Yesterday, my second cousin Ann, whom I haven’t seen for just over 21 years, phoned to say Merry Christmas. She doesn’t use email, so we have been out of touch for that long, except for Christmas cards, and we havn’t been very chatty in those. I had just finished typing today’s first short take, and I told her about it, and she said that was a wonderful Christmas gift from me. I hope everyone feels that way. I certainly thought it was a BFD. I tried for all good news today, so I have probably left something out … but I hope I can do it again tomorrow.
Cartoon –
Short Takes
Crooks and Liars – WOW: Walter Reed Scientists Develop A Universal Covid Vaccine
Quote – The achievement is the result of almost two years of work on the virus. The Army lab received its first DNA sequencing of the COVID-19 virus in early 2020. Very early on, Walter Reed’s infectious diseases branch decided to focus on making a vaccine that would work against not just the existing strain but all of its potential variants as well.
Click through for more. Of course thos would take longer than the strain-targeted vaccines to develop. I’m surprised it’s even possible. WO# indeed.
Law & Crime – Ex-Cop Kim Potter Convicted of All Charges for Shooting and Killing Daunte Wright
Quote – To convince the jury of the highest count, first-degree manslaughter, the state was required to prove that Potter caused Wright’s death during the commission of a lesser offense. Here, the lesser alleged offense was the reckless handling or use of a firearm. That lesser offense had to be proven in full and beyond a reasonable doubt as follows, according to the jury instructions the judge read before deliberations. Notably, the state was required to prove that Potter’s actions were a “conscious and intentional” act:
Click through for story. It is a step in the direction of accountability for police. Although it does sound like this one knew from the get-go that she was responsible, which is unusual.
AP News – Tribes Lacking Water see glimmer of hope with massive bill
Quote – Now, there’s a glimmer of hope in the form of a massive infrastructure bill signed last month that White House officials say represents the largest single infusion of money into Indian Country. It includes $3.5 billion for the federal Indian Health Service, which provides health care to more than 2 million Native Americans and Alaska Natives, plus pots of money through other federal agencies for water projects.
Click through fpr details and scope. It is a crying shame that native Americans, who as a groupdid more over more centuries to preseve clean and ample water supply are among the groups being cheated out of it. The bill referred to here is the infrastructure bill which already passed and has been signed into law. May it be a lifeline.
Food For Thought:
I’m not going to put the actual image here (you’ll see why) but trust me, it is very, very funny.
9 Responses to “Open Thread for December 24, 2021”
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JD, glad you got a POSITIVE call from an out of touch relative. Cartoon: Yes, be careful, Santa! Guns everywhere of all types. Warnings already re: do NOT shoot to welcome the new yr. SMH C&L: Wow, fantastic news. Hooray for science. Glad they didn’t believe tfg re: cases down to zero soon,LOL! L&C: Yes, finally some white cops are being held accountable for killing unarmed black citizens—-you know, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY & Law & Order—-bring it. And it all started over very minor stuff then escalated. We have several similar cases coming up soon in Columbus area. Fingers & paws crossed. AP: Great news for long neglected improvements to aid our native Americans. FFT: Sounds right to me. Everyone have a safe,enjoyable day/weekend. Peace and tasty treats!
Happy holidays to you too, Spy. Peace and tasty treats sound pretty good right now!
Comment from Mitch –
‘Toon: One can not put anything past them!!C&L: “If true” a humongous BFD!!
L&C: A very sad story, from start to finish. Two lives destroyed.
AP: I’m surprised that the GQP has not yet claimed that mention of Naive Americans is un-American, that their presence in the country is a myth,
and that Indiana must change its name.
FFT: I saw it on a guy’s shirt, just earlier today.
Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!
Mitch
FFT: I got it yelled at me just now! By neighbor’s kids & grands as they left
Only thing they’ve ever said to me,wow. Of course being “family values” party they rarely visit grandma from an hour away,even b4 Covid but I’ve been here 8+ yrs.
Such charm,civility & HOLIDAY KINDNESS!
Couldn’t make up this stuff. Glad I have you folks—-and me cats.
Cartoon: Sick of them shooting for fun. L&C: Interesting. Like the #10 that it wouldn’t be costly like the two major ones.
C&L: She got what she deserved. Seeing the photo of the taser and her pistol, major difference. Really a shame that he didn’t pull the taser instead.
AP: Wonderful news. Glad they’re finally being taken care of.
Food for Thought: What’s next??
I too wish You and everyone here at Politics Plus a Very Merry Christmas.
Nice of your second cousin to call you yesterday. What a pleasant surprise.
I hope you’re able to get all of your things ready for tomorrow’s visit with Virgil.
Have a nice visit. Be safe driving to and from there. Take care. Thanks Joanne
Tell Virgil Hi and Merry Christmas too.
How wonderful to re-establish contact with your cousin; a nice Christmas present indeed.
Cartoon: Republicans destroy Christmas but of course blame Democrats for it.
C&L: Let’s hope this vaccine is tested and approved soon and then shared with other companies if it turns out the superior jab. It’s time all people across the planet benefit from it, get a jab that covers all and bring COVID to a halt.
L&C: The major difference with all the other trials on racist killer cops is that Kim Potter seems truly remorseful. She wasn’t charged nor convicted of murder, which seems to indicate that her being swept up in the toxic racist violence of a police department was taken into account somewhat.
AP: This sounds very promising but it all depends on how much water is left for these projects to work with. I hope Mother Nature gets the chance to replenish all that water that has been taken by greedy corporations and by man-made drought through climate change.
FFT: It’s incredible what people believe these days when it is on Facebook. So this trolling might actually work. This morning, a friend told me the latest Facebook craze here was people believing and further spreading the idea that there is a tunnel between Australia and New Zeeland and it is used by left-wing pedophiles to traffic children between the two countries. They were told this by a friend at a Christmas BBQ and they had absolutely no idea how to respond to it because this friend obviously believed this insane rubbish.
I hope you have/had a wonderful Christmas visit with Virgil, Joanne.
I love your story about re-connecting with family, thanks for the short takes, and appreciated the link to the Food for Thought
I posted the actual image in a comment on Wonkette today. It kind of fits there – all the authors are quite sassy. Thanks.