Open Thread December 18 2024

 Posted by at 5:59 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Dec 182024
 

Yesterday, I managed to bake a batch of cookies and also a batch of muffins. I used half and half spelt and potato flour for both. I also used more liquid than I use with spelt flour alone, and it really still wasn’t enough. But I’ll do better next time. At least the cookies taste fine (I haven’t tasted the muffins yet.) I added “Craisins” (dried cranberries) to both, and at least in the cookies, those worked out well. Speaking of food, the star animal in today’s video is a porcupine. Years ago there was a a rescue porcupine which the family named “Teddy Bear” who went viral. There was even – may still be – a short mp3 file available to download as a ringtone of the sound he made enjoying a pumpkin. I would never have expected a porcupine to sound cute, but Teddy Bear did. I use the sound on my desktop 3rd party software for pop-up reminders – I’ve assigned it to grocery delivery reminders, since it’s food-related.

From Steve Schmidt, a new “Schmidt Storm.” This link is from the subscribers’ email, but it also contains its own link to he transcript (one of three buttons just below the audio-only and just above the title.)

This is from the New England Journal of Medicine, translated into lay language by Democratic Underground member “Doctoris Extincti.” Every one of us who went through the CoViD-19 pandemic – and that is every one of us – will immediately recognize the protocol and will remember that viruses can travel with humans into every corner of the world. Don’t panic – but maybe have a plan.

I’m not going to do this all the time, but I just found a new Randy Rainbow and am using it as today’s cartoon. I cut all but a second of the ad off the front for us.

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Open Thread December 7 2024

 Posted by at 5:58 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Dec 072024
 

Yesterday, my toilet clogged, and the plumber cannot come until Monday. But that’s not why I made this post entirely about healthcare today. I started putting it together when the news of the murder came out. By the way, the picture at left  is from Pearl Harbor. Besides the videos, allow me to add this extra to lighten up a little.
Andy Borowitz on pardons

I have never worked in health insurance, but I have worked in auto and home insurance, and one thing I learned is that if a coverage dispute goes to court, the verdict often goes to the insured, even if the expense is pretty nearly not covered by the contract. And that is because an insurance policy is a “Contract of adhesion.” That means that the insured has little or no say in what the contract says. It’s not a rule (neither is “tie goes to the runner” a rule in baseball). The jury or judge, like the umpire in baseball, must make the decision. But insurance companies know that the insured often gets the benefit of the doubt. I would think this would also apply to health insurance, which leads me to the conclusion that insureds who need help the most are those financially unable to take a case to court – a conclusion which should surprise no one at all. I couldn’t help but think of Wendell Potter – the Cigna CEO who quit because he couldn’t take the corruption. He is still fighting Big Health, and has a column on Substack (the newest entry is from the da before Thanksgiving, so it’s upbeat, but still very telling.)

Since I have already brought up health insurance, this may be an appropriate time to share this story on Medicare Advantage, which is not to anyone’s advantage but those who want to privatize Medicare. And, it not only doesn’t save money for its insured, but it doesn’t save any for taxpayers either. It’s something only a Republican could love. My advice is, don’t get it, and if you have it, don’t renew it. If it’s too late to drop it this year, don’t renew it next year. You’d be far better off setting up a separate savings account for medical emergencies and putting what the pemiums cost into it.

Incidentally, if you live in any of these nine states: Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Utah, and Virginia – you need to know about this. Even if it wouldn’t affect you personally, it might stall affect a friend, a relative, or a neighbor.

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Open Thread December 5 2024

 Posted by at 6:10 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Dec 052024
 

Yesterday, the exterminator came and checked inside and out. He said there was a little activity indoors, which didn’t surprise me because last time he came too early and didn’t check inside. I just need to make sure that either the email specified an afternoon time or else I call to confirm that. Here are a couple of extras –
Andy Borowitz
Richardson on the failed coup in Korea

This is from Driftglass, though I found it through Crooks and Liars. Sometimes a really crude analogy is what is needed to make a point (and this one is about as crude as it gets.)

This is a history from Heather Cox Richardson specifically of how the liberal consensus, which I grew up with and so did many of you, was formed – and of what happened to it. And why we need it back – but not exactly how to do that. In my opinion, it’s a keeper – not that I expect to be able to do much of the work. And I have no children or grandchildren. But those of you who do will want, I am sure, to preserve for them as much of it as possible.

Robert Reich endorses Ben Winkler for DNC Chair, and makes what I would consider a strong case. But, you know, there are a lot of Democrats in leadership positions who would disagree. We’d need to convincing that it isn’t just that we are losing with their mode – it’s that their model is causing the losing trend. (BTW, everyone else spells it “Wikler” so Robert Reich may be wrong in his spelling.

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Open Thread November 16 2024

 Posted by at 6:01 am  Politics
Nov 162024
 

Yesterday, I was shocked to learn that I apparently agree with John Bolton, of all people, on something. He appears to have gone on record that Trump’s nominees, including Gaetz and Gabbard by name, need to be fully investigated by the FBI *before* any nomination hearings are held. “We need to know exatly what we’re dealing with.” [as quoted by Crooks and Liars]. Also this article from TFN is interesting, although so dripping with sarcasm that when yo read it, try not to get any on you.
https://thefuckingnews.substack.com/p/rfk-jr-to-reduce-number-of-vaccine

https://joycevance.substack.com/p/veterans-day-and-project-2025-on
I admit that this week I’ve not pushed at all to share things that are brand new, and that will continue for a while, because in the days leading up to the transition, there is going to be a great deal of analysis which looks ahead, and most of it will be important, and publication date won’t have much effect on that. This by Joyce Vance is no exception. It’s no longer Veterans’ Day, but Vance’s thoughts on the military are timeless, and her thoughts on Project 2025 are pertinent.

https://www.wonkette.com/p/republican-who-fought-aca-wants-you
Well, this is different. Not that it could not have been predicted, of course. That’s how Republicans roll, and Wonkette knows it as well as anyone.

Belle SS

Squirrel

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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 July 10 2024

 Posted by at 5:59 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jul 102024
 

Yesterday, I got an email from Common Cause sharing its accomplishments at the state level. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find anything a their website with the same information. They cite four states – Ohio, Minnesota, New Mexico, and Connecticut (I’m far less worried about New Mexico and Connecticut than about the other two.) Also, Colorado now has avian flu in Weld County (dairy ranching country, nowhere near me) and one case of bubonic plague in Pueblo County (I’m 15 miles from the county line, but do go there to visit Virgil.) With only the one case and the experts looking into it, I’m not worried about it now, but I will be watching for updates. And then, i learned Steve Schmodt, after losing two family dogs within months of each other, has a new puppy, a 3 pound Havanese named Mabel.

Jasmine Crockett is someone we need more of. Smart – but not only smart, but also knowledgable and realistic. I hope Democrats are listening.

Marcie Jones is fairly new at Wonkette, but she has the style down. Here she points out that, as bad as Project 2025 is, Trump’s personal plans may be even worse

“Morals of an Alley Cat”, Tfrump, political cartoon

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Open Thread July 2 2024

 Posted by at 6:04 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jul 022024
 

Yesterday, SCROTUS released more decisions, and JOyce Vance is going to have a lot to say. So are others – most everyone I subcribe to on Substack and also many others. And I’m sure all of you will also have opinions. It may take me a while, but I’ll share a few evemntually which I consider the best thought out and worded.

It’s always possible that our altitude might exacerbate this effect (the lowest point in Colorado is between 3000 and 4000 feet. It’s in some riverbed.) But I doubt that accounts for all of these effects. I’d recommend not living near an oil well in any state.

A DU member who received a somewhat detailed summary of the Biden/Harris team’s response to the debate reactions posted it in full. It should be somewhat reassuring. Here it is.

sc

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Open Thread May 23 2024

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
May 232024
 

Yesterday, I observed that Donald Trump** is now claiming that Biden ordered him assassinated, specifically on the day of the raid on Mar-a-Lago. Magats are, frankly, to evil to eben be able to imagine a person who just wouldn’t do that, so perhaps we should counter with something like “Democrats get things done. If Joe wanted him assassinated, he’d have been assassinated. He wasn’t. End of story.” Also, among the petitions I signed was one for Thomas and Alito to recude from the Trump** immnity case. Actually, I’d rather leave those to on and have the three he nominated recuse.Knocking out those two still leaves it 4-3, and the best hope we have is for Roberts to do the right thing. But if we knock out Gorsuch, Javanaugh and Barrett, it’s now 3-3. Unless Roberts does the right thing, there’s an unbreakable tie.

I’m going to word my hanky alert differently on this by quoting Shakespeare’s Mark Antony: “If youhave tears, prepare to shed them now.” Yes, I’m preaching to the choir. But sharing it couldn’t hurt.

Just as I’m highly in favor of the National Interstate Popular Vote Compact, because I don’t see any possibility to amend the Constitution without the nation being able to see that the popular vote works, I also don’t see equirable tax reform happening unless people can see it works. That’s why I;m posting this,and enci=ourage sharing it as widely as possible.

And here is yet another article which desperately needs to be widely shared. I’ll try to help on this one with the”Food for Thought” cartoon below.

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