...

Why would a megalomaniac want to be President, anyway? Makes no sense. And how could a president whose middle initial is H. instead of W. possibly be "boneheaded", no matter what he says or does? (Too lazy to embed links.) Unpossible.

I'm willing to concede that Tell All may have the acumen to recognize an obnoxious bit of a dick when wrapping their lips around one, but that whole reply tells me more about Tell All than it it tells me about the Professor and Meade...

Peter V. Bella said...

Via MM's link:
Plus, I'm worried that the guy is a bit of a dick. In response to another commenter, Meade says: "Well okay then, Michael. I guess I'd rather be a happy fucking moron than a lonely psychotic weirdo."

Meade now you are in the advice columns. Fuck em if they can't take a joke!

Ernesto Ariel Suárez said...

Love the pictures.

I apologize to the rational members of the comentariat for being specially cranky today. Maybe I need a nap...

Maxine Weiss said...

Improper sleep position: the head should be elevated above the hips, and smashed hands cut off the circulation.

Looks like a good way to give yourself an embolism, or nasty deep-vein thrombosis.

Love,
Maxine

Donna B. said...

I just can't get all worked up over two men or two women making a commitment to each other -- and that is what marriage is. A commitment.

Spiritually, it doesn't matter how you get married, what pieces of paper you get, etc.

TMink said...

"Spiritually, it doesn't matter how you get married, what pieces of paper you get, etc."

Donna, you write with supreme confidence concerning this matter. What is your source?

Trey

Jason (the commenter) said...

I miss spring. In Florida we just get lots of dust instead, until the rains come later in the year. How I'd like to see peach blossoms out my window!

Palladian said...

"Donna, you write with supreme confidence concerning this matter. What is your source?"

Superstitious nonsense needs no source. That's why it's superstitious nonsense.

Jason (the commenter) said...


Superstitious nonsense needs no source. That's why it's superstitious nonsense.


For Palladian, marriage is only a legal contract; a cold, dead piece of paper and nothing more.

DaLawGiver said...

Plus, I'm worried that the guy is a bit of a dick. In response to another commenter, Meade says: "Well okay then, Michael. I guess I'd rather be a happy fucking moron than a lonely psychotic weirdo."

Hey! Michael has a protector! Other than Alpha I mean anyways.

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

"For Palladian, marriage is only a legal contract; a cold, dead piece of paper and nothing more."

We're talking about the license granting power of the State. Are you implying that the State thinks of a marriage in any other way than as a "cold, dead piece of paper"? Does the State cry at weddings?

The State should not be in the business of issuing licenses for romantic or religious ceremonials or in the business of validating private interpersonal relationships between consenting adults. People should also not presume that the State has the power or right to validate or negate such ceremonials or relationships.

It's the emotional nonsense and muddy thinking on each "side" of this debate (such as it is) that causes problems.

KCFleming said...

Men, like babies, will sleep anywhere they can, most of them.

Women seem only to sleep where they have a sense of trust.

At least until they're about 80, then they're like babies, too.

Original Mike said...

Yeah, I got a hoot out of the Isthmus reference to Michael. Ann, perhaps you should point out to Isthmus readers the thread where he wrote post after post "bucking" like a chicken.

Jason (the commenter) said...

Palladian,

Donna seemed to be on the fence as far as same sex marriage goes. She certainly didn't seem morally opposed to it. But instead of explaining to her why it might be important to some people, you attacked her belief system. That's no way to change people's minds.

Ann Althouse said...

"The windows at Althouse's back makes me want to toss a snuggie over her."

Actually, I woke from that nap and said "ow" because the sun on my back was so hot it seemed as though something was wrong.

chickelit said...

Because, after all, Ursula Understands. Or did.

I remember the original Ursula, Kathy Foster-even met her once or twice. Kind, sweethearted redhead she was.

@Madison Man: That article you linked to brings back memories of bad odors. Yeesh!

BJM said...

Fabulousity.

Jason (the commenter) said...

Donna,

I agree with you that marriage is a commitment, and commitments are often hard to keep. That is one of the reasons why people have their marriages in public and invite their friends. Everyone knows about the commitment and therefore everyone can help with it.

Think of it as a friendly conspiracy. And some of the conspirators have even made their way into government, covertly adding legal seals and agreements into the legal process, to help the couple keep their commitment alive. Some of it is purely symbolic, like a license; while other things are more helpful, like being assured you can visit a loved one in the hospital. But even the symbolic things are important.

I know some may think it silly, but for some couples having a ring on their fingers and signing a piece of paper means a lot. It's like the American flag, or swearing on bibles, or shaking hands; symbolic things adults do. On a spiritual level the symbols are unnecessary, but because of traditions they make the people using them feel more comfortable and self-assured.

And that's why they are important and why same-sex couples want them. Because keeping a commitment can be hard, and like anyone else we need all the help we can get. Especially in the beginning!

rhhardin said...

Black dogs are comfortably warm the instant the sun peeks out.

PeterP said...

Sleeping Beauty. A singularly erotic photograph.

JAL said...

Where are your shoes?

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

Lay down your sweet and weary head...

Soon you will see.
All of your fears will pass away.
Safe in Mead's arms,
you’re only sleeping.

Henry said...

BJM -- Thank you. That was worth the click.

Henry said...

Peter V -- It's kind of funny, when you know who Meade is responding too, you can almost write the script. Even with no context, that rejoinder brings a smile to my face.

knox said...

That was a dicky article MadMan linked to. (No reflection on you, MadisonMan, you're the best.)

chickelit said...

I second what Knox just said about you MadisonMan. But that article reminded me of certain prejudices and small minded thinking that is still too common in the Mad City.

Beth said...

Nom nom nom. I'm in ur marriage, eating ur wedding cake.

I love that commercial!

"I'm afraid!" (of what?)

"I will have no choice!" (We will gay marry you against your will!)

"A storm is gathering!" (Apparently too stupid to get out of the rain.)

nom nom. I guess some people eat this shit up.

Beth said...

BJM - my thanks, too. I love an Easter bonnet.

Here's another Easter tradition: Nine Churches.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

An ode to Meade

former law student said...

Is this our first blogger view of the professorial hips?

No one better take a picture of me napping; with my luck I'd be drooling onto the pillow.

LoafingOaf said...

The young man who impregnated Sarah Palin’s daughter said yesterday that the former GOP vice-presidential candidate is a liar and that she stopped being nice to him after her defeat in November.

Levi Johnston, 19, stood by his claim that he lived with his former girlfriend, Bristol Palin, under her famously conservative mother’s roof. The Palin family has denied it.

Asked on CBS’s “The Early Show” if the family was lying about him, Johnston said, “Yeah.”

Link

DaLawGiver said...

Psssst, Oaf, the election's over Obama won.

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

I realize the election is over, lawgiver. But this blog hyped up Palin and the Britol-Levi relationship at the time. Just pointing out that some of us were right and some of you were wrong. For the record. :)

LoafingOaf said...

I always like pics of people sleeping. I find it impossible to feel a bad thought about a person I am seeing sleeping. No matter their age, no matter what I think of them otherwise, when I see them sleeping they just make me feel warmth towards them. Like, everyone is an innocent child when they are sleeping.

Anonymous said...

i have a question on gay marriage.

to me, personally, it doesn't matter anymore because i have lost my faith in institutions like formal marriage, formal education, justice, and economics.

Lucky for me i still believe heartily and organly in good simple food, good exercise, and in love. That's probably why I am still alive and haven't completley gone down the drain.

but to my question for the greater good of humanity on earth:

homosexuality has been around as a behaviour and/or genetic preference for a long, long, long time. Now I have seen the argument that homosexual marriage is inevitable and become acceptable because for one thing, young people are okay with it.

I actually don't thin young people are any cooler or tolerant today than young people ever before. Think, no, I know that. Young people all eventually turn into middle aged people and old people, unless they die young. Flexibility isn't reserved for the young, just as sex is not reserved for them either. But now again to my point.

If this is true that homosexual marriage is somehow more acceptable with young people today, does this represent an evolution of humans? or does this represent a repetition of something that has been tried before in societies of the past, but never adhered to tradition because it just didn't workout for the greater good. I do not read enough of history, nor study enough to know of the societies that prospered with such tolerance.

There is that interacial comparison. Interracial marriage or fornication (forcefully and voluntarily) has gone on for a long time otherwise we wouldn't have so much variance in race in different pockets of this earth. Exotic opposite sex members have been enticing new blood demands for the greater good, too. Is that evolution? I don't know what evolution is anymore, to be quite honest.

chickelit said...

Loafing Oaf wrote:

I realize the election is over, lawgiver. But this blog hyped up Palin and the Britol-Levi relationship at the time.

OMG Loaf, Sarah Palin's pussy still has ahold of your ankle, doesn't she?

Just pointing out that Palladian was right and you were wrong. For the record. :)

Penny said...

What a grand place this Peach Blossom Cafe' can be. Certainly a lot of heavy topics passionately discussed over the past 19 hours. Not sure we solved anything, but that's fine too. At least we took the time to talk to each other.

I started off wanting to be Althouse in that picture, because napping with the sun on my body is a special pleasure for me personally. I know that's odd, but? Hey, I am proudly "odd"! I did notice that Ann preferred the sun on her back, while I much prefer it on my face. Oh well, that's a "chocolate/vanilla" kind of thing.

Now, we have Oaf, thinking all nappers and sleepers look like innocent children, and you know? I have to agree with his observation.

But?

I am no innocent child. If only I were! Althouse can answer for herself, as can the rest of you sleepers and nappers out there.

The best thing we ALL have going for us is that we are humans who talk and sleep and periodically look like innocents to someone.

Life is good. Let's keep it that way.

chickelit said...

You're too much Penny. I'm starting to like you.

Anonymous said...

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chickelit said...

No thanks Graggg!

rhhardin said...

``Having witnessed the economy floundering from Belfast to the Bronx, the guillotine has yet to drop in New York.''

NYT opinion page link good only through Saturday eastern time.

I blame the French revolution, which weighs heavily on the NYT.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

From now on, I propose when we go out on a limb (and thats quite often here) we should name what kind of tree it is... out deference to Meade ;)