Digging In The Dirt
This time you’ve gone too far. I told ya, I told ya, I told ya. Continue reading Digging In The Dirt
Month: April 2020
Project Novel: Tongue In The Mail, Chapters 18 &19
There’s big news in this installment: an arrest has been made in *one* of the law school murders. Guy Zeringue the white supremacist frat boy is charged with the murder of Bill Sutton, former news hound and legendary gossip. Our narrator is dubious after attending the news conference announcing the arrest. You should be too. When did the most obvious subject ever do it? Unless, that is, he’s the butler. There are no butlers in Tongue In The Mail. I didn’t have the budget.
In Chapter 19, it’s graduation day for our law students. We meet the parents of some of our characters and our narrator begins to think the unthinkable. To know what the hell I’m talking about, read this entry.
I’ve been asked if the characters are all based on real people. Many are but others are not. Ironically, I know many cops and media people but that didn’t happen until the 21st Century. The media and police characters are all figments of my imagination.
There’s only one musical shout-out in this installment. You should be able to guess what inspired it:
Another day, another Squeeze song.
A reminder that you can catch up on Project Novel by clicking here.
Our story continues after the break.
Continue reading “Project Novel: Tongue In The Mail, Chapters 18 &19”
Quote Of The Day: Six Feet Under Edition
It’s long been a minor mystery to me as to why Alan Ball’s brilliant HBO series Six Feet Under is so underrated. It was set in a Los Angeles funeral home and ran for 63 episodes from 2001-2005. The funeral … Continue reading Quote Of The Day: Six Feet Under Edition
Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – fit hits the shan edition
My goodness, constant readers – Freeperville is a mess just now.
Let’s start with the worst of it – the endless Freepathon isn’t doing very well for some reason :
Woo hoo!! And our 2nd quarter 2020 FReepathon roars back to life!! [Thread XIX]
Click here to donate via our new secure link: https://freerepublic.com/donate/ ^ | by Jim RobinsonPosted on 4/19/2020, 11:21:20 AM by Jim Robinson
Prayers up for all the families suffering from the impact of this virus. And we’re still praying that the spread starts fading with the warmer Spring weather and that an effective treatment and vaccine are developed before the next flu season starts. And we pray that our people are allowed to go back to work very soon and that our economy comes roaring back.
Meanwhile, we may be hurt and slowed down somewhat, but we have faith in the long-run that “what doesn’t kill us only makes us stronger.”
God willing, America will survive and we will survive and we know our efforts will always be needed. The fight for freedom is never ending. We must remain ever vigilant, especially during these dire times. The haters of God and His gift of Liberty never rest. They never let a crisis go to waste.
1 posted on 4/19/2020, 11:21:20 AM by Jim Robinson
Sounds like you’re having a little crisis of your own there, Jimbo.
Jim Rob likes to boost the Freepathon in its waning hours by posting the subscriptions all at once as if they were new rubes donations, and then (allegedly) just make shit up about late donations at the end to claim victory.
So, all he should have to do to rope in more suckers is post some fake news about donations to show that he’s ALMOST THERE, and prompt readers to part with some real money so he can get the grift going again. Right?
However – I think he knows that if he does a “money is pouring in” post, Freepers who suddenly find themselves in financial straits due to the COVID-19 hoax will just sit on their pocketbooks, secure in the belief that other Freepers are carrying their load.
Let’s see how many replies so far to the “hurt and slowed down” bleg.
Hmm.
Zero.
Interesting.
Woo Hoo indeed.
You may have to sell that RV, Jimbo.
Meanwhile, in racist enabling :
Georgia high school seniors expelled after posting racist viral video to social media
WSAV TV ^ | April 18, 2020 | WSAV StaffPosted on 4/19/2020, 7:27:45 AM by buckalfa
CARROLLTON, Ga. (WSAV) – Two Georgia high school seniors have been expelled and will reportedly not graduate after posting a racist video on social media.
Two seniors at Carrollton High School posted the video on TikTok on Thursday, where it quickly went viral and spread across other social media platforms. The video shows the two students using the n-word and saying derogatory things about African Americans.
The students, one boy and one girl, can be seen in a bathroom mimicking a cooking show using labeled cups of water.
“First, we have ‘black’,” the girl can be heard saying, as the boy pours a cup of water in the sink. “Next, we have ‘don’t have a dad’.”
The two then pour cups of water labeled “Eat watermelon and fried chicken”, “Rob people”, and “Go to jail” into the sink, and skip pouring a cup labeled “Make good choices.”
The students were quickly identified, and Carrollton City School District Superintendent Dr. Mark Albertus issued a statement Thursday night.
“Please know this video is being addressed immediately and any student involved in the production of this video will face serious consequences,” Albertus said.
The Freeperati want to know who’s responsible for this outrage!
To: buckalfa
To: buckalfa
Well, there ya go!
To: buckalfa
Power to da white people, baby!
To: olivia3boysMy school district in CA (San Ramon Valley Unified) just settled for $650,000 when sued for doing exactly this.Maybe these kids aren’t racist at all. Maybe they are geniuses and figured out a surefire way to get $650,000.
46 posted on 4/19/2020, 9:16:35 AM by The Toddler (He that tooteth not his own horn; The same shall not be tooted.)
Read more at the read more.
Continue reading “Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – fit hits the shan edition”
To Those Who Wanted a Disaster
In 2007, two years after Katrina’s waters receded, I went to New Orleans with a group of you all, at Scout’s behest, to gut a house and contribute, in however small a way, to the rebuilding of the city. As we drove from the airport I asked about the signs, spray-painted on the front of houses and buildings. The FEMA X denoting that a structure had been checked. It had been two years since the storm. When would they come down? Now I look around my neighborhood, at the signs in the windows made by children I used to see … Continue reading To Those Who Wanted a Disaster
Not Everything Sucks
Patti LuPone still exists, thankfully: Your kitchen looks nice, too. This is an antique butcher block, from “Sunset Boulevard,” that Andrew Lloyd Webber paid for and shipped home and doesn’t even know it! You absconded with an entire butcher’s block? And all the costumes! The first-act costume, with a turban, and a fabulous golden black thing? I just tucked them in my bag and left the theatre. You could swan around in them now. I feel like Norma Desmond would be good in isolation. That would be a fucking brilliant video. I have the sunglasses. I have the heels. You … Continue reading Not Everything Sucks
Saturday Odds & Sods: Gethsemane
Richard Thompson-Edward Hopper month continues. We begin with with a weather bulletin of sorts. Y’all are used to my weather obsession by now.
We had a cold front in New Orleans this week. Nighttime lows hovered around 50 several nights in a row. That may not sound like much to people from the frozen north but by our standards that’s cold for mid-April. Some locals whined about the cold, but I like it. Some folks just like to bitch. You know who you are; piss off out of my virtual kitchen.
Every time I search for Hopper paintings online, I’m told he was an “American realist” painter. That’s what he called himself, but his work is deeply weird. The painting above reminds me of Hitchcock’s Rear Window. I’ve never thought of Hitch as a realistic filmmaker even if regular guy Jimmy Stewart starred in that flick. His character was a laid-up photographer turned peeping tom. That’s weird, not realistic.
Sunday is Greek Easter, so I decided to pick a Richard Thompson tune with religious undertones. According to Mark and other bible dudes, Gethsemane was the garden at which Jesus prayed before his betrayal and arrest. It still exists and is a tourist attraction with an elaborate web site.
Gethsemane is also the title of this week’s theme song. It was written by Richard Thompson in 2003 for The Old Kit Bag. It’s an ominous sounding song that opens with this ominous verse.
“Among the headstones you played as boys
Crypts and tombs like a roomful of toys
Just up the river from the smoke and the noise
Gethsemane.”
We have two versions of Gethsemane for your listening pleasure: the studio original and a recent solo acoustic interpretation by the songwriter.
There’s also a song from Jesus Christ Superstar called Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say.) Here’s the original cast recording with Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan in the title role.
I suspect playing Jesus Christ Superstar was nothing like working with Ritchie Blackmore. They did, however, produce some swell music:
Christ on a cracker, that rocked.
All this talk of Jesus and betrayal reminds me of this Asia tune:
Let’s flee the garden and jump to the break.
Only The Lonely
Frank Sinatra and Roy Orbison meet The Motels. Continue reading Only The Lonely
Of Red Dawns, Unreliable Narrators & Putrid Protests
” It’s unreal, the suffering There’s gonna be a showdown.” Continue reading Of Red Dawns, Unreliable Narrators & Putrid Protests
Project Novel: Tongue In The Mail, Chapters 16 & 17
In this installment, our narrator goes back into the amateur shamus business and gets an ass chewing by the professional in charge of the investigation. The fourth victim of the law school murderer finally dies, which makes it a quartet of killings.
Nicholas is so down that he resorts to long hair music:
To fit my mood, I played the most depressing music that I could think of and slid Richard Strauss’s “Death and Transfiguration” into the CD player and punched the repeat button. Of course, Strauss intended the piece to be uplifting; only a German could think that death is an invigorating trip to Valhalla.
Cue Richard Strauss:
I thought I should bring some class to the joint.
A reminder that you can catch up on Project Novel by clicking here.
Our story continues after the break.
Continue reading “Project Novel: Tongue In The Mail, Chapters 16 & 17”
Friday Catblogging: Bagging It
This is the touching story of a boy and his bag. The bag originally contained two orders of boudin meatloaf cooked by our friend Chef Chris DeBarr at Revel. They’re no longer serving takeout but Paul Drake adopted the bag … Continue reading Friday Catblogging: Bagging It
Hiding Out
“I am safe hidden here.” Continue reading Hiding Out
Pulp Fiction Thursday: The Yellow Room
This is another one of those “I found this while searching for something else” PFT entries. The second cover is intriguing. Is it telling readers that this is a good book to read at the beach? There’s nary a yellow … Continue reading Pulp Fiction Thursday: The Yellow Room
Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
Duke Ellington would surely approve of this entry as it features some nifty piano playing and swinging horns. One abnormal feature of the new normal is the temporal confusion wreaked by the lockdown. People are used to knowing what time … Continue reading Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
I, Captain Bligh
Aye, aye to the latest Captain Bligh: Donald Trump. Continue reading I, Captain Bligh
Project Novel: Tongue In The Mail, Chapter 15
This is another long-ass chapter, which means it’s another stand alone installment. I want to keep you hungry for more as opposed to wearing you out with overkill verbiage. I don’t want my snappy dialogue to make you snap, crackle or even pop.
In this chapter, our narrator makes a major mistake after making a string of Hitchcock references. The events in this chapter are purely fictional much like the law school murders themselves.
Since part of this installment takes place in a Garden District carriage house, this Byrds classic gets a shout-out.
A reminder that you can catch up on Project Novel by clicking here.
Our story continues after the break.
Continue reading “Project Novel: Tongue In The Mail, Chapter 15”
Album Cover Art Wednesday: Alive and Well and Living In A Bitch Of A World
The word that sums up Wayne Cochran is outlandish. He had the biggest hair in rock and roll, influenced the Blues Brothers, and became a televangelist. Alive and Well and Living In A Bitch Of A World is the longest … Continue reading Album Cover Art Wednesday: Alive and Well and Living In A Bitch Of A World
Who’s Going to Stop Him?
I mean, David Frum and Rick Wilson are now heroes of La Resistance, can you blame Trump for looking at this world and saying eh, they’ll forget about it in an hour? “Any normal politician would be worried about saying anything wrong about a disease like this,” says Ben Rhodes. “Trump, because he has an incapacity to be shamed, clearly felt a certain freedom to just stand up there and lie or to tweet things that weren’t true, because he knew in his mind that, if this does get bad, I can just always rewrite the history of it.” It’s … Continue reading Who’s Going to Stop Him?
Shut It Down 2020
Neil Young chimes in. Continue reading Shut It Down 2020
Project Novel: Tongue In The Mail, Chapters 13 & 14
The serialization continues. It remains unclear whether these are serial murders or not. Only the author knows for sure, but I still don’t feel remotely Godlike.
In this installment, finals are over and the main characters gather to trade speculation and gossip. Speaking of which, we finally meet a character who has been the subject of much chatter and innuendo. I’m not going to tell you who it is in this introduction: it’s supposed to be a mystery, after all.
The songs below come up in connection with two of our characters:
I stick with contemporaneous songs in the novel. I don’t go all Baz Lurhmann on your asses. I don’t have the budget for Nicole Kidman…
A reminder that you can catch up on early installments of Project Novel by clicking here.
Our story continues after the break.
Continue reading “Project Novel: Tongue In The Mail, Chapters 13 & 14”
The Fauci Conundrum
Should he stay or should he go? Continue reading The Fauci Conundrum
Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – shark has jumped the fox edition
Kinda dull over in Freeperville this last week, as the Freepers sullenly realize that The Darnold can’t make that absurd squeeze-box motion with hands and make this COVID-19 thing evaporate.
Hell, he even called a virus “genius”. Guess he was trying to Kim Jung Un it into submission.
Compared to him, I guess a microscopic parasite is a genius.
That, and doorknobs.
So – let’s repair to the always-soothing FOX “news” polling, shall we?
Fox News Poll: Far More Americans Approve Of Fauci’s Handling Of Coronavirus Than Trump’s
Daily Caller ^ | 04/10/20 | Justin CarusoPosted on 4/10/2020, 2:19:06 PM by Enlightened1
Far more Americans approve of Dr. Anthony Fauci’s handling of coronavirus than President Donald Trump’s, according to a Fox News poll published Thursday.
Fifty-one percent of people polled approve of Trump’s response to coronavirus, while 77% percent of respondents approve of Fauci’s.
Trump’s approval rating hit 49%, up two points since February. Fauci’s approval has also declined 3% since last month.
Vice President Pence’s approval ratings are slightly higher than Trump’s in the Fox poll, with 52% of Americans approving of his response, down from 55% in March.
Trump’s approval rating numbers took a dip in March as coronavirus continued to spread. But recent polling for the president has been trending upwards. (RELATED: Latest Harris Poll Has Some Good News For President Trump On Coronavirus Response)
Fox News has jumped the shark.
Et tu – Fox News?
I still think the shark has jumped the Fox.
To: Enlightened1
fauci’s not handling anything. All he has to do is go behind a microphone and tell us what he told us before. TRUMP has the job of managing the vast resources of the federal government. Who has the harder job?
Obviously, fauci can’t be criticized for saying doctor things, but TRUMP IS criticized for everything he says and does, or doesn’t say or doesn’t do.
So fox news can go fox itself.
7 posted on 4/10/2020, 2:24:40 PM by I want the USA back (Media deliberately and intentionally chooses to lie, with full awareness and knowledge.)
Such language!
To: Enlightened1No surprise. Most American’s are braindead and have been told for weeks now that Fauci is an expert in his field.
Maybe because he IS??
Democrats will love him because he is passively against Trump, and apparently a good number of Republicans like him too, including many on here. Fauci is demonstrably terrible at his job, he’s been in it for 36 years and he’s gotten this and several other pandemics wrong. His popularity makes it hard for Trump to fire him. A “heroic” retirement in a few months would be best.
9 posted on 4/10/2020, 2:25:21 PM by usafa92 (Donald J. Trump, 45th President of the United States of America)
To: Wuli
To: Enlightened1
If evil little Dr. Death (Fauci) and his supporters get their way, we’ll be
locked down until well after the next election, and we’ll ALL be vaccinated
with the Bill Gates Population Reduction vaccine and issued our
vaccination papers.17 posted on 4/10/2020, 2:27:55 PM by EasySt (Say not this is the truth, but so it seems to me to be, as I see this thing I think I see #KAG)
Papers?
.
That’s nothing – wait until you see the wall around China we’re secretly working on – you can see it from space!
To: Enlightened1
About all of the latest Fox News poles sound like they were run by Maxine Waters.
Their results are totally contrary to what I hear on the street.
33 posted on 4/10/2020, 2:33:59 PM by old curmudgeon (There is no situation so terrible, so disgraceful, that the federal government can not make worse)
(translation – what I read on Free Republic, and when I talk to the two members of my family who are still speaking to me)
To: odawg
I never trusted that guy, either :
.
.
More after the you-know-what…
.
Something Bullshit This Way Comes, Newspaper Edition
This is the most horseshit thing I’ve seen in a day more full of horseshit than the Kentucky Derby: According to Monday’s memo, many staffers will be furloughed for five days a month through June. The CEO also told workers that he will not take an annual salary until the furloughs and reductions had been reversed, and that other Gannett executives will take a 25-percent pay reduction. “We realize these actions will put economic hardship on all of you and I don’t take these measures lightly,” he said. “I would simply and humbly say ‘thank you.’ Our goal is to … Continue reading Something Bullshit This Way Comes, Newspaper Edition
This Isn’t Happening For You
If I see one more stupid meme about how this is happening so we can remake the world in a kinder, gentler image, I am going to put my fist through something. (Yes, I’m out of the denial stage and squarely into anger. I like it here, and I think I’ll stay a good while.) Just fucking STOP IT with the “maybe when this is all over we will appreciate one another more” and “this will turn America back to God” and “maybe we need to think harder about how much we value socializing with our friends” and all that … Continue reading This Isn’t Happening For You
Saturday Odds & Sods: Walking On A Wire
Edward Hopper is associated with scenes of urban isolation and alienation. As you can see, the same thing applies to his rural scenes. That gas station isn’t hopping, which is par for the course for Hopper.
The Gret Stet of Louisiana is making progress with the pandemic. The curve is flattening slightly BUT there’s a big problem with racial disparity among the afflicted. Twice as many black folks have died of COVID-19 related illnesses as white folks. Terrible is an accurate but still inadequate word to capture the horror of this discrepancy. If I believed in using emojis here, I’d insert a sad face BUT:
This week’s theme song was written by Richard Thompson in 1981 for the final Richard and Linda Thompson duo effort, Shoot Out The Lights.
Walking On A Wire is one of the ultimate breakup songs. It’s some serious shit, y’all. We have two versions for your listening pleasure: the studio original and a recent solo acoustic version by the songwriter.
I’m still feeling wiry. Time for some Leonard Cohen as channeled by Aaron Neville.
I’m a bit wired from all that walking on a wire. Keep your balance as we jump to the break.
Stay Away
Stay away from me. Baby, keep your distance, please. Continue reading Stay Away
Shecky’s Bleak Week In Review: Not So Good Friday Edition
Greetings from Adrastos World Headquarters. There’s not a lot to report on the personal front. Dr. A has settled in to work at home with the occasional foray to the largely deserted Med School building. Not to worry, she essentially … Continue reading Shecky’s Bleak Week In Review: Not So Good Friday Edition
Project Novel: Tongue In The Mail, Chapter 12
We’ve hit the halfway point of our twisted tale. This is the longest chapter in the book so you’ll have to wait until Monday for the next chapters.
In this installment, Nicholas and Camille have a long conversation about the still unsolved case and the tongue in the mail finally arrives. In a word: gross.
There’s a shout out for this Robert Cray song:
A reminder that you can catch up on Project Novel by clicking here.
Our story continues after the break.
Continue reading “Project Novel: Tongue In The Mail, Chapter 12”
Friday Catblogging: Handsome
It’s been a big week for Paul Drake. He’s joined some of Dr. A’s Zoom meetings and he licked a tuna can clean yesterday. That may not sound like a big deal to you but it is for PD. No … Continue reading Friday Catblogging: Handsome
Don’t Stand So Close To Me
I usually try to avoid the obvious but this song is inescapable. It also has a beat and one can dance to it: in isolation, wearing gloves and a mask. Don’t Stand So Close To Me was the Police song … Continue reading Don’t Stand So Close To Me