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Weekend Open Thread

by thebesig••56
Eastern bluebirds are one of the three most widespread bluebirds. (Elizabeth W. Kearley/Getty Images)

Eastern bluebirds caught in a snowstorm. They could be found in the part of the US east of the Rocky Mountains, and from Canada to Central America. Enjoy your weekend.

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56 thoughts on “Weekend Open Thread”

    1. Congrats Curt!
      I was lurking trying to grab it my self. Had a good Texas sized brisket smoking for the masses.

      Got distracted again by work…

      1. I’m not worth a damn at “lording”, but if anybody wants to swing by for some gin later, I’ll have a bottle of Bombay chilled!

        1. Rats of the Cong on your FIRSTNESS Lurker Curt. Lord over and Bask in the Glory. I laid low till I saw your post, then I immediately buzzed out to get my Chinesecommunist Originated Virus Infecting Disease of 2019 Bat Flu Shot. My pill pushing medic called while I was waiting for someone to claim the Crown, Lady Friend was on the way to get me so we could get shot up with the J&J One Shot Dose. No side effects yet, my horns or tail haven’t gotten any longer…yet…but the day ain’t over.

          I’ll have a shot of that Bombay, with a ‘Rona Chaser while you run over to TxNorsky’s place and snag that Brisket. Get the pot of baked beans too. Oh, and pick up some Yuenglings for Pappy, The Stranger. You know how he is.

          Smoking Lamp lit?

    3. Congratulations Curt! It’s been so long since I hit a First I can’t remember. Probably before Jonn passed, but I would have to have the Sovereign Keeper Of The Firsts to verify that.

      1. Sparks, you scored your one and only “First” at 11:04 am on the 04 July 2017 One Day Mini Open Thread.

        My apology for not getting back to you sooner, but didn’t see your post until this morning.

      2. Thanks Sparks! This was my second- if memory serves, I tagged the last First of 2019…memory is foggy tho

        1. Your memory may be foggy, but the Coveted Book of Firsts has it down in black and white that you scored your first “First” on 29 Dec 2017 at 12:54 pm and another “First” on 12 Jan 2018 at 1:04 pm.

          “So let it be written, so let it be done”/smile

      1. Thanks! Managed to stumble onto it, unmolested- still wondering how long KoB was watching, waiting…

  6. All right Curt! FIRST for the WOT is something to be proud of! Be sure to lord it over all of us for your week on the throne!

    In the meantime, here’s this week’s trivia column – and, since Thursday was April Fool’s Day, it comes with the annual “find the three faked items” game. Good luck!

    DID YOU KNOW…?
    Can you find the three faked items in this year’s April Fool’s column?
    By Commissioner Wretched

    Once again, it’s time for my annual attempt at humorous competition – the April Fool’s column!

    Inside this week’s endeavor you will find the usual assortment of silly stuff that’s actually real … and three items that aren’t.

    Your mission – should you choose to accept it – find them.

    Now, no prizes are given, other than that wonderful feeling of accomplishment that comes with successfully meeting a challenge. But you’ll know that even I can’t fool you, and that’s something, anyway.

    Remember, three in here are faked. If you want to find out if your picks are right, just send an e-mail to me at didyouknowcolumn@gmail.com and I’ll let you know how you did. Or just check next week’s column. And no fair looking it up online!

    The game’s afoot!

    Did you know …

    … two of the planets in the Solar System rotate differently from the rest? Uranus, the seventh planet, rotates on its side. The planet’s north pole is 98 degrees off the vertical, due to a collision with another huge body billions of years ago. And Venus, the second planet, rotates backward. The Sun rises in the west, and sets in the east. This is because Venus is basically “upside-down” in space, with its north pole pointing in the direction the other planets’ south poles point. (There’s at least one in every crowd, right?)

    … the IRS has a consideration for a child who has been kidnapped? For tax purposes, the Internal Revenue Service considers a kidnapped child to be a dependent – at least until he or she reaches the age of eighteen, or is confirmed dead. (Ah, the IRS … the government agency with a heart.)

    … chameleons change the color of their skin to match their surroundings? The little (and sometimes not-so-little) lizards are able to blend in with their environments in many ways because of this ability, and they use it primarily for camouflage from predators. (I’d like to see one hide in front of a plaid wall.)

    … it takes about 850 peanuts to make an 18-ounce jar of peanut butter? (Is that creamy or crunchy?)

    … watching an hour-long episode of a soap opera actually burns more calories than watching a three-hour-long baseball game? (Some would say that baseball is fifteen minutes of action crammed into three hours.)

    … a Russian tsar executed a rat? Tsar Peter III (1728-1762) once court-martialed a rat for chewing the heads off of his toy soldiers. The rat was found guilty and hanged. (I’m not sure “rat executioner” is how I’d want to be remembered in the history books, but to each his own, I say.)

    … the “iron maiden” was a medieval torture device? You’ve seen them in the movies (well, in cartoons at least) – a metal cabinet about the size of a person, but with spikes on the inside. In the Middle Ages (the 13th through 15th Centuries), people who were not liked by whoever was in power were put inside the iron maiden and slowly put to a painful, torturous death. (Whether on the inside or the outside, people would get the point!)

    … pineapple isn’t the strangest topping for pizza? Sure, there’s a large contingent of people out there who think that putting pineapple on a pizza ought to carry a lengthy prison term or something. But in India, pineapple would be for sissies – the people there like pickled ginger, minced mutton, and even a substance called paneer, a kind of cottage cheese. Another popular topping on pizza in India is tikka, which is chicken marinated in a spicy yogurt sauce. (Scratch pizza from the list of things to eat when I travel to India.)

    … the founder of North Korea was born with a different name? Kim Il-Sung (1912-1994), founder and “eternal president” of North Korea, was actually named Kim Song-ju at birth. In 1935, he took the new name to become famous. The name he assumed means “Become the Sun.” (His original name meant “Become the silly person.”)

    … French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte fought so many wars because of his height? Okay, not exactly. But Napoleon (1769-1821) did have something of an inferiority complex, because he was not exactly a tall person. He was, in fact, shorter than the average Frenchman of his time, and to make up for it, he was a rather aggressive fellow. (He had a “Napoleon Complex,” to coin a phrase.)

    … strawberries are not berries? They are classified as “accessory fruits.” However, bananas actually are berries. (Call them whatever you like; I’m still allergic to strawberries.)

    … on average, those who date kiss for the first time on the second date? (I wouldn’t know much about that. I haven’t had very many second dates.)

    … Hawaiian Punch™ was developed as a tropical-flavored ice cream topping? (Hey, how about a nice Hawaiian Punch?)

    … there is a term for a word that can be used as its own opposite? Take, for example, the word “seed.” If you seed your lawn, you’re adding seeds; if you seed a tomato, however, you’re removing them. The term for such a word is a contronym. (Indeed.)

    … eating a diet of only rabbit meat can really make you sick? Rabbit meat contains almost no fat, and humans need a certain amount of fat intake – some more than others. Add some fats and carbs and rabbits are a good source of nutrition, though. (Bugs Bunny and Peter Rabbit are off laughing themselves silly.)

    Now … you know!

    1. Contranyms are commonly called Janus words (after the Roman two-faced god.) Another example “cleave”: you cleave unto someone by joining them, but when you cleave something with a blade you are splitting it.

    2. Rabbits don’t have any fat? Why do cats eat them? (Well, beside because they can… )

  8. Verified Valor Vultures Tote Board standings as of the end of 2nd Quarter, FY21:

    Air Force – 0
    Army – 4
    Coast Guard – 0
    Marines – 3
    Navy – 5
    Space Force – 0

    1. Go Navy. I am impatiently waiting for the first Space Force phony. It may be a while. Kind’a like a classic line from The Untouchables.

      At the 2:11 mark. Here endith the lesson.

      1. Welp, good to see that Navy can win some type of contest. They damn sure don’t do that well on a weekend in December. *snerk* 😛 GABN/HBTD/RTR

        1. Can’t help everyone wants to be a cool-ass SEAL instead of a dirt diggin’ Doggie.

          1. I resemble that offensive remark, since I did dig my own prone shelter with my e-tool (you prolly don’t know what that is) in the Viet of the Nam.

            2. And he prolly doesn’t know that our e-tool carrier (from way back when) had a little flap with holes and a clip strap that secured the bayonet to it when not in use./s

              8465-542-5842 Carrier, Entrenching Tool, M-1956.

  10. Out weeding the garden today.

    Mrs. GB is suffering a malaise from the 2nd Wuhan Virus vaccination, but not too badly.

    Hope everyone has a great Easter.

    He is Risen!

    1. Amazed… had the second Moderna shot Tuesday and zero side effects. Actually, since back twinges have stopped, I feel better than a week ago.

  11. I’m just glad to be here after a very difficult week.
    And a special thanks to all the health care workers that get
    up every day and help people live their lives.

    Oh, and congrats to Lurker Curt. Somebody’s gotta hold the Sceptre.

    1. Hope things get better 26Lima.

      We lost another church member this week. He was 93, but it is still hard. Also found out a friend had cancer come back. Life is hell sometimes.

      If I couldn’t see my grandkids smiles and hear their laughs, it’d be a hard world.

      1. Hang tuff, ‘beans, you got this. We can talk about ya, but we can’t talk without ya.

        Graybeard, you need to just quit that gloating about having them Grand Babies so close. Mine are 400+ miles down the road. Up until 29 Mar of ’18 I made that trip ’bout 6 times a year. Can’t do that drive alone anymore so it’s maybe 3 times a year since, if I’m lucky. And flying from here is not a very good option. Enjoy them ’cause they do grow up real fast.

        1. Yes they do, friend.

          And believe me, Mrs. GB and I give thanks often for God’s Providence that put them nearby. Don’t mean to gloat, but we stand amazed at the blessings He allows us to enjoy.

          In my thoughtlessness once, I was talking about the grands with a long time friend of mine, whose only son was killed in a traffic accident. I forgot he will never get to enjoy grandchildren. I have to zip my lip around him.

          I’m sorry yours are so far away. Wish you could get to them more often.

  13. Hack Stone told you guys that he would be late. Just got from a few day excursion to Frantic City. Lost the entire payroll for the proud but humble woman owned business that sells software to the federal government formerly located in Bethesda Maryland. Where the hell will I come up with $11?

  15. Here folks.
    I was at the indoor freedom seed garden center getting used to some new tools.
    I’m not great but I got the seeds sewed in the proper direction even if they weren’t spread evenly or in a uniform formation.
    I hope all have a lovely Easter weekend and Good Friday to all, I’ll be here lurking the next couple of days.
    Smooches! 😀 😀 😀

    Oh and RIP Billy Evans, Capital Hill Police Officer and prayers for the other (unidentified at this time) officer and the families of all.
    🙏

  17. Gregory Edwards was an Army Medic who served in Iraq and Kosovo. He returned to the states and was diagnosed with PTSD and got on again off again (mostly off) treatment. (He would not attend sessions.) He also appears to have been addicted to huffing paint.

    On December 18, 2018, despite all of the signs of an emotional breakdown (per his wife’s statements) Edwards and his wife Kathleen went to a WalMart in West Melbourne, FL where Gregory attacked a charity worker in a WalMart parking lot. The police tazed, handcuffed and arrested Gregory and took him to the County Jail. His wife, despite saying he had all the signs of the onset of a breakdown before leaving their home, asked the police to not “Baker Act” him (which is Florida’s mental heath committal law.) They took him to jail.

    In jail, while being transferred from a holding cell to a booking area, Gregory had another episode, attacking correction officers. He was tazed, pepper sprayed, and a spit hood placed over his head while in a restraint chair.

    Sixteen minutes later, while not being monitored, Gregory died. There are some issues with the way the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office handled the case and they are being sued.

    The case became national news as the Sheriff refused to release the footage of the attack. Gregory Edwards became a poster child for abuse by law enforcement and Kathleen Edwards was one of the harshest critics.

    As you can imagine, this event was traumatic to his wife Kathleen who had also been diagnosed with PTSD after a being sexually abused in the military and suffering from an attack from an RPG in Iraq.

    After the death of Gregory, her mental health allegedly began to deteriorate. Sheriff’s deputies were called to the home for a wellness check and while there, someone from Child Protective Services noticed that the family pool did not have a fence around it to prevent the Edwards’ child, who was born after Gregory’s death, from falling into the pool and drowning.

    For whatever reason, Kathleen chose not to put up the fence.

    On June 20, 2020, Edwards and the child’s grandmother called 911 as they had found the 18 month old child at the bottom of the pool. The child was not breathing, and was taken to the hospital where he never woke up and was disconnected from life support 3 days later.

    This week, Edwards was arrested and charged with aggravated manslaughter of a child.

    This is one of the saddest stories I can ever remember hearing. Three lives, two of which were extinguished, have forever been changed.

    It didn’t have to be this way.

    1. Been to far too many pediatric swimming pool drownings. That’s why I hate swimming pools. I don’t mind taking the kids to swim, but I refuse to have a pool at the house.

      1. There is nothing wrong with swimming pools, provided one doesn’t let children near them unsupervised. And they are fenced properly. My problem with them is that they are a PITA to maintain. They do kill more people than the so-called “assault rifles” every year.

  18. 33rd;
    I made a copy of both sides of a friends shot card to laminate along with her original so I used a 5MM scrap sheet I had and lined up the original and the two pieces back to back from the printer so I had a front and back of the copy. The original was on top and the copy below it and when I ran it through the laminator, the original which had her name and address on an address label came out blackish with part of her name and a little of her address showing but the printer copy came out perfect with the whole address visible. Could it have because it was a label on the original card that it blurred out. Any ideas??

    1. Yes.

      There is a notice out that the cards are being printed on thermal printers. When the card is laminated with heat, the ink is reactivated and runs into a blob.

      There are actually warnings about this going up here at vaccine sites because it is so common.

  19. For those interested:

    https://www.deviantart.com/yt45

    Got one niece’s F3H done, minus ordnance, in a girlified version of VF-21’s colors circa 1961 aboard the Midway. Just about wrapped up another niece’s F4F in a mix of 1942 Pacific Fleet colors and prewar ID stripes in yellow (her favorite color), with Butch O’Hare’s ID number from when he flew off the Lexington and earned his Medal of Honor. Both planes also have each girl’s favorite cartoon characters as well.

    1. I haven’t commented on your work much but I have to say you have a talent and a steady hand for sure.

      1. I have neither, but thanks. I do like to think I’m getting a little bit better with each one, but the internet is full of people with actual skill and talent who make my best efforts look like a crayon-drawn stick figure. Lucky for me some of them are willing to share their secrets on YouTube.

        1. Thanks for the update TOW, always good to see the progress. Really, really, REALLY looking forward to seeing the upcoming Bombers…’specially the nose art there of.

  21. The False Commander “Phony” Phil Monkress (CEO of All-Points Logistics) works balls while avoiding calls seeking clarification of his highly dubious and potentially felonious Native American, Law Enforcement and Navy SEAL claims.

  22. Items for discussion? (Just to show you that I don’t only do crosswords puzzles in ink on some of the nights I can’t sleep)

    7310-00-234-3524 Pocket Stove
    7310-00-263-8736 Stove, Gas, 2-Burner
    8465-00-242-7843 Cup, Canteen, Folding/Flip Handle
    8465-00-165-6838 Cup, Canteen, w/Butterfly Handles
    8465-00-753-6488/6489 Cup, Canteen, Arctic, Insulated
    8465-00-242-7860/7861 Handcuffs/Leg Irons
    9110-00-263-9865 Fuel, Compressed, Trioxane
    5120-00-595-8349 Entrenching Tool, M-1951 (Old Style)
    5120-00-878-5932 E-Tool (New Style)
    8465-00-889-3769 Collapsible 2-Quart Canteen
    5180-00-408-1859 TE-33 Lineman’s Tool Kit
    5110-00-813-1286 Machete, M-1942
    1615-00-893-1534 Nut, Retaining, Main Mast Rotor (Oh,Jesus)/smile
    5110-00-162-2205 Utility Pocket Knife
    5110-00-310-8568 Cutter, Wire Rope, M-1938

    1. “5180-00-408-1859 TE-33 Lineman’s Tool Kit”

      Made by Klein I’ll wager.

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