Joanne Dixon

Open Thread January 2 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 022025

Yesterday, There was a very public mass murder in New Orleans which the FBI is investigating. Joyce Vance is following it up as much as she can on BlueSky, where her handle is @joycewhitevance.bsky.social‬. Through her Substack, she urges everyone not to jump to conclusions or to believe rumors. I hope y’all’s holiday was better than than the day in NOLA. Louisiana may be a red southern state, but it still deserves better than that.

One of the things which frustrates, depresses, even paralyzes me about American politics is this: America is actually blessed with many intelligent and savvy people who understand exactly what needs to be done in order for America to be at its best, and can say (or write) articulately and make it very clear. BUT they all have exactly zero ability, authority, or opportunity to make it happen. Dan Froomkin is one. His recommendations are exactly what we as a nation need. But how is that to be accomplished when all the major news outlet are owned by billionaires with fascist agendas, who are also willing and able to buy up or push into obscurity or both any small outlet which is doing its best to be accurate and truthful? This article is a wonderful step by step playbook for real journalists to follow and become modern Cronkites and Murrows – if only they would be allowed to do so and still keep their jobs. Or brave enough not to care.

The Talking Feds Substack (which means Harry Litman) had a guest article by another attorney he knows well. And it goes well with my first post, because of course he is right, and points out all the right evidence. But – how are we to, as Aesop pointed out – bell the cat? Nevertheless, it’s stuff worth knowing even if one cannot act on it.

Open Thread January 1 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 5:52 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 012025

Yesterday, my prediction was not wrong – I received well over 200 emails (180 just by noon.) The number I actually had to open, however, was about the same as usual – between 40 and 50. I managed to deal with them. A few were unexpected. Otherwise the day was pretty calm. Which is fine with me. Every day being calm is my idea of living my best life.

Harry Litman of Talking Feds addresses the development of disagreement going on in the Republican Party, particularly in the Trump** administration (including potential administration if he can get them confirmed, which doesn’t look like a certainty – although any of the current rogues’ gallery of nominees is too many.) My feeling is that, since I don’t see how we can look for anything positive from (or under) this administration, the best we can hope for from is “presidency” is nothing at all. I would think internal feuding would make that increasingly likely – so I just hope they all eat each others’ faces.

The headline post from The F* News – “Sanders Calls Trump’s Bluff” is already promising, and does not disappoint. But there’s also more in the post. Read as much as you like. Not bad for a slow news day.

Open Thread December 31 2024

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:05 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 312024

Yesterday, I was still in shock over Jimmy Carter’s death. But at least the news sources I read were all respectful – I hear the New York Times brought up the “killer rabbit” story. That’s not his legacy. His legacy is one of goodness and decency and service – and out of all of them, I’ll link to Robert Hubbell. But in case anyone wants it, I will provide a link from Steve Schmidt to a CNN documentary on Carter’s life. I haven’t seen it, and I don’t know when it was made, but Schmidt speaks of Carter with respect, so there’s that. To change topic, I was dreading today after the avalanche of year-end email yesterday, all requesting donations, and fearing today would be worse. We’ll see how that turns out.

Wonkette is one of not a lot of news outlets mentioning the bird flu – and cats – and Louisiana. CPR touched on the bird flu but only as it affects Colorado, which is not a whole lot. Crooks and Liars did pick up the Louisiana angle, as did The F* News (am I seeing a pattern here?) and large numbers of people disregarding the advice of health professionals, regarding vaccinations and masks, certainly had a big part in spreading the pandemic farther than it needed to be.

This from Heather Cox Richardson has gotten coverage, but I haven’t seen any as detailed as her version – taking names and kicking – well, you know.

Open Thread December 30 2024

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:03 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 302024

Yesterday, we lost one of the only two Presidents (of my lifetime – because I wasn’t the ones before that through good chunks of their lives. I have thoughts but no evidence.) whose entire lives were marked by a deep love of, and an equally deep commitment to, pure goodness. I’m just not able to process it yet. Nameless, however, has posted an In Memoriam – you’re on the home page just scroll down one post, and if you are on the page which allows comments, go back one post with the direction under the comments section. (And, after that, do whatever you did one more time to read a new “Sound Off” by Freya. I’ll try to send a letter out but don’t know whether I’ll be able to. As nearly as I can tell, he died while Virgil and I were playing cribbage (and enjoying it immensely.) I don’t believe he would have minded that one little bit.)

I do wish Robert Reich would take a look at The Political Compass. Yes, I realize everything is linked – but for those of us not as smart as Robert (and I am certainly one), looking at them all at once is distracting. And, frankly, the pictures help. I would have no problem to adding civic morality to economic systems and government style to make a three dimensional graph – which I guess Windows can now do that. (Adding personal morality would alienate far too many Americans.) Also, I disagree with myth #11. I’m afraid that one’s true. I grant they may not have been ignorant before they started following Trump** – but having done so for eight or nine years – they are ignorant now.

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Christmas is over, but Hannukah continues, Kwanzaa has begun, and New Year’s Day awaits. So it’s still the holiday season. (And Robert Hubbell also has a surprise holiday gift in the astrophotography today.)

Open Thread December 29 2024

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:01 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 292024

Yesterday, the radio opera was “Hansel and Gretel” by (the original) Englebert Humperdinck. It was a performance from 1982 (Christmas Day, actually) which featured Judith Blegen as Gretel. I mention her because she is an unusual talent – she could as easily had a career as a violin virtuoso as she had as a operatic soprano, and I know that because I took lessons from one of her former violin teachers. You won’t find his name in Wikipedia, because only some of her teachers of voice and violin are named there. Gian Carlo Menotti denied that he had written his opera “Help, Help, the Globolinks” with her in mind – but he certainly had no difficulty with her playing Emily in the American debut, which requires the lead soprano to also play the violin. Hansel was played by Frederica von Stade, whom I mention because of her sense of humor. One of her voice coaches was a cat person, and at their first lesson, the coach’s cat threw up on her shoe. All she said was, “I hope it wasn’t my singing.” That’s not to belittle the rest of the cast, who were also excellent – just personal memories of mine. Off to see Virgil now – will check in when I get home.

From Wonkette, a piece of good news that everyone else appears to have missed. I thought it belonged on Sunday. I doubt we’ll get many more for some years.

And one more piece of good news, also from Wonkette. No spoiler.

Okay, this, from Steve Schmidt is now VERY late (yet still far more recent than the history it discusses.) Steve Schmidt may not know as much history as Heather Cox Richardson does. But he does have a flair for knowing about moments of history which invoke strong feelings – and for telling them so that you almost feel you are there. The Christmas he tells of here was also in a dark night for America. That we came through it may give us some hope. But you may still need a hanky.

Open Thread December 28 2024

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:06 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 282024

Yesterday was another day I didn’t do much. I enjoy being idle, but I’d also like to get more done. Oh well, if I don’t, then I’m the one who has to live with it.

Robert Reich – the reich on the left – is right. How right is he? So right that I feel the need to emphasize it by meming a quote from it for today’s cartoon.

Christmas Eve is past, but, as Joyce Vance points out, this is too important to ignore. I suspect some (not here, but elsewhere) may be thinking that at least he’s turning his crazy on someone besides us. But at a veteran, I have to point our that out military IS us – and when you include the families and colleagues and friends in whose circles veterans, active duty military, and those now considering enlisting live, that involves a lot of us.

WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 16: Former U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich testifies before the Joint Economic Committee January 16, 2014 in Washington, DC. Reich joined a panel testifying on the topic of “Income Inequality in the United States.Ó (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Open Thread December 27 2024

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:05 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 272024

Yesterday, Colorado Public Radio newsletter sent this. A little late. I knew this existed, and the origin story, but there’s more detail in the article. Fortunately there are still enough people who have the Christmas Spirit to keep it going. And enough kids to enjoy it.

I find it difficult to believe that anyone at The F* News would believe in any kind of miracle – and this isn’t one IMO – the 46% he and The Conference Board refer to are all people who voted for Kamala, or would have had they voted. But it’s an eye-catching header. We can hope that it gets widely read and quoted.

Harry Litman of Talking Feds calls this a “change of pace” post, which is certainly an understatement. But I have no problem taking time to recognize that these people to whom we go for expertise and wisdom are also human, and have human likes and dislikes. And he also has a list of podcasts he has made and will be continuing to make, which “dive deep into seven critical areas where Trump will be looking to attack government as we know it.” Four have already aired, but are still available (and I assume transcripts are also. At least I hope so.) The next one, coming up Monday – well, I’m thrilled that he considers my state’s attorney general to be “pure gold.” I certainly do, but what do I know.

Open Thread December 26 2024

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:05 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 262024

Yesterday, I continued knitting, finishing a couple of small things. I also tried a cup of coffee flavored with Torani’s white chocolate flavor syrup. The flavor of white chocolate seems to me such an unobtrusive, mild flavor that I wasn’t expecting much, but they nailed it ) Earlier this month they sent me an email announcing it was their 100th anniversary. I’ve dealt with them before – they’ve always made more flavors than you’ll ever see in the stores, but I wasn’t prepared for just how many they do make. I splurged on a sampler pack of flavors designed to go with coffee, and the white chocolate was one of those. Also, I stepped away from the computer for a while because the mouse I am now using is one that you never have to change the battery, but you do have to charge it periodically, and it ran out of charge. It’s charged now obviously, since this post is up. I hope y’all had as peaceful a day as mine, whatever, if anything, you celebrate.

This, by Marc Elias, was recommended by Joyce Vance a few days ago, and I put it aside until after Christmas. Maybe I should have put it aside until after New Year’s Day, hoping we would all gather more strength by then to grasp it and act on it. But here it is. I have to hope that he is at least correct in not expecting us to have a full-blown fascist government. I am not so confident.

Heather Cox Richardson on the history of polarization in the United States, starting with Nixon. To my mind she omits the one thing Gingrich did which had the most dire consequences, although there is plenty of evidence without it. (He removed the requirement for Congressfolk to maintain a residence in DC. Yes, that could be reinstated, but it would take far longer to build trust back again than it required to deteriorate it.)

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