Scarlet Pimpernel

I just finished my first glass of the evening, myself! Time for a refill...ring, ring!!

@RDM...thanks for this, overall I agree with your sentiment, though not all that you say. That's fine, as you say here one is free to disagree but at least politely. And I must respect you as a fellow native Ohioan!! I do find the divisiveness in general in this country to be harmful and depressing, and I'm sure most anyone would feel the same. As I've said in other comments in the past, my views definitely lean solidly left, and always have. Without getting too much into the weeds here, I'll say that I never cared for "both-siderism", thus letting one group off the hook by saying another one "does the same thing". With that in mind, I'll state it is my belief that the divisiveness is heavily weighted on one side these days. The current administration is a perfect example of this, and it is not only divisive, but actively promotes and incites such. I know that wades into being very political, but it's also simple fact. There was a very good Washington Post article some years back by Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein (not exactly flaming liberals) that went into this problem in some detail. Though my views are more liberal, I have always felt that, give me a conservative party (call it Republican, call it Whig, or whatever) that remains grounded in fact, does not deny science, does not constantly fight the culture wars, and does not view their political opponents as illegitimate. I may still disagree with most of their policy, but at least it would be possible to have a discussion and even come to some kind of middle ground and mutual respect. When it's simply impossible to hold a logical, intelligent discussion because they cannot even respect you, that's a real problem for me. I feel, unfortunately, that that's where the current "conservative" party is today. Heck, my older brother is more conservative than I am. We talk a lot, and we argue at times, sure...but he's also reasonable and not an ideologue. We agree on a fair number of things, though to varying degrees. And what we don't agree on, we still respect that. Likewise, there are some liberal friends where I just cannot go with some of what they think, or they may be too "purist" in their views, refusing to see that compromise is part of how stuff gets done...and that there are reasonable conservatives out there. Part of the problem may be that in this country, we have two parties and that's it (yes, there are 3rd party candidates, but other than on a local or state level at most, they don't go anywhere). We don't have anything like a parliamentary system as they have in Great Britain or elsewhere. So when you are presented with candidates, they are realistically one party or the other...that's your only choice if you want a chance to get one or the other into office. There's no "coalition" type of government in the legislature, really. I'm not by any means saying that going to such a system is a panacea or will cure all our political ills, but just an observation.

Hmmm, I see some tough free agency negotiations coming up!!

Don't forget to bring that margarita recipe to the club...the one you showed a picture of some time ago.

For a moment, I though these were your draft picks for next winter's reaper list. The Reaper going after Don S.???

Made me think of that line from "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade", where Indy's father (Sean Connery) said "...but in the Latin alphabet, Jehova starts with an I"!!

At least the plural isn't "priapism"!

LOL!! Well, I've never been behind one as far as I know. I've got a Honda Civic, myself. One thing about Priuses (is that the correct plural?) that always seems a bit spooky to me is that you cannot hear them approaching, they just suddenly "appear". Seriously. I guess it's when the engine is using just the electrical energy and not gas, or something like that! Actually, on a somewhat related note to driving behind someone. I find it annoying when in the left turn lane, the person in front of you (and 1st in line to turn) refuses to get out there into the lane so that they can at least turn right as the light changes. Then you have to sit and wait for the next light cycle, and they still refuse to put their nose out there...unless by chance there's enough space that they finally turn while the light is green! Likewise, when people behind you honk incessantly when you don't turn right on red despite a big sign that clearly says "NO TURN ON RED"!!

Ha! But Vovlos are the quintessential "liberal" mode of transportation, aren't they? Maybe a Prius would be better...

Why thank you! I'll gladly drive my Volvo to this country club! (Actually, I don't have a Volvo, but anyhow...)

...and a player to be named later, too?

Gah...what a SNOWFLAKE!! My comment just above was meant as a joke, too, obviously!!

Or for that matter, arguing that car accident deaths = covid, or shark attacks, or whatever. Which of course totally misses the point.

You know, that was my first thought too when I saw that image! But I didn't want to be the first to admit it!

Ha! OK now that one wins for college cooking disasters! And being a student you ate it all the same, of course! Whether it was still good, I'll trust your judgment... But apparently you survived! Now I will say, you should have poked it a few times with a fork before putting it in the microwave to avoid unnecessary explosions and pieces parts all over the place! I guess this would literally be "winner, winner, chicken dinner!"

OK, true story from grad school. I actually witness someone mess up boiling water...twice! Had a roommate who was going to prepare pasta or something, put the pot with water on the burner, and went back to his room. Something like 20 minutes later he runs out, the pot is dry as a bone with no water left, and hot as hell. So he curses, puts more water in and...you guessed it, went back to his room again and the same thing happened! Now...in his defense (somewhat), he had some exams coming up and was highly distracted and busy. But it was still damned funny, he never really lived it down (and it was *my* damn pot he nearly ruined, too!).

Or if that doesn't work...does @Mrs.J have curb-side pickup???

That's great! Somehow, just knew you'd have such a recipe handy! I see you have a box of Stoned Wheat Thins there...I get those same crackers fairly often, very tasty! (ETA: I actually scored some yeast in the baking aisle the other day, after weeks of not seeing it! It was like a veritable miracle, I thought I heard choral voices from above! They had a couple of boxes filled with those packets that have 3 "servings". I just took 2 packets...wasn't going to be "that guy" and take an entire box, haha!)

Gotta love that name! Makes one wonder...what would be in a box from some place called "Who Gives A F**K"??

Good points, and I have heard some about this. With luck, having several month's "lead time" before the next season, we'll have better ways of treating this in lieu of a vaccine at some other time in the future.

Exactly. The more dire estimates of mortality, as I understood things, were *if* we did nothing or almost nothing. That the numbers are now indicating a lower amount (thankfully!) would seem to me to be a direct result of stay-home orders, social distancing, and restrictions on what establishments can remain open (and how many people can be in those places at one time). There's also the concern over a second wave next fall/winter, right at the same time as the regular flu season is going on. In many ways, that actually alarms or scares me more than how to deal with things now. How will we deal with that?

Oh, my!!! (Thinking of Ace Ventura, Pet Detective, where Jim Carrey says "Do NOT go in there...whew!!!") Personally, I've never had it myself! I prefer my whisky to be of the single-malt variety (being of bastard Scottish descent!). And not on the rocks...straight up, dammit!

If you hear voices from the fridge, might want to call Ghostbusters!

Damn, that looks tasty! Like the mug, too! I see you got it at Epcot Center?? I was at Disney a couple of summers ago, including at Epcot, but unfortunately did not get to that Biergarten! On a side note, I know some people kind of don't care as much for Epcot compared to the other Disney parks, but I really enjoyed it (the Soarin' ride is incredible)!

Well, if it were this kind of wild turkey, you should have grabbed it and run!!