Althouse: At the Friday Night Cafe...

February 14, 2020

At the Friday Night Cafe...

... you can talk about whatever you want.

201 comments:

1 – 200 of 201 Newer› Newest»

RK said...: Good news: TDS is apparently curable; 2/14/20, 8:44 PM
JackWayne said...: It should be obvious to everyone, even those cruelly neutral, that there are 2 law systems in America. Seems unstable to me.; 2/14/20, 8:44 PM
stephen cooper said...: PARDON ROGER STONE RIGHT NOW

if Trump were a mensch he would not wait.

What JackWayne said.; 2/14/20, 8:46 PM
JackWayne said...: I would turn that around to say that if Stone goes to prison, so should McCabe.; 2/14/20, 8:49 PM
Mark said...: It was Miri on Star Trek tonight.

Bonk, bonk on the head.

I don't buy though that while children might physically not age for hundreds of years, they would also remain mentally and emotionally children. Also, where did their food come from all those years?; 2/14/20, 8:50 PM
Mark said...: Apparently Grace Whitney (Janice Rand) was sexually assaulted by a show executive at a staff party after filming this episode, and then dumped from the show right after.; 2/14/20, 8:52 PM
rhhardin said...: The ham band is crowded - there's some ham contest - called a Frenchman and worked him in ten seconds - turned the radio off. The guy's up late - it's 3am there.

Just checking that the radio still worked after uninstalling some gear that reduced local noise, which noise seems to have disappeared for a while on its own.; 2/14/20, 8:55 PM
Churchy LaFemme: said...: Also, where did their food come from all those years?

Wasn't there a scene miming working a can-opener?

I like Niven's take on eternal children in A World Out Of Time better: Functioning mature beings, but with different priorities than normal adults (because no sex-driven behavior) and the eternal boys don't like the eternal girls and vice-versa.; 2/14/20, 8:55 PM
chickelit said...: RK said...Good news: TDS is apparently curable

I know people who believe that the Obama years were like Weimar Germany and that if this whole Trump = Hitler thing doesn't come to fruition real soon, their whole reason for being is going to come crashing down. It's overweening pride that is killing them.

Althouse -- the person not the blog -- seems to have charted a middle way -- not to be onboard for Trump as President but to shy away from and even shun the silly TDS.; 2/14/20, 8:57 PM
JackWayne said...: IE, find a fence and sit on it.; 2/14/20, 8:58 PM
narciso said...: I thought there was going to the alec 'deprogramming from clock work oange.; 2/14/20, 9:20 PM
Drago said...: Great news Klobuchar fans! Amy couldn't name the President of Mexico!

So, you've got that going for you, which is nice.

I wonder what Don Le-Mon and Rick Gates would have to say about that?; 2/14/20, 9:22 PM
narciso said...: She was out of salad give her a break

sure why not; 2/14/20, 9:24 PM
320Busdriver said...: I was temporarily entertained when I located Lisa Pages’ twitter page and toast to McCabe... “ cheers Andy”

The incoming fire was fierce, and entirely humorous.; 2/14/20, 9:25 PM
Inga said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/14/20, 9:27 PM
Inga said...: The Army is not going to be investigating Vindman, with that and McCabe, some Trumpists had a disappointing day. Take heart, it’s not so bad.; 2/14/20, 9:31 PM
narciso said...: a notion to consider; 2/14/20, 9:31 PM
Michael K said...: Inga is all in for traitors.; 2/14/20, 9:36 PM
Ken B said...: Made a good easy soup
.5 pound hot sausage meat
.5 pound shrimp
.5 pound okra (or frozen spinach)
1 pound tomatoes
2 ounces Frank's hot sauce or Tobasco sauce
Garlic, thyme, tarragon
Add the shrimp at the end. Good without the shrimp too.; 2/14/20, 9:38 PM
Michael McNeil said...: Inga (carried forward from an earlier thread):
If, on your iPhone or iPad, you don't want to turn off the “Smart Punctuation” setting under Keyboard, there's another way to (easily!) enter the proper "straight" rather than “curly” double-quotes (needed for bracketing the url link in the html <a> tag when doing links).

The alternate solution to this issue (while leaving Smart Punctuation otherwise turned on) is to hold your finger down on the double-quote key until the subsidiary menu opens up (displaying several different kinds of quotes you can choose), then select the straight double-quotes (": rightmost item in the list).; 2/14/20, 9:40 PM
narciso said...: Im a big shrimp fan, but its not necessary.; 2/14/20, 9:40 PM
Inga said...: “The McCabe case—and President Donald Trump’s personal involvement in it—prompted federal judge Reggie Barnett Walton to call the government’s handling of it “disturbing,” a “mess,” and veering close to a “banana republic.”

“I think it’s very unfortunate,” Judge Walton told prosecutors as the case hung in limbo in late September. “And I think as a government and as a society we’re going to pay a price at some point for this.””

Daily Beast; 2/14/20, 9:41 PM
Inga said...: "The alternate solution to this issue (while leaving Smart Punctuation otherwise turned on) is to hold your finger down on the double-quote key until the subsidiary menu opens up (displaying several different kinds of quotes you can choose), then select the straight double-quotes (": rightmost item in the list)."

Yes, thanks, I’ve tried it out.; 2/14/20, 9:42 PM
Inga said...: "Inga is all in for traitors."

So are your liberal children then.; 2/14/20, 9:45 PM
narciso said...: We know what shirt judge walton is wearing, even if some preetend otherwise; 2/14/20, 9:45 PM
Drago said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/14/20, 9:46 PM
Drago said...: Admiral Inga: "The Army is not going to be investigating Vindman, with that and McCabe, some Trumpists had a disappointing day."

I can't help but think of all those service members who were booted out of the military or demoted or prosecuted for violating the chain of command, illegal leaking, violation of opsec, etc.

That submarine sailor, Kristian Saucier, that was prosecuted to the full extent of the law by obama and his minions for simply taking pics of his workspace to share with his family because he was so proud of his job aboard a nuke sub.

1 year in prison for that.

Vindman leaks classified Presidential phone call (also opsec violation), violates chain of command, etc., and he is celebrated.

Talk about a morale killer.

On top of all that, what did obama and Susan Rice and an army of dems do with regards to the traitor Bowe Bergdahl who literally helped our enemy kill US soldiers?

They called him an "American Hero" who served with "Honor and distinction".

That's the left/libs for you.; 2/14/20, 9:46 PM
Inga said...: “Vindman leaks classified Presidential phone call (also opsec violation), violates chain of command, etc., and he is celebrated.”

Vindman followed his chain of command, just as he was taught to, per General John Kelly.; 2/14/20, 9:49 PM
Inga said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/14/20, 9:55 PM
Inga said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/14/20, 9:56 PM
stephen cooper said...: Inga, you are losing. I do not want you to lose, you are a fellow human being.

Try harder - try and think of what you would think about if you thought that it is important to be a good person.

The poor little Vindman twins had a lot going for them before they decided to be treacherous.

I know dozens of braver soldiers than either of those overweight dishonest young men.

I Hope they grow up some day to be honorable soldiers.; 2/14/20, 9:59 PM
John henry said...: Ann, if you are reading, a suggestion.

I'm a voracious reader always looking for the next book to read. I've gotten a lot of great reading ideas from comment threads. I know at least a few others have as well.

So, my suggestion is that one night every week a Cafe thread is dedicated to books. What we're reading, what we like and why and so on.

No particular structure, just a guideline that the Cafe should be book and author related. Probably on the same night each week for people like me who don't usually take part in cafes.

Anyone else think this might be a good idea?

John Henry; 2/14/20, 10:02 PM
stephen cooper said...: "General John Kelly" :

never was wounded but won dozens of medals

like a snake he badmouthed his commander in chief as soon as he could get away with it.

The man is a disgrace to the name of the Kellys.

Call him Fredo.; 2/14/20, 10:04 PM
Ken B said...: John Henry
I like the idea.
A thread about books would also presumably be free of Inga, Chuck, Ritmo, and Birkel.; 2/14/20, 10:06 PM
wild chicken said...: Boy, that ham radio stuff is really; 2/14/20, 10:06 PM
narciso said...: Ted bells first offering that i read was pretty good, like james patterson he started out in advertising. Alex hawke is kind of bond archetype, and some of the villains like the dog are kind of pulpy.; 2/14/20, 10:10 PM
FullMoon said...: The degree to which Michael Bloomberg is using his fortune to fundamentally alter & manipulate U.S. politics to his personal advantage extends way beyond ads. I've worked against him, covered him as a journalist & worked with his top aides. Here is their playbook:; 2/14/20, 10:13 PM
Inga said...: “A thread about books would also presumably be free of ...Birkel.”

Why no love for Birkel? You two are very much alike.; 2/14/20, 10:13 PM
Gahrie said...: Bloomberg is the guy that the Democrats thought Trump was.; 2/14/20, 10:16 PM
narciso said...: Henry fielding's picatesque is quite good at painting the picture of what was happening in the english country as the american revolution was winding up; 2/14/20, 10:16 PM
Drago said...: Admiral Inga: "Vindman followed his chain of command, just as he was taught to, per General John Kelly."

Vindman violated his chain of command as his OWN under oath testimony showed and also by the direct testimony of his superior officer, Tim Morrison, in that chain of command. Also under oath.

Vindman's actual testimony/excuse for that? He didn't have time....even though he had time to tell others outside the chain of command.

Morrison also testified that Vindman had poor judgement and that he didn't trust him.

But again, it's all just testimony under oath. No biggee.; 2/14/20, 10:17 PM
John henry said...: Scott adams mentioned today that vindman had been approached multiple times by the Ukrainian govt about serving as their defense minister.

I thought he was joking but looked it up and it's true. He testified about it during the impeachment hearings. He said he was approached several times which I took to mean at least 3.

It seemed known so I am assuming that he reported it in the proper way.

I'm really curious why he was asked. I'm curious why he was asked multiple times. What led the Ukrainians to think he might be amenable to taking the job?

Scott say they asked vindman after Biden turned it down because it didn't pay enough. (Scott also said that was a joke)

Ther were two vindmans on the nsc. Both were reassigned (not fired) recently.

There's a third brother, leonid who runs Tungsten Capital, a fair sized fund specially in ukraine, Russia and that area.

PDJT wanted the army to investigate the 2 army vindmans army told pdjt to piss off today.

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2020/02/us-army-refuses-to-investigate-treasonous-bastard-alexander-vindman-despite-presidents-request-will-move-him-to-full-time-position-at-military-college/

I don't see how pdjt can let this stand.

John Henry; 2/14/20, 10:19 PM
FullMoon said...: So, my suggestion is that one night every week a Cafe thread is dedicated to books. What we're reading, what we like and why and so on.

Have seen threads turn into discussions of bible and movies. Just need to have enough participants to get it going. Can be interspersed with other comments.

Maybe when seeing a comment by book reader, suggest they show up at particular night. Mike K comes to mind, several others also.; 2/14/20, 10:19 PM
Inga said...: So Admiral Drago knows better than General Kelly, LOL.; 2/14/20, 10:20 PM
Charlie Eklund said...: I like John Henry’s idea of a weekly book cafe. I’m always in search of a something to add to the ,,to be read” pile and occasionally enjoy recommending a good book. Plus, Ken B. cannot be far off the mark with his observation. Please, Althouse, o great one, o mighty one, please make it so.; 2/14/20, 10:23 PM
Inga said...: “PDJT wanted the army to investigate the 2 army vindmans army told pdjt to piss off today.”

Indeed they did, yay for them. I doubt Trump is endearing himself to the military.; 2/14/20, 10:23 PM
Gahrie said...: Anyone else think this might be a good idea?

I'd love it. Maybe we could even go the whole book club route and read the same book at the same time too. As a reader marooned in a sea of non-readers, there are books I yearn to discuss.; 2/14/20, 10:24 PM
Drago said...: Admiral Inga: "So Admiral Drago knows better than General Kelly, LOL."

It's in his testimony dummy. Does General Kelly have the power to make sworn testimony disappear?

Morrison (after being asked why he chose to exclude Vindman from his conversations with the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bill Taylor): “I had concerns about Lieutenant Colonel Vindman’s judgment…Among the discussions I had with Dr. [Fiona] Hill in the transition was our team, my team, its strengths and its weaknesses. And Fiona and others had raised concerns about Alex’s judgment." (p. 81-82) of the Transcript.

But whatever.

Its just testimony under oath.; 2/14/20, 10:25 PM
Gahrie said...: Indeed they did, yay for them. I doubt Trump is endearing himself to the military.

The Brass maybe, and who gives a fuck what they think?; 2/14/20, 10:25 PM
FullMoon said...: Ace of Spades has a Sunday morning book thread; 2/14/20, 10:27 PM
Mark said...: Same boring crap. Can't you guys talk about something else? Anything else? Save the usual crap for the other threads.; 2/14/20, 10:29 PM
FullMoon said...: Already three here who want a book thread. So, start talking...; 2/14/20, 10:29 PM
John henry said...: narciso said...

Ted bells first offering that i read was pretty good, like james patterson he started out in advertising. Alex hawke is kind of bond archetype, and some of the villains like the dog are kind of pulpy.

I've gotten some good recommendations from you. Especially "the pilgrim". What a great read that was!

Otoh, I read the first alex Hawke on your recommendation. I found it too be a real page turner and enjoyed it. I did find it too be way over the top. I plan on reading the next in the series to set if it gets better. If it doesn't, I'll probably give the rest of them a pass.

Just finished reading "Spearhead" last night. It was the history of a single Sherman tank crew (later upgraded to a pershing) from Normandy to Padborn and the end of the war.

Very personal, very detailed, one of the best wwii books I've read in a while.

John Henry; 2/14/20, 10:29 PM
Drago said...: Admiral Inga: "Indeed they did, yay for them. I doubt Trump is endearing himself to the military."

Trump will once again receive 65 to 70% of all military votes cast and an even higher percentage of the votes cast by military members in combat roles.

This is why in any recount the first thing democrat lawyers do is try and throw out and disqualify as many military ballots as possible.

This democrat tactic first gained wide coverage when the Gore-Lieberman team, in the Florida recount, sent out a flyer to all their recount teams explaining precisely what issues to bring up to disqualify military ballots. Particularly those ballots which came from front-line troops who often can't get the precise postmark etc on their ballots

From the NYT in 2001:

"EXAMINING THE VOTE; Lieberman Put Democrats In Retreat on Military Vote
By Richard L. Berke
July 15, 2001"

"For many Democrats immersed in Florida's disputed presidential election, there was no worse moment than the one on Sunday, Nov. 19, when Senator Joseph I. Lieberman appeared on national television and said that election officials should give the ''benefit of the doubt'' to military voters.

Until then, the Democrats had conducted a full-scale effort to persuade counties to disqualify any overseas ballots that lacked postmarks or witness signatures. But on that morning, with Republicans attacking the Gore-Lieberman campaign for eliminating the votes of hundreds of men and women in the armed forces, Mr. Lieberman effectively disavowed the strategy.

Military members don't forget that kind of stuff Inga.

Sort of like not forgetting how all your dem leaders called traitor Bergdahl a "hero".; 2/14/20, 10:30 PM
FullMoon said...: Same boring crap. Can't you guys talk about something else? Anything else? Save the usual crap for the other threads.

You read any good books lately?; 2/14/20, 10:30 PM
Drago said...: Mark: "Same boring crap. Can't you guys talk about something else? Anything else?"

Don't leave us in suspense. What do you have to offer?; 2/14/20, 10:32 PM
Inga said...: “It's in his testimony dummy. Does General Kelly have the power to make sworn testimony disappear?”

General Kelly no doubt is aware of Vindman’s testimony. He apparently knows far more than you do about Chain of Command.

“Having seen something 'questionable (in the call),' Vindman properly notified his superiors," Kelly said at an event at Drew University, according to the magazine. "When subpoenaed by Congress in the House impeachment hearings, Vindman complied and told the truth."
"He did exactly what we teach them to do from cradle to grave," he said, according to the magazine. "He went and told his boss what he just heard."; 2/14/20, 10:32 PM
Inga said...: And if it’s a contest between the Prevaricator Drago and General Kelly, the Prevaricator Drago loses.; 2/14/20, 10:34 PM
narciso said...: Its got more than few novelist,
S in the crew, more than history writer
I think ive mentioned rather than read the entire thucydides oevre i wemt for the lead expert donald kagan and his examination of the formers veracity, hint there wasnt much.; 2/14/20, 10:34 PM
John henry said...: Fullmoon,

I am an avid reader of the Sunday morning books. I almost mentioned it as a model.

But ace posts a lot of commentary on books and I'm not asking Ann to do that. I'd love it if she did but it's a lot of work and I worried that she might think that's what i have in mind.

Ive waded into the comments there from time to time. I could never get too interested. A different class of commenter and discussion than here.

I'm a big fan of AoS blog in general. Read it daily.

John Henry; 2/14/20, 10:36 PM
narciso said...: Now many moons ago i read herodotusihad bee. Meaning to since the english patient but 300 made me attempt it, i thought frank millers fantasmagoric account was too crazy but that was how he actually wrote it.; 2/14/20, 10:37 PM
Drago said...: Admiral Inga: "General Kelly no doubt is aware of Vindman’s testimony."

LOL

The testimony does not change simply because Kelly says something else.

You are veering right back into Christopher Steele territory when you denied over and over again that Steele refused to back up his hoax dossier claims in a London court procedure simply because, and I'm not kidding, Christopher Steele's sworn deposition was delivered to the court instead of Steele actually walking into the courtroom himself!!

That was hilarious by the way.; 2/14/20, 10:38 PM
Drago said...: Admiral Inga: 'And if it’s a contest between the Prevaricator Drago and General Kelly, the Prevaricator Drago loses."

The testimony wins.

General Kelly and you lose.; 2/14/20, 10:38 PM
FullMoon said...: Don't leave us in suspense. What do you have to offer?

Helped the neighbor do a brake job on their Murano. Rear pads were about half the size of front. Of course, we all know fronts do most of the work.

Does celibacy requirement contribute to Catholic church pedophilia?

Will "Huckleberry Finn" be allowed back in school libraries eventually?

I throw peanuts out for the local murder of crows. Some are so greedy that they will attempt to pick up a second one and drop the one in their beak while trying.

No tomatoes yet.

Remember the guy who defecated in a Safeway store? Claims now it was performance art and wants compensation from store for disposing of it without permission.; 2/14/20, 10:41 PM
Drago said...: Fullmoon: "Remember the guy who defecated in a Safeway store? Claims now it was performance art and wants compensation from store for disposing of it without permission."

In what state did that occur?

If CA, the guy will likely win.; 2/14/20, 10:42 PM
FullMoon said...: But ace posts a lot of commentary on books and I'm not asking Ann to do that.

Didn't AA start posting excerpt from a particular book daily last year? Maybe someone here remembers?; 2/14/20, 10:44 PM
narciso said...: Even farther back was len deightons first series that was untitled, but that tuned out to be the harry palmer series, its very grounded, its only in the billion dollar brain that deighton creates a ludicrous villain, seeing as it came out around 1964 andhes an american you can imagine what kind of character.; 2/14/20, 10:44 PM
Drago said...: Here's video of those troops Inga claims are not endeared to Trump:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LX2n-8AhD0

They were just hanging out on the tarmac and, once again, Trump makes an unplanned excursion into the throes of crowds that are most certainly endeared to him.

Admiral Inga and the DNC hardest hit.; 2/14/20, 10:45 PM
John henry said...: Full moon,

Right you are. It's a cafe post so we can discuss whatever we like. We don't really need ann, though her blessing and a mention that it's a book Cafe would be be helpful.

But we can do this. Starting next Friday, let's turn the Friday night Cafe into a book Cafe. Those of us like the idea will show up and start taking books.

Anyone can talk about anything else, of course, just like any cafe. We'll just save book ideas for Friday rather than posting randomly.

John Henry; 2/14/20, 10:47 PM
Gahrie said...: My big go tos are any good history book, alternative history and sci/fi. I've occasionally been known to stray into fantasy.

It's seems a bunch of us here have read Bujold's Vorkosigan books....has anybody else read The Flowers of Vashnoi?; 2/14/20, 10:48 PM
Inga said...: “General Kelly and you lose.”

Sez Admiral Drago. I’m not impressed by Admiral Drago’s vast military experience compared to General Kelly’s.; 2/14/20, 10:49 PM
FullMoon said...: In what state did that occur?

If CA, the guy will likely win.

Not only california, but San Francisco. Open and shut case.; 2/14/20, 10:51 PM
John henry said...: Fullmoon,

She was doing bonfire of the vanities for a while. It's that what you mean?

I enjoyed that.

John Henry; 2/14/20, 10:52 PM
Drago said...: Admiral Inga: "Sez Admiral Drago. I’m not impressed by Admiral Drago’s vast military experience compared to General Kelly’s."

General Kelly does not have the galactic power to make testimony disappear:

Q: So, I mean — and I, like you, Mr. Morrison, I appreciate the service Colonel Vindman has given to our country and the sacrifice he has made. But I think in the last — or since you’ve been here today, you’ve talked about Colonel Vindman. There were issues of judgment, that he operated outside his lane. He didn’t adhere to the chain of command. Was not included, specifically excluded — I guess, to your use your language, was not included on certain trips. And there was an area of Ukraine that you kept him restricted from being a part of, and you said you couldn’t get into that. Did Mr. Vindman — did he talk too much?

A: I had concerns that he did not exercise appropriate judgment as to whom he would say what. (p. 205)

Regarding Vindman's testimony that he he had received “light queries” from “Ukrainian officials in August regarding the hold on aid.”

Morrison was asked if Vindman should have notified him about those queries and he had said yes.

Q: And if he did not, would you consider that to be a violation of the chain of command?

A: I would consider it to be an unfortunate habit he picked up from his prior boss.; 2/14/20, 10:54 PM
Drago said...: Maybe General Kelly should order Tim Morrison to go back and amend his testimony so that he and Inga can be "right" on this.; 2/14/20, 10:55 PM
narciso said...: my defoe line was half in gest; 2/14/20, 10:55 PM
narciso said...: And dr. Zhivago even though thst dwelled more on the film,; 2/14/20, 10:56 PM
FullMoon said...: Jeopardy brought up"It was a dark and stormy night"

Why is that a bad sentence?; 2/14/20, 10:57 PM
narciso said...: Bulwer lytton, decided it was very trite.; 2/14/20, 10:58 PM
J. Farmer said...: @FullMoon:

Does celibacy requirement contribute to Catholic church pedophilia?

Not sure, but in Francis Fukuyama's book The Origins of Political Order, he argued that the Gregory VII instituted celibacy requirements in order to prevent bishops from passing on politically-powerful positions to their offspring.

The practice of Roman Emperors passing the title to their children had nearly destroyed Rome thanks to a succession of awful emperors. However, Nerva began a tradition of finding a good candidate and simply adopting him has his son. This began the chain of what is called the "Five Good Emperors" in the 2nd century AD. The process ended with Marcus Aurelius, who choose instead to his own biological son, Commodus, the emperor portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix in Gladiator.; 2/14/20, 11:00 PM
Drago said...: Per Fullmoon's request (and Mark's whine), I do like this policy and effort on the part of Trump:

Murder victim's granddaughter slams sanctuary cities at Trump event before president orders deployment of elite Border Patrol unit (U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Border Patrol Tactical Unit) to 10 cities to bolster ICE and crackdown on illegal migrants.

It's about time.

I also liked how Trump got Cuomo to squeal like a stuck pig and back down on his initial refusal to provide drivers license info to ICE after the dems approved giving illegals actual drivers licenses....(and automatically registering those illegals to vote).

Cuomo initially said nope, and the Trump admin said well, okay, but no trusted traveler programs for NY residents, etc.; 2/14/20, 11:02 PM
J. Farmer said...: Jeopardy brought up"It was a dark and stormy night"

Why is that a bad sentence?

See Throw Momma From the Train.; 2/14/20, 11:02 PM
FullMoon said...: She was doing bonfire of the vanities for a while. It's that what you mean?

Yep. Liked the book, heard the movie was a disaster so avoided it.

Read a book in the past "Aztec". Years later, remembering it as an interesting history sort of book,, gave it to a dignified, straight laced, elderly woman relative. She returned it immediately, so I took a quick read through it, full of human sacrifice, torture and rape. Embarrassing oversight.; 2/14/20, 11:04 PM
Drago said...: Also interesting is Bernie taking a solid lead in Nevada over his rivals (Bloomy not on the ballot there).

Bloomy is just going to skip all that messy campaign stuff and let his $500M worth of ad buys do the talking on Super Tuesday.; 2/14/20, 11:05 PM
FullMoon said...: Do I need to watch the whole thing? I think it was full of liberal actors I used to like.; 2/14/20, 11:06 PM
Drago said...: J Farmer: "See Throw Momma From the Train."

No no no!

The line from Throw Momma from the Train was: The Night Was Sultry.; 2/14/20, 11:07 PM
FullMoon said...: Bloomy is just going to skip all that messy campaign stuff and let his $500M worth of ad buys do the talking on Super Tuesday.

Not only the ads, he buys people also. Linked at 10:13. I got it from narciso..; 2/14/20, 11:08 PM
narciso said...: The film did not due justice to the novel, heck depalma deserves a fatwa, like the ones who tried to one up wrath of khan

Among details it glossed over was sherman mccoy was the son of an arriviste siuthern lawyer; 2/14/20, 11:08 PM
Drago said...: Billy Crystal and Danny Devito's characters were trying to come up with a good opening line and the "momma" walked in irritated and just blurted it out.

If memory serves.

I first watched it while at sea with a squadron full of guys that have a hard time piping down.

Of course, I only think I was at sea. It's possible that General Kelly will order me to not remember where I was so that Inga can make another hilarious fatuous assertion.; 2/14/20, 11:09 PM
narciso said...: One stand alone effort was nelson demilles gold coast think of bonfire meets the sopeanos wasps meet assimilated mob scion,; 2/14/20, 11:11 PM
JML said...: I’m currently reading “A Colonel in the Armored Divisions...” by William Triplet and Robert Ferrell. It was suggested by a person on this blog; thanks. I am enjoying it so much I just ordered his WW1 memoir. I used Abe Books for both.; 2/14/20, 11:11 PM
Drago said...: narciso: "The film did not due justice to the novel, heck depalma deserves a fatwa, like the ones who tried to one up wrath of khan"

I think he was afraid to go as far as Tom Wolfe did, for obvious "hollywood" reasons.

"Kindly behoove me no ill-behooves" was true to the book though.

And the whole sternocleidomastoidal stuff with the DA was amusing.; 2/14/20, 11:12 PM
FullMoon said...: The line from Throw Momma from the Train was: The Night Was Sultry.

Disable safe search and look for dark, stormy and sultry... let me know what you find; 2/14/20, 11:13 PM
Drago said...: Fullmoon: "Disable safe search and look for dark, stormy and sultry... let me know what you find"

90's boy band members?; 2/14/20, 11:15 PM
FullMoon said...: I first watched it while at sea with a squadron full of guys that have a hard time piping down.

Topic tomorrow, origin of "piping down", unlinkable oxford..; 2/14/20, 11:15 PM
Drago said...: Sorry, I think 90's boy band roles were "troubled", "sullen", etc.

I can't remember the formula.; 2/14/20, 11:15 PM
narciso said...: Depalma was not a subtle director, and it required a deft touch. It is dickensian or even trollopian in scope.; 2/14/20, 11:16 PM
Drago said...: Of course, I only think I remember 90's boy bands.

I'll need General Kelly to confirm their existence before I continue that particular discussion.; 2/14/20, 11:17 PM
narciso said...: Man in full, his follow up, could have ises an editor.; 2/14/20, 11:17 PM
Anonymous said...: I try not to post much, because I know you effetes are enjoying yourselves and I just want to peek in and see what you think. I pick up a morsel now and again. Doctors, Lawyers, SES. Cream of the crop. I like what Bruce Hayden has to say, but he won't call his wife, a wife. It's a partner. I guess it's an effete thing. When he talks about a single individual, he refers to it as 'they'. Maybe that is required in effete world. It's confusing though. I get stuck thinking maybe he's referring to a twin and there's two. I understand English. 'They' doesn't refer to a him or her. My eighth grade teacher, Mrs Partridge (check this out...her maiden name was Troutman! Get it...Partridge/Trout) Never mind. No, I think he spent too much time in Progworld and he thinks he has to use ProgSpeech. I like his comments though. I don't yet know Prog. I'm learning. I come here to learn. (It may be another month, so here are my faves. Dr K, Buwaya, Narciso (PUNCTUATE, dammit), Meade (a wry sense of humor, diggin' it) John Henry. Finally, my dear Hostess, Ann, Your skirt was too short in High School. If needed I will explain it to you. We all have our scotomas.; 2/14/20, 11:19 PM
FullMoon said...: Speaking of movies, TV series Prime Suspect was mentioned recently. Remembered liking it years ago, so started re watching. Seems kinda woke this time around .

Now, I recommend French series Spiral. on Prime.; 2/14/20, 11:20 PM
FullMoon said...: I try not to post much, because I know you effetes are enjoying yourselves a

Don't know what effete means, but if's good, I'm it..; 2/14/20, 11:21 PM
J. Farmer said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/14/20, 11:26 PM
Yancey Ward said...: Why is that a bad sentence?

You should check out the rest of the sentence- it goes on a bit after "night".; 2/14/20, 11:27 PM
J. Farmer said...: @Drago:

No no no!

The line from Throw Momma from the Train was: The Night Was Sultry

Eventually. The night was hot. The night was wet. The night was humid. The night was moist. The night was sultry. The gag was that Crystal was trying every way possible to avoid saying "it was a dark and stormy night."; 2/14/20, 11:27 PM
FullMoon said...: 90's boy band members?

Dang, you were not kidding. Boy bands and mixed drink. Unexpected.; 2/14/20, 11:27 PM
J said...: I can’t resist a book thread. I found the “great books” set at a thrift sale a couple years ago. My New Years resolution this year was to actually read some of them, so I’m slowly working through the 10-year reading plan. Aristophanes, Plato, Aristotle, and now Plutarch—just a few selections from each. I’m loving it and regretting that I’m just now being introduced to these works—I’m credentialed but poorly educated. Luckily, I’m homeschooling and excited to introduce my kids to great ideas. I’m reading D’Aulaires Norse myths with the kids now.

Re: Marcus Aurelius and Commodus, how could the apple fall so far from the tree?; 2/14/20, 11:29 PM
William said...: The keep doing remakes of Little Women and Jane Austen novels. Why not give Bonfire another shot. The people who do Succession have the requisite bile.....In order to become a more sensitive man and just an all around better person, I recently watched Captain Marvel. It was reasonably entertaining. The special effects were up to Marvel standards, and there was the occasional bit of witty banter....There was a fair amount of p c bullshit, but it wasn't quite overloaded with it. I suppose that there are other dimensions and other worlds where women have tremendous upper body strength and can throw men around like straw dummies. You've got to accept the Marvel universe and the forest of Arden on their own terms.....One plus thing about Brie Larson: she does look fit and athletic and yet retains some cuteness. She's no Gal Gadot, but she's got some heat....For these female hero roles, the producers are picking girls who are more on the sturdy than the sultry side. That takes all the fun out of saving the world.; 2/14/20, 11:29 PM
FullMoon said...: Eventually. The night was hot. The night was wet. The night was humid. The night was moist. The night was sultry. The gag was that Crystal was trying every way possible to avoid saying "it was a dark and stormy night."

Reminds me of Body Heat.

Discussion of kid who witnessed the bad guy having sex with a woman. Asked to describe bad guy, kid says, shiny and about seven inches (or something); 2/14/20, 11:30 PM
FullMoon said...: Re: Marcus Aurelius and Commodus, how could the apple fall so far from the tree?

Strong, ill wind?; 2/14/20, 11:32 PM
Mark said...: Helpful hint --

Don't start watching YouTube videos of old songs you have forgotten about or haven't heard in a long time. Suddenly an hour or two will have passed by.; 2/14/20, 11:37 PM
Drago said...: Another interesting item from yesterday is Boris Johnson's cabinet shakeup.; 2/14/20, 11:37 PM
Drago said...: Mark: "Don't start watching YouTube videos of old songs you have forgotten about or haven't heard in a long time. Suddenly an hour or two will have passed by."

Similarly, the apps that display your pics randomly. The kids pics alone keep make you wistfully reliving "Do You Remember The Times Of Your Life" moments (see Madmen: "The Wheel"); 2/14/20, 11:39 PM
Yancey Ward said...: "Don't start watching YouTube videos of old songs you have forgotten about or haven't heard in a long time. Suddenly an hour or two will have passed by."

Yes, the algorithm has me nailed- the recommended list is always tough to ignore. Now I am going to go watch "Love is a Stranger" so that I can admire the young Annie Lennox.; 2/14/20, 11:41 PM
Mark said...: Body Heat.

I was going to say that it is a modern noir.

Then I looked it up and see that it is 39 years old.; 2/14/20, 11:42 PM
eddie willers said...: kid says, shiny and about seven inches (or something)

"And very, very bald!" (said by Ted Danson's character); 2/14/20, 11:44 PM
FullMoon said...: Don't start watching YouTube videos of old songs you have forgotten about or haven't heard in a long time. Suddenly an hour or two will have passed by.

Project Farm with me. Guy tests tools and things scientifically. Tested emergency jump start battery packs. One cheap one beat all other brands. Amazon sold out, factory sold out, two months behind to keep up with demand due to the guys video test.Factory actually posts explanatory thank you.; 2/14/20, 11:44 PM
Mark said...: There's a That Girl marathon on Antenna TV.

Some like to say that the Mary Tyler Moore Show was groundbreaking, but That Girl beat them to it by many years.; 2/14/20, 11:46 PM
Drago said...: Sea of Love
Manhunter
Zorro, The Gay Blade
So I Married an Axe Murderer; 2/14/20, 11:47 PM
FullMoon said...: Similarly, the apps that display your pics randomly. The kids pics alone keep make you wistfully reliving "Do You Remember The Times Of Your Life"

Superbowl ad for alexa had old guy remembering life he and wife shared, as photos of those times flashed on screen. At end of commercial, it is obvious wife is dead and the man happily says "I am the luckiest man alive!"

Made me wonder how much life insurance she carried to make him so happy she died.; 2/14/20, 11:48 PM
FullMoon said...: There's a That Girl marathon on Antenna TV.

Some like to say that the Mary Tyler Moore Show was groundbreaking, but That Girl beat them to it by many years.

No Julia? Racist!; 2/14/20, 11:49 PM
Yancey Ward said...: Body Heat is a great film noir. What do the following films have in common:

Body Heat
The Empire Strikes Back
Silverado
Dreamcatcher; 2/14/20, 11:49 PM
Drago said...: Lawrence Kasdan?; 2/14/20, 11:51 PM
Drago said...: I'm a big Michael Mann fan as well.; 2/14/20, 11:51 PM
narciso said...: All except dreamcatcher were good.; 2/14/20, 11:53 PM
FullMoon said...: What do the following films have in common:

Technicolor?; 2/14/20, 11:53 PM
Yancey Ward said...: Yes, Kasdan wrote the screenplays of all four. Body Heat is an original.; 2/14/20, 11:56 PM
Yancey Ward said...: And he directed Body Heat.; 2/14/20, 11:57 PM
Mark said...: That Girl beats Julia by two years.; 2/14/20, 11:58 PM
Mark said...: The problem with Silverado, besides it being only a meh movie, is how utterly pretentious the critics were when it came out swooning over how it was "an homage to the old western."

A lot more and better authentic westerns have been made since.; 2/15/20, 12:01 AM
FullMoon said...: That Girl beats Julia by two years.

Figures, white privilege. Marlo and Phil should be ashamed; 2/15/20, 12:04 AM
Yancey Ward said...: I love Silverado. Yes, it isn't really an homage to the old westerns, but it is a fun movie for me to watch even though I have probably seen it 6 or 7 times over the years.; 2/15/20, 12:05 AM
J. Farmer said...: And he directed Body Heat.

In his directorial debut. I loved Body Heat. Kathleen Turner at her sultry best. Though my personal favorite film of hers is War of the Roses. If you haven't already, check out The Last Seduction with Linda Fiorentino and Peter Berg. Fiorentino's character makes Barbara Stanwyck's and Kathleen Turner's look like Betty Crocker.; 2/15/20, 12:06 AM
AllenS said...: I joined AncestryDNA on 23 Dec 2002, and tonight I recorded my 1,000 4th cousin or closer.; 2/15/20, 12:08 AM
Yancey Ward said...: Yes, The Last Seduction is great. Fiorentino's character is one of the most ruthless villains you will find in a movie.; 2/15/20, 12:10 AM
FullMoon said...: The Last Seduction with Linda Fiorentino and Peter Berg. Fiorentino's character makes Barbara Stanwyck's and Kathleen Turner's look like Betty Crocker.

Liked it back then at theater and recently on tv. Great movie but will not recommend to dignified female elderly relatives; 2/15/20, 12:12 AM
J. Farmer said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/15/20, 12:13 AM
J. Farmer said...: Some like to say that the Mary Tyler Moore Show was groundbreaking, but That Girl beat them to it by many years.

That Girl was the precursor, but the Marty Tyler Moore Show was the superior sitcom. Ironically, the show was created by Sam Denoff and Bill Persky, who had been the primary writers on The Dick Van Dyke Show. James L. Brooks had also been a writer for That Girl before creating MTM, and the two shows share an episode title, "Christmas and the Hard Luck Kid."

To me, The Dick Van Dyke Show was the first modern sitcom. They may have slept in separate beds, but Rob and Laura Petrie had some of the most palpable sexual chemistry of any sitcom couple ever.; 2/15/20, 12:14 AM
FullMoon said...: I joined AncestryDNA on 23 Dec 2002, and tonight I recorded my 1,000 4th cousin or closer.

Any ask for a loan?

Did mine this year, kept it private. Concerned some distant relative may have similar DNA left at crime scene.; 2/15/20, 12:15 AM
J. Farmer said...: Yes, The Last Seduction is great. Fiorentino's character is one of the most ruthless villains you will find in a movie.

It was initially distributed by HBO, where I first saw it. Sadly, this made Fiorentino ineligible for an Academy Award nomination. Watching that film was quite an experience. Especially considering I was 12.; 2/15/20, 12:17 AM
FullMoon said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/15/20, 12:23 AM
FullMoon said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 2/15/20, 12:25 AM
AllenS said...: The one thing that I never realized by taking a DNA test, was just how many relatives I have that were adopted. That's why they took their test. I have over 3,500 on my family tree, and I share that tree to anyone trying to find out who their relatives are. With no reservations.; 2/15/20, 12:35 AM
PluralThumb said...: Happy birthday Susan B. Anthony !
Eh, probably apropos as to when my once upon a time wife will wish me a happy birthday. You guys are pussies, talking about throwing mothers off the train. Man up to some anti-pedophilia revenge and watch Primal Fear. Too bad Ed Norton is not gay, just yet.

I do wonder if sardines are forced to spoon inside a can.

Tomato sauce only !; 2/15/20, 12:43 AM
buwaya said...: Reading now - Junger's "Storm of Steel"

A German infantry officers quite literary (sometimes overly so) memoir of four years in the trenches on the Western Front. He was at Verdun, the Somme, Passchedaele, Cambrai and the Kaiserschlacht of 1918 - if that isn't a grand tour of hell ...

It is not a bit like Remarque's novel. Junger was an active participant, who approached his part of the whole thing, leading small units (Sturmtruppe by the end) as a warrior, a problem solver and a leader. Remarque on the other hand treats his men as victims. Victims they were in truth, but I like Jungers attitude much better. You want a Junger on your side, not a Remarque.

The whole thing is still a horrible, disgusting mess in Jungers telling. There is squalor, oceans of mud, corpses and rats everywhere (And some cats. Not a lot of them in WWI memoirs for some reason), grotesque wounds, massive casualties. Men die both horribly and casually. One mans fate is mentioned only as a bloodstain on the flooring planks of his dugout. Others, over and over, die unexpectedly by random chance, in all sorts of ways. "Storm" is vastly more grotesque and bloody than Remarques "All Quiet".

Junger also writes with both compassion and curiosity about his enemies. A great deal of curiosity. He kept as a souvenir a damaged British officers helmet, taken from the dead man after a failed trench raid, in which Junger compliments the man for his audacity and courage.

I can understand why Remarque succeeded in selling his book much better than Junger did, as "All Quiet" fit the milieu of the 1920's and 30's. But Jungers is a much more interesting book.; 2/15/20, 1:01 AM
buwaya said...: Btw "Storm of Steel", Ernst Junger, has a couple of audiobook versions on Youtube.
So its free.; 2/15/20, 1:08 AM
buwaya said...: Mockturtle mentioned liking the "Forged in Fire" Youtube shows - swordmakers, blacksmiths.

I suggest another Youtube channel - Alec Steele.

A British and and American lad (both are in their early 20's I think) do all sorts of such projects, where it is more a reality show about solving problems and learning skills. They fail, a lot. And try again, and again. All the sort of constant building of skills through trying that I mentioned as the core of human advancement. You can have your Einsteins - what makes Einsteins possible is a large number of young Alecs.

Its a bit brash, and the editing is jumpy and "modern", but it moves fast.
Try the shows about "Kris Blade Damascus Dagger" and "Zweihander". There are many segments in each of these series, because these aren't trivial jobs.; 2/15/20, 1:30 AM
buwaya said...: Blacksmithing and machining are more visually interesting processes than most of the real problem solving work of the world - one of my old management problems was selling the romance of DAQ and SCADA! But there we are.; 2/15/20, 1:41 AM
Laslo Spatula said...: I'm reading Åsne Seierstad's "One of Us: The Story of a Massacre in Norway".

I'm surprised how much she covers of Breivik's politics without excessive editorial comment.

Well done, so far.

I am Laslo.; 2/15/20, 1:47 AM
Michael K said...: The whole thing is still a horrible, disgusting mess in Jungers telling.

At Ypres, there were 57,000 British troops that did not have any remains identified. There is a massive memorial arch with their names carved.; 2/15/20, 2:30 AM
AllenS said...: Informed this morning that I now have 1000+ fourth cousins or closer. Went through the very long list and found #1001. Would be nice if they said that I had 1001 fourth cousins or closer, so I wouldn't have had to go through the long list. Not real happy about them not giving me the exact number count.; 2/15/20, 4:48 AM
Mr. Forward said...: On the internet “Harvard Professor” and “Florida Man” are the same guy.; 2/15/20, 5:18 AM
stevew said...: Do they make good movies any more? Movies worth leaving the house and sitting in a room with a bunch of strangers to see? I rarely choose to watch a movie these days, even streaming at home. The shows on HBO, Amazon, and Netflix are much more interesting.

Is this attitude rare or commonplace?; 2/15/20, 6:17 AM
donald said...: Here’s what military and former military members know Inga. Vindman not only went out of the chain of command, he did it for partisan political purposes. Corrupt political purposes. Military and former military members would gut him with glee.; 2/15/20, 6:17 AM
gilbar said...: i just finished reading Super-Money, by "Adam Smith", which someone here mentioned
it was really interesting; mostly because it was talking about ancient history (1972)
Particularly, when he mentioned some stranger from Omaha, that No One had ever heard of. This Omaha guy turns out to be Quite the financial dude.

Also, "Adam Smith" keeps talking about things like
tax shelters
tax free munis
inflation

i'd Heard of these things, but to read a book that was from an era when they actually Existed was weird!; 2/15/20, 6:22 AM
gilbar said...: stevew said...
Do they make good movies any more?
What are "movies"? what do you mean by "leaving home"?

Hey? Did you hear? They're making another season of Hanna on Amazon Prime!; 2/15/20, 6:26 AM
rhhardin said...: Bridge season 4 (region 2) seems to be running out of plot. Odd things happen for no reason. Instead of trading on a woman detective with aspergers.; 2/15/20, 6:48 AM
Ralph L said...: What I didn't like about The Tunnel was that the motives were so underwhelming, especially compared to how much trouble the perp went to.; 2/15/20, 6:52 AM
tim maguire said...: J said...Re: Marcus Aurelius and Commodus, how could the apple fall so far from the tree?

Commodus is why I can’t fully understand Marcus Aurelius’ status as philosopher king. Sure, he had some useful sayings, but in the most impactful act of his rule, he broke the model for imperial succession and set Rome on its path to ruin. Rome would have been better off without him.; 2/15/20, 6:56 AM
Ralph L said...: Would our history be different if George Washington had had a biological son?; 2/15/20, 7:01 AM
Iman said...: “ Did mine this year, kept it private. Concerned some distant relative may have similar DNA left at crime scene.”

Funny stuff!; 2/15/20, 7:12 AM
Iman said...: Turner was much better in “Prizzi’s Honor”.; 2/15/20, 7:13 AM
Paco Wové said...: "how could the apple fall so far from the tree?"

One of my high school crowd of stoned philosophers pointed out one day that the coolest parents always had the most fucked up kids.; 2/15/20, 7:16 AM
Mary Beth said...: It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents—except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the housetops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness.

It's the opening line of Edward Bulwer-Lytton's novel Paul Clifford. It had a reputation for being a clunky, wordy way to begin a story, but it got into mainstream thought because of the cartoon "Peanuts". Several of the cartoons had a frame showing Snoopy on top of his doghouse with a typewriter and the text, "It was a dark and stormy night".; 2/15/20, 7:18 AM
Paco Wové said...: My spouse gave me Storm of Steel to read a few years ago, while I was home with a short but vicious bout of flu-like illness. It was in that fevered state that I read it – or most of it, I can't remember if I finished it or not. I recall it was, as Buwaya says, a harrowing nightmare of a book, the most ghastly things imaginable delivered in a flat, just-the-facts-ma'm manner. I remember Junger having particular adversarial respect for the Highlanders.

If I recall correctly, Junger was quite highly thought of in interwar Germany. The Nazis tried to make use of him for propaganda purposes, which he carefully and not always successfully attempted to evade.; 2/15/20, 7:24 AM
Rusty said...: FullMoon said...
"So, my suggestion is that one night every week a Cafe thread is dedicated to books. What we're reading, what we like and why and so on.

Have seen threads turn into discussions of bible and movies. Just need to have enough participants to get it going. Can be interspersed with other comments.

Maybe when seeing a comment by book reader, suggest they show up at particular night. Mike K comes to mind, several others also."
I don't know if you do this too, but I have bathroom books. Books I leave in the john that I read when...……...you know. Right now I've got, "The wars Before Independence" and "The Map of Knowledge" Not real big on fiction but my wife picked up a Walter Mosely book at good will the other day. So I'll knock that one out today.
I get a lot of reading material from Good Will and the salvation Army thrift stores. I picked up a copy of Vol 2 of "American Practical Navigator" mostly for the tables and formulas. Can't beat it for 69cents.; 2/15/20, 7:39 AM
Dan Zenner said...: John Henry.
I have not read it yet, but Joe Rogan has been raving about “Empire of the Summer Moon” by S.C. Gwynn.
It is about the 40 year battle between white settlers and Commanches.
For further info, Rogan interviews Gwynn in episode #1397 of his podcast; 2/15/20, 7:46 AM
Paco Wové said...: So... is Bloomberg the American Republic's Crassus? And if so, is there some front of the War on Climate that he can go get himself killed at?; 2/15/20, 7:53 AM
MadisonMan said...: It was Miri on Star Trek tonight.
Early Season 1 episodes weren't very good.

And then on TNG it was that horrible Season 2 finale with Will and the brain probes while Deanna looks worried. Goodbye Dr. Pulaski.; 2/15/20, 7:56 AM
Michael McNeil said...: Doctors, Lawyers, SES. Cream of the crop. I like what Bruce Hayden has to say, but he won't call his wife, a wife. It's a partner. I guess it's an effete thing. When he talks about a single individual, he refers to it as 'they'. Maybe that is required in effete world. It's confusing though. I get stuck thinking maybe he's referring to a twin and there's two. I understand English. 'They' doesn't refer to a him or her. My eighth grade teacher, Mrs Partridge (check this out...her maiden name was Troutman! Get it...Partridge/Trout) Never mind. No, I think he spent too much time in Progworld and he thinks he has to use ProgSpeech. I like his comments though. I don't yet know Prog. I'm learning. I come here to learn.

If you've come here to learn, you might begin by learning that the “singular they” construction — using the pronoun “they” to refer to a singular referent — is old, old in English: as old as the late 13th century: that's 7 centuries of usage unknown to you.

The highly regarded Language Log blog at UPenn.edu follows this issue.; 2/15/20, 7:56 AM
Dan said...: Ken B

Soup sounds good but short on liquid? Chicken stock?; 2/15/20, 7:58 AM
gilbar said...: but I have bathroom books. Books I leave in the john

I currently have Captain Sam Grant (the 1st volume of Bruce Catton's trilogy*) there

trilogy* The INTERESTING THING is: the 1st volume of Bruce Catton's "classic 3 volume biography of US Grant" isn't WRITTEN by Bruce Catton, but by Lloyd Lewis. Oh! And was written 15 years earlier; 2/15/20, 8:09 AM
Ralph L said...: So... is Bloomberg the American Republic's Crassus?

We've already got a (useless) Spartacus. Sometimes it seems like we're replaying the end of the Roman Republic.; 2/15/20, 8:09 AM
Fernandinande said...: It's the opening line of Edward Bulwer-Lytton's novel Paul Clifford.

The first use of the phrase was in earlier, in 1809:

"It was a dark and stormy night when the good Antony arrived at the creek (sagely denominated Haerlem river) which separates the island of Manna-hata from the mainland."; 2/15/20, 8:10 AM
Ralph L said...: Dan: there's the sausage grease and tomato guts.; 2/15/20, 8:11 AM
John henry said...: Gilbar,

It may have been me that recommended supermoney. I do knoww I've talked about several times here. Excellent book, even if a bit old.

I read it in the mid 70s and based on the chapter on warren buffett, almost bought some Berkshire - Hathaway stock. But it was $300 a share and seemed very expensive. (currently $340,000)

I've reread the book several times since then, most recently last year. I find it holds up well. Especially the concept of "supermoney"

I also recommend his 1967 "the money game" as well as his other books.

John Henry; 2/15/20, 8:15 AM
John henry said...: Obviously it does not hold up well on specifics like tax shelters. It is interesting as a history in that respect.

It does hold up well in terms general philosophy. And 'Adam Smith' (a/k/a George goodmam) is a hell of a good writer on any subject.

As is Michael Lewis.

John Henry; 2/15/20, 8:44 AM
J. Farmer said...: but I have bathroom books.

I have never understood reading on the crapper.; 2/15/20, 8:44 AM
BUMBLE BEE said...: Anybody know who is the President of Mexico?? Anybody?; 2/15/20, 8:45 AM
Rory said...: "That Girl beat them to it by many years."

Our Miss Brooks runs back to 1948 on radio, and it remains very funny and fresh. It is odd that people seem fixated on MTM as a groundbreaker, as if there were no forerunners.; 2/15/20, 8:46 AM
Rory said...: "Turner was much better in “Prizzi’s Honor”."

Doesn't seem to get near as much attention as other gangster films. It seems to be an intentional response to the Godfather, portraying all the gangsters as goofballs instead of stylish Family men.; 2/15/20, 8:50 AM
etbass said...: I have never understood reading on the crapper.

When you are constipated as oft happens in elderly, a lot of time is required and passes (the time, that is) easier reading than just sitting.; 2/15/20, 8:50 AM
narciso said...: yes you get a feeling for junger, because one of the characters in 1917, survived the somme, and the trench scene resembles passchaendaele, the scenarios outlined in 'supermoney' and in the Harold robbins version, paul erdman, is what we might face if the democrats get back in, except no tax shelters, lol,; 2/15/20, 8:51 AM
Fernandinande said...: Anybody know who is the President of Mexico?? Anybody?

A white guy named Andre.; 2/15/20, 8:53 AM
narciso said...: oh if you want hypernoir Russian style, there's brent ghelfi's wolf series, it's about a grizzled ex spetnaz officer, who owns a bar and moonlights as a detective,; 2/15/20, 8:56 AM
exhelodrvr1 said...: Gen Kelly has a lot at stake as far as protecting his personal reputation, because the Vindman actions happened on his watch. So consider his current statements in that context.; 2/15/20, 8:58 AM
Nichevo said...: Fernandistein said...
Anybody know who is the President of Mexico?? Anybody?

A white guy named Andre.

I knew AMLO last night. It took half a cup of coffee this morning, or, should I say, a full cup but half a mug, to remember Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador after your hint. Thank you. I wonder if the gotcha kings and queens accept AMLO. Depends who you are I guess.; 2/15/20, 9:28 AM
J. Farmer said...: When you are constipated as oft happens in elderly, a lot of time is required and passes (the time, that is) easier reading than just sitting.

True. But I know many peers who keep a stack of magazines or books in the bathroom for the purposes of reading. I've been fortunate to never yet experience constipation in my life.; 2/15/20, 9:28 AM
John henry said...: Narciso,

Gmta.

I am a huge paul Erdman fan. Esp his earlier books.

And to tie back to gilbar and supermoney,that's where I first heard of Erdman (unless it was "the money game")

Erdman was a banker in Switzerland in the 60s and got railroaded in the Swiss courts. It's why he hates Switzerland.

His first novel, the silver bears, was mostly autobiographical. Long time sine I read it but I recall it was about a scheme to corner silver and had something to do with Iran.

There was a movie of it in the 60s or 70s with Michael Caine and Maggie Smith (iirc) I saw it 50 years ago and would love to see it again. Alas, not available.

John Henry; 2/15/20, 9:29 AM
J. Farmer said...: It is odd that people seem fixated on MTM as a groundbreaker, as if there were no forerunners.

I think That Girl's status as a forerunner is widely acknowledged, but there are some important distinctions. For one, while Ann Marie was single, she had a steady boyfriend, who was the co-star of the show.; 2/15/20, 9:33 AM
John henry said...: Just checked and finally 2of his books are on kindle.

Just downloaded the silver bears. Billion dollar sure thing will be next.

I don't understand why all his books are not available

John Henry; 2/15/20, 9:37 AM
320Busdriver said...: Bloomberg Clinton....yup..; 2/15/20, 9:53 AM
Mark said...: while Ann Marie was single, she had a steady boyfriend, who was the co-star of the show

The That Girl episode where they get engaged was on last night. But she instantly starts to resist. And, interestingly, they still were NOT married at the end of the series.; 2/15/20, 9:55 AM
Michael K said...: Interesting that people are still talking about Margie Thomas who became Marlo after her nose job. I went to college with her.; 2/15/20, 10:01 AM
viator said...: Three dead children, one bodybag; 2/15/20, 10:38 AM
J. Farmer said...: The That Girl episode where they get engaged was on last night. But she instantly starts to resist. And, interestingly, they still were NOT married at the end of the series.

True, but she still wasn't single in the same sense that Mary Richards was. She was, as her generation liked to say, "going steady."; 2/15/20, 10:51 AM
Christy said...: Just downloaded The Flowers of Vashnoi through the Althouse portal, natch. Robert Graves' bio of Lawrence of Arabia just showed up on the free Prime list. With all the will in the world, I could never get very far into The Seven Pillars.... so I'm giving this a try.; 2/15/20, 11:31 AM
Rusty said...: J. Farmer said...
but I have bathroom books.

"I have never understood reading on the crapper."
Ah. I see you never had children. A warm quiet place wherein people are loathe to disturb you.

" I've been fortunate to never yet experience constipation in my life."
Not for many years. Since I gave up heroin.; 2/15/20, 4:57 PM
J. Farmer said...: Ah. I see you never had children. A warm quiet place wherein people are loathe to disturb you.

Very good point, Rusty. Hopefully I’ll be able to relate soon enough ;); 2/15/20, 5:18 PM
John henry said...: Cmon,

Let's drive this sucker over 200 for the win!

I started reading Paul Erdman's The Silver Bears today. About 50 pages in so far.

Every bit as good as I remembered from the distant past.

Thanks Narciso for reminding me.

Wish I could find the movie. The trailer is on YouTube https://youtu.be/hJUqQn1MTR8 which only makes me want to see it more. What a cast. Not Maggie smith but a bunch of goodies

Michael Caine
Cybill Shepherd
Tom Smothers
Martin Balsam
Jay Leno

Sigh...

John Henry; 2/15/20, 6:18 PM