[ Shakes Glitter Out Of G-String ]

Time, I think, for an open thread. And while I’m being good to you, I’ll throw in one of these, as a bonus.

Because, yes, it’s time to remind patrons that this rickety barge, on whose seating your arses rest, is kept afloat by the kindness of strangers. If you’d like to help it remain buoyant a while longer, and remain ad-free, there’s an orange button below with which to monetise any love. Debit and credit cards are accepted. For those wishing to express their love regularly, there’s a monthly subscription option top left. And if one-click haste is called for, my PalPay.Me page can be found here. Additionally, any Amazon UK shopping done via this link or the search widget top right, or for Amazon US via this link, results in a small fee for your host at no extra cost to you.

For newcomers wishing to know more about what’s been going on here for the last fourteen years, in over 3,000 posts and over 100,000 comments, the reheated series is a pretty good place to start - in particular, the end-of-year-summaries, which convey the fullest flavour of what it is we do. A sort of blog concentrate. If you like what you find there… well, there’s lots more of that.

If you can, do take a moment to poke through the discussion threads too. The posts are intended as starting points, not full stops, and the comments are where much of the good stuff is waiting to be found. And do please join in.

As always, thanks for the support, the comments, and the company.

Now share ye links and bicker.

Comments

[Mike D]

And while I’m being good to you, I’ll throw in one of these, as a bonus.

You're so good to us. *hits tip jar*

[David]

You’re so good to us.

I know, I really am.

*hits tip jar*

Bless you, sir. May your steam iron cord never kink and tangle.

[svh]

"A New Zealand chapter of Greta Thunberg-linked climate movement disbands itself for being 'racist'"

"In a Facebook post, School Strike 4 Climate's Auckland chapter said it was shutting down because it 'has been a racist, white-dominated space.'... 'I really commend the School Strikers in Auckland for making this decision,' said Kera Sherwood-O’Regan of Sustained Ability, a group of disabled climate activists"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/06/15/climate-change-racism-strike-greta-auckland/

[svh]

Also *ping*.

[David]

‘I really commend the School Strikers in Auckland for making this decision,’ said Kera Sherwood-O’Regan of Sustained Ability, a group of disabled climate activists

Heh. The quest for purity. Why, it’s as if they can’t help it, so strong is the compulsion to denounce and disapprove.

[David]

Also *ping*

Bless you, sir. May your bin men be jolly and obliging.

[David]

A tale of woe.

[Ian]

Thanks for all you do, David. I loved you at first site (this site?!), and my browser has ever since been daily refreshed by your wisdom.

[David]

my browser has ever since been daily refreshed by your wisdom.

I know, I reek of quality.

And bless you, sir. May the neighbours be awed by your ability to flatten large cardboard boxes.

[David]

Question asked.

Answers on a postcard, please.

[Em]

*hits tip jar*
*fetches more glitter*

[David]

*fetches more glitter*

Heh. Bless you, madam. May you know the simple pleasure of new bedding.

[Jenny]

I never comment, but I adore you and couldn’t resist the tip jar this time!

[David]

I never comment, but I adore you...

[ Licks own eyebrows. ]

...and couldn’t resist the tip jar this time!

Bless you, madam. Should you be visiting relatives and find yourself obliged to spend a night on an inflatable bed, may you not wake to find said item has deflated somewhat during the night, resulting in your head and feet being slightly elevated and your arse resting on the floor.

[Rafi]

Question asked.

🤡

[pst314]

A tale of woe.

Thanks, that brightened my morning.

[pst314]

*fetches more glitter*

[ Traumatic memory of blogging thong resurfaces. Retreats to safe space. ]

[David]

Mischief detected.

[pst314]

Mischief detected.

That particular prank recurs often enough around the world. :-)

[David]

“They don’t move around or fall down your pant leg.”

[pst314]

“They don’t move around or fall down your pant leg.”

Once again, a very punchable face.

[Governor Squid]

“There was a growing perception that SS4C was just an extracurricular activity for upper-class [White] kids,”

Dontcha just hate it when they say the quiet part out loud?

[Governor Squid]

A tale of woe.

And of course the experience causes the young writer to reflect on the dysfunction and toxicity of the industry he's trying to break into, and not on the community he's been part of.

"Why is every hiring manager and every company ignoring me when I signal my membership in this prominent local movement? It must be because everybody in the world is wrong except me!"

[Sam]

“They don’t move around or fall down your pant leg.”

And on cue I see they have children's versions ready to ship. Need something wholesome now.

[WTP]

Methinks the Tale of Woe protests too much. It's supposedly journalism jobs applied to but I'm guessing, if this thing that doesn't present its pronouns in its rant is even remotely trying to be honest, sent those resumes with pronouns for jobs for which it was not qualified. Let's face it, they're all lying scum. Taking anything they say seriously is folly.

Ditto “They don’t move around or fall down your pant leg.” in other regards. Meh...but who knows.

Surprised no one has made mention of the North Korean defector who said even NK was not as nuts as her experiences at Columbia U. Granted my link to that on other page was a bit off topic (it did mention pretending Whoa Fat was not fat...the article, not me) and I laid the sarcasm on a bit too thick (on top of the sarcasm). Yes, I'm not well. Nor has anyone made mention of John Stewart's Wuhan rant. But then again, I could easily be convinced it's all fake and none of any of this is real.

That said, long overdue financial remuneration arriving shortly. Give one of the Henchlesbians a big, wet, sloppy kiss for me.

[David]

Give one of the Henchlesbians a big, wet, sloppy kiss for me.

Bless you, sir. May you know the simple pleasure of a magnetised knife rack.

[WTP]

Seriously? I hate the block thing we store ours in but never really considered the magnetized thing. Though tbf I may not have the right kind of space for it. We are thinking of redoing our kitchen, but just minor stuff right now. Looking at tile for a backsplash today. Do you put your knife sharpener on there as well or do you not use the long wandy thing to sharpen them?

[JuliaM]

I do love these ‘what’s racist now?’ Tweets:

http://twitter.com/JeremyCordite/status/1405167574216814594

[David]

never really considered the magnetized thing. Though tbf I may not have the right kind of space for it.

Ours is gripping the side of the extractor hood.

[pst314]

I hate the block thing we store ours in but never really considered the magnetized thing.

I hated the block that sat on the counter, collecting dust that cannot be avoided, but like the sort that lies flat in a drawer.

[Farnsworth M Muldoon]

"House guests".

AntifaMaxine (they/them) just wants people to enjoy the meme, (you bastards).

[David]

I hated the block that sat on the counter,

Ours seemed to accumulate gunk in the recesses. The magnetised rack feels secure and is more accessible. Though for a more learned view on optimal knife storage, and kitchen sorcery in general, we may have to wait for Karl to materialise.

[David]

San Francisco shopping scenes.

[David]

More mischief detected.

[pst314]

Ours seemed to accumulate gunk in the recesses.

In part, I believe, because kitchen dust tends to be a big greasy due to cooking. I like being able to have nearly everything put away in drawers: Less clutter, and makes cleaning easier.

[Farnsworth M Muldoon]

A "radical academic" (I know, a surprise) calls for a national Struggle Session Day, a day of silent guilt and shame.

Not black enough, "She is NOT a Foundational Black American...", great, another subdivision of a faction, what could possibly go wrong ?

[pst314]

"House guests".

"Airbnb said...the guests have been banned from service"

How about banned from the United States?

[Governor Squid]

She argues that Canada Day "serves only to...deny the experiences of marginalized communities."

Isn't that the whole purpose of marginalizing them in the first place? You'd have to be pretty severely educated to be able to miss that point.

[Governor Squid]

San Francisco shopping scenes.

What astonishes me is that there aren't more droogs out there taking advantage of the opportunity for a little bit of the old ultra-violence. I mean, if petty larceny is no longer a crime, then surely beating a shoplifter half to death with a baseball bat must also be allowed, non?

I wonder if I could set up some kind of adventure tour/security company to provide retail protection and entertainment at the same time...

[David]

Bee nursing.

[David]

A music department head threatened to ban his music from the school unless he apologised.

You see, he failed to be pleased by arson and rioting.

[WTP]

I mean, if petty larceny is no longer a crime, then surely beating a shoplifter half to death with a baseball bat must also be allowed, non?

Yeah. You’d think, right? I have it on good authority that even North Korea isn’t this nuts.

[Farnsworth M Muldoon]

Such Diversity™ !

Oh wait, there she is. No, not the veep, by the wall.

Great optics.

[David]

Hoglings.

[pst314]

Hoglings

“Dinsdale!” In chorus of tiny high-pitched voices.

[Sonny Wayz]

I wonder if I could set up some kind of adventure tour/security company to provide retail protection and entertainment at the same time...

I read a promotional brochure online some time back for a cruise along the east coast of Africa. The basic staterooms were equipped with M16s, with better armament included with each upgrade. The best suites got crew served machine guns.

I think it was satire.

[pst314]

I read a promotional brochure online some time back for a cruise along the east coast of Africa...

I did not expect major American cities to degenerate to that level of barbarism.

[TomJ]

That particular prank recurs often enough around the world. :-)

I am reminded of the farmer residing underneath a military airway who in the late '90s, annoyed number of RAF ac passing overhead, wrote "PISS OFF BIGGLES" in big letters on his barn roof. Of course, as anyone with even a passing familiarity with aircrew could have predicted, this resulted in more flights overhead, often at lower altitude, as crews found any excuse to use that route to have a look for themselves...

[pst314]

Is Biggles a name with special significance?

[Captain Nemo]

PST314 - "Biggles" was the nickname of ex-RAF pilot James Bigglesworth, the main character of a series of children's books written by W. E. Johns from the 1930s to the 1960s. The popularity of the books was such that the name was frequently used as a shorthand for pilots in general. Hence "PISS OFF BIGGLES".

[pst314]

Capt Nemo: Thanks.

[WTP]

I think they're called the RFA over here in The States. That's what Biden called them and the media was cool with it, so...

[ComputerLabRat]

Oh wait, there she is. No, not the veep, by the wall.

Who is the angry black woman all the way back there? Does the veep have servants? Now I am curious who she is.

The smug on all those white faces (the veep is about as black as the Princess - even my glow-in-the-dark pale skin gets that dark working out in the field) at the table, contrasting the expression on the black face way in the back by the window.

[pst314]

Who is the angry black woman all the way back there? Does the veep have servants?

I'm certain the Vice President's residence (a mansion on the grounds of the old Naval Observatory) has a full staff of servants. I hope they are getting treated well: Many past Democrat presidents and vice presidents have tended to treat staff rather badly.

[Martin]

You see, he failed to be pleased by arson and rioting.

These people are f*cking sinister.

[David]

These people are f*cking sinister.

Yes, they are. They’re pathological. Absurd and sinister.

But according to the ever-changing rules of wokeness, when your neighbourhood is being vandalised and set ablaze, you mustn’t complain or demur, even politely. To do so is heresy and a basis for punishment. And so, you’ll be called a “white supremacist piece of garbage,” whose “hate” and “bigotry” and “unacceptable rhetoric” – i.e., daring to disagree with arson and vandalism – will be defined as “causing harm,” and being “incendiary” - unlike the people smashing things and setting things on fire – and will result in the sabotage of your career and the loss of your livelihood.

It’s the way of the woke. Their compassion in action.

Imagine being at the mercy of people who think like this. And like this. And imagine discovering, quite vividly, that many of the people you work with, your caring and progressive colleagues and peers, are shockingly dishonest and morally deranged.

[Alice]

will be defined as “causing harm,” and being “incendiary” - unlike the people smashing things and setting things on fire

Lefties project.

Also *ping*.

[David]

Also *ping*.

Bless you, madam. May you wake to sunshine and the sound of a neighbour’s chickens.

And thanks to all who’ve chipped in so far, including all those much too shy to say hello, or who’ve subscribed, or done shopping via the Amazon links. It’s what keeps this place here and is much appreciated.

[Zionist Overlord #73]

You see, he failed to be pleased by arson and rioting.

But was it mostly peaceful arson and rioting?

[David]

Heh.

Via Damian.

[David]

On critical race theory.

On farts.

[Karl]

we may have to wait for Karl to materialise

[ pants ]
Sorry guys - what did I miss?

Knives? Oh my God I missed KNIVES??
[ pants harder ]

Well, these are my boat knives...

[David]

[ pants ]

[ Taps watch. ]

What bloody time do you call this?

Also, boat knives. Get you.

[Karl]

As you might guess I highly recommend the magnetic strip thingies, with two being even better than one. Especially at sea :) Just be sure to twist the knives on and off away from the sharp edge so as not to ruin all that grinding and burnishing you'll have been doing.

I'd always used a whetstone to sharpen mine, and honestly never really understood the value of a steel (aka "the long wandy thing") until I discovered Wusthof's inordinately expensive but inordinately good diamond-encrusted sharpening steel (I kid you not). I think the reason the steel hadn't worked for me was just that my knives were harder than the steels I was using.

Since then I haven't looked back. I don't keep the steel on the magnetic strip though - there's little need since it isn't required so instantly, it isn't very magnetic and would probably just end up grinding the strip away. I just keep mine in a sock in a drawer. (Your sock mileage may vary.)

I write a little bit about my knives here.

[Karl]

Get you.

What? You don't have boat knives?
[ innocent face ]

[asiaseen]

boat knives

And scissors, too.
But where are the grappling hooks?

[Stephanie Richer]

Foundational Black American

If this is the new litmus test for being Black, Barack Obama doesn’t measure up.

Also I did something with that button. And I’d like to complain about the scarcity of keto-friendly bar snacks here.

[Karl]

So how do you cut up all your boat things. At sea?

Also, on an unrelated note, have you ever noticed how sail bags are roughly torso-sized?

[David]

I write a little bit about my knives here.

Blimey. I’m having some kind of font-induced seizure.

[Karl]

font-induced seizure

I think it's the colours, man. It helps if you wear sunglasses?

[David]

Also I did something with that button.

Bless you, madam. May you never forget to use the spring onions. The ones still in the fridge, but now looking neglected and well past their best.

And I’d like to complain about the scarcity of keto-friendly bar snacks here.

[ Rummages under bar, sounds of rustling bin liner. ]

Dig in. Don’t be shy.

[pi]

How To Reheat Haggis

First, get a haggis.

[David]

So how do you cut up all your boat things. At sea?

Not entirely unrelated.

[Karl]

Not entirely unrelated.

Ah good times!

Did anyone catch this Dark Horse video in which Brett Weinstein interviews the inventor of the mRNA vaccine and an angry, shouty, homeless guy. If so could you give me the highlights?

I tried to watch it, and it sure seemed like it should be both important and interesting, but I must have a low tolerance for angry shouty homeless guys and all I learned before giving up is that he's really upset that no-one is interested in his carpet-cleaner's wife's bad Covid story. Or something.

And that the chap who invented the mRNA vaccine is very patient, quiet and polite.
Pity.

[Karl]

But where are the grappling hooks?

Well, grappling hooks are for retrieving things, and I generally have the opposite problem.

[pst314]

font-induced seizure

Long-suppressed traumatic memories of the early web are surfacing.

[ Stares in horror at trembling hand ]

[Farnsworth M Muldoon]

For all my fellow Persons of Pallor, get with the program and come in for the big win and learn the 6 reasons not to say "Caucasian", because "Caucasian" is more polite, and politeness is our Achilles's heel according to the author who is a diversity & inclusion expert and therefore knows more about these things than we troglodytes.

Echoing this is one Dr. Westby who apparently doesn't have enough patients to keep her from writing this drivel.

However, "Caucasian" today typically refers broadly to people coded as White by society, the majority of whom are actually not from the area of the Caucasus mountains.

This is highly problematic for me because according to my drivers license I am coded as a yte, but half the ancestors around 1917 did come from that general neck of the woods so I guess I am half Foundational Caucasian unless because they weren't Reds, that makes me Double White, or Superofay.

I need a diversity and inclusion expert to sort this, though I am still having trouble with how splintering groups into "diversity" categories promotes inclusion, but then I am not Woke™.

[Karl]

Long-suppressed traumatic memories of the early web

Hey watch it! It would be a shame to get any really bad reminders, now wouldn't it?

[David]

Sshhh. Your progressive betters are speaking.

[pst314]

Hey watch it! It would be a shame to get any really bad reminders, now wouldn't it?

That was truly sadistic, Karl.

[Farnsworth M Muldoon]

Istanbul was Constantinople,
Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople,
Why they changed it I can't say,

Oh, yes I can, the Byzantine Empire was racist and transphobic, also misogynistic, but for some reason there are transgender saints.

These saints had been assigned female at birth but lived out their lives as men in male monastic communities. Across their stories, we read how their bodies changed over the years, with their breasts withering, the cessation of menstruation...

Sounds like menopause to me, but then I am not an art historian.

[Karl]

truly sadistic Karl

Well, let that be a lesson for you, or I will taunt you a second time!

On the Creatures of TikTok it isn't so much the grotesque appearance of these atrocity exhibits which makes me want to go to work on them with a pair of pliers and a giant magnet, it's the smugnorant, condescending, hectoring lectures they deliver.

Oh God, it's like my Grandad and those hippies all over again!

[Karl]

I'm going to need a bigger boat.

[David]

I smell “critical race theory” on her breath.

[WTP]

imagine discovering, quite vividly, that many of the people you work with, your caring and progressive colleagues and peers, are shockingly dishonest and morally deranged.

Or friends and relatives, people whom you now must reconsider if they should have DNR or power of attorney for you...imagine it being about 90% (or more?) of the people you know.

As for the long wandy thing, I honestly think that's a good name for it. If I could be Gordon Ramsey for just a day...and that's about the only reason I would want to.

As for the efficiency of the long wandy thing, I am quite certain ours works as the wife never sharpens a knife such that if a knife or two is used by her but not by me for a few weeks or if I am away for any significant time period, my initial experience sharpening such for first reuse has come close to knocking a filling loose.

[PiperPaul]

grappling hooks are for retrieving things, and I generally have the opposite problem.

I bet boats are cheaper to operate than helicopters.

[Clam]

Ping!

[WTP]

I bet boats are cheaper to operate than helicopters.

True. But as I understand it, there haven't been many instances of mutiny on a helicopter. Probably for somewhat similar reasons. OTOH, and more likely your point to which I have raised concern as well, I doubt we shall ever have sufficient helicopter capacity to do the job properly.

[Peter J]

Tip jar pinged. :-)

[David]

Ping!

Tip jar pinged

Bless you, sirs. May your tea towels be changed frequently.

[Farnsworth M Muldoon]

Danielle was arrested for being trans.

[Steve E]

Did anyone catch this Dark Horse video in which Brett Weinstein interviews the inventor of the mRNA vaccine and an angry, shouty, homeless guy.

Ah yes, Mr. Steve Kirsch. He did make it very difficult to watch that video. He shouted everyone down and complained when anyone interrupted him even when it was to support what he was saying.

You didn't miss much you've probably seen before. CoVID mRNA vaccines aren't like other mRNA vaccines. They move throughout the body and cause problems in areas where they shouldn't be. Ivermectin Good. Big Pharma bad. Conspiracy. Conspiracy. Masks don't work. More shouting.

[Steve E]

As for the long wandy thing, I honestly think that's a good name for it.

It is a good name. It's also known as a steel or honing rod. It doesn't actually sharpen the knife. It realigns the edge. At least that's what this guy says. He should know. He's wearing a baseball hat backwards and he talks all chummy like.

[Karl]

Ivermectin Good. Big Pharma bad. Conspiracy. Conspiracy. Masks don't work. More shouting.

Excellent summary @Steve E - thanks!

It doesn't actually sharpen the knife. It realigns the edge.

Yeah, that's certainly the theory. Judging from the metal filings that decorate the steel afterwards I'd say it's not completely accurate. (And not just diamond-coated ones!)

[Jacob]

*Ping!* Quids ahoy!

[Governor Squid]

I finally got the knack of using the long wandy thing, and now I find that a couple of swipes every time I pick up my chef's knife help to keep it nice and sharp, meaning that I only have to sharpen the thing properly every three or four weeks. 'Tis a blessing, I tell ya!

What sort of boat is that, Karl? Looks very yottie.

[Connor]

Tip jar ker-chinged.

[Karl]

What sort of boat is that, Karl? Looks very yottie.

Yus. It's a Hunter Legend 306 sailing yottie. I lived aboard her for 3 years sailing around the UK.
Just sold her. Sniff 😢

[David]

Quids ahoy!

Tip jar ker-chinged.

Bless you, sirs. May your new radio alarm clock, chosen by your Other Half, be easy to operate and not require squinting and bomb defusal skills at six fucking a.m.

[David]

The word ‘tribal’ is racist.

Please update your files and lifestyles accordingly.