April 29, 2013

At the Magnolia Café...

Untitled

... we're getting someplace.

That line makes me remember something from the comments on today's "golden age of blogging" post. I'd said:

A blog should feel like a place. The commenters are in the place, having a conversation.

Twitter is more like a concourse, with everyone running through trying to get somewhere else, and no one is there to be with anyone else. That's what's so off-putting. But if you yourself have to run to make your connection, the concourse will seem like the right way to [go].

Twitter is a concourse. A blog is intercourse.
And rhhardin said:
Derrida's observation was that women don't have a place, they create places.

Feminism went wrong in copying men.

"If I can't dance, I don't want to be part of your revolution."

(Choreographies)

71 comments:

Æthelflæd said...

Felinism = cats proclaiming their equality by insisting they are just like dogs. Special princess dogs.

Æthelflæd said...

Also, the armadillos are tearing up my garden. Guns are useful.

Freeman Hunt said...

I like that description of Twitter.

It's also like a fire hose, a fire hose of quips.

Known Unknown said...

It's also like a fire hose, a fire hose of quips.

You can control the size of the hose, though.

Known Unknown said...

Also, all of these social media things are just tools ... use them however best benefit you. None of them are end-all be-alls.

Freeman Hunt said...

Found a dead skunk in the yard today. Yuck! The neighbor's cat must have gotten it. It was stinking up the whole block. I didn't know what to do with it, so I used a shovel to put it in a plastic bag, tied the bag tight, and put the bag in the trash can. Odor abated.

Freeman Hunt said...

What's with the flu vaccine tax?

kentuckyliz said...

I sort interesting people I follow into different lists. That turns twitter into an infinite, constantly refreshing magazine.

Use tweetchat.com to participate in a tweetchat. Some are scheduled facilitate conversations with Q and A. Or breaking news events like bombings. Or hot TV shows like #Vikings.

Ragnar Lothbrok retweeted me, favorited my tweets, and conversed with me on twitter. Swoon...thud. This is the only SoMe platform where you can talk directly to anyone. You can call out a POTUS for putting the Constitution in the shredder, tell a terrorist to crawl back into the pit of hell, and chat with celebrities...and have the Library of Congress archive all these precious memories for you.

Æthelflæd said...

I don't have a Twitter account. There are certain feeds I check occasionally. I read Iowahawk's whenever I want a good chuckle.

Phil 314 said...

After the food fight of the gay basketballer thread I was wondering if the Professor, like a parent in the front seat on a long family trip would ever say:

"Don't make me come back there!'

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

Hey, what happened to Shouting Thomas? Did he take his ball and go home or get banned or what?

Ann Althouse said...

I didn't ban him. I hope he's okay. And where is Bissage?

Anonymous said...

He's doing further research on his 'hot box' theory no doubt.

I jest. Maybe he's at a men's group. Or on a Harley into the sunset getting away from all the drama.

Palladian said...

After the food fight of the gay basketballer thread...

That wasn't food that was being flung...

Palladian said...

I didn't ban him. I hope he's okay

Wherever he is, I'm sure a woman and a gay guy are there, oppressing him.

traditionalguy said...

Mountain flowers are starting to bloom their way down the mountains as spring comes to the Great Smokies. We have a spring trip in mid May to take nature walks at our favorite places around the Hemlock Inn near Bryson City, NC. Memories there go back to 1956.

Freeman Hunt said...

Shouting Thomas has a blog post up from this morning. Just checked.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Shoot... had I known the café was open, I would have bailed the basketball outing sooner... I don't even like basketball.

I did get to stand up for Palladian though... that felt good.

Palladian said...

I'd stand up for you anytime, Lem.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

I'll call you when I need the artillery?.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

I'm kidding Palladian.

I heard that artillery line somewhere and sounded funny in my head and I used it w/o looking it up.

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

I read that thread with fascination. I almost threw in a gratuitous but heartfelt "I love you and your intellectual integrity, Palladian, and your good and honest heart, Wyo sis" but decided to stay piped down. So I will say it here instead.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

I didn't ban him.

What difference, at this point, does it make?

If you are not first.

Oh my look at the time.

Unknown said...

Thanks misplaced pants (it feels odd to type that;))
I needed that.
Ritmo really stirs up something elemental in me. I need to get that under control.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Derrida's observation was that women don't have a place, they create places.

That reminds me of something rh said in one of the women in combat treads... that I found hilarious.

Troops would be in a fox hole /trench in the battle field and the woman would be fixing it up so they could have people over.

Chuck66 said...

The Magnolia cafe in St Paul east side is a fine place to eat. Best hot beef sandwiche west of Wisconsin.

Palladian said...

Thanks, Misplaced Pants & wyo sis. You're both good people and I'm happy to know you.

Ritmo really stirs up something elemental in me. I need to get that under control.

Yes. He's a psychopath. It runs in my family so I've learned to recognize it and defend against it.

Palladian said...

What a coincidence, I recently posted a little watercolor sketch I did of magnolia trees in blossom at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

bagoh20 said...

" And where is Bissage?"

I ask that about once a year here, and no one ever replies. I hardly knew him, but it's a question I'd like to know the answer to.

I do miss Shouting Thomas. He's a distinct character.

Palladian said...

I do miss Shouting Thomas. He's a distinct character.

To paraphrase a great line from Beetlejuice... Distinct? Is that what they're calling his kind these days?

Matt said...

Out of curiosity, what DOES someone have to do to get banned? According to the listed criteria, it seems there should be a lot of deletions as well as the dropping of the ban hammer.

Palladian said...

Out of curiosity, what DOES someone have to do to get banned? According to the listed criteria, it seems there should be a lot of deletions as well as the dropping of the ban hammer.

Althouse deletes very few comments/commenters. Her "free speech" policy is quite commendable.

As far as banning, Blogger doesn't offer its users the ability to ban commenters.

Matt said...

Good to know. I agree. I like broad free speech but some of the stuff that shows up here... But, it ain't my blog!

I wish there were a site that had a select few "top" commenters who represent the spectrum of positions but engage in fair and honorable debate. That is, they don't cherry pick parts of a comment to attack and ignore others, the treat each other respectfully... and so on.

Those folks would get the discussion going and then, in a separate forum, you would get the rabble that we are here commenting on the "top" commenters exchanges.

I Have Misplaced My Pants said...

There is that one commenter who gets deleted on sight--banning for all practical purposes--but I couldn't imagine what the well-meaning if occasionally irritating ST could have done to have joined that small club.

Glad to know he's just absented himself. Speaking of which: Crack, if you are lurking, please consider de-lurking. Your original and unique perspective is missed.

edutcher said...

I posted this last night, but it deserves a repeat:

<a href="http://directorblue.blogspot.com/2013/04/benghazi-whistleblowers-obama-hillary.html>We had at least 2 rescue forces ready to go to Benghazi, whistleblowers tell us, and now they're being threatened by Choom & Co</a>.

Ann Althouse said...

<i>I didn't ban him. I hope he's okay.</i>

Knowing him, he's probably on the road with some hot chick that's a dead ringer for Ann Althouse.

KCFleming said...

@wyo sis

Palladian's right.
Not worth your time trying to figure it out.

His own stated aim at Althouse made me learn to scroll on by:

"It's good to know that the stupidest threads are just ripe for the threadjacking. I'll be sure to leave a trail of turds on every one of the brain droppings here that suit my fancy. Getting you shit-eaters to complain about the taste after opening your mouths wide and saying "Ahhhh..." to every bad idea under the sun is very satisfying, I must admit."" - 10/16/10 10:28 AM

KCFleming said...

I planted an oak tree yesterday.

Tiny thing, given away free on Arbor day. No root ball, roots just placed in a plastic bag.

It looks a little ridiculous, like Charlie Brown's Christmas tree.

Then I remembered Linus: "It's not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love."


MayBee said...

I love it that yesterday we were hearing about how Obama hates the buzziness of social media, then last night he and Michelle jumped on twitter to join in the buzz of the day, praising Jason Collins.

Anything to get a sliver of the positive buzz-glow, I guess.

KCFleming said...

I'm feeling all governmenty this morning, though, so I may tax the hell outta that little tree.

The Underpants Gnomes Guide to Government Tree management:
1. Cut off 50% of its branches.
2. ???
3. Foliage!

KCFleming said...

President "Bobby": Mr. Gardner, do you agree with Ben, or do you think that we can stimulate growth through temporary incentives?
Chance: As long as the roots are not severed, all is well. And all will be well in the garden.
President "Bobby": In the garden.
Chance: Yes. In the garden, growth has it seasons. First comes spring and summer, but then we have fall and winter. And then we get spring and summer again.
President "Bobby": Spring and summer.
Chance: Yes.
President "Bobby": Then fall and winter.
Chance: Yes.
Benjamin Rand: I think what our insightful young friend is saying is that we welcome the inevitable seasons of nature, but we're upset by the seasons of our economy.
Chance: Yes! There will be growth in the spring!

Paco Wové said...

"he and Michelle jumped on twitter to join in the buzz of the day, praising Jason Collins. "

Another orchestrated circus to keep the proles entertained.

Paco Wové said...

"food fight"

I saw that post this morning and couldn't believe the 780+ comment count. I thought "who could care so much about a washed-up basketball player?

A few seconds later, the coffee had kicked in and I realized it had to be a Ritmo infestation with Inga complications, and so it proved to be.

tim in vermont said...

"Special princess dogs" ... LOL

I googled that and get one hit, your comment, but I am stealing it.

KCFleming said...

"a Ritmo infestation with Inga complications"

Ah, yes, Threadkill Disease.

Patrick said...

I also saw that thread about a NBA guy I've never heard of (though that rules out only about a half dozen NBA guys).

It got me to wondering that if you took out the five commenters who posted the most comments, how many comments would remain? Interesting question, but the thread's too big for counting.

Patrick said...

Pogo, my neighbor planted a maple sapling in his back yard. He got it in the early 1960's when he was furloughed at the Ford plant and went up to Brainerd to get some logging work. It is now a beautiful tree that gives my yard plenty of shade. Something to look forward to.

When we added on to our house a couple years ago, we had to trim some of it, and were very nervous that the tree wouldn't last. Fortunately, it did.

That tree drops its seeds every year. when I removed my deck as part of the aforementioned addition, I found one that took root. I transplanted it, and it is now on my boulevard. I'll have to move it this year, but its going to be a nice tree.

Ann Althouse said...

"Out of curiosity, what DOES someone have to do to get banned? According to the listed criteria, it seems there should be a lot of deletions as well as the dropping of the ban hammer."

I don't have the software to ban other than by deletions. My deletion policy is in the text above the comment composition window.

It's not about viewpoint, it's about bad faith.

It's a lot of work to delete, however. I wasn't following the gay-basketball-player thread and I don't understand what got people going and why good commenters saw fit to engage, but if you do that, shouldn't you take some responsibility for what happens?

"Ritmo really stirs up something elemental in me. I need to get that under control."

That says it all, doesn't it? You can only control what you do, and the other person aims to stir you up. "Ritmo really stirs up something elemental in me"... doesn't that make showing your responsiveness kind of icky?

But if you choose to respond and there's a big back-and-forth, don't count on me to come in and break it up. I might. But if you decide you feel like taking your shots... you're generating the energy that fires your antagonists.

Rusty said...

Pogo said...
"a Ritmo infestation with Inga complications"

Ah, yes, Threadkill Disease.

It helps to look at it as entertainment.
Especially when they go off the rails and it get all Calvin ball.

Æthelflæd said...

Commenters got engaged because x was stalking y mercilessly through more than one thread. Kudos to those who defended y.

Æthelflæd said...

Calvin ball! Yes, that's a perfect descrition, lol!

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

I don't follow twitter at all.

Nice painting, Palladian.

Hagar said...

If DoJ officials have engaged in criminal activity, but with the knowledge and approval of the AG and POTUS, is there any way they can be prosecuted?

sabeth.chu said...

Why does this blossom look so much more healthy than the other one - the whitish one?
Streaks of clay in the soil?
Anyways, this is a wonderfully uplifting pic.


garage mahal said...

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry reading the basketball thread. I wonder how much of that was alcohol fueled.

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

The recent snows and cold here have zapped all the potential cherry blossoms and pear tree blossoms. My pear trees were about to bloom, and then zap. Nothing.
I miss the bees.

KCFleming said...

"I miss the bees."

"The revery alone will do
If bees are few."

Palladian said...

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry reading the basketball thread. I wonder how much of that was alcohol fueled.

Damned ethanol subsidies!

garage mahal said...

"Take my charity, I want to help! No? Fine, fuck YOU!"

traditionalguy said...

I missed the basketball thread, but reading it this morning found encouragment that so many stood their ground and kept a good attitude.

It seems like a a clash of cultures, which reminded me of Cynthia Parker's long life as a Comanche adopted child who was recaptured by her Southern Baptist Texan relatives. No one really understands the other.

Palladian said...

"Take my charity, I want to help! No? Fine, fuck YOU!"

"... you fat, self-hating, gay, autistic, homeless, talentless hack!"

Lol.

Æthelflæd said...

The Parkers were more than Southern Baptists. They were Scots-Irish Hardshell Baptists. Hardcore, mean-ass people (which I guess you had to be, to attempt to settle the Texas frontier in Comanche territory). "Frontier Blood: The Saga of the Parker Family" is excellent reading. John Wayne's character in The Searchers is based on the Parker patriarch.

The Germans had the sense to settle the Texas interior in larger groups.

sabeth.chu said...

And you know the terrible things that happened to the German Texans in the Civil War!!!

Matt said...

Well, Inga declares all those who do not defend her hypocrites. You point out that that makes no Goddamn sense and she tells you to shut up and fuck off...

It is very disappointing because there are many folks who do not start from a default position of spewing shit but, invariably, the shit spewers derail every thread.

It is cool to have a site that generates a lot of interest and passionate commenters. It would be even better if more of those folks could put a sensible thought or two together now and again.

chickelit said...

Freeman Hunt said...
Found a dead skunk in the yard today. Yuck! The neighbor's cat must have gotten it. It was stinking up the whole block. I didn't know what to do with it, so I used a shovel to put it in a plastic bag, tied the bag tight, and put the bag in the trash can. Odor abated.

Simple household bleach should deodorize anything with lingering smell. Of course, you have to be careful around clothing and dyed fabrics and living things. Hydrogen peroxide works too.

Palladian said...

Damned thiols.

chickelit said...

If someone could invent Internet eye bleach, it would sell like hotcakes.

chickelit said...

@Palladian: I recall an unfortunate young woman who was studying free radicals as part of her dissertation. She used cyclohexane thiol as a trap in kinetics experiments. Cyclohexane thiol is the essence of BO. She got lots of complaints and was constantly rinsing down her hood with bleach.

I wrote a blog piece once about smelly chemicals: link Some of them have quite amusing names.

Palladian said...

Pollo, cool! I have skatole, which finds use in perfumery (believe it or not). The most thoroughly nasty perfumery chemical in my collection is mercaptomenthone, which is kept nesting-doll style in multiple jars because it's so diffusive and horrible.

chickelit said...

Mercaptomenthone looks like the evil thiol cousin of something menthol-fresh. It's got SH** written all over it.

Palladian said...

Mercaptomenthone is also one of the curious molecules that smells completely different to different people, possibly because of genetics. Generally people either think it smells herbal and pleasant, or hatefully sulfurous. I'm in the "hatefully sulfurous" category.

Interestingly, in very small doses, it turns fruity smells into tropical fruity smells, and turns citrus into grapefruit. Unfortunately, the fruity esters dissipate quickly and you're left with SH.

Æthelflæd said...

Durian fruit.