Althouse: At the Friday Night Cafe…

January 28, 2022

At the Friday Night Cafe…

… you can talk about whatever you want.

69 comments:

themightypuck said...: I was just thinking how boring SCOTUS picks are. Is it me or the picks?; 1/28/22, 6:02 PM
traditionalguy said...: Joe Rogan for the Supreme Court.; 1/28/22, 6:04 PM
PJ57 said...: So why do Althouse and Meade stay in Madison. My son is graduating in the spring -- it seems to have been a good experience since the standards are low, he found a girl friend, and he has a job upon graduation -- but what a ride. Madison is beautiful but enemy territory. Filled with freaks and fools, to quote the Smashing Pumpkins, Please explain why you stay, if you don't mind.; 1/28/22, 6:05 PM
farmgirl said...: Why do they stay? Probably b/c it’s home?

Another cold morning tomorrow. I’ve had the radish- but, guess I’ll just have to suck it up.
It’s my home.; 1/28/22, 6:12 PM
One Eye said...: Nancy Pelosi looks great for her age.
Bridget Fonda does not.

Genes?; 1/28/22, 6:26 PM
One Eye said...: Love Joe but he would need a booster seat.; 1/28/22, 6:27 PM
narciso said...: an example of how the courts serve the worst elements

https://biologicaldiversity.org/w/news/press-releases/court-massive-offshore-oil-lease-sale-in-gulf-based-on-faulty-legal-analysis-2022-01-27/
he was party to that bogus general flynn ploy; 1/28/22, 6:30 PM
dreams said...: This is the county where I grew up and our old farm has been split into three different sections and each section is owned by an Amish family.

"Dec. 2021 – Horse Cave/Hart County, Ky. – Visitors are taking notice of Hart County’s Amish-owned businesses following the launch of a map highlighting the Amish community created by Horse Cave/Hart County Tourism. The Amish population in Hart County is the 8th largest in North America and is often referred to as “the fastest-growing Amish community in America.”

Of the 200 Amish families living in Hart County, several own businesses including bakeries, greenhouses, general merchandise stores, and a newly opened animal attraction. To accommodate the growth in visitors, the owners of Farmwald’s Restaurant & Bakery, Dutch Country Safari Park and R&S Grocery and Amish Bakery are adding staff, space and offerings:"

https://www.jpinews.com/2022/01/27/horse-cave-hart-county-tourism-tracks-significant-growth-in-visitors-to-countys-amish-owned-businesses/?fbclid=IwAR3SOU8mNOuVPxqwR0WhuBszt_NJYhdwz5gayHGdn9T67f4o4YdfvzTvJ4Mbeen split into; 1/28/22, 6:32 PM
Narr said...: Why does anyone stay where they are?

I recall a case back in the 80s(?) of a pair of Soviet ballet dancers in love--on a tour of the US he decided to defect but she very publicly chose to go back home, to general astonishment. Which kind of puzzled me. There are people in every time and in every place who will live nowhere but Home regardless of options. A small minority maybe, but I won't judge.

Not to compare Meadehouseville with the USSR. I could use examples of sophisticated, well-traveled academics I know who have found even this place, the poorest big city in the country last I looked, a suitable place to settle. Of course an equal or greater number give it a try and take the first bus out, and a lot who stay are compelled to make excuses.

Mine is that I was born here.; 1/28/22, 6:37 PM
Bender said...: It's bad enough that they think the profanity is cute. But what is it with these companies whose commercials trash their own product?

For example, the one I just saw where they call their hot sauce "shit."

As in, "I put that shit on everything."; 1/28/22, 6:48 PM
Mason G said...: I was born in Southern California. Moved to Idaho thirty years ago, then Arizona then back to Idaho. All except the first move, due to employment opportunities. I originally left CA because I was not optimistic about the direction the state was going and wouldn't go back on a bet. Well- maybe if I won a Megabucks lottery and could buy something in Laguna that allowed me to spend time there without letting the state get its hooks into me to badly...; 1/28/22, 6:52 PM
mezzrow said...: Watching the stream of the local symphony - Mozart Piano Concerto 24 and Sibelius 1. If you get a chance to hear a young man named Conrad Tao play the piano, I recommend you go.

He just got a standing ovation for playing an Elliot Carter encore. In Jacksonville.

You can still hear the Sibelius after the break if you're quick.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNmeVzu2W4Y&ab_channel=JacksonvilleSymphony; 1/28/22, 7:15 PM
farmgirl said...: I’m reading a Kristin Hannah book about a family that moved to Alaska. It’s very interesting. I hated the last book of hers that I read. Except the ending- I suppose it was worth it. They are my oldest daughter’s reads and she really devours them. I usually read here.; 1/28/22, 7:40 PM
Josephbleau said...: pro tip: don't post where you are from in the comments you write. This information assists the government entity tracking you.; 1/28/22, 7:47 PM
Josephbleau said...: "Why does anyone stay where they are?"

A true Zen saying/; 1/28/22, 7:51 PM
Hammond X. Gritzkofe said...: In totalitarian countries Citizens are encouraged to inform on fellow Citizens. Sometimes the Citizen informers are paid.

Spent two solid days completing 1099 forms to report payments to fellow Citizens. The IRS requires this information, with stiff penalty for failure to inform. No compensation for my time was offered.; 1/28/22, 7:53 PM
Two-eyed Jack said...: So, this weekend, who are people rooting for in the NFL, the apex predators or the native American stereotypes? The historic white exploiters of nature or the temperamental herbivores?; 1/28/22, 7:58 PM
Josephbleau said...: California was colonized by the Hispanics and imported a master race that forced the natives to make bread by the sweat of their brows and let the Hispanics eat it. Englanders are guilty also, because of general liability; 1/28/22, 8:07 PM
Rt41Rebel said...: I never thought that I would relocate from my home town after 56 years, until I did. It's one of the best decisions I've ever made.; 1/28/22, 8:21 PM
Narr said...: Twitter is definitely blocking my reading access faster than it used to. Ferguson, Taibbi, Greenwald, and Goad are all blocked quicker.; 1/28/22, 8:22 PM
Just asking questions (Jaq) said...: It occurred to me that when MLK was so careful about keeping his people non-violent, he had a pretty good idea that violence would play into the hands of the FBI and that the FBI would do their utmost to provoke violence.; 1/28/22, 8:32 PM
Dear corrupt left, go F yourselves said...: The Democrat party brings you - dead police officers and empowered criminals.; 1/28/22, 8:34 PM
Just asking questions (Jaq) said...: College towns are great a lot of the time.; 1/28/22, 8:35 PM
Narr said...: Josephbleu, my life is already an open book to The Organs. And maybe I can distract them from more dangerous and effective subversives than I am.; 1/28/22, 8:36 PM
Bender said...: Tonight I'll finish reading the final five pages of The Death of Ivan Ilyich.; 1/28/22, 8:39 PM
JaimeRoberto said...: Ah, the Center for Biological Diversity, who sued to block oil leases on the Gulf, also did a study to block the construction of homes near me. They said construction would harm the fairy shrimp even though the parcel of land is on hills with no standing water and hence no fairy shrimp. I don't think they even visited the site before using their study. They probably just looked at Google Maps.; 1/28/22, 8:39 PM
ex-madtown girl said...: farmgirl - which book did you read and hate? Just curious. I’ve only read two of her books, one from around thirty years ago and one from last year. Thanks!; 1/28/22, 8:43 PM
madAsHell said...: The Biden administration is reflected best by which Star Trek episode??

I'm voting for ANY episodes that end with Capt. Kirk using the Prime Directive to smoke the computer.; 1/28/22, 8:45 PM
Ceciliahere said...: farmgirl:

When I saw your post about Kristen Hannah, my heart sunk. I read one Kristen Hannah book and that was enough for me. She is not a very good writer. Cliche’ after cliche, soap opera, melodramatic tripe. There are so many really excellent writers today but, unfortunately, IMHO, Kristen is not one of them. I recommend Kate Atkinson (English) Life After Life, A God in Ruins, Behind The Scenes at the Museum. Of the three, my favorite is A God in Ruins. Look in to it. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. (I do not recommend her detective books, too graphic for me.); 1/28/22, 8:50 PM
Narr said...: I get the feeling that I will be breaking with some old friends over Ukraine. I let them parrot the MSNDNCNN line about Trump for years without much comment, but many are degenerating into old chickenhawks*, the worst kind, and this is a matter of great power conflict, with the danger of quick escalation to WWIII.

*Non-veteran civilian bloodghouls.; 1/28/22, 8:57 PM
Ceciliahere said...: I finished reading another Haruki Murakami book, South of the Border, West of the Sun. I’m in love with Haruki. He is entrancing and dreamy. I’m now reading a Joyce Carol Oates book, Jack of Spades. These two writers are superb in their own way. JCO is a veritable writing machine. She just sits down and books happen. So many books…so little time. Every day seems shorter as I get older. What do they say, when your young…the days are long but the years are short.; 1/28/22, 9:00 PM
Ceciliahere said...: I finished reading another Haruki Murakami book, South of the Border, West of the Sun. I’m in love with Haruki. He is entrancing and dreamy. I’m now reading a Joyce Carol Oates book, Jack of Spades. These two writers are superb in their own way. JCO is a veritable writing machine. She just sits down and books happen. So many books…so little time. Every day seems shorter as I get older. What do they say, when your young…the days are long but the years are short.; 1/28/22, 9:01 PM
Ceciliahere said...: ex-madtown girl:

FYI. The only Kristen Hannah book that I read and I hated was “Nightingale”, Right after that I read All the Light We Cannot See, by Anthony Doerr. Both books written about WW2 in France. But Doerr makes Hannah’s book seem trivial and ridiculous (which it is).; 1/28/22, 9:08 PM
Bender said...: The Biden administration is reflected best by which Star Trek episode??

Patterns of Force - the Nazi episode

The Immunity Syndrome - the episode about a giant disease cell infecting the universe; 1/28/22, 9:08 PM
Gospace said...: Ah, leaving your hometown. Possibly traumatic for some. I don’t have one. Born in Syracuse Ny, uprooted at a few months old to Staten Is, then NJ, then the Albany NY area, then back to NJ where I lived in 4 towns from second half of 4th grade to graduation. Then I enlisted in the Navy. And all this ties in to Horse Cave KY. My great-great grandfather passed through there on his way from his birth state of VA to where he’s buried in TX. One generation back from him is the last direct ancestor of mine in any branch to die in the same state they were born in. My great-grandfather was born in Horse Cave, died in GA. I have living relatives in Horse Cave with their name.

After leaving active duty I ended up where I am now. It’s the longest I’ve ever been in one place. My wife lived for 21 years in the same house until we married. A few years back we hit that milestone here. My youngest was born here. He and my daughter went through through school here K-12. He’s in Colorado Springs getting ready to deploy to Poland as Biden’s speed bump. My daughter is 4 towns away in a different county. Most of the locals how we can stomach having her so far away…

My wife will head down to FL in June to help out as grandchild #7 is due. My daughter foolishly got the vaccine that isn’t, as did her husband, and they’re busy trying to conceive #8. By now they should have been successful… My son and daughter in law in FL have not been vaxxed. With help from ivermectin in the Free State of Florida my son is recovering from the dreaded covid.; 1/28/22, 9:11 PM
gadfly said...: PJ57 said...
So why do Althouse and Meade stay in Madison. My son is graduating in the spring -- it seems to have been a good experience since the standards are low, he found a girl friend, and he has a job upon graduation -- but what a ride. Madison is beautiful but enemy territory. Filled with freaks and fools, to quote the Smashing Pumpkins, Please explain why you stay, if you don't mind.

In my lifetime, I have lived in more than a dozen places and I can tell you that none come even close to the joy of living for five years in the Madison Area. No dirty industries, sporting events galore, first class entertainment and eating places unmatched anywhere. People, not politics, make living joyful and Wisconsin Nice is for real. Perhaps it is the drinking preference for any drink mixed with brandy. Back in the day, we didn't have Republican populists running the show, so the out-state republican conservatives ran the government. Mad Town only had to deal with Paul Soglin's long mayoral stints in the '70s, '90s and yeah, 10 more years recently.; 1/28/22, 9:16 PM
BG said...: Blogger One Eye said...
Nancy Pelosi looks great for her age.

Genes?

You forgot his title. Doctor.
Dr. Genes - plastic surgeon.; 1/28/22, 9:27 PM
gadfly said...: Hammond X. Gritzkofe said...
Spent two solid days completing 1099 forms to report payments to fellow Citizens. The IRS requires this information, with stiff penalty for failure to inform.

Looking for a solution? You have to report annual payments in excess 0f $600 - made by cash, check and direct bank ACH. Now we know lots of people paying cash to avoid the problem, but there is an honest way.

Simply pay using credit cards, debit cards and through third parties such as PayPal. The law requires these third-party networks to report payments only when in excess of $6 grand on a 1099-K and Hammond is off the hook when he helps his non-employees by getting them to sign up to receive transfer payments through Paypal. Type up a "How-To" letter for new affected vendors.; 1/28/22, 10:01 PM
walter said...: Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) held a panel discussion with a group of world renowned doctors and medical experts; 1/28/22, 10:02 PM
themightypuck said...: So I'm going hard ascetic for February and although I'm generally ascetic, the decision has made me kinda crazy for the end of January. Weird how human psychology works. I'm planning on drinking heavily and eating ice cream for the next two days even though I never eat ice cream and only drink heavily on holidays.; 1/28/22, 10:46 PM
Clyde said...: Joni Mitchell has me-too'ed Spotify in solidarity with Neil Young. I read in the article about her announcement that both she and Young are polio survivors, having contracted the disease in Canada's last polio wave in 1952, which occurred just before Jonas Salk created the polio vaccine.; 1/28/22, 11:06 PM
Bender said...: I'm 16 for 16, but my average is four.

What I have found is that many of the words don't have the WOF most common letters at all.; 1/28/22, 11:13 PM
Howard said...: Star Blecch in Mad Magazine. Illustrated by Mort Drucker; 1/28/22, 11:19 PM
Drago said...: madAsHell: "The Biden administration is reflected best by which Star Trek episode??"

The Menagerie, with Captain Pike immobilized in the electronic wheelchair.; 1/28/22, 11:23 PM
StephenFearby said...: Recently published. NYT:

The Battle for the World’s Most Powerful Cyberweapon

In June 2019, three Israeli computer engineers arrived at a New Jersey building used by the F.B.I. They unpacked dozens of computer servers, arranging them on tall racks in an isolated room. As ...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/the-battle-for-the-world-s-most-powerful-cyberweapon/ar-AATex5P

Long read about the history of NSO, ending with:

'...When they first presented their case against NSO, Facebook’s lawyers thought they had evidence to disprove one of the Israeli company’s longtime claims — that the Israeli government strictly prohibits the firm from hacking any phone numbers in the United States.

In court documents, Facebook asserted it had evidence that at least one number with a Washington area code had been attacked. Clearly, someone was using NSO spyware to monitor an American phone number.

But the tech giant didn’t have the entire picture. What Facebook didn’t appear to know was that the attack on a U.S. phone number, far from being an assault by a foreign power, was part of the NSO demonstrations to the F.B.I. of Phantom — the system NSO designed for American law-enforcement agencies to turn the nation’s smartphones into an “intelligence gold mine.”'; 1/29/22, 12:46 AM
Mr. Forward said...: "Blogger Bender said...
Tonight I'll finish reading the final five pages of The Death of Ivan Ilyich."

Spoiler Alert!
He dies.; 1/29/22, 2:54 AM
rehajm said...: BREAKING: Nickelback threatens to release new album unless Spotify removes Joe Rogan.; 1/29/22, 3:02 AM
Saint Croix said...: On one of the threads, somebody was curious why Althouse and Meade texted each other while they are in the same house. And my first thought was, "they probably got a big house."

And then Althouse says she texts him while the two of them are at the same table. And I'm like, huh. And then Meade pops on to say hi. And then it hit me.

They like it because virtual communication reminds them of the way they met. It's romantic for them.; 1/29/22, 4:20 AM
farmgirl said...: It was The Nightingale, I’m ashamed to say. I’m sure it was me- not the book. It was so slow! Until it was gone. The last 100 pages or so made up for my prior misery. I shouldn’t have said hate.

This book now is The Great Alone. Completely different read- can’t turn the pages fast enough. And I have read The Winter Garden- which was very good. I don’t read like I used to- and I’m all over the place in what I do read- I don’t mind variety.

Only -8 this morning- hope the air is sleeping, still!; 1/29/22, 4:24 AM
What's emanating from your penumbra said...: Lawfare to the rescue.

https://legalinsurrection.com/2022/01/10th-circuit-denies-native-american-request-to-halt-colorado-mascot-ban-pending-appeal/; 1/29/22, 5:49 AM
BUMBLE BEE said...: Neil Young was right!; 1/29/22, 6:03 AM
farmgirl said...: … and if the polio vaccine was as effective as the mRNAs in prevention- they’d get it again.; 1/29/22, 7:16 AM
ex-madtown girl said...: Ceceliahare- I was not a huge fan. As I told my husband, the second book I read, The Four Winds, was interesting to me in parts because I like historical fiction, but yes, she is very melodramatic and uses lack of communication as a plot device I feel. A lot of turmoil between characters could’ve been resolved by talking. But at any rate, it was a book I couldn’t put down while I was reading it, but afterwards kept thinking back on it and finding disappointment. I read it as a digital loan from the library. Usually when I do that, I go back to the site and put more books from the author on hold. Not this time. I have, however, been meaning to read All the Light We Cannot See, so maybe it’s time I give it a go!; 1/29/22, 7:25 AM
hawkeyedjb said...: I don't have a hometown. I move at the drop of a hat. Why? Perhaps wanderlust, triggered by my father's Navy career that took us hither and yon. At my high school reunion, we were asked to write some fun fact about ourselves. Mine was that I've had 26 addresses in my life.; 1/29/22, 7:42 AM
Sydney said...: The Death of Ivan Illyitch is one of those stories that you discover new meaning with repeated readings. Read it for the third time while sitting at my mother’s death bed. Probably the most meaningful reading for me. Her death seemed a lot like his.; 1/29/22, 8:05 AM
Old and slow said...: 26 addresses is a lot. I just added mine up and I'm at 18. At age 55 I figure I'm good for a few more, but I'll never hit 26.; 1/29/22, 8:09 AM
BUMBLE BEE said...: Think about it. Neil made his money. If he had the courage of his convictions, he'd stand and fight. That is what he pretended to be. Old farts remember him. Spotify's marketing to today's kids. Rogan is today's fight. Neil Young bailed. He's so last century.; 1/29/22, 8:10 AM
BUMBLE BEE said...: Recently I tried re-reading 1984. I read it 1968 and thought it a real sci-fi gem. On re-reading I had to put it down. It is not fantasy any more.; 1/29/22, 8:14 AM
Mike of Snoqualmie said...: There's an earthquake reporting app called MyShake, created by UC-Berkley. It displays recent earthquakes around the world with magnitudes of 3.5 or greater. If can record earthquake accelerations detected by your phone and send them to UCB. It can also provide a warning about an earthquake if you live on the West Coast.; 1/29/22, 8:35 AM
MadTownGuy said...: PJ57 said...

"So why do Althouse and Meade stay in Madison. My son is graduating in the spring -- it seems to have been a good experience since the standards are low, he found a girl friend, and he has a job upon graduation -- but what a ride. Madison is beautiful but enemy territory. Filled with freaks and fools, to quote the Smashing Pumpkins, Please explain why you stay, if you don't mind."

Mine is a special case. Born in the Midwest, moved to Southern California when I was too young to remember the cold country, but always felt more of a Midwest connection than Californian. Job moved me & the family to Madison in the Nineties, where we stayed until I retired, then tried WV which we enjoyed but found it wanting.

We lived in Northern WI which we greatly enjoyed, especially the proximity to Door County, but it never felt like home. Now we live in south central PA and it's Mid-Atlantic with a midwest vibe. Perfect mix for us. That said, you can take the guy out of Madtown, but you can't take Madtown out of the guy.

Our daughter still lives in Madison so we visit a couple of times a year. Riding the train to Chicago and taking the VanGalder to the Park-N-Ride is a cool adventure.; 1/29/22, 8:52 AM
Bender said...: "Blogger Bender said...
Tonight I'll finish reading the final five pages of The Death of Ivan Ilyich."

Spoiler Alert!
He dies.

Does he? Does he really?; 1/29/22, 9:02 AM
Bender said...: Clearly, the best thing is for the U.S. to turn its back on Ukraine, just like it turned its back on Afghanistan, and see how great that is turning out. Turn our backs on Taiwan too, and North Korea, and Iran.

We can just ride it all out under our beds.; 1/29/22, 9:04 AM
William50 said...: Wouldn't it be interesting if Zelensky told Biden that he won't allow American troops on Ukraine soil. What would Biden do, invade Ukraine?; 1/29/22, 9:06 AM
Bender said...: Recently I tried re-reading 1984. I read it 1968 and thought it a real sci-fi gem. On re-reading I had to put it down. It is not fantasy any more.

Freedom is the freedom to say the two plus two makes four.; 1/29/22, 9:06 AM
Narr said...: I like my hometown, and never felt any great need to move away. I didn't expect to become an authority on local and regional history and culture, though. My interests were in the far away and long ago; the later especially can be studied at almost any halfway decent city anyway.

I've only spent one summer in another place--Alexandria VA, summer of '69, with an aunt, uncle and older cousin. Went for a visit, ended up working all summer at the CFSTI (Clearinghouse for Scientific and Technical Information, Dept of Commerce), a portent of my future. (My uncle-by-marriage Fred was a two-star civilian at the Pentagon: my uncle the warlord!)

As I worked and went to school, and worked and went to school, and worked and went to school, I had to stay close anyway. My widowed mother, and even moreso my widowed Oma (paternal gmother), needed a male grownup around. My older brother, far from being any help to them (or anyone who wasn't him or his scumbag buddies) was a constant threat to their emotional and financial wellbeing.

I have had only seven different domiciles in my life here, all within a goose-egg of maybe ten square miles.

But there are two million-volume libraries within a 15 minute drive . . .; 1/29/22, 10:32 AM
Rollo said...: The actor who was the voice of the original Charlie Brown committed suicide specials. Substance abuse problems. There was always a melancholy in the Peanuts specials.

Snowpocalypse continues...; 1/29/22, 10:56 AM
Ceciliahere said...: Biden left Afghanistan after 20 years, and thought he was a hero. But now we’re considering going to war in Ukraine? WTF; 1/29/22, 11:20 AM
Ceciliahere said...: Biden left Afghanistan after 20 years, and thought he was a hero. But now we’re considering going to war in Ukraine? WTF; 1/29/22, 11:21 AM
Ceciliahere said...: No, tell me it ain’t so. Tom Brady is retiring??? The only reason I watch NFL is for Tom and Aaron Rodgers (who may also be retiring). Two outstanding players with Tom being the GOAT and Aaron being a great quarterback and an interesting person. In New England I was a Patriot fan and now in FL. I’m a Buccaneer fan. But with Tom (and possibly Aaron gone), football won’t be as much fun. Well, nothing is forever.; 1/29/22, 3:16 PM