Weekend Open Thread
A good sign that someone is easily media manipulated is to see how they react to reported events. How far will the Democrats go to attack President Donald Trump and his supporters? As far as it is required, even if it means taking positions that Democrats would’ve found abominable in other situations. The trade imbalance, illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and so on, were issues that united both parties in the 20th Century.
Now we have situations to where leftists could go from “No Kings” to “Let Maduro go free.” Their emotions blind them to the fact that Maduro had become what they accuse Trump of being. Yet these same folks try to claim that we’re a “cult” who embrace “pure fantasy.” Unfortunately for them, we’re not fooled. Enjoy your weekend!
Category: Open thread
First!
LITERALLY the same time 10 seconds ago
Nice Win CW!!!
This one could be a photo-finish, Chip … but thanks!
Some of us have jobs, you know. Not Psul of The Ballsack, but other people who don’t have more baggage than Sam Brinton.
CONG-RATs CW
FIRST!! WOOT!!!
Not this time, Chip …
Apparently…..flying fickle fingers of fate.
(OLD folks here)
Here’s your trophy CW….
HEY FUCKERS!!!
BE SAFE OUT THERE THIS WEEKEND AND THE COMING DAYS. SHIT’S GOING ***DOWN****
I got the reference, you bet your sweet bippy!
Sock it to me!
Remember when Nixon said “Sock it to me”? Humphrey was supposed to say, “Sock it to him, not me”; but he didn’t and he lost.
I had a crush on Judy Carne but Burt Reynolds got there first (and that I was in grade school kinda got in the way).
I do remember, and I was also in grade school. Everybody at school was walking around saying “Verrrrry interesting”.
I remember when some hoity-toity ‘journalist’ mocked Hee-Haw as a poor imitation.
Hee-Haw outlived the Flying Fickle Finger of Fate by a number of years – then kept on being showed.
‘Journalists’ or Elites have been wrong for a long time.
What happened, did the outdated Red Hat Software slow you down?
First!
Dang third!
‘Fraid not …
You’re ‘fraid nothing, CW! You’re ecstatic you got first. Rats of the Cong, btw!
First
No.
Huh, didn’t look that way…
Oh well, nice try.
Aaaannnnnddddd !!!!!
Thunder takes the trophy for his second appearance on the often coveted yet never given away WOT FIRST !!!!
So, all you Dickweeds buckle up for the ride of a lifetime with Thunder as he lords over all of you, the great unwashed !!!!!!
I’ll have you know I showered this morning! I may be deplorable, but I am clean!
First?
Nein.
Dang it, Best attempt.
Well, the coveted, always-earned, never-given FIRST of the Weekend Open Threat belongs to yours truly. I pledge to rule over you ‘weeds and ‘weedettes with the greatest of civility and niceness … and if you believe that, I have some swampland in New Mexico I’d like to discuss with you. Seriously, what I offer is all the good food and drink you can handle, and some trivia for dessert. Enjoy!
DID YOU KNOW…?
Did a beloved “Star Trek” actor almost wind up on a different science fiction show?
By Commissioner Wretched
didyouknowcolumn@gmail.com
Copyright © 2026
It’s time for the first mea culpa of 2026!
Yes, it seems I’ve been caught in an error in the column two weeks ago.
In it, I mentioned the fact that actor Michael J. Fox’s middle name doesn’t actually begin with a “J.” That wasn’t the error, however. The error was in the listing of his birth. I said he was born in 1981, when he was actually born in 1961.
To his credit, Mr. Fox wasn’t the one who pointed it out, and if he saw it at all he probably appreciated my taking 20 years off his age.
I do want to thank my friend Hack Stone at valorguardians.com for correcting me on Mr. Fox’s year of birth. Now, on to this week’s trivia!
Did you know …
… probability has actually been calculated regarding the “monkey typing Hamlet” saw? You know, the one that says if you put a hundred monkeys in a room with a hundred typewriters, eventually they’d write Hamlet. Well, the actual probability of such a thing happening is 10360,783. I don’t know about you, but I have no idea how big a number that actually is. (Maybe if the monkeys wrote the National Enquirer, the probability would be lower. Or perhaps they already do.)
… two of the belligerent nations of World War II have never actually ended the war? Japan and Russia never formally ended hostilities following the Japanese surrender in 1945. An attempt was made in 2000 to finally sign a peace treaty between the two nations, but the attempt failed when Russia refused to return to Japan four offshore islands it had occupied during the war. (Talk about holding a grudge!)
… Valentine’s Day is banned in Iran? The Islamic Republic’s government prohibited celebrating Valentine’s Day in 2011. According to the hardline government, cards, teddy bears, and other Valentine’s gifts are part of “the spread of Western culture” and are against Iranian norms. (Why am I not surprised?)
… an iconic role in the movie Ghostbusters was meant for someone else? The original 1984 film featured Bill Murray (born 1950) in the role of Peter Venkman, and he played it in the 1989 sequel as well. But Murray was not the first choice for the role of Venkman. The part was written to be played by John Belushi (1949-1982), but Belushi died of a drug overdose before production could start.
… a beloved Star Trek actor almost ended up on another science fiction show? Actor James Doohan (1920-2005) is known the world over as Montgomery Scott, irascible Chief Engineer of the USS Enterprise in Star Trek. But not long after Doohan was cast for the second pilot episode of the classic sci-fi series, he was offered another a major role in a different show – that of the Chief Petty Officer of the research submarine Seaview in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea. Doohan would have replaced actor Henry Kulky (1911-1965), who had played CPO Curley Jones of the Seaview on the first season of the series and who had died suddenly after the season had finished filming. Doohan chose to keep his commitment to Star Trek, even though the series had not yet sold, and Voyage went with actor Terry Becker (1921-2014) in the new role of CPO Francis Sharkey. (He was, indeed, a miracle worker!)
… one of the most famous rulers of ancient Egypt was not Egyptian? Cleopatra VII (69 BC-30 BC), famous today for her affairs with Julius Caesar (100 BC-44 BC) and Mark Antony (83 BC-30 BC), was actually of Greek descent. She was the last active ruler of Egypt under the Ptolemaic kingdom. After her death, Egypt was annexed as a province of the Roman Empire.
… the champagne used to christen a ship is a modern substitute for human blood? Back in the days of the Vikings, they – and various South Sea tribes – would sacrifice people on the prows of newly-built ships so that the spirit of the victim would guard the craft. Later, wine was substituted for the blood, and today we use champagne. (Which is a good thing, if you ask me.)
Substituting wine for blood? Now where have heard that before?
… pistachio nuts sometimes spontaneously combust? That’s right, it’s possible for a bag of pistachio nuts to break into a glorious fire for no apparent reason. Well, there is a reason, of course. Pistachios are high in fat, and low in moisture. That causes them to be self-heating, and if they’re tightly packed, that can have a blazing consequence. When pistachios are transported, things like temperature and humidity have to be carefully controlled to prevent fire or even possible explosions. (That’s just nutty.)
… movies once had some very strange guidelines to follow? From 1930 to 1968, Hollywood had to follow the Hays Code, named for its first official censor, Will H. Hays (1879-1954). Hays was the first chairman of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America. His code had some very strict guidelines regarding the interaction of men and women on screen. For example: men and women kissing in American films would only be permitted if one of the participants was sitting or standing; all on-screen married couples had to sleep in twin beds; and if a kiss happened in one of those beds, at least one of the spouses had to have one foot on the floor. The Code was replaced by the voluntary rating system of the Motion Picture Association of America in 1968. (And actors and audiences are glad of that.)
… the Greeks had a god of sleep? His name was Hypnos. Like most other Greek gods, he carried over into Roman mythology with a different name; the Romans called him Somnus. (I’ve had many nights when I wished he’d come visit.)
Now … you know!
Congrats, CW. I cede my thrown. Rule justly and wisely for the next ~168 hours!
Further but trivia, up until 1979, the largest importer of pistachios to the United States was…Iran. MINA, Make Iran Nutty Again.
Iran is already far too nutty, thank you just the same!
And now California makes 98% of our domestic supply and is the world’s number one producer.
{In his best Paul Harrell} Correlation, causation, enough difference to make a difference? You be the judge.
Weren’t they known for their cashews too, or am I getting confused again?
Happy Friday, you gents! Hope you had a great week. Got some news! The thing where I try to get on with Tesla is progressing. Only thing is, I need to submit a video that demonstrates my technical knowledge. I either have to build something or disassemble and reassemble something electric. I’m a little confused on whether the appliance needs to be functional or not as I have a microwave whose latch spring broke and the safety feature (can’t microwave with the door open) is continuously engaged and a electric heater that caught fire in my room months prior (gave me quite a fright too). Anyway, I got until next Tuesday to come up with something. Eh, I’ll figure it out.
In any event, I’m gonna be posting my government class questions and answers again. It’s gonna be kind of a series. Now, I should state that, while you can take some of what I answer with some grains of salt as I needed to state it in a way that didn’t invoke the grading wrath of my liberal professor (she hadn’t ever done that once, even when I did speak my mind freely. Maybe I had her professional sense of ethics wrong), what I did write is pretty close to what I actually believe. And I welcome any debate on any of my answers. So, here is the next round of College Gov: Q&A:
What were the reasons for the federal structure created by the Articles of Confederation? What were the strengths of that structure? What were its weaknesses?
One of the main reasons for the Articles of Confederation was due to how much the Americans hated a strong, centralized, and distant government that was able to disregard and replace local governments and laws at will. The strength I see of the Articles was that it created the framework for the following US Constitution (state sovereignty, consent of the governed, and the ability to amend the articles as needed). But the articles were really weak as the Federal government had no ability to raise taxes (a holdover from a period when Britain was taxing them to death). As such they lacked the funds to raise a Federal army. States minted their own money and sometimes that money wasn’t recognized in the markets of neighboring states. Commerce was a mess and the economy was in shambles. And the states had no extradition treaties with other states, meaning criminals can escape justice by simply crossing state lines. Never mind that rebellions and deep dissatisfaction with the government were commonplace.
Outline the details of the Tenth Amendment and provide examples of the powers it grants to the states. What makes this Amendment important?
The 10th Amendment to the Constitution simply outlines that powers not enumerated to the Federal government and not prohibited to the states by the Constitution are reserved to the states. This is a safety net amendment. It is important to make clear that the federal governments powers are the ones that are explicitly listed and nothing that isn’t. It is a check for making sure the Federal Government doesn’t secure more power than what is intended and to ensure the states don’t simply become administrative zones.
What is the purpose of due process rights as defined by the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Eighth Amendments? Should these rights apply to all persons regardless of whether or not they are a citizen of the United States? Why or why not?
The purpose of due process is to prevent arbitrary and unfair treatment by the government of individuals while investigating and prosecuting a crime (examples: Miranda warnings and double jeopardy). As for whether these rights should apply to non-citizens, my answer is yes. This is the most expedient way to deal with noncitizens accused of a crime and it exceeds in the fulfillment of the UN’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Relying on a international system or body to decide these issues lack resources and will take too long. Now, whilst I agree that the due process law should apply to citizens and non-citizens, I would be remiss to not point out that deportations are civil matters. Not criminal. As such, due process doesn’t apply outside the Criminal Justice System.
You are correct. Deportations are civil administrative proceedings. Non-citizens are only entitled to the administrative hearings before the admin law judges of the Immigration and Naturalization Service. They are the ones who issue the deportation orders, not Art. III federal district court judges.
Just remember to kill the power prior to working on the equipment. Follow proper tagout / lockout procedures. Remember kids, electricity will kill you. And it will hurt like a sonuvabitch the whole time you are dying.
Well, lucky for me, I snipped the power cord (when it was unplugged. I ain’t stupid!) of the lightly chared heater, so I don’t think I’ll have a problem with electricity.
See there! You is wize!
Yeah! And neveah, nevah put a finger in an empty socket!
With experience comes wisdom. 💥
I think I might have been 5, my dad sat and watched me stick a butter knife in a wall socket. He knew it would hurt, knew it wouldn’t kill me, and wouldn’t do it again.
How connected are modern civil rights groups and movements like Black Lives Matter (BLM) and #MeToo to the civil rights movements of the 1960s? What makes them similar or different?
They are connected because they wanted the same thing: equality before the law, as described by the 14th Amendment. No moral American can legitimately disagree with that. I don’t disagree with that. How they were different is that, in the 1950s and 60s, there were two schools of thought that defined the Civil Rights movement: King’s nonviolent/Patriotic group and X’s confrontational/separatist group. These two groups had different philosophies and modus operandi. Where BLM comes into the picture is that both philosophies were incorporated into it. While there are likely plenty of peaceful protesters among the ranks of BLM, there were also other wings of the movement that were willing to engage in the illegal behaviors seen in the demonstrations in 2020. This controversy is a major reason why non-African Americans are rather skeptical of the movement. As for #MeToo, they differ in the technology they had available compared to the feminist movements in the 20th century. Where 20th feminist protesters had to organize and march, the #Metoo movement is primarily organized online.
BLM was a money making machine disguised as a civil rights organization.
And there you have it! A couple of these questions were politically charged that I had to navigate carefully. Any comments that I would add to my answers is that for due process of illegal aliens: they do get due process. It’s just different from citizens. It amounts to: are you a US Citizen? No? Do you have a green card, visas, or anything else that establishes you as a legal resident? No? OK. Out you go!
As for BLM, sure I think we can all say that, during the Summer of Love, there were peaceful protesters that were a part of the demonstrations. But, due to the fact that their militant wing of their group took part in the burning of major cities, the looting of businesses, and the mobbing of anybody who even minutely appeared as not part of the movement (a young kid with a rifle being chased by a mob comes to mind), any criticism of the organization is fair game. You wanna have the label of peaceful protesters? Divest from and denounce the wing of BLM that isn’t! *Mike drop*
Have a great weekend!
Present! And still not tired of winning!
TOP thirty. present and unaccountable as I award myself yet another Honorary First.
((((OVER))))
Somebody’s got some ‘splaining to do. I was assured this would not happen.
https://hotair.com/john-s-2/2026/01/23/exit-plan-21-california-billionaires-on-their-plans-to-leave-the-state-n3811154
Fire Department Chronicles:
SCENE NOT SAFE!!! (Light NSFW)
😨😱 (Really NSFW)
Chernobyl vibes…
Where are they now #9!!! (NSFW)
The Brand new chic look of Mushroom Cloud!
Major winter storm heading towards the National Capital Region this weekend. Remember to bring your Vice Presidents of proud but humble woman owned businesses inside. If you’re cold, they’re cold.
Congrats to the Commissh on leading us into armageddon
as the world ending storm bears down.
I remember the days of Don Kent in Boston forcasting the
WX before they invented “wind chill”.
Everyone put your mittens on.
25 minutes and counting standing in the Joint Base Andrews Commissary express line. Hack hasn’t seen this much panic buying since Okinawa went into GCOR 2 (Godzilla Condition of Readiness 2). The shelves are bare, every shopping cart is being used and nerves are starting to fray.
My kin folk in Vermont have asked why I moved to California; oh yeah, now I remember.
Of course, not a day goes by when I don’t ask why I’ve stayed in California.
California; Come for the gender affirming care, stay for the human feces covered sidewalks.
The PR of CA doesn’t even do a good job on the gender affirming care. One day the Mrs and I passed a person in a red cocktail dress who was strutting down the street. The Mrs, who usually doesn’t react to how others appear, said, “My goodness, that is one ugly looking woman.” I had to tell her that wasn’t a woman. C’mon PR of CA do better!
Another confused person was dressed as an ante-bellum Southern belle. For goodness sake, if you want to dress that way, shave off your mustache.
Nah. I for one think Gone With the Wind would have been much more entertaining had Vivien Leigh been sporting a nice Sam Elliot moustache.
Well, fiddle-dee-dee!
We had a minor accident on I-196 earlier this week, only about 100 cars and trucks involved. Likely caused by one of those instant white-outs we get with an elevated divided highway and acres and acres of flat farmland that stetches for miles and miles, and 30+mph winds.
https://www.motorbiscuit.com/bussed-away-100-car-pileup-winter-storm/
Present. Off to read comments and such.
For general entertainment, here is an accurate video on Steven Seagal:
Go on to IMDB and review some of the later direct to videos of Steven Seagal. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry. Actually, you won’t cry, but you’ll probably piss yourself laughing so hard. Those reviewers have as much of a hardon for him as we do for Phil Monkress.
Present & unaccountable.
As ready as can be for whatever weather comes our way.
But on to the important news:
Grandson #1 took the ASVAB (97th percentile score), went through MEPS, and raised his right hand to enter the US Air Force, delayed entry while they find a school slot. He’s hoping to get into cryptology I understand.
He shall henceforth be referred to as “AF Grandson”
The first Air Force member of our family since my uncle was a mechanic in Korea.
Congratulations to your grandson! GB, you have leadership qualities I admire!
I’m just inordinately and undeservedly blessed.
But thank you!
Congrats on the grandson joining the best branch. As I recall, you’re in TX. Are you planning on making the trip to Lackland for his basic training graduation?
More videos for general entertainment, except with Jet Fighters and Bombers:
Part 2:
Christ, what an asshole…
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/22/rutte-confronts-trump-over-dead-nato-soldiers/
Aaaand now the fight is in Europe and the EU has done… what? I saw Poland unloading on Europe today. I’ll try to find the clip.
As I recall, the Europeans didn’t do much in the A-stan. The Brits don’t consider themselves as Europeans, and their small army did send a significant number of trigger pullers to A-stan. I remember the Germans only sent a chemical detection unit to Iraq, as their contribution to the GWOT. Maybe the never wore the uniform LC can prove me wrong.
Since the Brits don’t count, we had Norwegian mine clearing people, a Spanish field hospital, Polish engineers in the early days at Bagram. Had some Canadian artillery for a bit, they’re almost European.
But no combat infantry, no French Foreign Legion, no German Falschirmjaeger, no Spanish special forces, no Dutch gay commandos?
Not that I recall, and that was only in the early (January-June 2002) formative days of Bagram. I know the Italians had people in Kabul. Ninja may remember more.
I was based in Kabul ’05-’06 and there was a Greek/Italian compound down route Voilet from us going the direction of J’bad.
No Euro Combat Arms? No “ground gaining” forces?
Hmm
I don’t recall any at that particular time. But, I’m not the final authority on that.
No European, but the Australians had several combat troops out patrolling and breaking stuff in southern Afghanistan in 2011-12.
Now that I think about it, there were a LOT of Romanians there too. Infantry, on patrol breaking stuff. I even met a husband and wife Machine Gun Team.
FIRST 70 at 7:30 PM
I was surfing through some old comments on previous threads and I found this bit of witty repartee involving our beloved Rascally Redleg. Damn, I still miss that man. I’m hoisting a Yuengling in your honor, brother. Hopefully you apologized to Daddy Hank. Tell him I said hello and that I’m a big fan. 🍺
Just raised a cold Shiner Bock with ya! I miss that crotchety old Rebel! 🍻
Have a great weekend yall!
Today is the birthday of one John Moses Browning (Howitzer Be His Name).
I hope he and our departed members are yucking it up at The Great Range In The Sky right now. (Miss you, Reb)
……..
I’m reporting my soon-to-be actualized divorce but also back on the horse. Well, horses plural. 2 from the high school days and one from college. Once that ink is dry I’m gonna find some new lows in the debauchery department!
And no, one did not cause the other. I was faithful, honest (to a fault), didn’t choose drug or drink over her, never raised a hand at’r. Every dime –’cept for a little fun now and again– went to maintaining this roof and building another for her to be under.
Just sometimes people just change, or care too much,… or find a reason. Sometimes that reason is any reason.
She found hers. And I’m gonna fucking find my way to the local Ford dealership for a fucking new Mustang when the fucking daffodils bloom!
…..
Also yesterday was the CT Veterans Hall of Fame induction ceremony. It was humbling being in the same room as some of those absolute legends!
Glad I’m remarkably unremarkable. Couldn’t catch me with all the ICE, US Marshals, and vindictive baby mommas out there to get me on that stage!
Sorry to hear about the pending divorce, Dog! The only regret I have about mine is that I waited 10 years too long to pull the trigger. It was amazing how my alcohol consumption dropped afterwards. It sounds like you’re recovering nicely, living well is the best revenge. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a couple of 1911’s that need a birthday pat
“…living well is the best revenge.”
Absolutely this but also it ain’t out of spite in my case. I’ll keep hitting on chicks half my age with not a F to give and the realization men who I respect have walked strongly thus.
In the interim, I’ll try to be around more. New job starts on Tuesday after “The Storm of the Century”… this Season.
Glad to have a’many places to call home and friends to do life with. It’s a short ride and I intentionally mean to make the most of it!
Pat away and say a few Hail JMBs for us sinners who only own ‘plastic abominations’.
And thanks.
Next time, I will just buy a house and burn it.
Cheaper.
(Grin)
I can’t remember if it was Rod Stewart or Keith Richards who said “Next time, I’ll just find a woman who hates me and I’ll buy her a house”.
Lewis Grizzard said it in a column …
I did not know that! I remember “ Chili dogs always bark at night”.
Sorry to hear about the divorce, Roh-Dog.
Whatever the cause(s) those things are emotional hell. I’ll be praying for God’s comfort and guidance in the days ahead.
I appreciate you GB, et al.
It’s not my first rodeo and I’m done trying to figure out how to negotiate spoiled western women, especially in the context of matrimony.
Fugg’m.
Casa de Sparky has one roll of tp, four slices of bread, and about a quart of milk expiring tomorrow.
OTOH, I’ve got 500 pounds each of sand and salt for the driveway, plow sode-by-side is full of gas, and propane tanks filled last week.
We’re set.
Is it night and are you wearing sunglasses?
Problem with photogray lenses is they tend to change way slower in the cold, so coming from outside to inside I’m blind for about an hour.
Hit it.