It’s time for another classic pulp image by Verne Tossey. The femme fatale on the cover may be ruthless but she’s well put together. 1956’s A Night For Treason was an early book by John Jakes who became famous for … Continue reading Pulp Fiction Thursday: A Night For Treason
Adrastos on the Alabama lege’s frontal assault on abortion rights. Continue reading Alabama Goddam
Gret Stet Grifter meets the Insult Comedian. Continue reading Tweet Of The Day: Gret Stet Sycophant Edition
I did a search for Doris Day album covers. They were all flattering head shots and not terribly interesting. The cover of the soundtrack album of Love Me Or Leave Me was as atypical as her performance as torch singer … Continue reading Album Cover Art Wednesday: Love Me Or Leave Me
Fox News is a hate-for-profit racket that gives a megaphone to racists and conspiracy theorists. I won’t ask Democratic primary voters to tune into an outlet that profits from racism and hate in order to see our candidates. Sign up now to join me and take a stand. — Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) May 14, 2019 We are spending endless amounts of money creating tools to try to increase trust in journalism and trust in politics and reduce misinformation and divisiveness and partisanship and ALL OF IT IS A FUCKING WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY THAT COULD BE DEVOTED TO THE … Continue reading I Think Elizabeth Warren Just Got My Primary Vote
This man is out there making gorgeous music, that speaks to how hard and hopeless everything seems, and how you get up and do the damn job anyway. I had the good fortune to meet him at a show last fall, during a torrential downpour, like a 7-year rainstorm. He was playing a show in the upstairs of a small bar on the north side of the city and I got there like an hour early because I’m a huge dork so that gave me plenty of time to try not to look like a huge dork and think of … Continue reading Not Everything Sucks
Doris Day, 1922-2019. Continue reading Doris Day, R.I.P.
Adrastos on why you shouldn’t believe early polls or MSM hype. Continue reading Memories Of The Muskie Administration
Hello, sports fans! Well, The Darnold seems determined to do to our economy what he did to the Taj Mahal casino, so let’s get right to the mayhem!
US tariffs on China jump
CNBC ^ | 10 May 2019 | Jacob Pramuk | Everett RosenfeldPosted on 5/10/2019, 12:09:09 AM by BeauBo
The Trump administration is hiking duties on $200 billion worth of Chinese products to 25% from 10%… Industries and businesses affected by the tariff hike will not feel the effect right away: it will apply to goods exported after May 10, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. It will not affect products already in transit to the United States. Trump has prepared to put even more pressure on China as he pushes for an agreement. The president has threatened to slap 25% tariffs on $325 billion in Chinese goods that remain untaxed.
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This is going to rip whole industries out of China, if they don’t make a deal – but they may just not be able to.
Nah – they’ll just subsidize any affected industries with state resources, just like they always have. They can probably only afford to do this for 15-20 years, though.
This is a big deal, and Chinese markets should take it hard on the chin when they open.
To: BeauBo
While a agree with Trumps actions here. It is going to be painful for our 401k accounts. I’ve lost 25% of the gains I have made this year already this week. I have painful memories of being up 11% in October of 2018 only to be down 1% for the year in December. I hope that does not happen again. Then again, I don’t need to access my 401k until about 2023. So should be recovered by then, provided we don’t elect another obama.
3 posted on 5/10/2019, 12:32:07 AM by JoSixChip (Trump stands alone.)
To: MtnClimber
I don’t know.
I think the Chinese should be punished for going back on the original aggreements.
Trump should enact 25% tariffs on everything as a new baseline, but should then announce they are going to 100% in a month, 200% in two months, then 500% in three months.
THEN start negotiating from there.
We do not repeal the 25% tariffs, ever.
8 posted on 5/10/2019, 12:47:32 AM by cba123 ( Toi la nguoi My. Toi bay gio o Viet Nam.)
To: BeauBoChina says they will retaliate – but there is not $200 billion of US imports remaining to them to raise tariffs on. This round is the end of equivalent tit for tat exchanges of tariffs.China is running out of ammo. The next (final) round, if imposed, would be largely one sided, and would likely send
Chineseour markets into crisis,theirour economy into recession, and risk a debt and/or asset bubble and/or currency crisis.
To: BeauBoChina is running out of ammo.
They could recall the US debt we have to them. That would do some damage.
To: JoSixChip
Continue reading “Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – World’s Biggest Losers edition”
Spoilers within.
Continue reading “A Cat of a Different Coat: Game of Thrones Thread”
Everybody say I’M SO SORRY I WAS SUCH A SHITTY KID, MOM, HERE’S A ROOMBA today: This year’s guides suggest in their sometimes admirable, sometimes obligatory, attempts at semi-wokeness that Mom has her own life, they know! Which is why she needs this Roomba. Hey, she does a lotta stuff! Which is why she needs a face mask for those eye bags. The mom of today, as rendered by these guides, is “on the go,” “multitasking,” “out and about,” and “living her life.” But she’s also “stressed out,” “really needs a vacation,” and would like this bottle of wine with a label reading, “WINE BECAUSE KIDS.” … Continue reading Mommy Martyr Day Sucks
It’s been a good news, silly news week in New Orleans. I’m a good news first person: with the help of Governor Edwards, Mayor LaToya Cantrell has secured millions in tourism money to help fix our aging infrastructure. Here’s what I mean by aging infrastructure:
This is what a water line pipe looks like from 1905. And it’s also how it looks when it breaks. This is what’s under a majority of New Orleans’ roads. pic.twitter.com/clwQpyWdFW
— David Bernard (@DavidBernardTV) May 4, 2019
In silly local news, the Krewe of Nyx is planning a summer parade. Just what we needed: a sweaty-n-steamy faux Carnival parade. This is why I call them the krewe of mediocre themes and bad ideas. The only good thing is that they won’t be sweat-rolling on the traditional parade route near Adrastos World HQ. It’s a terrible idea: the allure of Carnival is enhanced by its seasonality. This is like eating oysters in a month without an R. Shorter Adrastos: Nix on Nyx.
Motown May continues with this week’s theme song. Stevie Wonder wrote You Haven’t Done Nothin’ in 1974 in response to the news of the day: Watergate. That’s right, it’s about Nixon. I’ve used it before but never as an Odds & Sods theme song. Since we’re in a slow-motion constitutional crisis, it works. Just think of Trump instead of Tricky Dick.
We have two versions for your listening pleasure: Stevie’s original and a 2018 cover by Roger Daltrey.
Now that we’ve trashed talked Tricky-n-Trumpy, let’s jump to the break.
Continue reading “Saturday Odds & Sods: You Haven’t Done Nothin’”
A surprise bris? Oy, just oy. Continue reading Headline Of The Day: Surprise, Surprise
The Insult Comedian gave another bonkers presser yesterday. Since he’s into threatening to prosecute his enemies, he went after John Kerry for alleged violations of the Logan Act: “I’d like to see — with Iran, I’d like to see them … Continue reading Tweets Of The Day: Athenae’s Boyfriend Edition
Paul Drake’s love of boxes and bags is well known. Sometimes I think he’s spying on us for an unknown power. This is one of those times: Continue reading Friday Catblogging: International Cat Of Mystery
An early high point of the Katrina/Federal Flood recovery era was when the Boss played the first Jazz Fest after the storm. It was one of the best sets I’ve ever seen. It closed in a way that guaranteed there wasn’t a dry eye at the Fairgrounds: Continue reading Not Everything Sucks: Springsteen At Jazz Fest 2006
Adrastos on the after-effects of the Dispirit of 2016. Continue reading Bollocks To Brexit
Dig this crazy cover by Verne Tossey: Continue reading Pulp Fiction Thursday: I Die Possessed
It’s Trump’s money that matters. Continue reading Case Closed?
A friend of mine recently criticized me for rarely posting heavy metal covers in this feature. It’s true: I’m not a fan of the music BUT the genre does have its share of cool covers. This week’s entry is one … Continue reading Album Cover Art Wednesday: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Do it. I dare you: Can’t transport more than 2 non-family voters unless you fill out a form identifying them and affirming they “are physically unable to enter the polling place without personal assistance or likelihood of injuring their health.” I dare you: Texas Sen. Bryan Hughes’ new bill, S. Bill 9, will disallow driving of elderly, disabled, or poor people to the polls. It would ban efforts with vans full of elderly from nursing homes, disabled people, poor people who don’t have cars, would be illegal in Texas. I dare you: A bill currently making its way through the … Continue reading Tell Me Again How Both Parties Are The Same
There’s a “bunny archive” full of stuff like this: bunny reunion pic.twitter.com/GV4EmCTney — bunnies! (@bunnyarchive) May 2, 2019 A. Continue reading Not Everything Sucks
I took a mental health break from political news and social media this weekend. We attended a Kentucky Derby party at the home of some friends who hail from the Bluegrass State. I drank too much Bourbon from our host’s … Continue reading F Is For Fluid
OK – you good people know I’m a memehead, and since The Darnold’s complete and utter failure “negotiating” with Kim Jong Un has just borne even more bitter fruit – I hereby present a “Obsession” post composed entirely of memes.
(BREAKING) N. Korea Launches Short Range Missile Toward Japan Sea (90 min. ago)
Sankei Shimbun Tokyo in Japanese ^ | Sankei ShimbunPosted on 5/3/2019, 8:48:06 PM by AmericanInTokyo
Basically leading with short dispatches saying the North Koreans did this at around 0906 am local Saturday (8:06 pm eastern USA) in Korea/Japan, about 90 minutes ago, into the Sea of Japan, traveling 70 to 200 kilometers from a launch site near Wonsan on DPRK east coast.
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As we have said about these people from day one. Untrustworthy. Brigands. Incorrigible. Irredeemable. Worthy of neither praise nor friendship.
To: AmericanInTokyo
What if Japan launched some missiles that fell into the sea a few miles off the coast of NK?
4 posted on 5/3/2019, 8:51:07 PM by Pearls Before Swine ( “It’s always a party when you’re eating the seed corn.”)
To: AmericanInTokyo
[ (BREAKING) N. Korea Launches Intermediate Range Missile Toward Japan Sea (90 min. ago) ]
Here we go…
Guess he’s going back to his old methods………
5 posted on 5/3/2019, 8:53:43 PM by SaveFerris (Luke 17:28 … as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold ……)
To: AmericanInTokyo
To: gaijin
Not really. It’s self generated. It’s all internal. They did this under Bush. Clinton, Obama. Trump. Party does not matter to them.
It is a tantrum.
They want stuff.
The issue always is, to avoid peninsular nuclear war, will Washington give them something as they always have.
He’s waiting.
20 posted on 5/3/2019, 9:05:25 PM by AmericanInTokyo
To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget
I do not trust anyone fully. And I verify and reality check everyone. I don’t care which party or president. While largely a Democrat Party tool, appeasement and cajoling of threatening dictators has not been the sole exclusive 200% territory of the Donks. Just wait and see. Will soon see if it’s tighter strangling sanctions, boarding of illicit Mirth Korean smuggling craft on the high seas, or more “love letters.”
25 posted on 5/3/2019, 9:12:32 PM by AmericanInTokyo
Continue reading “Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – It’s all about meme edition”
Via Nancydrewed, TIMMY THE GOAT! Timmy, 8 months old, and Hanson, a senior at East Valley High School, were both competing for the first time – an experience that wouldn’t be possible if Hanson hadn’t spearheaded the effort to create a class at her high school last year that taught such skills. “I pushed the school board for a long time to start it,” Hanson said. “Once people started to learn about it and what you can do, it caused interest.” The class, called Livestock Production and Development, is the first and only of its kind in the school. It … Continue reading Not Everything Sucks: Livestock Class!
I’ve written before about how much it costs to pay for these supposed geniuses who are completely insane pervert assholes, but apropos of this: Halperin has lost millions of dollars in income. He was fired from Showtime’s The Circus; Penguin abandoned a planned book on the 2016 presidential campaign, co-authored by his longtime writing partner John Heilemann; and HBO nixed a television project based on that canceled book. “I am deeply sorry and hope to have a chance to apologize directly to those I treated badly. It is the right and necessary thing to do,” Halperin said in a statement to … Continue reading What Do Shitty Media Men Add?
Jazz Fest is in its second weekend. I used to love this event, but it’s like an ex-girlfriend who I still like but am not always eager to see. It’s become just another pop/roots rock/kinda sorta jazz festival in the last decade, which has made me lukewarm about attending. I broke up with Jazz Fest a few years ago and have an awkward relationship with it. I still may go this weekend but the thrill is gone, y’all.
In other New Orleans news, a water main broke a few miles from Adrastos World HQ. We had no water pressure for a few hours and are still under a boil water advisory. The pipe was laid in 1905. I should make a crude joke at this point but I try to ignore my inner Beavis and Butthead.
This week we celebrate the music of Marvin Gaye who would have turned 80 on April 2nd, which was the day that the USPS issued the Marvin Gaye stamp. I remember the dark day in 1984 when I heard about Marvin’s death at the hands of his father. It was April Fool’s day so I wondered briefly if the news was a cruel hoax. It was not. I even shed a few tears. I rarely cry but I wept that day. Rage, jealousy, and firearms are a toxic combination. For Marvin, they were fatal.
This week’s theme song was the title track of Marvin’s best album. We have two versions of What’s Going On for your listening pleasure: Marvin’s original followed by a swell 1986 cover by Cyndi Lauper who really rocks Marvin’s composition.
Now that we’ve seen what’s going on, let’s jump to the break with our eyes wide open. I’ll skip the obvious Kubrick joke.
Seven years of slow motion seppuku culminated in the sale of the Times-Picayune/NOLA.com to the owners of the upstart Advocate. Seppuku is a ritual form of suicide that involves self-disembowelment and bleeding out. That’s exactly what happened at the Times-Pic as a series of stupid business decisions led to its sale to the competition. Did I say stupid? I meant wicked stupid. That’s why I call it the Zombie Picayune. Once again, a newspaper staff is suffering at the hands of the suits. The TP/NOLA.com staff were laid-off. Some will be hired by the Advocate company, others will not be … Continue reading The New Orleans Advocate-Times-Picayune?
Della Street meets Neil Finn. Continue reading Friday Catblogging: Mat Cats