302 Comments

OT: Happy Birthday to me.

ETA: I normally don’t care but I just got passed over for a promotion for a position which I doubt anyone could be more qualified for. 30 years of experience. So fuck them.

Expand full comment

Happy Birthday, other than that. Get an ice cream cake from Dairy Queen.

Sorry ‘bout the promotion.

Expand full comment

27 years of experience. I just got my first actual promotion. Anything else that management might call a promotion was just a title change. This actually came with a raise. (Still about 15k less than the average for the position in the area. But a boss that doesn't make you crazy is worth a lot.)

Expand full comment

You're buying pizza for the site!

Expand full comment

It wasn't that big a raise. I'm still robbing my savings to stay current.

Expand full comment

Yes, but Domino's.

Expand full comment

As long as it's not Little Caesars.

Expand full comment

I'm broke, not homicidal.

Expand full comment

hope I am never that broke again that I have to eat at little sleezesars

Expand full comment

Speed Rabbit for me.

Expand full comment

The vibrator?

Expand full comment

What's the point of having a vibrator who will come before me ?

Expand full comment

Congratulations on your successful completion of yet another lap around Ol' Sol!

(Sorry about the promotion.)

Expand full comment

Yes, may they search for a climax but never find it!

Expand full comment

Yikes, talk about an inhumane curse!

Expand full comment

The zeitgeist would have me believe that most straight men are so clueless that such a curse is most straight women's reality.

Expand full comment

I know the feeling – you can't compete with the boss's nephew. So fuck them indeed.

Expand full comment

My birthday was the 21st. ;0) Now 78. I guess I'll save the shock for 80. Happy Birthday.

Expand full comment

Happy belated birthday.

Expand full comment

Best Wishes!!! 🥳🥳🥳

Expand full comment

Happy Birthday! Sorry about the promotion ☹️. Definitely sounds like you should have had it.

Expand full comment

Happy birthday!

I've recently heard about some companies refusing to promote from within; it's a stupid policy that will drive talent away from the company but they're doing it. Sorry to hear you got hit by the corporate shenanigans.

Expand full comment

Our company had a big design project last year. There's basically two software choices (MicroStation and Autocad), we mainly use MS but a couple of us have been working to pick up Autocad enough to at least have basic competency. For whatever reason, the company decided the project needed to be done in Autocad and instead of letting us start to work through it, they hired someone else who was supposed to be an expert in both. While a bit disappointed that we wouldn't be working on the design, we were at least looking forward to having someone who could maybe help us learn a few things about the two programs and working between them. Well, as it turned out, the guy was a octogenarian (nothing specifically wrong with that) who seemed to be out half the time with health issues. It quickly became apparent that he really had no idea what he was doing and not only was unable to finish the design, but was actively screwing up the portion we had done previously. A couple months in, he showed up one day, told someone "Fuck it, I'm out," and left. Budget and schedule completely blown, we had to start almost completely over. Good times.

Expand full comment

Sorry for that. If you're well experienced take that experience and find a company that needs and values it. Now seems to be a good time to make such a change.

Expand full comment

I’m looking!

Expand full comment

Here's wishing you a ton of luck!!!!

Expand full comment

I'm 8 hours late to this. Hope it's still your birthday where you live.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cs5vUfddkT8

Expand full comment

Happy Birthday and sorry to hear about the promotion. I know how that feels (happened to me, I trained a guy for a job similar to mine, then watched him get promoted over me to become my supervisor a year later).

It isn't fair. It's shitty. It sucks. But I hope it didn't entirely ruin your birthday for you.

Expand full comment

Two jobs ago I trained a guy and he became one of my best friends. Then he became my manager. Then a couple years later he was ordered to let me and several of my colleagues go. He was so broken up by that our friendship ended. Which bothered me so much more than losing my job.

Expand full comment

Could it be that you're being discriminated against on the basis of age? I've seen that happen. Sorry about what happened to you.

Expand full comment

I’m pretty sure that is it.

Expand full comment

“But we do share the same Christian values that this nation was founded on.”

This shows how little Vivek Ramaswamy actually knows about this country. That this country was founded on Christian values is a favorite myth of the religious right. The U.S. Constitution doesn't say that, and you would think it would had that been what they were founding the country on. The founders expressly banned religious tests for holding public office in this country, and anyone who puts their religiosity forward as something that qualifies them for office, is unfit for that office by definition.

Expand full comment

Ha! You took the line that I was going to feed off of. Anyway, it's likely that Ramaswamy KNOWS that the Constitution is a secular document. 𝗛𝗘 𝗝𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗗𝗢𝗘𝗦𝗡'𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗥𝗘, mostly because he's playing to a crowd that doesn't care, either. The blunt fact is that he has no more chance to garner the Republican nomination than any of the other candidates have that aren't Trump. The GOP has so utterly sold out to that charlatan that it would take a cataclysmic event to alter that status.

And I for one am not holding my breath, waiting for such an event.

Expand full comment

Unless one of them drops dead between now and then, it's Biden versus Trump again. And should Biden prevail again, please, oh merciful FSM, then Trump's moronic followers will attack the Capitol again, and this time I think they will be armed with their favorite automatic rifles, along with explosives and probably a bazooka or twelve.

Expand full comment

I don't think so. January 6th was a trick that only works once, sure as hell now that Biden is in the front seat. Any attempt at Insurrection 2.0 will likely be met not just with Capitol police, but the National Guard, positioned and prepped well before anyone gets to the Capitol steps. Fact is that Trump has called those same people to protest about his indictments, and that has been a wet firecracker from Square One.

I'm not saying it won't happen. It COULD, and it could be bloody as hell. Thing is, the circumstances have changed, as I stated at the top of this comment. I just think that the final outcome won't be much different, except that MAYBE some MAGAdiots may get the message that insurrections ain't the way to bring change.

Expand full comment

It may be a trick that only works once, but MAGAts were never the brightest fork in the electrical outlet to begin with.

Expand full comment

Many of the 1/6 rioters are sitting in Federal prison because they believed TFG's messaging was a call to arms. TFG denies any responsibility or wrongdoing as usual.

Maybe the next batch of moronic followers will reconsider.

Expand full comment

But then they would not be morons, but they can't help themselves.

Expand full comment

Maybe, but I expect less of a concerted group effort, it didn't go great last time. What I think is more likely is a whole bunch of lone wolf attacks, mass shootings, bombings and such. It wouldn't surprise me at all if there are a bunch of Trumpista militias preparing right now.

Expand full comment

They have been for quite some time. Since Dotard the Disgraced Orange Shitegibbon came on the scene, they're happily crawling out from their CAFO lagoons trying to get us to accept their toxicity as the new normal.

Expand full comment

Over 500 have been sent to prison, others are being arrested as they are found, and all but one of the Proud Boys were convicted (the one guy says he was just doing security).

Several have blamed Trump for leading them to prison and many have complained he hasn't lifted a finger or spent one dime to help any of them. Although a lot of Freedom Caucus members like to fundraise for their campaign chests by "defending the January 6th political prisoners", none of them have stepped up

I doubt there will be a repeat of January 6th.

Expand full comment

Never underestimate the stupidity of a MAGAT.

Expand full comment

It's a bottomless well of infinite stupidity with them.

Expand full comment

Should the Trumpistani hords get...uppity...again, I think trAshli Babbitt will be joined by quite of few of her fellow CAFO lagoon denizens.

As an aside, it's far cheaper to dispose of a terrorist carcass than it is to prosecute and imprison them.

Expand full comment

I thought that. It's just a form of words you have to use if you're a conservative candidate for anything.

Expand full comment

He's just dogwhistling at himself for them- he's got to let them know that he hates himself as much as the white supremacist base hates him, if he wants to get anywhere in the GQP. "I'll admit it, I'm not a Christian- but I'm 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 ashamed of myself for it! See? I know my place like a good little religious minority!"

Look for similar statements about how racial minorities are the real racists in the near future, if he hasn't already made a few.

Expand full comment

If they weren't talking about racism, there would be no racism. If nobody points it out they can pretend it isn't real.

Expand full comment

Civics? Actually teach Civics classes--and require students to know something about their government before they graduate?! But they find that boring. Let's give them more pep rallies for the school's sports teams. Pulling together to support things that don't actually matter. That'll teach them what's really important! That'll teach them to be good Americans!

Expand full comment

My civics class was taught by a coach. (Has to teach something to be on the faculty, but his actual job is coach, teaching is his fig leaf)

Expand full comment

End sports in school. City funded leagues after school would be appropriate. (Since without school funding, some kids who wanted to play couldn't (and some very talented kids would miss out on developing their talent))

Expand full comment

We have both and it works. We also have schools specialised in sports*. A girl in my boarding school was in one of those, she had to switch school for a couple of years but still followed the (regiment ?) like she was still there.

* The most famous is Clairefontaine for football, PSG I think.

Expand full comment

regimen, a rigid, difficult, most likely daily, routine to condition and tone ones body. Also used to describe a course of medical treatment.

regiment: a division of soldiers.

Expand full comment

As a freedom-loving conservative, I really am a bit conflicted about Vivek's candidacy. On one hand, I really like his stance of having a penis and being rich, but on the other hand, I am just not comfortable with his stance on the acceptable allowance of melanin in the skin, and having names that are hard for me to pronounce. And while as a freedom loving American who believes in democracy, I do strong support his plan to disenfranchise everyone who doesn't think like we think, I am a little troubled that he is allow to vote in the first place. Did he even pass the literacy test? Just looking at him, there is something about the way he looks, that doesn't look presidential to me. So while I do like his stance on women, queer people and people who are not me, not having the same rights as me, I think I will support a different candidate here on the white. I meant right.

Expand full comment

You're an all white guy. ;-)

Expand full comment

Remember that old expression – "that's mighty white of you"?

Expand full comment

How true. I can hide in a snow storm. I get sunburn at night. I know all the words to the beer barrel polka. I can go to a whole foods and not be followed by security.

Expand full comment

You're so white you make mayonnaise look dark?

Expand full comment

So white, I call mayonnaise "the spicy devil sauce". So white, I consider flour a spice. So white that I make Mike Pence look off-white.

Expand full comment

Whiter than Mitt Romney in a blizzard.

Expand full comment

So white it makes vanilla ice cream go "Daaaaaaamn!"

Expand full comment

So white, Vanilla Ice accuses me of copyright infringement.

Expand full comment

So white, sour cream looks like beef gravy in comparison.

Expand full comment

Brilliant!

Expand full comment

Jesus traveled to India and wrote the Bhagavad Gita, just like he wrote the US Constitution.

Expand full comment

He discovered that none of his disciples understood the language any better than he did, though.

Expand full comment

"What the country needs is to be "put back under God."

This country's government is a secular one, Smith. It's never been under your god. The key founders insured that we would keep church and state as far apart as possible; that we would not be under the thumb of your imaginary dictator in the clouds.

The only time we were ever under your god was in the century prior to becoming the United States. It was then that Christians ruled in the British Colonies. A time when they persecuted one another. The founders saw that and wanted no part of it.

Expand full comment

But to tell the truth, God's more of a bottom. Sure he's all wraith and domination in public, but be hind closed doors, it's a different story. So really, if we want to please God, we need to put the country above and behind him. And maybe Canada in front, too.

Expand full comment

Yes to your point comparing Ramaswamy and Haley. He’s one of them, and she isn’t, because the real religion is angry grievance.

Expand full comment

No, no, she can't be president. She's a woman! Can't have someone irrational as the commander-in-chief, she might start WWIII!

What do mean, "Trump's nuttier than a fruitcake...?"

Expand full comment

It's the hormones, apparently.

Expand full comment

And having blood coming out from her wherever.

Expand full comment

Every woman in the vicinity of Trump should look directly at him and say “it’s that time of the month.” That would keep her safe.

Expand full comment

I believe the technical term is 'ladybits'.

Expand full comment

They forget that men also go through hormone changes in middle age. My dad bought a Corvette, my uncle bought a sailboat. Some men head to the gym or get into cycling (my brother :D).

RFK Jr, at age 70 and on his fourth wife, is still going through his midlife crisis.

Expand full comment

If something were to happen to President Biden during his tenure in the White House, guess who becomes POTUS? You can hear the screams from the GQP at the very thought of it.

Expand full comment

I almost wish for it to happen just so I can see MTG's head explode a la "Scanners".

Expand full comment

Less an explosion, more a slowly deflating balloon.

Expand full comment

Jewish space laser alert.

Expand full comment

I see lots of comments on Fox about people wishing something would happen to Biden and also realizing that Harris is next in line. I haven't seen the claims recently that Biden was installed so he could quit and give Harris the presidency.

Expand full comment

Yes. And the Senate will refuse to confirm her nomination for a new VP. The SS will have their hands full.

Expand full comment

Seems to me the Senate would have to violate the 25th Amendment of the Constitution to do that. The VP automatically assumes the Presidency.

There's also the separation of powers to consider.

Expand full comment

The Senate has to confirm her nomination for her VP. IIRC correctly that was how Ford became president. Nixon's first VP resigned and Ford was appointed and confirmed and then when Nixon resigned Ford became president.

Expand full comment

LBJ simply placed his hand on a bible on Air Force One and was immediately sworn in. No confirmation hearing.

Same with Andrew Johnson, Chester A. Arthur and Theodore Roosevelt. To the best of my knowledge, none had a confirmation hearing before they became President after the assassinations of their predecessors.

If an assassin's bullet were to take Biden (especially if it looks like he was going to beat Trump again), I'd think Harris would be sworn in immediately with no confirmation hearing.

Expand full comment

Palpatine: I *AM* the Senate!!

Expand full comment

"Is that legal?"

"I will MAKE it legal."

Expand full comment

I’m not entirely sure he didn’t choose Harris specifically to protect himself from assassination. I am sure that if Trump had half a brain cell he did the same with Pence. Not that there are that many folks on the left that would have tried it even if his VP were more desirable, though it’s not out of the realm of possibilities.

Expand full comment

Somewhere along year 3 I'm sure many were tempted.

Expand full comment

This is precisely why I'd personally like to see the Dems run a Kamala Harris/Katie Porter ticket for the 2024 election. The right-wing antics would be hilarious.

Expand full comment

The thing is, nothing matters to them quite as much as hatred. If someone hates the same people they hate, they'll hold their noses and get behind him/her, at least till someone more acceptably straight, cis, white and christian comes along.

Clarence Thomas is tainted by too much melanin in his skin, but hey, he agrees with US and does what he's told. Ben Shapiro presumably doesn't give much of a fuck about Jesus, but hey, he hates the same people WE hate, doesn't he? Ramaswamy worships all them funny-looking gods and goddesses, but he wants to keep women, LGBT people, leftists and immigrants in their place, so... Any port in a storm, as long as it's a not-bigoted port like us (nudge nudge wink wink).

Expand full comment

But they love everyone. They love everyone so much they have to save us from hell, even if they have to beat us to do it.

Expand full comment

It's our *sins* that they hate.

Having never sinned, I really don't understand what all the fuss is about. 🤔

Expand full comment

You've never sinned? Man, you're missing all the fun.

Expand full comment

Not at all. Sinning is something that doesn't pertain to me.

(Crimes, OTOH....

😉)

Expand full comment

Stop by some night. I'll be happy to teach you how wrong you are. (Assuming you're not really a walrus, that is. You'd never make it up the steps to my apartment.)

Expand full comment

Coo coo ca choo.

Expand full comment

I'm really more yellow matter custard these days. 😉

Expand full comment

“wokeism, climatism, transgenderism, gender ideology, Covidism,”

So another rethuglican with no actual ideas or positions to solve actual problems. Just like the rest of those useless boils on the butt of the country.

Expand full comment

On Covidism alone, I saw a Washington Post article in my newspaper this morning titled:

"Study: Vaccine politics may be tied to GOP excess deaths."

Expand full comment

Maybe if they had more assault rifles they could have defended themselves.

Expand full comment

Was a study necessary to figure that out?

Expand full comment

You need to find new subjects, even the most absurd one, to keep the money coming.

Expand full comment

You'd think it'd have been obvious.

Expand full comment

Yeah, but hard data is still useful.

Expand full comment

True.

Expand full comment

When has evidence ever mattered to the Right?

Expand full comment

There are those that claim the excess Republican deaths had an effect on the last election. I don't know, but I'd like to think so.

Expand full comment