... it's Valentine's Day. Why are you alone?
You can also talk about anything you want here. A "café" post is an open thread... and a prompt to remember to use The Althouse Amazon Portal.
१४ फेब्रुवारी, २०१७
At the Lonely Girl Café...
... it's Valentine's Day. Why are you alone?
You can also talk about anything you want here. A "café" post is an open thread... and a prompt to remember to use The Althouse Amazon Portal.
याची सदस्यत्व घ्या:
टिप्पणी पोस्ट करा (Atom)
पोस्ट्स
१६८ टिप्पण्या:
I plan on having a nice lunch with my wife. But I'm not with her now. So I guess I'm alone. Is that what you meant?
And I hope Meade is spoiling you today, Ann.
--Vance
#1 UConn women's basketball reached 100 straight games undefeated last night with a 66-55 win over #6 South Carolina. An amazing feat accomplished by talented players and great coaches.
That's my go-to coffee shop.
Yay Crescendo!!
I got a bottle of Patrick Cologne, my favorite. She gets Ralph Lauren Romance with a Free Gift 7 piece gift. We smell better than ever now.
Dog this morning saying let's go outside and do something.
A day like every day.
"And I hope Meade is spoiling you today, Ann."
Why would he be spoiling me? Is Valentine's Day a day for men to do things for women? I've seen that in TV commercials but think it's really dumb. It's not even old fashioned.
I'm alone every day, why would Valentine's be any different.
It seems unlike you to equate "alone" with "lonely" when describing a person, Professor.
Kroger yesterday was loaded to the gills with flowers and baskets. Today there will be put-upon men checking out with flowers after work.
It's a tradition.
Cross it at your peril.
So far, though, grandparents' day has been a failure, so all hope is not lost. There's a power balance.
"It seems unlike you to equate "alone" with "lonely" when describing a person, Professor."
I'm not describing a person. I'm naming a café. It's like The Dancing Pig Saloon or something.
Led Zepplin: Good Times Bad Times
I know what it means to be alone
What is that saying about grudges and academia and smallness? I am having trouble remembering it.
Ann Althouse said...I'm not describing a person. I'm naming a café.
Oh; I misunderstood, sorry.
"Why would he be spoiling me? Is Valentine's Day a day for men to do things for women? I've seen that in TV commercials but think it's really dumb. It's not even old fashioned."
Lighten up, Francis.
.. and have a lovely Valentine's Day!
i'd like to one day see a post about the research chemical scene of the past few decades. very curious about your take on that. :)
I'm spoiling her today with a very romantic gift — $13,000 into her very own Roth IRA.
By the way, I wonder how the Dow is doing. Wow — will we ever see 20,000 again? It just keeps climbing. I feel sad (not) for anyone who isn't bullish on America.
Check your privilege A-nn A-lthouse!
Valentines day is when a boy romances a girl romances a boy.
Hey, there, lonely girl!
"It's like The Dancing Pig Saloon or something"
Well since it's a cafe post I'll take this opportunity to vent. I hate the strained tweeness of names like the "Dancing Pig Saloon". It's a trend that started in the '70's and is still practiced by the self-consciously (but mistakenly) clever. It's even worse in books these days. "The Unimagined Solace of Red Mailboxes" or some such shit. Barf. I won't even read the dust cover.
At least we know Trump is not dinning alone; it seems he turned the Mar-a-Lago club house into a dinner theater where members can watch him and Melania and his staff discuss how to respond to the North Korean missile launch.
I'm sorry, Ann. I thought, foolishly it appears. that you would appreciate good wishes. Good on Meade for ignoring your waspishness and still getting you a great gift. I wish I could give my wife 13 grand today. Perhaps she would appreciate it more than it appears you do.
--Vance
Meade said...By the way, I wonder how the Dow is doing. Wow — will we ever see 20,000 again? It just keeps climbing. I feel sad (not) for anyone who isn't bullish on America.
I wish I could find it, but there was a wonderful tweet buy a prominent liberal commenter just after Trump was elected where he explained that he was selling all his stock (or maybe the stock in his kids college savings plan) and said everyone else should, too, since the market was sure to tank soon.
A fun one: Wednesday morning at 12:42 a.m., as it was becoming clear that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump was on the verge of officially defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton for the presidency, Paul Krugman at the New York Times noted at the paper's election night live blog that the "markets are plunging." He then wrote: "If the question is when markets will recover, a first-pass answer is never."
The market will drop one day, sure; but it has been fun to watch those Leftists destroy their own credibility.
roesch/voltaire said...At least we know Trump is not dinning alone; it seems he turned the Mar-a-Lago club house into a dinner theater where members can watch him and Melania and his staff discuss how to respond to the North Korean missile launch
A man of the people, mingling with citizens, a transparent administration--you guys like that, right? There's no way you'd whine just as loudly about a "secretive, insular, suspiciously surreptitious" Trump admin if they didn't mix with people, would you? No, no, we should definitely take this complaint of yours seriously--very important matter.
Cut out the coffee cup in the foreground and that'd be a great Hopperesque photo.
I feel like a douche for writing Hopperesque.
I have performed my first IRA withdrawal. I wanted to get started, but I don't want to increase my income too much, or I'll have to pay more taxes.
The thing is, I don't need it. So of course - poof, it disappeared into my daughters savings account. Which is a contradiction in terms, because there is no savings in her account.
The funny thing is, Schwab won't do a bank transfer, they will only send me a check. That seems kind of weird in the Internet age.
I used to stare at walls to see if anything revealed itself in the texture. On several occasions I noticed something striking that excited me, but then if I moved my head I couldn't find it again. So I probably took another swig at my coffee.
I hope no one took my picture...
Not only do IRAs have required mininum withdrawal rules, but the savings bonds you bought 30 years ago have matured.
You're rolling in unwanted income and taxes on it.
At least the savings bonds don't generate state tax.
The funny thing is, Schwab won't do a bank transfer, they will only send me a check. That seems kind of weird in the Internet age.
Weird, indeed. Schwab allowed me to set up an external bank account through which to transfer money into and out of my brokerage account.
Ann going full misogyny.
My Valentine's gift to my SO of 22 years is to remind him he picked a woman who doesn't care for contrived holidays. We get a thrill looking for discount candy the next day.
Oh, I'm sure that young lady has a boy friend who tonight will show his affection by presenting her with a cuddly four foot tall teddy bear!
My wife just grits her teeth every time that commercial comes up on TV. I just roll my eyes at the sly winky-winky suggestion made to the guy that if you get your girl a giant teddy bear you'll be sure to get some.
tcrosse said...Schwab allowed me to set up an external bank account through which to transfer money into and out of my brokerage account.
Yes, I have that too, but on the IRA, it didn't let me use those options.
Some sort of rule I imagined. When I got to the point of how I wanted them to transfer, my regular options were replaced with "send a check". Argh.
harryo said... I have performed my first IRA withdrawal... The funny thing is, Schwab won't do a bank transfer, they will only send me a check. That seems kind of weird in the Internet age.
tcrossesaid... Weird, indeed. Schwab allowed me to set up an external bank account through which to transfer money into and out of my brokerage account. [emphasis added]
The difference is that a withdrawal from a tax deferred account is the taxable event, whereas the sale of a security or the deposit of interest income within other accounts is the taxable event -- not the transfer of liquid funds from out of the account.
The need to document each taxable distribution is probably why they restrict routine electronic transfers from your IRA.
The funny thing is, Schwab won't do a bank transfer, they will only send me a check. That seems kind of weird in the Internet age.
We've done wire transfers from Schwab IRAs before, and they should be able to do that for you, but I suspect there's a fee if you're self directed (i.e. not in a Schwab managed account), and they limit the amount per transaction. I think they won't do an ACH (bank transfer) unless you're in a managed account for some reason.
That reason likely being you're not in a managed account.
The Cracker Emcee: It's a trend that started in the '70's and is still practiced by the self-consciously (but mistakenly) clever. It's even worse in books these days. "The Unimagined Solace of Red Mailboxes" or some such shit. Barf. I won't even read the dust cover.
That's all aimed at the "literate illiterates" subset of the female book-buying demographic, so don't take it personally.
The titles in that genre of fiction have been self-parodies for a while now.
Speaking of Valentine's and taxable events I've just finished up dinner prep for tonight: squash raviloi with sage brown butter and pecan with cucumber tomato and kalamata greek salad. Lemon raspberry cake for dessert.
Followed by a lovely evening of tracking down one last missing 1099.
rehajm said...That reason likely being you're not in a managed account.
Aha!
Bay Area Guy:
Lighten up, Francis.
.. and have a lovely Valentine's Day!
I'm a Valentine Day's Scrooge, too. It just rubs me the wrong way, always has, the most gratingly vulgar of all "Hallmark holidays". My husband has always been serenely incognizant of it, so no problem either way.
EDH said...The need to document each taxable distribution is probably why they restrict routine electronic transfers from your IRA.
This seems probably the best answer, although my IRA is self-managed, so maybe that is also relevant.
"literate illiterates" - Ha! I think it all started with Milan Kundera's low-voltage porn book featuring hot commie faux lesbians and the pathetic gammas males they fed on. The Unbearable Lightness of Being, catering to ignorant chick English majors of the West.
there was a wonderful tweet buy a prominent liberal commenter just after Trump was elected where he explained that he was selling all his stock ... and said everyone else should, too, since the market was sure to tank soon.
Well I am sure there was more than one, but Krugman's failed prediction was the prominent one.
Am I the only one who misses "Best of the Web"?
Misogyny? I took the feminist position, you knucklehead.
As for Meade's gift, it's the gift of a joke. Our assets are wedded, and moving money from one place to nother isn't much of anything. Should I get some cash from the ATM and hand it to him?
Why do bad things always happen to him ?
Am I the only one who misses "Best of the Web"?
Another entry in the "Trump is Jackson", "Trump is Hitler", "Trump is Nehemiah Scudder" sequence:
"Trump is The Gracchi".
Discuss.
Knucklehead is a good word. It's a word I use to deal with my kids when they are especially infuriating. If my first step of annoyance is calling the miscreant a knucklehead (or goofball), it subverts the anger.
@harryo "...The need to document each taxable distribution is probably why they restrict routine electronic transfers from your IRA."
I'm not a Schwab customer, but Edward Jones will transfer funds from a tax deferred account to a checking account (as well as from an after tax account to a checking account.) For each type of transfer EJ requires a prearranged and signed authorization or standing authorization, i.e., I authorize them to withhold a given percentage of federal and state taxes from an RMD and then they pay the taxes and transfer the balance to where ever I tell them - I select either a personal checking account or to my grandchildren's 529 accounts. Talk to your broker - it's probably just a matter of setting up a payment mechanism with a signature.
because my wife wants a divorce and so do I but it will cost me too much money
AA: "As for Meade's gift, it's the gift of a joke. Our assets are wedded, and moving money from one place to another isn't much of anything."
Not exactly true. IRA's cannot be "wedded," but must belong to a specific individual. He may have contributed $6500 to each of your separate IRAs, and you may have access to his IRA (not advised), but he didn't contribute $13,000 to your Roth IRA, alone, unless he contributed twice the allowed amount.
Don't yell at me, too, I'm just trying to help.
Ann Althouse said...
Should I get some cash from the ATM and hand it to him?
Usually you have to go into the bank to get ones. And obviously you don't hand them to him, you tuck them into his g-string.
And have a very happy Valentine's day.
P.S.: Make him work for them!
Dog this morning saying let's go outside and do something.
A day like every day.
rhhardin, it's one of dogs' most endearing qualities: The genuine enthusiasm they show over anything that we do or say. Enjoying the Westminster Dog Show, although I get tired of poodles winning so often.
The Anti-Valentine
Outside your zone
Away from my orbit
Out of your shadow
A moment alone –
No, rather – apart.
Time takes time to absorb it –
The pieces of what we know:
Alone.
Apart. A–
Lone. A–
Part.
Alone. A whole (apart)
And a part (a hole).
Our life has been
A mutual eclipse
Of heart by heart
And the lovely difference
Love makes between
Two distinctly lonely partings of lips,
The peace in what they impart:
All one.
Alone. All-
One. A-
Lone.
Alone. A part (a whole)
And apart (a hole).
I just got back from the local florist where I picked up the roses I ordered for the wife weeks ago. I know her favorite color, which is not the dark red long stemmed American Beauty roses that they charge extra for this time of year. (Am I one up on the rest of you guys?)
One of the guys in there doing last minute rose buying was lamenting "She said she didn't want flowers this year." "And you believed her?" I answered.
I was just sending my hubby a Hallmark Valentine's Day e-card (he doesn't want me to spend $8.99 on a piece of paper), and there I learned that Valentine's Day is also Singles Awareness Day.
So, this lone diner is just aware of Singles Day, or something.
Unknown said...because my wife wants a divorce and so do I but it will cost me too much money
Easy, become a Muslim, and all you have to do is say "I divorce you" three times, and the Imam will make it a done deal.
She gets to keep whatever she's wearing.
Young Hegelian -
The problem with receiving a 4-foot teddy bear (that you don't want) is that you can't possibly "misplace" it.
I guess you could put it in the passenger seat and use the HOV lane, see if that works?
Meh.
Althouse: "Our assets are wedded...."
Very good. Get married like you mean it. Else, why bother.
Fullmoon: "Am I the only one who misses "Best of the Web"?"
No. Taranto and Thomas Sowell in the same year. The grief is deep!
Am I the first person to notice the nice cafe' artwork in Althouse's cup? Please don't tell me it was an accident.
In the supermarket freezer case the other day, saw some frozen "Self Rising Pizza."
In contrast to what? Pizza that rises only with outside intervention? Pizza that causes something other than itself to rise?
The alternative, judging by other pizza boxes in the case, seems to be pizza that does not rise at all. Why is the descriptive "Self" needed?
Rather like restaurants which advertise "Authentic Mexican Food." Ever seen one advertising "Bogus Mexican Food?" Who credentials the food, anyhow? Maybe that's what bring in all the undocumented aliens - jobs authenticating Mexican or Chinese cuisine.
My Valentine's gift to my SO of 22 years is to remind him he picked a woman who doesn't care for contrived holidays. We get a thrill looking for discount candy the next day.
That's how we roll too, except this year I decided it was a good excuse to cook surf and turf.
Last year right before V day our washing machine crapped out so hubs went and picked out a new pair of machines and sent me a joking text with "Happy Valentine's Day". I replied something to the effect of "Thanks, that's awesome" and he responded, "You really are the best."
Just for the record, I'm a liberal and was disappointed by Trump's win and I think the Russia hysteria among so many of my liberal allies ridiculous. I'm not saying Flynn or anyone else is so innocent. But I do think the Dems are giving GOP Adventurists (the same people who so passionately called for the invasion of Iraq) a gift here.
Congratulations, Republicans. You've totally managed to fragment the Dem base, just like you wanted.
Happy Valentine's Day
Is Valentine's Day a day for men to do things for women?
Yes. Like every other day.
harrogate said...
Just for the record, I'm a liberal and was disappointed by Trump's win and I think the Russia hysteria among so many of my liberal allies ridiculous.
Obama and Merkel both came to hate Putin with a deep and abiding passion after having to deal with over a prolonged period. Merkel started out positively disposed. Maybe the problem is Putin. Putin is not Russia.
roesch/voltaire said...
At least we know Trump is not dinning alone; it seems he turned the Mar-a-Lago club house into a dinner theater where members can watch him and Melania and his staff discuss how to respond to the North Korean missile launch.
Many of those 'members' may be getting a check from a foreign government.
"Many of those 'members' may be getting a check from a foreign government.L
Clinton Foundation staff?
I gave my wife a bouquet of flowers last night. She liked the flowers and liked the gesture. She knows I'm not good at picking the arrangement (I rely heavily on the judgment of the florist), but she likes the fact that, without prompting, I went out and tried.
Sometimes on long walks, the kids and I will pick random flowers to form the "Berkeley Bouquet" - she always seems touched when we present it to her.
I'm surprised we have a few Valentines Day Scrooges here. Heck, in Pakistan they want to ban Valentines Day!
Ann Althouse said...I've seen that in TV commercials but think it's really dumb. It's not even old fashioned.
--
Apparently enough paying customers disagree with you to warrant the ads.
Bay Area Guy,
It's true what matters is that you tried and the Berkley Boquet is awesome and reminds a lot of us we need to step up our game.
"After Trump may have discussed NK missile launch in the middle of Mar-a-Lago public dining room, Chaffetz demands to know security protocols"
"McConnell: "Highly likely" Senate Intel Committee will look into whether Trump directed Flynn to talk sanctions with Russia ambassador"
Like Angel-Dyne, I've never liked Valentine's Day. It seems more contrived than all of the other Hallmark holidays. Fortunately, 14 years ago today I gave birth to our second child, ending the Valentine's Day celebrations forever and re-christening the day as a birthday. Now THAT is something to celebrate - and so we will this evening.
All the same, I hope everyone enjoys the day, Valentine's or otherwise.
Tonight I'm taking my valentine to The Dancing Pig Saloon.
"Lonely Girl" and "Out like Flynn".
Today I saw another Muslim woman toiling up from the Safeway to the battered woman's shelter that lies down the hill from my house. Unlike the curvaceous houri I saw a while back, this one was plain and very overweight, and I was struck by her palpable isolation. Strange country, strange culture, no apparent resources, and an abusive husband, no doubt. Impossible not to feel compassion for her plight.
At least one person's job is now more secure thanks to Trump.
"Stephen Colbert’s Late Show is now the most popular show in late-night, besting The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon in total Live+same day viewers for two weeks running. "
Is it odd a very expensive car made by Alfa Romeo is named for the Greek goddess of government welfare?
"At least one person's job is now more secure thanks to Trump"
Entertainment is about all the Democrats have left. It isn't surprising that liberal escapism is increasingly popular. Y'all hang out there and leave the real world to the grown-ups.
See what happens when you give Putin an inch?
http://thehill.com/policy/defense/319441-report-russia-violates-arms-treaty-with-deployed-cruise-missile
"Russia has deployed a cruise missile in violation of a landmark arms treaty with the United States, The New York Times reported Tuesday.
The deployment of the missile would violate the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.
The news of the deployment comes as the Trump administration deals with the fallout from Michael Flynn’s resignation as national security adviser. Flynn stepped down after reports that he communicated with Russia's ambassador to the U.S. about sanctions prior to President Trump's inauguration and misled Vice President Pence about it.
It also comes after Trump reportedly dismissed a separate arms treaty with Russia as a bad deal and called for the United States to “greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability.”"
My husband and I each write/draw the other a card. There are usually flowers, but any flowers are fine, including grocery store or gas station flowers. It's not a spending holiday at our house. We like it.
"See what happens when you give Putin an inch?"
According to the article it was Obama who gave Putin this inch and several more. Thanks, though.
Then there's the near impossibility of Edward Hopper's *Nighthawks, since such a diner probably never existed except in Hopper's imagination. Its genesis, they say, resided in Greenwich Village, another near impossibility. No, it's more reminiscent of Chicago, not around the Loop, but out in the old industrial areas, Chicago's smokestack and slaughterhouse hinterlands.
But then we have the figures, the Nighthawk customers, too refined to be slumming so far from home. Nonetheless, Hopper brought everything and everyone together to create a perfect picture.
*Above inspired by Ann's "Dayhawks" above.
I don't have television programming, so I never see ads. I had forgotten about Valentine's Day related commercials directing men to purchase expensive gifts for women. I reject that.
After much probing, I finally admitted to my sweetie that all I wanted for Valentines Day was a rare Ribeye. You should see the meat!
Maybe Putin has been emboldened by the gushy Valentine's Day card Trump sent him today, so he sent up a big powerful missle to show how powerful his love for Trump is.
From History.com
On February 14around the year 278A.D., Valentine, a holy priest in Rome in the days of Emperor Claudius II, was executed.
Under the rule of Claudius the Cruel, Rome was involved in many unpopular and bloody campaigns. The emperor had to maintain a strong army, but was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. Claudius believed that Roman men were unwilling to join the army because of their strong attachment to their wives and families.
To get rid of the problem, Claudius banned all marriages and engagements in Rome. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.
When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Valentine was arrested and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. The sentence was carried out on February 14, on or about the year 270.
Legend also has it that while in jail, St. Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend, and signed it “From Your Valentine
I still can't figure out why Putin wanted Keystone built. Even Hillary admitted in her leaked speeches that Russia was funding opposition to it.
On second thought, it may have been Putin who gave Obama several inches.
I bought some stuff yesterday, so that'll have to do.
Wikileaks was payback for Radio Free Europe. Giving us the news that our party controlled press withheld.
If Russia was really behind it.
"it seems he turned the Mar-a-Lago club house into a dinner theater "
He's living in your head R/V.
I bought roses for my wife today as it is the first Valentines Day since we remarried.
We were married in 1979 and divorced in 1987.
We are back together about three years now and made it official last fall.
OK, bought a new gym bag.
Congratulations, Michael K!
You must have came in and sat down shortly after I left. Or, that's on older shot. Cheers to caffeine!
" And obviously you don't hand them to him, you tuck them into his g-string."
Alright. The Russians hacking our elections is one thing. But Ignorance Is Bliss surveilling the Meadhouse marital bedroom is quite another. Super creepy, Iggs. Super creepy.
"He may have contributed $6500 to each of your separate IRAs, and you may have access to his IRA (not advised), but he didn't contribute $13,000 to your Roth IRA, alone, unless he contributed twice the allowed amount."
$6500 for 2017 and a "catch-up" $6500 for 2016. Twice as romantic!
And I see the Dow plowed on up through 20,500. Dang! I'm feeling a little like Warren Buffett. (Key word: a little.)
Meadehouse occupying Wall street! The Dow avg is overrated.
Blogger Annie C said...
After much probing, I finally admitted to my sweetie that all I wanted for Valentines Day was a rare Ribeye. You should see the meat!
2/14/17, 3:57 PM
If only all women asked their Valentine for meat on Valentine's day.
Remember just one month until March 14!
"HEY THERE LONELY GIRL"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rwK-lX-R9c0
Alone, not necessarily lonely, but after seing this https://twitter.com/CultureTrip/status/831489169012703233
wishing I had someone that special in my life, and that I was that special to someone.
In the last few weeks, I've notice more commenters here outing themselves a bit.
I didn't realize that so many who I thought were guys are actually women. And it seems they tend to lean further right than those who are men.
Putin just dropping by to say hi to his sweetheart, Trump.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/02/14/russian-spy-ship-off-east-coast-us-officials-say.html
"A Russian spy ship was spotted patrolling off the East Coast of the United States on Tuesday morning, the first such instance during the Trump administration -- and the same day it was learned the Kremlin had secretly deployed controversial cruise missiles inside Russia and flew within 200 yards of a U.S. Navy destroyer, U.S. officials told Fox News."
Nadine Sierra, a twenty seven year old American, in her debut at the famous La Scala in Milan which has been presenting opera since 1778. The last time they had an encore at La Scala was in 1988, the year she as born.
"The ovations were so long and loud last night, January 20, 2016, at the end of the second act of Rigoletto that Leo Nucci and Nadine Serra repeated the cabaletta, in front of the curtain. This was the first Verdi encore sung at Scala since Riccardo Muti repeated Va, pensiero in Nabucco in 1988, the year Nadine Sierra was born (source: La Scala archives). The prohibition on repeats in Verdi was instituted by Arturo Toscanini, back in the mists of time.
"House debutant Nadine Sierra and veteran Leo Nucci, 74 years old who has sung this role 500 times, made for a triumphant partnership. At the end of Act II, their duet "Si, vendetta" pushed house excitement beyond the point of no return, prompting cries of "Encore!" to rain down from the gods amidst a smattering of resistant hisses. A moratorium on aria repeats has existed since the time of Toscanini (daringly breached on only a handful of occasions, most notably in the Muti era), and musicians looked uncertain in a house that does not wear its heritage lightly. Nucci's searching gaze sought consent from Sovrintendente Alexander Pereira (stationed ready for action in a box stage right), who joined the applause to signal his approval. The encore went ahead, and journalists scrambled for their Twitter apps. So ecstatically received was this leading duo that it brought into being the next chapter of of La Scala legend."
I recommend full screen.
hysteria among so many of my liberal allies ridiculous
It's worse than that I fear, so it is just as well as I'm not going out for a Valentine's dinner since this is what we would inevitably talk about.
It is increasingly clear that -- and I know it sounds like a thriller novel or movie -- that there is within the Trump Administration a shadow operation, consisting of Obama holdovers and partisan ideological careerists, that is doing everything it can to undermine and sabotage the legitimate government, effectively engaging in a political coup, complete with illegal wiretapping, illegal theft and public disclosure of confidential information for political gain, use of encrypted communications to avoid detection, both malfeasance and misfeasance in failing to competently implement the president's policies, and more, in addition to an openly colluding media soliciting criminality to create anarchy and advance this war against the lawful government.
I know, it sounds like crazy vast left-wing conspiracy stuff.
But the fact is -- we have yet to have a real transition of power, much less a peaceful transition of power.
These are ominous times for our constitutional republic and our system of self-government.
Viator - Mille grazie.
La Scala legend Brava! Bellissimo! She is superb.
Tracking the $20 Trillion debt vs. 20,000 Dow.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-01-27/coincidence-dow-hits-20000-national-debt-reaches-20-trillion
"A Russian spy ship was spotted patrolling off the East Coast of the United States on Tuesday morning, the first such instance during the Trump administration -- and the same day it was learned the Kremlin had secretly deployed controversial cruise missiles inside Russia and flew within 200 yards of a U.S. Navy destroyer, U.S. officials told Fox News."
Damn, serious stuff as that's never happened before. Except every day since about 1947.
Or, I should have said, 'bellissima'!
Damn, serious stuff as that's never happened before. Except every day since about 1947.
Well, Cracker, as you know, the sky is falling since Trump was elected. I'm surprised he hasn't been blamed for winter.
... it's Valentine's Day. Why are you alone?
You're not less likely to be alone on Valentine's day; you're just more likely to be depressed about it.
A Russian spy ship was spotted patrolling off the East Coast of the United States on Tuesday morning, the first such instance during the Trump administration
So... the first in less than a month? I'm not feeling a pressing need to dig a bomb shelter.
"Russian spy ship was spotted patrolling off the East Coast of the United States on Tuesday morning"
US Navy exercise. They like to watch that kind of stuff.
"Misogyny? I took the feminist position, you knucklehead"
Is there a difference!
(Feeling very Rhhardin.)
"Russian spy ship was spotted patrolling off the East Coast of the United States on Tuesday morning"
They're here to get good seats for New York Fashion Week, since nobody wants to sit near Tiffany Trump.
Rep. Labrador (R-ID): "If we’re just going to replace Obamacare with Obamacare-lite ... were we just against it because it was proposed by Democrats? If that's our position, then we're very hypocritical. Then we really were just taking a political position, not a policy-based position. if we're going to come back with something that does exactly the same thing as ObamaCare, but change a couple of things and just call it TrumpCare or RyanCare then what was our fight about for the las six years?"
I spent much of the day alone because my wife has been binge-watching British and Australian detective shows in the living room and I have retreated to the far end of the apartment.
The Russians are convinced our Shadow Government CIA guys are going to launch an attack on Russia. The Russians are on Def Con 5, which is why Trump said nice things and Flynn told them to hold back the Nuclear War. That narrative is totally believable, if for no other reason than the way Flynn and Trump are being quasi impeached today for talking peace.
Best thing about this Valentine's Day is that the Oroville dam crew got matters more under control, and the mandatory evacuation downstream has been lifted. That's better than a bouquet for those affected.
Read something today positing that an indication Hillary is running in 2020 is that she is paring down the size of the Clinton Foundation. Presumably to avoid any further appearances of impropriety.
Talk about confusing cause and effect!
President's Day is my favorite holiday. It's impossible to fuck up President's Day and do the wrong thing. It's truly a low impact holiday. I wish everyday was President's Day.....,,I bet Gore, Kerry, and Hillary get depressed on President's Day. Yet another reason to celebrate the greatest of all holidays.
David Baker
I'm a Chicago native, but live in SFBA now (hi, Bay Area Guy!).
When I was about 11, my parents would let me take the train from the burbs so I could spend the day at the Art Institute. Nighthawks was my favorite painting, because it looked so much like after midnight in Chicago. I wanted to grow up to be the woman in the painting. Other than the cigarette, I did.
Guys, I miss Best of the Web too. According to rumors @TiarasBar, the Twitter feed where old Besties hang out, and confirmed by @JamesTaranto, James Freeman is due to start it up again soon.
Two birds with one stone.
Shut down the government and balance the budget.
I don't know how much of the deep state would work without pay.
I am alone because of the compulsive masterbation, booze, drugs, lack of hygiene, and faulty stars.
Loved the Heinlein/Revolt in 2100 shoutout.
--gpm
PUTIN STARTING TO WONDER IF HIS PUPPETS ARE SMART ENOUGH TO PULL THIS OFF
BREAKING: Phone records and intercepted calls show 'Trump aides and campaign staff repeatedly contacted Russian intelligence officers in the year before the election'
ARM,
I really don't know how Trump will come out of this unscathed. This is very bad for him. Thank goodness.
The Cracker Emcee said...she is paring down the size of the Clinton Foundation.
She's not paring it down. It no longer is producing revenue. People won't front money if the front has no chance of political power.
Did Confucius say that?
Daily Mail, ARM?
Sigh.
I really don't know how Trump will come out of this unscathed. This is very bad for him. Thank goodness.
Hahahaha. I was thinking that from 2008 to 2016 with Obama.
The NYTs broke the story tonight. I can't link to them because my 10 free articles are used up for the month.
Same story from The Week
Bob, I don't know about you, but I don't want a president who colluded with Russia to affect our election.
Bob Loblaw said...
Daily Mail, ARM?
I am not a snob.
OK! Sock Puppets It is!
Bob, I don't know about you, but I don't want a president who colluded with Russia to affect our election.
Man...it's a good thing Ted Kennedy never got elected then!
"ARM,
I really don't know how Trump will come out of this unscathed. This is very bad for him. Thank goodness."
Do you guys even read the articles you link to? Absurd vagaries couched in hysteria are unlikely to scathe anyone except the fools telling them.
I don't know about you, but I don't want a president who colluded with Russia to affect our election
Apparently you folks have never caught on that NO ONE believes that you guys are suddenly these staunch anti-communists who think the Ruskies are our adversaries. From the Year Zero until about two months before the election, you were fellow travelers. And still are.
Yes, yes, sure. It's all hysteria or fake news. So why did Flynn lie? There will come a time, maybe soon that you won't be able to keep your head stuck and will have to come up for air.
The Cracker Emcee said...
Absurd vagaries couched in hysteria are unlikely to scathe anyone
Tell that to Michael Flynn.
"Officials emphasized that communications between campaign staff and representatives of foreign governments are not unusual. However, these communications stood out to investigators due to the frequency and the level of the Trump advisers involved Investigators have not reached a judgment on the intent of those conversations.
Adding to US investigators' concerns were intercepted communications between Russian officials before and after the election discussing their belief that they had special access to Trump, two law enforcement officials tell CNN."
http://www.cnn.com/2017/02/14/politics/donald-trump-aides-russians-campaign/index.html
That you folks actually care in all your hysteria is also fake.
It's all pretense and farce. You're a bunch of frauds.
And boring frauds at that.
Flynn lied to Pence. Nothing vague about that. Pretending that Trump's transition people establishing communication with a world power is some great scandal isn't going to get the Left anything. The articles you link to are pure innuendo. Golden shower time again.
I don't think The Cracker Emcee knows what "innuendo" means.
I spent the day in our small local hospital with my 93 year old mother who had a stroke last week. A local Cub Scout troop made valentines for all the patients. Cute kids brought mom out of her fog for a few minutes. Simple pleasures. Yes, I wish there was a good man at home that could fix the brakes on my truck. No perfume needed.
EMyrt said...
"I'm a Chicago native... Nighthawks was my favorite painting, because it looked so much like after midnight in Chicago. I wanted to grow up to be the woman in the painting. Other than the cigarette, I did."
I wondered about that woman, where she went after Nighthawks. Now I know. And maybe I was the man next to you in the painting, because I too went to San Francisco. Not for long, but long enough to know San Francisco is the greatest little city on earth.
Meanwhile, I can picture you back at the Art Institute, looking through Hopper's huge window, often a primary feature of his paintings. And that huge window is what made the diner so improbable - apparently created so we could simply peer in. Also the barren counter, nothing to obstruct our view, or imagination. Yet, so much to contemplate.
For the past 3 or 4 weeks I've had a > 4 ft bear hidden in my bedroom, along with a bag of drawstring bags of jewelry, candy and mylar balloons (they lasted!) Then the day before Valentine's was big, almost breakup drama. Reconciliation. And the Romantic brought his aunt a huge box of chocolate covered strawberries and a pizza. All I gave him were the raspberry cookies and heart-shaped sugar cookies I made for all my valentines.
Putin doesn't care nearly as much about who is President as he does about how much chaos he can foment. Thanks, Schummer, you tool.
The Russians are coming!
"Entertainment is about all the Democrats have left. It isn't surprising that liberal escapism is increasingly popular. Y'all hang out there and leave the real world to the grown-ups."
2/14/17, 3:45 PM
Would that there were any grown ups in charge!
I'm not alone. It's important not to pretend otherwise.
"I don't know about you, but I don't want a president who colluded with Russia to affect our election"
You can rest easy, then. Obama is gone.
I communicated with the Russians myself last summer.
rhhardin said...
"I communicated with the Russians myself last summer."
I can see a Russian deli from my house.
A couple days ago, my partner asked where were we going for Valentine's Day? Why are we going anywhere? I asked. Because I need to do something nice for her. And this huge new house, by your kids, and 900 miles from my family, kid, mountains, and skiing isn't nice enough? Doesn't apparently count. We could go out (assuming we could get in anywhere). Nope. I suggested Flagstaff. Never, even when driving through. Maybe Tucson to visit Dr K at his new house and (re)bride (actually, to see her son and grandkids there). Nope - daughter-in-law there is still on the naughty list from Christmas. Which left Vegas. 4+ hours even with the Hoover Dam bypass (except when she is driving - she did it in maybe 3 1/2 when she had that 500SL). Next year we plan ahead a bit and fly. City is dead this time of year. Which means great prices on rooms. Everyone blew their wads on the holidays, and no big sports events pending. Buffet last night, and, presumably somewhere nice tonight. Plus chocolates and card, left on her car seat to surprise her, since I hadn't planned ahead.
Flowers are out. Used to buy them for her. The thought should be what counts. But not for her. One of her early careers was in floral design, and that means that she is an expert on them. No doubt, if I had bought her roses, they would have been criticized for color, hue, freshness, and probably even they way that they had been cut. Like I am with software. She can't help it. Luckily, she never had a career as a chocolatier, because I get to help her eat the chocolate that I buy her (and think that cut flowers are stupid).
Stupid holiday, but one of those things that you are stuck with, if you want to get along with a woman you love.
Which gets me to my next point - the title of this blog entry. Very relationist (new word, meaning someone who discriminates on the basis of being in a relationship). Maybe the young lass isn't looking for a romantic relationship. Maybe that part of her life is on hold until she finishes grad school. Etc.
Society seems to have decided that being in a long term relationship is normality. But, more and more, it isn't. After losing her husband of well over 50 years a couple years ago, my partner's mother is happy to be alone. She very likely wouldn't have remarried if she had been widowed 25 years earlier. She has one daughter in her life, and talks to her siblings a couple times a year. Otherwise, she is happy alone. I have brothers who have been alone most of their adult lives, and are mostly acclimated to it. We were talking on the drive up to Vegas about what we would do if something happened to one of us. I thought that I would end up with someone else, and most likely someone I have known for years. She said that she would remarry, but not someone she already knew. But normally, she is more honest, and will admit that she is more like her mother, and is quite happy by herself. Always has been. Which means that seeing her daughter a couple times a week, and son every couple months (remember that DIL above?) would probably be sufficient for her, in terms of human interactions.
Alone doesn't mean lonely.
Your photo is very Edward Hoppereeque, wouldn't you say?
Hopperesque I meant to write. Why do I never preview?
If UPS has a parcel for you plus a UPS smart post parcel for delivery next day by the post office, they deliver both to you.
It saves them a trip to the post office and handling.
Software at work.
I've thought about this a lot, lately, Words. The words we choose and the way we use them can have an impact (often unintended) beyond the sum of the vowels and consonants chosen. "It's my pleasure" and "No problem" can both be responses to a simple "Thank You," but which leaves you feeling that you, somehow, inconvenienced the respond-er?
The positioning of words also matters. In air traffic control, for example, the action phrase is always placed after the caution; "After the landing 747, taxi into position and hold" works much better than "Taxi into position and hold after the landing 747." I'll leave it to you to determine why.
This brief background leads me to a single word, "election", in a single phrase, "presidential election", that causes great confusion because it is not accurate. The United States does not have a presidential election!
Well, well, what was that thing back on Tuesday, November 8, 2016? Wasn't that the presidential election? Nope!!
Tuesday, November 8, 2016, was the date the U.S. held its presidential electionSSSSS!
On that date, as legislated by Congress, we held 50 separate elections concurrently. It is not even necessary that those 50 elections be held on the same date; the Constitution only requires that the electors hold their vote on the same day, nationwide. Yes, I know I'm skipping a lot; the elections actually select a slate of electors, yada yada...
If I am being more obtuse with this than I intend, I will simplify as much as possible; we should use the term "Presidential Elections" exclusively to describe the body politic voting its pleasure for the Chief Executive and Commander in Chief.
A. It is a more accurate description of what is actually happening on election day.
B. It gives lie to the idea that there is a single majority or plurality obtained by a candidate on a national basis.
C. It presents an opportunity for discussion when asked "When do you mean by elections?"
D. It supports a better understanding of the Electors in the Presidential selection process.
Presidential electionS. The term may give you the opportunity to watch a few heads explode along with the smug(Dele) patriotic satisfaction of being accurate.
I reported; you decide.
Indeed, 3/14 is coming up. So-called "Steak and Blowjob Day" - the male counterpart to Valentine's Day.
For this male, 3/14 is nothing more or less than my wedding anniversary. Which, given how awesome my wife is, really DOES make it "Steak and Blowjob Day".
Although, given how awesome my wife is, it wouldn't take much prodding to make nearly EVERY day "Steak and Blowjob Day".
Meh. I prefer actual sex. Always have. It's difficult to play with boobs that are kneeling in front of you. My arms aren't long enough.
I am chauvinistic about everything in life except sex. When it comes to sex, I am the ultimate feminist.
Nothing is as satisfying as bringing a beautiful woman to the peak of pleasure and keeping her there for 3, 4, 5 minutes - or even longer.
Marathon orgasms aren't possible every time - sometimes her body just can't handle it, or my rhythm is slightly off, or the lead-up wasn't quite enough. But she always enjoys at least a couple of the garden variety. I don't quit until she gets hers.
And the look she gives me during and afterwards . . . for an hour or so, I am a god in her eyes. I've only had 2 former lovers who were capable of having these kinds of climaxes and both of them used to give me the same look of wonder and love and excitement.
I chose my wife because her look also contains a question/invitation: "Again?"
Rarely do I answer in the negative.
Hope you all had a good day, be it with your lover, your spouse, or just chilling alone or with platonic friends.
If Trump declared March 14 to be a national Holiday -- "Steak and BlowJob" Day -- he'd easily win 400+ electoral votes in 2020.
Kid stuff, Kyzernick.
Find a fish — say, a rainbow or golden trout. Now buy your trout a bike — something WSD, fat tires, full suspension, carbon frame, flat pedals. Now teach her the joy of climbing, the thrill of downhilling, the true meaning of flow.
NOW you may call yourself a feminist.
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