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Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. Bruce Henry says:

    Anyone watch “The Irishman?” I loved the first couple hours, then the tryptophan from the turkey kicked in and made me pause it. I’ll watch the rest tonight.

    1
  2. OzarkHillbilly says:

    1 down, 3 more to go.

    1
  3. Teve says:

    1 Charlie Kirk is incredibly stupid. If looking at the stupidest things in the galaxy amuses you, you need to be following his Twitter feed.

    2 I believe Amazon lies to make you pay for shipping. When I buy something I always pick the free shipping option and they always tell me it’s going to take like three months to get here, then it arrives in a week or so.

    3 I installed my new aftermarket bidet about 2 weeks ago and holy moly. Paper is for Neanderthals.

  4. Kit says:

    @Teve:

    I believe Amazon lies to make you pay for shipping

    Amazon Prime really is an outstanding value, at least if you do a lot of shopping through them. And it comes with lots of goodies that sweeten the deal, like e-books and video.

  5. Teve says:

    @Kit: I’m single and don’t order enough to justify Prime, which is fine by me because prime is a psychological maneuver to make you not look anywhere else and just hit the Amazon button.

    In other news, electronically the Alachua County library doesn’t have any John Kenneth Galbraith, which is fucking weird, but it does have, available, jitterbug perfume, still life with woodpecker, skinny legs, roadside, and cowgirls.

    but I’m 43 now, not 17, and I’m worried that now, the magic just won’t be there.

  6. Bill says:
  7. DrDaveT says:

    Stuffed bacon appetizer report from T-day. In each case, half-strips of bacon were brushed with maple syrup then rolled around the item and placed seam-down on a rack on a sheet pan. No toothpicks or anything. Roast at 375 or 400 until the bacon is as crisp as you prefer, 15-20 minutes.

    Brussels sprouts: 5/10
    Palatable, which is an improvement for brussels sprouts.

    Water chestnuts: 5/10
    All texture, no flavor. Should perhaps have cut them in half.

    Butternut squash: 6/10
    Middle eastern seasoning mix on the squash, pre-cooked. Tasty, but this is not what people went back for.

    Chorizo bites: 7/10
    It’s chorizo, so yum. No magic synergy with the bacon.

    Dates: 8/10
    Classic tapas. Not stuffed or anything, due to picky eaters in the family.

    Apricots: 9/10
    Whole dried apricots. Totally delicious, and totally easy.

    Banana: 10/10
    Holy crap, who knew? 1″ sections of banana, halved. You need to eat this.

    2
  8. OzarkHillbilly says:

    @DrDaveT:

    Banana: 10/10
    Holy crap, who knew? 1″ sections of banana, halved. You need to eat this.

    For some reason I am not surprised. I think I might find it a bit too much (I eat a banana most every day for the calcium but have always found them to be a little bit rich) but on your recommendation I’ll give it a shot. The dried apricots sound more enticing to me. I’ll give them a shot too.

    2
  9. Teve says:

    A day may come when I don’t pollute this open thread with Trump news. But that is not this day.

    Several people on Twitter are claiming that if you watch Trump since that unscheduled hospital visit, his left side is not working totally right.

    2
  10. Kathy says:

    Ohio has introduced a bill that will charge doctors with murder if they don’t let their patients die.

    Of course that’s not what the bill is supposed to mean. It says doctors must re-implant ectopic pregnancies, or otherwise be charged with “abortion murder.”

    An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilized ovum implants anywhere but on the uterine wall. Usually this means one of the Fallopian tubes. When this happens, chances are the growing fetus will rupture this organ, and cause a massive hemorrhage that will kill both mother and fetus.

    What cannot be done is take the embryo/fetus off the Fallopian tube and place it in the uterus. It’s not possible as of now, and probably not worth spending billions in research either (ectopic pregnancies are rare).

    Doctors can treat an ectopic pregnancy and save the woman’s life. But under this bill, that would be “abortion murder.” Therefore they couldn’t treat this very serious condition. If they don’t, then the woman, and the embryo or fetus, will very likely die, but it wouldn’t be “abortion murder.”

    Any people upset that ectopic pregnancies end in fetal termination, ought to sue God for His Very Shoddy Design Rampant With Flaws. And He’s Omniscient and Omnipotent, so we know He Did It On Purpose.

    6
  11. Kit says:

    @Teve:

    his left side is not working totally right.

    Was it ever?

    Looks like Trump was playing golf on Wednesday.

  12. Kathy says:

    @Teve:

    If you kind of look and not even pay any but the scantest attention, you’ll notice none of Dennison has ever worked even close to right before.

    1
  13. DrDaveT says:

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    The dried apricots sound more enticing to me.

    That’s certainly the sweet spot (ahem) for return on effort — they were the easiest to make and almost the tastiest. Some recipes call for inserting an almond (smoked or plain) into the apricot, which would be fairly easy and would probably be tasty. But no longer quite the easiest.

    1
  14. OzarkHillbilly says:

    @Teve: @Kathy: Damn it Kathy, you beat me to it. Tho I was gonna say that if you look closely you’ll notice that the right side of his face doesn’t work too well either.

    1
  15. OzarkHillbilly says:

    @Kathy: God aborts more fetuses every year than all the Planned Parenthood clinics combined. But that’s OK because he’s got a plan. Or something or other.

    4
  16. Kathy says:

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    It’s almost as if biological systems are a random, hit-or-miss affair resulting in messy, incremental change or something.

    2
  17. sam says:

    @Teve:

    I installed my new aftermarket bidet about 2 weeks ago and holy moly

    Be careful of the hot water tap on the bidet… Holy Moly indeed.

  18. Bill says:

    @Kathy:

    An ectopic pregnancy is when a fertilized ovum implants anywhere but on the uterine wall. Usually this means one of the Fallopian tubes. When this happens, chances are the growing fetus will rupture this organ, and cause a massive hemorrhage that will kill both mother and fetus.

    What cannot be done is take the embryo/fetus off the Fallopian tube and place it in the uterus. It’s not possible as of now, and probably not worth spending billions in research either (ectopic pregnancies are rare).

    A few years back I read a novel where a small bit of it mentioned a character who had an ectopic pregnancy and delivered the baby. I forget the author and the title of the book but it was a mainstream not self-published book. The stupidity of the author, not to mention his editor* and publishing company, really annoyed me at the time.

    * I have had the pleasure of working with an excellent editor on some of my ebooks. Lee-Anne has really helped me more than anyone with my writing. She doesn’t just fix up what I wrote, but sometimes tweaks it (Like where in a scene I have a reporter complaining having to work late on a breaking story. He says something like if he would have known, the reporter would have brought his pajamas to work that day. Lee-Anne adds a little extra dialogue= Another reporter says “Real reporters keep a spare toothbrush and pajamas in their bottom drawer, right next to the whiskey bottle.” ) and scolds me when I get off base in my writing a certain scene.

    1
  19. CSK says:

    @Kathy: What the hell??? This is way beyond idiotic. You end up with a dead mother and a dead fetus. Whoopee.

    3
  20. Kathy says:

    @Bill:

    It can happen, but it’s exceedingly rare. In all cases I’ve read about, the fetus implanted outside the Fallopian tubes, like on the abdominal wall, outside an ovary, etc. In all such cases, birth occurs through cesarean section.

    Most cases will get treatment, though, ending the developing embryo.

    1
  21. Kathy says:

    I’m making a soup with barley, lima beans, peas, chickpeas (if I have any left), lentils, and bacon. I wonder what entree would go well with it.

    I’m thinking chicken milanesas covered with a mix of pulverized bran cereal and peanuts rather than breadcrumbs, perhaps stuffed with ham and cheese, and oven roasted potatoes with paprika seasoning on the side.

    Time permitting, I want to try a jello desert made with milk-based strawberry jello, coconut atole (*) and coconut flakes. I’m thinking 2/3 liter evaporated milk and 1/3 coconut milk. normally I don’t mix them, but atole tends to serve as a good emulsifier.

    (*) Atole is flavored corn starch with milk, served hot. I don’t like it a bit, but it does well as jello, served cold.

  22. Just nutha ignint cracker says:

    @DrDaveT: I wouldn’t suggest cutting the water chestnuts in half. The texture is the big calling card and halving them makes them “no flavor, no texture.”

  23. DrDaveT says:

    @Just nutha ignint cracker:

    I wouldn’t suggest cutting the water chestnuts in half. The texture is the big calling card and halving them makes them “no flavor, no texture.”

    Aha. Thanks for the tip.

    Maybe marinating them in a bit of ginger/garlic/soy, and brushing the bacon with hoisin instead of maple syrup…?

    1
  24. Just nutha ignint cracker says:

    @DrDaveT: Sounds pretty good, but I would just add ground ginger (or grated fresh if you prefer/have a zester) to the hoisin sauce instead of trying to marinate the water chestnuts. The water chestnuts may not absorb a marinade, but I haven’t cooked with them in quite a while, so I may be wrong. Chinese tree chestnuts will, but they won’t roast crunchy. They come out of the roaster having a texture sort of like baked potato nuggets (or at least the one’s I ate in Korea did).

    1
  25. Gustopher says:

    @Kathy:

    What cannot be done is take the embryo/fetus off the Fallopian tube and place it in the uterus. It’s not possible as of now, and probably not worth spending billions in research either (ectopic pregnancies are rare).

    I’m pretty sure an embryo or fetus could be put into the uterus. It wouldn’t do well, and the whole thing seems needlessly complicated and cruel and prone to further problems… but it can be done.

    And, we would then get to mark a field in a database as “miscarriage” rather than “abortion”, at the mere expense of money, health issues, and women’s dignity and rights.

    Totally doable.

    1
  26. Teve says:

    A new Economist/YouGov poll found that by 53%-47% majority, Republicans believe that Donald Trump is a better president than Abraham Lincoln.

    you think I’m fucking with you? I’m not fucking with you.

    a friend of mine said, ‘yeah they’ve never forgiven him for the emancipation proclamation.”

    3
  27. OzarkHillbilly says:

    @Kathy: Yeah, as far as bio-engineering went, God sucked. Somebody should’ve taken away his license a long time ago.

    1
  28. de stijl says:

    @sam:

    And @Teve from previous thread.

    Bidets are an evolutionary jump beyond toilet paper only process. One that I desire, anyway.

    TP and that system of post expulsion cleaning is a failed protocol holding on by tradition. Inefficient.

    Spray, spray away, then wipe.

    Totally Team Bidet.

  29. de stijl says:

    @Teve:

    I always choose the cheapest option which is usually USPS 5-7 days.

    I was born frugal.

    1
  30. OzarkHillbilly says:

    @de stijl: I always choose the default option. I was born lazy.

    1
  31. Guarneri says:

    Let’s see, “I’m a top tier candidate” Kamala Harris plus Spartacus have 4.5% in the polls. Well, there’s always Lizzy. Oh, wait. I think she needs to get herself a beer.

    It is a great Thanksgiving, dontcha think?

    1
  32. Kathy says:

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    About the only conception of a god I can take seriously, is the deist one. A deity made the universe, set it in motion, and lets it play out without meddling in it. I can take it seriously, because it tracks with the zero evidence of divine meddling we have. I can’t believe it, because there’s no evidence of a divine creation.

    1
  33. Teve says:

    @de stijl:

    super high rated, super affordable aftermarket bidet.

    I would literally give up my smartphone before I gave up that thing.

  34. OzarkHillbilly says:

    @Kathy: Ah, you are a member of The Church of God the Almighty and the Utterly Indifferent; That he so made the world in 6 days and on the 7th he said, “It’s your problem now.”

    Have you ever met Mr Deity? Too much fun.

    1
  35. Just nutha ignint cracker says:

    @Guarneri: Are these … umm … ruminations supposed to mean something? (Asking for a friend.)

    But yes, I had a nice Thanksgiving holiday. Thank you for asking.

    4
  36. de stijl says:

    @Guarneri:

    Trying to imagine a more racist response.

  37. de stijl says:

    @Teve:

    Totally pro bidet. Why was that controversial?

  38. de stijl says:

    @de stijl:

    Anyone not pro – bidet hasn’t thought it thru. Bidet is life. Suck it, losers.

  39. de stijl says:

    @Teve:
    I will bail you out now for a price.

    You owe me.

  40. Kathy says:

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    I’ve considered joining the Satanic Temple.

  41. Gustopher says:

    Thanksgiving burrito (Turkey, stuffing, brussel sprouts, gravy, cranberry, etc.) was lovely. Better than the traditional leftover turkey sandwich, as it contains things better (the sprouts would have fallen out), and allows more stuffing without feeling too bready.

    1
  42. Gustopher says:

    @Teve: It’s non-electric, so it doesn’t heat the water… doesn’t that feel cold?

  43. John430 says:

    Hunter Biden, Hunter Biden! Your scandal is calling. Are you there?
    Hey, Doug: Have you seen Hunter Biden and HIS new scandal? Oh, I see. You don’t criticize Democrats.

    1
  44. Teve says:

    @Gustopher: I live in Florida where the groundwater is 72°, but you can get models that hook into your hot water.

  45. Jax says:

    @John430: Sooooo….he’s in a child support suit and requested his financial records be kept private, and the mother agrees?

    Not sure what the scandal is here. He’s not an elected public official. Nobody effing cares if he had an out of wedlock baby….except you, apparently.

    1
  46. wr says:

    @Jax: “Nobody effing cares if he had an out of wedlock baby….except you, apparently.”

    I saw a reference to this somewhere, and all I could think was that the Republicans are so desperate for a scandal they’re bringing back the concept of “out of wedlock.”

    Note to Republicans: It’s not 1963.

    2
  47. DrDaveT says:

    @wr:

    Note to Republicans: It’s not 1963.

    That’s what makes them so angry. They loved 1963.

    2
  48. wr says:

    @DrDaveT: “That’s what makes them so angry. They loved 1963.”

    Especially early November.

    1
  49. Jax says:

    @wr: They’re so desperate for something, ANYTHING, to justify Trump’s actions in Ukraine, it’s sad.

    I’m sure they are mortally offended that he wants to keep his finances private, while Dems want to see Trump’s taxes.

    That’s the price you pay for seeking public office. Hunter Biden is not seeking public office, Trump is seeking re-election. If Trump and his toadies can’t put up, then they should shut up.

    If Hunter Biden was seeking the Presidential nomination, I would also call bullshit. However, he is not. He remains a private citizen. Joe Biden and Hunter Biden are not the same person. Get it yet, John430? If you plan on tarring and feathering Joe Biden for the actions of his children, then by all means, let’s take a loooooong look at the Trump kids. You go first, let’s see what you find. 😉