Open Thread May 18 2024

 Posted by at 5:56 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
May 182024
 

Yesterday, Wonkette informed me about the male-genitals-shaped balloons Trump** supporters had released Thursday outside the courthouse where he is being tried. Most of us outgrow our toddler obsession with genitals at an age much younger than these people have (God knows how) achieved. Also, there was a kerfuffle in the House involving Representatives Jasmine Crockett and Marjorie Three Names. Many people have had something to say about this. My take is that I’m going to the Atlanta Black Star to get some Black folks’ take before I even begin to formulate my lily-white take.  And then, there’s this.  (And no, you aren’t losig it, Jamie is still from Maryland -that was in error.)

This story from Joyce Vance is years old – but she (and the nation) have only just learned about it now. And that fact alone may be the biggest part of the story.

Sigh. I suppose we should have known this was coming – somewhere. And it will probably be repeated. It is well sourced, but I chose this link rather than ne of the sources, partly because I thought there was value in the comments.

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Open Thread May 17 2024

 Posted by at 5:57 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
May 172024
 

Yesterday, although there’s more been published about it now, I decided to use this, the first I heard of it, to share. And the cherry on the sundae is that yes, Maggie was in court that day (as a “journalist”) so, whether intentionally or not, it was said to her face.

This from Heather Cox Richardson combines encouraging news about the actual state of our economy with discouraging news about what most people think about the economy, and points up the importance of not only what the media report, but also how they report on it.

Interesting idea. It certainly could be a lot of fun. Has anyone told Pete Buttigieg about this? (apparently someone has, since the article says they have to abide by Federal Railroad rules.)

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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 May 15 2024

 Posted by at 6:07 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
May 152024
 

Yesterday, though I am certainly not following the Manhattan criminal trial closely, this headline intrigued me, and after reading it, I thought y’all might enjoy it (Including the comments.) I remember watching video on the first day Cohen had to appear in court. He was on the sreet outside the courthouse, and he must have been early, because he was moving around somewhat aimlessly and waas clearly uncomfortably. Other people were on the sidewalk, going both directions, but no one made eye contact with him. I said to myself then that the gravity of his actions had come home to him, and that he already was not the same person, even though he’d have a long rioa growing fully into the new Michael Cohen. I have seen no reason to change my mind about that. (I planned to watch Lawrence last night for what he might have to say – but I’ll have posted this before that happens.)

This, from Robert Reich, is perhaps the best description I’ve seen of what is happening in the U.S. which greatly upsets me (and probably you also.)

And this, from Heather Cox Richardson, I can only call a masterpiece. It reveals just about everything about how we got herer, without even using the term “trickle-down.”

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Open Thread May 14 2024

 Posted by at 5:43 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
May 142024
 

Yesterday, I took in a grocery order – posted it in and received it the same day. I have been doing some baking for the first time in years, using spelt flour. Spelt is technically a wheat, but it’s a wheat like blue corn is a corn, in that people with those allergies can often tolerate them Celiac I am not sure about, but I can tell y’all that it’s definitely got less gluten than other wheats, as anyone can see who compares a piece of commercially baked spelt white bread to a slice of commercially baked white wheat bread. I say compare, but to me there’s no comparison. The spelt bread is rough textured and chunks break off easily to the point that it can be hard, or even messy, just to try to eat a sandwich made with it. It’s better toasted, but still not the same. I’m not trying to bake bread, just cookies and muffins. I did finish a batch of chocolate cookies (with walnuts and white chocolate chips), and they are very tasty.

This is a great reminder, both of how successful Biden is and has been, and also how wrong Trump**’s predictions – all of them – are – always.

Andy has been saving much of his best work on substack for paid subscribers, and I don’t blame him for an instant. The New Yorker certainly hasn’t been paying him for some time now. But this free article is as good as anything he’s ever done.

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Open Thread May 13 2024

 Posted by at 5:57 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
May 132024
 

Yesterday, I saw another Parody Project production. I’m not sure it’s new, but it is delightful. (The original song is IMO deplorable, but this may redeem it.) Also, Trinette was by (and returns greetings). I had a whole bunch of stuff- trash, recyclables, and charity – which I needed help getting it out. After seeing Virgil, despite coming home exhausted, I had a burst of energy over the week. That helped me with the decision to start making it every other week to see him.

Just in case you needed, or someone you knw needs, yet another reason to do every possible thing to prevent Trump** from returning to the White House…

This site was down yesterday evening, but should be up today .  (And I don’t want to hear a single word about a PhD candidate using a double negative. There’s more to brains than formal grammar.)

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Open Thread May 12 2024

 Posted by at 5:45 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
May 122024
 

Yesterday, the radio opera was Madama Butterfly. I assume everyonehas at least heard of it and maybe something from it, even if not the whole thing. Certainly from the song “Poor Butterfly” all the way to “M(onsieur) Butterfly on broadway, creative artists have assumed that everyone knows the story (which is probably as old as humanity, though the odlest i can trace it to is “Madame Chrysantheme” by Pierre Loti, which itself inspired the opera “Lakmé,” set in india with an English cad, whereas of course Butterfly is set in Japan with an American cad. It’s always beautiful to listen to, and always makes everyone cry, which “Lakmé” doesn’t necessarily/ I’m pretty sure that’s because somewhere between Loti and Puccini the detail got added of her having birthed a child in his absence, and that really ups the stakes. It also makes the opera more difficult to produce, but everyone stages it anyway. Totally unrelated, but May 12, today, always reminds me of my (very) long ago youth. In my last year of high school and my first couple of years of college I enjoyed playing bridge, and preferred the high school club even after graduation because the college one was duplicate bridge, and very, very serious. You know kids that age – we all thought we were clever. We had nicknames for certain kinds of tricks, such as one where all the cards were honor cards was called a “Summit Conference.” A trick where three cards were honor cards and one not was called a “May 12th, because, on May 12, 1960, Khrushchev had walked out on a summit conference – and that was such a short time before it was practically still news.

Well, this is interesting. Sure too bad this didn’t come out earlier.

There’s a whole lot of information here, and some, but not all, of the snippets which follow the longer first section have some relevance to that section.

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