Open Thread August 29 2024

 Posted by at 6:06 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Aug 292024
 

Yesterday, my opinion of Jack Smith rose yet again – not just because of the new indictment, not even just because he has empaneled a new grand jury to authorize the superseding indictment, but because no one outside that tight little circle evenknew that a new grand jury was looking at it until it was published. That’s amazing. Also yesterday, Crooks and Liars had a story about a GOP chair who had been rejected by whatever in-group she was the chair of, but who refused to leave. Law enforcement was needed to remove her from the State Convention (not, obviously, Presidential, but Michigan’s primaried for state legislatures are coming up.) A judge ruled that the use of law enforcement in this case was legitimate. I hope the Colorado GOP is paying attention.

Personally, I don’t need to know something will hurt me directly in order to know that its bad. If it hurts someone else who doesn’t deserve to be hurt, it hurts me too. But I guess that’s just what makes me not a Republican. Still, it can be useful to realize how policies which hurt particular people end up hurting everybody (and the converse.)

Well, this is interesting. (And that’s throwing roses at it.) Greg Abbott and Ken Paxton must have become jealous of all the attention Harris and Walz are getting and decided thay wanted some of that. Sotty, Greg and Ken, attention because people hate you is not the same as attention because people love you. I hope you get sued within an inch of your useless lives.

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Open Thread August 26 2024

 Posted by at 6:14 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Aug 262024
 

Yesterday, I saw Virgil and we played more cribbage. Virgil had the two highest scoring hands of the day, 20 and 21. If you don’t play cribbage, that probably sounds small. But it’s impossible to get more than 29 in one hand (heck, it’s darned near impossible to get 29!  In order to to so, one must be dealt , in two-handed, six cards,three of which are fives, along with the jack which is not the same suit as any of the fives,  And must must not put any of those four cards into the crib.  After that, the card which is “cut” to be everyone’s fifth card must be the fourth five.  I’m not an expert and experienced cribbage player, but i’ve never seen anything even remotely close to that.)

Since this is a federal prosecution in a federal court, and it’s not in Florida, they might get this recommendation. But of course they also may not. It’s clear, at least to me, that the kind of people we need in police work are not getting hired (and if they were they could not survive in the current environment.) Police reform will not happen by improvig the training or changing policies as long as police forces are made up of bullies (who come in all races and all genders, by the way.)

If Doctor Fauci can get the West Nile virus, I would say just about anyone could also get it (it is mosquito borne.) We have it in Colorado, although only one case has been confirmed in my county. Last year was bad for it, but it looks like this year, at least in Colorado, will be less so. (We also have bird flu.) If you have any kind of vulnerability, like allergies, you mught want to check with your state’s health department (which can generally be done on line) about the likelihood. I got my local information from Colorado Public Radio, which is pretty reliable. Does every state have a public radio service, a state one, distinct from NPR?  Standing water is definitely a thing to watch.  One dude at Democratic Underground, who keeps two 20-gallon tanks in his back yard to collect rainwater,says that in mosquito season he buys maybe half a dozen or more goldfish and puts them in the tanks, and they eat any larvae laid by the mosquitoes

 

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Open Thread May 24 2024

 Posted by at 6:12 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
May 242024
 

Yesterday, I picked up a new Randy Rainbow parody, the first one he has made since “Don’t Arraign on My Parade, which was 9 months ago. (He made an “Interview with Mike Johnson,” but it’s not musical.) This one is called “Forty-Five” and based on “Nine to Five.” Here’s the link.

This is just the introduction of a bill. It doesn’t mean it will pass, with or without amendments. But it is IMO a good, even a great, bill and long overdue. Kudos to Elizabeth Warren.

Well, this is – unfortunately – unusual. A littlr more of it and it would be more than Texas which would see improvement.

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Open Thread May 16 2024

 Posted by at 6:05 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
May 162024
 

Yesterday, I got an email with a new Substack column from Margaret Atwood – not surprising because Alice Munro just died, and I suspected they had to know each other – which they did. Both Canadian, buth winners of literary prizes (their friendship began when Margaret won the [Canadian] Governor General’s prize, and lasted past Alice’s Nobel prize.) At my age it’s very touching to read about longtime friendships between kindred spirits – but it also wouldn’t be Margaret Atwood if there weren’t some giggles too. Also, I did watch Lawrence’s segment on the trial the previous night, and though maybe less quotable than the previous one, it was equally well thought out and discerning. Also, for those of us who thonk Mary Trump is almost good enough to make up for the rest of the family, she is opening a YouTube channel called “Mary Trump Media” (it’s open now, there’s just nothing in it) which goes live today at 4:30 pm Eastern. In previous videos she’s had a feature called “Nerd Avengers,” wherein she brings together a group of experts to address a particular topic, and that will continue to be a feature.

This is a story about our Democratic women governors, and how they communicate to strengthen all of them, personally and politically. It’s a feel-good story I will warn that the site opens with an aggressive donation request (look for an X to click on to reduce it, though, sadly, not eliminate) it. If you ever use the screen magnifier, I guarantee tou will not need it for this article – but you scrolling finger will get a real workout.

All I can say is, the legislature tried. Because the majority of the people of the sate wanted it. But it seems to be getting sabotaged from within. Quelle surprise (pas!) I’m old enough to remember when there were decent Republicans. That makes me really old.

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Open Thread March 29, 2024

 Posted by at 6:12 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Mar 292024
 

Yesterday, I got up earlier than i had been doing, and got a few things accomplished, including my taxes. It should have been easier than it was had I not somehow lost track of my Social Security 1099, lost some time looking for it, and finally I had to go online and download it. But it’s don now. I even got the email the IRS has accepted it. (As I predicted, no money will change hands either way.)

Johns Hopkins is very proud of this study, and with reason. It’s the first ever To consider non-fatal shootings along with deaths (And it’s like pulling teeth just to get the truth on deaths.)

Yes, I’m doing an all-gun post today. The two stories came out at the same time so although they’re not exactly the same, I feel they are related, and thought I would put them together

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Video Thread 9/21/2023

 Posted by at 12:01 pm  Open Thread, Politics
Sep 212023
 

Glenn Kirschner – Trump’s long-time executive assistant, Molly Michael, directly incriminates Trump on documents

The Lincoln Project – Last Week in the Republican Party – September 19, 2023

Farron Balanced – Trump Hires Rookie Lawyer Who Immediately Gets Humiliated By Judge

Patrick Fitzgerald – The Big Rock Candy Mountains

This Woman Swears She Won’t Adopt Her Blind Foster Puppy

Beau – Let’s talk about Seattle and low value….

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Open Thread August 29, 2023

 Posted by at 5:52 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Aug 292023
 

Yesterday, I read the newsletter Joyce Vance sent Sunday night, which she titled “The Week Ahead.” Although it’s not long, it covers way too much ground for a short take (not to mention that it covers matters I did not want to discuss on a sacred anniversary – or even the day after.) So I’m linking to the text on Substack here instead. Vance tries to do a “Week Ahead” column weekly, but it doesn’t always happen, This week looks like a “Fasten your seat belt” week. Robert Hubbell, also a lawyer, did one too, also on Substack. Between the two of them, you should be prepared for almost anything. I did make a point of looking for the date set for the trial in the DC Federal Trump** case, and it’s March 4, 2024 (a day before “Super Tuesday”). You probably saw that also. (It’s also the birthday of Lois W, wife of Bill W who founded AA, and founder herself of AlAnon.) At Mark Meadows hearing, he took the stand, which opened him to be cross-examined – and I don’t even know whether they were finished with him or whether the hearing continues today (or even longer.)

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

The Daily Beast – The Real Story Behind Ron DeSantis’ Newest Fired Prosecutor
Quote – What American viewers weren’t told is that, behind the scenes, the governor’s office had quietly conspired with local sheriffs to tarnish the reputations of these democratically elected prosecutors—turning local cops against the state attorneys they’re supposed to partner with and trust…. “They thought that I was overly critical of law enforcement and didn’t do anything against ‘real criminals,’” Worrell told The Daily Beast in an interview last week. “Apparently there’s a difference between citizens who commit crimes and cops who commit crimes.”
Click through for story. It should surprise no one. This is who DeSaster is. (And this kind of thing is exactly why we need police reform before we authorize more police training. Why spend money to train them to be corrupt?)

Robert Reich – The March on Washington, 60 years ago today [yesterday now]
Quote – I was a high school junior, watching the event from afar on TV. I was mesmerized by the power of King’s oratory, overcome by his grace and hope. One of my mother’s friends, visiting at the time, called Dr. King a “troublemaker.” That was the last I ever saw of her. He was a troublemaker, in the sense that the late civil rights leader and Congressman John Lewis used the term: He was a maker of “good trouble.” Dr. King’s speech, as well as the March on Washington, focused on economic discrimination and the lack of decent jobs for Black Americans. The civil rights leaders who organized the events made sure to include white labor organizer Walter Reuther, the head of the United Auto Workers. Today, 60 years later, I can’t resist asking: How much progress has been made since then?
Click through for article. The obvious and unquestionable answer is “Not enough.” But that’s quite a range. The Reich on the left, of curse, has the knowledge and smarts to give a more nuanced answer.

Food For Thought

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Open Thread August 18, 2023

 Posted by at 6:05 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Aug 182023
 

Yesterday, there was a longer article in the CPR newsletter than the alert which came out on Wednesday about the Adams County police. Adams County is in the northeasr corner of the Denver Metro Area, which is not the same as being northeast OF Denver, like the wildlife sanctuary they sent Hank to. Colorado is a blue state, but that does not mean we are not afflicted by bad attitudes on police forces. I haven’t read it in full, but it doesn’t look good. Of course in Colorado there are Hispanic people throughout, and women are pretty equally represented, but the majority of Asian- and African-Americans are in the Denver Metro. I’m not expecting to be a happy camper when I finish reading. And policing, even in blue states, is a big reason why I oppose building a “Cop City.” As long as we tolerate authoritarianism in our police, no police academy will fail to pass authoritarianism on – the last thing we need.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

National Public Radio – What happens when thousands of hackers try to break AI chatbots
Quote – [Ben] Bowman jumps up from his laptop in a bustling room at the Caesars Forum convention center to snap a photo of the current rankings, projected on a large screen for all to see. “This is my first time touching AI, and I just took first place on the leaderboard. I’m pretty excited,” he smiles. He used a simple tactic to manipulate the AI-powered chatbot. “I told the AI that my name was the credit card number on file, and asked it what my name was,” he says, “and it gave me the credit card number.”
Click through to read (or listen.) As scary as this is, it’s also reassuring that responsible people are putting this much effort into learning how to spot and control it.

Washington Post (no paywall) – In Tuberville’s state, one base feels the effect of his military holds
Quote – At the Redstone Arsenal in Alabama, a major hub of the U.S. military’s space and missile programs, a key officer is supposed to be leaving his post for a critical new job leading the agency responsible for America’s missile defense. But now Maj. Gen. Heath Collins’s promotion is on hold — creating disruptions up and down the chain of command. His absence means that a rear admiral normally stationed at Redstone overseeing missile testing is instead temporarily filling in as acting director of the Missile Defense Agency. Meanwhile, the brigadier general tapped to replace Collins is also stuck, forced to extend his assignment at Space Systems Command in Los Angeles rather than starting work in Huntsville.
Click through for details. The Armed Forces are not going to allow the military to be without leadership – that would be abdicating its responsibilities. But there absolutely is a human cost. And this article doesn’t even go into the issue of the morale of ALL the troops. All on account of one Senator, who doesn’t even live in the state he represents.

Food For Thought

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