It’s been a long, long road.
While they continued to write and talk, we saw the wounded and the dying. — Erich Maria Remarque, “All Quiet on the Western Front”
I didn’t have much to say on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and a decade further on down the road I feel even less inclined to hold forth on the topic. A bunch of people got dead, maimed, or insane; another bunch got rich, famous, and powerful; and the rest of us went shopping.
Did we learn anything from the attacks and what Charlie Pierce calls “our blind, feral response?” Doubtful. We check the rear view every 10 years or so, but that’s just reflexive, like glancing at a TV as you pass.
Anything good on? Nahhhhhhh. Same ol’, same ol’. Hey, who wants to go to the mall?
Tags: 9/11, All Quiet on the Western Front, Charles P. Pierce, Tom Waits
Mad Blog Media 
September 11, 2021 at 10:35 am |
I also have nothing to say on this day of anger. But, I will go to the guitar shop with you.
September 11, 2021 at 10:58 am |
I am mowing the terrorist grasses. It will cost trillions, and they will come back.
September 11, 2021 at 11:22 am |
I washed the car. What is it about the smell of freshly cut grass, you know, the green kind you mow?
September 11, 2021 at 11:28 am |
I haven’t washed the ’Roo lately, but I did take her down to the Subie shop for the twice-annual once-over on Thursday. Threw a bike in the back and made an adventure out of it. Thirty-five miles with a fair amount of climbing and the traditional headwind in all directions.
Heading back to pick it up — oof. 96° and late-afternoon auto traffic. The Fear, etc. Nothing like that itching between the shoulder blades every time you hear some impatient sort revving his engine.
September 11, 2021 at 1:23 pm |
We will repeat ourselves. But we will be somebody else when we do it again.
In the mean time I will keep my ranting to myself and go out for a ride. I’d drive up for a nice forest hike but there is enough car exhaust out there today.
September 11, 2021 at 2:00 pm |
I’m wondering how we got so doubleplus fucked up in the last 20 years. When Dubya looks good compared to todays Elefinks, you kinda scratch your head and wonder if this is a hangover headache or just a nightmare.
September 11, 2021 at 2:27 pm |
“a hangover headache or just a nightmare”
Not either of those. I fear it was a plan, and GWB didn’t have a clue.
September 12, 2021 at 8:07 am |
I’m always thinking, “Well, at least it can’t get any worse than this.” Nixon, Reagan, Poppy, Dubya, Orange Julius Caesar, et al. But there’s always a new low lurking around the corner.
September 12, 2021 at 11:22 am |
Yep, like a nightmare. The newest new low is in Florida.
September 13, 2021 at 10:18 am |
What, you got something against Texas?
The one photo I saw of the signers of their new abortion law was comprised of all men. White ones, too. Imagine that.
September 13, 2021 at 3:37 pm
As long as I’m alive I won’t spend one single tourist penny in Tex-ass or Floradumb. Any states that would elect buttheads like theirs deserves far more pain than my boycott. However it does look like global warming might thin out their ranks
September 14, 2021 at 10:36 am
Well, every time I drove across Texas, from El Paso to Texarkana, I thought I should stop and play taxes after being in the state for so long a time. And, if you really want to experience a groundhog day, stop in Van Horn, TX for the night. Move along, nothing to see here.
But, Texas did produce this:
September 15, 2021 at 2:02 am
Texas is a pain in the ass but there sure are a lot of great people down there. I’m proud to call a few of them my friends. I can imagine what they think of the current pot of Chili con caca they have down there now.
I do believe though, that on my next visit to Texas I’m going to place a large sign in the back of my van that says “This van may be transporting an expectant mother to visit her out-of-state doctor”. Actually as I now recall, the last time I left Texas I had a sign in the back of my Nissan truck camper shell that said “Don’t like the president elect? Blame Florida”. You can work out the numbers as to when I last visited Texas.
September 13, 2021 at 1:18 pm |
This is one of my favorite Pat Oliphant cartoons, from his tenure at The Denver Post, which back then was a real newspaper.
• Click here for a larger version.
September 11, 2021 at 3:44 pm |
yeah, a bike ride and a nap. i made the chipotle honey chicken yesterday and had it for lunch after the ride. i had it over rice instead of taco shaped. pretty darned yummy.
September 11, 2021 at 4:19 pm |
That is pretty tasty, isn’t it? It’s good in corn tortillas and flour, or over rice or pasta. I haven’t used the pickled onions ’cause Herself is not a fan, but some diced avocado goes pretty good with ’em too.
Pierre Franey’s turkey chili is another good one if you’re pressed for time. I halve the recipe, but keep the full jalapeño and use 2 tablespoons of ground red chile, one mild, one hot. Also, all dark meat, no white. If I have celery I use it, and if I don’t, I don’t. Doesn’t seem to have a great effect on the taste either way.
Serve it up over rice with some blue corn chips and grated white cheddar and you’re good to go.