Open Thread August 19 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Aug 192026
 

Yesterday, I played around some with how to get one or more of my computers to play a DVD. The 8.1 says I need software while the 10 desktop just lies there like Manhattan Island. I didn’t get around to trying the 10 laptop or the 7 laptop yet. But I’m determined.

https://harrylitman.substack.com/p/a-band-of-plucky-protesters-nets
From Harry Litman last Friday. How-tos don’t get dated as fast as news, though. It may not be pracical for some situations, but that’s a different issue.

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/2026/10/trump-white-house-transgender-mike-pence/688284/?gift=btq5fcO7tIGzv2lsrFLX2GUso66KGmgCQ6Urutno_iY&utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Referred by Vote Vets(one of their “four stars), who thought it was important enough to be a gift article (which requires an uncut URL). And I agree.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/andy-burnham-donald-trump-aide-susie-wiles-b3034057.html
From The Independent (UK). Well, this is a fine kettle of fish. And it isn’t even the first time. Yet, here we are, oblivius, and silent while AI takes over our news, our brains, our ears, and our drinking water. Because this will happen again. And regardless who the President is. It’s not a think only morons need to worry about.

Stonewall

2fer

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Open Thread August 17 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Aug 172026
 

Yesterday, Trinette was by. She managed to get here and also get home before the lightning (which I did’t see, but heard the thunder). Never a dull moment with our weather. I should sdd that when I use the term “Trump Derangement Syndrome,” I am referring to the derangement suffered (or enjoyed) by Trump himself. Because that’s the only kind which is real, albeit many of his followers also exhibit it.

A video – just under a quarter hour – from Adam Klasfeld – literal Pay to Play, and a lawsuit hoping to end it. Yes, there’s a transcript.

He can declare until he is blue in the face – but it won’t change anything. Period.

This is not anything which is likely to affect any of us personally – and maybe I should be concentrating on things which are – and they are legion. But it is so dramatic that once you look at it, it’s hard to look away.

From Vote Vets – Real facts from a real doctor.

Sorry about the tissue alert. I scaled it down, in the Media, tried refreshing it (there and here) and it just won’t shrink.

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Open Thread August 16 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Aug 162026
 

Yesterday, the radio opera was the one which is part of what is possibly the oldest operatic pun. Let me explain. Richard Wagner managed to get on a friendly basis with the mad King Ludwig of Bavaria – the one who built Neuschwanstein Castle (which is a story in itself.) He also funded the building of Wagner’s new opera house, called the Festspielhaus – a coined word which entered the language to mean any theater built for opera and/or other large musical events. In the early 1900s, one critic started calling the New York Metropolitan Opera House “Das Faustspielhaus” – because it put on Gounod’s “Faust” so often. I think everyone knows the soul-selling-to the devil story, which isn’t pretty, although the music is. I haven’t seen or heard it since CoViD (when the Met was free-streaming and put up a production in which Faust was a nuclear physicist in the 1940s and 50s.) There’s a lot about it to like. I won’t list all the catchy arias, duets, and ensembles, it would take too long. And all the good news stories speak for themselves, so I won’t comment on them

Alfa

Bravo

Charlie

Delta

Echo

Foxtrot

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Open Thread August 15 2026

 Posted by at 5:49 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Aug 152026
 

Yesterday was a fairly quiet day – which I certainly needed. I son’t know that you’ll see that in today’s blog, though you might. The hair-on-fire stuff I couldn’t sqeeze in earlier, and the lighter stuff is newer.

From Colorado Public Radio. What was I just saying about Colorado and water? This image is probably not of the Arkansas River – but it looks like the water in the Ark usually looks, and it does show why they call it “whitewater” rafting. Now compare this to the photo in the article. That water ain’t white, and ain’t gonna be, without a whole lot of snow this coming winter. And yes, I am posting a lot about water in a very short window. Consider it a preview of what’s coming unless all world leaders get their heads on straight – or get replaced with leaders whose heads are already on straight.

This is going to be time consuming – over a half hour if you watch, and of course if you read the stranscript, that will depend on your reading speed. (for comparison, Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters From An American, when she reads them on YouTube, are usually in the 12-16 minute range.) But the amount of time it took to put this information together to present was more like months. The presentation was put together to address the coming midterms, but there is information which anyone who uses AI for any reason should be aware of.

I’m pretty sure the “Duffel Blog” is the military version of The Onion. On the other hand – Kefsbreath is dumb enough for this to be true.

I’ve been wanting to post about this but waited until Joyce Vance put it in writing. I do want to share one thing that was in the videos but isn’t here. At the point when Block said “I’ve been told it should be coming (or forthcoming as soneone else quoted),” allegedly Judge Sullivan responded, “So is Christmas.” I remember that comeback being common in the fifties, but I still find it amusing.

2fer

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Open Thread August 14 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Aug 142026
 

Yesterday, the CPR newsletter headline must have been written by Captain Obvious. It read “Drought dries up rivers.” I’m not complaining – I’m well aware how quickly the obvious can get lost, especially when people have strong feelings. As I do about this. A sweet little mountain town whixh leans heavily on tourism is being destroyed. And it doesn’t stop there. The river in question formerly continued on and fed into the Huerfano River, which in turn (I think still, but less) feeds into the Arkansas River, which provides water for the eastern half of the state, where the agriculture is.

From Colorado Public Radio. Weld County is roughly in the northeast corner of Colorado. It is at least ruby red – possibly garnet red. The corporation involved in this venture has no permits – and doesn’t appear to give a f*ck. The parts of Colorado east of I25 don’t get wildfires like the western part, I think mostly because they are low on trees, but they are by no means immune to drought. I think I wrote about the time – which must be more that six years ago, when I had to drive across half the state to see Virgil, I saw a nominal river (more like a creek really) actually burn up before my eyes. Seeing a creek in flames is an experience I wouldn’t wish on anyone. And as far as I know, the creek died in the fire. I never saw water come back to it.None of Colorado’s rivers is as healthy as it was when I came tp the state in 1976, and I’m pretty sure they were already unhealthy then – because our history reports memorable floods before that year, and I know of none afterwards. The last thing Weld County – or any county in Colorado – needs is a data center.

Referred by VoteVets, specifically General Eaton. He sends a daily “Four Star” which includes 4 links to short summaries of news articles regarding the armed forcea. This one has Kegsbreath’s fingerprints all over it.

All I need to say about this article by Robert Reich is “AMEN!”

The cruelty really is the point.

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Open Thread August 13 2026

 Posted by at 5:59 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Aug 132026
 

Yesterday, I was pretty well swamped by news. The one which stood out was the Mango Monster hiding in the catering cart, which happened what, a month ago and is just now coming out? Several were talking about that. I tried to find some less obvious news which was still important or at least noteworthy.

From Talking Points Memo. The word “overreach” doesn’t, I think, sound as scary as it can be when the overreacher is unscrupulous. And unscrupulous is what we have.

From the AP. I posted the well-wishing opportunity yesterday(ICYMI). JoJo from Jerz has her own take, which I’ll post on a slow day with a hanky alert.

Robert Reich. I’ve always thought that the Luddites had very solid points. Not that I would argue in favor of their tactics – but those tactics were the only ones available to them at the time

From Phil Williams of “Confront the Hate. So much is going on, I feel compelled to post 4 a day until (unless?) things settle down.

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Open Thread August 12 2026

 Posted by at 5:47 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Aug 122026
 

Yesterday, I signed this. It’s not a petition. It’s a get well (or at least feel better) card. I’m not trying to pressure anyone to sign it – only to make it available in case anyone wants to. And then there was this (archived from WaPo. Someone’s been reading too many Tom Clancy novels. Amd, after that, there was this. Not surprising, I’m sure.

This is what I’ve been thinking – now is not the time.

(From the Atlanta Black Star) I would expect something like this to happen in Louisiana or Mississippi – not in California – nor even in Los Angeles (where I might expect no action ay all.) Ihave no woeds (that are printable.

There’s a lot in and around this Brennan Center newsletterContains several topics. The main one titled “Americans Can Vote Without Fear” I though might be encourahing, being reality based (although that might depend to some degree on who your Xecretary of State is.)

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