You do well to flee, townspeople! I will pillage your lands and dwellings! I will burn your crops and make merry sport with your more attractive daughters! Ha ha ha! Mark my words! Ooh! Ale! I smell delicious ale!

Olaf the Troll ,'Showtime'


Natter 68: Bork Bork Bork  

Off-topic discussion. Wanna talk about corsets, duct tape, or physics? This is the place. Detailed discussion of any current-season TV must be whitefonted.


Steph L. - Apr 15, 2011 6:43:22 pm PDT #3523 of 30001
I look more rad than Lutheranism

We get periodic e-mails from the community council reminding homeowners to not leave any scrap metal lying in plain sight, like the driveway, because thieves will just stroll on up and take stuff. Or not even scrap, really -- stuff like lawnmowers.

This is stressful to me because I live with a hoarder and we have 3 (non-working) lawnmowers and an old a/c unit in our backyard (not to mention the damn drill press). The good part is our fence is fairly high and obstructive, so the stuff isn't immediately visible from the street.

Still, we're attractive to metal thieves, and it freaks me out. This has become somewhat of a point of contention.


DavidS - Apr 15, 2011 6:51:31 pm PDT #3524 of 30001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

This is stressful to me because I live with a hoarder and we have 3 (non-working) lawnmowers and an old a/c unit in our backyard (not to mention the damn drill press).

Dude, put it further out closer to the street and let the thieves ease your clutter.


Kat - Apr 15, 2011 6:52:55 pm PDT #3525 of 30001
"I keep to a strict diet of ill-advised enthusiasm and heartfelt regret." Leigh Bardugo

Did you all already know that the puppy cam is back: [link]


aurelia - Apr 15, 2011 6:53:30 pm PDT #3526 of 30001
All sorrows can be borne if you put them into a story. Tell me a story.

Michigan is so fucked up. [link]

As you probably know, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder recently signed legislation passed by the Republican-dominated House and Senate that gives State-appointed Emergency Financial Managers (EFMs) historically broad and sweeping powers. These new powers allow the EFM to cancel or modify contracts (including with unions) and even to fire the municipality's government.

Today, for the first time, a EFM did just that. According to a press release from the Michigan AFL-CIO, Joseph L. Harris, EFM for Benton Harbor, Michigan issued "an order prohibiting all action by all city boards, commissions, authorities and other entities, except as authorized by the emergency manager."

Am I wrong to think it's just a matter of time before an EFM ends up dead?


DavidS - Apr 15, 2011 7:06:37 pm PDT #3527 of 30001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

You missed the money quote:

Interesting statistic: Benton Harbor is 92.4% African American with an annual median household income of $17,471 with 42.6% of the population below the poverty line. St. Joseph, the next city south of Benton Harbor on the shores of Lake Michigan and just on the other side of the Paw Paw River is 90.3% white with an annual median household income of $37,032.

I guess white people don't have to worry about being completely disenfranchised. Hey, you know what happens historically when people feel like they're completely disenfranchised with no rights within a system? Riots.


Steph L. - Apr 15, 2011 7:07:05 pm PDT #3528 of 30001
I look more rad than Lutheranism

Dude, put it further out closer to the street and let the thieves ease your clutter.

Oooh! If only I could move that damn drill press on my own!


DavidS - Apr 15, 2011 7:09:27 pm PDT #3529 of 30001
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."

Oooh! If only I could move that damn drill press on my own!

It doesn't take much muscle to redirect a spotlight from the porch to illuminate the drill press at night. ijs.


Matt the Bruins fan - Apr 15, 2011 7:11:59 pm PDT #3530 of 30001
"I remember when they eventually introduced that drug kingpin who murdered people and smuggled drugs inside snakes and I was like 'Finally. A normal person.'” —RahvinDragand

And hey, Toyota + chains = problem solved


aurelia - Apr 15, 2011 7:46:06 pm PDT #3531 of 30001
All sorrows can be borne if you put them into a story. Tell me a story.

I guess white people don't have to worry about being completely disenfranchised. Hey, you know what happens historically when people feel like they're completely disenfranchised with no rights within a system? Riots.

White people won't be first anyway. Riots may happen, but I think the real violence will happen when a community with an active militia is taken over.


Trudy Booth - Apr 15, 2011 7:57:50 pm PDT #3532 of 30001
Greece's financial crisis threatens to take down all of Western civilization - a civilization they themselves founded. A rather tragic irony - which is something they also invented. - Jon Stewart

I wasn't looking for a movement at all.

Too bad, kid. The loudest person who believes roughly what you believe is officially your spokesbastard.