Ace: aceofspadeshq at gee mail.com
Buck: buck.throckmorton at protonmail.com
CBD: cbd at cutjibnewsletter.com
joe mannix: mannix2024 at proton.me
MisHum: petmorons at gee mail.com
J.J. Sefton: sefton at cutjibnewsletter.com
Jay Guevara 2025 Jim Sunk New Dawn 2025
Jewells45 2025 Bandersnatch 2024
GnuBreed 2024
Captain Hate 2023
moon_over_vermont 2023
westminsterdogshow 2023
Ann Wilson(Empire1) 2022 Dave In Texas 2022
Jesse in D.C. 2022 OregonMuse 2022
redc1c4 2021
Tami 2021
Chavez the Hugo 2020
Ibguy 2020
Rickl 2019
Joffen 2014
AoSHQ Writers Group
A site for members of the Horde to post their stories seeking beta readers, editing help, brainstorming, and story ideas. Also to share links to potential publishing outlets, writing help sites, and videos posting tips to get published.
Contact OrangeEnt for info: maildrop62 at proton dot me
Leftist lunatics dug into Sydney Sweeney's history -- her initials are SS, for crying out loud (and that is a real argument the lunatics repeatedly make) -- and unearthed the ABSOLUTE SCANDAL that she's registered as a Republican in Florida.
President Trump on Sunday reacted positively upon learning actress Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, adding that he now finds her viral American Eagle ad campaign to be "fantastic."
"She's a registered Republican?" Trump said in response to a reporter's question about his thoughts on her political affiliation. "Oh, now I love her ad."
The President added, "You'd be surprised at how many people are Republicans. That's what I wouldn't have known, but I'm glad you told me that. If Sydney Sweeney is a registered Republican, I think her ad is fantastic."
...
On Friday, Vice President JD Vance had some fun at the expense of the left over its wild response to the American Eagle ad campaign featuring actress Sydney Sweeney.
Vice President JD Vance
"My political advice to the Democrats is continue to tell everybody who thinks Sydney Sweeney is attractive is a Nazi. That appears to be their actual strategy," Vance joked during Friday's appearance on the "Ruthless" podcast.
Black Conservative Perspective has a roundup of the bluehairs and noserings having their nineteenth nervous breakdown that another woman is getting more attention than they ever will.
Note that he starts with a couple of clips about Sydney Sweeney's luscious milk zeppelins and then talks about Joey Swoll for a while, which is a completely different subject. You can skip that by jumping to 9:00 after the first couple of clips.
Meanwhile, The Atlantic thinks that it's a controversial "conservative commentator" idea that American men should be "free to love boobs."
"the idea, pushed by conservative commentators, that Americans should be free to love boobs" pic.twitter.com/4I2HrpYi93
They really think that they can demand men to be homosexuals. Except that the mandated-gays will still be required to marry women to provide them with financial support.
Meanwhile, they continue to be baffled that men don't want them having control over our lives any longer.
Infographic: Can you spot all of the Nazi symbolism in the Genes Ad?
And the left is now accosting Sydney Sweeney in public. They're tagging Sweeney so that a more physical leftist knows he has the permission of the cult to murder her. As they did with conservative Supreme Court Justices and Trump himself.
🚨 WTF?! Leftists are now HECKLING Sydney Sweeney in public over her American Eagle ad
Texas Democrats Flee the State to Block Redistricting; Greg Abbott Says That the State Constitution Allows Him to Declare Their Seats Forfeited
—Ace
I don't know why they didn't fix this the past twenty times the Democrats did this. They do this every time there's a major vote, and we just keep letting them.
More than 50 Texas Democrats fled to Chicago on Sunday to block a redistricting plan that could give Republicans several new congressional seats. The move threatens to stall legislative business by denying the House a quorum.
Key Details:
Texas Democrats are attempting to deny the GOP a quorum in the 150-member state House, where at least 100 members must be present to move legislation forward. Democrat leaders say at least 51 members left the state.
The redistricting plan, introduced last week, would shift district lines to favor Republicans -- potentially flipping several urban Democrat seats.
Texas Republicans, led by House Speaker Dustin Burrows, are demanding Democrats return, with Attorney General Ken Paxton warning they could be arrested.
Can he actually take their seats away from them? I don't know. Even if he does, there will then be years of litigation to determine if the redistricting map was passed legally.
Governor Greg Abbott is threatening to oust the Texas Democrats who fled to Chicago to block a GOP-led redistricting bill, accusing them of abandoning their posts and violating the Texas Constitution by intentionally denying the House a quorum.
In a letter released Sunday, Abbott made clear that lawmakers who continue to skip work could be removed from office altogether. "These absences were premeditated for an illegitimate purpose," he wrote, noting that Democrats "hatched a deliberate plan not to show up for work, for the specific purpose of abdicating the duties of their office and thwarting the chamber's business."
To justify potential removals, Abbott pointed to Texas Attorney General Opinion No. KP-0382. That 2021 opinion concluded that legislators who intentionally break quorum can be found to have "vacated office." Abbott emphasized that under this legal framework, "a district court may determine that a legislator has forfeited his or her office due to abandonment and can remove the legislator from office, thereby creating a vacancy."
He added, "That empowers me to swiftly fill vacancies under Article III, Section 13 of the Texas Constitution."
Speaking of redistricting: The Supreme Court says it wants to hear arguments on the question of the constitutionality of racially-gerrymandered congressional seats.
Since the 80s, states have prioritized race as a factor in drawing congressional districts. Bizarre snake-like gerrymanders slither throughout states to pick up black neighborhoods here and there to guarantee a "majority minority" district where blacks are guaranteed to elect a black Democrat.
The Supreme Court said Friday that it will weigh the constitutionality of a common form of redistricting used to protect the voting power of Black and Hispanic voters: the drawing of congressional districts where racial minorities make up at least half the population.
Experts in election law said the move signals that the court may be poised to further narrow the Voting Rights Act.
In a terse order issued Friday evening, the justices called for briefing on whether the "intentional creation of a second majority-minority congressional district violates the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution."
The order came in a case challenging Louisiana's congressional map, which contains two majority-Black districts out of the state's six House seats.
The court heard arguments in the case in March and had been expected to rule by June. But on June 27, the justices punted the case into their next term and ordered that it be reargued.
Now, Friday's order loosely sketches the terrain on which the justices want further arguments: the claim that the longstanding practice of drawing majority-minority districts under the Voting Rights Acts may be unconstitutional because of its focus on race in drawing district lines. The voters challenging Louisiana's map had already advanced that constitutional claim in the case, but the justices' call for further briefing on the issue suggests they want to consider the claim more fully.
Below, Steve Turley argues that ending the racial gerrymanders will effectively wipe out all Democrat congressional representation in the south and guarantee the Republican Party a minimum of 230 seats in Congress. (218 seats are needed for the majority.)
THE MORNING RANT – EU Capitulates to Trump’s Tariff Agenda: Why Aren’t Free Traders Touting How Great This Is for Europe?
—Buck Throckmorton
President Trump’s one-sided trade deal that he just imposed on the European Union has caused a lot of anger and despair on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, was compelled to make trade concessions that come across as near-total capitulation to Trump’s terms. She had no choice. This was necessary so as to not to cost the 27-nation EU a greater loss of access to the enormous American market.
How one-sided is it?
• Tariffs on most products being imported to the US from Europe will increase from about 1% to 15%.
• Tariffs on vehicles being imported to the U.S. will increase from 2.5% to 15%. The short-term impact of this will be more tariff revenue for the U.S., which will be eaten by European manufacturers if they want to sell their cars here. The long-term impact of this will be the movement of European car manufacturing to the US, bringing manufacturing jobs to the US, and costing the EU jobs.
• The 50% tariff that Trump imposed on steel, aluminum, and copper imports will remain in place.
• The EU will roughly double the amount of US energy that it imports, to about $750 billion per year.
• European manufacturers will commit to $600 billion in capital expenditures for industrial development in the US.
• The EU will eliminate tariffs on products exported from the US to Europe.
This is a staggering reversal of the unfair trade practices that existed before – trade practices that helped crush American manufacturing, but were celebrated by “Principled Free Traders” who rejoiced at every American job lost to “free trade.”
Of course, what existed before wasn’t “free trade” at all, it was unilateral surrender to foreign mercantilism. However, the Principled Free Traders repeatedly told us that surrendering to non-reciprocal, one-sided trade was a beautiful thing because:
- American consumers get lower prices! The free traders didn’t even care if the lower-cost of imports was due to price-supports from unfriendly foreign governments.
- Trade that eliminates American manufacturing jobs allows American labor to be better deployed to “thinking” jobs rather than to manual labor.
- Tariffs are a tax on consumers. If the US had imposed counter-tariffs, that would have been a “tax on consumers.”
- A utopian global economy requires an upfront American capitulation to set the example of how other countries should behave in a libertarian world without economic borders.
David Harsanyi articulates the globalist, America-last position in his frequent writings about the beauty of surrendering to non-reciprocal “free trade.” At the Washington Examiner a few months ago he wrote, “Trade isn’t fair. Americans should pray it never gets fair.” He added, “Trade allows average working-class Americans to buy all kinds of things they could not otherwise afford because of trade. Forcing working-class Americans to make things foreigners or machines can make cheaper only undermines the creation of better jobs for them and their children.”
It seems to me that the EU’s capitulation to Trump has put Europe in the position that free traders always advocated for the US. Shouldn’t this trade deal therefore be great news for Europe per free trader logic?
The EU is eliminating tariffs on goods imported from the US. This will relieve citizens in the EU of a “tax on consumers,” right?
With tariffs lifted on goods imported from the US. average working class Europeans will now be able “to buy all kinds of things they could not otherwise afford because of trade,” correct?
Working class Europeans losing their jobs to Americans will allow those displaced workers the opportunity for “the creation of better jobs for them and their children.”
But strangely enough, the same globalist and intellectual class that celebrates American surrender on trade is not celebrating European surrender to the US. Here is a typical headline, this one from The Guardian: “US - EU trade deal is a ‘dark day’ for Europe, says French PM”
In this CBS piece titled “Did the U.S. or the EU emerge as the winner in Trump trade deal?” it quotes the Société Générale as stating "It is an asymmetric and unbalanced deal," while adding, “The EU decided neither to retaliate nor to increase its tariffs, and is even expected to reduce them. The EU agreed to a bad deal rather than risk trade war escalation."
Aside from lost jobs and public humiliation, the EU’s trade capitulation is also expected to negatively affect its GDP, with Goldman Sachs estimating a 0.4% hit to the EU’s GDP. How much is 0.4%? It comes out to about $775 billion of GDP being transferred from the EU to the US.
EU-US tariff agreement ends near term uncertainty in Europe, but the bloc’s humiliation undermines its future.
Yet there is no hiding that this was a thoroughly bad deal for the EU. When the UK [which is not a part of the EU] agreed to a 10% tariff, Brussels insisted it would never accept such humiliating terms. Now the EU has failed to negotiate even this.
I fully expect to read plenty of think pieces from globalist, free-trade outlets such as the Wall Street Journal and National Review decrying this trade deal as bad for the US. I could write it for them. “Trump bad.” Tariffs are a tax on consumers.” “Manufacturing is a poor use of labor.” “Economic nationalism is bad.” Etcetera, etc.
Here is my challenge to those globalist mouthpieces of American economic surrender. Instead of (or in addition to) bashing Trump and this trade deal, try writing some pieces about how great this trade deal is for Europe, because the EU’s capitulation is an embrace of everything that Principled Free Traders have prescribed for the US.
With General Motors’ CEO Mary Barra remaining committed to an all-EV future, it’s fair to start asking who she is beholden to, since it is clearly not GM’s customers, dealers, or shareholders. Since the peak of the EV hype four years ago, GM stock is down about 15% while the market is up about 50%. Wall Street is finally starting to ask questions about what is going on.
It’s long overdue for the General Motors’ board to put the EV distraction behind them. If Mary Barra won’t do it, then they need to find a CEO who will.
It’s behind a paywall, but if you’re a Blaze subscriber, I’d be honored if you’d give it a read.
My latest at The Blaze looks at the inexplicable commitment of GM's CEO (Mary Barra) to a 100% EV future. It's fair to ask at this point just who she is beholden to, since she is clearly not working on behalf of GM's customers, dealers, or shareholders.https://t.co/52XBI0VOeu
Good morning kids. Hope you all had a nice relaxing weekend so now as we scan the links and ponder current events, I'm reminded of what the late great Rush Limbaugh of blessed memory labeled "The Daily Soap Opera," that is what the establishment media was reporting and the way in which it was reported.
Former Democrat Party presidential hopeful and current Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is giving the CIA an enema, and she's putting the hose where it is most needed: in the sketchy, unofficial offices of Operation Mockingbird, the CIA's not-so-secret department dedicated to propaganda. . . The CIA has been bribing/threatening/installing journalists to do their bidding since the beginning of the Cold War. It is believed they had/have roughly 400 journalists, news reporters, and publishers throughout the world, writing what the CIA tells them to write. . . Tulsi Gabbard believes Operation Mockingbird isn't merely still alive and kicking, but that it's being used to slander President Trump. In my opinion, it is also being used to spread globalist codswallop.) Even better, Gabbard is dedicated to tearing it down.
While it certainly is alarming and disgusting that for such a long time right up until the present day IC operatives infiltrated the national and global media to pump out propaganda, irrespective of the original intention to counter/thwart Soviet/communist influence. The composition of the pavement of the road to hell is something we are or by now should be well aware – given the societal/cultural and governmental corruption of individuals and institutions that many events over the past few years have exposed, one has to ask, were these CIA embeds even necessary?
For example, were Lois Lerner and John Koskinen at the IRS ordered to subvert 501-C3 status of conservative Tea Party or other non-Democrat Leftist groups or simply because they were innately Leftists did they do it all on their own? Were everyone from the editorial boards of the Times and WaPo, the anchors at CNN to late night talk show stooges given marching orders from the CIA or did they rail against everyone and everything non-Democrat all on their own?
All of that said, I think back to late January of 1968 when in the wake of the complete failure of the NVA/Vetcong Tet Offensive, Walter Cronkite took to the airwaves of CBS to unilaterally declare to the American people that we had lost the Vietnam War, despite the facts on the ground that indicated it was a disastrous debacle for the communists. So whose war was Vietnam? Wasn't it the Dems' and the CIA's?
Poll after poll over the past several years indicates that trust in the media is digging its way to China. Gabbard's revelations, assuming they are given honest coverage (ha!) are not exactly going to help. That said, she is doing yeoman's work in exposing the 2015-present coup against President Trump. How or whether her revelations about Operation Mockingbird will help or even hinder her efforts to expose the corruption/treason of the Deep State is TBD. Surely and lamentably, the perpetrators of those crimes will more than likely go unpunished let alone be prosecuted.
Meanwhile, from someone who had the gall to believe he can appear in public wearing a MAGA hat ejected from a stadium, to Colorado's doughy fey governor punishing his own cops from working with the federal government to anti-Semitic mobs attempting to swarm NYC's Grand Central Station, the beat, and beat downs go on.
And lastly, a quick shout-out and thank you for your continued support in hitting our tip jar. It truly is appreciated more than you can know.
Victor Davis Hanson: Trump is rewriting the rules of politics, economics, and culture—and no one, not even the experts, knows what happens when the old orthodoxy finally breaks. Trump’s Unknown Frontiers
The CIA has been bribing/threatening/installing journalists to do their bidding since the beginning of the Cold War. It is believed they had/have roughly 400 journalists, news reporters, and publishers throughout the world, writing what the CIA tells them to write. To Kill an Operation Mockingbird: Tulsi Goes to War With the CIA's Propaganda Yobbos
The state law, signed by Democrat Governor Jared Polis in May, “prohibits local government employees, including law enforcement, from sharing identifying information about people with federal immigration officials,” Fox News reported. The Department of Justice has sued the state of Colorado, arguing that the policies violate the U.S. Constitution and federal immigration laws. The incident unfolded on June 5, when Mesa County Sheriff’s Deputy Alexander Zwinck pulled over Caroline Dias-Goncalves, a 19-year-old Brazilian nursing student after she allegedly drove too close to a semi-truck. Dias-Goncalves was reportedly released with a warning after about 20 minutes, but ICE agents followed up and arrested her for an expired visa shortly thereafter. Police Officers Disciplined in Colorado For Sharing Info With ICE in Dem Crackdown Against Cooperation With Federal Immigration Enforcement
Newly appointed U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Joseph Edlow is pushing for significant changes to the U.S. naturalization test, which he described as too lenient and not reflective of congressional expectations. Edlow contends that the test format is insufficient to ensure that those seeking naturalization know American civics sufficiently. The current test only requires applicants to answer six out of 10 civics questions correctly and complete basic English reading and writing tasks. Top Immigration Official Wants Tougher Citizenship Test, Overhaul of Naturalization Process. (Meh, we need a 40-year moritaurium on all immigration - jjs)
CIVIL WAR 2.0: J-6 FBI FALSE FLAG "RIOT" & AFTERMATH, LEFTIST PERSECUTIONS, DEMOCRAT PUTSCH, AMERICAN DISSOLUTION
The OSC has Smith under a microscope regarding the possibility that he violated the Hatch Act which says government workers are not allowed to take part in certain political activities, Fox News reported on Saturday, noting it received confirmation of the probe from the office and that Smith is not being criminally investigated. U.S. Office of Special Counsel Investigating Ex-Trump Prosecutor Jack Smith
According to a Rasmussen poll released Monday, two-thirds of voters (65%) are following declassified releases over the past month by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Sen. Chuck Grassley “very closely” (32%) or “somewhat closely” (33%), repudiating the calculated media silence about the Obama administration’s fake narratives and manipulation of intelligence to frame Donald Trump as a Kremlin stooge to cover up Hillary Clinton’s wrongdoing. Miranda Devine: Russiagate lies are being exposed — and everybody is watching, even the Dems
Despite decades of scandals, cover-ups, and contradictions, Hillary Clinton still personifies the double standard shielding America’s political elite. Don’t Overlook Hillary Clinton
Clarice Feldman: It’s clear the Administration is taking its time to reveal the Russiagate investigation’s conclusions for maximum impact -- an impact that will result in arrests of a number of people who pulled off this fraud. RIP Disparate Outcomes, Credentialism, and the Russian Collusion Hoax
Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, said that Hamas’ triumphalism is due to the actions of France, the United Kingdom, and Canada, which said last month that they would recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September. Hamas Official Says 'Palestinian' State Gaining Support Due to October 7 Terror
Canada is not the only Western nation that feels the need to recognize the terrorist-controlled Gaza Strip, which, with the Israel-occupied West Bank, is considered by some to be Palestine, a country that has never existed. Both France and the United Kingdom have said they will recognize Palestinian statehood next month. As loony as that sounds, there might be a practical reason for it. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron “are likely terrified of their local Muslim populations — and probably not without reason,” says Stephen Green. There Goes The West
FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES, CENSORSHIP, FAKE NEWS, MEDIA, BIG BROTHER TECH
If the New York Times could virtue signal more efficiently by claiming the Jews bake the blood of non-Jews into their matzah crackers then so be it, it would. Hunger in Plain Sight
Penny Schwinn has withdrawn her bid for second in command at the Department of Education. But where she’s going instead is almost worse. Why Did Trump Nominate This Woman?
DEMOCRAT/LEFTIST AND RINO SCANDALS, MESHUGAS, CHUTZPOCRISY
The move to walk out was a sharp escalation in the bitter partisan clash over a mid-decade redistricting in Texas that was requested by President Trump. Republicans in the State Legislature were rapidly moving forward, with the map — drawn to flip five Democratic congressional districts to favor Republicans — being passed out of two committees over the weekend. Texas House Democrats Flee State in Order to Block GOP Redistricting Plan
“My life is sadly not the one that it was. There are far more threats and with that comes precautions that I wish I didn’t have to take, though they are precautions I am immensely grateful for. Especially the example of the NYPD detail that I have here in New York City,” Mamdani said at a press event on July 31. Anti-NYPD Mamdani Gets NYPD Security Detail. (He should only get a shovel from Hamas to dig his own grave - jjs)
The U.S. Supreme Court is poised to consider a major challenge that could reshape how voting maps are drawn, potentially giving Republicans a significant advantage in upcoming elections. The justices agreed Friday to expand a Louisiana case and weigh arguments about whether the 1965 Voting Rights Act still justifies creating districts specifically designed to elect Black or Hispanic representatives. The case will examine whether racial considerations should play a role in redrawing electoral maps. Supreme Court May Deal Democrats A Huge Blow To Ever Taking House Back
Enten added, “That is being driven in large part by discontent within the Democratic base. The Democrat base wants something different. We’ll ultimately end up seeing who they choose. It will be quite the thing who ultimately gets the rose.” (Like what? Our blood in the streets as opposed to them surrendering? - jjs) CNN’s Enten: Democrat Image Is ‘Garbage’ — ‘Messier than a Hoarder’s Basement’
With the midterms fast approaching, Democrats are facing a slew of recent polls showing that a record number of Americans view the party unfavorably. Despite this, some Democrats repeatedly continue to show optimism about their odds of winning back the House of Representatives in the upcoming 2026 elections. Dems Keep Expressing Boundless Confidence About Midterms Despite Historic Unpopularity
It appears from the other Russian state-run reports, however, that [interim NASA administrator Sean] Duffy’s response was diplomatic but unenthused by such a proposal. All he apparently agreed to was to continue the ISS partnership, until the station’s retirement. Russia desperately lobbies the U.S. to continue and expand its space partnership
(mini-documentary...Worth watching, though this underground telescope won’t be operational any earlier than 2032, and considering the present political situation related to government funding, it might never get finished at all. Building the newest biggest neutrino telescope
FEMINAZISM, TRANSGENDER PSYCHOSIS, HOMOSEXUALIZATION, WAR ON MASCULINITY/NORMALCY
The lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court in Boston, comes from 16 Democrat-led states and Washington, D.C. It challenges President Donald Trump’s January executive order titled “Protecting Children from Chemical and Surgical Mutilation,” which instructs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to prioritize enforcement against so-called “gender-affirming” care — a term encompassing things like puberty blockers and surgeries — for minors. Blue States Suing To Block Trump Admin From Cracking Down On Child Mutilation
I don't have any particular association with the classic 8-bit Commodore machines - I was an Amiga kid - but this is still welcome news.
I wonder if FPGA hardware-emulated Amigas might be in the works in the future through a collaboration with Amiga Inc. and Cloanto, which publishes the software-level emulator Amiga Forever.
The Labrador usually lets Hank sleep late—but not on this particular day. Something was wrong. Very wrong.
The service dog named Tommy had been with Hank Ford since he was a pup, and he knew his owner was at risk. He started nudging Hank with his nose, then pawing at him, and jumping on his body.
Get up. Get up. Get up.
Hank figured the dog needed to go outside a little earlier than normal. But when Hank stood up, he was light-headed and woozy, starting to sense that something was wrong too. He opened the door to let the dog outside, but Tommy didn’t budge.
54-year-old Hank kept feeling worse. He decided to check his vital signs with a blood pressure cuff and was startled by the results.
His pulse was a staggering 171 beats per minute.
The military veteran who had served for more than 20 years, called his local veterans hospital, but they thought his vital readings were obviously wrong, that he simply misused the machine.
Hank and Tommy both knew better, so the resident of Fort Lufton, Colorado, drove himself to the hospital, and the diagnosis arrived a few minutes later.
“They were freaking out about it,” Hank recalled, when doctors confirmed his vital signs. “It was good that Tommy woke me up.
Read the whole thing. He deserves all the treats and scritches!
An Argentinian man recently won a legal battle against tech giant Google after being photographed naked in his own yard and then posted on Google Street View for everyone to see.
Although the lawsuit filed by the unnamed man only recently ended, the incident goes back to 2017, when a Google Street View car passed through Bragado, a small Argentinian town about 200 kilometers from Buenos Aires, right when a local man was out completely naked on his property. The photos taken by the car’s advanced camera system caught him from behind, showing his derriere in all its glory, and even though the man’s face wasn’t visible, the very clear street address in the captures made him the laughing stock of the town. Sick of putting up with the mockery, the man took Google to court for violating his privacy.
Fess up - which one of you is this?
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'Ette Couture (Courtesy of Piper)
It's that time of the week - when we turn the ONT over to our good friend Piper for a bit. Here's this week's fashion pr0n.
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This week’s outrage over a jeans ad is nothing new—denim brands have long courted controversy with provocative campaigns. From sexual innuendos to social commentary, these ads have sparked debates and shaped fashion history. Here’s a look at some of the most infamous jeans campaigns.
In 1971, Italian brand Jesus Jeans shocked with bold imagery, followed by a 1973 ad featuring a woman’s backside in denim hot pants with the slogan “He who loves me follows me.” Photographed by Oliviero Toscani, the campaign’s religious undertones and provocative visuals led to bans in the UK and Ireland for blasphemy and sexualization.
Calvin Klein’s 1980 campaign, shot by Richard Avedon, featured 15-year-old Brooke Shields with the tagline: “You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing.” The suggestive ad sparked accusations of exploiting a minor, with bans in several countries and U.S. networks pulling it. Despite the backlash, it skyrocketed sales and solidified Calvin Klein’s provocative legacy.
Diesel’s 1991 “For Successful Living” campaign, led by Jocke Jonason, tackled politics, sexuality, and race with irreverence. One ad featuring a man pointing a gun triggered protests outside stores.
Calvin Klein’s 1992 campaign with Kate Moss and Mark Wahlberg stirred controversy for its raw sexuality and Moss’s “heroin chic” look, criticized for promoting unhealthy body image. The backlash contributed to Moss’s mental breakdown.
Don’t let the exciting return of baggy jeans to the fashion spotlight be overshadowed by the controversy. We can discuss how to style them in the comments or a later edition of ‘ette Couture.
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Thank you, Piper - although "exciting" is not the word I'd use with respect to baggy jeans, if you're talking about ladies. Please, for the love of all things attractive, bring back hip hugging, low-waisted jeans for women! Such as early 2000's Britney Spears or Jessica Simpson. (Speaking on behalf of hetero dudes everywhere)
Not related, yet somehow related
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DJ Doof - This Date in Music History Version
from thisdayinmusic.com
Born on this date in 1961: American double bass player Lee Rocker with The Stray Cats who spearheaded the neo-rockabilly movement of the early 1980s.
On this date in 1987: Def Leppard released their fourth studio album Hysteria which became their best selling album to date, selling over 20 million copies worldwide. The title of the album was thought up by drummer Rick Allen relating to his experiences during the time of his car accident, and the worldwide media coverage that followed.
On this date in 1996: Los Del Rio started a 14 week run at No.1 on the US singles chart with 'Macarena'. The song which has sold 11 million copies world-wide was ranked the No.1 Greatest One Hit Wonder of all Time by VH1 in 2002.
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Tonight's ONT brought to you by reminders
Yup - the click is no mystery
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Comments, questions, suggestions, or emotional outbursts? Do the email thing at doof2112 at proton dot me.
Howdy, Y'all! Welcome to the wondrously fabulous Gun Thread! As always, I want to thank all of our regulars for being here week in and week out, and also offer a bigly Gun Thread welcome to any newcomers who may be joining us tonight. Howdy and thank you for stopping by! I hope you find our wacky conversation on the subject of guns 'n shooting both enjoyable and informative. You are always welcome to lurk in the shadows of shame, but I'd like to invite you to jump into the conversation, say howdy, and tell us what kind of shooting you like to do!
Holy Shitballs! How in the ever-loving Hell did it get to be August? Is it all hot and melty where you are? It's been all hot and melty where I are, that's for sure. So hot and melty, in fact, that it's made even the thought of outside activity unthinkable. How about range time? Do you usually shoot indoors or outdoors? Please let us know in the comments how you manage your range time in the face of meteorological adversity.
With that, step into the dojo and let's get to the gun stuff below, shall we?
Clearly, my constantly haranguing 'you people' on the importance of focusing on fundamentals is having little effect on a core constituency of fundamentals deniers. What I would like to do tonight is invite your comments on how you have approached range practice and what has worked well for you. If that has been going to the range and doing the same random things over and over and achieving inconsistent or essentially no results at all, then please let us know. If you have worked out some sort of plan that allows the benefit of your practice to be cumulative with increasingly consistent results, then please let us know that too!
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The Sig P320 Saga Continues
Our pal hickok45 weighs in on the issue.
Also, shooting steel safely!
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Surrounded by a Mob?
The time to think about this is before it happens.
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Interpreting Service Damage in Navy Roller Bearings
More bearings!!
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Um... Ammunition Manufacture!
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Ax Weasel
Q: Weasel, what is the history of ice?
A: I'm glad you axed.
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Our Pal Dynamite
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FSJ and Gertie
We're working on our sharing skills.
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Highway Patrol
This week's episode: Credit Card
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The Alligator People!
Holy Crap!
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Musical Interlude
Here is George Thorogood with One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer. Weasel saw George and the DD's a couple of times in the early 80's. Always a good time!
I hate communism and I hate communists. I have seen up close what it does to societies and individuals. As a consequence I have been a real snob when it comes to Cuban cigars. I cannot justify my money going to some commie asshole just for a smoke that, frankly, can be matched by good Dominican, Costa Rican, or even Mexican producers.
That said, I'll never turn down a free one and such was the case over the Fourth when I was in DC. I was offered a Hoyo de Monterrey Series Le Hoyo. I had just fired up one of my travel standbys so I tucked this gift away for later. Later was a few days ago.
Most of you who follow cigars and that industry know that many of the families from Cuba moved to other Latin American countries when Castro took over. But many kept an anchor presence on the island. And they continue to produce excellent tobacco and cigars. This Hoyo de Monetrrey is one such example.
Smooth, smooth, smooth. Almost creamy (which is a horrible adjective for any cigar) yet maintaining a strong tobacco aroma. Listed as a medium smoke, it offers rich and complex flavors that include slight peppery and leather influences. I found myself so wrapped up in the smoke that I almost forgot to analyze what I was tasting. Pure tobacco satisfaction. An even ash, easy to light, and just an absolute delight.
Damn commies.
And don't be fooled. Those bastards understand capitalism. These puppies aren't cheap and the price for a box includes a comma. Ouch!
Excellent, Diogenes! Thank you as always!
******
Here are some different online cigar vendors. You will find they not only carry different brands and different lines from those brands, but also varying selections of vitolas (sizes/shapes) of given lines. It's good to have options, especially if you're looking for a specific cigar.
A note about sources. The brick & mortar/online divide exists with cigars, as with guns, and most consumer products, with respect to price. As with guns - since both are "persecuted industries", basically - I make a conscious effort to source at least some of my cigars from my local store(s). It's a small thing, but the brick & mortar segment for both guns and tobacco are precious, and worth supporting where you can. And if you're lucky enough to have a good cigar store/lounge available, they're often a good social event with many dangerous people of the sort who own scary gunz, or read smart military blogs like this one. -rhomboid
Anyone have others to include? Perhaps a small local roller who makes a cigar you like? Send me your recommendation and a link to the site!
This week's mailbag entry is from our pal and cob emeritus Mis Hum. Speaks for itself!
******
Please note the new and improved protonmail account gunthread at protonmail dot com. An informal Gun Thread archive can be found HERE. Future expansion plans are in the works for the site Weasel Gun Thread. If you have a question you would like to ask Gun Thread Staff offline, just send us a note and we'll do our best to answer. If you care to share the story of your favorite firearm, send a picture with your nic and tell us what you sadly lost in the tragic canoe accident. If you would like to remain completely anonymous, just say so. Lurkers are always welcome!
That's it for this week - have you been to the range?
There is an upscale department store in Paris called Bon Marché. If you need a €3,000 pocket book, or a €400 men's manicure kit, that's the place.
It also has three floors dedicated to food! The bottom floor is an excellent wine store, the next floor is a mind-bogglingly marvelous food court, and the next floor is filled with kitchenware and cooking stuff and beautiful china and glasses and flatware and linens and....
Let's focus on the food today! That photo is a plate of rigatoni in a truffle-cream sauce, served at a tiny truffle bar in the middle of this amazing food court. It doesn't have a kitchen; it's more like a reheating station about the size of a small island in an American kitchen. But they managed to pump out this deliciousness, and my friends had equally marvelous stuff (one had risotto with truffles).
The cream sauce was perfect, with tiny bits of truffle that I imagine was the dust and small pieces left over from processing. Then they shaved that pile of truffles on top, and had sufficient attention to detail to make the pasta perfectly. The rigatoni's ridges were perfect for holding onto that rich cream sauce, and I vaguely remember having to resist licking the plate.
Was it expensive? Not by NYC standards! The food culture in France can be overwhelming, but aside from the restaurants that cater to those who wish to be seen, even the highly rated places seem reasonable by American city standards.
That food culture is distinct from ours, which I think focuses on the event of the meal even more than the food. I like that very much, and wouldn't give it up for anything!
Can't we make it illegal for people to say incredibly stupid and ignorant things about food and eating? These academics with more time than sense keep coming up with utterly nonsensical suggestions to break us of our habit of eating good food. I am tired of hearing about how I am destroying the environment and the planet because I like steak.
The bite of the lone star tick spreads alpha-gal syndrome (AGS), a condition whose only effect is the creation of a severe but non-fatal red meat allergy. Public health departments warn against lone star ticks and AGS, and scientists are working to develop an inoculation to AGS. Herein, we argue that if eating meat is morally impermissible, then efforts to prevent the spread of tickborne AGS are also morally impermissible. After explaining the symptoms of AGS and how they are transmitted via ticks, we argue that tickborne AGS is a moral bioenhancer if and when it motivates people to stop eating meat. We then defend what we call the Convergence Argument: If x-ing prevents the world from becoming a significantly worse place, doesn’t violate anyone’s rights, and promotes virtuous action or character, then x-ing is strongly pro tanto obligatory; promoting tickborne AGS satisfies each of these conditions. Therefore, promoting tickborne AGS is strongly pro tanto obligatory. It is presently feasible to genetically edit the disease-carrying capacity of ticks. If this practice can be applied to ticks carrying AGS, then promoting the proliferation of tickborne AGS is morally obligatory.
These people are f*cking loons! They need to be committed.
******
Here's another installment in the never-ending saga of weird foods from abroad.
I will admit that they did taste pretty damned good, and the younger brat who was visiting last week said they tasted just like my chicken with onions dish.
I guess there is no reason not to flavor chips with all manner of weird sh*t, but I have been acculturated to expect salty and spicy and vinegary, so anything other than that makes me pause.
Wow...we are a weird people. Bacon Scented Gift Wrapping Paper is indeed a thoroughly amusing idea, but actually to execute on it is a bit obsessive. And that comes from someone who thinks that bacon is one of the four food groups, and if it isn't it should be. Somebody call RFK Jr. and tell him!
[Hat Tip: Kathy]
******
I had that last week at a pretty famous Parisian bistro. And while it was good, the onions dominated the mushrooms. If I were to duplicate it in my kitchen, I would cut back on the onions, and absolutely caramelize them more.
But it is a good idea, and one that I think I will explore.
******
Admit it...you love this!
******
I thought France would have good garlic, but the Frogs seem to have the same problem we have in the U.S. At least they don't import filthy garlic from China. Pork is great here, but no game, so send all of your extra antelope to: cbd dot aoshq at gmail dot com.
Who are those poor deluded souls We know who shakes their Manhattans! These are the same people who drink fine bourbon with coke, and probably shake red wine with ice too.
$1,200 for a bottle of bourbon is just stupid, insulting, and a ghastly affront to most people's palates and wallets. I think the sweet spot is $40-$60 for excellent and interesting bottles, and bumping that to $100 gets you an incremental improvement in quality, but nothing mind-blowing. More than that and I think you are paying for hype and rarity, which may look good in your liquor cabinet, but doesn't translate to more quality in the bottle.
The problem...or the solution...is to buy lots of bourbon, take tasting notes, and eventually arrive at your favorites! It should take forty or fifty years, but it is worth it!
Look carefully. The blade has two sides, only one of which is sharp. Yet it can be removed and flipped over so that the dull side is presented to the food being peeled.
Unless there is some way to sharpen the tiny blade with a tiny stone, I see no reason to remove it. Yet inexplicably, somebody removed mine, and FLIPPED IT OVER!
Clearly there are imps at work in my home, and I may be in need of some sort of exorcism, or at least a cleansing by fire!
The West And Islam Are Incompatible: We Just Haven't Admitted It Yet
—CBD
Muslims are busily murdering Christians throughout Africa and the Middle East, and in almost every Muslim country they are a persecuted minority. Notice I didn't mention Jews in Muslim countries! They have already been driven out, and while there are scattered and tiny Jewish communities in some Muslim countries, the vast majority were expelled, especially in the Middle East.
While Islam holds a special hatred of Jews and Judaism, Christianity is also in its crosshairs. And there are many more Christians than Jews, so Christianity is a much bigger and easier target! Just look at current day Syria, or Egypt, where Coptic Christians used to be a majority, but are now a persecuted minority. And Nigeria seems to be among the worst, with an estimated 50,000 Christians murdered by Islamic terrorists in the last 15 years. Iraq, Indonesia, Pakistan, Libya, Congo... you name the Muslim country, and there has been persecution.
Apostasy against Islam is a capital offense in many Muslim countries, including such modern and enlightened places such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, yet they are treated as if they are civilized countries! And Christianity is an obvious placeholder for Western Culture!
And this is nothing new. Islam has been on the march for its entire existence, and it is only the post-modern conceit and stupidity that all cultures are of equal worth that has fooled the West to welcome its savagery, and has conspicuously ignored its intransigent political philosophy.
Individual Moslems may show splendid qualities. Thousands become the brave and loyal soldiers of the Queen: all know how to die: but the influence of the religion paralyses the social development of those who follow it. No stronger retrograde force exists in the world. Far from being moribund, Mohammedanism is a militant and proselytizing faith. It has already spread throughout Central Africa, raising fearless warriors at every step; and were it not that Christianity is sheltered in the strong arms of science, the science against which it had vainly struggled, the civilisation of modern Europe might fall, as fell the civilisation of ancient Rome.
-- Winston Churchill: The River War
That quotation is 125 years old, yet it could have been written yesterday. Except Churchill would have been far more pessimistic about the West's chances, and would have railed against the ignorance of our current leaders.
We are in an existential battle for the existence of our culture, and we haven't even admitted to ourselves that there is even any difference between Islam and Christianity/Judaism. Until we are honest with ourselves, and recognize that Islam is a political philosophy that uses a carefully crafted religion to achieve its goals, we will continue to lose ground to a 7th century culture with 21st century weapons and communication.
And those goals are antithetical to everything that Western culture has created over 3,000 years. The rationality of science, the equality of Man, the recognition of the individual, self determination, the abandonment of the concept of Woman as chattel, the free exercise of religion: all of these and more are in jeopardy.
Will the West awaken to this danger? Will there need to be a catastrophe on the scale of a world war to rip off our blinders? Will it be a Pakistani or Iranian nuclear device (or one supplied to a Muslim nation by North Korea or Russia or China) detonated in a Western capital? Will it be a biological attack that destroys American agriculture? Will it be an attack on Israel that triggers an Israeli nuclear attack on a Muslim nation?
Who knows, but perhaps a fight is preferable to the creeping destruction of the West!
Sunday Morning Book Thread - 8-3-2025 ["Perfessor" Squirrel]
—Open Blogger
HT: sharon (willow's apprentice)
Welcome to the prestigious, internationally acclaimed, stately, and illustrious Sunday Morning Book Thread! The place where all readers are welcome, regardless of whatever guilty pleasure we feel like reading. Here is where we can discuss, argue, bicker, quibble, consider, debate, confabulate, converse, and jaw about our latest fancy in reading material. As always, pants are required, unless you are wearing these pants...
So relax, find yourself a warm kitty (or warm puppy--I won't judge) to curl up in your lap, and dive into a new book. What are YOU reading this fine morning?
I have some bad news for you this morning. Due to my current life circumstances, I will no longer be able to be the custodian of the Sunday Morning Book Thread for the foreseeable future. I simply do not have the time or energy to maintain it. I do know there are many excellent 'rons and 'ettes out there who can pick up the slack. If interested, you can reach out to CBD or MisHum. Their contact information is in the left hand sidebar of the main page.
I know I am in your prayers, just as you are in mine. I also know God has a purpose for me and is now revealing it to me, though I know not where this path shall take me.
Whether you're a father, a fighter, a builder, or just a man looking for stories that resonate with who you are and what you face, the Based Book Sale delivers. This is where you’ll find battle-tested wisdom, thrilling adventures, dangerous ideas, and the kind of timeless values that modern publishing tries to suppress. In a literary world flooded with sensitivity readers, diversity checklist characters, and sanitized stories, this sale is a direct challenge to the decline. We offer books that speak to masculine virtues, moral struggles, and heroic ideals.
The sale ends Tuesday August 5, and as always, all titles are $0.99 or free.
Thanks for supporting indie authors and their Based Books!
Hans
MORON RECOMMENDATIONS
Recently passed author Martin Cruz Smith is known for his Inspector Renko series of mysteries. Arkady Renko is a Russian detective who first appeared in the best seller Gorky Park. The series follows Renko as his fortunes change along with his country. After he solves the inconvenient murder in that book, he is sentenced to a fishery vessel in Polar Star, previously reviewed here, in which he solves the murder of an American. While they are all stand alone novels, they are best read in order as they follow his career.
The third book and subject of this review is Red Square. Renko, now restored as an inspector, returns to a Moscow post collapse, where rubles are worthless and the mob runs the country. A money launderer Renko is trailing is the victim of a car bomb, and Renko must try to get to the bottom of it amidst the corruption in the new Russia, as well as a newly reunited Germany.
In all of the Renko novels, his intuition plays an important role, and he rarely shares his insights with the reader until they become obvious. As you read, you are racing to catch up to the clues. The books also capture the mood of a Russia emerging from the soviet era.
Posted by: Thomas Paine at July 27, 2025 09:14 AM (Vfq+S)
+++++
I'm reading Ira Levin's dystopian novel One Perfect Day, about a vast central computer (UniComp) ruling an orderly, uniform, monochromatic society (thanks to whoever mentioned it last week). Very good 70's SF, and puzzlingly one of the few Levine novels not to be made into a movie. The man was a spin-rack paperback god back in the day: Rosemary's Baby, The Stepford Wives, The Boys From Brazil, etc. One Perfect Day would have fit right in with that decade's bleak aesthetic.
"Old cities were demolished; new cities were built. The new cities had taller buildings, broader plazas, larger parks, monorails whose cars flew faster though less frequently.
The free hour was extended by five minutes. Voice-input telecomps began to replace key-input ones, and totalcakes came in a pleasant second flavor. Life expectancy increased to 62.4. Members worked and ate, watched TV and slept. They sang and went to museums and walked in amusement gardens."
Sounds like a fair and equitable paradise!
Thank Uni!
Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at July 27, 2025 09:18 AM (kpS4V)
After reviewing some of OregonMuse's old Book Threads, I thought I'd try something a bit different. Instead of just listing WHAT I'm reading, I'll include commentary as well. Unless otherwise specified, you can interpret this as an implied recommendation, though as always your mileage may vary.
Well, the original book examining that question was published in 1955, so one possible reason is that Johnny is now 75 and refuses to wear his glasses.
But another reason is exactly what that book explained: Johnny can't read because teachers aren't teaching phonics - aren't teaching the relationship between written letters and spoken sounds.
Back in 1955 the trend was to jump too quickly from phonics to sight reading - recognising an entire word and its pronunciation from memory. If you were already a strong reader you were likely fine with this; if you were at all behind you would be left struggling.
Fast-forward a few decades and we find new generations of children who still can't read because they have been trapped by new - or once new - trendy pedagogies. Molly Woodworth was a poor reader as a child and came up with tricks to help make it through lessons, though the tricks never worked terribly well.
When she looked at the reading lessons for her daughter Claire, she was horrified to discover that the tricks she created for herself - the same ones that didn't work for her - were being taught as standard practice.
A couple of years ago, Woodworth was volunteering in Claire's kindergarten classroom. The class was reading a book together and the teacher was telling the children to practice the strategies that good readers use.
The teacher said, "If you don't know the word, just look at this picture up here," Woodworth recalled. "There was a fox and a bear in the picture. And the word was bear, and she said, 'Look at the first letter. It's a "b." Is it fox or bear?'"
Woodworth was stunned. "I thought, 'Oh my God, those are my strategies.' Those are the things I taught myself to look like a good reader, not the things that good readers do," she said. "These kids were being taught my dirty little secrets."
Why are teachers deliberately sabotaging reading skills?
Enter Ken Goodman.
The theory is known as "three cueing." The name comes from the notion that readers use three different kinds of information - or "cues" - to identify words as they are reading.
The theory was first proposed in 1967, when an education professor named Ken Goodman presented a paper at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association in New York City.
In the paper, Goodman rejected the idea that reading is a precise process that involves exact or detailed perception of letters or words.
Goodman still believed that when this article was written in 2019 - the author requested and was granted an interview.
The problem is, he was proven wrong fifty years ago:
So, in 1975, Stanovich and a fellow graduate student set out to test the idea in their lab. They recruited readers of various ages and abilities and gave them a series of word-reading tasks. Their hypothesis was that skilled readers rely more on contextual cues to recognize words than poor readers, who probably weren't as good at using context.
They couldn't have been more wrong.
"To our surprise, all of our research results pointed in the opposite direction," Stanovich wrote. "It was the poorer readers, not the more skilled readers, who were more reliant on context to facilitate word recognition."
Or to put it another way:
Goldberg realized lots of her students couldn't actually read the words in their books; instead, they were memorizing sentence patterns and using the pictures to guess. One little boy exclaimed, "I can read this book with my eyes shut!"
"Oh no," Goldberg thought. "That is not reading."
Why did Goodman still believe in his failed ideas after all this time? (At the time the article was written, he was 91 and had just published a new edition of his book.)
Put as politely as possible, he was a dingbat:
"Word recognition is a preoccupation," he said. "I don't teach word recognition. I teach people to make sense of language. And learning the words is incidental to that."
No, he really meant that:
I pressed him on this. First of all, a pony isn't the same thing as a horse. Second, don't you want to make sure that when a child is learning to read, he understands that /p//o//n//y/ says "pony"? And different letters say "horse"?
He dismissed my question.
"The purpose is not to learn words," he said. "The purpose is to make sense."
He tripled down minutes later:
In his view, three cueing is perfectly valid, drawn from a different kind of evidence than what scientists collect in their labs.
"My science is different," Goodman said.
And why is fashionable nonsense so entrenched in education?
Lots of reasons, one primary reason, it seems to me, is that teachers don't have to live with their mistakes. You have a child for a year, cause lasting harm, and then get handed a fresh batch of impressionable young minds the next year.
An article about companies that were hacked, and subsequently went bankrupt. One paid the demanded ransom; the other did not. The outcome was the same.
Somewhat galling is that German police captured the criminals behind the first company's demise along with their crypto wallets, but refuse to return the ransom payment.
Saturday Night "Club ONT" August 2, 2025 [The 3 Ds]
—Open Blogger
Welcome to Club ONT! A collaboration of your Sunday through Wednesday ONT Crew - The Disco, The Doggo, and The Dino. The Summer of Fun.
Club ONT Token Economy - where tokens are earned. One token per witty comment.
No refunds for fish puns nor dad jokes. Who runs Club ONT? The one with the most tokens and the strongest bladder. It's your chance - even Auntie Entity had to wait in line.
A teenage boy had just passed his driving test and asked his father when they could discuss his use of the car.
His father said he'd make a deal with his son: "You bring your grades up from a C to a B average, study your Bible a little, and get your hair cut. Then we'll talk about the car."
The boy thought for a moment and decided to accept the offer.
After about six weeks his father said, "Son, you've brought your grades up and I've observed that you have been studying your Bible, but I'm disappointed you haven't had your hair cut."
The boy said, "You know, Dad, I've been thinking about that, and I've noticed in my studies of the Bible that Samson had long hair, John the Baptist had long hair, Moses had long hair...and every painting I see of Jesus shows him with long hair."
His father replied, "Did you also notice they all walked everywhere they went?"
-------
Bill Maher isn't a Club member, but he is kinda funny sometimes
HOLY SMOKES: Bill Maher may have just ENDED CNN’s Erin Burnett’s career over her “possibly white” comment about the NYC shooter—with one SAVAGE comedy bit.
Absolute masterclass.
This was a full-blown eulogy for woke media credibility.
Inspired by life events. That one friend - you know the one. Always getting roasted, never gets rattled, ends the night with a drink in hand, and no bar tab. The name is Daulton Donnie.
The Donnie Blue Ballz
- Fill rocks glass with ice
Add
- 2 ounces of Tito's
- Top with Blue Bubbler
- Mock your friend
***
Bonus Donnie Drink. He gets thirsty like that.
The Rusty Donnie
- Fill rocks glass with ice
Add
- 2 ounces of Jameson Orange
- Top with Orange Water
- Mock your friend. Again.
In the time it took you to click this link, I bet you guessed who Streatham Wells School in southwest London chose, in an effort to "tackle misogyny," as an example of masculinity for their boys.
*****
News from the Club ONT Sports Desk
There seems to be a new type of spectator engagement at WNBA games. Has anyone seen CBD lately?
During Friday's game between the Valkyries and Sky, what appeared to be a lime-green dildo was thrown onto the court during the third quarter.
This comes after a similar incident occurred just three days prior when an object was thrown on the court at the end of the fourth quarter of Tuesday's game between the Dream and the Valkyries. With less than a minute to play and the game tied 75-75, the sex toy fell from above and bounced on the free throw line before flying across the court.
A truckload of hot dogs spilled across a Pennsylvania interstate Friday after a crash that briefly clogged the heavily traveled artery in both directions.
Crews were stuck with a job they did not relish - rolling up the scattered tube steaks for disposal.
Four people required medical attention, Dauberman said, for injuries that police said were not life-threatening.
A front-end loader was used to scoop up the hot dogs and drop them into a dump truck.
A new analysis of 450 genomes from cultivated potatoes and 56 genomes of wild potato species has revealed that the potato lineage originated through natural interbreeding between a wild tomato plant and a potato-like species in South America about 9 million years ago.
This hybridization event led to the appearance of the nascent potato plant's tuber, an enlarged structure housing nutrients underground, according to the researchers, who also identified two crucial genes involved in tuber formation. Whereas in a tomato plant the edible part is the fruit, in the potato plant it is the tuber.
There currently are roughly 5,000 potato varieties. The potato is the world's third most important food crop, after rice and wheat, for human consumption, according to the Peru-based International Potato Center research organization. China is the world's leading potato producer.
*****
Club ONT Music
Yesterday marked 10 years since the last ever Rush concert. Here is the final song from that night.
Club ONT regrets the events of last Saturday where a patron apparently handed the keys to their car and a crisp $20 bill to someone sitting on a bench near the front door. Neither the car nor the $20 bill have been seen since. Club ONT reminds you that Club ONT does not offer valet parking. The Moose out front should have told ya.
Saturday Evening Move Thread[movigique]: The Life Of Chuck/Eddington
—Open Blogger
A relatively quiet three weeks since we talked about Return of the Living Dead. We saw two new movies: The Life of Chuck and Eddington, and two classics, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest and The Apartment.
It probably goes without saying that the new movies are not in the same league as the classics, but it's not really fair to come to any conclusions about the state of cinema from that. On IMDB, The Apartment is #98 on the list of all-time greatest movies, while Cuckoo's Nest clocks in at #19.
The Boy (who is now "nearly 29" himself, creating an odd temporal paradox) is one of my metrics for classic films. He, for example, really enjoyed all the 1984 movies we saw—clear-eyed evaluation of the entertainment value of Return of the Living Dead and Repo Man (good, worthy but started stronger than it ended)—and Cuckoo knocked his socks off.
The Apartment less so. I personally felt a strange nostalgia for this time on aesthetic level. Not the depiction of life, really: The idea of an insurance drone whose rent is a about week's pay ($80) for a West Side New York apartment near Central Park is far enough removed to be a fairy tale in 2025. But, man, this is a good looking film, with Wilder bringing his noir chops into a comedy-drama.
I've never seen a young Shirley MacLaine on the big screen, and she's tragically adorable.
When receiving an international honor, Wilder said the story (which showcases immorality) could have happened in any city in the world except Moscow, the communists all broke out in applause. Then he said, "Because nobody has their own apartment in Moscow."
I could talk about it forever. But we can't live in the past, and we wouldn't want to, unless it was the movie past. So let's soldier on.
The life of Chuck is a three part story told backwards which, during the first part—actually the last part narratively, gawrdangit I hate it when they do this—created in me a sense of anxiety. Not like Eddington, which I'll discuss in a bit, but more like "Oh, no, what have I done?"
You see, the first part shows the world ending. And it's ending in the way a CNN watcher would perceive it as ending. I don't know how else to describe it. Chiwetel Ejiofor, whose name I have been struggling to pronounce for half my life at this point, is Marty, a teacher who's dealing with the death of the Internet, kids not showing up to school, roads literally collapsing, PornHub going away, etc.
Then there's a speech (by Carl Lumbly), a monologue of liberal pieties about man's mistreatment of the Earth, which is short-circuited by "but this is even bigger".
Meanwhile, inexplicably, signs appear all over town, in windows, on TV, "Thanks, Chuck! For 39 great years of service!"
This message is actually weirder after the exposition.
Nobody knows who Chuck is, however.
We meet Chuck in Act II. He's an accountant, played by Tom Hiddleston, and he's at a conference when he walks past a busker drumming. But he doesn't walk past, he starts to dance instead. And he's good. And he's joined by a young woman (Karen Gillan) whose boyfriend just broke up with her via text.
In the last part of the movie (Act I), we see young Chuck, and we get an explanation for his behavior and, essentially, what happened in the first part of the movie.
The Boy and I liked this, but for me, the experience was rather odd. There were things that I didn't like at first that won me over eventually.
Dancing is fun. Movies used to know this.
Pluses, Delayed Pluses
First of all, I have to call out the movie's look. It's a good look. It's not generic, it's not color-coded, it's not ugly. This means it towers over the average 2020s era film.
Second, the acting is impeccable. Hiddleston probably goes without saying. If you only know him as Loki, you might not recognize him. You'll hear a lot about Mark Hamill because it's probably his best performance ever as Chuck's grandfather. Chuck's grandmother is played by Mia Sara (forever best known as Ferris Beuller's girlfriend, Sloan, looking lovely and unmodified here). And if that's not enough of an '80s cage-rattler, Chuck's nosey neighbor who lets him in on the family secret is played by Heather Langenkamp, nasal cannulas hanging on her upper lip.
No, no, she's great. Really. I just need to lie down.
Anyway, the acting is top notch, with many fine actors having small but meaningful parts: Mathew Lillard, Harvey Gullen, David Dastmalchian. On and on.
So, where did it put me off?
Like every generation, GenX believed they would never grow old. (Probably because they were gonna die young in quicksand or possibly being eaten by piranhas.)
Well, there's a narrator (Nick Offerman). I'm leery of narrators. Show me the story. If I wanted a narrator, I'll read the book. But this is very well done. By Act II, I had decided it was a good choice.
The music (The Newton Brothers) does this low-toned "bong" at significant dramatic moments which I rolled my eyes at at first. But ultimately it fits with the tenor of the film: This is a movie about a man's life, and the consequential and inconsequential aspects thereof, and how we don't necessarily know which is which.
It didn't forget its mission. It is very United Colors of Moviemaking, with an improbable racial mix, but everyone's talented so, y'know, who really cares about that?
Is it great? Ironically, perhaps, it's the philosophical underpinning of the story that is the weakest. Like, the third act (the beginning)—a very writerly concept shoehorned into the Everyman's head—doesn't actually make any sense in the context of the story. Literally everyone in the apocalyptic part of the story should know who Chuck is.
Furthermore, the punchline/twist is fine, but also doesn't comport with human behavior in any very admirable way. Chuck has a choice about living that he makes in a life-affirming way. But he also keeps his choice a secret, which strikes me as very selfish.
This is done far, far better in the Korean film Be With You.
"Oh, God. I look 20 years old."
-- Heather Langenkamp in "Nightmare on Elm Street" // "The muffins have a lot of bran in them, good for the digestion." -- Heather Langenkamp in "The Life of Chuck"
Eddington
My review of any Ari Aster movie is going to be "I liked it, but I can't really recommend it to almost anyone." Hereditary is his most normal of films, being essentially a remake of Rosemary's Baby, with emphasis on moody anxiety and shocking gore. I consider Beau is Afraid to be a masterpiece surreal picaresque but I can't blame people for not wanting to spend three hours in anxiety for entertainment purposes.
Well, if you like anxiety, and you especially like it when it hits close to home and reminds you of a bunch of real-world unpleasant experiences, let me tell you: Eddington is the movie for you.
The plot, ostensibly, is that normal, none-too-bright sheriff (Joaquin Phoenix in the most normal role I've seen him in since Signs) is fed up with also none-too-bright establishment stooge mayor (Pedro Pascal in the kind of role he shines in), and so decides to run against him for mayor, immediately turning the sheriff's office into his makeshift campaign HQ (which can't possibly be legal). Well, it's a small town, so as it turns out the sheriff's (mysteriously sexually traumatized) wife (Emma Stone) used to date the sheriff when she was sixteen, and the sheriff's wife vanished years ago, while his son is getting to BLM activism because the one cute white girl in Eddington is an activist, organizing road blocks and apologizing for her privilege.
"Six feet!" Joaquin reminds Pedro, even though he doesn't believe in any of it.
Actually, every white young adult in the movie punctuates every thing they say with apologies for being white. Even at a prominent funeral, the eulogizers apologize for daring to speak on "stolen land". The mayor is a self-serving jerk, but the sheriff is an impetuous idiot who wrecks his own life by trying to tie his wife's trauma to his candidacy.
This ushers in the end of the second act, when the sheriff's impulsive nature gets the better of him, and the third act ratchets into increasing insanity and violence.
But Is It Any Good?
The Boy liked it. The Barbarienne gave it 9 out of 10 (which may be her lowest rating). Me?
Well, "good" or not, I wouldn't recommend this movie to most people. Like, in the beginning of the movie when the sheriff (who is asthmatic) rolls out to the grocery store, and reminds the grocery store bouncers (remember those?) that they don't really have the authority to police masking, and everyone's standing six feet apart waiting to get in, and nobody's wearing a mask properly anyway, but everyone's talking about all the death caused by Covid-19 (or is it?)—there's no denying that Aster captures the insanity of the lockdown/masking period.
There's also no denying that the events of the movie, which has everyone scrolling their devices constantly, and seeing stories about murder hornets, pedophile rings, etc., go by, reflect the distracted, sanity-baiting life a la mode.
Actually, the entire movie is populated by morons and madmen.
The small scope of the film works as a perfect satire. There is one homeless guy who wanders around. He's genuinely a menace but there's not really anything anyone can do for him or to him, and he ends up being the catalyst for the sheriff's denouement. (Keep the word "denouement" in mind. It's going to come back.) The BLM protests block a road, but there's really no reason for anyone to care about it. There's no traffic on the road, and the town appears to be largely deserted. (The Mayor's son mocks the Sheriff for driving around yelling out his campaign promises to, essentially, no one.)
The sheriff's crazy mother-in-law (Deirdre O'Connell) watches a constant feed of conspiracy theories, and her ultimate fate is clearly meant to be satirical—it doesn't make any actual sense—but I didn't feel like this was a political film. If it was, it fails at that, and (ironically?) it might have been a better film if it had been political.
Ad Aster
As my children pointed out, this is an Ari Aster film, and as such things that I view as its failings are probably my own in having the wrong expectations.
Your wife, introducing you to the cult leader she's about to allow to impregnate her.
To me, the brilliance of Beau is Afraid is the largely agency-free Beau struggles to survive and manages, ultimately, to gain some control over an existence which is literally insane. I don't mean that he's insane; I mean the world is insane. It is, at times, out to get him, and if we take his struggle literally (or maybe even if only metaphorically), his willingness to forge on become increasingly admirable. In this framework, the indignities and absurdities of the world are not just encouraging us to point-and-laugh.
Here, the Sheriff has apparent agency, but this is largely thwarted by his own impulsiveness. By the end of Act II, he does something to set himself on a path that goes increasingly out-of-control. The movie is over at that point, and the last hour is just a depiction of his descent—the denouement, in other words is a full hour before the end of the movie.
So, while the proceedings were often entertaining—e.g., a Kyle Rittenhouse callback where a young man saving the Sheriff's life has his phone in one hand and a gun that he's filming while he's firing it in the other—they were dramatically pointless. There was nothing to be learned, and no one to root for, unless one wants to root for "mere anarchy".
I expected better emotional resonance or, as I said, even a political message might have been welcome if just to explain why I sat there for two-and-a-half hours. Somehow, I expected more.
When the cops pull up to remind you to wear a mask. While sitting in a car. Alone. At the outskirts of town.
But I didn't expect anything on the level of The Apartment or One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, which maybe is actually telling in itself.
Welcome hobbyists! Pull up a chair and sit a spell with the Horde in this little corner of the interweb. This is the mighty, mighty officially sanctioned Ace of Spades Hobby Thread. Good news! The Ace of Spades Wheel of HobbiesTM) is back in service. We gave the Ace of Spades Wheel of Hobbies(TM) a spin and it landed on fishing.
I have faith that you can either find something in the content that resonates or contribute your own hobbying interests.
You might be tempted to say "I have no hobbies or interests." Bah. Dig around in the content and soak in the comments. Be curious. Glad you're here.
As per usual Hobby Thread etiquette, keep this thread limited to hobbying. All (legal) hobbying is welcome. However, politics, current events and religious debates can live in threads elsewhere. Play nice. Do not be a troll and do not feed the trolls. Pants are optional. Puns are welcome and encouraged - especially with this theme.
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TRex is not wise in the ways of fishing (as the content below will make clear). Many others, however, enjoy the fine arts of the reel and rod, lures, casting, and hip waders. Some even drill through the ice and fish on a frozen lake in the winter! Can you imagine? For purposes of the theme, crabbing, catching lobster and other similar activities are in scope. Looking to the Horde to help with the hobbying theme this week.
We will leave aquariums, koi ponds and other such marine habitats for another time. This is about catching, not just observing. We'll also leave boats and boating for their own thread another time.
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Seems like as good a place as any to start:
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Always wonder what is happening underwater...
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Every picture tells a story:
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Truth:
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This photograph apparently shows the US Fish & Wildlife Service electrofishing for invasive Silver Carp in the Fox River in Illinois.
TRex does not know about electrofishing but the photo implies that an electric shock applied to the water makes the fish jump. The interweb says it stuns rather than injures the fish, but I'm unfamiliar with stunned fish jumping with such enthusiasm. Anyone know about this technique?
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Fish fine art:
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Maybe people who fish enjoy watching videos of other people that fish. Seems a little like watching someone else golfing or playing a video game to me, but I have a small brain and short arms. Since TRex is not wise in the ways of fishing, I am not equipped to select youtube clips with wisdom and prudence.
Since this is a Hobby Thread, one aspect of fishing that might resonate with a broader mix of Morons is making lures and hooks. There is a crafting element involved.
I have a soft spot for people that make their own tools. I also have a soft spot for youtube videos with no commentary.
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Bears fish too.
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Fresh is EVERYTHING in places like Japan and Hong Kong:
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Fine literature:
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Fine music:
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Bonus Horde Hobbying from the Ace of Spades Archives
Many of you knew Moron Jay Guevara who recently passed away. Did you know he made a carpentry post on Ace of Spades in December 2021 with links to some of his favorite YouTube channels? Tis true: My Favorite YouTube Channels - Carpentry
The links all still work. Thanks for the tip KT!
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Did you miss the Hobby Thread last week? We did a random grab bag of hobbies. The comments may be closed, but you can re-live the content.
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Notable comments from last week:
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Words of wisdom:
"Because despite all our troubles, when things are grim out in that wide round world of ours, that's when it's really important to have a good hobby." Posted by: tankascribe at June 22, 2024 07:41 PM (HWxAD).
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Would TRex include a mystery click behind the top photo in a Hobby Thread? Maybe... If you have trouble finding something in the content or comments that resonates with you, hijack the thread for your hobbying as you see fit. We will feature a different theme next time. What are you hobbying? We love showing off Horde hobbying. Send thoughts, suggestions and photos of your hobbying to moronhobbies at protonmail dot com. Do mighty things.
Hello K.T. and fellow Pet Morons. After taking last week off, I have a few interesting updates.
First, Chick A's problem with Splay Legs has been resolved. Dr. S. removed the bindings after 12 days and was satisfied with the results. One eagle-eyed commentator in the comments sections asked a question about his toes, noticing that one foot had 2 toes forward and 2 back, while the other foot had 3 forward and 1 back. Normal is 2 forward and 2 back. I asked Dr. S. about this and he wasn't too concerned. He feels like this should self-correct once they get in a proper cage and start perching.
Chicks A and B have left the T-Rex phase and actually look like little birds. They have started wing flapping and should be ready to make their first flight soon. This will be a major milestone in their development. Notice that Chick B's colors are starting to come in nicely on his breast. The other picture shows how much Chick A's wing and tail feathers have come in.
Chicks C and D are doing well too. As you can see, they have really grown, but are still in the fuzzy state
Regards,
David
So glad to hear about Chick A's legs improving!
Chicks A and B are starting to develop some personality!
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PetMoron Adjacent Animals
Encountered by Members of The Horde
From gp:
Some bugs that members of The Horde could perhaps identify: Friendly, not friendly? Could the chicks above eat any of them?
I took Ava (age eight) and Nana for a visit to an Illinoisgravel hill prairie in 2017. I brought my sweep net, and my Canon PowerShot SX150 IS, which I found at a garage sale for $2.
Nana brought her Nikon CoolPix L22. I set the camera on macro, handed it to Ava, and I caught and posed the bugs for them to shoot. Here are five pics. I'll send more next week.
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Ava (first two photos) and Nana (last three) took some professional level photos there. Now it's time for critter identification!
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Thank you for sharing your pets and interesting animals and animal stories with us.
If you would like to send pet and/or animal stories, links, etc. for the Ace of Spades Pet Thread, the address is:
petmorons at protonmail dot com
Remember to include the nic or name by which you wish to be known when you comment at AoSHQ, or let us know if you want to remain a lurker.
Good news on the gardening front- a mysterious vining plant popped up in my pepper plant and turns out to be a pickling cucumber, which I’m excited about. Just need about twenty more. And my first Carolina Reaper turned orange ( 1.8 million Scoville units; a jalepejo is 6K), and I’m getting strawberries.
Fun! And impressive for a container garden. I'll skip the Carolina Reapers though.
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My cousin and her husband will be leaving their apricot tree and apricot harvest for a lower elevation and warmer climate this fall, after about 27 years. A peach tree wouldn't typically produce nearly that long.
This tree is too big and too tall for easy thinning and pruning. See the old-fashioned apple/pear ladder.
I closed the comments on this post so you wouldn't get banned for commenting on a week-old post, but don't try it anyway.
Late Comment Review on a carnivorous plant:
Lirio100:
It was a Drosera filiformis so not sure what happened since the other two plants were fine. I can move the dish closer and protect it better this time I do have one question--it was recommended to use distilled water, which I do. What is the problem with tap water?
Tony Litwin:
To Lirio100: Sorry for missing your post, but here is your answer. Tap water has too many minerals in it to use out of the tap. Either use tap water that has been allowed to sit for several days or rain water, both of which can be caught in a barrel type catchment. You don't have to use distilled water.
As for your Filiformis, that is odd since Filiformis is native to the northeast of the US down to the panhandle of Florida. The one thing about Filiformis is that when it dies back in the winter, it makes what is called a winter bud which looks like it is dead, when it isn't. Try again with the Filiformis and when it dies back in the winter leave the plant where it is and see what happens in the spring. I'll bet it starts growing again. Hope this helps and good luck growing.
Here's a hybrid of that sundew from Tony. The April 23, 2022 thread also includes some other great photos of carnivorous plants from Tony, plus a puncture plant (also discussed last week) and a machine someone invented to remove them.
Drosera tracyii x D. filiformis 'Florida Red'
(Check for other interesting comments you may have missed from last week, too.)
Well, perhaps the most inconsequential, yet prevalent, stories in media right now concern advertisements for blue jeans featuring an attractive young woman with blonde hair and blue eyes. A passing reference was made to "blue jeans" in connection with "genes" and "eye color". This led to wild speculations concerning the coming of a Fourth Reich and so forth. You have seen some of this craziness.
But this advertisement did not happen in a vacuum. As Walter Kirn wrote recently:
Old news is more important than new news because new news is built on top of it. When you are renovating a structure you don't start with the roof but with the foundation.
Let's go back and get the old stories right. Otherwise nothing will be right, from here on out.
In my youth, I met my best friend's uncle, who taught English at Cal Tech. One of his activities was writing dialog and music for their faculty musicals.
Yes, faculty musicals.
I remember a bit of a recording of a soliloque:
I am an old man
Sitting in my laboratory
My Bunsen has gone out . . .
These scientists were not always as single-minded as they looked. Heh.
Anyway, my friend's uncle wrote a song entitled "Blue Genes" to celebrate some honor given to Watson and Crick.
So the "Blue Genes" play on words has been around for a while. But Hitler was not its source.
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Incidentally, the quality of faculty artistic performances may have regressed since Cal Tech faculty members created and participated in musicals. (Start at 18 minutes)
Remember that protesters at Evergreen gave a black student of Bret Weinstein a hard time for studying science. Tried to get her to drop her educational plans.
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Are you "Possibly White"?
Bill Maher notes that identifying a gunman as "possibly white" means that other activities may also associate you with being white. Maybe you could wear jeans:
“This phrase ‘possibly white’ has really caught on and people want to know: am I my possibly white?”
“So we put together some indications if you would like to hear.”
“If you find yourself nodding your head to the Wells Fargo hold music… You are possibly white.”
“If you’ve ever waited in line for an artisanal chocolate chip cookie… You are possibly white.”
“If you’re married to a black person in a Subaru ad… You are possibly white. You’re probably white.”
“If you take your mistress to see Coldplay… You are VERY, very possibly white.”
The BHC, which is unique within the CSU system, will welcome in 70 students in the fall of 2024. Each will receive a $2,000 scholarship. They will take their general education courses together and have a large part of the library reserved for their use. Several faculty members will work exclusively with these students. “It is meant to increase Black excellence — and the recruitment and retention of Black students,” says Dean Boatamo Ati Musupyoe. “To offer students a structured curriculum, composed of small classes and a faculty with a proven record of teaching success, we’re creating an environment where Black students will feel welcome and included.”
Wood frames it this way: “Sacramento State is home to the largest population of Black and African American students in the Cal State system, and more than all of the UCs except two.” Yet it has consistently wrestled with low Black graduation rates, he says. With the creation of the Black Honors College, Wood hopes that the university will rapidly increase graduation rates and will provide Black students the resources they need to flourish.
The successful American Eagle Jeans commercial did not occur in a vacuum.
Seeing certain newspapers go all-in on deceptive interpretations of the Russiagate evidence now emerging, I'm even beginning to doubt their restaurant reviews.
The Classical Saturday Morning Coffee Break & Prayer Revival
—Misanthropic Humanitarian (ONT Cob Emeritus)
[H/T to a Moron]
Good morning boys and girls and everything in between. Before we enter the Prayer Revival just a few housekeeping matters to go over. (Rulz for those of you in Mishicot)
1. This is an open thread. Feel free to lurk, opine and/or bloviate.
2. Be Kind, Be Nice. Trolls need admonition.
3. No. You may not run with sharp objects here. Go to Slate or something like tha.
4. Have a great weekend!
When Weasel isn't thinking about, tinkering or shooting guns he thinks about you Saturday morning Morons. Thanks Weasel for the following educational film.
AoSHQ Weekly Prayer List
Please submit any prayer requests to me, “Annie’s Stew” at apaslo atsign hotmail dot com. Prayer requests are generally removed after four weeks unless we receive an update.
Prayer Requests:
5/29 – Teresa in Fort Worth sent an update and her thanks for all the prayers and words of encouragement. They have sustained her and her family as she continues to battle cancer. She continues to receive good news: her oncologist is quite pleased with her response to the current medication protocol; they are decreasing the lab work frequency to every other week instead of weekly; the side effects from chemo have been barely noticeable; she can just take 4 tiny pills for chemo instead of spending one day a week at the cancer center. It’s been 7 months so far, and she expects that at some point the tumors will start growing again, but for now, they are encouraged.
6/6 Update – Teresa has a side effect from the chemo – her fingernails and toenails are starting to loosen and “lift” off their nail beds. It is painful, and also carries a risk of infection.
7/9 Update – Teresa in Fort Worth sent an update – all is well for her for now. She will have more lab work done on 7/15, and then a CT scan on 7/28 to see if the tumors have shrunk any more. She is still losing hair, and her fingernails and toenails are still being “wonky”. She is not nauseous, so she is happy with her current situation.
6/11 – Legally Sufficient asks the Horde’s prayers for her friend, Bubba, who was in a bad auto wreck on 6/8. Prayers for comfort, healing, and strength are needed for Bubba and his family. He is in ICU and will be there for a couple more weeks. Thank you!
7/15 Update - Legally Sufficient asks for continued prayers for healing, strength and comfort for her friend Bubba. God is great! Bubba continues slow and steady improvement following his horrific vehicle accident. She received a photo of him visiting a job site this week and she said she doesn’t mind telling you that it suddenly got dusty here. Bubba was not able to stay very long before the heat and humidity took a toll and he was forced to retreat to air conditioning. Bubba is still under doctor’s orders to not drive, but has an able and willing chauffeur (his wife) who takes him where he wants to go. The prayers are working, please keep them coming for a little while longer!
6/28 – Dave R requested prayers for healing, strength, recovery, and curing, as he was recently diagnosed with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. He is 62 and a long-time AoSHQ reader.
7/5 Update – Chemo starts on 7/7.
6/28 – H asked for prayers for a mom of two elementary aged boys who lost her mother 3 weeks ago, and her husband on 6/28, both to cancer.
7/19 Update – The visitation was good, but prayers are still appreciated, especially for the boys, as they go through a hard stage of life without their dad.
7/3 – Ciampino’s daughter posted to let us know that Ciampino is back in the hospital. He is dehydrated again. His kidney cyst is back and bigger, so he will need to have another surgery, but they don’t know when.
7/7 Update – Ciampino passed away. His daughter posted how much he loved everyone’s witty humor on the site, and sent her thanks for giving him years of enjoyment and community.
7/19 Update – Please contact Annie’s Stew for more information if you would like to contribute to Ciampino’s cremation fund raiser.
7/5 – Boswell asks for prayers for his best friend Mark’s mother. She is 90 years old and was diagnosed with sepsis after her colon burst. She had surgery on 7/3, but her recovery is not going well. She is too weak for the tests she needs to find out what is wrong. Please pray that she recovers fully, as she and Mark are very close. He is devastated.
7/16 Update – Mark’s mother passed away peacefully in her sleep. Mark is, of course, quite saddened by this, but at least she did not suffer at the end, and her family was by her side when she went. Boswell hopes that his friend finds solace that she lived a long, happy life and she raised such a wonderful son.
7/9 - Teresa in Fort Worth asks for prayers for her niece Amanda, and her husband Barkley. They are at Vanderbilt Hospital, where Amanda seems to be rejecting her second heart transplant. She is only 40 years old, and has been having heart issues for 20 years. She had her first heart transplant 4 years ago, and things are not looking good.
7/11 – Racially Ambiguous Honky, the brother of G’rump/toby928, sent his thanks for the prayers on his behalf, after his appendix burst and he had sepsis. He says he is recovering well.
7/11 – JR requested prayers for the families of those killed in Gaza.
7/11 – Stateless sent his thanks to all for their thoughts and prayers for him. His house officially became his on 6/30, ending 6 months of uncertainty since his Mom passed. He is getting stronger and is learning about and working to process emotions differently, after losing so much.
7/11 – Screaming in digital asked for prayers for her mother. Mom is still recovering from a UTI plus 3 falls within the last couple of days. During the day, there is some improvement. But once she starts sundowning, she is terrified and clings to whatever she can hold onto. She only weighs about 105-110, and isn’t eating much, but it is hard to move her when she is like that. If she doesn’t improve her mobility and cooperate/help with transfers to and from the wheelchair, etc., and consistently feed herself, she won’t be able to stay at the assisted living facility.
7/19 Update – Screaming in digital’s mother passed away.
7/11 – Frankie asked for prayers for her friend “R”, who is back on hospice for Huntington’s disease. He was on hospice before, but went off for an experimental medication, but unfortunately it wasn’t helpful.
7/11 – Igotnothing sent a prayer of praise. A grand-nephew, quadriplegic since birth due to deformities, and now age 10, after many surgeries and care and prayers, is able to walk. The boy and his family (mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-aunt and great-uncle) went on his first ever walk in the woods. What joy!
7/11 – Matthew Kant Cipher requested prayers for Layne, a family friend who is also his son’s FIL. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer and is awaiting further test results to determine whether they treat with chemo or remove his bladder. As of now, it appears to be contained. Please pray that he and his family are blessed with God’s love and grace through this time of trial.
7/18 – Tecumseh Tea had a heart attack and needs prayers.
7/23 Update – Tecumseh Tea had a Type 2 heart attack, which is considered mild. She sends prayers of thanks for that! The angiogram showed a healthy heart, with little plaque and clean arteries, so no stent was needed. They did find a myocardial bridge, which is a congenital defect. The goal is to keep BP 140/70 with a pulse of less than 60, but so far they have not been able to meet that goal. She can’t get a cardiologist appointment until 8/22, so the GP is helping, but so far they have not been able to get the right BP meds. Please pray for a sooner visit, and the right meds that work for her, and answers.
7/19 – Huerfano asked for prayers for a rapid and full recovery for brother R, who had hernia surgery. He cannot see his grandsons until he has recovered. He misses them , and they miss him.
7/19 – Farmer Bob posted an update. He is doing well. He is competing in 5Ks and triathalons, and sends his thanks for the prayers. His ex-wife has “gone off the deep end” (or just remains so), with weird lies and accusations. She could use a prayer or two.
7/19 – Tonypete asked for prayers for Cheri and Gretchen, church ladies of his acquaintance. Cheri had a medical incident while driving and veered off the road and struck a number of pedestrians, sending 3 or 4 to the hospital. Gretchen and her husband were passengers in the car and her husband had a heart attack after the accident and died. Cheri is just sick about it and has kind of snapped. Gretchen has lost her best friend of 65 years.
7/19 – H asked for prayers for Brandon, a homeless man in San Marcos, TX, who has a broken ankle and has to seek care for that injury, specifically prayers that he would see God providing for him. He is asking for God to help him advocate for his care.
7/23 – D sent an update on his wife Susan, as they deal with cancer. The last few weeks have been a roller coaster. They cannot operate on the cancer, because it has spread too much. They have started chemo and hope to get it to shrink. Susan’s gallbladder is inflamed, but they cannot remove it, due to the chemo, and her blood sugar is having issues. Thanks to everyone for their prayers; Susan has pulled through all of this and is looking great as they keep praying to the Lord.
7/26 – Stateless asked for prayers for his neighbors. The nice lady across the street lost her husband of 30 years about 3 months ago. And a different neighbor lost his beloved wife of 34 years in July.
7/26 – Fenelon Spoke requested prayers for J, a dear lady who attends her church. J has been going downhill since she had a heart procedure several months ago and now cannot speak. She may have dementia and is living in an assisted living facility.
7/26 – Coelacanth sent his thanks for prayers for his son. He has come a _very_ long way but could still use more prayers as he deals with vax and black mold injuries. Also, Coelacanth cut his left hand pretty badly and severed two tendons. He will be on light duty at work for 6+ weeks. Prayers are appreciated.
7/26 - Brother Tim was discharged from the cancer rehab facility and has returned to his routine of living out of hotel rooms, while working on better housing prospects. He is praising God for all the blessings and mercies!
7/30 Update – Brother Tim found out that the cancerous mass impinged on a blood vessel. He needs a full body scan to make sure it has not spread. He is relieved that he only needs radiation and not chemo to make sure the original cancer stays gone. He’s also out of PTO. He said that sometimes it feels like 2025 will be the death of him – possibly literally.
For submission guidelines and other relevant info, please contact Annie's Stew, who is managing the prayer list. You can contact her at apaslo at-sign hotmail dot com. If you see a prayer request posted in a thread comment, feel free to copy and paste it and e-mail it to Annie's Stew. She tries to keep up with the requests in the threads, but she's not here all of the time, so she may not see it unless you e-mail it to her. Please note: Prayer requests are generally removed after four weeks or so unless we receive an update.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.
I'm frankly surprised the title is 107 Days. I would have thought it would be:
Days Are Important:The Amount of Days Was a Number and That Number Was 100 Plus 7 Which is 107. 107. One Hundred and Seven. It's a Memoir and Memoirs are About Remembering Things Because Remembering Things is Good. Not Bad. Good. Memoir. A Memoir. Like a Reservoir But With Memory. We Have to Let it Flow. We Have to Let It Flow Into the Reservoir of Our Mind and Our Heart. Our Heart Which is the Beating Heart of Not Just Our Blood, But Our Progress. And Our People. And Democracy. The End.
Soft weak poop from the early 80s Mystery Click I never liked this song, but it is memorable. In a weak, annoying way. The kid's in shock up and down the block
The folks are home playing beat the clock
Down at the golden cup
They set the young ones up
Under the neon light
Selling day for night
It's alright
Nobody rides for free (nobody, nobody)
Nobody gets it like they want it to be (nobody, nobody)
Nobody hands you any guarantee (nobody, nobody)
Nobody
Former CIA operative John Kiriakou talks with Matt Taibbi about the Brennan/Comey Coup Both guys are old liberals, maybe even of the far-left variety, and both are appalled by the Democrat/Deep State coup against the US. Kiriakou says that CIA officers were legally obligated to report to the Inspector General John Brennan's repeated overruling of actual intelligence to encode his partisan conspiracy theories into US intel product, but of course they didn't.
Podcast: Israel protects the Druze, and Western Culture, Tulsi Gabbard is tenacious, NYC's mayoral race is a catastrophe, The Democrat Lying Machine, and more!
At Budokan Mystery Click Now I had heard the WACs
recruited old maids for the war
But mommy's neither one of those
I've known her all these years Maybe I'll stop linking obscurities and start linking more crowd pleasers. If you can stand the sight of Dan Rather, three members of the band talk about how they got famous in Japan before they ever even played in Japan. Hint: Manga.
"Oh, God. I look 20 years old."
DROSERA TRACYII X DROSERA FILIFORMIS FLORIDA RED.jpg)
