Such things as Republicans are made of.

When I was seven or so, I was invited to a birthday party. It wasn't for one of my friends, but for the younger brother of a friend.

I got a gift, and went to the party.

After the cake and ice cream, the party games, and the giving of the gifts, the party moved into one of those de-focused play and socializing periods that happens at kids' birthday parties.

The mother of the birthday boy was admiring the gift I had given him, and handed it to me to play with for a while. The birthday boy saw this from across the room, dashed over to me, yanked it out of my hand, and screeched at me that it was "MINE!".

That he had been playing with another group of toys in another group of party-goers mattered not at all. He was furious.

When this memory occurred to me not long ago, I thought: "I just bet that motherfucker grew up to be a Republican!"

The worst kind of political correctness

is avoiding the word ‘racist’ because it offends racists.

I'm not transgender, but I'm crying!

He has your back!

My heart goes out to him every time he stumbles a little...

Dr. Biden looking stunning, as usual...

I'm settled in with a gin and tonic to watch President Biden's address to Congress.

Looking forward to the historic moment when he is greeted by two women at the head of the chamber, for the first time in American history. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris.

I'm drinking a plant-based beer tonight.

Damn you, President Biden!

I was so looking forward to a good pork beer.

This malted-barley-with-hops monstrosity just won’t catch on, I’m sure of it...

Just mixed the best White Russian ev-AR!

Smirnoff Whipped Cream-flavored vodka.
J. Brandt Chocolate Liqueur
Cream

Diabetes in a glass? Maybe.

Delicious? Oh my God, yes!


The Dude abides...

Friday Night Buzz Thread is postponed for my wedding anniversary.

Twenty-two years for me and Mrs. Aristus.

What a long, strange trip it has been.

On our wedding day, she was still a self-described conservative Republican and Evangelical Christian.

The only good thing Trump ever did was to complete her transformation into a staunch liberal Democrat. She had been leaning that way since 2008, when the only thing making her hesitate to vote for Barack Obama was the fact that his running mate, a guy named Joe Biden, was Catholic.

She no longer has any such religious hangups; and as a matter of fact, considers herself an agnostic. What Trump did for her politics, 81% of evangelicals did for her religious outlook.

Anyway, my beloved Loungers, I'll be back with the Buzz Thread again soon.

I love you all...

Another sign that things are getting better.

I went to the public library this afternoon for the first time since the pandemic started. I got to experience again the joy of wandering among the shelves, looking for good prospects for checking out.

I actually went there with a mission. I became obsessed with the history of the Byzantine Empire last summer, and immediately ran through both books I have on the subject in my own library. So I went to check out some more on Byzantium. The library has four books; I checked out three of them.

If you don't hear from me, I'm reading...