Gas Bill

The bill for gassing, that is. The last one for the year.

Because, yes, ‘tis 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.

So shop ye. Shop ye like the wind.

For newcomers wishing to know more about what’s been going on here for the last decade and a half, in over 3,000 posts and over 130,000 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]

*hits tip jar*

Hopefully that should clear my bar tab. :-)

[David]

Hopefully that should clear my bar tab. :-)

Bless you, sir. May you be spared the aggravation of duplicate calendar notifications.

[Em]

Ping!

[David]

Ping!

Bless you, madam. May you never regret good deeds.

[Clovis Sangrail]

Done!
Happy Christmas.

[David]

Happy Christmas.

Bless you. May the snow melt just as you’re running out excuses not to shovel the drive again.

[Rafi]

Pinged a little something for your Christmas stocking.

[Jen]

So shop ye. Shop ye like the wind.

*Opens Amazon link. Writes list.*

[David]

Pinged a little something for your Christmas stocking.

*Opens Amazon link. Writes list.*

Bless you, sir, and bless you, madam. May your enemy’s favourite pair of shoes develop an irritating squeak.

[pst314]

there’s an orange button below with which to monetise any love.

Can also be done at the place next door, although not as cheaply.

"Truth, justice, freedom, reasonably priced love, and a hard boiled egg."

Are those things in the jar at the end of the bar eggs?

[pst314]

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.

How small? How can we estimate how well our purchases benefit you?

And how about putting permanent links in the sidebar?

[Y. Knott]

Are those things in the jar at the end of the bar eggs?

They're eyes - don't ask whose... Ping!

[David]

Are those things in the jar at the end of the bar eggs?

It’s as good a guess as any.

[David]

How can we estimate how well our purchases benefit you?

5% of what you pay.

[David]

Ping!

Bless you, sir. May your in-laws be a pleasure, not a chore.

[David]

I’m thinking of expanding the range of bar food to include hearty home-cooked dinners.

Depending on demand.

[pst314]

or for Amazon US via this link

There is a different link at the top of the right-hand sidebar labeled "For Amazon US use this link". Problem?

[David]

Problem?

Either should be fine.

[anon a mouse]

Depending on demand.

Hmmm. Those depends look a bit, well... used.

Ok, back to breakfast!

[David]

Oh, come now.

How hard can it be?

[John D]

How hard can it be?

Er what the hell is that?

[John D]

Also ping.

[David]

Er what the hell is that?

It’s… party food. Obviously.

Also ping.

Bless you, sir. May every sleep be deep and restorative. None of this half-arsed ‘just dozing’ crap.

[anon a mouse]

Er what the hell is that?

Clearly, it's good for 10 people, regardless.

*hits amazon linky*

[David]

*hits amazon linky*

Bless you. May you never know boredom.

[Daniel Ream]

5% of what you pay.

The girlfriend has been making noises about a new Xbox.

[pst314]

Er what the hell is that?

"The English conquered half the world...looking for something better to eat.

It’s… party food. Obviously.

[ Revises post-lockdown travel plans ]

Clearly, it's good for 10 people, regardless.

Not necessarily for the 10 people who eat it, though.

[Y. Knott]

"... to include hearty home-cooked dinners..."

So, leftovers then - all mixed together and indifferently heated, a la microwave. Every night the same old thing... :(

Just remember - depending on length of stay in the refrigerator, of course - if it wasn't green when it went in the fridge and it is now, it isn't served to the paying clientele... ;)

[David]

The girlfriend has been making noises about a new Xbox.

And you can’t put a price on love, you know. And bless you, sir. May your Sunday afternoon activities be more engaging than sorting out and discarding baggy, expired undergarments.

[pst314]

*hits amazon linky*

So how is the rickety barge doing? Floating high, I trust?

[pst314]

if it wasn't green when it went in the fridge and it is now...

Sounds almost like a line from The Odd Couple.

[Uma Thurmond's Feet]

I've made a couple of purchases these past few days, but I'm not sure if they'll register. So if you see a KingKong 7131 grill cover, you know they're still registering purchases. Of course, I did the shopping first, closed the browser, reopened it then used your link, and maybe they don't like that, but the Zon's ways are mysterious and ineffable.

[David]

So how is the rickety barge doing? Floating high, I trust?

Well, it’s still here, after…

[ Looks at watch. ]

Almost fifteen years.

[ComputerLabRat]

Since I never did get to the Amazon shopping for myself that I planned to do the last time around, I've used that horrid PayPal thingie with all my real info /gulp

I still plan to use the Amazon US link to do my Christmas shopping (and get me a good pair of work boots) in the next week, but here's a little extra to make up for my slacking last month.

Your blog has been a haven since the new regime took over - even the most deranged art and articles are presented with wit and humor. Your commenters are the most civil (and interesting) bunch I've read. This is the first and only blog I've ever donated to.

Happy Christmas, David.

[PaulF]

Daniel: The girlfriend has been making noises about a new Xbox.

But are the noises along the lines of, "don't you DARE buy one!" ?

[David]

I’ve used that horrid PayPal thingie

Bless you. May you never know the need for a nose-hair trimmer.

[ Strokes beloved PayPal thingie. ]

[pst314]

[ Gives thanks that David isn't stroking the Red Button. ]

[pst314]

Rule Britannia on a trumpet sounds like a Christmas Carol.

[pst314]

Awww: Cat trying to catch snowflakes.

[H]

Consider yourself pinged.

[David]

Consider yourself pinged.

Bless you, sir. May the relevant attachment never be structurally overwhelmed by the volume of potatoes and the enthusiasm of your mashing.

#TrueStory

[Daniel Ream]

But are the noises along the lines of, "don't you DARE buy one!" ?

More along the lines of "...so you need an XBox One to play the other Forza Horizon games?"

My Xbox 360 found its way to her place for winter entertainment, and after watching me play Forza Horizon for a bit she asked if she could try.

The minx is now significantly better than me and has 100%ed the first one. Although she still can't manage the rear-wheel drive muscle cars for sh!t so my masculinity is intact. It amuses me to beat her Lamborghini LP-400 Aventador with an upgraded Mustang Shelby Cobra GT 500.

After seeing the first few minutes of Forza Horizon 2 on my Xbox One X she started making noises.

[Thork]

A small tip in recognition for such an enjoyable establishment.

[David]

The girlfriend has been making noises about a new Xbox.

Speaking of games, in Hades’ Star news, the corporation I belong to came seventh, out of hundreds, in the latest red star event. Not too shabby.

[David]

A small tip in recognition for such an enjoyable establishment.

Bless you, sir. May you never have a day in which you’re continually out of step with the time-outs of your various laptops, phones, wireless mice, etc.

[Directrix Gazer]

May the relevant attachment never be structurally overwhelmed by the volume of potatoes and the enthusiasm of your mashing.

I've lost more cooking utensils than I like to admit to such enthusiasm. Here's a little something to help with replacements.

*Ping*

[David]

*Ping*

Bless you, sir. Should you own a hamster, may it not embark on a five-year mission to gnaw into pieces your bathroom floor mat and relocate said pieces into its nest as upscale bedding material.

[pst314]

Should you own a hamster, may it not embark on a five-year mission...

James Tiberius Hamster?

[David]

James Tiberius Hamster?

Well, it’s certainly bold, given the availability of bedding materials that are supposedly irresistible to hamsters, but which are oddly neglected in favour of my (now bald and rather shabby-looking) John Lewis bath mat. And by my calculations, it would take roughly five years or so for the creature to relocate said mat, or what remains of it, to his nest.

[David]

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.

And if anyone has trouble with comments not appearing, email me, top left, and I’ll jiggle the spam filter. Which is sometimes capricious.

[pst314]

Well, it’s certainly bold...

[pst314]

Well deserved:

[pst314]

Turner Prize nominees.

[pst314]

Inspired by Terry Pratchett? Or vice-versa? Beer made from peas and cabbage.

[Bad News Quillan]

Kai-ching. Also blub.

--Bad News (from watery British Columbia)

[Daniel Ream]

Inspired by Terry Pratchett? Or vice-versa?

Human beings will make shine out of anything that ferments.

[pst314]

Even when they shouldn't. :-)

[Ellen in GA]

A ping for the entertainment. Thank you!

[pst314]

Anyone here who has read carefully and critically about criticisms of Fauci's involvement in the AIDS crisis, back in the 80's/90's?

[anon a mouse]

"criticisms of Fauci's involvement in the AIDS crisis, back in the 80's/90's?"

A bit. What's to know that already isn't? He played the "oracle from above" role well. Often wrong, but hey...

Purely my $.02, but much of the criticisms leveled by activists were so general in nature that they could (and were) aimed at every part of the AIDS/HIV tale.
(yeah, I sat thru a Larry Kramer speech...)

[pst314]

What's to know that already isn't?

My problem is that I don't remember much, and I didn't bother to read deeply at the time, being content, more or less, with the knowledge that the simple traditional public health measures such as contact tracing and refraining from promiscuous risky behavior worked well.

They're blaming Fauci for the AIDS crisis over at Instapundit, at least partly on the grounds that he refused to endorse or approve treatments other than AZT--and AZT was very toxic--but I never learned anything about other treatments and what little I've seen so far on the internet seems so rhetorically over-the-top that I do not trust it.

He played the "oracle from above" role well.

An all-too-common sin, pride.

much of the criticisms leveled by activists were so general in nature

What stuck with me from back then were (1) "AZT costs too much", (2) AIDS research is not getting enough funding, and (3) "closing the bathhouses is oppression"--although I do not recall if Fauci called for that.

[pst314]

I could comment that over-the-top rhetoric does not tend to inspire confidence in the honesty and reliability of the speaker, but then I remember all the TV personalities that get rich with hysterical personas.

[aelfheld]

Beer made from peas and cabbage.

I recall once reading of heather beer, brewed by the Norse in England.

BTW, *ping*

[Directrix Gazer]

I had some heather beer, years ago. It was excellent.

[Ed Snack]

PST, Fauci was one of those spreading FUD about HIV, “it’s going to kill us all, not just homosexuals but everyone…” Not the only one of course, also reiterated by medical authorities in a number of countries who were, for what ever reason, trying to screw up the fear factor to 11; maybe to get more funding or just to look important ?

[pst314]

Fauci was one of those spreading FUD about HIV, “it’s going to kill us all, not just homosexuals but everyone…”

I believe he actually said that it might be transmissible through casual, non-intimate contact--based on a study which he hadn't bothered to actually read--but that he soon afterwards withdrew that claim when other researchers corrected him.

But his statements got amplified by the news media who know that fear sells, and by gay activist organizations which very much wanted to spread FUD as a way to get lots more funding. I remember seeing "everyone is at risk" advertisements on buses and billboards, paid for by gay organizations.

When Michael Fumento published his book "The Myth of Heterosexual AIDS" leftists and gay activists attacked him as some sort of monster. Free-speech-loving bookstores refused to carry the book, including City Lights which boasted of its willingness to carry anything.

It's now going on 40 years later and what he said is still being hashed over, with people on certain blogs more or less yelling at each other.

[Darleen]

[slides envelope across bar, rings bell]

A little something for some Christmas deco to liven up the place.

BTW ... as the year draws to the close, there seems to be a last-minute rush for Stupidest Person On the Nets Award.

[Darleen]

maybe to get more funding or just to look important ?

Embrace the power of "and".

[David]

Kai-ching.

A ping for the entertainment.

BTW, *ping*

[slides envelope across bar, rings bell]

Bless you, sirs, and bless you, madams. May implausibly convenient everyday noises obscure the sound of your farts.

[David]

Rest easy.

‘Tis done.

[Farnsworth M Muldoon]

...a last-minute rush for Stupidest Person On the Nets Award.

Seconded.

"It is actually pretty decent inside," Bell says. "Being put in an area like [a cotton field] unexpectedly as a Black person does trigger you a little bit and makes you feel uncomfortable."..."city folks are not weird, cotton fields is [sic] not normal"

In this neck of the civilized states, yes cotton fields are indeed normal and, in fact, I know some black people who own them, and no, it is not a "plantation", but the bales in the background mean it is a working field. Huntsville is not exactly big cotton country anyway, this nitwit needs to be taken over to the Mississippi delta where she can totally decompensate.

[David]

The girlfriend has been making noises about a new Xbox.

I’ll just leave this here.

[anon a mouse]

at least partly on the grounds that he refused to endorse or approve treatments other than AZT--and AZT was very toxic

A bit of an understatement there...

IIRC (I was involved w/a group handling some of the press at the time), the big issue over meds was a mix of availability and effectiveness - and there were several anti pneumonia drugs widely available that had a good, but not perfect, track record. Fauci went "nuclear" over them (and in claiming that "everyone" was a potential victim) in favor of BW's AZT (cancer drug withdrawn for the unfortunate side effect of killing a number of patients), a tactic that he seems to be repeating … again.
One must also point out that he and a number of associates seemed to gather a good deal of wealth during that "official government favor for one company" period - but no one seemed to investigate. Purely a coincidence, I'm sure.

[Alice]

Tip jar hit.

Depending on demand.

I'll pass on the bar snacks, thanks.

[David]

Tip jar hit.

Bless you, madam. When washing your hair, may you feel the difference of a good conditioner.

I’ll pass on the bar snacks, thanks.

[ Chases after Alice with steaming plate. ]

[pst314]

[ Chases after Alice with steaming plate. ]

[ Vicarious trauma intensifies. ]

[Darleen]

In this neck of the civilized states, yes cotton fields are indeed normal

Evidently, she's from California and is, indeed, city folk and has never had the curiosity to travel more than 30-40 miles inland from the coast as cotton has been a staple crop in CA since at least the early 1900s.

The big divide in this state isn't north/south but coastal/inland.

It also concerns me that so many people have no clue on the origins of the regular, normal things they use every day. From a box of cereal in the grocery store to the [cotton] underwear on their bodies. It all just appears, fully made, like magic.

[David]

[ Vicarious trauma intensifies. ]

[ Returns from far end of street, still clutching plate. ]

She can move fast when she’s motivated.

[aelfheld]

[ Chases after Alice with steaming plate. ]

"Try it! You'll like it!"

*chuckles from the other end of the bar*

[Farnsworth M Muldoon]

Evidently, she's from California...

She also noted that feeling the “urge” to pick the cotton...

cough Bullshit. cough Aside from tourists and damnyankees driving through the back roads and helping themselves to souvenir bolls from some guy's field, it hasn't been picked by hand around here for about 80 years.

Bell received several comments from people who were “uncomfortable” by the scene.

“The fact that ppl don’t see why this is uncomfortable,” someone wrote.

“It’s gatta be very much haunted with curses and bad energy. I’m concerned,” another added.

Wait till these curd brains find out about that von Braun guy after whom many things in Huntsville are named...

[WTP]

Pinged. And if I might also contribute in a non-monetary manner as well, here's a fun game to play with a loved one who is really, really bad at tongue-twisters. When asked "Did you use the shredded cheddar cheese on the burgers?", pretend to not understand when the phrase "shredded cheddar" is mangled. Ask "shredded what?", or "What kind of cheese?" so that they must continue to try to repeat the phrase. When this finally becomes tiresome, wait until later in the evening, preferably after an after-dinner cocktail and ask, "Damn, those burgers were good. I think it was the cheese. What kind of cheese was it that you gave me to use?" If they get mad, point out that you were simply doing what they asked for. Then drop it. Then wait until bed, just before sleep mutter in a very, very sleepy voice "Shredded cheddar...mmm..."

[David]

Pinged.

Bless you, sir. May your chunky breaded fillets indeed be chunky by anyone’s definition.

[anon a mouse]

Chases after Alice with steaming plate.

Does it serve 10?

[David]

here’s a fun game to play with a loved one who is really, really bad at tongue-twisters.

I’m guessing you must spend a lot of time sleeping in the neighbour’s garage.

[WTP]

My problem is that I don't remember much, and I didn't bother to read deeply at the time, being content, more or less, with the knowledge that the simple traditional public health measures such as contact tracing and refraining from promiscuous risky behavior worked well.

Here is all you need to know about information you may have received via the media or anyone regarding the AIDS crisis or anything else for that matter:
1) Magic Johnson, the most famous basketball player and one of the most famous athletes/celebrities in the world, contracted AIDS
2) In the NBA Championships the preceding year (or whatever) against the Detroit Pistons, Magic and Isiah Thomas met at center court before each game and kissed each other on the lips.
3) Everyone pretends these two things have nothing to do with each other and that Magic got AIDS via heterosexual sex.

-----

I’m guessing you must spend a lot of time sleeping in the neighbour’s garage.

Well, the couch. But only after the dog decides at 5 AM that, regardless of our now covid-driven retirement status, 5 AM is still breakfast time.

[WTP]

I had some heather beer, years ago. It was excellent.

I had Heather serve me beer, years ago. Heather was excellent. Don't tell the wife or I could be sleeping in the neighbor's garage. I keeeed, I keeeed. We're not too keen on each other. The neighbors, that is.

[Darleen]

A small announcement ...

In the wee hours of this morning (California time), grandson Sean winged his way from San Diego to the Chicago area where he is now reporting in at the Naval Recruit Training Command Great Lakes.

He has wanted to join the Navy since middle school and was JROTC since 9th grade. He graduated in June and a little over a month ago took all the tests, got his desired slot as Navy corpsman and enlisted. Sean starts boot today and will be going to Texas for A school next year.

I'm now a Navy grandma!

[WTP]

It also concerns me that so many people have no clue on the origins of the regular, normal things they use every day. From a box of cereal in the grocery store to the [cotton] underwear on their bodies. It all just appears, fully made, like magic.

Socialism is a cargo cult. The more socialism, the more of this disconnect we see.

As for cotton, driving south from north GA to FL every year on I-75, a main artery for people coming to FL/Disney, the interstate passes through numerous cotton fields. They generally are not producing/showing cotton until around October/November. One of our favorite stops, especially in the fall, is at mile marker 109 at a place called "Ellis Brothers Pecans". They sell all kinds of nuts, many different flavored pecans, walnuts, peanuts, etc. Across the street is a large cotton farm, however most of their cotton is grown on the massive acreage far from the road. Though they do grow a small patch of cotton across from the pecan store that makes for a very nice photo opportunity.

[Steve E]

1) Magic Johnson, the most famous basketball player and one of the most famous athletes/celebrities in the world, contracted AIDS

Not to put too fine a point on it, but Magic Johnson contracted HIV the term AIDS is used when the immune system has been severely damaged. Johnson is HIV-undetectable which means his viral load is so low as to be undetectable and cannot be passed on by having sex.

And yes, HIV can be passed on during heterosexual sex. I know. Five years after divorcing my first wife I got a phone call from her telling me she had contracted HIV. This call came three months after my marriage to my second wife and caused a lot of turmoil in my life though not nearly the turmoil it caused for my ex-wife who had a child born with HIV. She got it through sex with her child's father (who also had a drug problem).

I thankfully do not have HIV but my ex has lived with it for 28 years. So, while it is far less common, heterosexual sex can indeed lead to HIV.

[WTP]

And yes, HIV can be passed on during heterosexual sex. I know. Five years after divorcing my first wife I got a phone call from her telling me she had contracted HIV. This call came three months after my marriage to my second wife and caused a lot of turmoil in my life though not nearly the turmoil it caused for my ex-wife who had a child born with HIV. She got it through sex with her child's father (who also had a drug problem).

Oh, I totally agree that women can contract HIV/AIDS/whatwecallitnow via heterosexual sex. Men getting it from women (or "women"...no, women...had it right the first time), not so much. This leads to (yet another) one of my cricket-inducing points. When this subject comes up...and again, naturally...not over Thanksgiving dinner or such...where people speak about it in a normal discussion...I bring the crickets with this, to me bloody obvious point...The nature of sexual activity, any sexual activity involving a man (sperm producer, whatever), there is a significant amount of DNA carrying material (aka something known as "sperm") produced and deposited somewhere inside, somewhat deep inside, the other person's body. That other person being either a man or a woman. The person at greatest risk of catching a disease like AIDS is the person in whom said material is being...mmm...deposited. This idea that genetic carrying material is commonly, just as naturally, with similar volume risk, making its way back, deep into the...shall we say "pitcher's" anatomy is absurd. Not saying it's impossible. But it's absurd to say these things are anywhere near equivalent. But this idea of general heterosexual transmission of AIDS/HIV amongst any subpopulation of completely heterosexual couples, and especially going from females into males, again based solely on sex, not blood transfusions, etc....well we've had 40 years worth of statistics on this. If men who were not on the "down-low" as they say, were just as susceptible, I think it would be quite obvious by now. But scaring the crap out of society in general certainly is a lot more fun for the "heroes work here" crowd.

[Farnsworth M Muldoon]

So, while it is far less common, heterosexual sex can indeed lead to HIV.

She got it through sex with her child's father (who also had a drug problem).

Said problem, transfusion acquired infection hovering around zero in the developed countries, is the primary means of transmission among strict heterosexuals (as opposed to heterosexual sex involving a bisexual individual or other high-risk, e.g., an unregulated prostitute, heterosexual). The virus does not spring forth de novo in anyone, when corrected for population the rate of HIV infection in strict heterosexuals is, at least according to CDC numbers, minuscule compared to high risk groups.

[pst314]

Evidently, she's from California and is, indeed, city folk and has never had the curiosity to travel more than 30-40 miles inland from the coast as cotton has been a staple crop in CA since at least the early 1900s.

The big divide in this state isn't north/south but coastal/inland.

Victor Davis Hanson has written about that. At length. He could enlighten her, but she would probably not like it.

[pst314]

She also noted that feeling the “urge” to pick the cotton...

Has she internalized crazy General Steele?

[pst314]

it hasn't been picked by hand around here for about 80 years.

"I'm gonna jump down, turn around, make myself a fool..."

[pst314]

grandson Sean winged his way from San Diego to the Chicago area where he is now reporting in at the Naval Recruit Training Command Great Lakes.

Congratulations! But make sure he knows about all the shootings and carjackings in Chicago, especially downtown and in the nightclub districts.

[pst314]

Oh, I totally agree that women can contract HIV/AIDS/whatwecallitnow via heterosexual sex...

Remember the African "anti-racism" activist who knowingly infected numerous women?

...Men getting it from women (or "women"...no, women...had it right the first time), not so much...

Back in the late 80's a female coworker mentioned with a big smile on her face that it was virtually impossible to get HIV from oral sex. A couple decades later I could have gotten a lucrative sexual harassment settlement out of that. :-D

...But scaring the crap out of society in general certainly is a lot more fun for the "heroes work here" crowd.

Chiefly the political arm of the "heroes work here" crowd, I suspect.

[Darleen]

But make sure he knows about all the shootings and carjackings in Chicago, especially downtown and in the nightclub districts.

Oh, he knows. But it is irrelevant as basic training means he doesn't get to leave the base. At all. Indeed, the only outside communication allowed will be old-fashioned snail mail. No electronic devices, including cell phones, allowed.

He'll have a 1-day pass upon graduation but only if escorted by a family member. Then he flies out the next day to Texas.

[pst314]

I do not understand the English and the names they give foods and restaurants.

[ccscientist]

That a POC would get trauma from passing a cotton field is...precious. My grandfather was an alcoholic--would anyone expect me to be traumatized passing a liquor store? Of course not. Slavery was ended 160 yrs ago. Blacks were indeed sharecroppers for a long time after that, but so were whites. Most jobs in 1900 were pretty traumatic. Construction workers and coal miners died on a regular basis. Trauma is not hereditary.

[pst314]

That a POC would get trauma from passing a cotton field is...precious.

It's how she finds meaning and purpose.