Friday Ephemera

Potato game upgraded. || Starfish tippy-toes. || The thrill of pond water. || I’m pretty sure I’ve done this. (h/t, Dicentra) || The pieties of our betters, a brief compilation. || Possibly related. || Police escort. || Steep. || Explorers. || A project for the weekend. (h/t, Beagle) || Modern problems that your parents didn’t have. || Distancing technology. || I don’t think cats do this. (h/t, Damian) || Don’t tell your mother. || Music machines of note. || We Will Rock You. (h/t, Open Culture) || Savings. || Cheers. || Bloopers of yesteryear. || Parisian balloons, 1914. || Boys and girls. (h/t, Dicentra) || Webslinger. || Not entirely successful wildlife photography. || And finally, somewhat alarmingly, scenes of forbidden love.

Comments

[Captain Nemo]

I don’t think cats do this.

No, but then cats have better taste.

Cheers

Huh. Not the tweet I was expecting. This was what I thought you had in mind: https://twitter.com/brianwatson80/status/1250396434777554944

[Daniel Ream]

This was what I thought you had in mind

Lot of overlap between L.A. Law and TNG, too.

[Hal]

Scenes.

This Tweet is unavailable.

[Mags]

scenes of forbidden love.

Is there a word for something that's cute but really stressful?

[David]

Morning, all.

Not the tweet I was expecting.

Heh. Yours is better.

Ballsy.

Panic buying.

Today’s word is incongruity.

[David]

This Tweet is unavailable.

Now swapped for something else.

[David]

And speaking of incongruity.

Via Dicentra.

[David]

Today’s other word is priorities.

Via Rafi.

[Darleen]

The Theater Rival you've been waiting for. Success guaranteed.

[Alice]

Savings.

Just bought a new hob so that was traumatic.

[David]

Just bought a new hob so that was traumatic.

On the upside, I think we can assume a lesson has been learned. So there’s that.

[David]

The Theater Rival you’ve been waiting for.

Somewhat related.

“No offence,” says she.

[David]

And for those who’ve been following the Jussie Smollett fake ‘hate crime’ saga, the plot, um, thickens.

[Karl]

I see #YouClapForMeNowBitches is trending, with a hateful video featuring ghastarbeiters gloating over how their migrant virus has brought our civilization to its knees.

I swear these progressives are doing their damnedest to turn me into a racist!

[Karl]

"I want to see work that really looks like the world in which we live."

Says an actress in Creed Fucking 2!

She wants to see a time where being a female in a lead part is no longer a talking point.

Me too, darling, me too.

[David]

Me too, darling, me too.

As so often with these things, the words that come to mind are reverse the races, then say it out loud so you can hear yourself. Unless, of course, it would acceptable, indeed praiseworthy, for a well-paid white actress working, very successfully, in a majority-brown country to mouth off in a self-satisfied way about how awful it is to work with all these darkies everywhere, offending her sensibilities.

[Sam Duncan]

“I’m pretty sure I’ve done this.”

Or dipping into the ingredients so often while cooking that when it's done you aren't hungry any more.

“Bloopers of yesteryear.”

Jimmy Stewart. What a class act.

I think I might start saying “Nuts!” instead of swearing. And maybe buy a fedora... ?

This lockdown is getting to me.

“Somewhat related.”

It's the sub-head that makes it.

Anyhoo, AI Dungeon is a game. And possibly also our new robot overlord. Enjoy it while it's still friendly.

[David]

This lockdown is getting to me.

I could do with a haircut.

Shit got real.

[David]

Or dipping into the ingredients so often while cooking that when it’s done you aren’t hungry any more.

It reminded me of perusing the TV listings, seeing nothing of interest, then lowering your standards and going through the listings again.

That’s how you end up watching Hitler’s Jurassic Monsters.

[BrassG]

scenes of forbidden love

Hippos are vicious, unpredictable, foul-tempered beasts and one of the primary reasons that 4-bore stopping rifles were invented. The moron who staged that scene and traumatized that poor helpless puppy should be shot with one.

[Squires]

Is there a word for something that's cute but really stressful?

Female.

[Sam]

Cheers.

Does anyone else see these cutesy "oh look how well we're coping the the lockdown lolz" videos and hold back vomit? I understand it to be a good showing of human spirit and inventiveness but all I see is further confirmation that, for many, this hysteria is fun, a sort of extended sleepover or one of those toddler "camping trips" in the backyard. That we're slowly killing our civilization and quickly killing our remaining liberties over some nasty sniffles is bad enough, but to witness people bravely exhibiting just how fabulous they're carrying on is particularly galling.

Of course it could be my dead, cold heart.

[Daniel Ream]

“No offence,” says she.

Why am I suddenly reminded of Linda Fiorentino.

Hippos are vicious, unpredictable, foul-tempered beasts

The whole scene - "only lips, Jess" - was farcical. Hippos aren't domestic animals and I doubt they can be trained to understand English commands.

[Fred the Fourth]

Sam,

Unlike the rest of you hosers, I was prepared for the lockdown. With TWO fedoras already in hand, AND an Aussie style bush hat. My own Maginot line against civilizational collapse. Oh, I forgot. Also a Stetson in case this movie turns out to be a Western.

[Fred the Fourth]

Sam, in that vein, nothing can top our own Ms. Pelosi showing off her freezers packed with hipster ice cream.
Links to the video available wherever fine links are sold.

[Sam]

No offense, Tess Thompson [ barman spits ], but you're the worst part of Westworld, which went from good to crap in 0.25 GoT's, not least because of your horrible acting. You weren't bad in Creed, though I suspect it's due to your extensive experience playing a disabled victim of circumstance in real life.

[Governor Squid]

...all I see is further confirmation that, for many, this hysteria is fun, a sort of extended sleepover...

I don't get that at all (at least not from the video in question). I see neighbors doing their best to make the best of a trying situation. From personal experience, I can tell you that the backyard campfires where each household stays two meters from the others are a very good balm (even introverts like me need a little social interaction now and then), but also very weird and kind of sad, since there's still a barrier between us, even if it's arbitrary and invisible.

I've little doubt that those Italians have lost friends and relatives already. I'm not going to begrudge them sharing a bit of coping sauce and trying to keep their spirits up.

#YouClapForMeNowBitches

One notes the conspicuous note at the bottom: Comments are turned off. From the people who brought you Comment Is Free, no less.

[Sam]

Fair point on the Italians, though cold statistics still suggest they haven't actually lost friends and family, but all the same people coping isn't my issue.

also very weird and kind of sad, since there's still a barrier between us, even if it's arbitrary and invisible

This touches closer to my bugbear: that these coping mechanisms are wholly unnecessary, even in blighted Italy, given what we've come to know. Baking cakes without sugar due to wartime rationing is inspiring, baking artisan sourdough for a cute Insty pic while decrying all those idiots who refuse to stay indoors 24/7...less so.

[Uma Thurmond's Feet]

One notes the conspicuous note at the bottom: Comments are turned off. From the people who brought you Comment Is Free, no less.

Noted. Fortunately, YT didn't turn off the thumbs down option. Currently at 5K vs. 7K

[WTP]

Does anyone else see these cutesy "oh look how well we're coping the the lockdown lolz" videos and hold back vomit?

Thank God I'm not the only one...or maybe now I am?

[David]

[ Returns from shopping expedition. ]

Sweet sandals of Allah, I have wine.

Oh, and groceries.

Also, unruly hair.

[WTP]

I have wine.

MD 20/20? I hear the MD recommends mixing it with a little tonic water, you know, for the quinine. You did get the tonic water, right?

[David]

MD 20/20?

Heh. I had to look that one up. No, mercifully. An inexpensive but quite drinkable Shiraz-Cabernet blend.

To take my mind off the looming Big Hair Crisis.

[Farnsworth M Muldoon]

MD 20/20 - Night Train Express for the true connoisseur.

To take my mind off the looming Big Hair Crisis.

Kerrville to the rescue, if it is seen on TV, it has to be good.

[PiperPaul]

.

[Chester Draws]

Does anyone else see these cutesy "oh look how well we're coping the the lockdown lolz" videos and hold back vomit?

No, because I click no link that might be one, read no article about them, and turn the TV mute on when they appear.

There was a story some old feller walking round in circles raising money, which was barf inducing enough, but I was a bit too far from the TV remote and I caught half a sentence about how all these "celebrities" were making sure people looked at them too were praising his "inspiring" efforts. I resent being under house arrest quite a lot, and what I want to see is people inspiring other people to be let out, not celebrate our prison sentences.

[Ten]

Damn Bosche

Damn Bosche appears to have finally shit the bed: Fifteen minutes into Ep2 of the new season and we learn that whacko Los Angeles rightists build IEDs and murder for radioactive bomb components. Because.

Well, all that clipped dialog and bizarre acting and the cardboard relationships were looking like self-satire anyway. I can buy that.

[Daniel Ream]

what I want to see is people inspiring other people to be let out

Very well.

[bgates]

I want to see work that really looks like the world in which we live.

I thought of that image as soon as I saw the quote here in the comments.

It would also work for

It reminded me of perusing the TV listings, seeing nothing of interest, then lowering your standards and going through the listings again

[David]

I thought of that image as soon as I saw the quote here in the comments.

Heh. Dear God, that was not a good film.

[Liz]

Big Hair Crisis

Band name.

[Farnsworth M Muldoon]

The Guardian explains fruit picking.

The job requires experience and special skills. Seasonal workers, many of them from abroad, have these

Apparently, per our learned writer, Joe Yte Brit cannot learn the complicated tasks of stooping, stretching, pulling, and telling a rotten apple from a good one, only can do those complicated tasks, because fruit in the UK clear back into the days of Stonehenge has always been picked by swarthy eastern Europeans, as well as people from the sub-continent, Asia, and Africa.

These jobs simply wouldn’t work for many people. They’re located in specific regions, generally far from major towns and transport links.

Yes, because the jobs are far from Luton, let's get somebody from Wakanda. Much easier for everyone.

Where do they dig these "writers" up ?

[David]

The Guardian explains...

I think I see the problem.

[David]

More righteous everyday folk in Antifa.

Nothing messed-up and wretched about ‘em at all. No, sirree.

[Sam Duncan]

“Kerrville to the rescue,”

“Precision”. Heh. I don't doubt that it cuts hair, probably acceptably so to those with low standards (among whom, I hasten to add, I'd count myself), but I'm really not seeing precision coming from that contraption.

“praising his "inspiring" efforts”

I dunno. Fair play to the old codger. He's raised £12m, apparently. Which ain't hay, and, by my rough calculations, will keep the NHS rumbling along for about fifty minutes. Hurrah!

“The job requires experience and special skills.”

So how does the Groan explain all those “Pick your own” signs along country roads in the summer? Or my grandparents going to pick potatoes at the local farms during their “summer holidays”?

[Jonathan]

Not entirely successful wildlife photography.

#8: Mothman

#25: Red

[Farnsworth M Muldoon]

So how does the Groan explain all those “Pick your own” signs...

"Your" merely applies to ownership of the picked items, all wypipo have PoC batmen (or batwomen) to do the actual stoop labor picking.

OTOH, if you want to go for maximal triggering, there are some places down here in South Flyoverlandia where one can pick one's own cotton. Jumping down and turning around are optional.

[Steve E]

Jumping down and turning around are optional.

If I were to jump down and turn around, I think I'd choose to pick the bale of hay. Cotton picking seems like way more work.

[Steve E]

I think I'd choose to pick the bale of hay.

Sorry, that comes from my having incorrectly learned the lyrics to that song when I was a kid. I didn't realize it was "pick a bale a day" not "pick a bale of hay." What did I know from cotton. I'm fromt he Great White North.

[fnord]

Where do they dig these "writers" up ?

Dunno, but can we bury them then come back in a week or two and dig them up again? I promise not to forget..... no, really.

[David]

Where do they dig these “writers” up?

Sounds like an excuse high-minded opportunity to post a link to this.

[Hal]

Jumping down and turning around are optional.

The proper cotton pickin' work song.

[Darleen]

The level of cringe here makes me want to go slap his parents.

[David]

The level of cringe here makes me want to go slap his parents.

Overly ripe cheese. It sounds like he’s narrating a particularly naff audiobook.

[Farnsworth M Muldoon]

The level of cringe...

Gutted by the death toll. Disturbed by the govt's shortcomings.

US cause specific mortality rate = 11/100,000

US cause specific mortality rate less NYC metro = 5/100,000

Italy/France/Spain/Germany/UK (population about the same as US) = 26/100,000

So evidently here in the US&A we are not doing so bad, except for the shortcomings of a couple chaps named Cuomo and DiBlasio.

Just blueskying here, but perhaps the histrionic Tater should GYH.

[Rick Henwood]

Shouldn't that have been "We will, we will wok you"?

[Rick Henwood]

"I resent being under house arrest quite a lot, and what I want to see is people inspiring other people to be let out, not celebrate our prison sentences."

Here ya go - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkTfzduySTQ

Take that sausage roll with you.