January 20, 2022

Another Coldness Café.

No photos of this too-cold day. I only took a half step outside the door to pick up a package — that toaster I ordered yesterday. It's the third day in a row that I have not left the house, I'm sorry to say. It's cold! I have my indoor things — eating toast, etc. — so I'm quite all right. Only one more day of this intense cold, I think.

Meanwhile, please use the comments section to talk about whatever you like.

51 comments:

David Begley said...

Toaster? What brand of toaster? Can I order it through the Althouse AMZN portal? Is it a good toaster? I just bought a toaster at Kohl’s.

Readering said...

There were a number
of posts about the embattled Yale Law School administration.. Just read that the Dean was reappointed.

Ann Althouse said...

I made one piece of toast, so I don't feel I can recommend the toaster, but it seems fine — just a simple $30 Cuisinart thing.

Rory said...

An improving forecast south of Pittsburgh has driven tonight's expected low all the way up to six. Still zero on Saturday morning. My dog's been very speedy in the mornings recently, and I hope he holds to form.

rehajm said...

One of the better decisions in my life: buying a four place Dualit off the pallet at williams-sonoma outlet.

rehajm said...

Twas 73 in Charleston today. Picked up dinner at Swig and Swine. A good day…

No golf tomorrow- chilly and rain.

rehajm said...

So if you’re keeping score at home the CDC now admits that natural immunity offered better protection against the delta covid variant than the vaccine & Pfizer’s CEO has acknowledged that his own two shot vaccine offers “limited, if any” protection against the omicron variant…

-from the Twitts…

rehajm said...

…but some of you here have some splainin to do…

StephenFearby said...

Latest Woke Blivot:

The Federalist
January 20, 2022

NCAA Embraces Radical Gender Policy That Promotes Men Infiltrating Women’s Sports

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) board of governors voted on Wednesday to adopt a policy that allows and even encourages males to participate in women’s sports despite the physical advantage they have in competition.

Under the new rules, male athletes who claim to be female will be allowed to play in women’s sports based on the guidelines and determination of each sport’s governing body. Those sports that do not answer to a higher body will automatically be required to follow the International Olympic Committee’s lax rules, which use subjective judgment to determine participation.

“We are steadfast in our support of transgender student-athletes and the fostering of fairness across college sports,” Georgetown President John DeGioia said in a release. “It is important that NCAA member schools, conferences and college athletes compete in an inclusive, fair, safe and respectful environment and can move forward with a clear understanding of the new policy.”

https://thefederalist.com/2022/01/20/ncaa-embraces-radical-gender-policy-that-promotes-men-infiltrating-womens-sports/

Prediction: A certain amount of disgust will ensue.

Mason G said...

NCAA Embraces Radical Gender Policy That Promotes Men Infiltrating Women’s Sports

Minority women hardest hit.

Bender said...

Since you asked - last night Cornfield Anthony (Bill Mumy) was on Bewitched (with Bill Daily's first real TV appearance). Tonight Bill Mumy was on an early episode of Jeannie.

So, if it came down to it, if they were all in the same room going against each other, who is more powerful? Jeannie, Samantha, or Anthony?

Bender said...

All the more reason that DeGioia be fired and Georgetown's Catholic status revoked.

Scotty, beam me up... said...

I didn’t get a chance to comment on the older music being more popular music in the post yesterday, so I am putting my $.02 here. I am a late Boomer but old enough to had seen The Beatles live on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. I stopped listening to “current” music in the mid-1980’s (although I despised disco in the 1970’s) when synthesizers took over in music in lieu of old fashioned instruments. With “oldies” terrestrial stations stopped considering 50’s and 60’s music as oldies, I switched to SiriusXM in 2010 for their 60’s music channel (also it’s commercial free and I didn’t have to listen to ads during election seasons). Older music is also virtually clean of filthy language, doesn’t advocate violence against women, police, and people in general (see Gangsta rap). So, count me in as part of the reason for older music being popular. Finally, when music is used in TV ads, it is usually songs from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. During Christmas, Katie Perry sang “All You Need is Love” in a Gap ad and currently Allstate Insurance using Hugh Masakela’s “Grazing in the Grass”. Mostly 60’s songs in the ads. You rarely hear songs after 1990 in TV ads.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The blog had a theme, and that theme had a blog today.

The recognition came to me because I had the Manchin senate floor speech fresh in my mind from the night before; Manchin salient words, "self-restraint".

1 the revisiting of executive privilege is about how the privilege may be tied to the the subsequent president's self-restraint.

2 Biden attempting to respond to criticism for his lack of restraint in the selling of his agenda.

3 Putin calling for restraint on the zealous search for a racist hiding under every bed. 😅

4 the discomfort causing, unrestrained display of a college sports fan.

5 Biden's unrestrained search for words that would allay fears of oncoming war.

6 Madison's weather have restrained Althouse from her daily ventures outdoors.

7 America's unrestrained love affair with polka dots.

8 A shockingly unrestrained Andy Warhol

Achilles said...

If Brand doesn't get banned for this the jig is up.

Really the entire COVID coup is over now. Everything is falling apart for the aristocracy.

It will be interesting to see how the Regime negotiates the Biden resignation.

Harris is an epic disaster.

Iman said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Narr said...

Mmmmm. Toast.

My wife has put a lid on outside walking tonight--it's only 27--and is tromping around the house. We were at least able to walk in the sunny, cold afternoon, and I'll make one more before bedtime I think.

I don't have much to say about the old vs new music brouhaha, since I don't Spotify or Sirius or anything like that, and I've loved the older old stuff since I was young. I was PRIVILEGED to receive early exposure to the great Western canon.

That said, there is talent and genius outside those forms too, and I've still got room in my ears for good things regardless of time and place of origin.

I am continually astonished to think that without trying very hard, a person today can hear more of the great music of the past than someone like Beethoven or Brahms even knew existed.




Kathryn51 said...

Cold Wisconsin days are Althouse Blog's best days - lots of posts from the hostess, steady stream of comments. Always something to look forward to reading.

in other news, NPR has reviewed and "clarified" the Nina Kneepad Totenberg lies. When she said CJ Roberts "asked" the triple-vaxxed/daily tested justices to wear a mask, she SHOULD have said that Roberts "suggested" that everyone wear a mask. Just a mere exaggeration, you know.

Narr said...

Speaking of NPR, I heard one of their newsgals assure us that despite Republican attacks on Biden's record, the US economy is STRONG!

Proof? A big spending bill got bipartisan support.

Yes, they really think we're that dim.

Caroline said...

@achilles, Kamala was hired to do just two things— be black and female. She seems to inhabiting her scope ably. Like the whole fabric of the Woke crazy quilt, competency is not a thing anymore.

Bender said...

Kamala was hired to do just two things— be black and female. She seems to inhabiting her scope ably.

Except that the latter was supposed to be received with a HISTORIC!, BROKE THE GLASS CEILING! FIRST-EVER WOMAN! reception. Instead, the country's response was meh and zzz.

And from the Dems, in their plantation white privilege, it has been a racist misogynist desire to dump this HISTORIC!, BROKE THE GLASS CEILING! FIRST-EVER WOMAN!

Original Mike said...

So the free covid test the government wants to send me can not tolerate freezing.

That's just brilliant.

Mike of Snoqualmie said...

I'm transferring some money between my IRAs at AmericanIra and Vanguard. You can't just get the transfer forms notarized, it has to be a Medallion Signature Guarantee, which is just a supercharge notary. The MSG stamp uses light green ink, which does not scan very well. Only a few banks/credit unions do the MSG verifications, you need to use one that you do business with.

Vanguard lost the original paperwork and AmericanIra insists that they have to have that original paperwork before they'll complete the transfer. I had to go back to the bank I used, which is only 5-minutes from home, to get a new copy of the transfer forms MSG'd. Then, I overnighted the forms to Vanguard for the low, low price of $60, which was 20% of standard price.

I've been at both Vanguard and AmericanIra for years with the same address. Why does it have to be so complicated?

farmgirl said...

NBC News: "Conservative Activists" (Parents) Want the Schools (Government Agencies) to Disclose Their Lessons Plans (Government-Created Materials). But That's Bad.
—Ace

… A headline at Aceofspadeshq

Joe Biden, America's Putin said...

The news media are on over-drive pimping and promoting Democrat Biden.

Achilles said...

Caroline said...

@achilles, Kamala was hired to do just two things— be black and female. She seems to inhabiting her scope ably. Like the whole fabric of the Woke crazy quilt, competency is not a thing anymore.

They knew Biden was not going to make it 4 years.

They could have had Susan Rice or Michele Obama.

I am pretty sure they expected Harris to be able to do at least as well as Mr. PuddingCup ShitsHisPants. I always thought she was at least above average IQ.

But boy was I wrong on that. She is really really dumb and less popular than an invalid.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

“The Jan6 Committee plotted with JPMorgan and its lawyer, former Obama AG Loretta Lynch, to obtain a citizen's financial records with no possibility of judicial review.”
Glenn Greenwald Jan 20

Mike of Snoqualmie said...

Obama chose Biden because Obama knew that Biden could never show hip up. Biden chose Kamala for the same reason. So, the pattern is from mildly competent and able to put on a good show, to incompetent and unable to put on a good show to totally incompetent and close-the-show-down-after-the-first night incompetent.

How many years left in these twits' term?

Shoeless Joe said...

Most significant unreported story right now: The Dow Jones has lost 5% of its value in the last eleven business days, and looks like it has yet to hit bottom. Prices are going up at the same time millions of Americans' 401K is shrinking. If a Republican were president the stock market would be the top story every night on the evening news, with the dreaded "R" word (if not the "D" word) on every anchor's tongue.

Achilles said...

Mike of Snoqualmie said...

Obama chose Biden because Obama knew that Biden could never show hip up. Biden chose Kamala for the same reason.

PuddingCup didn't choose Kamala. She was chosen for him. You can see it in his eyes. He knows he is not in control and is not making any real decisions.

All Joe is going to get is the blame.

You could almost feel bad for Joe if he wasn't a rapist, a racist, and such a terrible human being in general.

Original Mike said...

" I always thought [Harris] was at least above average IQ.
But boy was I wrong on that. She is really really dumb and less popular than an invalid."


I watched her performance during confirmation hearings for Mike Pompeo (for CIA Director) and Brett Kavanagh. It was painful.

William said...

The current New Yorker has articles on Thomas Mann, Lorraine Hansberry, and Felix Salten (the author of Bambi). I read them all, and I can't say that my interest in any of the writers was piqued. Hansberry was a Black, lesbian Communist. That's interesting and informative. It was interesting to learn that her white, straight husband talked her our of burning and abandoning "A Raisin in the Sun," the work by which is chiefly remembered. So straight, white males can be of some use. Hansberry died young before she could fully share her radical vision with the world. She thought "Raisin" was too muted. Maybe if she had lived longer, she would have subverted the message of her masterpiece, or maybe she would have produced something great. I wouldn't bet on the latter, but who knows....The Felix Salten version of Bambi is immeasurably darker than the Disney one. No surprise there, but does anyone really want to read a darker version. Salten also wrote one of biggest selling pornographic novels of all time. The guy had range....I used to feel vaguely guilty about never having read any of Thomas Mann's works, except Death in Venice. After reading The New Yorker article, I'm thinking I dodged a bullet by not doing so.

Clyde said...

Speaking of new music, I listened to the Neil Young & Crazy Horse album ‘Barn’ yesterday, probably for the only time. Young has always been a big lefty, so the content was expected. He went full Greta Thunberg on a couple of songs, including one where people wanting the freedom to live their lives as they always had were the bad guys. There was also a political song “Canerican” where he sings about casting his vote and getting his man, then ends it by singing about “I am all colors” in a bid for brotherhood. I guess he hasn’t been paying attention the last couple of years. No, Neil, you’re white as a loaf of Wonder bread. You may think you’re an “ally,” but I assure you that they don’t see you that way.

Joe Smith said...

'@achilles, Kamala was hired to do just two things— be black and female.'

She's not very black.

If I didn't know who she was and saw her photo, I'd have said Hispanic, and not African-Hispanic...

wildswan said...

Maybe William has an idea - duckit lists of books, places, songs, movies, people I have never wished to read, meet, see, have or know about

Thomas Mann
Point spread
Bluetooth
Patagonia
Antarctica
Henry James, William James
Salmon Rushdie
A phone that will not fit in my pocket
Bands staring with G and ending in suicide, Grunge, Grease, Garage
A movie that is a remake of another movie
A person whose job is DIE (Diversity, Inclusion, Equity)
Another covid jab

Rt41Rebel said...

@Clyde

I took a date to a Neil Young concert in the early 90s. At the time I was a casual fan, I owned a copy of Live Rust and loved it turned up loud. Halfway through the show, Ol' Neil started railing on about chemical companies ruining the world. As a team member of a chemical company that had developed enormous solutions in fuel desulfurization technology, and had spent half his last paycheck for two tickets and a few rounds of drinks, I took some exception to that. Let's just say I expressed myself with a rather disruptive exit.

But it all worked out in the end. She married me, we have two beautiful daughters, and she divorced me. And we still laugh together once in a while on the phone.

Readering said...

AA had a post the other day that discussed films in which a character's beauty was a plot point but the actor did not measure up. She gave as example Mr Skeffington (Bette Davis). I watched such a film tonight. The Last Duel. Women characters are repeatedly commenting on how handsome the villain is. Played by Adam Driver. What? On the other hand his victim is also commented on for her beauty, and Julie Comer measures up.

Rory said...

Meat Loaf RIP at 74.

Readering said...

From covid.

Ann Althouse said...

@Lem

Thanks for the analysis!

Impressively observed. I love when themes appear within the magic of blogging.

tim in vermont said...

Meryl Streep ruined Rikky and The Flash, you could not understand what Rick Springfield saw in her, but if you are a fan of high quality garage band music, rock music with four musicians and no producer, I heartily recommend it for that reason alone.

MadisonMan said...

Kids got us a combined oven/toaster thing, and I feel compelled to use it, but as a toaster it is woefully slow. Counter space isn't infinite either. Can't really have two on the counter.

Ann Althouse said...

I made 2 more pieces of toast. They were fine. For $30, I recommend the above-mentioned toaster. But for all I know, it will break down next week. But it's only $30.

wildswan said...

Kamala Harris's father comes from a certain area in Jamaica, the same place as Bob Marley. It was settled by a large group of "Irish" and is called Irishtown. But really these "Irish" were poor folks from Ulster, Protestant English as you see by their English names - Harris, Marley - brought in to Jamaica when slavery was abolished and more labor was needed. It was an experiment and was stopped when the rumor spread in Ulster that they were being enslaved in Jamaica. This group intermarried with their fellow workers and developed a culture and history related to all sides of Jamaican culture. Her mother was from the Tamil people in India, educated in the Hindu-English part of India so also related to all sides of Indian culture.
Kamala Harris is part English - and you can see it in her face - part-African, part-Tamil. In my opinion she understands political issues and from the left, like her Berkeley- University-in-the-Sixties but doesn't want to work or get burnt-up about them - a party girl trapped inside the Party and accustomed to deflecting earnestness with a giggle. Terrifying Presidential prospect - do nothing or or do Communism.

Mark said...

Toasters:

Basic is better.

Gospace said...

Attached to meme on Facebook- making the point of the meme even better:
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2022/jan/20/tweets/no-djokovic-isnt-first-athlete-be-banned-sporting-/

Gospace said...

I have a toaster. And a toaster oven. Never used the toast setting on the toaster oven until one day I saw one of my kids using it. Different button combination to press. No- I use the toaster oven exclusively for toasting. Bagel, thin slice of bread, whatever, the toaster oven doesn't care. And- whatever's toasting never gets stuck as the toaster pops up. Big plus. I now also use the toast option for heating leftover pizza slices. Comes out better than the microwave, and more convenient then waiting for it to heat up to 350. Try heating a pizza slice in a regular toaster and see what happens...

FullMoon said...

MadisonMan said...

Kids got us a combined oven/toaster thing, and I feel compelled to use it, but as a toaster it is woefully slow.


Annoyed me at first but now I use the time to shower and get dressed.
Toast almost done when I return.

Ann Althouse said...

I bought that toaster to replace a big hulking steel industrial-style toaster that — despite its macho appearance wasn't getting the bread toasted. I was putting it through 2 cycles and still not getting something that was truly *toast.* It was hard to admit.

Here's what the old toaster was — 10 times as expensive as the functional thing I replaced it with.

Ann Althouse said...

Important note: The expensive toaster — which I married into — lasted for 30 years, and that probably is 10 times as long as the cheap one will last, so if you like how it looks, feel free to spend $330 for it.

paminwi said...

Hey! My husband turns the toaster on its side to heat up pizza at work.
He says it works like a dream!
Better than the microwave!