Althouse: Do you need anything?

February 9, 2011

Do you need anything?

If you can find it through this portal...

... you will effortlessly and costlessly make a contribution to this blog, and I am thanking you in advance.

103 comments:

Hoosier Daddy said...: That $315 million sale of HuffPo must have motivated you eh? ;-); 2/9/11, 1:41 PM
Lincolntf said...: I'm impatiently waiting for my birthday gift-cards to start arriving. If one of them is for Amazon (usually the case) I'll be sure to try to remember the portal. I need a rock polisher/tumbler and a little flexy tripod thing for a camcorder. Definitely Amazon purchases.; 2/9/11, 1:44 PM
Scott M said...: Hmmm...Amazon doesn't appear to carry mutated anthrax. For "duck hunting", you know.

If/when Verizon's 4G tablet hits the market, I will try to buy one through your link, AA.; 2/9/11, 1:47 PM
Anonymous said...: Searching now for the Oprah Winfrey Mac&Cheese "My ratings are cratering" Jubilee Edition Bowls.; 2/9/11, 1:50 PM
30MinuteReviews said...: How much money have you made from that search box, Ann?; 2/9/11, 2:04 PM
Lincolntf said...: Clay, you wouldn't happen to be from the IRS by any chance?

wv: phesies; 2/9/11, 2:06 PM
Randy K. said...: The good professor should continue to develop her amazon posting style. The last few have come across more like a multi-level marketing scheme than a service to the reader base. C.F. insta whose amazon style is informative, as if is tipping readers off to deals they might otherwise miss.; 2/9/11, 2:06 PM
Scott M said...: The good professor should continue to develop her amazon posting style.

I doubt the good professor has bullet-deflecting bracelets or a magical lasso that makes one tell the truth.; 2/9/11, 2:17 PM
Lincolntf said...: Scott,

Heh.; 2/9/11, 2:20 PM
MamaM said...: effortlessly and costlessly

Enhancing with Adverbs!

I'm wondering of the book on sentences someone recently talked about ordering arrived and is starting to interestingly and effectively bear fruit?; 2/9/11, 2:34 PM
Fred4Pres said...: If you could sell this blog for $315 million you would not need the Amazon portal.; 2/9/11, 2:51 PM
Scott M said...: If you could sell this blog for $315 million you would not need the Amazon portal.

If that happens, we should expect the first annual Althousecon to be held at the Bellagio in Vegas instead of the Red Roof Inn in Madison. All air fare and expenses paid for, of course.; 2/9/11, 2:54 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: It be great if I could find Obama's phantom hair dye.; 2/9/11, 2:56 PM
chickelit said...: MamaM said...I'm wondering of the book on sentences someone recently talked about ordering arrived and is starting to interestingly and effectively bear fruit?

Indubitabubly Basil!; 2/9/11, 3:01 PM
Trooper York said...: Jeeez I thought only Meade had access to the Althouse Portal.

Or are you guys talking about something else?; 2/9/11, 3:02 PM
AllenS said...: If you find it interesting, Professor, you might want to look into what Vice President Dumb Ass just said today.; 2/9/11, 4:14 PM
Lincolntf said...: Allen S,

Was it Ma-Ma or Da-Da?; 2/9/11, 4:15 PM
Scott M said...: Who the hell is "they" in Biden's statement? I've read it and reread it and it doesn't make any sense. It has to do with the fast-fast-choo-choo.; 2/9/11, 4:19 PM
Original Mike said...: I googled "Vice President Dumb Ass", Allen, but couldn't find out what he said.; 2/9/11, 4:21 PM
Original Mike said...: "Speaking about the need for high-speed rail, Vice President Joe Biden commented that, "If we don't get a grip, folks, they'll not only be teaching us, they're gonna own our kids.""

Seems to me, if we keep borrowing their money, they're really going to own our kids.; 2/9/11, 4:30 PM
Original Mike said...: "How much for zee children? The little one. {points} How much for her?; 2/9/11, 4:31 PM
garage mahal said...: We fight stupid and pointless costly wars. The rest of the industrialized world builds high speed rail. And laughs.; 2/9/11, 4:37 PM
Anonymous said...: The three stages of a woman's hooters:

In her 20's, they're like melons, round and firm.
In her 30's and 40's they're like pears, still nice but hanging a bit.
After 50, they're like onions, you see them and you cry.

The three stages of a man's schwantzstucker:

In his 20's it's like an oak tree, mighty and hard.
In his 30's and 40's it's like a birch tree, flexible but still reliable.
After 50, it's like a Christmas tree ... the root's dead, and the balls are just for decoration.

Peter; 2/9/11, 4:37 PM
Lincolntf said...: Choo-choo good!!!; 2/9/11, 4:41 PM
Tony said...: Can I order a six-pack via Amazon?; 2/9/11, 4:43 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Joe Biden is absolutely the dumbest man in Washington. He recently said he has ridden Amtrak about 7,900 times. At an average subsidy of $50 per ride, Biteme Biden owes the taxpayers about $395,000. Hey- maybe we shoud give a 1099 to every Amtak rider.; 2/9/11, 4:47 PM
Anonymous said...: High speed rail = modern day unicorn.; 2/9/11, 4:50 PM
Palladian said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/9/11, 4:50 PM
Palladian said...: "We fight stupid and pointless costly wars. The rest of the industrialized world builds high speed rail. And laughs."

In other words, we do all the dirty work and the European "sophisticates", who so-called progressives look up to like less popular girls look up to the head cheerleader in high school, do what they've done since we skimmed off the last of their useful and productive citizens in the 19th century: sneer at us, as their choo-choos blow their whistles past the graveyards of their relevance.; 2/9/11, 4:52 PM
AllenS said...: Would someone please use the Amazon.com link, and buy VP Dumb Ass a clue.; 2/9/11, 4:55 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Garage just can't resist yelling "yeah but high speed rail!" in almost every thread. What a maroon.; 2/9/11, 4:56 PM
Palladian said...: "Progressives" love State-sponsored passenger trains because trains can only go where the tracks go, and only the State can build the tracks. The illusion of choice: choose from any number of State-approved destinations, leave at any time the State decides to leave.; 2/9/11, 4:56 PM
Meade said...: Okay but I'm just saying, if you guys do want to be foolish enough to waste your money on expensive trains in places that lack population density, buy them through the Althouse Amazon portal, will ya? So at least someone will get rich.

Thank you.; 2/9/11, 5:03 PM
garage mahal said...: Palladian
"In other words, we do all the dirty work and the European "sophisticates"

The "dirty work" was/is unnecessary, and a complete fucking waste of time/lives and trillions of dollars.

Do you ride trains? That's right, you do. You should have chimed in on the hypocrisy thread yesterday.; 2/9/11, 5:07 PM
Lincolntf said...: Sadly for the Meadhouse fortune, I just looked for the things I want to buy from Amazon. Doesn't even come to forty bucks.; 2/9/11, 5:07 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Meade;
That could happen if Biteme Biden is purchasing the trains. Of course, the taxpayers would then be stuck with a bunch of HO and Lionel model trains.; 2/9/11, 5:08 PM
Trooper York said...: Oooooohhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

Palladian and Garage in a Texas Cage match like Haystacks Calhoun and Classy Freddie Blassie!

Get the popcorn Cameron we are in for a barn burner!; 2/9/11, 5:12 PM
Anonymous said...: Amtrack has not turned a profit since....forever. So now we should double down, no, quintuple down with a brand new, shiny, fast, high speed, rip up the old tracks and lay down new,unicorn train of the future.

Powered by oil and coal burning powerhouses, because nuclear, you know, not allowed.

Sounds like a plan.; 2/9/11, 5:17 PM
Lincolntf said...: The choo-choo fans always ignore (or are ignorant of) the fact that places with truly efficient rail systems (like Germany) are horribly cramped countries whose land areas could fit inside of any number of our individual states. Extrapolating the utility of their local systems to the vast American continent is an exercise in either stupidity or duplicity. Knowing the choo-choo advocates, it's probably both.; 2/9/11, 5:18 PM
Original Mike said...: Whatever you do, do not go through this portal.; 2/9/11, 5:29 PM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: Don't pass up this chance to get your very own
Aaron Rodgers baby jersey! Only 4 left in stock!; 2/9/11, 5:30 PM
garage mahal said...: Amtrack has not turned a profit since....forever.

The only form of travel that actually turns a profit are ships. Cruise ships. All the money we've given Amtrak since 1971 equals one year what we spend on highways.

The choo-choo fans always ignore (or are ignorant of) the fact that places with truly efficient rail systems (like Germany) are horribly cramped countries whose land areas could fit inside of any number of our individual states

France has roughly the same population density as southern Wisconsin, and arguably the best rail service in the world.; 2/9/11, 5:33 PM
Original Mike said...: Aren't they electric trains, garage? Powered by nuclear power plants?; 2/9/11, 5:35 PM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: I see Amazon also acarries cheeseheads for all you new Packer fans out there.; 2/9/11, 5:37 PM
Anonymous said...: France is bankrupt but you are trying to catch up fast.; 2/9/11, 5:38 PM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: No cheesebras or cheesebutts, though.; 2/9/11, 5:39 PM
Lincolntf said...: "France has roughly the same population density as southern Wisconsin, and arguably the best rail service in the world."

France has a fifth of the total U.S. population crammed into a country smaller than the state of Texas. Take your "population density" garbage somewhere else, shitbird.; 2/9/11, 5:40 PM
garage mahal said...: Take your "population density" garbage somewhere else, shitbird.

Don't like facts much, do ya Jethro? Inadvertently, you just made a case for HSR in southern Wisconsin. You probably need not worry that trains are coming though your town anytime soon though.; 2/9/11, 5:55 PM
Lincolntf said...: Garage, you can't possibly be as stupid as you portray yourself, can you? If high-speed rail was desirable, private companies would be chomping at the bit to build their own lines. It's a horrible waste of taxpayer money that owes it's existence to the fevered fantasies of disgraced fat man Al Gore.
If it's such a great idea, go build it yourself.; 2/9/11, 6:05 PM
Automatic_Wing said...: garage's high speed choo-choo will zoom through southern Wisconsin at an amazing average speed of 59 mph.

Only a billion dollars to duplicate the world-renowned Milwaukee-Madison Greyhound bus route. Cheap! There's plenty more where that came from, right?

And to think - This is only the first step on the road to progresive utopia!; 2/9/11, 6:17 PM
Trooper York said...: "Lincolntf said...
Garage, you can't possibly be as stupid as you portray yourself, can you?"

Hey that's not fair. My buddy Garage is a very capable guy. That's why he makes six figures.

I mean he is not a PHD like MadisonMan, Phd but still he can totally be that stupid if he wants to be.

Don't sell the guy short.; 2/9/11, 6:19 PM
knox said...: The "dirty work" was/is unnecessary

???

All the money we've given Amtrak since 1971 equals one year what we spend on highways.

Given the size of the country, I'm not sure why you think this is a good argument.; 2/9/11, 6:27 PM
James said...: Is Congressman Christopher Lee a Democrat or Republican? I can't really tell from the news reports. :); 2/9/11, 6:28 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: Ships are the only profitable mode of trnsportation ever?

Damn that means libruls will be putting toll booths on the oceans real soon.; 2/9/11, 6:39 PM
garage mahal said...: Only a billion dollars to duplicate the world-renowned Milwaukee-Madison Greyhound bus route

Hadn't heard anything about duplicating a bus line between Madison and Milwaukee. Maybe you could link to that. By the way, do you know if you can take a Greyhound from Madison to Milwaukee?; 2/9/11, 6:58 PM
Automatic_Wing said...: Hadn't heard anything about duplicating a bus line between Madison and Milwaukee. Maybe you could link to that.

Well, your train is supposed to move people between Madison and Milwaukee at roughly the speed of a bus, so I'm afraid all it does is duplicate the existing Greyhound service.

By the way, do you know if you can take a Greyhound from Madison to Milwaukee?

Yes. Yes, you can. Greyhound also serves many other fine communities in Wisconsin like Appleton, Kenosha and even...GREEN BAY!

You should take the bus the next time you travel instead of selfishly polluting with your vintage BMW.; 2/9/11, 7:22 PM
paul a'barge said...: No portal in Firefox.; 2/9/11, 7:37 PM
Trooper York said...: Appleton.

Is that where Ronny Cox lived in that show "Apples Way?"; 2/9/11, 7:47 PM
Trooper York said...: Damn I hated that fucking show.

That guitar playing pussy.; 2/9/11, 7:55 PM
coketown said...: @Garage: Southern Wisconsin has an average population density of 104/km2. France's is 308/km2--three times as dense. Comparing an entire nation to the southern part of a state is absurd. Wolfram Alpha is an excellent source if you need to make comparisons on the go.

But beyond that, why are progressives so intent on looking backwards? You want our country powered by windmills, its people moved by railroads, and its labor organized like guilds. None of these obsolete schemes screams "progress!"; 2/9/11, 8:04 PM
chickelit said...: Apples Way

I haven't thought about the show in a coon's age.

Yes. Yes, you can. Greyhound also serves many other fine communities in Wisconsin like Appleton, Kenosha and even...GREEN BAY!

Appleton had Harry Houdini, Kenosha had Orson Welles, and Green Bay had...
...were any famous Packers actually from Green Bay?; 2/9/11, 8:06 PM
Lincolntf said...: "Southern Wisconsin has an average population density of 104/km2. France's is 308/km2--three times as dense."

No fair using math. Liberals are allergic.; 2/9/11, 8:12 PM
Irene said...: chickelit said, "and Green Bay had..."

Tony Shalhoub is from Green Bay.

He appears in Feed the Fish, which was filmed in Door County.

I like him.; 2/9/11, 8:13 PM
Irene said...: Sorry. I meant to write, Feed the Fish.; 2/9/11, 8:16 PM
garage mahal said...: You should take the bus the next time you travel instead of selfishly polluting with your vintage BMW.

My vintage BMW passes smog at 200k :) Anyways the greyhound service from Madison to Chicago goes through Mlke first. It's a terribly inefficient way to travel, and taking about 4 hours. The Madison rail corridor was always intended to connect it to an already very popular passenger rail between Mlke and Chicago, and connecting it to the entire Amtrak system. We've been through this before, your constant misrepresentation of it is proof you don't have a lot of ammo for the debate. Besides "choo choos".; 2/9/11, 8:18 PM
Trooper York said...: "chickelit said...
Apples Way

I haven't thought about the show in a coon's age."

If Mort was awake he would say that is racist.; 2/9/11, 8:41 PM
garage mahal said...: "Southern Wisconsin has an average population density of 104/km2. France's is 308/km2--three times as dense."

Dane county, according to wiki is 137/km2, and France 111/km2. Not sure where you got your figures from.

France

Dane county; 2/9/11, 8:46 PM
MadisonMan said...: There must be more to the Christopher Lee story.; 2/9/11, 8:52 PM
Trooper York said...: The dude from Apples Way (Ronny Cox) just always reminded me of Jimmy Carter and I just think he should be strangled with a guitar string.

Wait that isn't civil. Sorry.; 2/9/11, 8:53 PM
Trooper York said...: "MadisonMan said...
There must be more to the Christopher Lee story."

Well you don't have to be a PHD to know that he made a lot of cool movies. Just the Vampire Movies alone. And he was a great Sherlock Holmes.

But I know why you are dogging him Mr. MadisonMan, Phd. You just prefer Vincent Price because of his greatest role!

I can see how you could identify with him.; 2/9/11, 8:57 PM
Automatic_Wing said...: Anyways the greyhound service from Madison to Chicago goes through Mlke first.

Yes, so will the train. What's your point?

The Madison rail corridor was always intended to connect it to an already very popular passenger rail between Mlke and Chicago, and connecting it to the entire Amtrak system.

Here's the thing. Madison is already connected to the entire Amtrak system. Milwaulkee has an Intermodal Station that serves Amtrak and the intercity bus services. So all you have to do is buy a $24 Greyhound ticket, then walk over to the other side of the station in Milwaukee and hop on your train.

So there's really no unmet transportation requirement that the train will meet. It's part liberal vanity project, part contractor self-licking ice cream cone.

And of course you have no intention of riding it anyway, we all know that. You want other people to ride the train and get off the roads so that you and your smog-belching Beemer can have more room on the highway.; 2/9/11, 8:59 PM
Bushman of the Kohlrabi said...: Choo Choos don't fit through the Amazon portal.; 2/9/11, 8:59 PM
Trooper York said...: Well garage can dream can't he. I bet he dreams a lot about a train going into a tunnel.....I wonder what that means!; 2/9/11, 9:06 PM
Trooper York said...: He had that dream a lot as the Packers made their World Championship run.

Did I tell you lately that the Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl?

Of course nobody saw it because of the Jersey Shore marathon but it still counts. I think?; 2/9/11, 9:07 PM
garage mahal said...: And of course you have no intention of riding it anyway, we all know that. You want other people to ride the train and get off the roads so that you and your smog-belching Beemer can have more room on the highway.

I wouldn't ride it every day, but I would ride it. I fly out Mlke and Chicago pretty frequent, as do others in the small company I work for. But I don't look at it as a selfish asshole either, and I wouldn't be against it just because the other side is for it. Like our college dropout governor who threw 10 yrs of planning out the window, for instance.; 2/9/11, 9:23 PM
Eric said...: I'll buy the 2011 Writer's Market through Ann if and only if someone clicks-through to my writing blog. Of course, if the the click-though-ie says that, based on my writing, my money would be better spent on Writing For Dummies, I may buy a desktop Dilbert calendar or something.

Http://publishless.wordpress.com/

That may be the best trolling for traffic post ever.; 2/9/11, 9:30 PM
Palladian said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/9/11, 9:37 PM
30MinuteReviews said...: Seriously, how much have you made from that little Amazon.com search box?; 2/9/11, 9:42 PM
Meade said...: "Like our college dropout governor who threw 10 yrs of planning out the window, for instance."

Again, you don't have to have a PhD - or even a bachelor's degree - to have a reasonable amount of common sense.

@Eric, turn that address into a clickable link and I'll bet you get more views.; 2/9/11, 9:44 PM
coketown said...: "Dane county, according to wiki is 137/km2, and France 111/km2. Not sure where you got your figures from."

Wolfram Alpha--which I put more stock in than Wikipedia. If you're too lazy to punch in the search terms yourself, I can't help you.; 2/9/11, 10:06 PM
Luther said...: Trooper. No one else will admit to it but I LOL'd at your nasty comment. It was funny.

Ann. I did click on the Crucial memory link today, and did then purchase more memory for the ancient laptop I am now typing on. So perhaps you earned a few pennies there.; 2/9/11, 10:13 PM
Meade said...: Thanks, Luther, both for buying through the Althouse Amazon portal and for laughing through the Duke of Trooper York portal.; 2/9/11, 10:25 PM
A said...: Is the Amazon box failing to appear for anyone else?

I can see it when I change to Safari but when I'm on Chrome (my default browser) it doesn't exist.; 2/9/11, 10:35 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: I plan to buy a webcam with microphone so I can SKYPE with my daughter and new grandson.

Such a very cool invention and Althouse has nagged me into buying it (in the near future) through her Amazon portal.

Oooooh. That sounded kind of nasty :-D; 2/9/11, 10:40 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: DBQ:
FYI - the last laptop I bought has a camera lens built right into it and a mike attachment to use if you use Skype. I think it came with Skype software too.

So buy a new laptop via the Altouse Amazon link.; 2/9/11, 10:53 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: Dane county, according to wiki is 137/km2, and France 111/km2. Not sure where you got your figures from.

Interesting. Let's compare and contrast.

Dane County: 1238 Sq Mi. Population 426,526

My county: 3847 Sq Mi
Population 163,256. Largest city approximately 95,000.

Forget how many people live per square mile. It is meaningless.

What is relevant is that we don't give a flying fuck about high speed rail or funding it for your cramped little county.; 2/9/11, 10:53 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: It shows up in Chrome for me.; 2/9/11, 11:01 PM
I'm Full of Soup said...: DBQ:

You tell him. Garage loves trains so he should pay for them!; 2/9/11, 11:18 PM
Luther said...: Well, Meade. It's all to your benefit in the end, right. No snark in this, just humor which I hope comes through.; 2/9/11, 11:39 PM
Anonymous said...: Palladian @ 4:52 PM

Nice. Pointed and succinct. Thanks.; 2/10/11, 1:34 AM
Anonymous said...: garage mahal --

"Like our college dropout governor who threw 10 yrs of planning out the window, for instance."

Just because someone was planning a boondoggle for a while doesn't mean it's prudent to see it to completion.; 2/10/11, 1:45 AM
Deb said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/10/11, 2:12 AM
Deb said...: "Classy Freddie Blassie"

"Listen you pencil necked geeks!; 2/10/11, 2:16 AM
Original Mike said...: "So all you have to do is buy a $24 Greyhound ticket, then walk over to the other side of the station in Milwaukee and hop on your train."

Hey, that's just like that sophisticated Europe place.; 2/10/11, 8:57 AM
garage mahal said...: Again, you don't have to have a PhD - or even a bachelor's degree - to have a reasonable amount of common sense.

Our governor was for the rail project, up until the Republican primary. Again, it had nothing to do with principle, or money. 52% mandate bitchez!; 2/10/11, 9:09 AM
Automatic_Wing said...: Hey, that's just like that sophisticated Europe place.

Precisely. It's my understanding that they even have an espresso stand with a bunch o' them fancy Eye-talian syrups.; 2/10/11, 9:28 AM
Trooper York said...: Thanks Luther but what comment were you talking about.

I try to make them all nasty.

Funny but nasty.; 2/10/11, 10:45 AM
Original Mike said...: If you don't think a comment Trooper made is nasty, you didn't understand it.

Least whys, that's what I always assume.; 2/10/11, 11:38 AM
Trooper York said...: Thanks Original Mike.

Can I borrow your avatar. I am taking my dog for a walk and it might come in handy. Just sayn'

Did I tell you the Green Bay Packers just won the Super Bowl?

I know right? I don't get it either. I guess if the Saints and the Packers can do it then the Cardinals will be winning next year. It is the end of days.; 2/10/11, 11:43 AM
Original Mike said...: This was the last NFL season. The owners and players will initiate MAD and the Green Bay Packers will remain World Champions forever.; 2/10/11, 11:47 AM
MamaM said...: Portal Power: 100 comments on an Amazon link, with a "Do you need anything?" lead.; 2/10/11, 7:24 PM
Anonymous said...: How much do you end up making off one purchase? Is it cash or Amazon credit?; 2/11/11, 8:01 PM
Meade said...: About 7%. Cash.; 2/11/11, 8:08 PM