Backtalk: A Medium Place
Sunday, January 31, 2021
Sunday evening already
At the moment, all I can think about is the mac'n'cheese meal kit I picked up today to put together tomorrow at lunch. It comes with salsa verde, and it's the most amazing thing.
 |
| This isn't quite what the kit looks like, but close enough. |
This summer on a kayak trip, I tried spicing up my campsite kraft dinner (what box mac'n'cheese is called in Canada) with a little bbq jerky (soy jerky) and some cherry tomatoes. Also an excellent combination! So basically I've got cheese and noodles on the brain. What are your favourite dress-ups and variations for a nice, comforting dinner of macaroni and cheese?
Also this is happening, and I don't think we've discussed it yet.
Surely, this is the darkest, pinkest timeline.
The Photo Gallery
It’s your weekly Photo Gallery! Come on in, take a look at what people have been up to over the past week and share some of your own photos.
They don’t need to be taken with a fancy camera or works of art. Share any SFW photos you’ve taken with even the poorest of potatoes. Of course we love to see that arty stuff too.
Saturday, January 30, 2021
American History Must Be Preserved & Defended Even As Unrelenting Efforts Continue to Try To Erase It – In Memoriam for Miss Cicely & OT
I’m a decent aggregator but there is always going to be someone who writes more eloquently about what she meant to more than one generation of people whom she made feel seen, in a hostile climate where unrelenting efforts were (and continue to be) made to eradicate all positive images of those same people
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/29/opinions/cicely-tyson-game-changing-actress-ifilll/index.html
Some many only know Miss Cicely from her pantheon of Tyler Perry movies (even as they don’t know that he would regularly double or triple the rate she was paid for each of his movies, once he learned she’d been paid next to nothing for Sounder, where her performance secured her her first Oscar nomination).
But
there will be a list and trailer for her not-to-be missed performances in
comments … as well as a link for her book, which came out just before she
passed.
Shark-Kiss Saturday Away Day (with added rude bits)
It's the last day of Kiss A Shark Week. Guess they can bite now. Due to the pandemic National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Week is cut down to one day only. It's National Escape Day - which you might need observing Yodel At Your Neighbors Day. Croissant Day should be safe. It's also Inane Answering Message Day.
Friday, January 29, 2021
Friday Evening Open Thread
Good evening. How goes your nose flute?
This is Leia. She turned a squeaker toy into a nose flute and would like to play a few notes for you. She’s still learning so please be nice. 14/10 pic.twitter.com/dUc493g6M3
— WeRateDogs® (@dog_rates) January 25, 2021
Fur Face Friday
Happy Friday, everyone, and welcome to the gathering of Fur Faces!
Last week, our pets mimicked our mood by being extra cute. I am here to share some highlights, but you can revisit them all here.
In case you're new here, favorites are chosen by one of the Snout Selectors (facw, k2b, Hannibal, leahaven, Iroqdemic, and myopicprophet), entirely on our own whimsy. WHIMSY! However, in the interest of solidarity, we try to select one dog picture and one cat picture (minimum!) each week. Other pets will also, of course, be considered. We love all your rats, bunnies, ferrets, and other furry, feathery, and finny pals. WE WILL NEVER DISCRIMINATE AGAINST CUTE.
Wildlife Show demonstrates power of going Green
The Beeb's Natural History Unit has scored a first by running an entire episode of Winterwatch on renewable fuel. They ditched the normal diesel generators used for outdoor broadcasting for a hydrogen power unit, avoiding 3.3 tonnes of carbon emissions.
Friday Morning Open Thread
I'm really enjoying the recent GameStop shenanigans.
Everyone right now pic.twitter.com/g2IM9Iy1jr
— The New Fill Werrell (@TheEpicDept) January 27, 2021
Thursday, January 28, 2021
Thursday evening open thread
For a bit of a change of pace, how about these properties for BalkTalk Village? I figure we could buy a couple of villas in the countryside, or palazzos in Venice, share them out, and declare BalkTalk Village a sovereign Village within Italy. We could get private boats too, that can be docked in our private docks at canal level, if we settle in Venice.
Featuring the world's youngest real estate agent.
Blaurgh!Talk
Thursday Morning Open Thread!
This may or may not have been my internal reaction when I read the email at the end of the day that said I have to sit in on a conference call about printers and the call closing process on those printers when neither I, or any of my local co workers work on said printers. Corporate America at it again.
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
Wednesday Evening Oh Tee
Welcome to Another Wednesday, Folks
I hope life is treating everyone ok. What's going on in your part of the planet?
Cow says, "Mooo." What say you?
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Tis the OTnth of Tuesday
We’ve come back around to Tuesday again
Hi there! Good morning BackTalk. What’s spinning around in your world?
Monday, January 25, 2021
The people who were sacrificed for this Brave New World weren't always human
And I look down on Man's little earth, sitting there quietly, wondering what it's worth.
Monday Evening Open Thread
Had a couple of sleepless nights last week and it seems my body is still trying to catch up. Was sleepy and undermotivated all day. So I got nothin' for you tonight, dear Balkers, just my sleepy and undermotivated presence. Have at it in the comments, folks. Help me wake up.
What’s the value in that?
Hello! It’s that time of the week again. Each Monday, there’s a new theme to discuss and debate. I want you to chime in with your opinions!
Monday OT: Last Try From Me
Sunday, January 24, 2021
Sunday Evening OT
How's it going everyone? I found this video for a DUAN, and I've been watching it every since. Nothing like a Muppet to lift the spirits.
HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY MRSFINCH!
finchie's birthday was the 22nd, and I missed it!
(I couldn't find a video of "happy birthday finches", but a parrot is close, right? Right?)
The Photo Gallery
It’s your weekly Photo Gallery! Come on in, take a look at what people have been up to over the past week and share some of your own photos.
They don’t need to be taken with a fancy camera or works of art. Share any SFW photos you’ve taken with even the poorest of potatoes. Of course we love to see that arty stuff too.
Sunday Morning Open Thread
HUGE thank you to good Samaritan who rescued young Great Horned #Owl caught in soccer net & brought to PAWS Wildlife Center. PAWS team untangled her from netting & rehabilitated until strong enough to release. First photo courtesy Mercer Island Reporter. .@PAWStweets 🦉 pic.twitter.com/6KX8AAxQr7
— Kris Tsujikawa (@kris0723) January 24, 2021
I'm already sad my vacation week is over. Dammit Lottery! Can't you just cut me a couple million so I could stop having to drag myself into work.
Saturday, January 23, 2021
Lyndon Johnson & *His* Rolex: Representation in Fashion Instead of Systemic White Supremacist Exclusion from Opportunity
From “zero to Dijon mustard and tan suits” in the mainstream press literally only took three days
I
empathize with anybody who’s had whiplash trying to absorb and maintain joy from
the brilliance of Youth Poet Laureate (at 16!) Amanda Gorman and the stunning representative
fashion we saw not even four days ago
https://www.instagram.com/sergiohudson/
at the same time we have to worry about cancelled appointments because of vaccine shortages (anybody who has evidence that Jared Kushner sold the missing doses on the black market and cut Azar in so he wouldn’t talk, please move to the front with all due speed) and whether or not either Biden’s TOTALLY CORRUPT Predecessor OR the white nationalist domestic terrorists are going to face ANY consequences … while peaceful protestors from both George Floyd’s murder and FERGUSON still languish in jail.
The
nation has a choice.
Despite some gentle exhortations, I was reluctant to do a whole fashion post because so many who arguably do it better & also have mainstream visibility already did it (I haven’t seen Robyn Givhan weigh in yet, so if anybody has a piece from her, please post!).
But
there will be highlights.
Scribble something cat-like for Saturday ✒🖋✏🖊
Any poor little kittens who have lost their mittens will not be allowed to have any pie. Not sure I can remember how that goes, but it is National Pie Day. Snake and Pigmy all round? It is also National Handwriting Day, Local Quilt Shop Day, and Measure Your Feet Day. And Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day. How does that work?
Friday, January 22, 2021
Friday Evening Open Thread
Good evening. It seems there's a field guide for everything.
— Sardonicus (@RealSardonicus) January 15, 2021
Please carry on with your own cultural fringe this Friday night.
Fur Face Friday
Welcome to the first Fur Face Friday of the Biden/Harris administration!
The first shelter First Dog Major has been indogrunated and is ready to bring fur faces back to The White House.
Let's check out last week's post for some more all-American and worldwide Fur Faces!
In case you're new here, favorites are chosen by one of the Snout Selectors (facw, k2b, Hannibal, leahaven, Iroqdemic, and myopicprophet), entirely on our own whimsy. WHIMSY! However, in the interest of solidarity, we try to select one dog picture and one cat picture (minimum!) each week. Other pets will also, of course, be considered. We love all your rats, bunnies, ferrets, and other furry, feathery, and finny pals. WE WILL NEVER DISCRIMINATE AGAINST CUTE.
Friday Morning Open Thread
My tiny house video obsession has moved on to a tiny house in a van videos. My new favorite is this guy who decided to go to Sweden for the winter instead of Portugal for some reason. I'm thinking it's rona related but I haven't had a chance to go back and watch old videos to find out.
Thursday, January 21, 2021
Something something Thursday evening open thread
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE USIANS ON YOUR NEW PRESIDENT (a real one this time!), and VICE PRESIDENT!!!
Sooo my payment to the power company is well and truly in the wind, so I've gone to my bank, and they've opened an investigation into where it went, and how to get it back. Which will take a couple of weeks. *headdesk* I won't be proceeding with the electrical upgrade and new heating system until I get my money back, and can figure out what went wrong.
Thursday Morning Open Thread
Morning everybody! I will freely admit that I almost forgot to do this, but remembered just before bed time. Wasn't for the last minute nothing would be done I guess.
Wednesday, January 20, 2021
Wednesday Evening OT
The Happiest of Wednesdays to You All!
Such a momentous day! I'm sure the whole world has been holding its breath in anticipation.
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
This clip by Ryan L. of Pacific Offshore Expeditions captured some sea lions riding huge waves near Santa Barbara Island, California [source, IG @pacificoffshore: https://t.co/lPisuKWSpH] pic.twitter.com/4IhM0LD5BS
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) January 18, 2021
Tuesday Evening Open Thread
Monday, January 18, 2021
Monday Evening Open Thread
It's Blue Monday!
Actually, it's Blue Monday Evening. How was your Blue Monday? Was it really blue? Or was it just another Monday? It seems unfair to Dr King that he has to share his day with a day described as the most depressing one on the calendar.
Me, I will be celebrating a Blue Friday as I have a birthday coming up and it is one that is giving me trouble. Last year was a milestone birthday of sorts, and this year is ... I'll put it this way: last year's birthday was the top of the hill, and this year's birthday puts me over the hill IMHO. We can't even celebrate properly because of the pandemic, so it will probably just be me and Ma Finch sending for pizza. She offered to make me the dinner of my choice but I don't want her going shopping for ingredients, so I said we'll do something later in the year, when with any luck things will be safer. But it made me think: what was a really good year? I remember the year I turned 22 was a really good year. I quit smoking and I went to England and I made new friends and just had a whale of a time that year. The year I turned 40 was the year I went to Malta, and the year I turned 50 was the year I went to Costa Rica, so those were also good years. But the year I turned 30 was the worst: that was the year I survived knee surgery, the near-amputation of a finger, severe food poisoning and a house fire. BEWARE THE IDES OF 30.
What was your best year so far? What made it great?
Hey, you’re getting good at this...
It’s time for another installment of Parley Vous Mondays, where each week everyone can chime in with their own different opinions.
Sunday, January 17, 2021
Radio Free Sunday
Welcome to your evening OT. "What's going on in some of the rest of the world?" I heard you ask.
“Better not to ask where the meat came from”: Stalin-themed kebab shop in Moscow shut down after being open for just one day. https://t.co/6yApfibJnB
— Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (@RFERL) January 12, 2021
Four human rights organizations are calling for immediate support for nearly 2,500 refugees, migrants, and asylum seekers who remain without basic shelter in dire winter conditions in Bosnia-Herzegovina. https://t.co/qfRpJEhHuU
— Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (@RFERL) January 12, 2021
I'm excited to see if I've embedded these tweets correctly. I haven't tried it before.His expected return sets the stage for a potentially dramatic new showdown between the Kremlin and Navalny, one of President Vladimir Putin's most outspoken foes. https://t.co/XU2b26TjA6
— Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (@RFERL) January 17, 2021
How'd the weekend go?
The Photo Gallery
It’s your weekly Photo Gallery! Come on in, take a look at what people have been up to over the past week and share some of your own photos.
They don’t need to be taken with a fancy camera or works of art. Share any SFW photos you’ve taken with even the poorest of potatoes. Of course we love to see that arty stuff too.
Saturday, January 16, 2021
Living on A Rollercoaster – 100 Hours If We Can Make It – Saturday Night OT
Some
of the worst news I’ve heard in just the past three days is that the MyPillow
Guy showed up at the WH and one of the WaPo photographers got a look at his
notes, which included phrases like “blame the Chinese” and “martial law”, and
that Rudy showed up (which I’m thinking means he has to at least suspect he’s
going to get charged by the real non-crooked Feds with something, and he’s
angling for a pardon, since he KNOWS he’s not gonna get paid because 45 already
stiffed him but if he’d checked with any of the
“little people” at any point where he was angling for a THIRD TERM as “New
York’s mayor”, according to Pataki’s book, he would have already known Donald
ALWAYS stiffs his contractors).
Some
of the *best* news, though, is that Vice President Kamala Harris is going to be
sworn in by Justice Sonia Sotomayor using SCOTUS Justice Thurgood Marshall’s
Bible.
Also,
it is Lin Manuel Miranda’s birthday today, and it will be Rev Dr. Martin Luther
King’s birthday on Monday.
So.
Here
we are.