Open Thread 9-29-16: The Openest! A Bit of Nothing

(hey, what's with the photo editor? is it me? I can't upload the open thread photo)

Shaz and I split the Thursday Open Thread. Whoever's not as busy gets to do it. Well we're both busy now!

She's been dealing with tax stuff. I'm really grateful to her for that. I just want to run and hide. Meanwhile I'm working. I freelance, working on these surveys. A lot of them are regular marketing things like "what do you think about this soft drink?" but I'm also doing a lot of ballot stuff. Some of that consists of ballot measures, some of it is for political candidates.

Well, as you can imagine, as we get closer to Election Day the stress level goes up, everyone wants results NOW because there's less and less time to use the information. That means I've got to get these projects ready to roll so I can wrap up my reports as soon as possible after the final data arrives.

I'd love to discuss these with you but I can't. Non-disclosure and all.

My point is that since both shaz and I are freaking (may I use that word?) busy there won't be a regular themed OT today. I like to do music, she likes to do art. Feel free to add some of each while you discuss what's on your mind. And I do mean free. Anything goes in this one! Hillary's eyeballs, Brazil's political scene, Aleppo, Charlotte, the trouble with kids, the trouble with geezers. Whatever is on your mind!

One of us will be back next week with something more entertaining. Perhaps I'll tell you about my own campaign for Vice-President of the Student Council. That was rewarding...but that'll be next week or the one after.

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a perfectly acceptable word.
I think Battlestar Galactica was particularly prescient using the word " fracking" as an expletive.

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There is no such thing as TMI. It can always be held in reserve for extortion.

OLinda's picture

everybody. Thanks for the OT, Shahryar.

It's supposed to be good to be busy. Hmmm. Idle hands and all, you know.

Not much happening here today. Finally cooling off.

Have a great day, everyone.

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Thanks for still making us a priority and giving us such a fun and free OT.

I checked out the image loader. There does appear to be a bit of a hitch in its git-along. Clicking wildly did produce some results. Biggrin

indigineous_1.jpg

Handsome fellow, eh? Bet he had some great art and music.

Indigenous Australians most ancient civilisation on Earth, DNA study confirms

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

Lily O Lady's picture

civilization is still busy destroying nature. I know who I think is more civilized and it isn't found in the Western Hemisphere.

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"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"

enhydra lutris's picture

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Raggedy Ann's picture

I just wanted to alert you to Shaun King's new endeavor, the Injustice Boycott. I've joined and I hope many of you here join, as well. Let's make a statement! http://www.injusticeboycott.com/

Good Afternoon from Brooklyn,

First and foremost, thank you for signing up for the Injustice Boycott. As I write this, 67,501 of us from all 50 states (and countries all over the world) have signed up to say that we are ready to put our money where our mouth is on injustice in America.

That so many of us have taken this single simple step is a form of protest in and of itself.

Our protests have made the entire world aware of police brutality and racial violence in the United States, but the question I hear over and over again is how do we go from mass awareness to substantive change?

Our protests must continue, our trending topics must continue, our organizing and activism must continue, but on top of all of that, it's time that we show cities, states, and corporations that if they don't make serious, substantive reforms on the issues that matter to us, we will do what we see happening right now in North Carolina in response to the anti-LGBT bill they passed - HB2. I called for this very type of boycott last week in the New York Daily News.

In response to that bill, the state is losing tens of millions of dollars as concerts and events are canceled, the NCAA removes bowl and championship games, conferences are rescheduled, the NBA moved the All-Star Game, and so much more.

It started, though, with people making it clear that they've had enough and that they were going to make sure their dollars matched their passion.

On December 5th, 2016 we are going to launch a nationwide boycott of the cities, states, and corporations which continue to stand in the way of reasonable, meaningful, practical reforms for police brutality and racial injustice in this country. We chose that date, because it is the anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott which launched on that date in 1955 and continued for 381 amazing days until they won!

I BELIEVE THAT WE WILL WIN!

But it's going to take at least 3 things:

1. More of us. Please invite everyone you know to join us @ InjusticeBoycott.com.

2. The best plan we've ever had for such a boycott in the 21st century.

3. An unflinching, unwavering committment. Our boycott will not be for a day, or a weekend, but for as long as it takes to make change happen.

Tomorrow, I am going to publicly announce a very basic framework for our boycott. We will not yet name cities, states, or corporations - because we want the entire nation to know that they might be called out by us if they don't take police brutality and injustice seriously. It's important that we hold those cards close to our chest until we launch.

Together, we can do this. Together, we are strong. Together, we are going to make the changes happen that we know are possible.

I'll email you the framework tomorrow.

Be Courageous!

Shaun King

Senior Justice Writer, NY Daily News

Have a beautiful day! Pleasantry

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Lesser of evil and all that. If endorsed is too strong a word, he certainly plans to vote for her. Maybe his boycott should have started there.

Don't mean to be difficult, RA. I certainly support criminal justice reform from the streets of Baltimore to the Department of State. I just have a really hard time supporting people who are voting for Hillary.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

Raggedy Ann's picture

I don't think you're being difficult. You are expressing your opinion about his decision to vote her heinous. I am unaware of this but it doesn't matter to me. If he is frightened to the point of voting for her, that's what his conscience dictates, not mine. I do, however, support the boycott and the effort he is putting forth in that end. I think it is an avenue in the right direction. Smile

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

open to joining together on an issue by issue basis. They "divide and rule." We must unite to make them rule better.

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Damnit Janet's picture

maybe SK wants to be "brought to heel" by her majesty.

Too bad he isn't voting for someone like Stein.

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"Love One Another" ~ George Harrison

riverlover's picture

So I be a sheep and follow you. We must use any means available to fight back, any experiment large-scale is worth the effort.

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

Raggedy Ann's picture

I be a sheep and follow my daughter, who provided me with the link and the opportunity. Smile

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

earthling1's picture

involves making Police Pension Funds responsible for all adverse judgments against police brutality. Furthermore, police unions should be held accountable for not policing their own ranks. They all took an oath to protect the citizenry from the monsters among us. That includes the monsters in their own ranks.
Those "good" cops who don't speak up are failing their oath.
Will join though. Thanks for the post.
End rant.

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Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

Raggedy Ann's picture

They all took an oath to protect the citizenry from the monsters among us.

A better way to phrase it is: They all took an oath to protect the 15 among us from the people, who are the true monsters trying to make them live in a more equitable society.

Or something along that vein. Unknw

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

earthling1's picture

To every good cop out there; If you see something- say something!

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Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

GreatLakeSailor's picture

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Compensated Spokes Model for Big Poor.

shaharazade's picture

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M1K3L's picture

That made me LOL so loudly it disturbed the neighbor's cat! Thanks, I needed that.

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"There’s nothing revolutionary about a movement that retreats into an endorsement of the lesser of two evils." Scott McLarty @ CounterPunch

GreatLakeSailor's picture

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Compensated Spokes Model for Big Poor.

mimi's picture

'Amanda Knox' Doc Sets Record Straight on Infamous 2007 Murder - Original interviews and sober discussion of evidence make new Netflix documentary a must-see

Well, I couldn't read this to the end, I consider it so far another attempt of a film maker to exploit the unavoidable need of people to make sure they stay in the lime light of cameras. I know, I am at the end of the road of being "understanding".

"Google the name Amanda Knox and you get 7.1 million hits," says Knox in Amanda Knox, a riveting new Netflix documentary that uses exclusive interviews with the key players involved to illustrate the chain of events that led a seemingly normal girl from Seattle to becoming one of the most hated women in the world.
...
The filmmakers suggest the answer lies in the thin line separating hearsay and gossip from actual news. "I really think there is a connection between the way [this case] began to blur the line between soft and hard news in today's media landscape," explains Brian McGinn, whose interest in making the film had less to do with splitting legal hairs and everything to do with how this story became so out of control.

Ack, I can't read this. I guess I won't watch the docu. May be one of you will do. So, there is the link. I am busy too now and will go.

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skod's picture

of "Fred" from one of my favorite guitarists, Allan Holdsworth, backed by Alan Pasqua, Jimmy Haslip, and Chad Wackerman on drums- for no other reason than I just freakin' can. There is no political content in this post: nothing to see here, move along...

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Big Al's picture

Trump, someone who some people on the left are still defending as someone who might not be as bad as Clinton.

"I had witnessed Donald Trump tell managers many times while he was visiting the club that restaurant hostesses were 'not pretty enough' and that they should be fired and replaced with more attractive women," Hayley Strozier, who was director of catering at the club until 2008, said in a sworn declaration."

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-wanted-less-attractive-wome...

He's been in the news about his remarks about "fat" women. This is a misogynist of the highest order. Not only that, what kind of man would want someone fired because of how they looked. That someone might be a single mother struggling to pay for food and rent for herself and two young children. That someone might be a mother working two jobs to care for her son who has muscular dystrophy.

That's a cruel man, someone I would spit on. Someone I have zero respect for. And that goes for ANYONE that votes for him.

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Lily O Lady's picture

every bit as bad as Clinton in his own special way. We are screwed either way.
Edited to add "in his own special way."

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"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"

lunachickie's picture

And for the record, not voting for Hillary is not a vote for Trump.

No, you didn't say that, it's more to address the notion that all people who vote Trump are as godawful as he is. Maybe those people are more scared of Her Heinous? Damned if they don't have as good a fucking reason to be scared.

Which is why I'm voting Green. I would like very much to see more people vote for Stein, or even Johnson, rather than vote for Trump "to stop Hillary" or vice-versa. That's why any number of people on a given day will tell you that's the ONLY reason they're voting for Trump. That doesn't make them all sexist assholes.

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hecate's picture

fears and hates women, including the women he selects as accessories, accessories like his shoes, his ties, his cuff links, his hair-thing; he hates and fears them like he fears and hates Muslims, and Mexicans, and "the blacks," and people with detectable brain activity; for all persons with detectable brain activity, they will burn at the stake, rather than cast a vote for him.

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CS in AZ's picture

Al, if you believe this type of thing is the slightest bit unusual, I'm surprised. Of course it's awful, but let's not kid ourselves that Trump is unique or worse than other business owners in this way.

The rule, either explicit or implicit, that only young, thin, attractive women (who are willing to be put on display for these traits) get hired for certain jobs is ubiquitous, especially for waitresses, receptionists, sales, etc. in many businesses and work environments. One of my favorite restaurants here, because it has great food, has every hostess and waitress wearing short-shorts and tank tops, and I don't think I've seen one over age 25 at most. They obviously only hire young women who look good in that outfit and don't mind being on display. I have actually stopped going there because of this, but it's pretty typical.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending Trump for his blatant sexism. I just find it strange if anyone thinks he's especially egregious about it, when that type of behavior and 'standards' for hiring and employing women (and men in some places) is business as usual. Maybe being an older, not thin, not model-beautiful woman has made it more obvious to me, but I just don't find this remotely surprising. Trump ran beauty pageants! Of course he's a shallow asshole about women and appearance.

I won't go into all the ways I feel that Hillary is anti-women, anti-feminist and setting us back with her nepotistic grab for the presidency on her rapist-husband's coattails or the women she walked over and squashed on her way.

Again in the which-is-worse competition, it looks like a toss up -- but personally I still find Hillz more offensive because of her phoniness. Trump is an open and blatant sexist. True. But Hillary is setting herself up as a false goddess for all womankind. That really pisses me off big time.

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hecate's picture

eight-year-old boys, The Hairball suffers from vaginal trypophobia: fear of the vagina. All of The Hairball's public utterances about vaginas, they express fear, loathing, contempt. Thus, when The Mad Bomber needed to use the restroom during a pause in a debate, The Hairball, he writhed in horror: "I know where she went—it's disgusting, I don't want to talk about it. No, it's too disgusting. Don't say it, it's disgusting." When a Mean Girl, she refused to appropriately acknowledge his godhood, The Hairball was riven with terrifying visions of "blood coming out of her wherever." And, when The Hairball sought the ultimate putdown, of Zed Crud, because Crud had declined to endorse waterboarding, and various and sundry other tortures that give The Hairball's micropenis a little mini-boner, The Hairball publicly derided Crud as "a pussy."

A while back was a client, who, among his many other tattoos, had one on his back that read: "Heel Your Bitch." What, I asked him, is that about? He looked at me like I was bone-ignorant. "You know," he said, exasperated, "heel your bitch. Like, sometimes, you'll be walking, and your bitch, she'll try to walk right up next to you? Instead of behind you? Which is where the bitch belongs? Well, then, you need to heel your bitch."

That client, was The Hairball.

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Big Al's picture

Just that people like him who act and think that way are low level creatures that I give no respect. I wasn't born yesterday, I know how prevalent thinking like that is, like racism and xenophobia, but Trump is running for president, might very well be the next president, and anyone that votes for him is a sexist pig just like him.
I don't really temper my criticism anymore. It's like if the shoes fits thing.

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lunachickie's picture

because they seriously--and rightfully--fear Hillary Clinton's proclivity to wage bloody war that they don't want their own flesh and blood to be slaughtered in--they're sexist pigs? Allrightie then....

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Big Al's picture

never done that before but always the first time. Smile My point above was more that he's not just a sexist pig, he's mean, heartless, cruel and a bully. Just the kind of people I detest most.
But I don't really buy that Trump would be any different with U.S. imperialism when all is said and done. So voting for Trump from that perspective probably won't do people much good.

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Cachola's picture

with a similar sentiment but regarding those who support That Clinton Woman. It is one thing to vote for her because the Hairball as president is totally unacceptable to you and to honestly believe she is the lesser of two evils, but to enthusiastically embrace her? I am thinking specifically about female friends who I have known for decades. These are not your run of the mill democrats, these are women I have thought of as revolutionary Latinas, human rights supporters, who have lost all perspective at the idea of having the first woman president. Honestly, I don't think I can talk to any of them right now. For now I just delete their posts on Facebook. I don't think our friendship.could survive any closer interaction. Right now I am not even sure I want them as friends.

Edited to correct typos.

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Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur.

Shahryar's picture

my general outlook on life is to appreciate people for the things that we might have in common. In some instances I might learn from others that I disagree with....but, ahem, that's rare.

I used to golf and I'd end up playing with people I probably wouldn't want to have anything to do with off the course. But we'd find common interests and it would be pleasant enough. We'd just ignore our differences.

Now about our friends, well if we stopped being friends because of any disagreement we'd end up with no friends at all. Especially if we let politics into the discussion. I've got friends who are currently temporarily insane. That's how I have to look at it. If I can enjoy being with these people all the time....except when the election comes up, then I'm going to just not worry about them until after Nov. whatever day that is. I'm sure I'll see them before but I'm not going to bring it up. I know what they're saying, they know what I'm saying.

But I know what you mean about wondering whether you can be friends. I've subdivided the Hillary voters into "afraid of Trump", "rooting for a woman" and "I didn't know they were this dumb". I would still, after November, invite those in the first two groups over. That third group, though....ee-yow!

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gulfgal98's picture

I must be a live and let live person. I have found that friends with whom I may disagree politically can be wonderful and caring people otherwise. Instead of drawing a line in the sand, I concentrate on their other good qualities. One thing I learned from doing the Peace vigils is trying to find commonality. Judging sets us apart. Reaching out on common ground can bring us together. That was one of the things I think Bernie did well in his campaign. He reached out to everyone on a common ground. That is probably the thing that scared the oligarchs the most, the uniting of people. The establishment survives on dividing us. If we ever come together, we can be a force to be reckoned with.

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Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

Cachola's picture

Pro Puerto Rican independence since my teens that's how I have lived, but these are women in my inner circle since god was young. The one that has gone most cuckoo over Hillary? We used to fix our families' dinner together and fill up the tub, throw in all our kids. We fed and washed whichever kid was closest, there was no we'll deal with our own.

And it's not like she does not know of the blood-thirsty, warmongering mad bomber ways, but for her it's more important that Trump called someone piggy. (Not that this is not outrageous, don't get me wrong, and I can imagine how that attitude towards women will reflect on his governing but to me it pales when I see the photos of dead children, other civilisns and whole countries torn to shreds.)

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Mundus vult decipi, ergo decipiatur.

Shahryar's picture

along the lines of "I know of all her flaws but there's something visceral about a woman being elected..."

She's their war criminal. I suppose I can understand that. But let's see....what group do I belong to? Lefties? They're no better, obviously. Musicians? I wouldn't get all emotional and want Ted Nugent elected anything.

So I guess, on second thought, I can understand it but I can't really understand it.

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gulfgal98's picture

We finally got some "cooler"weather here in western NC this morning with lows in the upper 40's and the highs in the mid 70's. It made this morning's walk really pleasant. Sadly by mid week next week, the highs will be back in the upper 70's and lows in the 50's. This appears to be climate change at work. Ten years ago, we would be having our first frost in early October. Now I have no idea if or when it will hit.

Thanks for the OT Shah!

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Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

Lily O Lady's picture

upper 70s during the day. Then we'll be back in the 80s. Long range forecasts a week out keep being revised with higher temps and lower chances of rain as the week wears on. Things are looking very global warming-y to me too.

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"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"

riverlover's picture

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

I am going to put it in my calendar and try to watch. Thanks.

ESA’s Rosetta spacecraft – which has been orbiting Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko’s since August, 2014 – is scheduled to complete its mission in a controlled descent to the comet’s surface on September 30, 2016. End of mission confirmation is predicted to be within 20 minutes of 11:20 UTC (7:20 a.m. ET) on that day. Translate to your time zone. Details from ESA of how, when and where to follow the key moments online can be found here.

NASA Television and its website will also air the conclusion of the mission. Details on NASA’s coverage can be found here. http://earthsky.org/space/farewell-rosetta-comet-mission

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

Lily O Lady's picture

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"The object of persecution is persecution. The object of torture is torture. The object of power is power. Now do you begin to understand me?" ~Orwell, "1984"

enhydra lutris's picture

of fires and great numbers of mountains and mountain ranges. Hence, until further notice, your morning news report from CA:

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

enhydra lutris's picture

to send your thoughts and prayers, but, now there's an app for that:

https://boingboing.net/2016/ 09/29/thoughts-prayers-app- mak.html

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Shahryar's picture

I won't name any names, so as to avoid embarrassing anyone here....if, in fact, it relates to anyone here. I'm not saying it does.

But let's say a man, who is much like I am, knows a woman, who might be like someone who posts here, and maybe they watch movies on their TV set and maybe the woman often falls asleep and has to be woken up so she doesn't spend the night asleep on the couch....

well in that situation you might wonder what works best to wake her up. In this theoretical situation, which I'm not saying actually has ever happened, the man has (or would have if this were true) tried shaking the woman, pretending to be an annoying cat (the kind that wakes people up at 4 in the morning) and various other tricks, often unsuccessfully.

Finally, a solution! as revealed in this short play

(man goes over to the couch and sits on the edge of it as he speaks to the sleeping woman)
Man: Wake up, honey. Wake up. I'm going to put on some Merseybeat.
Woman: Noooooo!!!!!!

This, I've found, really works.

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