On 5/18/2025 at 1:33 PM, toucana said:

The question shouldn't be "how the hell are penguins responding to tariffs?" It should be, "how the hell do you tariff 18 species?"

I fully support this rebellion too, I am an honorary penguin.

I spotted this inspired caption created by auto-generate on a  LegalEagle YT feed about Harvard. It rather suits her don’t you think ?

Having her as our state's governor for four years, the Noem/gnome connection has been made. A rare silver lining of the 47 administration was that it did rid SD of her.

Misbehaving dogs all across the state breathed a sigh of relief. (then resumed chewing up shoes, chasing cats, tearing up the neighbor's garden, etc)

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/apr/26/trump-kristi-noem-shot-dog-and-goat-book

(It's Kristi, btw)

19 hours ago, TheVat said:

Having her as our state's governor for four years, the Noem/gnome connection has been made. A rare silver lining of the 47 administration was that it did rid SD of her.

Misbehaving dogs all across the state breathed a sigh of relief. (then resumed chewing up shoes, chasing cats, tearing up the neighbor's garden, etc)

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2024/apr/26/trump-kristi-noem-shot-dog-and-goat-book

(It's Kristi, btw)

'Crusty Gnome' sounds about right ;-)

So it looks like Alexandra Petri who wrote a political humor column for the Washington Post until five months ago (she took a maternity break) and who I assumed was coming back...is not coming back. In fact, she decided to go to work for The Atlantic, a non-Bezosian publication that will allow her to continue doing her vitally important job of making me laugh until I piss myself at things which would otherwise make my weep or gnaw off my extremities. Without further ado, here is a paywall free version of her first column:

The Atlantic

So, What Did I Miss?

“How much can possibly happen when I’m on parental leave?” I said five months ago.

https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2025/06/trump-second-term-first-months/683169/?gift=43H6YzEv1tnFbOn4MRsWYhniaX1uDThh4_CnCxomanY&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

(Sorry, the top link may not give the gift access, but this one will)

4 hours ago, TheVat said:

So it looks like Alexandra Petri who wrote a political humor column for the Washington Post until five months ago (she took a maternity break) and who I assumed was coming back...is not coming back. In fact, she decided to go to work for The Atlantic, a non-Bezosian publication that will allow her to continue doing her vitally important job of making me laugh until I piss myself at things which would otherwise make my weep or gnaw off my extremities. Without further ado, here is a paywall free version of her first column:

The Atlantic

So, What Did I Miss?

“How much can possibly happen when I’m on parental leave?” I said five months ago.

https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2025/06/trump-second-term-first-months/683169/?gift=43H6YzEv1tnFbOn4MRsWYhniaX1uDThh4_CnCxomanY&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

(Sorry, the top link may not give the gift access, but this one will)

An albeit slight restoration of my faith in humanity. The still ARE good people everywhere. Just sometimes hard to find.

“It may have won WW2, but it lost the battle of WD40 !”  - (Steve Colbert)

On 6/13/2025 at 6:42 PM, TheVat said:

Alexandra Petri who wrote a political humor column for the Washington Post until five months ago (she took a maternity break)

That must be it !
D Trump and his goons didn't get any hugs as babies, fell over, and banged their heads.

From today's NYT...

"Where did you learn to speak [English] so beautifully?”

It was Wednesday afternoon and President Trump was having lunch in the State Dining Room at the White House with five leaders of African nations. There were several different languages being spoken in the room. Headsets were worn by all so that translations could be heard.

But no headset was needed to understand what President Joseph Boakai of Liberia was saying. English is the official language of Liberia, which was founded in part as a movement to resettle free Black Americans in the 19th century.

Edited July 10Jul 10 by TheVat

Suffice to say, it's not a compliment.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videos/international/trump-go-home-scotland-erupts-in-rage-u-s-consulate-stormed-over-support-to-israel-on-gaza/videoshow/122932742.cms

https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2025/09/florida-vaccine-children-mandate/684110/?gift=43H6YzEv1tnFbOn4MRsWYvvHnIIHE0ylBpktPumLdME&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share

Florida Decided There Were Too Many Children

Can you believe he can't even pronounce Epsteinaminophen?

That is brilliant. Content downsizing is also horrific. You think the brand has kept their price steady, while they sneakily keep reducing the net weight an ounce at a time. Chip (crisp) mfrs are the worst.

(a possible joke in this post is someone trying to decide what mfrs stands for...)

On 11/1/2025 at 11:33 PM, TheVat said:

That is brilliant. Content downsizing is also horrific. You think the brand has kept their price steady, while they sneakily keep reducing the net weight an ounce at a time. Chip (crisp) mfrs are the worst.

(a possible joke in this post is someone trying to decide what mfrs stands for...)

A friend and I noticed shrinkflation is occurring in household emulsion paint as well. Dulux used to be like thick, creamy yoghurt and now it runs free flowing from the tin. They are taking the piss when it's over 25 quid for 5L of a colour.