Open Thread September 1 2024

 Posted by at 6:12 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Sep 012024
 

Yesterday, the radio opera was Puccini’s “Todca.” It is so rooted in both locale and history that it must really be a challenge for a company to present it in modern dress and settings, but they do try. One of the photos showed the tenor and soprano with luggage and she was holding what appeared to be a Polaroid print. Aother photo showed a stage split vertically, something I hadn’t seen before but very appropriate, since while the soprano is upstairs with the villain, the tenor is being tortured in the dungeon, and they actually show that. It’s an opera which really hits me (in the most cathartic possible way) whenever I see or even hear it. And even in the original time and place it’s relevant now – there are still bullies with more power than anyone should have. Also yesterday, Steve Schmidt posted a new “Schmidt Storm.”

I am so old that to me a “Swiftie” is something like “Wow, that is one deep ditch!” said Tom gorgeously.But I have no difficulty admiring Tatlor Swift and these fans. This is kind of a fluff piece, but hey, it’s Sunday.

I wanted another story which was at least not a disaster, even if not 100% good news, and I thought of this one, which I had seen in Colorado Public Radio’s newsletter, and started looking for it. I couldn’t find it at CPR and hadn’t saved the newsletter, but I found it with DuckDuckGo at, of all places USA Today. Ironically, the name of the song which was interrupted was “It Matters to Her.” I gather she doesn’t want to file a complaint but there is enough evidence (witnesses) for the state to consider pressing charges

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Open Thread August 28 2024

 Posted by at 6:07 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Aug 282024
 

Yesterday, I read Joyce Vance’s take on Jack Smith’s brief, filed Tuesday in the documents case. She says it’s very clear that Cannon is wrong and that, if it would stop at the 11th Circuit, she would be reversed and that would be the end of it. But if it goes to the Supremes, anything might happen. She doesn’t mention that now Republicans are claiming that Harris in ineligible to be President because of the Dred Scott decision (which of course the Fourteenth and Fiftennth amendments make mincemeat of.) But yeah, with Republicans, anything can happen – especially anything unconstitutional. Also – probably because of the time difference – she’s vacationing in Scotland – last night’s post went up in the daytime, so I can link to it also. It’s about the superseding indictment in the DC (insurrection0 case.

Arbuckle, CA is in Colusa County, about 50 miles northwest of Sacramento. The whole county is rural, mostly agricultural, with rice v=beine the main crop, but almonds and wallnuts are also brown enough to get mentions. The article calls Arbuckle a “one-stoplight town.” The Census Bureau calls it a “designated place.” I expect that in the Middle Ages it would have been called a “hamlet.” None of that is any excuse for the behavior cited in the lawsuit not otherwise mentioned in the article. You know, if I wanted to, I could chare an article like this every day and never run out of material. And this is a huge part of or problems as a nation – this and the fact that for every lawsuit there are heaven knows how many more incidents which we never hear about, and never will.

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Open Thread July 31 2024

 Posted by at 6:02 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jul 312024
 

Yesterday, I came across a short post sharing that MSNBC had shown an image of JD Vance over the chron “Look what the cat dragged in.” That gave me a smile. I also attempted making cookies, oatmeal raisin, with a non-wheat flour. I knew I would need more liquid than I normally use on account of the oatmeal (I used instant) but I overdid it a little. So they look odd. But they taste alright.

It may have been done before – but I have not seen this quote about fascism applied to democracy (don’t worry, it’s not negative) in this way – particularly combined with the concept that it happens a lot, in and outside of government in both small and large ways.

(non-paywall link) I don’t know how Rolling Stone does it – but so many scoops that are truly significant seem to start there. The New Yorker used to do that, with reporters like David Remnick and Ronan Farrow, but I’ve lost confidence in them. This story, of course, we’ve known what seems like forever – at least in the general outlines – but the details are now included.

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Open Thread July 17 2024

 Posted by at 6:09 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jul 172024
 

Yesterday, There was a thunderstorm warning , not exactly for my area, but for an area I’m on the fringes of. I heard one crash of thunder, but I didn’t see the Lightning, so I have no clue how far away it was. I lost no power, but my modem started refusing to stay connected to the ‘Net. I rebooted it once but that didn’t help – but I then rebooted a second time, this time leaving it disconnected for over an hour, and it’s working now. Fingers crossed it keeps working. Another 9 days of storms like this are predicted, and tha’s as far in advance as they rpredict, so there could be more. So now, though the modem is working, somehow the zoom size of my inbox in my opera browser got trashed. Everything else on that browser works, but can’t read my emails (my main source.) So I’m having to read them on edge. It’s not perfect, but it’s close enough I can make it work with the screen magnifier. So I learned that, according to Axios, there is now evidence tat Netanyahu is working behind the scenes for Trump**. I hope this news reaches some coters who are wanting to not vote for Biden because, basically, he honored a treaty he was legally bound to honor. At least he’s doing his best to hold Bibi back. Trump** will say, “Do whatever the hell you want.” If anything else new comes it, it will have to wait. I need to get this posted while I still can (at least I hope so.)

Steve Schmidt’s response to the shooting at the Trump** rally byposting a video of Bobby Kennedy’s speech in response to the death of MLK. It was a powerful speech then, and it’s powerful now, but what really hit me was one of the comments (which I normally never look at – this must have been the first time in over a decade that I have done so.) A viewer usernamed “@tedb3966” simply wrote, “The greatedt President we never had.” But Steve himself has some powerful things to say too.

I know y’all are alert and atay informed, so you probably know that Senator Sheldon Whitehouse has set his sights on Clarence Thomas. But I also thought youmight be as interested as I was to read about it from a black news outlet.

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Open Thread July 6 2024

 Posted by at 6:04 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jul 062024
 

Yesterday,Robert Reich posted episode 6 in his DEBUNK series, and I tripped over a link to the Biden response to Project 2025. If you can’t possibly read all 920 pages (and I can’t), this has the parts that Joe most wants you to know about.

I saw this first on Democratic Underground, but it was originally on Daily Kos. I’m providing both links – you can go to whichever you prefer. I have had the image for a while, but it’s far to big to be legible here – even with the screen set at 150%. Fortunately, both sources also provide the full list in type so it can be read.

It takes something fairly substantial to rattle Joyce Vance. But Kevin Roberts appears to have done it.

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Open Thread June 5 2024

 Posted by at 6:09 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jun 052024
 

Yesterday, there was a lot of speculation regarding what will happen now that Trump** has been convicted. One topic which is everywhere: “Is Trump** going to incite violence if he is sentenced to any prison time?” To me the answer is “Yes, of course he is. He will incite violence if he is just sentenced to House Arrest. He will incite violence if he is just sentenced to probation, once he finds out how restrictive that is. Why should any of this determine how we administer justice? Besides, if he is given no sentence at all, he will incite more violence, since he can get away with it. Just prepare for violence and sentence him the way he should be sentenced.” Both my short takes agree with me, I think, though they’re coming from different places. I’m not sure how they would prepare. My suggestions would be along the lines of whatever you do, do not buy a gun. You wouldn’t have time to get proficient. If you already have one (as a surprising number of liberals and lefties do, for different reasons) and are proficient, start learning how to be proficient at knowing when you use it. That’s much harder and takes longer, but there’s time for some baby steps (and if it’s “been a minute” since you used the weapon, some practice with it wouldn’t hurt.) For those of us who wouldn’t dream of using a gun, I’d suggest thinking hurricane or pandemic. Stock up on necessities so that you won’t have to leave your home. Of course all of this depends on where you live also. I live just outside the city limits of a red city in a blue state, and everyone knows how red it is. If I lived in Denver I’d be more concerned. If I lived in Washington DC I’d be very concerned. Also yesterday, Informed DElivery advised me my ballot was delivered. Not bad.

Robert Hubbell throws a bucket of common sense cold water over whoever needs it the most. But I don’t think it will hurt any of us.

Steve Schmidt refers us to a Reuters column (an investigation really) regarding the Proud Boys.  That link and Steve’s comment are both valuable

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Open Thread March 31, 2024

 Posted by at 6:04 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Mar 312024
 

Yesterday, the opera was not an opera, but Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem Mass. It is dramatic certainly (the Dies Irae alone takes 40 minutes to perform, and the whole mass is only an hour and a half), and Verdi was criticized for makng it “too dramatic,” but if you can’t be dramatic about death, what can you be dramatic about?

Three Substack writers this weekend posted articles which are profound, too much so to ignore any of them. Joyce Vance writes about Treump**’s latest threat of violence. Robert Hubbell writes about the real purpose of government, including quoting Lucian Truscott on the subject. And Heather Cox Richardson writes abot Russian disinformation, and how it it Russia’s strongest weapon against Ukraine, and also against us insofar as it affects our electoral process. I hate to be grim on what should be a joyous holiday – but unfortunately we can’t afford to ignore reality.

Senator Ron Wyden (the other Democratic Senator from Oregon) is asking questions which need to be asked – and answered – and that very publicly.

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Open Thread February 20, 2024

 Posted by at 6:24 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 202024
 

Yesterday, one of the first things I did was check on my credit crard, and saw that the erroneous charges have been removed. I slept in, but I checked caller ID and I have not missed any phone calls today. I also have not receeived an email on the subject. It’s possible they just voided the transactions and didn’t tell anyone, but it’s also possible the Card company deleted them, with or without notification. They are watching the account also, so at this point I don’t need to call them again. I knew I would not be on the hook for the charges.

Many of us have issues with family, or longtime friends, who are Republicans. We all handle these issues in our own ways, because that is who we are. If any of us is dissatisfied with what we are currently doing, Mary Trump’s thoughts on this may help, one way or another.

This explains a lot. And notice, it can be acomplished without any politicians getting involved in the process.

Remember Justin Jones? he has a message for us. (Don’t click on the Xitter link – give it time to load – and if it still doesn’t, the transcript is complete, only missing his photo.)

(We did help through Greece – and that was “obsolete” ammunition, and I guess all we had – now, Congress’s approval is required to give anything. We could sell, but….)

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