So we’re in the first month of Trump sitting on his fat ass behind the Resolute Desk, a pile of Sharpie Magnums at the ready, and he’s been…signing things. Not meeting with Congressional leaders, not holding policy meetings. He gave Elon and his broccoli heads the keys to the treasury and he’s retired to the Oval to sign stuff. It started with serious stuff, and three weeks later, he’s down to straws.
I’m beginning to think this isn’t serious, although it is very dangerous. There should be a strategy to fight this. The American system wasn’t meant to run on executive orders by a mad king, even one with many stupid followers and some unsmiling henchman. Seventy-four million voters said hell no to this bullshit, and millions more stayed home because they either couldn’t be bothered or simply despised both candidates. But one candidate isn’t in the picture anymore, so maybe we could redirect that sentiment? I dunno. Then there’s this:
Gillibrand on WNYC today said one reason they're all falling in line is that they get death threats.
— Regina Schrambling (@gastropoda.bsky.social) February 4, 2025 at 3:31 PM
As more than one person pointed out in the replies, lots of people get death threats these days, but they don’t let a bunch of cowards change the way they live their lives or do their jobs. So nut up, Kristin Gillibrand. There’s work to do.
Now it’s time for the Super Bowl. It’s still more than an hour to kickoff, I just turned the game on, but I’m confident President Sharpie hasn’t showed up yet. The warmups are ongoing, and there’s a lot of helmet-knocking and close-up yelling player-to-player, which I gather is a bonding / amp-up ritual. I don’t have a dog in this fight, but part of me wants the Chiefs to lose, so Taylor and Travis break up and she writes a song about it.
This is the overwhelming Detroit vibe today:
Let’s watch.
David C said on February 9, 2025 at 6:18 pm
I’d like the Chiefs troglodyte kicker to miss a chip shot field goal with one second left for them to lose by a single point. It takes so little to make me happy.
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Mark P said on February 9, 2025 at 6:25 pm
What is this thing you call Super Bowl? Does it involve rolling a ball on a hardwood floor to knock over wooden bottles? Or is it some kind of cereal? Ah, well, whatever it is, I will be watching some rerun that no one cares about.
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alex said on February 9, 2025 at 6:37 pm
Today I broke out some of the roasted tomatoes that I painstakingly peeled and froze last summer, along with some frozen peppers, also from my garden. They’ve been simmering all day with garlic and onions and Italian sausage and herbs and cooking down into what the Italians call “gravy.” It’s sugary sweet without any added sugar. Shortly I’ll be hosting family dinner and I’m fairly certain none of us gives two fucks about the Super Bowl.
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tajalli said on February 9, 2025 at 6:40 pm
It’s bowling with super balls for that surprise extra vector.
Just finished watching Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar.
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Ann said on February 9, 2025 at 6:41 pm
I am sure my husband will watch whatever game is on tv today but fortunately he’s gotten in the habit of watching all his tv on his tablet with his headphones on so I’m free, free, free.
Happy to note that Bluesky seems to be finally taking off. I’m there celebrating Superb Owl Day and posting a burble. Yooperann if anyone wants to find me.
Never mind. Jinxed myself with that first paragraph. Game is on the tv. I’ll survive.
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tajalli said on February 9, 2025 at 7:41 pm
But seriously, have the republicans been receiving death threats for real? I can no longer distinguish between satire, conspiracy theories, and likely facts.
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alex said on February 9, 2025 at 8:23 pm
Boy, was I wrong. We’ve got the game on and we’re savoring Kansas City getting its ass reamed, just because. And some of the ads are pretty good too.
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Sherri said on February 9, 2025 at 8:56 pm
I hope Trump was still there for Kendrick Lamar’s very Black halftime show.
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Jason T. said on February 9, 2025 at 9:46 pm
Sherri, the pool report says he left at 7:58 p.m. local time. I guess he had to hurry home for another busy night of tweeting while he sits on the crapper.
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Jeff Gill said on February 9, 2025 at 11:22 pm
On “All Creatures Great and Small” this evening, Carmody is making some big moves, and Mr. Farnon still has not kissed Mrs. Hall. I heard my son chortling downstairs, so I assume the Eagles are winning.
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David C said on February 10, 2025 at 5:58 am
My wife is put off by the new “Creatures”. If Mr. Farnon did kiss Mrs. Hall, I’m afraid that would be the end of it for her.
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Julie Robinson said on February 10, 2025 at 8:43 am
What’s not to like about the new All Creatures? It’s sweet and wholesome, and women’s stories play a much larger part than the original series. It does vary from the original, which varied from the books, which varied from real life. Such is the way of entertainment.
But, to each their own. My dislike of football has grown so intense I feel physically ill if we come across a game. I did look up and watch Jon Batiste sing the national anthem.
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Icarus said on February 10, 2025 at 9:49 am
for those who didn’t watch, you missed a controversial halftime show. Black people put on a performative art show and white people had some feelings about it.
I admit it wasn’t my cup of tea but I didn’t complain. And I’m glad because now that more intelligent pundits have explained the meaning of the performance, I see I still have a long way to go to achieve my wokeness certification.
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JodiP said on February 10, 2025 at 9:56 am
I’m re-watching the past seasons of All Creatures. Great comfort TV.
Chop Wood Carry Water is a great Substack. On Sundays, the author rounds up all the good stuff happening to fight the good fight. She also has suggested action steps each work day.
I got lots of work done on the house for the showing/move with the help of friends.
My team and I went bowling on Friday which was great fun.
On Saturday I went to the Luminary Loppet on on of our local lakes. Instead of posting a long link, you can search for it. Ice, light, music, fire jugglers, giant bear and penguin figures: Minnesota Magic!
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Deborah said on February 10, 2025 at 12:44 pm
Does anyone know any organization officially sponsoring/organizing protests in DC and state capitols for President’s day, Monday, February 17th?
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Jeff Gill said on February 10, 2025 at 1:16 pm
That’s been changed, by Executive Order, to “President Trump’s Day,” Monday Feb. 17th.
By the way, Trump picked the Chiefs to win. So there’s that.
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Jakash said on February 10, 2025 at 1:37 pm
Unpopular, uninvited opinion: I’m all for “sweet and wholesome” entertainment in these trying times, and I’d like to say that “All Creatures” offers a welcome safe harbor amidst the storm. Alas, it’s the most boring, laughably predictable show that we’ve put up with for this many seasons. I’d have given up on it halfway through the first season, if not sooner.
However, my wife insists that we watch. So, I attempt to enjoy it, since I try to be a good sport, sometimes. That being said, we’re a couple episodes behind, viewing via PBS Passport, so you’ve got a lot of nerve posting that spoiler @ 10, Mr. Gill. 😉 I did not realize that Mr. Farnon is about to kiss Mrs. Hall, nor do I welcome such a development, though (see above), it’s certainly predictable enough!
My only interest in the Super Bowl was in rooting against the three-peat, but I gotta say that was a VERY impressive performance by the Eagles. We always avoid the pregame nonsense, so I watched pretty much the whole game but never saw the orange felon at all, much to my satisfaction.
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Dexter Friend said on February 10, 2025 at 2:18 pm
I enjoyed the game very much. Mahomes had no chance, even if Phila never blitzed once, just rushed 4 and nailed him for sack after sack. My best moment was seeing Cooper DeJean intercept Mahomes and score a pick-6 on his 22nd birthday. A radio guy today said “that boy damn-sure got laid in New Orleans last night.”
The ads? Creepy: Seal as a seal. Worst AI: Martha Stewart doing twisty gymnastic maneuvers.
Bar people: Hey, are people really embracing these newer non-alcoholic brews? Ultra and Guinness were advertising them. Guinness had Kaliber N-A brew back in 1992 , which I used to ween myself off beer. Of course sober people cannot drink N/A, as there is an infinitesimal trace of alcohol in the batch. I even called Miller Brewery way back then and asked them. It’s more a mental thing, and a creed, to thine own self be true.
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Deborah said on February 10, 2025 at 2:19 pm
Please tell me that’s a joke Jeff G?
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David C said on February 10, 2025 at 2:41 pm
My wife has a huge girl crush on Carol Drinkwater, first Helen on the original Creatures. So, no other Helen will do. The current one is a distant second. The second Helen on the original, who Mary calls nasal Helen, gets nothing but contempt.
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alex said on February 10, 2025 at 2:42 pm
Was it just me, or was there some MAGA virtue signaling going on in the Tubi ads? These featured a ruggedly handsome guy in a cowboy hat versus a couple of chubby nerds in wizard costumes and seemed to be communicating that Tubi is for “trads,” everything else caters to weirdos. Tubi, by the way, is owned by Fox Corporation and it’s an ads-heavy free streaming service that runs crummy old TV shows and B movies.
ON EDIT: Thanks, Jodi, for introducing me to Chop Wood Carry Water. It’s another rabbit hole among many I’ve discovered lately but at least it looks interesting.
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Jeff Borden said on February 10, 2025 at 4:01 pm
Dexter,
I drank Heineken Zero during Dry January and as the name implies it has no alcohol.
Didja see Lumpy fired the board of the Kennedy Center and proclaimed himself its new chair? His lackey. Steve Bannon, thinks Lumpy should book the J6 Choir and invite all the J6 thugs. No doubt Lee Greenwood and Kid Rock will soon be headliners. Too stoopid for words.
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Jeff Gill said on February 10, 2025 at 4:07 pm
Deborah, like so much, it’s a joke until Trump does it.
As to Mr. Farnon’s romantic inclinations, the current ep is nudging him towards a different potential partner entirely, but if you know the backstory and the significance of the names, you know where this surely must end.
Unlike a Hallmark film, though, there was no kiss in the final minute. And I’m not watching ahead with Passport!
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Sherri said on February 10, 2025 at 5:19 pm
Unless you’ve spent time in the weeds of city planning, you’ve probably not heard of Donald Shoup, who died last week, but his book The High Cost of Free Parking is extremely influential. The title alone is one of those things that once you hear it, changes how you think about land use and all those vast expanses of parking lots that sit empty much of the time (despite every one complaining that they can’t find a parking place.)
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Jakash said on February 10, 2025 at 5:28 pm
Dexter, I think the NA beers are doing pretty well. There sure are a lot of them, and I’ve tried plenty. IMHO, many of them are “good enough,” if you feel like having a beer but are avoiding alcohol for whatever reason. I still drink regular beer, too, and I certainly prefer it, but sometimes an NA makes sense.
Still, Athletic Brewing Company, which was started with the purpose of brewing quality NA beer, makes a number of different styles that are pretty tasty, all things considered. Many larger regular craft brewers make their own NA beers, along with the big name breweries that you referred to.
Guinness, in particular, really did an excellent job with Guinness 0. If one enjoys Guinness in the first place, of course.
My only problem is that they’re all priced like beer rather than like pop or seltzer, for instance. I suppose that makes sense, but sometimes it irks me to pay alcohol prices for a non-alcoholic beverage!
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Julie Robinson said on February 10, 2025 at 5:33 pm
Again, to each their own. Agreed All Creatures is predictable, and if slow=boring, I’m for it. As for all the other versions, I can’t change anyone’s opinions. If I recall, in real life Siegfried who was not actually named Siegfried, did not marry Mrs. Hall, but did remarry. It’s been a lot of years since I read the books.
Also, I’m always interested in new sources of good entertainment. Satisfying the entire family is a tall order.
Jodi, glad you made progress and then had a break. We all need those!
Today I spent about 90 minutes on the phone getting TurboTax to actually let my son use the download I bought, as was advertised. If anyone’s in a similar situation, let me know and I’ll explain. Otherwise, carry on.
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David C said on February 10, 2025 at 6:03 pm
We used Jackson Hewitt online for our taxes. It’s interface is only OK, but it gets the job done. We went with it because it was only $25 for both Federal and State. $29 for Federal and $39 for state seems like too damned much but if our taxes were more complex it might have been worth it. They were moving toward what most countries do and sending a finished tax form for us to sign or not. Of course, the orange orangutan killed that.
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Dorothy said on February 10, 2025 at 6:18 pm
I don’t give a hoot if it’s predictable – the actors are really good, it’s nice to watch people being (mostly) nice to each other and get lost in a bygone time. I prefer British police crime dramas but it would be boring to watch the same kind of shows all the time and not have any variety. Line of Duty is an excellent series and I forget what platform it’s on, but you can Google that. Grantchester is similar to All Creatures but more gritty. We like that show, too. Happy Valley was another excellent crime series. And we subscribed to Brit Box about 6 weeks ago and we’re getting into Vera. She’s a piece of work, the way she interacts with staff, and she’s very condescending to them. But she’s growing on me.
We both like All Creatures and laughed a lot at last night’s episode. And I told my hubby what you said, Jeff, about an impending kiss. He was surprised. He said in the books Mrs. Hall was around 20 years older than Siegfried. I don’t know if that’s accurate but until I pick up a copy of first book and re-read it, I’ll accept this as fact. I don’t get a romantic vibe between them at all. I know they take liberties and change things from the books, but they’re not going to go too wild. People would not watch. I was pretty sure James and Helen had their own little home by the time the first baby came along, but if they did that then there’d be little to no interaction between all of the characters. So for the time being they’re all cozy in Skeldale House. I wish Diana Rigg was still around to be Mrs. Pumphrey. I am not wild about her replacement. But she’s not in every episode.
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Julie Robinson said on February 10, 2025 at 8:31 pm
In the books James went AWOL because of missing Helen, discovered she’d just had the baby in a maternity home, and returned to the military for the rest of his service. Many of the vet episodes in the books were borrowed from other vets, including his own son. It’s mostly fiction.
And in news from the town where most of us don’t live anymore, Fort Wayne, the Three Rivers Festival committee has declared bankruptcy and cancelled this year’s festival. They owe 300K and were running a GoFundMe to cover that plus another 150K for this year, since they lost all their sponsors. Oddly enough, the good citizens of the Fort showed reluctance and they collected less than $4500.
This is a committee my spousal unit was forced to serve on for his job. I shouldn’t say too much, except that he was not surprised.
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basset said on February 10, 2025 at 11:22 pm
Don’t know where you’re all getting this kiss business, I couldn’t see a romantic vibe between Siegfried and anyone until the widowed anthropologist showed up in the most recent episode… which we saw out of sequence when we went to Darrowby/Thirsk last fall. Nice place to just wander around in, and according to several separate locals the bar at our hotel was Herriot’s preferred place for a drink. Met the “Yorkshire Vet” from the follow-on series there too.
Bought DVDs of the first “All Creatures” and couldn’t get into it. Might try again once the current season is over.
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Dexter Friend said on February 11, 2025 at 1:40 am
Yeah, they say it’s 0.0 alcohol content, but…Guinness 0 Alcohol Content has less than 0.5% alcohol in it, so it’s not completely alcohol-free. If you’re sensitive to alcohol, check with your doctor before consuming.
And fresh squeezed fruit juice has more alcohol than 0.0 near beer. So all this is OK for normies, but a time bomb for alkies.
I cannot have any citrus because of interaction with my medications. Much of this is about mental compulsions, guilt, much more. My brother would drink 0.0 when he was in AA. Now he’s wet-brain demented. Because when the 0.0 ran out, he switched back to 5.4 or whatever brew was available.
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Deborah said on February 11, 2025 at 5:30 am
All the comments about All Creatures makes me want to check it out, I’ll have to google where to find it.
Maybe I’m naive but it feels to me that we’re on the brink of losing our democracy and even worse things are about to happen. I keep thinking that mass protests need to occur soon, if for no other reason than solidarity, so the masses who oppose what is going on understand viscerally that we are not alone. And to show the Republicans and the Trump admin that what they are doing is unlawful, immoral and disgusting. Of course they already know it and don’t care in the least.
I realize a lot of people think protests aren’t effective but I think they are somewhat effective and when all avenues of justice are closed they may be the only way. I know I’m impressed when I see photos of masses of people congregated in areas when they have a lot to lose if they don’t. I think it shows bravery and commitment while phoning and emailing help too, there’s nothing like standing shoulder to shoulder with fellow citizens to make a huge point.
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FDChief said on February 11, 2025 at 9:56 am
I “protested” once. Back in 2003 I marched in the anti-Iraq-war protest here in Portland along with tens of thousands, along with millions across the country and across the world.
All of them were utterly worthless.
Now Fatso, Elon, and their MAGAt scum are fapping to the idea of popular protests against all his illegal coup-ing. He desperately wants martial law and dead protesters.
I don’t see a “good way” out of this.
But I’m reading up on how to build IEDs.
Just sayin’…
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Heather said on February 11, 2025 at 1:25 pm
There’s a study showing that just 3.5% of a population can topple a dictatorship. If we’re resigned, we’ve already lost. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190513-it-only-takes-35-of-people-to-change-the-world
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