Sep 052021
 

Yesterday, I tried to rest as much as possible. I brought the trash and recyclables carts up to where they “live” and collected a couple of packages from the mailbox — which required shoes but I think was worth it.

Cartoon –

I simply must add that 300 years later, to the day, was the very first Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy telethon.  I’m sure there’s no connection.

Short Takes –

Crooks and Liars – If God Wills It
Quote – There is no question that Hurricane Ida was a horrible storm which caused a lot of damage. The suffering will continue for weeks as people are without power and it is sweltering hot. But as a friend of mine always says, you gotta look for the happiness in the crappiness. A clear example is that the offices of James O’Keefe and Project Veritas got wiped out:
Click through for comments. The quote is pretty much the whole story, but you know people who read “Crooks and Liars” are going to be smart-alecky, at least some of them.

The Hill – The Memo: Attacks on democracy seep down to school boards, election offices
Quote – In many places there is fear — fear for the safety of the low- and mid-level officials who do the unglamorous work that keeps democracy knitted together and fear for what happens if they decide it’s just not worth it.
Click through for story. This is important. You’ve heard of people who can’t see the forest for the trees – but in my experience, Democrats, politically are more likely to be unable to see the trees for the forest. School Boards (usually unpaid and elective) and election worker (most volunteer, seasonal, and paid a little, but some employed year round by county offices) are critical to our ability to keep our democracy … which is why Republicans, who see every leaf on every tree, and most of the bugs on the leaves, are systematically undermining them.

“my stateline” – Emails released in FOIA show hundreds of parents thanked Pritzker for issuing school mask mandate
Quote – A House Republican who sought “data, studies, scientific or medical articles, and correspondence” from people advocating in support of school mask mandates got her answer in dramatic fashion on Tuesday. Governor Pritzker’s office responded to an August 10th Freedom of Information Act Request filed by Rep. Tony McCombie (R-Savanna) by sending a staffer to her legislative office in Springfield to hand-deliver 870 pages of studies and letters from parents that supported the mask mandate.
Click through for details. This is priceless. I realize that even multiplied by 10 or 20 (the numbers usually cited to compare those with opinions to those actually writing) 870 is a drop in the bucket in a state the size f Illinois, but it certainly is impressive. Dumb Republicans. (Yeah, I know, I misspelled “Damn.”)

Food for Thought –

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Sep 042021
 

Meidas Touch – Jaime Harrison DESTROYS ‘Criminal’ Kevin McCarthy

MSNBC – Deadline White House

MSNBC – Figliuzzi: Senate Asked All Wrong Questions About The Pro-Trump Attack On Capitol

Acurate Transcript here

Lakota Peoples Law Project – NoDAPL: Ruby Montoya is Not a Terrorist

Really American – Hillary Proven Right Again

Corey Ryan Forrester – Anti Vaxxer Defends the Children at City Council Meeting

Beau – Let’s talk about that law in Texas and tattoos….

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Sep 042021
 

Yesterday, I got to see Virgil and we had as good a visit as you can have under the conditions. A couple of non-visitation staff members passed through the lobby while I was checking in said hi to me, and one actually came to the visitation room to say hi to me. Well, I must be doing something right. (So must Virgil.)  I appreciate them too. I depend on them to keep Virgil safe and healthy and even in some semblance of good spirits. Of course I was exhausted when I got home. So this may be a bit skimpy.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

Dem Underground – Elie Mystal, a legal expert, says . . .
Quote – Biden would be entirely within his rights to deputize doctors in Texas and make them federal employees with immunity. That’s a great idea. Make all clinic employees federal officers and untouchable.
Click through. The quote is all there is, and no link is provided, but the discussion is most interesting (Don’t believe everything. Not everyone is a lawyer.)

Her Husband Was in Jail When Ida Hit. She Hasn’t Heard From Him Since.


Click through. The quote is all there is, and no link is provided, but the discussion is most interesting (Don’t believe everything. Not everyone is a lawyer.)

Mother Jones – Her Husband Was in Jail When Ida Hit. She Hasn’t Heard From Him Since.
Quote – Yet despite a mandatory evacuation order for parish residents, Sheriff Greg Champagne did not evacuate people in the jail ahead of the storm. By Monday, the 911 system in the parish wasn’t working, according to Nola.com; on Thursday, repeated calls to the sheriff’s office and jail still failed to connect. For Davis, who has not received any word of her husband’s safety since the storm, the silence is frightening. She is planning to travel to the jail herself, along with her husband’s mother, to get answers.
Click through for story. I believe you “catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar” in any case. But this is another reason to be nice to the good staff.

Food for Thought –

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Sep 022021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Justice Matters Compilation of Legal Stories for the Month of August 2021

Ring of Fire – Anti-Vaxxer Facing Felony Charges For Selling Fake Vaccine Cards. Sheesh! Double facepalm.

MSNBC – Kevin McCarty Threatens Tech Companies Over GOP Phone Records

Now This News – Cow Stuck in Tree After Hurricane Ida Hits Louisiana (no words0

Vox – How oysters can stop a flood

Rob Rogers – Cowboy Diplomacy

Beau – Let’s talk about the US exit and criticism….

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Sep 012021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Congress Prepares to Subpoena…Members of Congress. What might Jim Jordan Do if Forced to Testify?

MSNBC Chris Hayes – U.S. Troops Are Finally Out Of Afghanistan–And It’s Remarkable

The Lincoln Peoject – Last Week in the Republica Party

Really Americn – Attorney General Must Arrest Trump Now

Robert Reich – Is Billionaire Philanthropy a Sham?

Mrs. Betty Bowers, America’s Best Christian – Explaining Humans to Aliens

Parody Project – MISS ME

Beau – Let’s talk about safe passage and a continuation of politics by other means….

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Aug 312021
 

Yesterday, I received 3 packages from UPS and one from USPS. The one from USPS was small and delivered to my mailbox, so since I had to go out to the curb anyway, I bindled up a bunch of plastic shipping material (“popcorn” and heavy duty bubble wrap mostly), took it to the trash, and then took the trash to the curb. Today or tomorrow I’ll break up a few boxes and do the same for the recyclables. Pickip os Thursday, and I don’t put stuff out every week. Otherwise, the day was pretty uneventful.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

Department of Justice – St. Paul Woman Charged in Child Sex Trafficking Conspiracy
Quote – According to court documents, from May 2020 through December 2020, Gisela Castro Medina, 19, and co-defendant Anton Joseph Lazzaro, 30, conspired with each other and others to recruit and solicit six minor victims to engage in commercial sex acts. Castro Medina, who was arrested on August 12, 2021, in Okaloosa County, Florida, made her initial appearance earlier today before Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon, in U.S. District Court in Pensacola, Florida.
Click through for DOJ press release. This has taken a couple of weeks to surface, but I figured the DOJ version would be the least sensational, and it appears to be. Law & Crime has photos.

The Daily Beast – ‘Wacky Guy’ Angrily Confronts NBC News Correspondent During Live Hurricane Report
Quote – Explaining that the rain had stopped in the area and mail delivery had returned in Gulfport, Brewster reported that the mayor of the town was still enforcing a curfew as they surveyed the damage. At the same time, a pickup truck pulled over in the background of Brewster’s shot, with a large, middle-aged man jumping out of the vehicle and running towards the NBC News crew. Keeping his composure, Brewster attempted to continue to deliver his report on the hurricane’s aftermath, but the man eventually grew disruptive and began shouting at both the camera crew and the reporter.
Click through for story and video. This kind of thing just breaks my heart.

AP News – Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, partner wed in New Mexico
Quote – Haaland wore a dress designed and sewn by her sister, said Interior Department spokeswoman Melissa Schwartz. The ceremony incorporated elements honoring her Native American ancestry. The former New Mexico congresswoman is a member of the Laguna Pueblo. According to Schwartz, guests had to be vaccinated to attend and wear masks per CDC and New Mexico guidelines.
Click through for story and photo. She looks absolutely gorgeous. They both do.

Food for Thought –

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Aug 302021
 

Glenn Kirschner – First Insurrection Trial Set for 10/18; Answers to FAQs About the Insurrection Cases

Meidas Touch – Is Being an Anti-Vax, Anti-Mask Parent CHILD ABUSE?! | Legal AF

Ring of Fire – Marjorie Taylor Greene Is FURIOUS That Republicans Won’t Follow Her Plan To Impeach Biden

Crooks and Liars – DeJuana Thompson, founder of “Wpke Vote.”

Also Crooks and Liars – CIA Expert Explains Why No One Should Second Guess Biden

In Memory of Ed Asner (RIP)

Rocky Mountain Mike – Medicine For Horses, It’s Lame

Beau – Let’s talk about a story for people in Louisiana…. I looked at that title and thought I probably would not share it … and then I listened.

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Aug 302021
 

Yesterday, I mostly rested. Did some crocheting. I had finished the top I was making for my friend, and started another one for another friend. Ordinarily I vastly prefer knitting to crocheting, but this was an unusual pattern and the structure of it hooked me (pun intended.) I may be able to figure out how to translate that look to knitting, but I’ll want to try it doll-size before attempting anything bigger.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

The Hill – Biden allies say media missing the mark on Afghanistan
Quote – “Every Biden misstep or setback is treated like Trump said COVID will just go away, windmills cause cancer, or that he won re-election,” [Philippe] Reines [a media aficionado and longtime senior adviser to Hillary Clinton] said. “If the goal is to be truly honest, accurate, and fair when covering Biden, there are thousands of adjectives and countless degrees of indignation for the media to choose from. This isn’t hard.”
Click through for other statements. Personally, I would file this under “No shit, Sherlock.” (and I would criticize the media a little more harshly than some), but apparently it needs to be said.

CBS News – Veteran dies of treatable illness as COVID fills hospital beds, leaving doctors “playing musical chairs”
Quote – [Belville emergency room physician Dr. Hasan] Kakli told [“CBS This Morning” lead national correspondent David] Begnaud that if it weren’t for the COVID crisis, the procedure for Wilkinson would have taken 30 minutes, and he’d have been back out the door. I’ve never lost a patient from this diagnosis, ever,” Kakli said. “We know what needs to be done and we know how to treat it, and we get them to where they need to go. I’m scared that the next patient that I see is someone that I can’t get to where they need to get to go. We are playing musical chairs, with 100 people and 10 chairs,” he said. “When the music stops, what happens? People from all over the world come to Houston to get medical care and, right now, Houston can’t take care of patients from the next town over. That’s the reality.”
Click through for story and video. This, along with one other case in Kansas, is the first confirmed case I am aware of where someone died specifically because of unvaccinated CoViD patients. And it’s heartbreaking.

Dem Underground – From the sane Kennedys
Quote – Our father’s death impacted our family in ways that can never adequately be articulated and today’s decision by a two-member parole board [committee] has inflicted enormous additional pain. But beyond just us, six of Robert Kennedy’s nine surviving children, Sirhan Sirhan committed a crime against our nation and its people. He took our father from our family and he took him from America.
Click through to read full statement. I admit this makes me nervous at best.

Food for Thought – kind of related to yesterday’s Furies.

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