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Politically Incorrect
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The media has certainly noticed:
Wisconsin Republicans Advance Lame-Duck Power Grab
Wisconsin Republicans moved quickly Monday with a rare lame-duck session that would change the 2020 presidential primary date to benefit a conservative Supreme Court justice and weaken the newly elected Democratic governor and attorney general.
Midwestern Republicans Try To Kneecap New Democratic Governors
Lame-duck Republican legislatures in two Midwestern states where Democrats seized key state offices in November are trying to kneecap the incoming leaders and change election rules, aiming to consolidate GOP power despite the election results. ...In both states [Wisconsin and Michigan], the lawmakers are mimicking what happened in North Carolina in 2016, after Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, ousted Republican Pat McCrory. Before Cooper took office, the GOP-dominated Legislature moved to limit his power to make appointments, and it has since consistently tried to alter election rules to help Republicans.
Wisconsin Is About to Make a Huge Mistake
The lame duck, heavily gerrymandered Republican Legislature plans to vote on Tuesday to limit the powers of the incoming governor and attorney general, who are — surprise — Democrats.
The question is: Have the voters noticed which legislators are blithely ignoring, or doing their best to subvert their votes?
Apparently, "the will of the people" means... Well, frankly, nothing anymore.
Why must we go through repeated lawsuits to get our legislators to stop subverting the democratic process?
Historically, Democrats cannot claim to be entirely innocent, however, of late, the Republican Party needs to redefine 'GOP' to mean 'Group of Profligates.'
Trump, McConnell and Ryan have repeatedly stated that they, and their party, *believe* in democracy. However, they also strenuously defend the Second Amendment which makes one wonder if their next power grab is just to shoot opposing voters.
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Mrs May’s secretary, Simon Williams, said, “Yes, of course men can be secretaries, you judgmental bastard.,, “Anyway…yes, Theresa is very keen for her CV to be as impressive as possible. She’s covered it in pink glitter and everything."
Okay, let's be honest, that's not her most flattering picture, however she does appear to be working hard at an intractable problem.
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Go for it! It's surprisingly inexpensive on Amazon. Though oddly enough, all the reviews seem to be for this book - Unfinished Business by Nora Roberts. Why not take a chance on romance, and see which book you actually get?
And, be sure to post your review on Goodreads!
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Take a chance on romance????
Are you kidding me, Melki????
Take another look at the heroine on the Cary Lucas cover...lacy lingerie...red lipstick...red nail polish...the long, razor-sharp machete in a frenzied grip and the blatantly seductive 'get out of my house' look...
This book is SO, SO, SO obviously a romance!
And, of course, let's not forget that the heroine is topless, has black hair, and is showing only one earring. It practically screams swashbuckling Hispanic pirate. We can't see her other shoulder, but could she be carrying a parrot????
Indeed she may!!!
The other dead giveaway is the hero's sombrero and turquoise poncho, almost a cliche for the romance genre. His dark hair and smoldering good looks with such a neatly trimmed mustache practically demands Antonio Banderas be cast for the movie. The overall impression is so obviously and intentionally Mexican -- you can practically smell the border patrol agents waiting to pounce.
Lastly, the subtitle: Love and violence clash south of the border! If ever there was a clone for a Trump Tweet demanding more money for a wall...
And I hate to say it, Melki, but the Amazon hardcover is a full fifty-five cents more expensive than the paperback. Calling four bits and a nickel "surprisingly inexpensive" is just yielding to the publisher's outrageously inflationary pricing. For shame! Such pulp books were originally sold in 'dime stores' and that's where they should remain for every current and future generation of consumers.
I must say that I'm shocked -- genuinely and sincerely shocked -- that the late, great...dare I say, legendary...Cary Lucas could be so obviously misinterpreted.
Romance. Lust.Poe-tay-toe, poe-tah-toe.
Gary wrote: "I'd read this:"
When I lived in Santa Cruz, I had an old guy neighbor who saw me sitting on the porch reading and gave me a box of his books. I think this was one of them. They were all crotch novels. My roommate and I read them all....out loud. We were afraid of him.
Brena wrote: "They were all crotch novels."I somehow managed to live my whole life without hearing the term "crotch novel" before.
True Story #1: They say that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, yet people seem to really prefer to do that. I was in a coffee house reading a history book, and people walking by kept giving me these weird, creepy, even angry looks. It wasn't until I closed the book that I realized what was up:
(view spoiler)
Turns out some folks found that inappropriate for Sunday afternoon coffee house reading some reason.
The Moral of the Story: "Never judge a book by its cover, but sometimes just read the ebook...."
True Story #2: I had a buddy who was really, really into dirty books. Like, adult, adult books with a capital X. The kind they used to sell in some rundown building between a rehab clinic and a bail bondsman across the street from a bus stop with bullet holes in the bench. Now it's a Starbucks and the neighborhood is gentrified, but then it was a crime scene in a sewer. The kinds of places where a stray dog won't piss because even a feral animal has sanitary concerns.
We all have our peccadilloes, though, so as long as you're not hurting anybody, I have a "whatever floats your boat" attitude toward such things. There's a guy right now somewhere wearing high heels and clown makeup watching videos of women sitting on cheesecakes who probably thinks I'm the weirdo for watching Scarlett Johansson in whatever movie she's donned a bodysuit for this month. Judge not, lest ye be kind of a dick....
But then this buddy of mine decided that he wasn't just a fan, he was a budding author waiting to bloom, as it were, and he started penning his own smut book. Since I read a lot, and write from time to time, he wanted me to review his efforts. He'd come over and say, "I've got the new pages for you" and hand me these loose double-spaced sheets in a manila folder that he'd pilfered from his office job. Then he'd creepily stare at my face as I "read" them—practically holding his breath—looking for any sort of reaction at all. I say "read" in quotes because after the third page, I couldn't read anymore. I faked it. I'd just direct my unfocused eyes at the paper and slowly let them trail down the blurred lines while doing a word puzzle in my head to blot out the ridiculous, relentless, almost industrial, sex acts depicted. But you can't keep your eyes crossed forever, so sometimes the text would snap into focus and scald my retinas. The average letter to Penthouse was a Robert Frost poem compared to that shit, man. You know that scene in The Shining where Skinny Duvall finds her hubby has been just writing "all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" over and over again? Like that, but without the big reveal. Just an endless, agonizing, four-letter-word drone.
What do you say to something like that? I mean, you want to be encouraging to folks... but damn. I'd usually just blurt out something non-committal that he could take as praise. And "the pages" just kept coming.
So, I wrote an erotic short story and gave it to him, just to try to get him to have some sort of plot or character development or proper punctuation or something. Anything to give it some sort of merit.
He hated it.
"Too much talking," he pronounced.
"You mean 'dialogue'?" I asked.
"Whatever," he said.
But he stopped bringing over "pages" for me to peruse, thank God.
The Moral of the Story: "Not all stories have morals."
Gary wrote: "Brena wrote: "Gary wrote: "They were all crotch novels."I somehow managed to live my whole life without hearing the term "crotch novel" before.
I don't usually read long posts, but this is fantastic.
True Story #1: They say that you shouldn't judge..."
Brena wrote: "I don't usually read long posts, but this is fantastic."Thanks for sayin'. Trooth iz stranjur thann fikshun.
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I usually give the first sentences or paragraph a chance, then decide either to continue or skip it.
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"Crotch novel" seems oddly familiar, so I may have heard it before and just can't place it...or, given the right opportunity, it's something I would have said. However...
I admit that I was completely unaware that "stray dogs" have sanitary concerns. And I also have to admit I was a bit puzzled by the "almost industrial sex acts", but that may just be the current political climate. IF Trump swears he'll bring back manufacturing jobs, does "industrial sex" qualify, and how many job applicants can be expected to have the proper qualifications????
Good stories, Gary!
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Actually, I think he moved to cable.
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Last fall, the world watched as Saudi Arabia's official story about the death of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi changed, and changed again. A series of contradictory claims and denials came even as evidence emerged that Khashoggi's killing had been ordered by the country's crown prince. ...Many people were angry, and that included the American comedian Hasan Minhaj, who blasted the Saudi government on his Netflix news-comedy show Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj. ..."This is the most unbelievable cover story since Blake Shelton won sexiest man alive," Minhaj joked to his audience.
Netflix bows to the Saudi Government???? Why, exactly would an American corporation kiss a Saudi prince's...Okay, for the sake of argument, lets say it was a ring????
In a country [I'm talking about the US here.] that saw Edward R. Murrow broadcast
See It Now in the McCarthy era... Saw Woodward, Bernstein and publisher Katharine Graham of the Washington Post challenge Nixon's claims of "national security"... Saw Larry Flynt spend his own money to challenge laws restricting parody before the Supreme Court [Hustler Magazine, Inc. v. Falwell, 485 U.S. 46 (1988) --> 8 to 0 ruling]... Saw a character named Meathead comedically challenge everybody in the government when All In The Family was broadcast...
Where the hell have all the media executives with spines gone????
Regardless, we here at the HC feel that our membership is entitled to the real story of Netflix folding like a wet paper sack. Ergo, at great personal risk, we have managed
Dear Saudi Government,
Thank you for your letter. Here at Netflix, we INVITE criticism instead of locking up our critics in some abysmal, inhumane prison, or murdering and dismembering them at the first opportunity. Aren't you the lucky one????
Signed,
Wilford Maxwell Shiteshingle Abromowitz, III
Personal Secretary of the Netflix CEO Who Is Currently Playing Golf
-for-
Wilmot Reed Hastings Jr.
Netflix CEO With An Embarrassing Handicap and A Tendency to Use the Women's Tee
PS. I just heard from our accounting department on the Saudi marketplace, and it appears that, since there's money involved, I'm no longer aloud to have balls. So, nevermind.
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Queen says ‘F*ck this shit’ and re-establishes absolute monarchy
The Queen’s speech at the Sandringham Women’s Institute began with references to respecting different points of view and coming together to seek out the common ground, before she took a massive swig of gin and Dubonnet, slurred ‘Fuck this shit’ and dropped the microphone.
Mod Note: Sorry about the rude language, but in this case, it is indeed the Queen's English.
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Queen says ‘F*ck this shit’ and re-establishes absolute monarchy
The Queen’s speech at the Sandringham Women’s Institute began with references to r..."
I bet she wishes she really could do that. Or maybe she can. It might be their last best hope.
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Another one! It's beginning to look like lawsuits and a police record are a prerequisite to working in the movie industry.
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Take five minutes to watch this video. It's worth it just to see a few of the congressmen squirm.
(The video is about halfway down the page.)
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Exposes The Dark Side Of Politics In 5 Incredible Minutes
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Frankly, it's beginning to show.
science fair - An opportunity for students to apply the scientific method to conduct independent research. ... In other words, a complete study of the topic so that the student can design an intelligent and meaningful experiment.
What color ribbon is "Less-Than-Honorable Mention"????
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'Do unto others, then run like hell'?
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So, so proud that this is the right-wing nutjob chosen to represent my county! Yippee!
(Sorry. My sarcasm font doesn't seem to be working today.)
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Much of the world views 'Christian' as synonymous with 'hypocrite' and stories such as this one certainly lend credence to that view.
However, I believe the bible story says that Jesus loved lepers and whores, ergo he'll no doubt love Rep. Stephanie Borowicz.
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Joel wrote: "To our British members: Are you guys as freaked out about Parlaiment's inability to agree on a Brexit strategy as BBC World News would have the rest of us believe?"Speaking for myself, I also get most of my news from the BBC, so I have no more insight than you!
Personally, I am in despair. On the other hand, our cleaning lady asked me yesterday "What is this Brexit, people are talking about?" I tried to give her a basic one-minute outline, but she could not understand even the general idea. Her vote counts as much as mine...
I find, from reading history, that parliamentary chaos is nothing new. Here is a snippet that I posted two days ago to a discussion at the online Guardian newspaper, plus one person's reply:
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As the British people wrangle and the country seems to be splitting into several warring factions, I happen to be reading Jenny Uglow's wonderful "In these times: living in Britain through Napoleon's Wars". The resemblances are uncanny: the civilian population bitterly divided between those who support Britain's war with France and those who desperately want us to make peace with Napoleon. A Cabinet divided, Whigs and Tories fighting each other and then fighting among themselves. A sick Prime Minister trying to resign, but the Sovereign won't accept the resignation. Coalitions forming and then breaking. At least we have not yet reached the stage of two Secretaries of State fighting a duel with pistols on Putney Heath.
To which someone replied:
" At least we have not yet reached the stage of two Secretaries of State fighting a duel with pistols on Putney Heath."
Chris Grayling and Andrea Leadsom. Please let it happen.
(Odds are they'd both miss, with the bullet managing to knock the power out to the trains and a hospital or two).
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Speaking for mysel..."
These days, I hear everyone in England is using knives.
Joel wrote: "Martin wrote: "Joel wrote: "To our British members: Are you guys as freaked out about Parlaiment's inability to agree on a Brexit strategy as BBC World News would have the rest of us believe?"Spe..."
I have read some good takes on Brexit on the Daily Mash. It is short humorous coverage of all things British.
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Speaking for mysel..."
While Martin's dueling suggestion certainly has merit, there would have to be some reasonable adjustments.
To be polite, I'll use American politicians as an example. Any duel with pistols at ten paces would have to include a hefty handicap for one most obvious reason. Mitch McConnell is a much larger target than Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
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"[They] allow the live streaming of suicides, rapes, and murders, continue to host and publish the mosque attack video, allow advertisers to target 'Jew haters' and other hateful market segments, and refuse to accept any responsibility for any content or harm," Edwards wrote. "They #DontGiveAZuck."
New Zealand was a Victorian Era British Colony from 1841 to 1907, which may explain their tendency to sugarcoat everything.
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The Humour Club
Books mentioned in this topic
Unfinished Business (other topics)The Office (other topics)
Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941–1942 (other topics)
Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941–1942 (other topics)
The Glass Castle (other topics)
More...
Practice makes
Perfect,Somewhat Perfect,Questionable Sanity,Yet More Inanity,What The Hell,...Not being a member of the GOP, I frankly don't know. Maybe, it's just a daily devotional????