Carol Matthau has a memoir called "Among the Porcupines" that I can't recommend enough. It's about her life and her friendship with 2 friends, and has such a lyrical quality. I freaking love that book.
When a good friend of mine had her baby shower many years back, I (not a baby person) decided to give her a gift of books that I loved--no, not the grand books that I also love, but the more quiet but engaging books. I sought them all out because a lot aren't in print, and got most of them used, and then wrapped them individually and put a note in each about why I loved them and how I loved my friend in ways brought up in the book.
I figured she'd be resting up when she could, or would need a break from being a mom.
She loved the Porcupines book the most, as have most people I've given it to (I think I've bought up most copies of it at this point!)
Porcupines can be very loud when mating. I heard some a couple of years ago in the woods and judging by the sounds, someone's got some moves. I got pretty good recording on my phone from about 100 feet away. It was dark and I wasn't sure what it was but thanks to the magic of the internet, mystery solved.
Porcupines kind of suck, according to the State of Oregon. They kill tree seedlings. During my misspent youth, I had a contract with the State of Oregon to kill as many porcupines as I could. For the trees, you understand.
I suppose that on some level we all know that very little - if anything - looks in real life the way it looks in the movies or on TV. And that's not a bad thing - it's called artistic license - and one part of an artist's job involves getting and keeping the attention of the audience.
But if the current regime wanted to make Los Angeles look like a war zone, it's clear they had no idea what one really looks like. For one thing there would be no tall buildings - no buildings of any size to speak of. They would all have been destroyed (or at least heavily damaged) by bombs. There would be few if any people in the streets - most would be in bomb shelters. There might well be enemy military around - but not in that kind of numbers.
But that's almost a trivial difference compared to what an actual military parade looks like, as opposed to a show parade to impress civilians. While in the Marine Corps I took part in some military parades, and they for one thing did not involve a lot of showy munitions - and for another, involved minimal movement. Yes, each unit would come to the parade ground, and then line up in formation and pretty much stay that way, executing a few simple command (like saluting) in unison with all the other units. At the end here is some movement as each unit "passes in review" before the stand where all the most senior officers and any visitors are seated, and there is much saluting. It is much less exciting, but much more dignified than the flashy, "impress the civilians" parades. The Mango Moron might actually die of boredom (or at least fall asleep.)
"[H]e is made of expired beef and shower drain pube clumps," Thanks Evan. Not just for the humor but for the brave, right-on-target commentary and framing.
"Dr. Phil was very upset people were calling ICE the Gestapo"
See, here's the thing, ( Not-a- ) Dr. Phil: the first step to making people stop calling you a duck is to *stop* quacking, walking, and looking like a duck. Otherwise, you can "be upset" all you like, but people are just gonna keep calling you a duck.
Last night on TV I saw a room scene and now I can't remember if it was an actual video clip or a cartoon. Seems like we are at the point where is little difference.
I had wondered if Trump was going to top the body count in this term compared to the COVID deaths he cultivated in his last term, but I should have had more confidence in him. Damned if he didn't find a way, through RFK Jr. killing the entire CDC vaccine advisory committee. That's one giant step toward Great Leap Forward territory.
I dunno -- seems like he still has the mass murder of people in the streets card to play. We'll have to see if the U.S. military is willing to uphold the constitution rather than the petulant shitlord who thinks he is king.
I listened to the Peter Gabriel album over and over while I drove back and forth to the hospital visiting my mom last year. It made those forty minute trips so much easier. After she passed I kind of put it away, but it might be time to revisit it again now.
About the attempted kidnappings--in 1st grade we had a whole presentation once about how we should have a "safe word"--not like that!--with our parents, a code so that if someone came up to us and said to get in their van because our mom said to pick us up, they would know the code if they were legit, and otherwise we needed to run.
So maybe a week after that, my mom's best friend, who I had known all my life, came after school and told me Mom had broken her arm and couldn't pick me up so she'd take me home.
I asked her the code word. Since we'd never set one up, she had no clue what I was talking about (and looking back, was probably under a lot of stress and just trying to get me home. Rest in Peace, Sue!) I kept saying it and she kept saying to get in the car and I finally did and Mom and Sue were a little annoyed with me for a few days.
I just think it's funny, because I learned "ask the code word" but didn't consider "have a code word".
In filling out the online stuff for my annual wellness check I got to the influenza vaccine authorization form. It has a link to the CDC vaccine info page. CDC vaccine info page is no longer in existence. Fuck these criminals. All of them are criminals.
It's just evil to lie to a school and try to grab kids. It's no better than the proverbial creep who drives by in a van and offers candy to your kids. Schools already, and for good reason, have lists of people to be kept from picking up a kid for the kid's safety and I guess now we need to add "ICE" to those lists.
Thank God for the principals, teachers and school employees who held the line and didn't give the kids to these cowardly government thugs. That's an unfair burden to put on them. My mind would have gone red if I'd been one of the parents and there would have been spitting.
Like a fool, I hold out hope that someone in the discount Gestapo will look in the mirror and say "Hey, I just tried to kidnap a 7-year-old. What am I doing?"
Porcupette? More like Por-cute-pette, amirite?! Some hed gif info for ya: https://martiniambassador.substack.com/p/precious-prehensile-tailed-porcupette
And a decidedly less-cute meme chat: https://open.substack.com/chat/posts/b71de5d4-1625-45ef-9dcb-d697c8ac3192
Carol Matthau has a memoir called "Among the Porcupines" that I can't recommend enough. It's about her life and her friendship with 2 friends, and has such a lyrical quality. I freaking love that book.
When a good friend of mine had her baby shower many years back, I (not a baby person) decided to give her a gift of books that I loved--no, not the grand books that I also love, but the more quiet but engaging books. I sought them all out because a lot aren't in print, and got most of them used, and then wrapped them individually and put a note in each about why I loved them and how I loved my friend in ways brought up in the book.
I figured she'd be resting up when she could, or would need a break from being a mom.
She loved the Porcupines book the most, as have most people I've given it to (I think I've bought up most copies of it at this point!)
I will look for it!
What a sweet baby! I would totally be trying to pet it!
That twitchy nose!!! Like Samantha Stevens.
Would boop
They're eating the dogs. They're eating the cats. They're eating the porcuPETTES of the people that live there.
Porcupines can be very loud when mating. I heard some a couple of years ago in the woods and judging by the sounds, someone's got some moves. I got pretty good recording on my phone from about 100 feet away. It was dark and I wasn't sure what it was but thanks to the magic of the internet, mystery solved.
Ouch.
Ow, ow, ow, ouch.
Oooooh, ouch.
yes, I've heard hedgehogs at it, so can only image porcupines
TY a hundred times.
Porcupines kind of suck, according to the State of Oregon. They kill tree seedlings. During my misspent youth, I had a contract with the State of Oregon to kill as many porcupines as I could. For the trees, you understand.
Cute but not cuddly.
"Porcupettes are born with soft, red hair"
Imagine if they weren't!
We have our red hair and prickly personalities in common.
Babby Stab Rabbit!
A pocket prehensile-tailed porcupette! Careful...
“Quilliam”. I am ded.
Cute big nose!
A boopable nose, but he might have Thoughts about that.
Po-cute-pette is right. Today's Tabs is cuteness overload!
Prickly beastie, that.
Aw, such a cute babby ouchmouse.
I suppose that on some level we all know that very little - if anything - looks in real life the way it looks in the movies or on TV. And that's not a bad thing - it's called artistic license - and one part of an artist's job involves getting and keeping the attention of the audience.
But if the current regime wanted to make Los Angeles look like a war zone, it's clear they had no idea what one really looks like. For one thing there would be no tall buildings - no buildings of any size to speak of. They would all have been destroyed (or at least heavily damaged) by bombs. There would be few if any people in the streets - most would be in bomb shelters. There might well be enemy military around - but not in that kind of numbers.
But that's almost a trivial difference compared to what an actual military parade looks like, as opposed to a show parade to impress civilians. While in the Marine Corps I took part in some military parades, and they for one thing did not involve a lot of showy munitions - and for another, involved minimal movement. Yes, each unit would come to the parade ground, and then line up in formation and pretty much stay that way, executing a few simple command (like saluting) in unison with all the other units. At the end here is some movement as each unit "passes in review" before the stand where all the most senior officers and any visitors are seated, and there is much saluting. It is much less exciting, but much more dignified than the flashy, "impress the civilians" parades. The Mango Moron might actually die of boredom (or at least fall asleep.)
Sir seems pretty violent for being a Swede! What?
"[H]e is made of expired beef and shower drain pube clumps," Thanks Evan. Not just for the humor but for the brave, right-on-target commentary and framing.
An Evan sentence if there ever was one.
Mass shooting at a school in Austria. Good to know at least some of our exports are still doing well.
"Dr. Phil was very upset people were calling ICE the Gestapo"
See, here's the thing, ( Not-a- ) Dr. Phil: the first step to making people stop calling you a duck is to *stop* quacking, walking, and looking like a duck. Otherwise, you can "be upset" all you like, but people are just gonna keep calling you a duck.
That Mamdani ad is wonderful!
Last night on TV I saw a room scene and now I can't remember if it was an actual video clip or a cartoon. Seems like we are at the point where is little difference.
That Zohran Mamdani ad is adorable. I hope he wins! Sure seems like New York could take a little break from corrupt not-especially-progressive dicks?
Sadly it looks like they will get Cuomo again…
I had wondered if Trump was going to top the body count in this term compared to the COVID deaths he cultivated in his last term, but I should have had more confidence in him. Damned if he didn't find a way, through RFK Jr. killing the entire CDC vaccine advisory committee. That's one giant step toward Great Leap Forward territory.
Why can't gods be real? I'd love an appearance by Nemesis any day now.
Maybe Apophis will shake things up in 2029.
I dunno -- seems like he still has the mass murder of people in the streets card to play. We'll have to see if the U.S. military is willing to uphold the constitution rather than the petulant shitlord who thinks he is king.
I listened to the Peter Gabriel album over and over while I drove back and forth to the hospital visiting my mom last year. It made those forty minute trips so much easier. After she passed I kind of put it away, but it might be time to revisit it again now.
I'm sorry about your mom. I assume that revisiting the album will probably be an emotional experience, but in a nice way. I hope so.
About the attempted kidnappings--in 1st grade we had a whole presentation once about how we should have a "safe word"--not like that!--with our parents, a code so that if someone came up to us and said to get in their van because our mom said to pick us up, they would know the code if they were legit, and otherwise we needed to run.
So maybe a week after that, my mom's best friend, who I had known all my life, came after school and told me Mom had broken her arm and couldn't pick me up so she'd take me home.
I asked her the code word. Since we'd never set one up, she had no clue what I was talking about (and looking back, was probably under a lot of stress and just trying to get me home. Rest in Peace, Sue!) I kept saying it and she kept saying to get in the car and I finally did and Mom and Sue were a little annoyed with me for a few days.
I just think it's funny, because I learned "ask the code word" but didn't consider "have a code word".
In filling out the online stuff for my annual wellness check I got to the influenza vaccine authorization form. It has a link to the CDC vaccine info page. CDC vaccine info page is no longer in existence. Fuck these criminals. All of them are criminals.
It's just evil to lie to a school and try to grab kids. It's no better than the proverbial creep who drives by in a van and offers candy to your kids. Schools already, and for good reason, have lists of people to be kept from picking up a kid for the kid's safety and I guess now we need to add "ICE" to those lists.
Thank God for the principals, teachers and school employees who held the line and didn't give the kids to these cowardly government thugs. That's an unfair burden to put on them. My mind would have gone red if I'd been one of the parents and there would have been spitting.
Like a fool, I hold out hope that someone in the discount Gestapo will look in the mirror and say "Hey, I just tried to kidnap a 7-year-old. What am I doing?"