Althouse: At the Crocus Café...

April 16, 2013

At the Crocus Café...

... speak up.

56 comments:

edutcher said...: The Blonde always loves the little crocuseseseseses.

"So brave".; 4/16/13, 12:09 PM
Farmer said...: Carroll College is on lockdown. I'm sure it's nothing but some students reported seeing a guy with a gun. Probably jittery nerves from Boston.; 4/16/13, 12:20 PM
Nomennovum said...: Crocuses! So, late winter has finally arrived in Wisconsin?; 4/16/13, 12:24 PM
edutcher said...: A couple of things I don't think have been noted.

What does what happened yesterday do to the rush to grab firearms when the 2(?) morons did a lot worse with a pressure cooker and some gunpowder (the Saudi apparently reeked of it) and, of course, opening up the borders?

Also Choom shows his class by boycotting Maggie Thatcher's funeral and finally, after 20 hours and Axelrod saying it wasn't, calls what happened a terror attack.; 4/16/13, 12:25 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: I had a happy accident.

I put my phone in my pocket w/o turning it off and next time I went to use it, I found this graphic, which is automatically saved... and good thing it was because my first reaction was one of disgust that I had inadvertently wasted the battery... so I turned it off w/o even thinking of the possibility that it could have an aesthetic value... but, taaadaaa, it had been saved.

The thing is living up to its "smarts".; 4/16/13, 12:25 PM
Nomennovum said...: Lem,

Voila! Art.; 4/16/13, 12:28 PM
Eric the Fruit Bat said...: I never understood the song "Jerkin' Crocus" except that it was dirty.; 4/16/13, 12:30 PM
AllenS said...: It's time for a little sunshine in our world. This is really good and make sure that you watch this until the very end.

Grandma; 4/16/13, 12:31 PM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: Rupert Murdock spoke up.

Yesterday Drudge had linked to a Rupert Murdock speech to Australian think tank called the Institute for Public Affairs.

It occurred to me that for a guy that has generated a lot of print, I had never heard him speak.

So, I watched it and was pleasantly surprised to hear a defense of free market capitalism on moral grounds.; 4/16/13, 12:41 PM
J said...: In the midst of darkness seek the light.I spent this morning cutting my meadow and admiring floweting honeysuckles.; 4/16/13, 12:42 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Anyone want to come decorate my house? I don't. But I'll get it done anyway.; 4/16/13, 12:45 PM
campy said...: Also Choom shows his class by boycotting Maggie Thatcher's funeral and

Hey, if she ain't goin' to his, why should he go to hers?; 4/16/13, 12:54 PM
ad hoc said...: Crocuses - spring is on its way.; 4/16/13, 12:55 PM
Unknown said...: I love decorating, Freeman. What kind of projects are you planning?; 4/16/13, 12:58 PM
paminwi said...: Steny Hoyer says the bombing is the fault of the sequester. Hey Steny baby ask your President why the hell is signed the damn bill if it is SO bad!; 4/16/13, 1:17 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: C. Stanley, I need to do the living room, dining room, kitchen, entryway, and a hall bathroom. Floors that are changing are already picked out, so that's good. (Took forever.) Have to figure out what furniture is leaving, what is staying, and what is to be added. Also, the walls. Decorative objects? Whatever else is supposed to be part of this. This is not really my forte.

I thought putting a huge Hubble image on one wall would be cool, but I think I'm in the minority of all humanity on that one.; 4/16/13, 1:18 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: C. Stanley, any books you would recommend on this?; 4/16/13, 1:18 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: I have a friend who has a fantastic eye but is not an interior decorator. I sent her an email today asking if she'd ever thought about starting an interior design business because I would hire her right now. If I get lucky, she'll decide that that's a good idea. It's too much work to ask a friend to help with for free.; 4/16/13, 1:22 PM
AllenS said...: Freeman, one room at a time. Do the floors last.; 4/16/13, 1:25 PM
bagoh20 said...: " some gunpowder (the Saudi apparently reeked of it)..."

He was injured in the blast. I bet everybody that close smells of it.; 4/16/13, 1:27 PM
Nonapod said...: Some geneticists did an interesting study about the gradual increase in genetic complexity of life over time, comparing it to Moore's Law (the "law" that the number of transistors in electronic components roughly doubles every 18 months or so). They posited that the genetic complexity of life doubles about every 376 million years. They then extrapolated backwards and concluded that organic life is much older than the Earth itself, about 9.7 billion years versus the 4.5 billion year age of the Earth.; 4/16/13, 1:31 PM
kjbe said...: Our crocus' popped up, en masse, yesterday. We're enjoying them while they last...and waiting for the rabbits.

We're doing a kitchen remodel - the first this 55 yer old house has had. Took down a wall, took up the floor and spent the weekend laying a new (reclaimed) one to match the other room. As for the finishing details - we've hired an architecture friend to help us out with that.; 4/16/13, 1:34 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Mrs. e, nice!

We're limiting our kitchen changes to new floor and new counter, so that part is much more manageable than it could have been.; 4/16/13, 1:35 PM
bagoh20 said...: On my way to work, I always have wait at an intersection where there are often people with cardboard signs asking for money. It's in a 95% non-white area.

Lately, there has been a young, pretty blonde girl there with a ragged sign. From her looks, it seemed pretty obvious to me she was having an affair with something like Meth. I never give her, or anyone a hand out there. Today, a Black guy in front of me in a thoroughly worn out cheap ass car rolled down his window and gave her some change. I drove on past in my expensive pick up truck.

I would be more than willing to have picked her up, given her job, and helped her get it together, but I knew from experience that she would have none of it, and I would just fail instantly or eventually.

I went to work.; 4/16/13, 1:38 PM
Unknown said...: Open floor plan or not?
Age of home and is there any distinctive architectural style?
Do you like neutral or strong color?
What kind of floors?
Good natural light, or no?
Do you want it all casual and comfy, or some formality to it?; 4/16/13, 1:41 PM
Christy said...: What is it you don't like about decorating, Freeman?; 4/16/13, 1:41 PM
Unknown said...: Sign up for some of the decorating flash sale subscriptions like jossandmain.com and onekingslane.com. They have daily sales with reasonable deals on everything from sofas to area rugs and wall art.

Browsing them will give you an idea of what suits your style, and when you're ready to purchase you may find what you are looking for there.; 4/16/13, 1:47 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: C. Stanley, thanks! I was going to ask where to buy things. This is a great start.; 4/16/13, 1:49 PM
Unknown said...: The Hubble art wouldn't be my choice but finding what you like is important. I think something like that might be a little harder to pull off well than some more convential artwork though. I do think that having a few large pieces of artwork is key. Most people tend to put things that are too small on the walls. If you do have small pieces, group them.; 4/16/13, 1:50 PM
Limited Blogger said...: "We need to legalize polygamy, too. Legalized polygamy in the United States is the constitutional, feminist, and sex-positive choice. More importantly, it would actually help protect, empower, and strengthen women, children, and families.
* * *
The definition of marriage is plastic."

Is that crazy Rush Limbaugh posing preposterous hypotheticals again? Nope. It's a serious argument, from Slate.

http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2013/04/legalize_polygamy_marriage_equality_for_all.single.html; 4/16/13, 1:52 PM
Freeman Hunt said...: Christy, it's not so much that I don't like it; I think it's that I like other things a lot more.

I love walking into a beautiful house, so I think creating that is a wonderful skill. It is not, however, a skill that I currently possess. Working on it.; 4/16/13, 1:54 PM
bagoh20 said...: In a related thing, also today on the way to work, I saw a guy hitchhiking near my house. Once a very common thing, which I made extensive use of when I was young, you almost never see anyone doing it today. I picked him up. He was mid 60s, well spoken and very nice. His car was in the shop, and he was on his way to a workshop on how to flip houses.; 4/16/13, 1:57 PM
traditionalguy said...: My complements to the intelligent designer.; 4/16/13, 1:59 PM
bagoh20 said...: I regularly see homeless dogs on the street or freeway, and I have made a hobby of grabbing them, taken them home and finding them homes. Virtually 100% of the time they go from certain misery and likely death to stability, safety and love. This happens almost regardless of how, ill-tempered, scared, confused, or sick they are when you find them.

I have had very little success with doing the same with humans. Why are humans so hard to help? You can be nice to them, give them shelter, and feed them, and they will bite you on the ass when they get a chance. Not always, of course, but pretty damned disappointingly often. I know we are smarter than dogs, but what's the defect with us?

I love dogs. They make me feel useful, and appreciated, which a person needs in life.; 4/16/13, 2:08 PM
Anonymous said...: Freeman, my husband and I updated our 1935 era home starting in 1975, it took us until 1985 to finish it, my husband died shortly thereafter and it just added to the heartbreak that he couldn't enjoy the fruits of our labor.

We put in new wiring, new plumbing, added a large family room in the back of the house, completely new kitchen, windows, added air conditioning. The only original floor we kept in the house is the front room, it has wood floors with pegs!; 4/16/13, 2:11 PM
Anonymous said...: Oh yes, new roof, new heating, still had oil heating. I'm sure I've forgotten even more.; 4/16/13, 2:15 PM
Nonapod said...: But I guess the researches used genome size as a measure of "genetic complexity", which isn't particularly good.; 4/16/13, 2:16 PM
bagoh20 said...: I've been remodelling my house for 17 years, I know it must be better than when I started, but how come I don't feel it. It always seems to be badly in need of more. Home Depot sells addiction.; 4/16/13, 2:17 PM
Known Unknown said...: Great photo.; 4/16/13, 2:20 PM
Crunchy Frog said...: Screaming in the night
Fighting for my life
I'd die for you
I knew it all along
Headed for the sun
Our love was true

Krokus - "Screaming In The Night"; 4/16/13, 2:22 PM
Fritz said...: Nonapod said...

Some geneticists did an interesting study about the gradual increase in genetic complexity of life over time, comparing it to Moore's Law (the "law" that the number of transistors in electronic components roughly doubles every 18 months or so). They posited that the genetic complexity of life doubles about every 376 million years. They then extrapolated backwards and concluded that organic life is much older than the Earth itself, about 9.7 billion years versus the 4.5 billion year age of the Earth.

They need to read more Twain:

http://www.lhup.edu/~dsimanek/twain.htm; 4/16/13, 2:27 PM
Ignorance is Bliss said...: Legalize Polygamy

The definition of marriage is plastic. Just like heterosexual marriage is no better or worse than homosexual marriage, marriage between two consenting adults is not inherently more or less “correct” than marriage among three (or four, or six) consenting adults. Though polygamists are a minority—a tiny minority, in fact—freedom has no value unless it extends to even the smallest and most marginalized groups among us. So let’s fight for marriage equality until it extends to every same-sex couple in the United States—and then let’s keep fighting. We’re not done yet.

And, lets be clear: once we allow polygamy, we still won't be done.

So why stop now?; 4/16/13, 2:31 PM
Ignorance is Bliss said...: bagoh20 said...

Home Depot sells addiction.

Shortly after we became homeowners, I suggested to my wife that we build ourselves a little cottage within Home Depot's outdoor gardening department. We would save ourselves a lot of travel time, plus a lot of money since we wouldn't have to take everything out past the cashiers.; 4/16/13, 2:35 PM
Elle said...: Thanks Allen - that Grandma is awesome. Salty language and all.; 4/16/13, 2:36 PM
Unknown said...: Also Freeman- if I was starting all over I'd choose a dining table and sofa first, and find one large piece of art that I loved and one area rug...and then work in all of the details from there.

For art- go with original if you can (local undiscovered artists might have stuff that appeals to you without busting the budget) but for more affordable prints to fill in with, art.com and fineartsamerica.com have things you can customize to fit your space.; 4/16/13, 2:44 PM
AllenS said...: Elle, I have an idea that the granddauther is awesome too. I loved her laugh.; 4/16/13, 2:51 PM
edutcher said...: bagoh20 said...

some gunpowder (the Saudi apparently reeked of it)...

He was injured in the blast. I bet everybody that close smells of it.

Yeah, but the cops aren't holding everybody that was that close.

I'm surprised they're actually questioning an A-rab.; 4/16/13, 3:55 PM
Limited Blogger said...: C'mon, talk to me. I'm holding a red plastic cup!

http://collegeinsurrection.com/2013/04/dartmouth-students-have-trouble-communicating-without-red-cups/; 4/16/13, 3:56 PM
edutcher said...: If tyhis was mentioned, my bad, but Pam Geller notes the Marathon bombs were like the IEDs used in Iraq and A-stan.

When do we start pulling out of Baaston?; 4/16/13, 3:59 PM
edutcher said...: PS Notice how much good that 2 billion rounds of ammo and the 1700 MRAP vehicles we bought for Big Sis did us yesterday?; 4/16/13, 4:26 PM
cf said...: Four months and 28 days until the next 9-11, and everyone who should care continues to find other things to discuss. How are diplomats quietly preparing since no one else will? Does the wind still blow through the emptied halls of the American offices in Benghazi and are there still abandoned memos rustling in that breeze? Is the coffee as delicious for the killers of American diplomats as it was in those weeks afterwards? And how is old scapegoat "Mark Basseley Youssef, formerly known as Nakoula Basseley Nakoula", the one person in prison in relation to this event?

Last question: can the White House hear any bells tolling? They aren't just ringing for Boston.; 4/16/13, 5:27 PM
bagoh20 said...: "When do we start pulling out of Baaston?

A pointless war where the inhabitants have no desire or ability to embrace democracy or freedom. Just a bunch of 18th century nomads with an impenetrable culture. Bring our boys home and get them away from those murderous pilgrim buckle heads; 4/16/13, 5:51 PM
edutcher said...: cf said...

Four months and 28 days until the next 9-11, and everyone who should care continues to find other things to discuss. How are diplomats quietly preparing since no one else will? Does the wind still blow through the emptied halls of the American offices in Benghazi and are there still abandoned memos rustling in that breeze? Is the coffee as delicious for the killers of American diplomats as it was in those weeks afterwards? And how is old scapegoat "Mark Basseley Youssef, formerly known as Nakoula Basseley Nakoula", the one person in prison in relation to this event?

Last question: can the White House hear any bells tolling? They aren't just ringing for Boston.

There are a lot of Americans who want to know about Benghazi, unfortunately there are just enough who know their Messiah would not rise again if the truth came out.; 4/16/13, 6:06 PM
pm317 said...: OK, I will speak up. My fear is that the people responsible for yesterday's atrocity will not be brought to justice. Media and others will want to protect Obama and it will be another Benghazi like outcome.; 4/16/13, 6:36 PM
Palladian said...: Also, the walls. Decorative objects?

Art!; 4/16/13, 8:27 PM
Bob Ellison said...: A small bug is flitting across my computer screen. I recently installed Windows 8, and this is a touch-screen. The bug is zooming in, resizing typefaces to ridiculousness. Strange bug.; 4/16/13, 9:19 PM