Saturday Night "Club ONT" December 20, 2025 [The 3 Ds]

Welcome to Club ONT. A collaboration the 3D's - The Disco, The Dino, and The Doggo. Five days until Christmas - we're in the home stretch. Come on in, unwind, and relax for a bit. Eggnog, Chex-Mix, both white and multicolored lights. We took the mistletoe down after the Christmas party.

That comment places RickZ and mindful webworker on the Club ONT VIP list. Lifetime of restroom tokens, complimentary jug of hooch, and the subtle nod that parts the velvet ropes (ok, the ropes are kite string and yarn, but still).

*****

Saturday Night Jokes and Other Funnies

Two tourists were driving through Wisconsin. As they were approaching Oconomowoc, they started arguing about the pronunciation of its name. They argued back and forth until they stopped for lunch.

As they stood at the counter, one tourist asked the restaurant employee: "Before we order, could you please settle an argument for us? Would you please pronounce very slowly where we are?"

The employee leaned over the counter and said: "Burrrrrr, gerrrrrr, Kiiiing."

-----

Today I was beat up by a busty woman in an elevator. Evidently I was staring at her breasts when she said please press one. I don't remember much after that.

-----

(H/T - Teresa in Fort Worth)
Joe passed away; His will provided $30,000 for an elaborate funeral. As the last guests departed the affair, his wife, Helen, turned to her oldest friend. "Well, I'm sure Joe would be pleased," she said. "I'm sure you're right," replied Jody, who lowered her voice and leaned in close. "How much did this really cost?" "All of it," said Helen. "Thirty thousand." "No!" Jody exclaimed. "I mean, it was very nice, but $30,000?" Helen answered. "The funeral was $6,500. I donated $500 to the church. The wake, food and drinks were another $500. The rest went for the memorial stone." Jody computed quickly. "$22,500 for a memorial stone? My God, how big is it?!" "Two and a half carats."

*****

Drinks of the Night

Because Butter, Rum, and yum.

Hot Buttered Rum.

Ingredients
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened 1 stick
1 cup sugar, dark brown
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups hot water
3/4 cup dark rum
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
cinnamon sticks for garnish
Instructions
In a large bowl, beat the butter and brown sugar with an electric mixer on medium speed for about 5 minutes or until light and fluffy.
Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, salt, and vanilla extract to the bowl and mix until well combined.
Transfer the spiced butter mixture to an airtight container and store in the fridge or freezer until ready to use.
To make the hot buttered rum, add 2 tablespoons of the spiced butter mixture to a mug.
Pour in 2 ounces of dark rum and top with 1 cup of hot water.
Stir until the spiced butter mixture is dissolved and the drink is smooth.
Garnish with a cinnamon stick or whipped cream, if desired.

-----

For Our Patrons Who No Do Not Partake

CBD is right, these recipe links are out of hand with the nonsense and scrolling required to get to what you want. Recipe below is going off memory and spitballin'. Your memory jokes are not that funny.

Grasshopper. Non-alcoholic style.

2 cups of vanilla ice cream (or whatever seems about right - give it a 'smoosh')
3 TBS Crème de menthe syrup (non-alcoholic, green mint syrup)
1 TBS Crème de cacao syrup (non-alcoholic, clear chocolate-flavored syrup)
Whipped Cream. Because whipped cream.
Maraschino cherry (fancy pants garnish)

Chuck all ingredients into blender (press the button - this is an important step)
Blend until you get that smooth, rolling thing going on with ingredients
Pour into most convenient glass in the cupboard and top with Maraschino cherry
Glance in mirror and raise your glass as you walk by

*****

Club ONT Department of Theology

From 2007, but still noteworthy:

A Romanian murderer who sued God for "fraud" and "betrayal of trust" for failing to answer his prayers has had his case dismissed in court, a newspaper has reported.
The daily Evenimentul Zilei says 40-year-old Mircea Pavel brought charges against "the defendant God, who lives in the heavens and is represented in Romania by the Orthodox Church" for failing to free him from evil.
Mr Pavel, who is serving 20 years in jail for murder, accused God of "fraud, betrayal of trust, corruption and influence peddling."
"At my christening, I made a deal with the defendant aimed at freeing me from evil," he wrote.
"But the latter has not respected that agreement until now, although he received from me various assets and numerous prayers."
The court in Timisoara, in western Romania, dismissed the case, ruling that "God is not subject to law and does not have an address."

Service of process doesn't work well for the devil either. A 1971 case in Pennsylvania titled "Mayo v. Satan and His Staff" involved a prisoner in Pennsylvania. The judge described the claim as alleging that "Satan has on numerous occasions caused plaintiff misery and unwarranted threats, against the will of plaintiff, that Satan has placed deliberate obstacles in his path and has caused plaintiff's downfall. Plaintiff alleges that by reason of these acts Satan has deprived him of his constitutional rights."

"We question whether plaintiff may obtain personal jurisdiction over the defendant in this judicial district. The complaint contains no allegation of residence in this district.

We note that the plaintiff has failed to include with his complaint the required form of instructions for the United States Marshal for directions as to service of process."

Case dismissed.

*****

Club ONT Department of History

Hubcaps. Jewelry for cars, clock faces, oil drip pans, animal feeders, and more. There were some pretty cool ones in the day.

Great pictures and some eyebrow raising prices.

Cadillac Eldorado Fleetwood Biarritz Seville
Price: $7,000
Year: 1959 – 1960
Even though two of these Cadillac hubcaps were repolished, they still command a high value because of their brand and design. It uses the spring-loaded retention famed for its extra protection capacity.

Links are like beer. If one is good, two are usually better. Historical summary.

1680: First used on Newton Reaction Carriages
Pre-1915: Mostly made of nickel-plated brass
1920s: Mostly made of aluminum
1927: First snap-on center caps for wire wheels
1930s: Spring-loaded retention clip used
1938: Full wheel covers introduced
1940: Hubcaps expanded in size for function
1940s: Dog dish hubcaps featured on base model vehicles
1950s: Lack of hubcaps represented in drag racing
1960s: Stainless steel full-spoke wheel covers introduced
1970s: Plastic wheel covers introduced
1980s: ABS wheel covers replaced steel hubcaps on all cars

***
Trains. And a very sleek, art deco style one.

Probably the coolest train you will see today: The Mercury (1940s) pic.twitter.com/VM13E1vxe6
— Historic Vids (@historyinmemes) December 18, 2025

Here is a rundown of Christmas train rides in the United States. Any done a Christmas train adventure?

Sip a cup of hot cocoa and nibble a warm sugar cookie when you hop aboard the 1880 Train‘s one-hour Holiday Express journey with Santa and Mrs. Claus. These holiday train rides depart from Hill City in the heart of the Black Hills, near some of the state’s biggest attractions, including Custer State Park, Crazy Horse Memorial, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Adults may purchase a spiked ticket and enjoy their hot drink enriched with a potent potable served in a keepsake mug.

*****

Club ONT Snacks

*****

Club ONT Fist Fight at the Claw Machine

A new game at Buc-ees.
Giddy up. pic.twitter.com/FYFASIvzXo
— RWB_American (@RWB_American) December 18, 2025

*****

Club ONT Music

Is it September or December?

*****

Discuss/debate:

*****

Top 10ish Comments of the Week

Somebody cracked the code.

***

Snowball 12-20.jpg

Admiral 12-20.jpg

ShainS 12-20.jpg

naturalfake 12-20.jpg

bers 12-20.jpg

PabloD 12-20.jpg

Diogenes 12-20.jpg

Muldoon 12-20.jpg

*****

Club ONT Recognizes Energetic Christmas Decorations

Because nothing says 'Murica quite like a Christmas light show (with fireworks) that is bright and busy enough to distract nearby air traffic.

*****

Club ONT disclaims any responsibility for injuries sustained by Grandma from incidents with reindeer. Reindeer are known for being out and about this time of year and not all Reindeer have the benefit of a red-nosed guide. Caution is warranted.

Posted by: Open Blogger at 10:00 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 I made sugarbomb peanut butter cookies today!

Posted by: M. Gaga at December 20, 2025 10:01 PM (KiBMU)

2 A tater tot is not a fry, it's a tiny hash brown.

Thus, crinkle cut are the best fries.

Posted by: mikeski at December 20, 2025 10:01 PM (nhCoE)

3 Where'd everybody go?

Posted by: M. Gaga at December 20, 2025 10:02 PM (KiBMU)

4 I recognize the Dino. And the Dog.

Who is that other guy?

Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat at December 20, 2025 10:03 PM (RoO7G)

5 Yay, ONT!

Posted by: Blanco Basura - Z28.310 at December 20, 2025 10:05 PM (lUFok)

6 "God is not subject to law and does not have an address."

-
The problem with suing God is service of process.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now With Pumpkin Spice! at December 20, 2025 10:05 PM (L/fGl)

7 Evenin'

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 20, 2025 10:06 PM (AdHga)

8 The only drink recipe needed. Remove stopper from bottle of single malt scotch. Pour into small glass. Replace stopper. Sip from glass until empty.

Posted by: Oddbob at December 20, 2025 10:07 PM (3nLb4)

9 great jokes

Tater Tots. Crispy

Posted by: Zeera , Damn Right I voted for all of this! at December 20, 2025 10:07 PM (jvxGE)

10 Steak cut fries are the best fries.

Posted by: Florida Peasant at December 20, 2025 10:08 PM (Lo97M)

11 When it comes to fries, really the only criteria that should matter is whether they've been sitting around for a while or if they've just been pulled out of the fryer and lightly salted.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 20, 2025 10:08 PM (ESVrU)

12 While I was helping out at our local food distribution today, I saw a young boy who wore a t-shirt upon which was an image of a T-Rex wearing a Santa hat. I thought it was cool.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 20, 2025 10:10 PM (ESVrU)

13 I haven't had dinner yet, so I'm gonna go do that, but I want to pull these two comments of mine from the last thread, if anyone is interested in exploring further:

So the best film I've seen this year, by far, is Strange Darling.

It came out in 2023, so it's not on anyone else's end of year lists, but it's at the top of mine.
Posted by: BurtTC at December 20, 2025 10:05 PM (mNhIh)

If you want to watch quality gay scenery in a mainstream film, I would highly recommend "Honey Don't."
Posted by: BurtTC at December 20, 2025 10:00 PM (mNhIh)

I'll be back a bit later, to see if there's movement on it.

Posted by: BurtTC at December 20, 2025 10:10 PM (mNhIh)

14 Good evening good people. I made pizzelles today - No, not those nasty anise flavored ones. Rather, almond or vanilla flavored.

Posted by: Tonypete at December 20, 2025 10:10 PM (cYBz/)

15 Very nice ONT! Thank you.

I was gonna bitch about the ingredients list for the buttered rum (stacked up), but when I selected the comments button, they reset themselves to sensibility!

Posted by: LRob in OK, Moron and Lunatic at December 20, 2025 10:10 PM (47diA)

16 Is it time to break out the Festivus pole yet?

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 20, 2025 10:10 PM (JkO4W)

17 Carrying one forward from the movie-ish thread:

I'm on strike from any new movies until DEI disappears. I won't see any movies henceforth no matter how persuasive the appeal. It could be a biography of me and I'm still skipping it.
Posted by: Dr. Claw

Well, yeah, that's an easy skip. You already know what's gonna happen.

Posted by: mikeski at December 20, 2025 10:11 PM (nhCoE)

18 12 While I was helping out at our local food distribution today, I saw a young boy who wore a t-shirt upon which was an image of a T-Rex wearing a Santa hat. I thought it was cool.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 20, 2025 10:10 PM
***
We are everywhere.

Posted by: TRex - feliz navi dino at December 20, 2025 10:11 PM (IQ6Gq)

19 I like tater tots with my burger, but they ain't fries!

Posted by: LRob in OK, Moron and Lunatic at December 20, 2025 10:11 PM (47diA)

20 When I think of hubcaps, I think about poor Ralphie losing the lugnuts.
Oh fuuuuuuuuudge!

Posted by: Florida Peasant at December 20, 2025 10:11 PM (Lo97M)

21 Thanks for the special holiday ONT, Disco, Dino and Doggo!

That hot buttered rum should be ready momentarily...

Great Saturday Night jokes!

Posted by: Legally Sufficient at December 20, 2025 10:12 PM (kB9dk)

22 Bacon. Cheese. Fries.

With ranch.

Of course.

Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat at December 20, 2025 10:13 PM (RoO7G)

23 Onion rings>>>>. French fries.

Posted by: nurse ratched at December 20, 2025 10:13 PM (IhIKR)

24 Oh, and shoestring please!

Posted by: Legally Sufficient at December 20, 2025 10:13 PM (kB9dk)

25 Is it time to break out the Festivus pole yet?
Posted by: Cicero

Erection of the Festivus pole must take place before the airing of grievances. Which precedes the Feats of Strength of course.

Posted by: Tonypete at December 20, 2025 10:13 PM (cYBz/)

26 Local long-time friend sells car "stuff", mainly for older cars. He does quite well with hubcaps, but ya got to have the one the guy needs. Some of them are old and rare, but some are just seldom seen.

Posted by: LRob in OK, Moron and Lunatic at December 20, 2025 10:13 PM (47diA)

27 Any done a Christmas train adventure?

Ooooh! A Christmas train! Me and Chasten love those!

Posted by: Pete Buttgigger at December 20, 2025 10:14 PM (uQesX)

28 And holy cow, it’s raining hard on the beach.

Posted by: nurse ratched at December 20, 2025 10:14 PM (IhIKR)

29 Some Chuy's restaurants decorate with hubcaps. I think they're authentic but I suppose it's possible that there's a factory somewhere in China making replica vintage American hubcaps.

Posted by: Oddbob at December 20, 2025 10:14 PM (3nLb4)

30 While I was helping out at our local food distribution today, I saw a young boy who wore a t-shirt upon which was an image of a T-Rex wearing a Santa hat. I thought it was cool.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel

You do know when you quit feeding them, sooner or later, they will stop showing up.

It's coal again in the ole Christmas stocking for me again. Right?

Posted by: Some Rat at December 20, 2025 10:15 PM (TfUTr)

31 Tater tots really aren't fries. They're TOTS. It's right there in the name.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 20, 2025 10:15 PM (JkO4W)

32 That comment places RickZ and mindful webworker on the Club ONT VIP list. Lifetime of restroom tokens, complimentary jug of hooch, and the subtle nod that parts the velvet ropes (ok, the ropes are kite string and yarn, but still).

So is there an aftermarket for restoom tokens?

Posted by: RickZ at December 20, 2025 10:15 PM (gKDq2)

33 All this talk about the festivus pole and no rejoinder from The Paolo (spelling uncertain).

Posted by: LRob in OK, Moron and Lunatic at December 20, 2025 10:15 PM (47diA)

34 Another chapter of the book titled Survivors of Pearl Harbor has closed.

Ira 'Ike' Schab who was stationed aboard the destroyer tender USS Dobbins on the Day of Infamy has passed away.

Posted by: Anna Puma at December 20, 2025 10:15 PM (2GVsD)

35 A 1971 case in Pennsylvania titled "Mayo v. Satan and His Staff" involved a prisoner in Pennsylvania.

Why sue Stan? You'll never win. He's got all the best lawyers.

Posted by: mikeski at December 20, 2025 10:16 PM (nhCoE)

36 Tater tots really aren't fries. They're TOTS. It's right there in the name.
Posted by: Cicero

Don't ask for the Lady Fingers. Just saying.

Posted by: Tonypete at December 20, 2025 10:16 PM (cYBz/)

37 Tater tots really aren't fries. They're TOTS. It's right there in the name.
Posted by: Cicero

We don't get it.

Posted by: buffalo wings at December 20, 2025 10:17 PM (nhCoE)

38 Steak fries are superior if made correctly.

Having said that, I could murder a pitcher of tater tot’s.

Right now, I’ll just have to settle for this pitcher of Gimlets.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at December 20, 2025 10:17 PM (XV/Pl)

39 Wow, I made the highlight reel for comments this week. I look forward to finding my cardboard-level membership card in the mailbox in 6-8 months.

Posted by: PabloD at December 20, 2025 10:18 PM (Epuwl)

40 When it comes to fries, really the only criteria that should matter is whether they've been sitting around for a while or if they've just been pulled out of the fryer and lightly salted.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 20, 2025 10:08 PM (ESVrU)

Lightly?

(shakes head)

Posted by: OrangeEnt at December 20, 2025 10:18 PM (uQesX)

41 Tater tots really aren't fries. They're TOTS. It's right there in the name.
Posted by: Cicero

And since they are in the family of Hashbrownius Repulsivus, they are right out.

Posted by: Some Rat at December 20, 2025 10:19 PM (TfUTr)

42 You know what, I’d like some disco fries right about now.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at December 20, 2025 10:19 PM (XV/Pl)

43 Agree. On "Strange Darling". Great pulse-pounding movie.

Lead actor was in another favorite, "Dinner in America".

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 20, 2025 10:20 PM (kpS4V)

44 When faced with a choice of fries or tots at a new-to-me restaurant, I go for the tots. You know what you're getting with tater tots, as opposed to finding out the cook just got a brand new Veg-a-matic (it slices! it dices! It makes Julianne fries!) and he is still learning how to use it.

Posted by: Idaho Spudboy at December 20, 2025 10:20 PM (dl47i)

45 Germany, a while back: Fries were cut from fresh taters in little trailers alongside the roads in the mountains. Fried in lard! The heavily salted. Outstanding and filling. Low calory.

Posted by: LRob in OK, Moron and Lunatic at December 20, 2025 10:21 PM (47diA)

46 Tater tots are my favorite form of fried potato. I'm also a fan of Chick-fil-A waffle fries, but not terribly fond of their CfA sauce.

Posted by: PabloD at December 20, 2025 10:22 PM (Epuwl)

47 When faced with a choice of fries or tots at a new-to-me restaurant, I go for the tots
Posted by: Idaho Spudboy

Listen to him, people. He's an expert.

Posted by: Oddbob at December 20, 2025 10:22 PM (3nLb4)

48 Oh, yeah. The Germans liked to dip the fries in mayo. It's not bad!

Posted by: LRob in OK, Moron and Lunatic at December 20, 2025 10:23 PM (47diA)

49 What, no cottage fries?

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 20, 2025 10:23 PM (/lPRQ)

50 ...but not terribly fond of their CfA sauce.

Basically the same thing as their honey-mustard salad dressing, no?

Posted by: Oddbob at December 20, 2025 10:24 PM (3nLb4)

51 Shoestring fries?

That is a waste of good spuds.

Posted by: Anna Puma at December 20, 2025 10:24 PM (2GVsD)

52 I said as a joke that double Ds should be enough for anyone, but now I see triple Ds have their own charm.

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at December 20, 2025 10:24 PM (NWwW8)

53 Crinkle cut.

Posted by: Barack at December 20, 2025 10:24 PM (XMwZJ)

54 42 You know what, I’d like some disco fries right about now.
Posted by: Thomas Bender

Disco biscuits for me.

Posted by: Lemmon 714 at December 20, 2025 10:25 PM (oftw2)

55 What, no cottage fries?
Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 20, 2025 10:23 PM (/lPRQ)

No illegals to build them.

Posted by: RickZ at December 20, 2025 10:25 PM (gKDq2)

56 Evening all,

We have a launch in about 2 hours.

Rocket Lab - Electron - The Wisdom God Guides
LC 1 - Mähia, NZ - Space Affairs Live
Launch Date: December 21, 2025
Launch Time: 1:12 a.m. EST (19:12 NZST)

https://youtu.be/3oIxo3bLkfQ

Posted by: Joyenz at December 20, 2025 10:25 PM (2F0/Y)

57 Also, WTH are those "smiley" things? Extruded potato powder?

Posted by: Oddbob at December 20, 2025 10:25 PM (3nLb4)

58 The worst fries are, of course, from In-N-Out.

Posted by: Barack at December 20, 2025 10:25 PM (XMwZJ)

59 Perfectly made steak fries dipped in malted vinegar and served alongside some seasoned and breaded cod matches very well with a nice scotch.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at December 20, 2025 10:26 PM (XV/Pl)

60 My great grandfather, former rancher and cowboy, made the world's best fries. Fresh, never frozen, fried in a cast iron skillet using bacon grease and lard. No sauce necessary.

He also made the very best hamburgers. Same skillet.

Posted by: Legally Sufficient at December 20, 2025 10:26 PM (kB9dk)

61 2 A tater tot is not a fry, it's a tiny hash brown.

Thus, crinkle cut are the best fries.
Posted by: mikeski

Was I supposed to explain my reasoning, too? Okay.

They're uniform in width so they cook evenly, but have more surface area for crispyness and salt than the straight-sided varieties do. And the crinkles help hold ketchup or other sauces you might want to dip them in.

Waffle fries suck because they're frequently more than one bite, and that leads to double-dipping. Curly fries suck because you can't get the big loopy ones and the tight coil-spring ones both cooked right. You know the one in the top-left of the pic is a greasy gummy mess.

Posted by: mikeski at December 20, 2025 10:26 PM (nhCoE)

62 Oh, yeah. The Germans liked to dip the fries in mayo. It's not bad!
Posted by: LRob in OK, Moron and Lunatic at December 20, 2025 10:23 PM (47diA)

There was a Belgian french fry place I went to once. They served mayo. Yuck.

Another strike against the Belgians.

Posted by: RickZ at December 20, 2025 10:27 PM (gKDq2)

63 Club ONT disclaims any responsibility for injuries sustained by Grandma from incidents with reindeer. Reindeer are known for being out and about this time of year and not all Reindeer have the benefit of a red-nosed guide. Caution is warranted.

***
Absolutely. And I still wonder. Before Rudolph the notorious suck-up took over the lead on Santa's sleigh, who was the lead reindeer? Since Dasher is mentioned first in the Clement Moore poem, maybe he, or she, was the top set of antlers?

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 10:27 PM (wzUl9)

64 Also, WTH are those "smiley" things? Extruded potato powder?
Posted by: Oddbob

Yup, that's what happens when the Pringles people make french fries.

Posted by: mikeski at December 20, 2025 10:27 PM (nhCoE)

65 'The Cowboys' on Grit now. Dern just killed Wayne

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at December 20, 2025 10:28 PM (XeU6L)

66 Good night.

Posted by: LRob in OK at December 20, 2025 10:30 PM (47diA)

67 Absolutely. And I still wonder. Before Rudolph the notorious suck-up took over the lead on Santa's sleigh, who was the lead reindeer? Since Dasher is mentioned first in the Clement Moore poem, maybe he, or she, was the top set of antlers?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius

You need an odd number of reindeer to have one in the lead in front of the other four pairs. So if Rudolph took someone's place on that dark foggy night, the original lead reindeer must have been Olive.

Posted by: mikeski at December 20, 2025 10:30 PM (nhCoE)

68 Wow, I made the highlight reel for comments this week. I look forward to finding my cardboard-level membership card in the mailbox in 6-8 months.
Posted by: PabloD at December 20, 2025

***
Hey, I played straight man for Snowball Headed for Hell. That should be worth *somethin'*.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 10:30 PM (wzUl9)

69 Shoe String
Steak
Curly
Wedges

To be honest, I’ll eat any of them as long as they aren’t sweet potato.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 20, 2025 10:31 PM (6ydKt)

70 Damn. Now I'm going to fire up the air fryer and make a batch of tots.

Posted by: Idaho Spudboy at December 20, 2025 10:31 PM (dl47i)

71 Off to walk the hell-hound before it starts to rain. BBIAB.

Posted by: PabloD at December 20, 2025 10:31 PM (Epuwl)

72 As far the potato question, I'm going with a heresy. I hate french fries, fried potatoes in general. I prefer the King of Potatoes, The Baked Potato, a real one not one of those steamed abominations, baked with a crispy skin. Add sour cream/bleu cheese and bacon and butter. What's not to love?

If there's no baked to be had, I'll go with mashed as a poor substitute.

Posted by: RickZ at December 20, 2025 10:32 PM (gKDq2)

73 Maybe Rudolph went Tonya Harding on Olive since Olive was the ringleader of those that bullied Rudolph?

Posted by: Anna Puma at December 20, 2025 10:32 PM (2GVsD)

74 Absolutely. And I still wonder. Before Rudolph the notorious suck-up took over the lead on Santa's sleigh, who was the lead reindeer? Since Dasher is mentioned first in the Clement Moore poem, maybe he, or she, was the top set of antlers?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 10:27 PM (wzUl9)

I dunno who's the real suck up. The reindeer hated Rudolph until Santa asked him to guide the sleigh, then "all the reindeer loved him," I'd add, "because they're a bunch of suckups."

Posted by: OrangeEnt at December 20, 2025 10:32 PM (uQesX)

75 And I still wonder. Before Rudolph the notorious suck-up took over the lead on Santa's sleigh, who was the lead reindeer? Since Dasher is mentioned first in the Clement Moore poem, maybe he, or she, was the top set of antlers?
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius
*
You need an odd number of reindeer to have one in the lead in front of the other four pairs. So if Rudolph took someone's place on that dark foggy night, the original lead reindeer must have been Olive.
Posted by: mikeski at December 20, 2025

***
Right, four pairs. It's not like an Alaskan sled with a single line of dogs.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 10:32 PM (wzUl9)

76 Chuck all ingredients into blender (press the button - this is an important step)
Do NOT put the maraschino cherry in the blender. Ahem.

Posted by: GWB at December 20, 2025 10:32 PM (OCSMI)

77 I believe the original lead reindeer was Bob, but Bob got drunk and old Rudolph stepped in.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at December 20, 2025 10:33 PM (XV/Pl)

78 I went to the autoparts store to buy a fuse puller because I am troubleshooting a car with a parasitic battery loss. And Honda has them really in there - you can't even use needle nose pliers.

Made sure to get the puller for the fuse type - ATM. $6. And doesn't work. It won't fit in the channels that Honda put these fuses in.

Gah.

So I 3d printed a fuse puller that will fit - took 25 minutes to print. Less time than it took to go to the store and back. And it cost maybe a penny.

Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat at December 20, 2025 10:33 PM (RoO7G)

79 Curly, tot, and shoestring are my favorite, but all potatoes matter.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at December 20, 2025 10:33 PM (EXyHK)

80 I dunno who's the real suck up. The reindeer hated Rudolph until Santa asked him to guide the sleigh, then "all the reindeer loved him," I'd add, "because they're a bunch of suckups."
Posted by: OrangeEnt at December 20, 2025

***
My reaction as a grownup was, "No, the other reindeer wouldn't love him. They'd short-sheet his bed and put Ex-Lax in his Reindeer Chow."

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 10:34 PM (wzUl9)

81 Bob from the NSA identifies as a reindeer?

Posted by: Anna Puma at December 20, 2025 10:34 PM (2GVsD)

82 58 The worst fries are, of course, from In-N-Out.
Posted by: Barack at December 20, 2025 10:25 PM (XMwZJ)

-----------

SECURITY, WE GOT A BOMB THROWER HERE!!

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 20, 2025 10:34 PM (JkO4W)

83 That Christmas light show was insane. I wonder what the fine (and charges) would be if they did that to a house in California.

Posted by: Orson at December 20, 2025 10:35 PM (dIske)

84 My father was born in Ock-A-nock-A-mah-wok. Which is, of course, the correct pronunciation. Like Doo-buh-que, Iowa.

Posted by: Baron Munchausen at December 20, 2025 10:35 PM (C1NyB)

85 Energetic decorations was a hoot

Posted by: Lurking Cheshirecat at December 20, 2025 10:35 PM (w3u3d)

86 My reaction as a grownup was, "No, the other reindeer wouldn't love him. They'd short-sheet his bed and put Ex-Lax in his Reindeer Chow."
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 10:34 PM (wzUl9)

I don't know about the Ex-Lax. Rudolph was in the lead.

Posted by: RickZ at December 20, 2025 10:35 PM (gKDq2)

87 The original lead reindeer was named Dasher but he had to drop out of the sleigh crew due to a suspended license for too many speeding tickets and then there was also that unfortunate incident after he got into the fermented cherries.

Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 20, 2025 10:35 PM (6ydKt)

88 You know what, I’d like some disco fries right about now.
Posted by: Thomas Bender

Disco biscuits for me.
Posted by: Lemmon 714 at December 20, 2025 10:25 PM (oftw2)

My brothers!

Posted by: Disco Doof at December 20, 2025 10:36 PM (QMAsf)

89 To be honest, I’ll eat any of them as long as they aren’t sweet potato.
Posted by: SpeakingOf at December 20, 2025 10:31 PM (6ydKt)

----------

Sweet potatoes are to fries what plantains are to bananas.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 20, 2025 10:36 PM (JkO4W)

90 Dasher took too many PEDs?

Posted by: Anna Puma at December 20, 2025 10:36 PM (2GVsD)

91 Hey, the Rudolph song gave us the expression "Reindeer Games." That's gold right there.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 10:36 PM (wzUl9)

92 Missed the whole movie thread and now we got nekked animals on the cover of ONT.

What. Is. This. World. Coming. To?

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 10:37 PM (BaQcj)

93 My reaction as a grownup was, "No, the other reindeer wouldn't love him. They'd short-sheet his bed and put Ex-Lax in his Reindeer Chow."
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025
*
I don't know about the Ex-Lax. Rudolph was in the lead.
Posted by: RickZ at December 20, 2025

***
They'd wait until after 12/26.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 10:37 PM (wzUl9)

94 Fun fact: The leading cause of housefires in the US is making French Fries at home. The real fries in hot oil. Not those dried model railroad logs you toss on a baking sheet in the oven.

Posted by: Orson at December 20, 2025 10:38 PM (dIske)

95 Maybe Rudolph went Tonya Harding on Olive since Olive was the ringleader of those that bullied Rudolph?
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 20, 2025 10:32 PM (2GVsD)

Tonya Harding = would.

I said what I said.

Posted by: Doof at December 20, 2025 10:38 PM (QMAsf)

96 Service of process doesn't work well for the devil either. ... We note that the plaintiff has failed to include with his complaint the required form of instructions for the United States Marshal for directions as to service of process.

So, go to Hell is insufficient direction. Noted.

Posted by: toby928(c) at December 20, 2025 10:38 PM (jc0TO)

97 Another chapter of the book titled Survivors of Pearl Harbor has closed.

Ira 'Ike' Schab who was stationed aboard the destroyer tender USS Dobbins on the Day of Infamy has passed away.
Posted by: Anna Puma

They'll have expand soon and include those that were at the various other installations that were attacked.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 20, 2025 10:39 PM (/lPRQ)

98 Gah.

So I 3d printed a fuse puller that will fit - took 25 minutes to print. Less time than it took to go to the store and back. And it cost maybe a penny.
Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat
---

Did it work?

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 10:39 PM (BaQcj)

99 What, no sweet potato fries?

Posted by: Case at December 20, 2025 10:39 PM (G1OIb)

100 Which french fry cut? Sidewinders.
They are like steak fries, but curly. The TapIt here has them (they are now an upcharge - thanks, Biden, and FU) and I get them every time.

Posted by: GWB at December 20, 2025 10:39 PM (OCSMI)

101 I thought a leading cause of house fires was idiots tossing a frozen turkey into a giant pot of boiling peanut oil, in their garage.

Posted by: Anna Puma at December 20, 2025 10:39 PM (2GVsD)

102 Sweet potatoes are to fries what plantains are to bananas.

I think it’s the other way around. Sweet potatoes are to fries what bananas are to plantains.

Love a good sweet potato fry, although they’re heavier than potatoes. And plantains are awesome both as chips and at South American restaurants.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at December 20, 2025 10:39 PM (EXyHK)

103 94 Fun fact: The leading cause of housefires in the US is making French Fries at home.

---------

Do tell.

Posted by: Richard Pryor at December 20, 2025 10:40 PM (JkO4W)

104 Service of process doesn't work well for the devil either. ... We note that the plaintiff has failed to include with his complaint the required form of instructions for the United States Marshal for directions as to service of process.

So, go to Hell is insufficient direction. Noted.
Posted by: toby928(c)

* golf clap *

Posted by: mikeski at December 20, 2025 10:42 PM (nhCoE)

105 Yay!
The boys are back in town🦖🐕🧑‍🦱!

Good evening all!
Swell ONT!!

Posted by: COMountainMarie at December 20, 2025 10:42 PM (aOFxk)

106 Most disappointing part of the day was white robed Ghislaine in the sports car. REDACTED.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 10:43 PM (BaQcj)

107 101 I thought a leading cause of house fires was idiots tossing a frozen turkey into a giant pot of boiling peanut oil, in their garage.
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 20, 2025 10:39 PM (2GVsD)
____________________________

Man, if I had a neighbor that did that, I think I'd set up lawn chairs to watch the show.

Posted by: Orson at December 20, 2025 10:43 PM (dIske)

108 I made turkey pot pies today. I got the crust decent this time, but they are not incredibly wonderful and mouth-meltingly scrumptious. However it was far better than eating left over white turkey plain.

And honestly, turkey and gravy and odd veggies in a pie crust is good for a cold rainy night.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 10:43 PM (rbvCR)

109 And plantains are awesome both as chips and at South American restaurants.
Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at December 20, 2025 10:39 PM (EXyHK)

You get two things from plantains: Platanos and maduros. I hate platanos but I love maduros.

Posted by: RickZ at December 20, 2025 10:43 PM (gKDq2)

110 Soŕy I'm late, I was beguiled by a banding of beavers in the birches.

Posted by: tankdemon at December 20, 2025 10:44 PM (DhVp1)

111 You get two things from plantains: Platanos and maduros. I hate platanos but I love maduros.

--------

I hate Maduro.

Posted by: Donald Trump at December 20, 2025 10:44 PM (JkO4W)

112 Our betters were going through and redacting those pictures with our best interest at heart.
You know it.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 10:44 PM (BaQcj)

113 Not sure I've ever had plantains or plantain chips. I keep thinking they will taste like bananas, which bore me.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 10:45 PM (wzUl9)

114 CfA always looks like the initials for some sort of German society or political party

Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 10:45 PM (rbvCR)

115 Did it work?

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 10:39 PM (BaQcj)

YES!

3D print is even better than same day delivery

Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat at December 20, 2025 10:46 PM (RoO7G)

116 113 Not sure I've ever had plantains or plantain chips. I keep thinking they will taste like bananas, which bore me.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 10:45 PM (wzUl9

---------

You who loved bananas?

Koko the gorilla.

I'll bet you were thinking it was Hitler.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 20, 2025 10:47 PM (JkO4W)

117 Soŕy I'm late, I was beguiled by a banding of beavers in the birches.
Posted by: tankdemon at December 20, 2025

***
Detoured by a detachment of dingos in the ditch!

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 10:47 PM (wzUl9)

118 You who loved bananas?

Koko the gorilla.

I'll bet you were thinking it was Hitler.

I always get them confused.

Posted by: Oddbob at December 20, 2025 10:48 PM (3nLb4)

119 I hate platanos but I love maduros.
Posted by: RickZ at December 20, 2025 10:43 PM (gKDq2)

Wanna buy a boat?

Posted by: Fatty Maduro at December 20, 2025 10:48 PM (uQesX)

120 There is a wanted poster for Maduro - $50M for information leading to the apprehension blah blah blah.

So I sent them that his location is the Presidential Palace, Caracas Venezuela.

I'M GOING TO BE RICH!

Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat at December 20, 2025 10:48 PM (RoO7G)

121 Well that is better than a cavalcade of caterwauling cats. I guess.

Posted by: Anna Puma at December 20, 2025 10:48 PM (2GVsD)

122 Good evening.

Posted by: scampydog at December 20, 2025 10:49 PM (+PhDp)

123 T-minus ten minutes until Powerball drawing.

Posted by: Anna Puma at December 20, 2025 10:49 PM (2GVsD)

124 Not sure I've ever had plantains or plantain chips. I keep thinking they will taste like bananas, which bore me.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 10:45 PM (wzUl9)

Plantains, chips or just pressed and fried, remind me of food one feeds to animals. Same with yuca. Horrible stuff.

Posted by: RickZ at December 20, 2025 10:50 PM (gKDq2)

125 The trick to the perfect tostone is you have to squash it with a glass and fry it again, and serve it with a nice mojo.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at December 20, 2025 10:50 PM (XV/Pl)

126 That light show was amazing. It was a heck of a show to have at someone's house.

Posted by: lin-duh is offended at December 20, 2025 10:50 PM (VCgbV)

127 T-minus ten minutes until Powerball drawing.

If we don't hear from you again we'll know what it means.

Posted by: Oddbob at December 20, 2025 10:50 PM (3nLb4)

128 'Bout time I packed it in. I need to work out tomorrow, wash and detail the car, and grab a couple quick items at the store before I can settle down with the Book Thread.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 10:50 PM (wzUl9)

129 Well that is better than a cavalcade of caterwauling cats. I guess.
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 20, 2025 10:48 PM (2GVsD)

Poor neighbor's cat. Found it on the side of the road today.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at December 20, 2025 10:50 PM (uQesX)

130 Sweet potatoes are to fries what plantains are to bananas.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 20, 2025 10:36 PM (JkO4W)

Sweet potatoes fries are pretty much tempura. You might as well fry up the broccoli and the mushrooms too while you are at it.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 10:51 PM (rbvCR)

131 disco biscuits > disco fries

Posted by: bung mustard at December 20, 2025 10:51 PM (aVC53)

132 I could go for some mofongo right about now.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at December 20, 2025 10:51 PM (XV/Pl)

133 The straight cut fry is the One True Fry.

Posted by: Don Black at December 20, 2025 10:53 PM (ZxPkt)

134 Well that is better than a cavalcade of caterwauling cats. I guess.
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 20, 2025

***
Being compromised by said cavalcade is the *worst*.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 10:53 PM (wzUl9)

135 I could go for some mofongo right about now.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at December 20, 2025 10:51 PM (XV/Pl)

Hey, watch your language. This is a Family Blog, . . . sort of. A family of curmudgeons but still a family.

Posted by: RickZ at December 20, 2025 10:54 PM (gKDq2)

136 Love a good sweet potato fry, although they’re heavier than potatoes. And plantains are awesome both as chips and at South American restaurants.
Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at December 20, 2025 10:39 PM (EXyHK)

I really liked fried cassava (Yuca or manioc) more than fried plantain
This is yet another food that does not get served here.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 10:54 PM (rbvCR)

137 Hello, Horde! 😊♥️

Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, Texas, AoSHQ's Plucky Wee One - Eat the Cheesecake, Buy the Yarn. at December 20, 2025 10:55 PM (Oicmn)

138 I really liked fried cassava (Yuca or manioc) more than fried plantain
This is yet another food that does not get served here.
Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 10:54 PM (rbvCR)

Thank you, Lord.

Posted by: RickZ at December 20, 2025 10:56 PM (gKDq2)

139 I'll bet you were thinking it was Hitler.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 20, 2025 10:47 PM (JkO4W)

Hitler liked spaetzle.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 10:57 PM (rbvCR)

140 Is there an email addy for trex? I need to get in touch with him ASAP 🎄

Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, Texas, AoSHQ's Plucky Wee One - Eat the Cheesecake, Buy the Yarn. at December 20, 2025 10:57 PM (Oicmn)

141 Mmm, fries! They're ALL good!

Grocery store deli alternates sidewinders and wedges daily. Wedges (locally known as "Jo-Jos") are best of the two, imo.

Posted by: JQ at December 20, 2025 10:58 PM (rdVOm)

142 132 I could go for some mofongo right about now.
Posted by: Thomas Bender
--------
Daughter loves mofongo.

Posted by: scampydog at December 20, 2025 10:58 PM (+PhDp)

143 The Brown/MIT shooter? That's the guy. Not a fake. There were eyewitnesses at both scenes. DNA on the brass.

It was him.

Now - what was going on? Seems like he had a 30 year grudge against the MIT Professor. Shooter = fat balding loser who thinks he is a super physicist, MIT Prof handsome with family, is a super physicist. They went to school together in Portugal.

Unknown (but someone knows this) - shooter came to Brown and failed out in 2001. I THINK he went back to Portugal, came back to US 2017. MIT Prof came to US/MIT 2017. Did they have interaction back in Portugal? I suspect someone in the classroom at Brown had some connection to the prof. Shooter was trying to hurt the prof not be random.

Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat at December 20, 2025 10:59 PM (RoO7G)

144
Hello, House! I'm trying an experiment and just letting swipe have is easy with my phone keyboard.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia's Phone at December 20, 2025 11:00 PM (n7rxJ)

145 TiFW-- TRex can be found at: moronhobbies at the proton mail dot com thing.

Posted by: JQ at December 20, 2025 11:01 PM (rdVOm)

146 Any fry, as long as it’s crisp on the outside. Cannot stand soggy fries.

Posted by: Javems at December 20, 2025 11:01 PM (8I4hW)

147 I hate fish. It tastes so fishy.

Posted by: Case at December 20, 2025 11:01 PM (G1OIb)

148 Said the shepherd boy to the mighty king
"Can you smell what I did?"

Posted by: BeckoningChasm at December 20, 2025 11:01 PM (CHHv1)

149 Daughter loves mofongo.

Mama loves mambo.

Posted by: Zombie Perry Como at December 20, 2025 11:02 PM (3nLb4)

150 sra blaster likes plaintain chips. But now maduro chips are becoming more available adnd she REALLY loves those.

Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat at December 20, 2025 11:02 PM (RoO7G)

151 147 I hate fish. It tastes so fishy.
Posted by: Case at December 20, 2025 11:01 PM (G1OIb)

I know right!

Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat at December 20, 2025 11:04 PM (RoO7G)

152 145 TiFW-- TRex can be found at: moronhobbies at the proton mail dot com thing.
Posted by: JQ
---

Someone needs to get him a world atlas not an alternate world, atlas but a real world atlas.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 11:04 PM (BaQcj)

153 Wifey makes these things with saba (like a plantain) - stuff it into a lumpia wrapper with some brown sugar and maybe some jackfruit, fry til crispy. Kind of like an old school McD's banana Lanka pie.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 20, 2025 11:05 PM (/lPRQ)

154 That Christmas light show was insane. I wonder what the fine (and charges) would be if they did that to a house in California.
Posted by: Orson

Isn't that where it was? The truck at 0:56 said "Linden, CA."

With all the pyro after the first song, I wonder what happens when his fire insurance company sees it.

Posted by: mikeski at December 20, 2025 11:05 PM (nhCoE)

155 YES!

3D print is even better than same day delivery
Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat
---

And there I am with carbon, baking soda and super glue. Sheesh.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 11:06 PM (BaQcj)

156
I'm scared of plantains and green tomatoes and fifa that look of. But I like goats milk yogurt. It was a big deal for me to try it.

Posted by: Blonde Morticia's Phone at December 20, 2025 11:06 PM (n7rxJ)

157 But now maduro chips are becoming more available adnd she REALLY loves those.
Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat
---

Pretty soon, Maduro chips are going to fly.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 11:07 PM (BaQcj)

158 I really liked fried cassava (Yuca or manioc) more than fried plantain

I’ve had yuca (in Miami) and liked that too.

There is (or was) a nice Peruvian, I think, restaurant in San Diego that had good fried plantains. It was in the Linda Vista area and I can’t find it now.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at December 20, 2025 11:07 PM (EXyHK)

159 Curly fries with a good apple cider vinegar..yum...

Posted by: COMountainMarie at December 20, 2025 11:08 PM (aOFxk)

160 Youtube figured me out - I have serious tinnitus due to having an eardrum blown out. So I usually go to sleep with some background noise. I would try to find Ancient Aliens or some other boring documentary kinda thing and now Pluto as a whole channel for ancient aliens.

But youtube has a whole "History for Sleep" thing. Multiple channels of it. 2 hour plus documentaries narrrated by a soft spoken person usually with an English accent.

Some are actually kind of a good history show. Some, I am sure, are AI slop. But they put me to sleep.

Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat at December 20, 2025 11:08 PM (RoO7G)

161 I like nopales but it's difficult to find a woman who will cook them.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 11:09 PM (BaQcj)

162 YES!

3D print is even better than same day delivery
Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat
--------

Glad it was a success!

Now, patent that thing and start production...

Posted by: JQ at December 20, 2025 11:09 PM (rdVOm)

163 The straight cut fry is the One True Fry.
-----

Yes, its "best practice". But in truth, any of them are ok if they're cooked to be crisp.

With all of that said, crinkle-cut fries just seem to never work out. Something about that type of fry just seems to lure restaurants into under-cooking them.

Posted by: Crusader at December 20, 2025 11:10 PM (Cjcf6)

164 There is (or was) a nice Peruvian, I think, restaurant in San Diego that had good fried plantains. It was in the Linda Vista area and I can’t find it now.
Posted by: Stephen Price Blair

Did they have the guinea pig on a stick?

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 20, 2025 11:10 PM (/lPRQ)

165 Most important thing about French fries is the preparation not the cut.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 11:10 PM (BaQcj)

166 Same with onion rings.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 11:11 PM (BaQcj)

167
Curly, tot, and shoestring are my favorite

The original Three Stooges.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 20, 2025 11:11 PM (pkeXY)

168 147 I hate fish. It tastes so fishy.
Posted by: Case at December 20, 2025 11:01 PM (G1OIb)

Ditto. But pussy.

Posted by: Barack Obama at December 20, 2025 11:11 PM (1t1nQ)

169 DITTO ->

Posted by: light show guy's next-door neighbor at December 20, 2025 11:11 PM (nhCoE)

170 117 Detoured by a detachment of dingos in the ditch!
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at December 20, 2025 10:47 PM (wzUl9)

Well, so much for tomorrow's excuse.

Posted by: tankdemon at December 20, 2025 11:12 PM (DhVp1)

171 --------

Glad it was a success!

Now, patent that thing and start production...
Posted by: JQ
---

Do you work for Trump?
You could work for Trump.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 11:13 PM (BaQcj)

172 /sock and g'night.

Posted by: Oddbob at December 20, 2025 11:13 PM (3nLb4)

173 If you like onion rings, then you need to be here in the Pacific NW when Burgerville has its limited run of Walla Walla sweet onion rings.

Posted by: PabloD at December 20, 2025 11:13 PM (Epuwl)

174 121 Well that is better than a cavalcade of caterwauling cats. I guess.
Posted by: Anna Puma at December 20, 2025 10:48 PM (2GVsD)

But not as good as a gathering of gormless goats in a graveyard.

Posted by: tankdemon at December 20, 2025 11:15 PM (DhVp1)

175 Do you work for Trump?
You could work for Trump.
Posted by: Braenyard
-----

LOL. No, but if came up with a simple & useful thing that I could manufacture on my own for practically nothing-- I'd sure be checking out ways of making money off it!

Posted by: JQ at December 20, 2025 11:15 PM (rdVOm)

176 Are the lights still on in San Francisco?

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 20, 2025 11:17 PM (fBbkm)

177 176 Are the lights still on in San Francisco?
Posted by: Boss Moss at December 20, 2025 11:17 PM (fBbkm)

Yes and they are FAB. U. LOUS.

Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat at December 20, 2025 11:19 PM (RoO7G)

178 >>>Some are actually kind of a good history show. Some, I am sure, are AI slop. But they put me to sleep.
Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat
---

In the era of the cassette there were sleep tapes, settling tapes. A man with a mellow voice* would lead your mind down a comfortable then sleepy trail.
Haven't found anything as good on the tube. Everyone is fos and full of themselves they don't have the concept.

*A professional talker

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 11:19 PM (BaQcj)

179 140 Is there an email addy for trex? I need to get in touch with him ASAP 🎄
Posted by: Teresa in Fort Worth, Texas, AoSHQ's Plucky Wee One - Eat the Cheesecake, Buy the Yarn. at December 20, 2025 10:57 PM (Oicmn)

moronhobbies at protonmail dot com

Posted by: tankdemon at December 20, 2025 11:19 PM (DhVp1)

180
A man with a mellow voice would lead your mind down a comfortable then sleepy trail.

Be still and know

Posted by: Zombie Roy Masters at December 20, 2025 11:21 PM (pkeXY)

181 It's only 1/3 of San Francisco that is in the dark.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 20, 2025 11:22 PM (fBbkm)

182 https://www.youtube.com/live/5sbLUJ2nrFk

Posted by: JQ at December 20, 2025 11:24 PM (rdVOm)

183 Damn, no mention of the wobbly table yet. I had to double check the calendar to make sure it is actually Saturday.

Posted by: tankdemon at December 20, 2025 11:26 PM (DhVp1)

184 Ditto. But pussy.
Posted by: Barack Obama at December 20, 2025 11:11 PM (1t1nQ)
---
IT'S FUNNY BECAUSE HE NEVER HAS HAD ANY SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH WOMEN.

Posted by: Ben Roethlisberger at December 20, 2025 11:27 PM (ZOv7s)

185 Soŕy I'm late, I was beguiled by a banding of beavers in the birches.
Posted by: tankdemon at December 20, 2025

Detoured by a detachment of dingos in the ditch!
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius

Well that is better than a cavalcade of caterwauling cats.
Posted by: Anna Puma

Quelled into quiescence by a quorum of quokka queueing by the quicksand.

Posted by: miqesqi at December 20, 2025 11:29 PM (nhCoE)

186 Ugghhhhh locked out of my default gmail on a new device
Efefefef

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at December 20, 2025 11:29 PM (6U1c2)

187 It's pretty slow at the Club tonight, tankdemon...

Posted by: JQ at December 20, 2025 11:29 PM (rdVOm)

188 Everything tastes more less like chicken.

Posted by: toby928(c) at December 20, 2025 11:30 PM (jc0TO)

189 Quiet Saturday night. Everyone's chillin'.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 20, 2025 11:30 PM (ZOv7s)

190 Did they have the guinea pig on a stick?

No, they were slightly upscale. Although nowadays who knows what that means. Eric Raymond had a pretty good rant about that several weeks ago.

…not every cuisine item in the world should be cordon-bleu'd to death, optimized for refined palates. A Philly steak shouldn't leave you feeling like a connoisseur, but like you re ready to strap on a tool belt for a long afternoon of fitting steam pipes at the old Navy Yard. Steak sandwiches. Barbecue. Thai street food. Truck-stop breakfasts. Like vernacular architecture, these will not be improved by anybody who studied "design" and wants to fix them.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at December 20, 2025 11:31 PM (EXyHK)

191 Also I did not win the big powerball saaaad

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at December 20, 2025 11:31 PM (6U1c2)

192

Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has dismissed the concept of traditional savings accounts—including the newly proposed “Trump Accounts” initiative—as ultimately unnecessary, arguing that artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics will soon render money irrelevant.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 20, 2025 11:31 PM (pkeXY)

193 Everything tastes more less like chicken.
Posted by: toby928(c) at December 20, 2025 11:30 PM (jc0TO)
---
Turtle definitely tasted like greasy chicken.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 20, 2025 11:31 PM (ZOv7s)

194 more or less

dammit

Posted by: toby928(c) at December 20, 2025 11:31 PM (jc0TO)

195 Sheetz used to have a chicken cordon bleu sub.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 20, 2025 11:32 PM (fBbkm)

196 Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has dismissed the concept of traditional savings accounts—including the newly proposed “Trump Accounts” initiative—as ultimately unnecessary, arguing that artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics will soon render money irrelevant.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 20, 2025 11:31 PM (pkeXY)
---
Okay, Elon. You go first.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 20, 2025 11:32 PM (ZOv7s)

197 Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has dismissed the concept of traditional savings accounts—including the newly proposed “Trump Accounts” initiative—as ultimately unnecessary, arguing that artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics will soon render money irrelevant.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 20, 2025 11:31 PM

A better bet would be inventing replicators.

And fusion power.

Posted by: toby928(c) at December 20, 2025 11:32 PM (jc0TO)

198 Anyone heard of chicken a la ling and chicken kiev?
I swear those were real things whrn I was growing up.

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at December 20, 2025 11:33 PM (6U1c2)

199 Rattlesnake tastes like chicken. Or fish. Fishy chicken.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 20, 2025 11:33 PM (rghSL)

200 Bears Win!!! And they injured a bunch of Packers too!!! Woo hoo!!!

Posted by: Big Fat Meanie at December 20, 2025 11:33 PM (aw1te)

201 I matched zero numbers.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 20, 2025 11:33 PM (fBbkm)

202 Okay, Elon. You go first.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 20, 2025 11:32 PM

Yeah, his negotiating a trillion dollar pay package sort of belies his suggestion.

Posted by: toby928(c) at December 20, 2025 11:33 PM (jc0TO)

203

a la King?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 20, 2025 11:34 PM (pkeXY)

204 chicken a la ling

-
A la KING

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at December 20, 2025 11:34 PM (6U1c2)

205 Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has dismissed the concept of traditional savings accounts—including the newly proposed “Trump Accounts” initiative—as ultimately unnecessary, arguing that artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics will soon render money irrelevant.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr

So why have you collected more moneys than anyone else on the planet, then?

Posted by: mikeski at December 20, 2025 11:34 PM (nhCoE)

206 Elon Musk [argued] that artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics will soon render money irrelevant.

Going to make that potential SpaceX IPO proposal awkward.

Posted by: Stephen Price Blair at December 20, 2025 11:34 PM (EXyHK)

207 One word: Gold Pressed Latinum

Posted by: toby928(c) at December 20, 2025 11:35 PM (jc0TO)

208 Anyone heard of chicken a la ling and chicken kiev?
I swear those were real things whrn I was growing up.
Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at December 20, 2025 11:33 PM (6U1c2)
---
Old post Chernobyl joke: What clucks and glows in the dark? Chicken Kiev.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 20, 2025 11:35 PM (ZOv7s)

209 Chicken Kiev I remember. Breaded chicken cutlets with filling. It was pretty good.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 20, 2025 11:35 PM (rghSL)

210 arguing that artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics will soon render money irrelevant.

--
Oh, like in Fallout

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at December 20, 2025 11:35 PM (6U1c2)

211 chicken a la ling
-
A la KING
Posted by: vmom deport deport deport

Good choice. The chicken a la ling is actually panda.

Posted by: mikeski at December 20, 2025 11:36 PM (nhCoE)

212 One word: Gold Pressed Latinum
Posted by: toby928(c) at December 20, 2025 11:35 PM (jc0TO)
---
Three words that show that Roddenberry's fantasy was stupid, and also wrecked myriad storylines.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 20, 2025 11:36 PM (ZOv7s)

213 Some are actually kind of a good history show. Some, I am sure, are AI slop. But they put me to sleep.
Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat

I discovered Tetrapod Zoology podcast would put me to sleep.

Covid pretty much killed it, but they have a fair number of episodes before then, and they are remarkably placid

https://tinyurl.com/tetzoopod

Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 11:37 PM (rbvCR)

214 Panda Express doesn't even use real panda.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 20, 2025 11:37 PM (fBbkm)

215 204 chicken a la ling

--------

That's the one with chunks of panda, right?

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 20, 2025 11:38 PM (nWPIJ)

216 Quelled into quiescence by a quorum of quokka queueing by the quicksand.
Posted by: miqesqi at December 20, 2025 11:29 PM (nhCoE)

You win.

Posted by: tankdemon at December 20, 2025 11:38 PM (DhVp1)

217 On earth, centuries ago, we believed that perversity was a bad thing, but we've now come to understand that nailing whatever comes within reach is part of *our* prime directive.

Also, he who dies with the most toys, wins.

Posted by: Captain James Caligula Kirk at December 20, 2025 11:39 PM (ZOv7s)

218 Damn. I'd better get some of that Prevagen stuff.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 20, 2025 11:39 PM (nWPIJ)

219 >>Panda Express doesn't even use real panda
---------

And they discontinued their pot stickers!!!

Posted by: JQ at December 20, 2025 11:39 PM (rdVOm)

220 Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has dismissed the concept of traditional savings accounts—including the newly proposed “Trump Accounts” initiative—as ultimately unnecessary, arguing that artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics will soon render money irrelevant.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 20, 2025 11:31 PM (pkeXY)
---

Things that can only be said by somebody who knows they will never want for money again.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 20, 2025 11:40 PM (/lPRQ)

221 >>>A better bet would be inventing replicators.

And fusion power.
Posted by: toby928(c)
-------------

That's part of what's going to make money yer elephant.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 11:40 PM (BaQcj)

222 - I have serious tinnitus due to having an eardrum blown out.

Posted by: blaster
----------
What might these two things have in common?

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at December 20, 2025 11:40 PM (XeU6L)

223 Things that can only be said by somebody who knows they will never want for money again.
Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 20, 2025 11:40 PM (/lPRQ)
---
The guy made his fortune as a money changer (Paypal).

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 20, 2025 11:40 PM (ZOv7s)

224 Is Latinum mined? Smelted? Created as a byproduct of some fusion reaction? Does one drill for it since is a liquid?

Posted by: toby928(c) at December 20, 2025 11:41 PM (jc0TO)

225 >>Things that can only be said by somebody who knows they will never want for money again.
-------

Yeah. No shit. Must be nice.

Posted by: JQ at December 20, 2025 11:41 PM (rdVOm)

226

Democrats have decided that they need to have their own version of Turning Point USA in order to appeal to young voters and what they have come up with is the most Democrat thing ever.

It’s called the ‘DNC National Youth Coordinated Table’.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 20, 2025 11:41 PM (pkeXY)

227 I demand answers.

Posted by: toby928(c) at December 20, 2025 11:41 PM (jc0TO)

228 Latium is a mined resource in Rome Total War.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 20, 2025 11:42 PM (fBbkm)

229 Chicken and la king was one of the MRE's we tried to avoid.

Actually, we tried to avoid all MRE'S, but that one was especially disdained.

Posted by: tankdemon at December 20, 2025 11:43 PM (DhVp1)

230 Three words that show that Roddenberry's fantasy was stupid, and also wrecked myriad storylines.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 20, 2025 11:36 PM (ZOv7s)[/i[

George O Smith had a universe where the main characters tried to develop a transporter device and realized that they had made a duplicator instead. They destroyed the solar system's economy until they discovered a material that couldn't be duplicated by their device.
In a universe with matter replicators you either have to find a commodity that can't be replicated, or base the economy on the one thing that can't be duplicated until it is valueless will be individuals' attention.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 11:43 PM (rbvCR)

231 Three words that show that Roddenberry's fantasy was stupid, and also wrecked myriad storylines.
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd

How many of these magical non-monitary "credits" did it take to get the best of the best at the sex tourist planets?

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 20, 2025 11:43 PM (/lPRQ)

232 227 I demand answers.
Posted by: toby928(c) at December 20, 2025 11:41 PM (jc0TO)disdain.

The answer is 42.

Posted by: tankdemon at December 20, 2025 11:43 PM (DhVp1)

233 Curly fries, waffle fries, and tater tots are the best, in that order. The reason is simple: resistance to sogginess. I have had literally every kind of fries served to me soggy, but those are the most likely to be crispy in my experience.

Posted by: SciVo at December 20, 2025 11:44 PM (Sy6m/)

234 Well, I never in all of my wildest dreams thought I'd be a comment of the week. Of course it wasn't the funny part, but still! [Now say that in Southern with extra syllables]

Because I am not concise or what it takes. Berserker saved the night and gave me a thrill!

I was coming here to yell about a Christmas card that offended me. From the ghey uncle of my husband's. I guess everyone has one? He was a "brother" before he married and had kids. Then met a guy (altho Jewish) with the same GROSS desires. I had accepted him up to a point and am polite. He and partner even came to one of our son's weddings.I think to mock my redneck family, who fooled them by being charming and funny and he really liked them. I got over that,too.

This card has a black "Mary" and some crap about if Mary would let the shepherd's hold her baby. I am no genius but pretty sure it is some sort of affront to all us sinners who don't like illegals. First of all, you senile dip, Mary and Joseph were not illegal. No, I have not wondered if Mary would let a shepherd hold her baby, nor would I if he wandered in with good intentions. Because I am a mother, something you could never be.

He is a cafeteria Catholic.

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at December 20, 2025 11:44 PM (WONhk)

235 I liked Chicken ala King MREs, but you didn't do well on extras on that one.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 20, 2025 11:44 PM (fBbkm)

236 Tabasco makes everything at least palatable.

Posted by: toby928(c) at December 20, 2025 11:45 PM (jc0TO)

237 Democrats have decided that they need to have their own version of Turning Point USA in order to appeal to young voters and what they have come up with is the most Democrat thing ever.

It’s called the ‘DNC National Youth Coordinated Table’.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 20, 2025 11:41 PM (pkeXY)

Run by two trannies, a lez, and a cripple.

Posted by: James What? at December 20, 2025 11:46 PM (uQesX)

238 Is Latinum mined? Smelted? Created as a byproduct of some fusion reaction? Does one drill for it since is a liquid?
Posted by: toby928(c) at December 20, 2025 11:41 PM (jc0TO)

I'm not sure, but whoever smelted, delted.

Posted by: OrangeEnt at December 20, 2025 11:47 PM (uQesX)

239 Greetings Everyone

Big family party tonight so just gonna lurk in the shadows.

Gonna lurk here too!

Enjoyed the ornaments on the hobby thread today and enjoyed participating.

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at December 20, 2025 11:47 PM (w1kx/)

240 I have had literally every kind of fries served to me soggy, but those are the most likely to be crispy in my experience.
Posted by: SciVo at December 20, 2025 11:44 PM (Sy6m/)

--------

Sir, you are a veritable Doctor of the Spud Sciences.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 20, 2025 11:47 PM (nWPIJ)

241 It’s called the ‘DNC National Youth Coordinated Table’.
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr.

Run by two trannies, a lez, and a cripple.
Posted by: James What?

One going each way, or one pre and one post?

Posted by: mikeski at December 20, 2025 11:47 PM (nhCoE)

242 Ugh on the card, Christy. Why would anyone bother to send that? At least it didn't involve Pete Bootygig chest feeding

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 20, 2025 11:48 PM (rghSL)

243 Wedges>steak-cut fries>tater tots>crinkle cut>shoestring. None of the others are worth eating.

Hubcap article seems to be an AI product. Full of errors. The original screw-on hubcaps were essentially dust covers for the wheel bearings. I have never heard of wheel covers intended to cover the spokes of true wire wheels. You paid extra for wire wheels, and wanted the proles to admire them. In the 50's, 60's, and 70's, "hub caps" were the dog dish style, and wheel covers were the full size ones. "Beauty rings" were stainless steel bands that attach in the same way as wheel covers, but covered only the tire rim portion of the wheel, leaving most of the disc exposed. Usually used in conjunction with dog dish hubcaps. And the writers did not seem to clue in on the fact that the hole near the rim of the wheel cover was for the valve stem.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 20, 2025 11:48 PM (npFr7)

244 Stop eating potatoes for 3 years. Start back. They no longer taste edible.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 20, 2025 11:48 PM (fBbkm)

245 18 12 While I was helping out at our local food distribution today, I saw a young boy who wore a t-shirt upon which was an image of a T-Rex wearing a Santa hat. I thought it was cool.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at December 20, 2025 10:10 PM
***
We are everywhere.
Posted by: TRex - feliz navi dino at December 20, 2025 10:11 PM (IQ6Gq)

Even manger scenes......

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at December 20, 2025 11:51 PM (w1kx/)

246 >>>42
---

Shoot the moon.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 11:51 PM (Lvwqi)

247 I'll take the curlies. Better texture, inside and outside.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at December 20, 2025 11:52 PM (nljXp)

248 Tater Tots are the worst.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 20, 2025 11:53 PM (fBbkm)

249 Chicken Kiev I remember. Breaded chicken cutlets with filling. It was pretty good.
Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 20, 2025 11:35 PM

How to make Chicken Kiev...in true Slav way.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFgOC2AHn_8

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at December 20, 2025 11:53 PM (Wnv9h)

250 How many of these magical non-monitary "credits" did it take to get the best of the best at the sex tourist planets?
Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 20, 2025 11:43 PM (/lPRQ)
---
Well, in Hollywood it was the same as in town. Ask the moose out front.

Speculative sci-fi writing can be interesting and challenging, but sometimes it comes down to stupid shit like "what if people had sex organs on their foreheads?" and people seriously dig into a monumentally stupid subject.

To be fair to Gene, there was a legitimate debate about "The Problem of Abundance", but the solution wasn't universal affluence. Was Ensign Chekov paid the same as Captain Kirk? Were their cabins the same size? Why not?

Roddenberry was a vet, and understood hierarchy, which exists no matter what you call the currency.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 20, 2025 11:53 PM (ZOv7s)

251 Some Chuy's restaurants decorate with hubcaps. I think they're authentic but I suppose it's possible that there's a factory somewhere in China making replica vintage American hubcaps.
Posted by: Oddbob at December 20, 2025 10:14 PM (3nLb4)

There are several vendors who tour the major swap meets, and sell nothing but hub caps and a few related parts like chrome lug nuts. "Hubcap Annie" one such. I have a pretty fair collection of Studebaker hubcaps and wheel covers, and a few oddballs, too.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 20, 2025 11:53 PM (npFr7)

252 223 Things that can only be said by somebody who knows they will never want for money again.
Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 20, 2025 11:40 PM (/lPRQ)
---
The guy made his fortune as a money changer (Paypal).
Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd
---

So, he knows money and he's got a plan.
Same as Trump working the economy. All of the parts (f'ing Powell) must operate as planed or it become elliptical.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 11:54 PM (Lvwqi)

253 This card has a black "Mary" and some crap about if Mary would let the shepherd's hold her baby.
Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at December 20, 2025 11:44 PM (WONhk)
---
Guy never heard of the Black Madonna?

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 20, 2025 11:55 PM (ZOv7s)

254 If they had unlimited resources on Star Trek why so many third world $#!tholers?

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 20, 2025 11:55 PM (fBbkm)

255 244 Stop eating potatoes for 3 years. Start back. They no longer taste edible.
Posted by: Boss Moss at December 20, 2025 11:48 PM (fBbkm)

---------

LIES!!!

Posted by: Big Potato at December 20, 2025 11:56 PM (nWPIJ)

256 If they had unlimited resources on Star Trek why so many third world $#!tholers?
Posted by: Boss Moss at December 20, 2025 11:55 PM (fBbkm)
---
Better yet, why was the show canceled?!

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 20, 2025 11:57 PM (ZOv7s)

257 Launch reminder 50 minutes

https://youtu.be/3oIxo3bLkfQ

Posted by: Joyenz at December 20, 2025 11:57 PM (2F0/Y)

258 Perfectly made steak fries dipped in malted vinegar and served alongside some seasoned and breaded cod matches very well with a nice scotch.
Posted by: Thomas Bender at December 20, 2025 10:26 PM (XV/Pl)

Agreed. It's a very Canuck thing to serve white vinegar with fries. Some places will provide malt vinegar if you request it, but white vinegar is always on hand.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 20, 2025 11:58 PM (npFr7)

259 How many of these magical non-monitary "credits" did it take to get the best of the best at the sex tourist planets?
Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 20, 2025 11:43 PM (/lPRQ)

In the book The Diamond Age by Neil Stephenson, matter replicators were mostly free, the basic catalog of goods were free for replication though the actual production had a charge - and the charge was reversable if you broke it down for recycling again.
Prestige objects either were still under patent or available under lease, bespoke for replication, or handmade.
the energy to produce the goods was "too cheap to meter"
In the Chinese coastal enclave there was a basic living allowance for apartments, and basic food. Anything beyond that required working for credits to buy higher status goods and attain protection from the various gangs, including the local police.

ST:NG Latinum would be required for a non-integrated economic system; I can imagine that the Federation's system could be more of a shared ledger system like a blockchain crypto.
I doubt it was ever figured out ahead of time, it probably set up as a maguffin and then expanded.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 20, 2025 11:58 PM (rbvCR)

260 (cont) I am being judgemental about Uncle Gaylord. I don't care!!!

You have bigger problems and sins to solve than your psychological dig at my politics. Go simper off and wail at the moon or to your poor children who had to accept you after their mother died and you came out of the closet. I note super convenient to do after your brother (a priest) and parents passed away.

There! All done! I am a sinner as well, but not to the extent of you and your politics! Your card is in the garbage bin.

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at December 20, 2025 11:59 PM (WONhk)

261 People forgive TOS Star Trek for at least trying to do some serious thinking, playing in the sci-fi sandbox and giving a bunch of otherwise sidelined actors the roles of a lifetime.

But the successor shows were pretty bad. They only get worse with each iteration.

Frankly, Babylon 5 looks pretty good because the scope wasn't as utopian (actually quite pessimistic) but the thing ran out of money and so it stays the way it ended, without gay and retarded reboots.

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 21, 2025 12:00 AM (ZOv7s)

262 It's much too late for lunch.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 21, 2025 12:00 AM (fBbkm)

263 Some are actually kind of a good history show. Some, I am sure, are AI slop. But they put me to sleep.
Posted by: blaster - Fortis Fortuna Adiuvat at December 20, 2025 11:08 PM (RoO7G)

Sleepy time TV? Try "How It's Made" on Roku. Light Industrial Jazz for the background music, and a amiable baritone narrator. I generally get to the second iteration of "The technician spreads the glue on the back of the panel" before I doze off.

Posted by: Idaho Spudboy at December 21, 2025 12:00 AM (dl47i)

264 Shoot the moon.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 20, 2025 11:51 PM (Lvwqi)

You play pinochle?

Posted by: Kindltot at December 21, 2025 12:00 AM (rbvCR)

265 Mood...it will improve any minute now

https://tinyurl.com/3jdjctup

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at December 21, 2025 12:02 AM (WONhk)

266 AI slop videos are taking over YouTube.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 21, 2025 12:02 AM (fBbkm)

267
Stop eating potatoes for 3 years. Start back. They no longer taste edible.
Posted by: Boss Moss

That's because we're addicted to spuds.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 21, 2025 12:02 AM (pkeXY)

268 I am being judgemental about Uncle Gaylord. I don't care!!!

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at December 20, 2025 11:59 PM (WONhk)
---
This is about me, isn't it?

Posted by: Your funny uncle Barry O. at December 21, 2025 12:02 AM (ZOv7s)

269 Which card game had the little metal sticks?

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 21, 2025 12:03 AM (fBbkm)

270 269 Which card game had the little metal sticks?
Posted by: Boss Moss at December 21, 2025 12:03 AM (fBbkm)

---------

Fencing?

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at December 21, 2025 12:04 AM (nWPIJ)

271 AI slop videos are taking over YouTube.
Posted by: Boss Moss at December 21, 2025 12:02 AM (fBbkm)
---
Since all right-thinking people want Youtube to die, I don't have a problem with this.

They could filter it out, but they're arrogant and stupid.

"They bought their ticket, they knew what they were getting into. I say, let 'em crash."

Posted by: Ace-Endorsed Author A.H. Lloyd at December 21, 2025 12:05 AM (ZOv7s)

272 Peg board. Keep score with metal sticks.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 21, 2025 12:05 AM (fBbkm)

273 So all the promo hookers are replicants too.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 21, 2025 12:05 AM (/lPRQ)

274 Cribbage

Posted by: PabloD at December 21, 2025 12:06 AM (Epuwl)

275 Cribbage had a peg board.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 12:06 AM (rghSL)

276 James Cameron is no longer interested in American citizenship. He also hates Trump--yeah, I know you're shocked. He says Canadians will "fight to the last moose" if the US invades.

So there. James Cameron is really, really, macho. I mean, those empty platitudes above it, right?

Right?

Posted by: Crusader at December 21, 2025 12:07 AM (Cjcf6)

277 Sleepy time TV? Try "How It's Made" on Roku. Light Industrial Jazz for the background music, and a amiable baritone narrator. I generally get to the second iteration of "The technician spreads the glue on the back of the panel" before I doze off.
Posted by: Idaho Spudboy at December 21, 2025 12:00 AM (dl47i)

Why not the original?

Posted by: Zombie Bob Ross at December 21, 2025 12:07 AM (uQesX)

278 Whoa, you like to think that you're immune to the stuff, oh yeah
It's closer to the truth to say you can't get enough
You know you're going to have to face it, you're addicted to spuds

Might as well face it, you're addicted to spuds
Might as well face it, you're addicted to spuds
Might as well face it, you're addicted to spuds
Might as well face it, you're addicted to spuds

Posted by: Kindltot at December 21, 2025 12:07 AM (rbvCR)

279 I never learned to play cribbage. With those game superpacks you would get those.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 21, 2025 12:08 AM (fBbkm)

280 Cribbage
Posted by: PabloD at December 21, 2025 12:06 AM (Epuwl)

Do you mean Cabbage, or Monotony, dahlink?

Posted by: Zombie Lisa Douglas at December 21, 2025 12:09 AM (uQesX)

281 Tater Tots are the worst.
----
They are *heaven* IF they are served crunchibly crisp.

Posted by: Crusader at December 21, 2025 12:09 AM (Cjcf6)

282 Cameron out front should'a told ya.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 21, 2025 12:09 AM (pkeXY)

283 Cribbage?

Posted by: Amy Schumer at December 21, 2025 12:10 AM (nWPIJ)

284 We had a cribbage board for a while and played, but it ended up in a donation box.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 12:11 AM (rghSL)

285 I guess if they taste like starch they were probably undercooked.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 21, 2025 12:11 AM (fBbkm)

286 One funny story about Uncle Mo (uncle homo...what his nephew calls him, whom I happened to be married to).

We were visiting NYC in 1999 and he and his wealthy Jewish landlord had a penthouse on the Hudson and near the WTC. Sons were in HS and we went up an elevator of the building. A ghey swish guy got on the elevator with his poodle (seriously) and our youngest son almost climbed up me he was so freaked out. I am unsure if you had to be gay to live there as we did not want to know.

Uncle Mo told us we could use the penthouse anytime. My first thought was that I could not sleep in that bed and would need to autoclave the bedding.

It had 3 sides over the Hudson. It was also during Fleet Week, which I also found a bit bizarre, but it was wut it was. We never took him up on the offer and were trying to be open minded by having lunch with him.

Therefore, Morons, at times I can be nice. Not about this card, however. I'm sending him a super religious one and had it already in the envelope. Now I want to add the entire Catholic Catechism, but will save on postage.

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at December 21, 2025 12:11 AM (WONhk)

287 It's been a while since I played cribbage, but it's one of my favorite card games. There's strategy, but also luck, and while most of the scoring makes sense there are little quirks that probably have some historical basis.

Posted by: PabloD at December 21, 2025 12:11 AM (Epuwl)

288 Primo hookers.

There are things people are willing to buy, things people are willing to sell.
Sometime sale is out of the question. Sometimes negotiable.

Really cheap energy cannot explain away the fact the most basic simple things have a cost and all the energy and magic in the universe won't get you a grain of sand if the owner of that grain says "no sale".

That is why aliens just steal it.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 21, 2025 12:12 AM (/lPRQ)

289 243 Wedges>steak-cut fries>tater tots>crinkle cut>shoestring. None of the others are worth eating.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 20, 2025 11:48 PM (npFr7)

There is a fundamental philosophical difference in your order, which is seeking the best, as opposed to avoiding the worst. If I were making them myself, then I would order them similarly; but wedges and steak-cut are the worst for getting served soggy.

Posted by: SciVo at December 21, 2025 12:12 AM (Sy6m/)

290
Dominoes

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 21, 2025 12:13 AM (Lvwqi)

291 Thank you, Open Blogger for putting my grey box with Ber on tonights ONT. It is an honor I never thought I'd have. I have been first a couple of times and now have no goals!

BLOWS SUPERMODEL KISSES TO ALL THE BOYS,SOME OF MY JEWELS TO THE 'ETTES!!! XOXO

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at December 21, 2025 12:14 AM (WONhk)

292 What is the path to this really cheap energy?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 21, 2025 12:15 AM (pkeXY)

293 Mexican train dominoes is a fun game.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 12:16 AM (rghSL)

294 What is the path to this really cheap energy?
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 21, 2025 12:15 AM (pkeXY)

zero point energy. You will need some element 115 too, I think.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 21, 2025 12:16 AM (rbvCR)

295 There is a fundamental philosophical difference in your order, which is seeking the best, as opposed to avoiding the worst. If I were making them myself, then I would order them similarly; but wedges and steak-cut are the worst for getting served soggy.
Posted by: SciVo

Then shoe string fries would be the best - crunchy hollow overcooked potato straws... Hollow but crisp.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at December 21, 2025 12:16 AM (/lPRQ)

296 Mexican train dominoes is a fun game.
Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 12:16 AM (rghSL)

My wife adores that game. I am learning pinochle

Posted by: Kindltot at December 21, 2025 12:16 AM (rbvCR)

297 They found a new way to get another 15% oil out of tar sands. Cheap. Waste Product.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 21, 2025 12:18 AM (fBbkm)

298 268 I am being judgemental about Uncle Gaylord. I don't care!!!

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at December 20, 2025 11:59 PM (WONhk)
---
This is about me, isn't it?
Posted by: Your funny uncle Barry O. at December 21, 2025 12:02 AM (ZOv7s)

THIS IS WHY I AM HERE! I LOVE MORONS!

If my husband ever reads these messages he will wonder about me! Of course he already does almost daily...

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at December 21, 2025 12:18 AM (WONhk)

299 There is a fundamental philosophical difference in your order, which is seeking the best, as opposed to avoiding the worst. If I were making them myself, then I would order them similarly; but wedges and steak-cut are the worst for getting served soggy.
Posted by: SciVo at December 21, 2025 12:12 AM (Sy6m/)

Well, you see, if they are cut too thin they get crisp all the way through, which is sub-optimal. All you get is grease and scorched potato. Thick-cut fries and wedges get nice and crispy on the outside, but the inside is hot and has the texture of a baked potato. And wedges can be breaded on the outside, which adds character, too.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 21, 2025 12:19 AM (npFr7)

300 Pinochle is beyond confusing to me. A couple friends tried to teach me once to no avail.

Posted by: PabloD at December 21, 2025 12:21 AM (Epuwl)

301 The Chick Filet ones were good. Lamb Weston. A bar around here used the same thing.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 21, 2025 12:22 AM (fBbkm)

302 I learned Bridge even. Not complicated.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 21, 2025 12:22 AM (fBbkm)

303 210 arguing that artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics will soon render money irrelevant.

--
Oh, like in Fallout
Posted by: vmom deport deport deport

Exactly! What could go wrong!!

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 21, 2025 12:23 AM (AdHga)

304 If I have to make the potatoes myself, the wedges will be near perfection.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at December 21, 2025 12:23 AM (nljXp)

305 Mexican train dominoes is a fun game.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary
----

Yes Yes Yes! It is! *BUT*, my family found a way to play it that is ever MORE FUN!

We changed the rules! When its your turn, you can literally play EVERY.SINGLE.DOMINO in your hand! Which typically will take you down to 2-5 dominoes left. And then its the next person's turn. And so on. By allowing the player to play EVERY domino they can, it speeds the game up tremendously, but almost nobody goes out in their first or second turn! Its a blast this way, and allows people with shorter attention spans to enjoy the game as well.

Posted by: Crusader at December 21, 2025 12:24 AM (Cjcf6)

306 Cut for fries is not really that important as much as (Fresh out of fryer.)

Steak cut is a bit too thick though (that's what she said.)

Never understood the whooha about curly fries.

Straight cut or waffle cut is probably my favorite.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 21, 2025 12:24 AM (bss/y)

307 Never tried to play pinochle. I recall canasta was good. Lately, we play a card game called Golf. Easy game., easy to teach.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 12:24 AM (rghSL)

308 Thanks for the ONT.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at December 21, 2025 12:24 AM (bss/y)

309 293 Mexican train dominoes is a fun game.
Posted by: BarelyScaryMary
----------
That one is pretty fun.

Posted by: scampydog at December 21, 2025 12:26 AM (+PhDp)

310 The Chick Filet ones were good. Lamb Weston. A bar around here used the same thing.
Posted by: Boss Moss at December 21, 2025 12:22 AM (fBbkm)

Lamb-Weston is a potato processing company in Oregon. It used to be a local company, then it was bought by Con-Agra, and now it is part of a multinational.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 21, 2025 12:26 AM (rbvCR)

311 Time to shut it down. See you miscreants on the Book Thread.

Posted by: PabloD at December 21, 2025 12:27 AM (Epuwl)

312 We changed the rules! When its your turn, you can literally play EVERY.SINGLE.DOMINO in your hand! Which typically will take you down to 2-5 dominoes left. And then its the next person's turn. And so on. By allowing the player to play EVERY domino they can, it speeds the game up tremendously, but almost nobody goes out in their first or second turn! Its a blast this way, and allows people with shorter attention spans to enjoy the game as well.

Posted by: Crusader at December 21, 2025 12:24 AM (Cjcf6)

Your ideas are intriguing to me and I wish to subscribe to your newsletter. That sounds like a good way to play.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 12:28 AM (rghSL)

313 I'm not smart enough to play these fancy games. My father did, but I never learned. My husband was going to teach me chess but said he figured I'd throw the board and pieces off in a fit if it did not move fast. Same with sports, gotta move fast.

A mean girl in the college dorm told me the wrong rules to Spades, so I have to be told every time how to play.

I still strike fear into his heart when I announce that I am going to sew something. I do much better than when I was newlymarried and threw a dress across the room (still attached to the sewing machine). The new modern machines are easier for me to deal with. He says he can tell it is going well if he does not hear cussing from the sewing room.

I will tell him tomorrow I want to learn pinocle just to hear what he'll say. I doubt he knows how, either.

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at December 21, 2025 12:29 AM (WONhk)

314 I don't care what shape my deep-fried potato is in, I need to make sure it has appropriate sauce.

Posted by: pookysgirl needs ketchup for most of those at December 21, 2025 12:31 AM (Wt5PA)

315 Never was good at chess or sewing. I miss OM and the Chess and Dress threads.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 12:32 AM (rghSL)

316 309 293 Mexican train dominoes is a fun game.
Posted by: BarelyScaryMary

If it's not hard I will look into this one.

I think I am going to spend more time shooting pool in the basement, so I can whip our sons again in the future. I used to be very good in bars with my guy friends in college. They'd fool others into thinking I was just a dumb blond, then I'd help beat the others.

I should go to bed as someone is giving me the bat signal.

Goodnight you sweeties.

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at December 21, 2025 12:32 AM (WONhk)

317 Nite, Christy!

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 21, 2025 12:33 AM (npFr7)

318 Pinochle is the sort of game you get when you have lots of time on your hands.

It uses a modified deck that has A 10 K Q J 9, and the only cards that count are A 10 K.

If you ever try to play solitaire with a pinochle deck you are guaranteed minutes of fun.

Posted by: Kindltot at December 21, 2025 12:34 AM (rbvCR)

319

How about Euchre, Bob?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 21, 2025 12:34 AM (pkeXY)

320 Good-night, Christy.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 12:34 AM (rghSL)

321 It may be heresy around these parts, but the easiest fries to make at home and get a very good result are shoestrings. The trick is to par cook them in a deep fryer before you want to serve, say for about 2 to 3 minutes. This cooks the potatoes, but they are quite soggy at this point. They can sit around in a bowl at room T and then, just before you want to serve, give them another 3 minute or so at ~375F, until golden brown. They will be crispy on the outside, but still tender on the inside.

Posted by: MichiCanuck at December 21, 2025 12:34 AM (VoMie)

322 if you think these are sck bastards, you should have seen the old onts. they thought of themselves as the denizens of mos eisley, that had been expelled for lacking any morality, embracing debauchery as though it were religious. the guys from day threads refused to even come here.

Posted by: n at December 21, 2025 12:36 AM (Iwjf/)

323 > What is the path to this really cheap energy?
---

follow the yellow brick road

Posted by: Don Black at December 21, 2025 12:37 AM (ZxPkt)

324 It's past midnight in the East

Happy Winter Solstice Day

Posted by: Don Black at December 21, 2025 12:38 AM (ZxPkt)

325
Andrew McCarthy just posted this much more detailed image of 3I/ATLAS he got on the 19th. This is processed and stacked and such:
https://is.gd/PWpeGN

Note he got all the colors. Coma is green, tail is blue, and anti-tail is brownish-orange.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at December 21, 2025 12:39 AM (w6EFb)

326 They do have those magic black rocks in West Virginia.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 21, 2025 12:39 AM (fBbkm)

327 Happy Winter Solstice Day
Posted by: Don Black
---------
WoooHooo! More sunlight, bring it on.

Posted by: scampydog at December 21, 2025 12:39 AM (41CYW)

328 I wonder if December 21st is actually mid winter?

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 21, 2025 12:41 AM (fBbkm)

329
It blows my mind to think, looking at that, we're looking at something that's likely 7 billion years old. Far older than the Erf, and the whole solar system.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at December 21, 2025 12:42 AM (w6EFb)

330 Exactly! What could go wrong!!
Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 21, 2025 12:23 AM (AdHga)

It will be like Windows ME. It will suck and we will be forced to use it. All important decisions eventually will be based on AI algos, and since no one knows what went into them, no one in charge will have a clue that they don't work.
It will be the final element of the Drake equation: not war, pestilence, or sex bots; what will destroy us will be AI slop stamping on a human face— forever.

Here, Grok worked up neat image of it, let me give you a link!

Posted by: Kindltot at December 21, 2025 12:43 AM (rbvCR)

331 Winter in the truly cold places I can't imagine. Dad's army buddy used to send pics of him ice fishing. That seemed otherworldly til I saw Grumpy Old Men.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 12:44 AM (rghSL)

332 Winter in the truly cold places I can't imagine. Dad's army buddy used to send pics of him ice fishing. That seemed otherworldly til I saw Grumpy Old Men.
Posted by: BarelyScaryMary

Grumpy Old Men is a documentary when it comes to winter in ND/SD/MN/WI.

Posted by: mikeski at December 21, 2025 12:47 AM (nhCoE)

333 Grumpy Old Men is a documentary when it comes to winter in ND/SD/MN/WI.

Posted by: mikeski at December 21, 2025 12:47 AM (nhCoE)

I always loved that movie. Dad's buddy was from Minnesota. He sent some wild pics. They did not compute for a southern kid.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 12:51 AM (rghSL)

334 Ice fishing doesn't have to be miserable. Most folks that do any amount of it have a portable shelter on skids that they tow out to their chosen fishing spot. Auger a hole or two in the ice, place the shelter over the holes, sit on a comfy padded bench, turn up the heat, and go fishing. Or drink beer, as the case may be.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 21, 2025 12:51 AM (npFr7)

335
Exact moment of solstice will be 15:03:05Z, or
10:03:05 AM EST. Astronomical winter begins at that moment.

Apparent Autumn 2025 thus clocks in at 89 days, 20 hours, and 44 mins. Too lazy to run Stellarium (using DE440) to get the equinox to the second.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at December 21, 2025 12:54 AM (w6EFb)

336 It's been so warm here (for this time of year) but not very enjoyable due to the nasty wind. At least we're not flooding! Seems most of the rain dumps out before hitting the Cascades, or turns to snow as it crosses them.

Maybe we'll get a little "hit & melt" snow over the next few days.

January/February usually bring the worst weather here.

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 12:54 AM (rdVOm)

337 A little cooler this year here.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 21, 2025 12:56 AM (fBbkm)

338 I loved Grumpy Old Men too! Watched it with my grandparents; it was such a hoot!

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 12:56 AM (rdVOm)

339 Straight cut.

Fries are fries. They're good. No need to fuck around with them.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at December 21, 2025 12:57 AM (BI5O2)

340 314 I don't care what shape my deep-fried potato is in, I need to make sure it has appropriate sauce.
Posted by: pookysgirl needs ketchup
----------

Yes. Potato is a vehicle for thick flaky chicken fried batter or baked and bathed in butter. On its on it has not reason to exsist.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 21, 2025 12:58 AM (Lvwqi)

341 Highs around 80 degrees all week. Not even a little bit seasonal. .I can war my Santa t-shirt. And we noticed some fall colors whike driving around today!

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 01:00 AM (rghSL)

342 You never hear anyone say "oh, I want my steak cut into a star shape and I want my mashed potatoes served in a smiley-face mold."

Why do people feel like they have to get cute with the fries?

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at December 21, 2025 01:01 AM (BI5O2)

343 Fries. I had some disappointing fries at a roadside Cafe today. Shoestring potatoes. They were hard, not salted enough and a bit cold.
*Sad trombone.*

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 01:04 AM (rghSL)

344 We have two weeks of winter in January and two weeks in February. Not consecutive. There's usually a break in February when it's perfectly gorgeous.
March can be an ugly bitch, not THAT cold but just nasty.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 21, 2025 01:09 AM (Lvwqi)

345 Grumpy Old Men drinking game:

Every time you hear "shmuck" or "putz"--- drink! LOL

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 01:11 AM (rdVOm)

346 Apparent Autumn 2025 thus clocks in at 89 days, 20 hours, and 44 mins. Too lazy to run Stellarium (using DE440) to get the equinox to the second.
Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley
---

Hello winter my old friend
Ain't seen you since I don't know when
Goin' up to 85 Christmas day.
Make sure that HVAC is working.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 21, 2025 01:13 AM (Lvwqi)

347 We have two weeks of winter in January and two weeks in February. Not consecutive. There's usually a break in February when it's perfectly gorgeous.
March can be an ugly bitch, not THAT cold but just nasty.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 21, 2025 01:09 AM (Lvwqi)

Well, it's friggin' cold here right now, 4 below zero F. Wasn't much wind today, though, and it was sunny. I was able to work outside on the vehicle for brief periods, then trot into the heated shop, and spend time warming up, hands, mostly.

I have to put a trailer connector on the rear of the Suburban tomorrow. I will back it up the ramp into the big, unheated shop, with the rear wheels on the shop floor, and the front ones on the ramp. That will get the ass end of the rig up in the air a bit, and I should be able to put a mat on the floor, and lie on that while I make the connections. The wires should all be within reach.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 21, 2025 01:16 AM (npFr7)

348 Evening.

I was on Twatter, which is a horrendous awful place, and it's so interesting watching EU politicians wave their tiny little dicks around trying to act like big shots and fine every American website they can think of. It's hilarious.

What's sad is all the panty sniffing reflexive anti-Americans who try to justify and defend the EU's *spit* iron-fisted totalitarian neo-imperialism. What a sad fucking bunch.

I think Elon should write that fat check to the EU but then Trump should take it, slap it on the Resolute Desk and post on Twatter, "Come and take it!"

Posted by: Robert, The Love Walrus at December 21, 2025 01:16 AM (lyDVI)

349 Grumpy Old Men drinking game:

Every time you hear "shmuck" or "putz"--- drink! LOL

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 01:11 AM (rdVOm)

This is like the Bad Santa drinking game and f-bombs. If I drank every time, I'd end up in a coma or posting on the ONT, lol.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 01:16 AM (rghSL)

350 Brittannia steam train going 165km/h. Don't know what that is in imperial numbers but it looks pretty fast.

Can't find one of the Mercury.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 21, 2025 01:16 AM (Lvwqi)

351 Last year in February, we had a couple weeks of false Spring-- temps in the 50s just long enough for some plants to break dormancy...and then the next couple weeks of deep-freeze, hi temps of 20F cold.

Killed my weeping cherry tree and froze off all the walnut flowers. Timing was *perfect* and there wasn't one single walnut on my tree or any nearby. LOVED that! Made up for it this year, though. Damned walnuts.

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 01:18 AM (rdVOm)

352 >>>That will get the ass end of the rig up in the air a bit, and I should be able to put a mat on the floor, and lie on that while I make the connections. The wires should all be within reach.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon
--------

Hoping the best that you get everything worked out so you can come on down.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 21, 2025 01:20 AM (Lvwqi)

353 Grumpy Old Man drinking game:

Get your batshit crazy, drug addict son good and drunk, give him a knife, and try to evade him. Don't lose.

Posted by: Fleeing Charlie at December 21, 2025 01:21 AM (0ZYe2)

354 We usually have a late frost in March that kills the blossoms on the peach tree. Sometimes I am savvy and cover it with a tarp to protect it. Of course the raccoons get the peaches before we do.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 01:21 AM (rghSL)

355 Brittannia steam train going 165km/h. Don't know what that is in imperial numbers but it looks pretty fast.

Can't find one of the Mercury.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 21, 2025 01:16 AM (Lvwqi)

160 km/hr is about 100 miles per hour.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 21, 2025 01:21 AM (npFr7)

356 NY/MADMANI: Left of Launch counterinsurgency.

Trump/Adm under the new NSS should deploy, now is the time, perfect timing to subvert the media cycle after the Jeffmas cycle dies down, as will Z/UKR and VZ+Gaza/IranRamp up.

Why ask why? when HOW is so much more fun?

"Iran is the only country in the world that has now had six elections since the first election of President Khatami (in 1997)...... In every single election, the guys I identify with got two-thirds to 70 percent of the vote. There is no other country in the world I can say that about, certainly not my own.” -- Bill Clinton'05 at a time when he was still celebrating with Jeffmas-prime.

Who's really the Deplorable? and by what measure?
LIB's what Price their Vision?

We can't be so fixed on our desire to preserve the rights of ordinary Americans... --Arch-traitor Bill Clinton'93

This is where the FUN begins! -- ctHILLARY'07

Posted by: MANFRED the Heat Seeking OBOE at December 21, 2025 01:23 AM (RroCn)

357 Grumpy Old Man drinking game:

Get your batshit crazy, drug addict son good and drunk, give him a knife, and try to evade him. Don't lose.

Posted by: Fleeing Charlie

That seems current and Hollywood.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 01:23 AM (rghSL)

358 Hoping the best that you get everything worked out so you can come on down.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 21, 2025 01:20 AM (Lvwqi)

Well, if all goes well, I could leave Monday or Tuesday. I can arrive Christmas Eve OK. If I don't get away Tuesday, I will leave on the 26th.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 21, 2025 01:24 AM (npFr7)

359
They've got us forecast for 74F on Christmas Day. I welcome it, as Dec. has been a cold one this year, average temp 40.5, which the average for the coldest couple of weeks in Jan.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at December 21, 2025 01:24 AM (w6EFb)

360 It shot up to 15 above today. don't worry, it will drop down below zero this night. Wind is back, too. I'm thinking those inflatable decorations were not my best purchase this year.

Posted by: tcn in AK at December 21, 2025 01:27 AM (6Bc88)

361 tcn, how did your shoulder surgery go?

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 01:30 AM (rghSL)

362 Man vs. HOA

youtube.com/shorts/ssZ9mUJ7ugE

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 21, 2025 01:31 AM (Lvwqi)

363 Hey Horde, I've got some holiday spirits tonight. Number four kiddo and his lovely bride will be here in the morning, I have been spiffing up their room, it had gotten pretty dusty. I guess that I finally feel like it is Christmas.

Posted by: Debby Doberman Schultz at December 21, 2025 01:32 AM (0nHVk)

364 Lots of inflatable santas and stuff got blown away or ruined here. Hoping that most folks took theirs in before the storm & will set them out again before Christmas.

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 01:34 AM (rdVOm)

365 Hi, Debby!

*slides over a glass of Chivas on the rocks*

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 01:38 AM (rdVOm)

366 There are some impressive inflatable Santa displays in town. Some in the sticks have lights around fences and hay bales. I didnsome garland and bows on the gate at the driveway. Cheap but kinda cute.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 01:39 AM (rghSL)

367 There are some impressive inflatable Santa displays in town. Some in the sticks have lights around fences and hay bales. I didnsome garland and bows on the gate at the driveway. Cheap but kinda cute.
Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 01:39 AM (rghSL)

Up by Elnora, there is a burned-out John Deere combine in a field, been sitting there for 2 years. It's all decked out in colorful Christmas lights. And of course the ag dealers in town have tractors and combines all lit up.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 21, 2025 01:42 AM (npFr7)

368 Hubcaps.

pearsonville, hub cap capital of the world, is just up the road from me.

https://tinyurl.com/y7sd39r3

Posted by: anachronda at December 21, 2025 01:42 AM (edU/H)

369 Lights on fences are A Thing around here. I'd continue running strings from the deck to front fence if I had enough lights, LOL. Maybe next year?

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 01:44 AM (rdVOm)

370 Christmas lights used to be so inexpensive, and you could always buy extras at 50- or 75% off after New Year's Day...

Not anymore! Now that every bigbox outfit has a "distribution center" seems they send all their excess seasonal product back into storage for next year, no discounts.

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 01:51 AM (rdVOm)

371 We are far enough from the road that having a lit up display out there is not practical. I keep some colored twinkle lights on the porch year round. No one can see them unless they are in the yard, but they are cheerful.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 01:51 AM (rghSL)

372 Not anymore! Now that every bigbox outfit has a "distribution center" seems they send all their excess seasonal product back into storage for next year, no discounts.

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 01:51 AM (rdVOm)

I found some marked down led lights at Ace hardware a few years ago. 50% off.

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 01:54 AM (rghSL)

373 Out in the barn, I have a box full of brand-new 100-light strings that I got for 90% off at WM in the 90s... like 20 cents each! Think I spent $5. (lots of lights!)

But they are incandescent, so 3 strings max can be connected together and there's only one outdoor outlet here. Bummer.

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 01:57 AM (rdVOm)

374 Thank you JQ, you are the best!

anachronda, I could get lost in Pearsonville just for a day, it looks like an interesting place.

BarelyScaryMary, might I buy you a drink? I am going to look up the card game Golf, it might be fun to play with the kids while they are home.

I am distraught tonight that I cannot find my cannoli filling recipe. I have searched in the usual places and I can't find it. I will make filling but it won't be as good. It is not an old well kept family recipe, but the kids loved them last year.

Posted by: Debby Doberman Schultz at December 21, 2025 01:57 AM (0nHVk)

375 BarelyScaryMary-- 50% off at Ace Hardware, is almost like *regular price* anywhere else!

But thanks for the tip, I will look there after Christmas.

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 01:58 AM (rdVOm)

376 I dunno who's the real suck up. The reindeer hated Rudolph until Santa asked him to guide the sleigh, then "all the reindeer loved him," I'd add, "because they're a bunch of suckups."
Posted by: OrangeEnt at December 20, 2025 10:32 PM (uQesX)

Why didn’t Rudolph tell Santa and the other reindeer “Go fuck yourselves”?

Posted by: Cow Demon at December 21, 2025 01:59 AM (rQwsY)

377 94 Fun fact: The leading cause of housefires in the US is making French Fries at home. The real fries in hot oil. Not those dried model railroad logs you toss on a baking sheet in the oven.
Posted by: Orson at December 20, 2025 10:38 PM (dIske)

I can believe it. My sister nearly burned down the house once doing it that way.

Posted by: Cow Demon at December 21, 2025 02:00 AM (rQwsY)

378
Some of Madurio's henchmen are singing now:
https://is.gd/DjplN3

What I find interesting is they claim Maduro had CIA and US diplomats on his payroll....

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at December 21, 2025 02:05 AM (w6EFb)

379 Oh my gosh, in the olden days people used to go out in the woods and cut down a tree and put actual lighted candles on it on Christmas Eve. Cabin homeowner's insurance must have been a bitch.

Posted by: Debby Doberman Schultz at December 21, 2025 02:07 AM (0nHVk)

380 378: That's because it's plausible.

Posted by: Puddleglum at work at December 21, 2025 02:08 AM (AdHga)

381 Debby, thank you. I would love a drink. We drove to Austin airport tonight and what a mess. My folks made it safely, though, and I'm grateful.

We play Golf with my folks. There are a lot of variations Herer is one:

https://tinyurl.com/ye663fde

Enjoy your family!

Posted by: BarelyScaryMary at December 21, 2025 02:13 AM (rghSL)

382 Past midnight here. Going to call it a night. Be well, Horde.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 21, 2025 02:13 AM (npFr7)

383
And they confirm the drugs were deliberate ploy to destabilize us. This is what the Chicoms are doing. What better way to fuck us than all this drug carnage -- the economic burden, OD deaths and turning a bunch of people into useless junkies.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at December 21, 2025 02:14 AM (w6EFb)

384 Not anymore! Now that every bigbox outfit has a "distribution center" seems they send all their excess seasonal product back into storage for next year, no discounts.
Posted by: JQ

You'd think the cost of shipping (twice), and storage for ~9 months, and taxes, would make the math on that look really bad.

Then again, any brick-and-mortar presence looks like a poor economic choice in the age of Amazon.

Posted by: mikeski at December 21, 2025 02:15 AM (nhCoE)

385 Cutting out Venezuela and Colombia is hurting China.
The European druggie heads of state are getting cut short too.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 21, 2025 02:20 AM (Lvwqi)

386 My state has an "inventory tax"-- other states (where distribution centers are usually located) do not.

So, I guess shipping is cheaper? *shrugs*

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 02:21 AM (rdVOm)

387 Lightning, it's a good one and gets better as it goes.
Lot of energy.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 21, 2025 02:21 AM (Lvwqi)

388 Oh my gosh, in the olden days people used to go out in the woods and cut down a tree and put actual lighted candles on it on Christmas Eve. Cabin homeowner's insurance must have been a bitch.
Posted by: Debby Doberman Schultz
---------

LOL. Not sure "insurance" was a thing, way back when.

I've got to look through the boxes of Mom & Dad's Christmas stuff-- they may have gotten Grandma's antique Christmas tree candle holders.

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 02:27 AM (rdVOm)

389 A link to the lightening would help.

youtube.com/shorts/Mof63JBGgEI

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 21, 2025 02:27 AM (Lvwqi)

390 Gramps had a 14ft ceiling, we filled it with a tree recovered from the forest. It was a family occasion.
Icicles were heavy (lead) there was a technique of tossing them on the tree giving them natural appearance. And angel hair for the Nativity scene.
Is angel hair permitted?

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 21, 2025 02:33 AM (Lvwqi)

391 Thanks for that BarelyScaryMary, when I was in college a friend of mine taught me the card game Russian Banks, we used to play it for hours. The whole family plays Christmas trivia after dinner, it is a lot of fun, my kids have a separate pool of who loses to their schizophrenic uncle, who now has dementia on top of that. It sounds mean, but my kids have learned a lot from their Uncle, and from me. Family is everything.

Posted by: Debby Doberman Schultz at December 21, 2025 02:34 AM (0nHVk)

392 Wow, I remember putting lead 'icicles' on the tree *and* taking them off & carefully putting back in the package after Christmas!

Angel hair...yep. Nice and fluffy. Haven't seen it for sale since, what, the 80s perhaps? At least it wouldn't catch on fire!

Ugh, now I feel itchy. Hahaha.

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 02:37 AM (rdVOm)

393 Bird kills a hyena with one hit.

youtube.com/shorts/27ueRUhQ8tU

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 21, 2025 02:43 AM (Lvwqi)

394 JQ, I have plenty of fiberglass that fell from the ceiling after the tree hit the garage I can ship you some!

Posted by: Debby Doberman Schultz at December 21, 2025 02:45 AM (0nHVk)

395 That comment places RickZ and mindful webworker on the Club ONT VIP list.

Wow. And here I was thinking I was on a top comment blacklist for some reason. Honored!😁

Late very late tonight, and just dropping by to check the post and then fade. Blame the Nutcracker. 50th year here in Small City performing this hallucinatory and politically incorrect extravaganza. A superb performance and a large and appreciative audience.

https://youtu.be/jt3oAyK_IG8

G'nite, y'all.

Posted by: mindful webworker - sugar dreams at December 21, 2025 02:47 AM (WB0Mb)

396 I love reading everyone's fambly stories and holiday experiences!

We had a Norman Rockwell Picture family, when I was little...

Now? It's just me, (what's left of) hubby, & his son who lives far away.

We both have one slightly troubled but well-meaning brother. The rest of his family is gone. The rest of my family is either gone, or libtarded & has cut us off-- except for my older brother who has simply been a textbook narcissist all his life and is unpleasant to be around.

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 02:47 AM (rdVOm)

397 JQ, I have plenty of fiberglass that fell from the ceiling after the tree hit the garage I can ship you some!
Posted by: Debby Doberman Schultz
--------

Oh, no thanks! Got plenty of scrap insulation in the shop, thank you anyway!

Mom used to use angel hair for decorating, when I was little. She stopped because of the itching!

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 02:49 AM (rdVOm)

398 93 Bird kills a hyena with one hit.

youtube.com/shorts/27ueRUhQ8tU

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 21, 2025 02:43 AM (Lvwqi)
----

Comment say it's AI. I don't know, but a lot of these videos are AI.

Posted by: JM in Illinois at December 21, 2025 02:52 AM (eE2iZ)

399 Familiar with that, except for one high achieving wack-a-doodle as far away from here as physically possible and still be in the states.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 21, 2025 02:55 AM (Lvwqi)

400 appreciative audience.

https://youtu.be/jt3oAyK_IG8

G'nite, y'all.
Posted by: mindful webworker - sugar dreams
---

Of course the bass singer has the man bun.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 21, 2025 02:56 AM (Lvwqi)

401 I still kick myself, for not knocking over a likka sto in SF, back in '89-- to buy tickets for The Nutcracker at Concord Pavilion.

Rudolf Nureyev...

Couldn't afford the tickets.

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 03:05 AM (rdVOm)

402 Not sure what was going on, but found the bottom of the page finally

Posted by: Skip at December 21, 2025 03:09 AM (Ia/+0)

403 Well, it's all of 36F outside... woo! Freakin' bikini weather, right?

No wonder Cat wanted in. LOL.

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 03:09 AM (rdVOm)

404 I think the bird clip is AI. Scrolling there are more confrontations that don't jib with anything seen before.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 21, 2025 03:10 AM (Lvwqi)

405 Its below freezing point for sure here

Posted by: Skip at December 21, 2025 03:13 AM (Ia/+0)

406 I am off to bed, kiddos in the morning, brother still in the hospital but it is looking like rehab. Love you Horde, so, so much.

Posted by: Debby Doberman Schultz at December 21, 2025 03:14 AM (0nHVk)

407 Not point in being up yet

Posted by: Skip at December 21, 2025 03:16 AM (Ia/+0)

408 Good night, Debby.

Enjoy your fambly time-- I'm so happy for you!

<3 <3 <3

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 03:16 AM (rdVOm)

409 Haven's soaked my fruit cakes in whiskey yet but it's time to cut a piece, inject it and enjoy.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at December 21, 2025 03:19 AM (Lvwqi)

410 These late night saturday jam sessions are ending later and later. I can finally sit down.

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at December 21, 2025 03:19 AM (snZF9)

411 Funny thing about Cat..

Now that he's older, and realizes that he doesn't *have to* be outside when weather is cold/wet/crappy-- he does stay indoors sometimes. Usually he wakes me at oh-dark-thirty to go back outside.

Last night, he slept *all night* on my electric blanket. House was chilly because it was "clean the pellet stove" day, plus heat was off longer than usual due to my fussing with the truck (dead battery, yadda yadda)

Was kinda cool to not wake up alone for a change.

Posted by: JQ at December 21, 2025 03:22 AM (rdVOm)

Processing 0.06, elapsed 0.0699 seconds.
14 queries taking 0.0173 seconds, 419 records returned.
Page size 209 kb.
Powered by Minx 0.8 beta.