Yesterday a friend’s young adult son came by to mow the weeds in my front yard. I guess I should say “use a weedwhacker) rather than “mow” because they are were just that tall. At any rate, that should keep the county off my back for a while. I also received news of the death of someone who was a close friend in high school. There were four of us … now there are only three. I need to realize that this will continue to happen from time to time. I am hanging in.
Cartoon
Short Takes
The Hill – Supreme Court rules against NCAA in dispute over student-athlete compensation
Quote – Justice Brett Kavanaugh agreed with the judgment but wrote a separate concurring opinion that contained a blistering critique of the NCAA’s business model, which generates considerable revenue, particularly from Division I football and basketball. “Nowhere else in America can businesses get away with agreeing not to pay their workers a fair market rate on the theory that their product is defined by not paying their workers a fair market rate,” Kavanaugh wrote. “And under ordinary principles of antitrust law, it is not evident why college sports should be any different. The NCAA is not above the law.”
Click through for story. I had to pick my jaw up off the floor. On the principle of “never trust a Republican,” there;s probably some ulterior motive, possibly a setup to do future harm to colleges and universities(?). But it’s still amazing.
So, Al Franken is going on tour. It’s called “The Only Former U.S. Senator Currently on Tour Tour”.
Quote from email: Tickets for The Only Former U.S. Senator Currently on Tour Tour go on presale Wednesday at 10am in every time zone with the code word SENATOR. Just click HERE to find out when I’ll be in a city near you. I hope to see you there. My promise is that you’ll laugh, you’ll think, and you’ll leave hopeful about our future. Unless I’m in a bad mood that night.
Click through for full dates and venues, and don’t forget to use the code word if interested.
The NM Political Report – The Great disconnect
Quote – On May 18, a judge overseeing the historic Yazzie-Martinez case ordered the New Mexico Public Education Department to take stock of the massive digital divide in the state and finally identify the roughly 76,000 students who lacked Internet connections they desperately needed for school. One of PED’s responses was to create a Google survey for students and staff to fill out online, an action that left advocates and school leaders mystified.
Click through for the details. I really thought people in New Mexico were smarter than that … after they fired Susanna Martinez and elected Deb Haaland …
Food for Thought
7 Responses to “Open Thread for June 22, 2021”
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Cartoon: Yep. We need this Department.
The Hill: Having and hoping for a truly fair and competitive system for those athletes, is most important. imho.
I like Al Franken. I like his sense of camaraderie, and his sense of humor and truthfulness. Saw him once at the Minnesota State Fair a few years ago. Didn’t talk to him though, I wish I had.
New Mexico: Good grief! I read that the legal battle could continue. The state legislature this year sought a special appropriation for $1.25 million to cover ongoing legal costs. WOW! Looks like this has been going on for several years. The educational system is lacking in trying to get access to the students. What a shame.
FFT: Yep…so dang true!
I don’t mind mowing or working outside. In the morning though, as the heat gets to me now. A cloudy day is best. Sorry to read of your friend passing away, my sympathies to you for your loss.
This just in: “Two years ago Michael Cohen told Congress that Matthew Calamari knew of Trump’s financial crimes. Now, in a sign of things coming full circle, prosecutors are targeting Calamari for his finances, in order to push him into flipping on Trump.” ~ Bill P. ~
2. “Burn pit exposure in Iraq & Afghanistan is equivalent to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam. We owe justice to our vets who are dying of cancer as a result.” ~ Laurence Tribe ~
3. “Trump CFO Allen Weisselberg could face indictment as soon as this summer. NYT – The news implies that Weisselberg isn’t cooperating with the district attorney’s office yet.” ~ Michael O’Grady ~
4. “Mitch McConnell’s self proclaimed net worth on tax returns is $34,137,534. Walk me through how that happened while he was a United States Senator for 30 years.” ~ Don Winslow ~
5. “Michael Cohen recalls the time Trump offered up Don Jr. for prison before Ivanka.” ~ Rick Wilson ~
TJI #2 -I will never forget Admiral Zumralt’s courage about the cancer his som suffered from Agent Orange in Viernam. That was the most challenging, difficult example of putting country before life that I have ever seen. I might add that, then as now little if any rhetoric or thoughts were given to the “enemy” civilians who were likewise harmed. We need, and rightfully respect, our military. We don’t need war
TJI #1: Michael Cohen is so much better at getting his revenge than his former boss was, isn’t he? Revenge is a dish best served cold.
TJI #2: Your vets and those exposed innocent Afghan citizens, I hope.
TJI #4: McConnell’s millionaire wife must have showed him a few tax deduction/evasion tricks.
Sorry to hear that. My 93, or 94 y/o uncle once told me that the worst thing about growing to be that old, is that “All your friends are dead.” I have not had many “close” ones, but have lost 2 of them already.
‘Toon: We need a clean, neutral one.
The Hill: SCOTUS does sometimes work in the favor of the little persons.
Franken rocks!
NM: Reminds me of the joke about a fellow who called Apple, or some other computer manufacturer, many years ago. He complained that no matter what he did, he could not get his system to work. The support person ran through a few ideas, to no avail, until the customer mentioned that his part of town was in a black-out. The “Help” professional gently instructed him to put the computer back in the box, and bring it to the store, saying “You are too stupid to own a computer.” AKA: WTF?
FFT: Exactly!
Supreme Court rules against NCAA
GOOD! If schools can pay millions to coaches in salary and bonuses, they can sure afford a few crumbs to the worker-bees!
“The Only Former U.S. Senator Currently on Tour Tour”
Fantastic! Can’t help but feel Franken was NOT given a fair hearing, and Senate acted too hastily. Especially in light of what Rethuglicans get away with.
And your “Food for Thought” translation is spot-on!
Cartoon: One department we definitely need.
The Hill: Hopefully they’ll get what they deserve.
Al Franklin: I miss him. Was one that I liked. Don’t see him coming anywhere near San Diego.
New Mexico: Despicable.
Food for Thought: Exactly.
Many years ago, we were going thru a major water shortage and were only allowed to water twice a week, so I Had my lawns removed, with nice paver put in. So I gave my lawn mower and weed eater away.
Sorry to hear the loss of your close friend, my condolences to you.
Hope the rest of your day went well.
Take care. Thanks Joanne
Sorry to hear about your bad tidings, Joanne. A Dutch short-story writer once wrote: First you meet up with your friends in the pub, later you start meeting most of them in the GP’s waiting room and finally you bump into the last few of them at a funeral. C’est la vie.
Cartoon: It started out as a good idea and still could be.
The Hill: Kavanaugh separate concurring opinion must have been inspired by the need to do some repairs on a very damaged image indeed of someone who is under extremely heavy scrutiny.
AF: The title of the tour is deliciously mischievous and should draw a large crowd of people whose minds are still functioning after four years of the other former guy.
NM: Betty DeVos is still ruling the PED roost in NM otherwise, they wouldn’t have responded to the judge’s summons in this blatantly 🖕-you fashion.
FFT: As if the first subtitle isn’t bad enough…