Maybe so. But he’s a good example of someone getting ‘close’ nationally.

Ross Perot had a shot in 1992 but blew it by promoting conspiracy theories (that may have even been true, who knows) about Republican infiltration at (iirc) his daughters wedding.

And the split in the vote let Bill Clinton beat the incumbent Bush.

The only way a third party takes a seat is when they capture the attention.

Locally, that’s easier. Less people to win over, you get to focus on local accomplishments, etc. But national you need to become the national conversation or too many voters wouldn’t know who you are.

So my wife is actually a vet tech and pulled this on her colleagues a year or so ago, with a bag of “fecal samples” she’d occasionally snack from.

Good prank. Not very good for sales though, best kept for coworkers.

Thank you!

He’s awesome. Always finding weird things to do.

He’s gotten into D&D, plays in two games with me… and started collecting tree bark on his walks, which he makes into rolled up ‘dollops’ and he’s giving them backstory for one of his D&D characters.

So damn weird to find out my dad’s spending his evenings rolling hot, moistened tree bark into tight spirals while making up lore.

Heard of rather than seen it.

My dad started a rumor that a coworker kept jello in her desk. Just mentioned it from time to time and let it be. Time goes by…

One Monday morning he goes in early and reignites the rumor.

When the coworker arrives there’s a crowd outside her office. She’s annoyed and throws open all her desk drawers to prove her innocence… and finds her file drawer full of lime jello, one unpeeled banana in the middle.

If I recall right she laughed until she peed herself.

The drawer was large enough it took my Dad most of Saturday to fill it. And most of the space in our fridge.

Edit: There was also a time my dad and I rented a small trailer and took some stuff to the dump.

I always loved this as we would look around and see if there was anything worth scavenging and bringing home.

But no, nothing interesting.

On the way home I turn to my Dad and say “Let’s tell mom and sis we found a moose head.”

They believed us, we go out to the trailer and I’m opening it slowly to reveal that it’s empty… and a prior renter had spilled some red paint in the bottom.

My sister screams “IT’S STILL BLEEDING” and runs inside.

I could’ve never predicted it would go that well. I’d of course meant a mounted moose head. And this was in Florida, where I’m fairly sure there are no ‘fresh’ moose.

Edit 2:

Thought of one more.

My sister and I are at karate class and my parents pick us up. They got donuts while waiting for us.

When we get home, the dog had taken a crap out on the patio. My dad goes to clean it up and yells “he got into his eye medication! It’s all slimy.”

We go and look and sure enough it’s covered in whitish crud.

My dad picks it up.

“Looks like dog shit.”

sniff

“Smells like dog shit.”

takes a bite

“Tastes like dog shit.”

My sister and I screamed and ran to our rooms as my dad ate his glazed chocolate doughnut, laughing his ass off.

All these pranks were within a year of each other.

She is a woman of color who was a cop and prosecutor when recent events call those first two qualities into question with the latter two.

But this is a time when Democrats, I believe, will say that this is a strong candidate with knowledge of the legal system in a time when we need to strike down right-wing supported terrorism and put the enemies of our nation away.

Let’s see how she campaigns, not that she can lose my vote.

The phrase is Democrats fall in love, Republicans fall in line.

But I don’t think it’s really all that accurate. It’s more like Republicans fall in line, Democrats come to terms with.

And we will.

Also, Biden was not bad at the job. Few had the knowledge of the levers of power to keep shit running with Republican/Sinema/Manchin obstruction.

But he is four years older, and I hope moving to a different candidate works out. Democrats should love a chance to vote for a totally new candidate who keeps most of the same mildly progressive agenda.

But I will say if she doesn’t stick with the plan to reform the Supreme Court I will be extremely disappointed.

To add to this, he had looked up several targets, including Biden. So it was likely as you say, a psychotic break followed by lashing out, rather than a partisan choice.

What SKUmmy behavior.

City of Lost Children, and to a slightly lesser extent, Delicatessen and Amelie, all directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet.

I’ve yet to see worldbuilding as effortless as it is in the first two movies.

Drop you in blind, explain nothing, get very weird, and tell a fantastic story.

I just watched Jupiter Ascending and it didn’t click with me at all. Glad you enjoyed it!

You can always also get a cheaper sentimental ring and go out ring shopping together for the official one.

That way you keep the surprise and she gets the ring she wants, plus another ring and a nice memory.

Yes! You’ll see that other parts of the house look dirty and just dust a little, put a few things away, organize…

It’s surprisingly effective to have a little robot buddy!

Oh hell yes.

I work from home, in the basement. Getting a roomba meant I didn’t have to vacuum, but I did have to pick stuff up off the floor.

So now one 15 minute break is tidying and starting the vacuum. The next is cleaning the vacuum out and organizing dishes, while a third is doing the dishes and sometimes minor dinner prep.

My wife gets to come home to a clean house and I get to do it all on the clock so it’s done when I’m done with work. Total life changer.

Humanity is a lost cause. Still worth fighting for.

Anything with George Guidall.

He has a deep, resonant voice. I don’t know how else to describe it, but it’s very comforting.

He has done probably hundreds of audiobooks but one series I remember him doing was The Cat Who… line of mysteries. Very lightweight but fun books.

I was on a MUD (old multi-player internet text rpg) called Three Kingdoms when Princess Diana died. Over a hundred people online at the time from all over the world.

It was a huge shock for everyone, followed by a strange communal grieving for a well-known and liked international figure.

I totally get where you’re coming from but wanted to put the counterpoint, as obvious as it was.

She was caring for those who nobody else could for at that time, and to generally good effect day to day.

I’ve worked in group homes and know of the challenges you face in serving those who aren’t all that stable.

Just would never have advocated for that solution for anyone really. All that is said with historical knowledge and such.

Yours was a good post.

She was trying her best with that she had and knew at the time, even if she overreacted in the end, to terrible effect.

And forced a sane but disruptive man through a disabling procedure?

No. She went way the hell too far so she could protect her little kingdom and stay in power. She was not concerned with helping her charges improve their lot in life.