Fruitcake. It’s famously better for construction projects than eating.
But my Bot Mom had a recipe that was amazing. It uses all the healthy things, and everyone who tried it loved it. And I have the recipe somewhere.
My daughter asks about it every few years.
It’s presently packed away in some of the boxes we haven’t unpacked since we moved to Michigan.
To honor Paul Harvey, “And now, the rest of the story.”
It’s been 9 1/2 years since we moved here. We moved from a 2,800+ sq ft McMansion in California to our 1,600 sq ft retirement house.
We literally have hundreds of boxes in the upstairs of our garage that we haven’t unpacked. We were going to renovate the place before we unpacked. At our present pace (4 rooms done, 3 of them bathrooms) we might unpack right before the heat death of the universe.
But I promise, if I ever uncover the magic recipe, I’ll share it with y’all!
Dear Robyn. You need to try a well made Christmas Cake. The crap that the US calls fruitcake is just an abomination. A proper British homemade Christmas Cake is moist and flavourful and covered with marzipan and then royal icing. Truly a delight. Paired with some Wensleydale cheese and you have a perfect snack
I just heard from friends that the Joann Fabrics store in my previous city is closing because the chain is filing for bankruptcy. It was the only fabric store in town. When I was growing up in that city there were 6 fabric stores in a town with a population of 70,000 people, and now there are none in a city that has since doubled in size. This makes me very sad.
My mom was a sewer and for a time made supplementary money as a professional seamstress. There were tons of fabric stores in the 70s and 80s and even into the 90s. The only one here is Joann. I had no idea they were going out of business.
My mother did a lot of her own sewing. I do remember (as a kid) going to Jack's Fabrics ... one of those old school fabric stores where if you didn't see what you were looking for, you'd ask Jack. He would disappear for a bit and return with a bolt of exactly what you were looking for.
i feel your pain. we lost our joann stores a few months ago, and while they had devolved into selling mostly mediocre polyester crap (where in the world can you buy wool fabric these days?) it was the only game in town. and now there isn't one, unless you want cheesy fabric from china for quilting and then you can always go to walmart, where i never go.
well, that was mean, i guess some of joann's stuff was ok (but no better than ok).
i do have a shameful amount of fabric stowed away and could probably set up my own mini-joann's, but i'm too greedy to share what i have. there was a period in my life where i would spend my paycheck on fabric before i would buy food. and now i have a moral obligation to use that fabric wisely.
i look at the crap that is being sold these days and wince. my mother was a professional seamstress and she taught me a great deal, so the current fabrics and styles are a physical pain to me. we were just talking on xmas about what great clothes we had a kids.
On the plus side, since SCOTUS has basically said that, sure, a POTUS can just NOT spend money appropriated by Congress, the next guy, if there is a next guy, can just impound every dime of ICE money and starve it to death.
Also, since SCOTUS is about to say a President can fire whoever the fuck they want, the next guy, if there is a next guy, he can fire every ICE trooper, and every single Trump appointee put in place over the past 4 years can be frog-marched out.
At least until Gorsuch writes the majority opinion in 2029 that says, "Only Republican Presidents have that authority."
"... The ICA provides the only legal mechanism for the President to delay or withhold funding, not cancel it. This law requires that the President notify Congress before delaying or withholding funds. That notification is called a “special message” and must contain information such as the reason for the impoundment along with the estimated fiscal, economic, and budgetary effects. ..."
This sounds like an exceptional ruling, one that does not apply universally:
[ from your Politico piece ]:
"...The ruling — issued in a short, unsigned order on the court’s emergency docket — is not a final decision on the broader question of the president’s power to unilaterally “impound” congressionally appropriated funding.
Rather, the majority wrote that, based on its “preliminary view” of the matter, the Trump administration had made a strong enough argument that the foreign-aid groups who sued to restore the funds did not have a legal right to bring a lawsuit under the relevant federal statutes...."
So, another "shadow docket" type ruling that seems to be based on a procedural issue ( that the plaintiffs did not have standing to sue ). I don't know if the plaintiffs can appeal that decision, but it doesn't seem like it give the President unlimited power to unilaterally impound funds.
I have a feeling SCOTUS will change its mind if there is a next guy, Or, all the sudden the GOPers in congress will suddenly want to curtail the power of the white house.
Evers has done well getting things passed despite his party not being in the majority. Since districts have been ungerrymandered things haven't been to bad. Next election should put dems in control of both houses.
Most people are reasonable and thoughtful in Wisconsin. Having seated two" liberal " judges on the state Supreme Court. With another seat open next year. And of course keeping Tammy Baldwin in the senate.
There several dems running for governor next year. The usual loons troting out the same bullshit people are tired of.
I just watched a video on YouTube about all the Pinterest sites advertising glamorous and full-on-fantasy prom and formal dresses that don't actually exist, they are all AI generated images which are often quite obvious if you look closely. Then if you order one, it doesn't look much like the picture because the picture is fake. Very interesting...where will this go next? Will realtors be advertising homes that don't exist?
I got trapped in an IKEA and was on the very verge of an anxiety meltdown when a kindly young man with a security card caught my eye and waved me over to the freight elevator and got me to the ground floor by the atrium.
Did they design the store to purposely keep people walking through the entire building trying desperately to get back to where they came in? I don’t like to be accusatory but explain only one up escalator to the showroom (no down) and none of the stairs or regular elevators taking you back to the atrium.
I think they did it on purpose. And therefore my first time going there? Also my only time. Fuck IKEA. Forever.
Yes, they do it on purpose. Every item in every store is put somewhere for a reason. IKEA clearly wants you to stay inside and buy all the things. You know how it is when you're in a grocery store and wonder why the hell is this over here when its counterpart is way the hell over there. They WANT you to wander around. There is nothing they do to enhance the customer's experience. That is the last thing they care about.
I've gotten panic attacks going to an unfamiliar grocery store let alone a consumer trap like one of those places.
Mine own grocery I know so well, so I can zip in and out in usually 45 minutes for a once a week trip. So that is probably it :hugs: a on it security card kid!
Modern marketing theory tells grocery stores to rearrange their shelves and aisles every so often, because it slows the regular customers down and ( supposedly ) leads to more impulse purchases.
My Publix did this last summer, and I only now have pretty relearned where everything I usually need is.
I am called a monster for liking canned clams while others go on and on about fruit cake. That stuff is terrible especially with that weird fake red and green ear wax fruit.
Canned clams remain THE integral ingredient to the delicious dip that you only make once a year.
There's some of the mouthwatering stuff in the fridge at this very moment. I may need to gimp out into the kitchen and dish a bit into a small bowl before tucking a box of Triscuits under my arm and weaving my way back up the hall...
Unless you'd like to bring me a a delicious portion yourself, you gracious and gallant fellow.
It's bloody freakin' SIMPLE, comrade. Open and drain a tin of canned clams and then mix them well with a container of sour cream from the grocer's freezer. Allow the mixture to fester for a few hours in the fridge; I advise preparing it the day before it's intended to be served.
Then open up a box of Truscuits, Wheat Thins, or preferred crisp vassal for tasty toppings and go to town.
My nana made a real fruit cake, with actual fruit, and cake, and brandy
So much brandy.
We were not allowed to eat it so I have no idea how it tasted, but it was generally gone within an hour or two of the unveiling so I assume it was all right.
Just stumbled on this podcast series 'The 99% Invisible Breakdown: The Constitution'
https://99percentinvisible.org/constitution
The first episode with guest Nikole Hannah-Jones was so good! https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/constitution-breakdown-01-nikole-hannah-jones
I'm a very longtime fan of 99% Invisible, but fell very far behind in this weird, soon-to-be-over-please-god year.
okay I like fruitcakes! it true!
also, yrrrrrrr
smoking lamp is lit!
(and nao I return to lurklurklurkmode bai!)
Fruitcake. It’s famously better for construction projects than eating.
But my Bot Mom had a recipe that was amazing. It uses all the healthy things, and everyone who tried it loved it. And I have the recipe somewhere.
My daughter asks about it every few years.
It’s presently packed away in some of the boxes we haven’t unpacked since we moved to Michigan.
To honor Paul Harvey, “And now, the rest of the story.”
It’s been 9 1/2 years since we moved here. We moved from a 2,800+ sq ft McMansion in California to our 1,600 sq ft retirement house.
We literally have hundreds of boxes in the upstairs of our garage that we haven’t unpacked. We were going to renovate the place before we unpacked. At our present pace (4 rooms done, 3 of them bathrooms) we might unpack right before the heat death of the universe.
But I promise, if I ever uncover the magic recipe, I’ll share it with y’all!
I believe it is the inspiration for thr Dwarf Battle Bread of the Discworld
Shallots are coming up, a bit early but they're tough.
Dear Robyn. You need to try a well made Christmas Cake. The crap that the US calls fruitcake is just an abomination. A proper British homemade Christmas Cake is moist and flavourful and covered with marzipan and then royal icing. Truly a delight. Paired with some Wensleydale cheese and you have a perfect snack
That sounds delicious.
I just heard from friends that the Joann Fabrics store in my previous city is closing because the chain is filing for bankruptcy. It was the only fabric store in town. When I was growing up in that city there were 6 fabric stores in a town with a population of 70,000 people, and now there are none in a city that has since doubled in size. This makes me very sad.
I think heard Micheal's would be buying up some of the closed Joann's buildings.
Hobby Lobby only has one store in our area.
My mom was a sewer and for a time made supplementary money as a professional seamstress. There were tons of fabric stores in the 70s and 80s and even into the 90s. The only one here is Joann. I had no idea they were going out of business.
My mother did a lot of her own sewing. I do remember (as a kid) going to Jack's Fabrics ... one of those old school fabric stores where if you didn't see what you were looking for, you'd ask Jack. He would disappear for a bit and return with a bolt of exactly what you were looking for.
My mom did, too. She sewed a lot of our clothes in the late 70s.
i feel your pain. we lost our joann stores a few months ago, and while they had devolved into selling mostly mediocre polyester crap (where in the world can you buy wool fabric these days?) it was the only game in town. and now there isn't one, unless you want cheesy fabric from china for quilting and then you can always go to walmart, where i never go.
well, that was mean, i guess some of joann's stuff was ok (but no better than ok).
i do have a shameful amount of fabric stowed away and could probably set up my own mini-joann's, but i'm too greedy to share what i have. there was a period in my life where i would spend my paycheck on fabric before i would buy food. and now i have a moral obligation to use that fabric wisely.
My nan used to hit up thrift stores back in the day for cheap cotton. Might be what we need to do for scraps now
Bonus, we'll be recycling!
most are gone. It was private equity that killed them.
Inconceivable!
of course and as usual.
can't have those proles making their own clothing.
Or the arts using fabric. Costumers for regional/local theatre groups will have a difficult time finding fabric to make costumes.
i look at the crap that is being sold these days and wince. my mother was a professional seamstress and she taught me a great deal, so the current fabrics and styles are a physical pain to me. we were just talking on xmas about what great clothes we had a kids.
2026 : Vietzuela.
I should NOT have to live through this "military action" bullshit so many times in my miserable fucking life, dammit.
[snarls resentfully...]
Dang, soundtrack's gonna suck...
glen greenwald 400 times
Hopefully (as if) not Vietzuelastan.
Vietzuelaraqiran
Vietzuelaraqiranistan
"Damn immigrant took my bed!" Bodega Caturday https://bsky.app/profile/bodegacats.bsky.social/post/3maorwk6lo222
Jesus was a ginger!
I found out last week: I like fruitcake.
So do I if it is British made.
Have you, er, told your family?
Marlene Dietrich was born on this day in 1901. Here she is in the 1930 film The Blue Angel singing "Falling In Love Again":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANqGm-MiqQs
Here's the full concert of An Evening With Marlene Dietrich from 1972:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwT8ZeFpbyg
Lily Von Schtupp
On the plus side, since SCOTUS has basically said that, sure, a POTUS can just NOT spend money appropriated by Congress, the next guy, if there is a next guy, can just impound every dime of ICE money and starve it to death.
Also, since SCOTUS is about to say a President can fire whoever the fuck they want, the next guy, if there is a next guy, he can fire every ICE trooper, and every single Trump appointee put in place over the past 4 years can be frog-marched out.
At least until Gorsuch writes the majority opinion in 2029 that says, "Only Republican Presidents have that authority."
"...SCOTUS has basically said that, sure, a POTUS can just NOT spend money appropriated by Congress..."
Can you tell me when that ruling was made? I still see articles that say that this violates the "Impoundment Control Act"
Link: https://www.gao.gov/blog/what-impoundment-control-act-and-what-gaos-role
"... The ICA provides the only legal mechanism for the President to delay or withhold funding, not cancel it. This law requires that the President notify Congress before delaying or withholding funds. That notification is called a “special message” and must contain information such as the reason for the impoundment along with the estimated fiscal, economic, and budgetary effects. ..."
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/09/26/supreme-court-foreign-aid-impoundment-ruling-00583052
This sounds like an exceptional ruling, one that does not apply universally:
[ from your Politico piece ]:
"...The ruling — issued in a short, unsigned order on the court’s emergency docket — is not a final decision on the broader question of the president’s power to unilaterally “impound” congressionally appropriated funding.
Rather, the majority wrote that, based on its “preliminary view” of the matter, the Trump administration had made a strong enough argument that the foreign-aid groups who sued to restore the funds did not have a legal right to bring a lawsuit under the relevant federal statutes...."
So, another "shadow docket" type ruling that seems to be based on a procedural issue ( that the plaintiffs did not have standing to sue ). I don't know if the plaintiffs can appeal that decision, but it doesn't seem like it give the President unlimited power to unilaterally impound funds.
seems to me it is more a shadow docket based on "what we want to let Trump get away with"
This will NOT end well.
The POTUS is not and has never been intended to possess ABSOLUTE power. That CONCEPT is virtually verboten by the US Constitutiion.
Efforts to exercise authoritarian power outside of and exceeding Constitutional parameters WILL be met with aggressive resistance.
The USA was founded on the basis of a bloody revolution. We the People WILL fight another one if necessary in order to KEEP it.
I have a feeling SCOTUS will change its mind if there is a next guy, Or, all the sudden the GOPers in congress will suddenly want to curtail the power of the white house.
See too: curtailing gov powers in WI, NC, KS.....
Oh, WI already did that years ago--stripping Evers of a great many of the Governor's powers in the lame duck session between Walker and Evers.
Evers has done well getting things passed despite his party not being in the majority. Since districts have been ungerrymandered things haven't been to bad. Next election should put dems in control of both houses.
Most people are reasonable and thoughtful in Wisconsin. Having seated two" liberal " judges on the state Supreme Court. With another seat open next year. And of course keeping Tammy Baldwin in the senate.
There several dems running for governor next year. The usual loons troting out the same bullshit people are tired of.
So did NC and KS.
Soon as a Dem gets in, all the sudden they want to curtail the central powers. I suspect this will be the same.
"No backsies!"
Or they all get fired.
[contemplates more aggressive contexts and/or definitions of "fired"]
See "Frog Marched" and "here's all you shit in a cardboard box"
I just watched a video on YouTube about all the Pinterest sites advertising glamorous and full-on-fantasy prom and formal dresses that don't actually exist, they are all AI generated images which are often quite obvious if you look closely. Then if you order one, it doesn't look much like the picture because the picture is fake. Very interesting...where will this go next? Will realtors be advertising homes that don't exist?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8MmdsMBdDg
Yes--have read several articles about AI blandishment on real estate sites. NEVER buy without visiting property physically, duh.
Realtors are already using AI to "stage" houses in photos.
That's just so potential buyers don't notice the toxic sludge and pig farm right behind it
I can’t be the only person with my mind in the gutter here. https://substack.com/@tootsstansbury/note/c-192244393
I see a green ant in hiking gear with elephantiasis of the nuts and a full bush.
Say, dis don't look like the Coachella Valley Testicle Festival! What gives??
An upstanding celebration of the Testicle Festival.
obviously, she breastfed.
Given my response, this must be a Rorschach holiday display.
It's the green ones in the middle. The left side nipple is way the fuck over there
😂😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣
Balls!
OK, good. I’ve been saying “Giant ball sack!” Every time I pass that shop.
I got trapped in an IKEA and was on the very verge of an anxiety meltdown when a kindly young man with a security card caught my eye and waved me over to the freight elevator and got me to the ground floor by the atrium.
Did they design the store to purposely keep people walking through the entire building trying desperately to get back to where they came in? I don’t like to be accusatory but explain only one up escalator to the showroom (no down) and none of the stairs or regular elevators taking you back to the atrium.
I think they did it on purpose. And therefore my first time going there? Also my only time. Fuck IKEA. Forever.
Yes, they do it on purpose. Every item in every store is put somewhere for a reason. IKEA clearly wants you to stay inside and buy all the things. You know how it is when you're in a grocery store and wonder why the hell is this over here when its counterpart is way the hell over there. They WANT you to wander around. There is nothing they do to enhance the customer's experience. That is the last thing they care about.
Yep. Where I grocery, if I need a quart of milk I'm going through produce to get it. Oh wait, if you want *anything* you have to go through produce.
I've gotten panic attacks going to an unfamiliar grocery store let alone a consumer trap like one of those places.
Mine own grocery I know so well, so I can zip in and out in usually 45 minutes for a once a week trip. So that is probably it :hugs: a on it security card kid!
Modern marketing theory tells grocery stores to rearrange their shelves and aisles every so often, because it slows the regular customers down and ( supposedly ) leads to more impulse purchases.
My Publix did this last summer, and I only now have pretty relearned where everything I usually need is.
Mine does that and I get very loud and complainy about it and go to people and ask where stuff is.
:)
I learn eventually mind where the stuff was put, but for that first time, fuck if I am gonna do extra work
Have I got a presentation for you!
https://youtu.be/RxMR1TMec04?si=MsG_yifLE8agj9o9
omg lol
It's a great show. There's been some hilarious and also useful presentations over the first two seasons
See also University College of London Lunchtime Lecture "Who enjoys shopping in IKEA? (18 Jan 2011)" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkePRXxH9D4
“ Did they design the store to purposely keep people walking through the …”
Yes
Yes, they did it on purpose. I hate shopping there. After 5 minutes in one I have no fucking idea how to get out.
I am called a monster for liking canned clams while others go on and on about fruit cake. That stuff is terrible especially with that weird fake red and green ear wax fruit.
Canned clams remain THE integral ingredient to the delicious dip that you only make once a year.
There's some of the mouthwatering stuff in the fridge at this very moment. I may need to gimp out into the kitchen and dish a bit into a small bowl before tucking a box of Triscuits under my arm and weaving my way back up the hall...
Unless you'd like to bring me a a delicious portion yourself, you gracious and gallant fellow.
What’s the recipe?
It's bloody freakin' SIMPLE, comrade. Open and drain a tin of canned clams and then mix them well with a container of sour cream from the grocer's freezer. Allow the mixture to fester for a few hours in the fridge; I advise preparing it the day before it's intended to be served.
Then open up a box of Truscuits, Wheat Thins, or preferred crisp vassal for tasty toppings and go to town.
Canned clams? Fruitcake?
Heck, why not just combine them?
*barf*
Hey, your fruitcake's in my canned clams!
Hey, your canned clams are on my fruitcake!
....
Hey, lets fuck!
Canned Clamcake
go to your room and think about what you've done for a while.
*runs with scissors*
You'll be shocked to learn that I got detention in school a hell of a lot. Not for anything major, usually just things like dress code violations.
I think I still remember every word of that handbook.
and take that fruitcake with you. And those canned clams!...
Yeah I don't ever put that crap in my fruitcakes..
dates, dried apricots, dried cherries, raisins, home-candied citrus peel are my go-tos..
My nana made a real fruit cake, with actual fruit, and cake, and brandy
So much brandy.
We were not allowed to eat it so I have no idea how it tasted, but it was generally gone within an hour or two of the unveiling so I assume it was all right.
Ok, “Cucumber Castle “ mentioned and not a single dick joke from you lazy poltroons? What about our Prime Directive?
Do I have to do everything myself?
Sorry, We really pulled a boner on that one.
We didn't feel it was necessary what with the thing being named cucumber castle
That's a stiff salute!...
The internet has changed us all. We’ve weirdly gotten more prudish as the availability of every debauchery has become prolific