Virtual Vince Lombardi was pretty stupid, no? It reminded me, however, of J.C. Burns’ occasional comments about the computing power necessary to display the virtual line of scrimmage. We could use these powers for good! (The virtual line of scrimmage.) And instead, we use them to dig up a dead coach and make him walk and talk.
Happy Super Bowling, all. It’s now halftime, and all I have to say is this: The Weeknd is no Prince. Or even Katy Perry. And certainly not Lady Gaga. At least it was a break from non-stop holding penalties and uplifting commercials. And the underpants-on-their-head dancers were…different.
Another weekend — a real weekend, with its third E, not this clown howling instantly forgettable music on my TV at the moment — come and gone. It was OK. The cold kept us indoors for much of it, but the errands still have to be run, and they were. It wasn’t so bad — high teens, bright sun, I’ll take it.
Sunday we went to MOCAD, Detroit’s contemporary-art museum, to see a small show of photos by Leni Sinclair, John Sinclair’s ex-wife. She is not a particularly talented photographer, but she had great timing and luck in her relationships and the right-place-right-time thing. The photos are of the counterculture/underground scene in Detroit and Ann Arbor in the ’60s/’70s. It didn’t take long to get through it, so we took a long drive home, including a lap of Belle Isle to look at the ice and watch the kids playing pond hockey.
Like I said, a pretty quiet one.
Anything to recommend you read?
Here’s Margaret Sullivan, the WashPost ombudsman, pointing out the obvious: Jeff Zucker bears a lot of responsibility for Donald Trump.
The Zillow sketch from this week’s SNL. Very funny.
When I get my vaccine, I hope it will be at Ford Field, because that would be a big win for lots of people, which is more than the Lions provide, most weeks.
Weak tea today, but the week ahead yawns. And so am I, at this stupid lopsided game.
alex said on February 7, 2021 at 9:41 pm
Infernally dull weekend here. Did some cooking but bass-ackwards. I should have done my black bean soup in the Instant Pot, where it would have come out creamy rather than grainy as it did on the stovetop. Should have done my Flemish beef on the stovetop rather than in the Instant Pot, where it came out rather underwhelming because I fell for another online recipe that makes it easy but not really very good.
So I ended up eating ice cream with a splash of Amaretto for dinner instead.
The game’s playing in one room, the stereo in the other, and I’m on the computer in between the two getting sort of irritated by the cacaphony but not enough to go shut off one or the other or both. Life sure is hell, eh?
716 chars
Joe Kobiela said on February 7, 2021 at 10:02 pm
First time I was glad to see the weekend come to a end.
Departed JFK today in heavy snow, landed in Orlando to sun and 78, here till Saturday at the mouse house with the family.
Pilot Joe
190 chars
LAMary said on February 7, 2021 at 10:55 pm
I’m watching the Puppy Bowl. My cats seem more interested than my dogs. It’s a pretty stupid show but I’m folding laundry, matching up socks. Watching dogs chase each other around is ok. For some reason Marth Stewart just showed up with Snoop Dogg. This didn’t enhance the experience for me. They are talking about creating a puppy bowl cocktail. I’m out.
355 chars
Brandon said on February 8, 2021 at 12:21 am
“Switched on Pop: How The Weeknd’s ‘Blinding Lights’ used retro sounds and modern bass to break every record.
305 chars
Deborah said on February 8, 2021 at 12:58 am
Didn’t watch the game, never do. This was the weekend in past years that we would spend in New York. It wouldn’t have been fun there this time with lots of dirty snow and the virus hanging around. Oh well, maybe next year.
The forecast for Chicago for the next few days seems to have been revised to be slightly warmer than they said it would be, so that’s good.
Watched “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” tonight, somehow it seems not to have held up well, I remember it being better.
490 chars
Dexter Friend said on February 8, 2021 at 2:42 am
My sleep was ruined last night by a frozen hot water pipe to the shower; I was monitoring the drip but still it froze, but I caught it quickly and thawed it with a heater. Nothing helps, heat tape, packed insulation…when it gets down to 4F, it takes a steady rather thick drip to keep it moving. So I fell asleep at 8:30 AM, but after 3 hours of hard sleep I felt good, but kept nodding off during the game and backing up the play so I missed nothing but apparently a streaker? People tell me a streaker was caught but they may have been putting me on. The masked dancers reminded me of The Rubberbandits’ classic song, “Horse Outside”, one of my all-time videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljPFZrRD3J8
I had some nice skillet BBQ flavored chicken from scratch and some hand cut fries and I made a pot of baked beans, also barbeque flavor. My little feast…my chips and cheese dip I didn’t even break out.
I am a big Tom Brady fan since I was going to every M game when he was in Ann Arbor, so I loved the game. I thought TB would win by 3, and it was instead a blowout. Mahomes was a dud, but he’ll be great for another 15 years, no sweat.
The Weeknd…sorry, never heard o’ the motherfucker, but on a site I go to, a blogger-pal said he’s a big damn deal in Canada.
Yeah, I mean I have heard of Leonard Cohen and Gordon Lightfoot, but I am slipping as I never heard of this dude.
It’s fucking cold and everything’s frozen and I hate it here when it’s like this.
1487 chars
basset said on February 8, 2021 at 7:05 am
Watched the Munsters and All Creatures Great & Small but not the game. Made some wings but they didn’t turn out all that well, went to bed early. Completely non-remarkable day and night.
194 chars
Suzanne said on February 8, 2021 at 7:37 am
We watched the game. I made the best red beans & rice! I broke down & ordered Camellia Bean and oh boy, did they make a difference!
I liked The Weeknd. I also want a box of those mask things so I can hand them out to people who can’t keep their mask over their nose. Those underwear masks would provide good coverage and stay in place.
The game, meh. Went to bed at the start of the 3rd quarter. I didn’t really care who won, although I leaned toward KC. I don’t like Brady but I enjoy watching Colts fan’s heads exploding with intense and visceral hate whenever he wins.
I thought the commercials were pretty good overall. I thought the Jeep ad with The Boss would have been more true to life if he had dropped the candle he lit and burned the chapel down.
783 chars
Dave said on February 8, 2021 at 8:15 am
No streakers, Dexter, but a fan did run across the field in the fourth quarter.
The Super Bowl has been the only thing on the news in Tampa Bay for a week, anything else that has happened locally has gotten only the barest of coverage. Large, mostly unmasked crowds were in the streets in Tampa last night after the game. I don’t know how it all ended up, they were tearing down street signs at one intersection.
The Weeknd, I didn’t expect to know any of the songs, didn’t care, and I see older folks grousing about how little they liked the halftime show. Even my daughter, who is 38, commented that it was the first halftime show that she didn’t know any of the songs.
680 chars
Deborah said on February 8, 2021 at 8:17 am
Suzanne, what is it about camellia beans that made a difference? I have not heard of them before. Can you share the recipe?
I got my Covid test results: negative. So I’m all set for my surgery tomorrow morning, anxious for it to be over and have good vision. My left eye is 20/25 now.
289 chars
Dave said on February 8, 2021 at 8:24 am
I just now read in the Tampa Bay Times that there was a naked guy.
66 chars
ROGirl said on February 8, 2021 at 8:30 am
Watched some of the first half, didn’t need to see any more. The National Anthem was just strange. Loved Amanda Gorman and the tribute she gave. I watched a Hard Day’s Night yesterday afternoon. It still holds up.
213 chars
Suzanne said on February 8, 2021 at 9:12 am
https://www.camelliabrand.com/products/red-kidney-beans/
Also https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-02-21/camellia-red-kidney-beans-are-most-coveted-product-at-mardi-gras
I use the Red Beans & Rice recipe from Cook’s illustrated
https://www.thebittenword.com/thebittenword/2010/02/cajun-red-beans-and-rice.html
I have made it many times before but never with Camellia brand beans. I don’t know what the difference is, but it was creamier and tastier. Great comfort food in this cold!
504 chars
basset said on February 8, 2021 at 9:48 am
Indeed it does… “Help!”, not so much. And the Let It Be” recut is going to be really interesting.
106 chars
Heather said on February 8, 2021 at 10:10 am
I like the Weeknd but the show was weak. There’s a big TikTok meme (sorry Nancy) with one of his songs and it would have been funny if they had at least made a nod at it. This is the funniest one IMO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws_HYMLj3zk
244 chars
Connie said on February 8, 2021 at 10:12 am
David C re comment last post. Several of my high school friends lost their homes to I196 freeway construction.
In other news my husband gets the first vaccine shot tomorrow at the VA in Ann Arbor. Yes, I heard him say, I would be happy to drive down there. Maybe an hour. I occasionally see a brightly decorated veterans transport bus, perhaps they were going to offer him a ride.
384 chars
Icarus said on February 8, 2021 at 10:16 am
Apparently, I’m no longer in the marketing demographic for the SB Half Time show as I didn’t know who The Weeknd was until I was watching the pre-Super Bowl commercial with a friend in the room who told me his name.
I did enjoy last year’s set from J’Lo and Shikara but I know that choice offended too many pearl clutchers because of too much girl power.
Thanks to Tom Brady I’m a tad $$ richer. I placed a bet on Tampa to win the SP during wild card weekend when the odds were 750 to 1. If he had lost, I would have been okay with that too.
577 chars
Jenine said on February 8, 2021 at 10:21 am
@Heather: Thank you for that dad dance, delightful.
51 chars
Julie Robinson said on February 8, 2021 at 10:58 am
Icarus, you and me both. When I looked up who was going to be performing, I didn’t know any of the performers except Amanda Gorman. I didn’t watch the game except at halftime and jokingly said if he can’t spell, can he sing? And then of course, I couldn’t tell because all I heard was the background music. Whoever ran the sound board needs to lose their job. I also laughingly said that these shows are all smoke and mirrors, and sure enough, out came the smoke and mirrors!
I spent the rest of the evening reading book reviews, but I’ll look up Gorman’s performance later today.
It was black bean soup for us too, and it was delicious, along with corn bread.
666 chars
Deborah said on February 8, 2021 at 11:44 am
I watched the Amanda Gorman Super Bowl performance and as someone else here said here it wasn’t her best poem but her performance was inspiring. She exhibits so much enthusiasm and grace, she’s mesmerizing. What a great role model.
231 chars
LAMary said on February 8, 2021 at 12:04 pm
The last time I enjoyed the super bowl halftime show was when Springsteen, on his knees, nearly slid into a cameraman.
118 chars
Jakash said on February 8, 2021 at 12:15 pm
“Even my daughter, who is 38, commented that it was the first halftime show that she didn’t know any of the songs.” I don’t know if I made it to 38 before that happened, but I doubt it. It’s happened a lot since. Knowing nothing about the guy, the show and music just seemed lame to me, but I’m pretty sure that my opinion won’t get The Weeknd’s week off to a bad start.
I’ve rooted against Brady for as long as Dexter has rooted for him. As you can tell, I’ve pretty much kept him in his place! Didn’t really care, but was mildly rooting for K.C. When there was a minute to go in the half and T.B. ran it up the middle and weren’t gonna call timeout, I thought — “good, at least it won’t get any worse for now.” Could not *believe* KC called two timeouts to encourage T.B. to score another TD before halftime. I gave up at that point, though I watched the rest of the fricking thing, solely because I’ve watched every I of the LV.
I’m disappointed that SNL didn’t do a Schitt’s Creek sketch Saturday, since Dan Levy was the host and his dad was there, too…
1076 chars
Suzanne said on February 8, 2021 at 12:25 pm
I had a comment about Camellia beans which must have gone to moderation because I probably misspelled something again.
The comments today make me wonder if the Super Bowl halftime show has outlived its usefulness. They are so over the top anymore. I loved what the singer-I-never-heard-of did with America the Beautiful but do we really need America the Beautiful performed? Also, in my opinion, the man who signed the national anthem was more fun to watch than the singers were to hear.
490 chars
basset said on February 8, 2021 at 1:23 pm
I may be totally uninterested in sports, but I do wear an English soccer team scarf sometimes, largely because it’s a nice red and white combination and the team is in Mama B’s hometown.
So this morning I was over at Vanderbilt Hospital and one of the parking guys stopped me on the sidewalk. “Leyton Orient?” “Sure is, how did you know that?” Orient is in League Two, roughly equivalent to Double-A baseball, but this guy had heard of the team and knew something about it.
I was impressed. This was the equivalent of going to, say, Liverpool or Birmingham wearing an Akron RubberDucks cap and a local recognizing it. The parking guy said he didn’t have any connection to Orient, he just follows football. Follows it closer than most, I would think.
When I was still working we had Orient, Arsenal, and Norwich City scarves hanging in the office but the other two belonged to bona fide English people. We do have a few here.
940 chars
LAMary said on February 8, 2021 at 1:27 pm
We’ve got a Manchester United scarf here. I won’t wear it. I’m a Liverpool fan. The former Manchester fan is now a Brighton Hove Albion fan. No one else in the house gives shit about soccer and the opportunities to wear a scarf in LA, while existent, are scarce. It’s 48 degrees here now. Ya happy?
298 chars
Bitter Scribe said on February 8, 2021 at 1:36 pm
I don’t care for Tom Brady, mostly because he supported Trump, but has there ever been a more gorgeous upraised middle finger than the one he gave to the Patriots?
“Hey guys, so you think I’m washed up? You think the franchise needs to move on from me? Fine. I’ll just go over to this new team in nice, warm Florida, screw your New England winters, and win them the Lombardi Trophy, while you assholes stuff one stumblebum after another into my position and flounder your way out of the playoffs. Hey, Belichick, who the fuck was the genius there again?”
As for the commercials, did anyone see the Reddit commercial that lasted for literally five seconds? It was a text block that basically said, We blew all our ad budget on five seconds of Super Bowl airtime, so we hope you paused this and are reading it.
Clever. Except I can’t recall exactly what their message was or what they were selling. It was something about passionate people coming together. Maybe I don’t understand it because Reddit’s business model is a mystery to me.
1044 chars
Deborah said on February 8, 2021 at 1:54 pm
I think it’s cool that Europeans wear scarves to identify themselves with their teams. My friend who lives in Paris has a son who plays rugby on a kids team. He wears a blue scarf that shows his support for his son’s team, he showed me the proper way French men wrap those scarves around their necks, which I think looks cool, it’s a little complicated to copy, I’ve tried it many times but I can’t quite get it right.
Someone needs to report my comment #19 to the Department of Redundancy Department.
504 chars
Indiana Jack said on February 8, 2021 at 4:32 pm
The Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City earlier in the day was more competitive than the Super Bowl. City came out on top 4-1, so it doesn’t look like Liverpool will repeat as champions this year.
We timed our dinner for the halftime show since we had no clue about the performer.
Meanwhile I’ve been watching the internet for scraps of news. Two friends behind bars in Belarus for pissing off the regime and a bunch of colleagues in Myanmar sweating out the coup. I had hoped that the Biden era would be calmer.
537 chars
basset said on February 8, 2021 at 4:45 pm
Deborah, could you link to a pic showing the “proper way”? Just curious.
And several times this past week I’ve seen yesterday’s big football game described as the world’s most watched sporting event… I’d think it would be the World Cup final, even without the USA. Or maybe the Olympics, or the Tour de France, or cricket… definitive information is hard to come by on the Google but it looks like the Super Bowl is barely in the top ten.
444 chars
Deborah said on February 8, 2021 at 4:49 pm
I thought this was a good summation of what’s happening politically (is there any thing other than politics these days?) https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/02/republican-party-radicalizing-against-democracy/617959/ Sometimes Chris Hayes can get a little overwrought but he’s very smart, at least I think so.
I got a notice today that Northwestern Hospital near us now has vaccines for the over 65 set and I was invited to try to get an appointment but so far no luck through all of February. Maybe more will open up when they get more vaccines to give. I’m supposed to keep trying. You better believe I’ll do just that.
634 chars
Dave said on February 8, 2021 at 4:54 pm
HELP! might not have held up as well, no argument there, but I’ve a special love for it because that, other than the Ed Sullivan Show, was my first big exposure to The Beatles, when my friend insisted we go see it. We sat through it twice and then it was, oh, I get it now.
The bastardized American version of the Help! album was the first album I ever owned, Christmas, 1965, I think.
391 chars
LAMary said on February 8, 2021 at 7:32 pm
If anyone had to beat Liverpool I’m ok with it being Man City. If it had been Spurs I would have been pissed off.
113 chars
Indiana Jack said on February 8, 2021 at 7:36 pm
A Hard Day’s Night was the better movie, but Help! was fun as far as it goes.
Still, I didn’t need to see Help! twice.
Watched Hard Day’s Night in first release in high school and stayed in my seat to watch it a second time through that night. I’ve probably seen it a dozen times since then.
Then again, at this point I’m more like Paul’s grandfather (“What a clean old man!”) than any of the Beatles.
My haircut, on the other hand, is beginning to look like “Arthur,” the name George answered when asked, “What do you call your haircut?” I may have to ask my wife to get out her scissors.
594 chars
Jakash said on February 8, 2021 at 7:46 pm
Yesterday, the nn.c Wayback Machine over there on the right featured a 2011 post with the proprietress’ take on that year’s Chrysler Super Bowl ad featuring Eminem. (It was a big thumbs-up, for those scoring at home.) Yesterday also featured a Super Bowl ad for Jeep, the first ever “sell-out” for one Bruce Springsteen. It represented “the triumph of perseverance and stubbornness” of the same “chief marketing officer” who was responsible for the “Imported from Detroit” ad in 2011. Being a Springsteen fan, I’m pretty conflicted about it. It was a nice message, and I kinda appreciate what he’s trying to do. But is a chapel in the middle of Kansas that hightlights a cross in the middle of the American flag as welcoming an image for much of the populace as Bruce seems to think? Regardless of his intent, using his image ultimately in the service of a salesman to sell Jeeps is disappointing to me. He’ll be furious when he finds out! 😉
Anyway, here’s an article about how the 2-minute ad came about and how involved Springsteen was in its production, with the ad embedded in the text:
https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/bruce-springsteen-super-bowl-commercials-jeep-1234902575/
1199 chars
Jakash said on February 8, 2021 at 7:58 pm
Since the Beatles are a thread-topic, here’s a funny story about an elaborate prank George pulled on… uh, Phil Collins.
https://twitter.com/Calvbetton/status/1358860428223406082/photo/1
194 chars
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on February 8, 2021 at 8:08 pm
“All Creatures” is getting better each week. Or did it run earlier and I’m just getting to it? And never, never become a judge at a community or county fair. Ever.
163 chars
Dorothy said on February 8, 2021 at 8:37 pm
We are enjoying All Creatures, and this week was the first time I read the opening credits. “Introducing….so & so… as James Herriott”. That actor’s first acting credits – he’s very good! I love his Scottish accent. I keep wondering if he is from there or just good at accents.
I’ve decided now is a good time to be purging photographs. I’m blasting through albums like it’s nobody’s business, pulling them out and making multiple piles: one for daughter, one for son, one for me that I want to scan and keep electronically, piles for different nieces and nephews and my many siblings. I’ll be doing a mass mailing when I’m done. But I’m throwing away far more than I’m keeping. What was I thinking when I printed HUNDREDS of photos of quilts when I went to quilt shows?! We really need to reduce what we have. Our kids have been encouraging us to do this forever. I’ll be getting rid of (donating or tossing out) old Christmas stuff, old fabrics and patterns I’ll never use again – it’s very freeing. My tall outside trash can is full this week, I’ve tossed so much into it since Saturday when this tear started.
1123 chars
Dorothy said on February 8, 2021 at 8:48 pm
I forgot to add that I’m going to be glued to the impeachment trial tomorrow and subsequent days. Can’t hardly wait to hear all the evidence which we all know is so strong. I’m amazed that, already, most Republican senators are saying they won’t vote to convict. How do they navigate the world and do day-to-day business with such guilty consciences? What would their parents say if they could talk to them about honesty, backbone, patriotism and setting a good example?
470 chars
David C said on February 8, 2021 at 8:53 pm
A agree with Jeff about Creatures. All the characters got better as it went on. Tristan improved considerably. He started out the first couple of episodes with a frat boy vibe but he was showing a lot of heart by the end. I’m looking forward to the next series. The guy who played James is a genuine Scot which puts him a leg up on the guy in the original series who was Welsh and probably thankfully didn’t try a Scottish accent.
430 chars
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on February 9, 2021 at 7:19 am
Alf Wight was a northerner whose family moved to Glasgow, as I recall, so his Glaswegian was adopted, not innate; no idea what his actual accent sounded like but I’m sure these days there’s video out there somewhere.
New judge on the bench, and we all have to go in and be sworn in — due to COVID we get done in batches instead of crowding the whole court staff crew into the courtroom, but I don’t know why we don’t do it on Zoom like we’re doing most hearings and conferences right now . . . oh well!
My 92 year old father-in-law got Pfizer #2 on Saturday, with zero side effects after. Didn’t even feel the shot, he said, tiny little sore spot is all. My mom is tomorrow, and that’s a huge pair of hurdles crossed. I’ll probably get mine in June, being 59 and all.
774 chars
Deborah said on February 9, 2021 at 7:22 am
I’m at the outpatient surgery place waiting room, had a fitful night. I wasn’t worried about the surgery but I was afraid I’d have trouble getting a Lyft on a cold dark morning after it snowed yesterday. Of course I had no problem and I worried for nothing. Now I’m starting to get a little nervous about the surgery even though I know exactly what to expect. And I’m hungry, wasn’t allowed to eat or drink anything.
What time does the impeachment trial start?
475 chars
basset said on February 9, 2021 at 8:04 am
“I think people will get tired of him…” Not likely, but we can hope:
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/02/for-donald-trump-sarah-palins-fall-shows-the-limits-of-media-obsession
187 chars
Dorothy said on February 9, 2021 at 8:30 am
1 PM EST Deborah, so noon for you.
34 chars
Jeff Borden said on February 9, 2021 at 10:11 am
It’s hard to believe how much nicer the world is with tRump banned from social media. If I were a betting man, I’d wager his next big public appearance will be on one of the pro wrestling extravaganzas produced by his pal, Vince McMahon. It fits his personality perfectly.
You Michigan residents should track down a copy of today’s NYT and read the story on the disturbingly tight alliances between the state GOP and the heavily armed militia movements. It’s pretty damned scary.
482 chars
Bruce Fields said on February 9, 2021 at 11:51 am
I have trouble imagining anyone other than Peter Davison and Robert Hardy in those roles. But I suppose I’ll watch this version eventually and get used to it….
162 chars
Deborah said on February 9, 2021 at 12:06 pm
I’ve been back home for an hour or so, surgery went fine. I asked for an extra cocktail so I was a little less stressed as it was happening. It wasn’t horribly stressful last time but I thought, why not, if they can give me something a little extra, I’ll take it. The results aren’t as dramatic mainly because I had the drama of the unexpected improvement last time. It’s just as bright and clean looking, I’m just a bit more used it. Glad it’s over.
I will be watching the impeachment trial as I’m resting this afternoon. I’ve got to wear sunglasses for awhile to counteract the dialation. The pain is about the same as last time, so not much.
647 chars
Jeff Borden said on February 9, 2021 at 1:14 pm
If you’re wondering what $arah Palin is up to these days, rest assured she remains absolutely nuts.
https://www.rawstory.com/sarah-palin/
145 chars
Suzanne said on February 9, 2021 at 1:35 pm
I am at work, but had time to watch a bit of the impeachment trial. The video they showed was gut wrenchingly sickening. The Republicans who can watch that and still not convict should have their citizenship stripped away.
As Congressman Raskin said, if this behavior isn’t an impeachable offense, then nothing is.
316 chars
Scout said on February 9, 2021 at 3:13 pm
Much of this horrific footage has been seen before, but the way the House Managers have integrated it with trump’s insurrection speech and what was happening in the Chambers is incredibly moving and impactful.
https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4944572/house-impeachment-managers-video-compilation-january-6-attack-us-capitol
324 chars
Julie Robinson said on February 9, 2021 at 4:20 pm
Glad your second surgery went well, Deborah!
As much as I want 45 impeached, I’m not giving him any more headspace.
The New All Creatures has been very enjoyable, and I figure every generation wants their own updated version of classic stories. I think I wore out my set of paperbacks, and faithfully watched every single episode of the old one. (And couldn’t decided if I loved James or Tristan more.)
But I’ve noticed they’re giving more time to the women this time around, and that’s all for the good. It’s crushing, though, to think that with Diana Rigg’s death we will also lose Mrs. Pumphrey and Tricki Woo.
622 chars
Deborah said on February 9, 2021 at 5:13 pm
I was ok watching the trial when the house managers made their opening remarks including the effective video, and then the Trump guys got their turn, they lost me. They’re points are all over the map. I still doubt that he’ll be convicted because the majority of Republicans have done the wrong thing every single time. I just hope they continue falling apart. Not sure I can continue to watch in real time, I think I’ll just watch clips of the highlights after the fact.
477 chars
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on February 9, 2021 at 5:58 pm
A colleague noted halfway into the first of Trump’s attorney presentations “yeah, he always was the good cop.” Then the second lawyer got up and launched into his screed, and we both turned and said “bad cop.”
Prosecutors. Sheesh.
233 chars
Indiana Jack said on February 9, 2021 at 7:28 pm
I tried watching the first Trump defense lawyer.
But when he tried to spell out multiple arguments and said, “A” and followed it up with “2” I knew I was wasting my time.
Chances are Trump won’t pay any of his defense team.
226 chars
Dexter Friend said on February 9, 2021 at 8:14 pm
Indiana Jack, the Liverpool-Manchester City matchround was a total one-sided disaster, as Allyson just handed MC two goals with weak kick-outs. I was depressed and appalled, and disappointed. Now 10 points behind, it’s too much to expect the Reds to win this year. Just when Mo Salah had found his multi-goal talent, back once again, the keeper allows 2 goals due to his sheer negligence.
A few years ago we went to Columbus to watch my midfielder granddaughter play in a youth league. The night before my daughter gifted me my Liverpool kit, and I was wearing that jersey that day at the pitch. Before the start, a young man coach raced over to me and asked if I was from Liverpool, as was he…I said no, just a TV watcher type fan. He had been to Anfield and told me of the near-religious experience it is, and implored I should go soon. So what were the odds, the first time I appear in public, a Liverpudlian is the first person to see me?
952 chars
basset said on February 9, 2021 at 9:15 pm
An encouraging sign today: hand sanitizer on the reduced-price shelf at Aldi.
Last week they were scraping the one-way directional aisle signs off the floor.
159 chars
Indiana Jack said on February 9, 2021 at 9:19 pm
I am promiscuous in my affections for Premier League teams, Dexter.
Man. City, Man. United, Liverpool and more. Sunday the results were one-sided and the goalkeeper screwed up badly. But I thought it was still more fun than the Super Bowl.
241 chars
alex said on February 10, 2021 at 8:17 am
Too bad I can’t find a news item about it without a paywall, but Bob Morris — one of the biggest nutters in the Indiana legislature — has now gutted his bill that would have prevented local government from enacting or enforcing any pandemic restrictions. He instead wants to penalize any social media company that silences the “free speech” of any Indiana citizen.
During this sideshow, the legislature is reversing hard-won laws protecting wetlands and stripping public education of funding in order to dramatically enlarge the state’s voucher program.
559 chars
Dorothy said on February 10, 2021 at 9:14 am
I know the impeachment trial is going to wind up the way we all expect it to – no conviction – so I’m pinning my hopes on Tish James in the state of New York. If she files charges against the Former Social Media Influencer formerly known as #45, and gets a conviction, I’m pretty sure he can’t hold public office anymore. At the very least it’ll put on display the myriad ways the company’s fraudulent and illegal policies came about. And I’ll be glued to the impeachment trial anyway. I love knowing that he’s in Florida with nothing to do but wallow in listening to what everyone is saying about him, screaming at anyone within hearing distance about what shitty lawyers he hired, and that’s enough for me, for now.
717 chars
Suzanne said on February 10, 2021 at 9:21 am
Meanwhile, in the annals of stupid politicians, local pol Bob Morris is in top running for the Indiana bracket with US Senator Mike Braun running a close second for his tone deaf morning tweet “As I have stated earlier, the Framers of the Constitution never intended for the Senate to hold a trial to remove a former President from an office he no longer holds, which is why I voted against the constitutionality of former President Trump’s impeachment trial…”
He must have been busy reading the Daily Caller or some other neo-Nazi publication during the opening remarks since the “what the framers wanted” shtick was pretty well covered.
As Jeremiah the prophet is recorded as saying in the Holy Scriptures “Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear…”
823 chars
Julie Robinson said on February 10, 2021 at 10:22 am
Our Indiana legislature, with apparently nothing better to do, no pressing matters to consider:
Morris tries to gut bill, penalize social media
NIKI KELLY | The Journal Gazette
INDIANAPOLIS – A Fort Wayne state representative Tuesday tried to strip his bill and insert unrelated language that could cost social media companies that block content on their privately owned platforms.
Apps such as Twitter and Facebook could face lawsuits with a maximum $50,000 award if they “censor” posts under an amendment that tied 6-6.
GOP Rep. Bob Morris – author of House Bill 1519 and chairman of the committee – was waiting for Rep. Steve Davisson, R-Salem, to return and break the tie on the amendment but ultimately adjourned the meeting until next week.
He later disputed The Journal Gazette’s report, saying the amendment passed 7-6. The video of the committee showed him walking off the rostrum and a picture saying the committee was adjourned popped up. Audio doesn’t contain such a vote.
“With that we are going to conclude, Rep. Andrade. We are going to hold 1519. Rep. Davisson is not back yet,” Morris says at the end of the meeting.
House bills have to move out of committee by Tuesday or they are dead.
Morris explained amendment No. 13 as when a person uses an application in Indiana “you cannot be censored or prohibited from your First Amendment rights. We are entitled to our freedom of speech in this country.”
The First Amendment applies only to action by a government to curb free speech.
Rep. Rita Fleming, D-Jeffersonville, said she was confused about removing the entire original bill, which would have curbed emergency powers the governor and local authorities could use during a health emergency.
“Isn’t an amendment supposed to be somewhat germane to a bill?” she asked.
Morris said, “during the course of session if we find something concerning to Hoosiers we can basically strip this and put this into the bill.”
Asked if there were any experts or Hoosiers to testify, he said no one signed up.
That is likely because the amendment was unknown to the public. It was only disclosed during discussion of it.
So-called strip-and-insert amendments are usually marked specifically on session calendars but this one wasn’t.
Several Republicans who voted yes on the amendment also urged Morris to have another meeting for further discussion.
“To keep it going to keep it alive I guess I will vote yes, but I’d really like to know what’s in them exactly,” said Rep. Randy Lyness, R-West Harrison. A second amendment was also offered and approved related to data gathering.
2667 chars
LAMary said on February 10, 2021 at 11:15 am
The Liverpool MC game was definitely better than the Super Bowl but I was bummed the Liverpool lost. If they had to lose to anybody I guess MC is ok. As long as Jose Maurinho wasn’t involved in beating them I can deal with it. Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp are brilliant managers and it shows in their teams’ performance.
And in other news, I listened to as much of the hearing as I could while working yesterday. It was noted that Rand Paul and other GOP thugs were not watching the video, not listening to any of the managers or lawyers. Just doodling on pads, reading something. A holes of the highest order.
613 chars
Suzanne said on February 10, 2021 at 11:24 am
This is quite interesting
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/02/10/capitol-insurrectionists-jenna-ryan-financial-problems/
“Nearly 60 percent of the people facing charges related to the Capitol riot showed signs of prior money troubles, including bankruptcies, notices of eviction or foreclosure, bad debts, or unpaid taxes over the past two decades, according to a Washington Post analysis of public records for 125 defendants with sufficient information to detail their financial histories.”
507 chars
Scout said on February 10, 2021 at 11:59 am
More video footage. I hope this moves another 11.
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/impeachment-managers-capitol-attack-video-footage
137 chars
Deborah said on February 10, 2021 at 4:04 pm
I don’t understand that Indiana bill at all and it doesn’t seem like it will hold up when put to the test in courts. Did it even pass in Indiana, that article was very confusing.
I hope the impeachment managers can pull off a presentation that will make it impossible for any morally upstanding Republican senator to acquit. So far the managers seem to be doing a fantastic job, but if there aren’t enough morally upstanding Republican senators it won’t matter. The various Republican state party leaders don’t want there to be any morally upstanding senators in their party it seems. It’s a travesty.
604 chars
Suzanne said on February 10, 2021 at 5:14 pm
Jim Banks far exceeds his own stupidity on Twitter
“Impeachments are a lot like iPhone releases. There’s been about 10 of them, each version is pretty much the same and they used to be a lot more exciting…
and they’re both supported by the #CCP.”
https://twitter.com/repjimbanks/status/1359617238429536256?s=21
329 chars
basset said on February 10, 2021 at 5:47 pm
Going clear back to response number one… Alex, tell us about that Flemish beef. Sounds interesting.
102 chars
Jakash said on February 10, 2021 at 6:14 pm
“‘The result of this trial is preordained,’ Senator Ted Cruz, Republican of Texas, said flatly. ‘President Trump will be acquitted.'”
Even after all we’ve seen, I just don’t get why this, on the front page of the New York Times today, is considered acceptable by *anybody*, least of all the “law and order party” patriots.
The Senators are essentially the jury for this case, right? Ted freaking Cruz is a lawyer who went to Harvard, right? If somebody was a juror in the most low-stakes case imaginable and took the trouble to announce to everybody that the defendant would be acquitted, before the trial, would that person remain a juror in any court in the land?
What if that person were known far and wide for being a Class-A dick in the first place? Holy-moly!
774 chars
Dave said on February 10, 2021 at 6:20 pm
These are the same people who investigated Benghazi forever, the same (type of) people who turned down the budget for security for places like Benghazi, but they think this is a-ok. I’m so disgusted I can barely see straight, when I think about my current senators, Scott and Rubio, I feel helpless.
I hadn’t thought about Morris for a long time, it’s over five years since we moved out of Indiana and somehow, I thought he’d surely been replaced but I should have known better.
I see that onetime Columbus resident Larry Flynt has departed this life for whatever may await him next.
590 chars
alex said on February 10, 2021 at 6:31 pm
Basset, the meat turned out nice and tender in the pressure cooker but the flavors weren’t quite as good as when I’ve done it on the stovetop. The recipe didn’t call for sautéing everything in bacon fat first, which is probably why it was less flavorful. It also needed to be thickened at the end with corn starch.
I absolutely love Flemish beef as a hearty winter stew. Sorry I wasted some good Belgian beer on that one.
425 chars
LAMary said on February 10, 2021 at 6:40 pm
Oh, Dave. Scott and Rubio. Is it really worth it to be someplace warm?
70 chars
Julie Robinson said on February 10, 2021 at 6:53 pm
Cruz said the trial is “almost Shakespearean, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”. But he left out the first few words of the sentence. Here it is in whole: “It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.”
243 chars
Sherri said on February 10, 2021 at 7:28 pm
The GOP has shown what it is, a party opposed to democracy. It is the job of the rest of us to crush them.
106 chars