gdp's Comments

Crasstalk : Getting Through It Open Thread

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 19:34:33 +0000

Seriously. Under the current regime, the entire oligarch class is crimin’ away with impunity and it’s totally consequence-free. What a shitty time we’re in.

Crasstalk : Getting Through It Open Thread

Thu, 13 Aug 2026 05:31:56 +0000

The parental hoarder cleanup continues. God this is hell. When I get home I’m going to radically downsize my shit. My only possessions will be a futon, a tatami mat, a bowl, and fourteen hundred and thirty seven books.

Crasstalk : New Week Open Thread

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 18:24:25 +0000

My god, that is horrifying. “This might be it for us”—I don’t know how you could have thought anything else. Two minutes is forever. I’m glad you (y’all) are safe, I hope you can find some peace and ease now. And truly, hats off to Curly and her mysterious powers of premonition.

Crasstalk : At Last The Weekend Open Thread

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 00:34:50 +0000

I’m impressed that Redford stood down when you said NOOO!, because while I know that Redford is a beautiful person, he is a terrier and the fact is that when he sees a little bunny, every cell in his terrier body is telling him GIT THAT BUNNY. It’s remarkable that your verbal command could override that imperative. Both of you deserve credit for that.

Crasstalk : At Last The Weekend Open Thread

Sun, 9 Aug 2026 05:13:35 +0000

I’ve gone down similar rabbit holes, and have found them to be … emotionally complicated, for lack of better words. And nope, life ain’t easy. We do gotta help each other out. Often I feel bad about not remembering that enough. I’ve had a rough day clearing out the hoarder’s hell that is my mom’s condo. Good lord, what a horror show. I am so angry at her for leaving this shit for me to deal with. I think: I really should have given her a copy of “The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning” twenty years ago. Oh but wait, that book didn’t exist twenty years ago, and it wouldn’t had any impact anyway. She wouldn’t have read it. But now I’m drinking whiskey, smoking a little weed, and listening to Schubert’s “Trout” Quintet, which is putting me in a better place. And I’ve made a work commitment that compels me to be back in NYC by the beginning of Sept, and that was a very good thing to do.

Crasstalk : At Last The Weekend Open Thread

Sun, 9 Aug 2026 02:37:53 +0000

And 18 hands = 4 cubits.

Crasstalk : At Last The Weekend Open Thread

Sun, 9 Aug 2026 02:11:57 +0000

Quoting MST3K— Guy in B movie stops in jungle clearing, listens: “It’s too quiet here.” Crow T. Robot: “Too too quiet.”

Crasstalk : Weekly Politics Open Thread

Sat, 8 Aug 2026 22:09:34 +0000

Plus the huge windfall to the US arms industry as they replenish depleted weapons stocks, many billions of dollars of which will pour into the bulging coffers of the Drumpf clan and MAGA insiders.

Crasstalk : At Last The Weekend Open Thread

Sat, 8 Aug 2026 17:21:13 +0000

Ford Fathom five thy father lies Of his bones are coral made …

Crasstalk : Keep Rollin' Open Thread

Fri, 7 Aug 2026 17:13:45 +0000

This is too true. On the one hand, I like the t-shirts that say “It’s Not Hoarding if it’s Books”. On the other hand, it’s hoarding. I speak from experience.

Crasstalk : Keep Rollin' Open Thread

Fri, 7 Aug 2026 04:19:46 +0000

I love what I’ve seen of Mr. Show but I hadn’t seen this sketch before. It is so, so, so good.

Crasstalk : Keep Rollin' Open Thread

Fri, 7 Aug 2026 01:46:32 +0000

Crasstalk : Keep Rollin' Open Thread

Thu, 6 Aug 2026 22:33:18 +0000

I’ll strongly urge to Phlox (and everyone): don’t read Ulysses on a “device”! Partly because the typesetting and the arrangement of things on the page is often important. I recommend the old Modern Library hardcover edition, used copies of which are available for very cheap.

Crasstalk : Keep Rollin' Open Thread

Thu, 6 Aug 2026 22:24:29 +0000

For your reading of Ulysses, I recommend “Ulysses Annotated: Notes for James Joyce’s Ulysses” by Don Gifford. The novel is packed with obscure cultural references and it’s good to have a guide for those. More importantly (to me), over the course of Ulysses Joyce plays all kinds of clever formal games that may be confounding and frustrating if you don’t know what the game is, but they’re a lot of fun if you are clued in to what games he is playing and why. That said, for much of Ulysses you won’t need annotations, it’s just a great read. And the language is *magnificent*. And it’s incredibly funny and playful, in all kinds of unique and delightful ways. For me, reading Ulysses was an unforgettable experience that I treasure. Homer is good too.

Crasstalk : Keep Rollin' Open Thread

Wed, 5 Aug 2026 15:11:17 +0000

Me too! Wordle 1,873 2/6* ⬛⬛🟨⬛⬛ 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩

Crasstalk : Keep Rollin' Open Thread

Wed, 5 Aug 2026 08:02:05 +0000

Now that you’ve mentioned it, I see it too. I can picture that thing battling Mothra.

Crasstalk : New Week Open Thread

Wed, 5 Aug 2026 06:53:31 +0000

They really do. It’s ridiculous that they haven’t reached out to me yet.

Crasstalk : New Week Open Thread

Tue, 4 Aug 2026 23:38:52 +0000

PBS documentary voiceover: Few who lived through it can forget the long, hot summer of 2026—a summer of gastric unrest, when American assholes were aflame from coast to coast…

Crasstalk : New Week Open Thread

Tue, 4 Aug 2026 23:21:47 +0000

They should have made it totally obvious and gone with Pizza Rat. I mean they had all those other two-word terms like Pool Noodle, Pretzel Rod, and Peace Sign. Pizza Rat would have fit the theme. Something I liked: the Pizza Rat Guy. <img src="https://i.ibb.co/VYvTpm9b/IMG-3732.jpg" alt="IMG-3732" border="0">

Crasstalk : New Week Open Thread

Tue, 4 Aug 2026 16:57:00 +0000

I like “pigeon” for the green category, but would have preferred “rat”. Connections Puzzle #1150 🟩🟩🟩🟩 🟪🟪🟪🟪 🟨🟨🟨🟨 🟦🟦🟦🟦