Joanne Dixon

Open Thread October 1 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Oct 012025

Yesterday, I did sleep late, although not as late as I dreamed I did (I dreamed I slept until today.) I saw several emails in my inbox leading to reviews of the Hogsbreath debacle, but Wonkette gave it the respect it deserved. Today is apparently the first day of a government shutdown. Expect pain – but what form it will take, I don’t know.

This does not by any means redeem the New York Times. (For one thing, I find it difficult to believe that the people who need to read or hear this the most actually read well enough to be bothered to read the Magazine section.)

Anyone who reads The Guardian is already aware of this. If you don’t read The Guardian, Wonkette will bring you up to speed. Not that it should be any surprise to anyone, of course. There’s a saying that people under 40 have the face they were born with, while people over 40 have the face they deserve. Miller just turned 40 this year, but I think he’s had the face he deserves for a very long time.

I’m not familiar with Futurism, so I looked it up at Media Bias/Fact Check, which says it is pro-science and mostly factual in reporting (not that I don’t also take that with a grain of salt.) I’m aware most people, including journalists, think this is Stephen Miller’s job, and I’m sure that it is, to an extent. But that doesn’t mean there can’t be others. And they may be working together, or in competition, or just separately.

Open Thread September 30 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 302025

Yesterday, as usual on a Monday, I slept quite late. And today is the day of the “meeting” at Quantico. I may just sleep late again. I’d rather not even be awake, let alone reading about it, while Hogsbreath desecrates Quantico with his presence.

Well, this (Politico) is interesting. Not, I would say, surprising, but interesting

Resist. Persist. Repeat. It sounds so simple, doesn’t it. And it is simple. But simple is not the same thing as easy. The Conversation addresses why compliance can be so much easier than defiance, and what can be done about it.

There are two stories in this article from Wonkette, and either one might be accompanied by a tissue alert, so with the two together, I think the alert is necessary. Also, there’s more about the Roberts arrest here. However, there are hundreds, or thousands, of cases very much like these, and if we don’t take a closer look at some of them, we won’t grasp the full significance. Sometimes to see the forest, one needs to look at some of the trees.

Open Thread September 29 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 5:55 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 292025

Yesterday, there was another mass shooting, this one near Flint, MI. It was complicated by a vehicle crash, an explosion, and a highly destructive fire, which may have killed more people than bullets did. The shooter is alleged to be known and to have suicided. On a happier note, Trinette was over. She always makes my life better.

Liza Donnelly shares a cartoon of the Poopypants Pariah, and a statement from James Comey, who, though not blameless, I’m certain has not done anything indictable (You may have seen it. It’s had wide exposure.) And if you like baseball, you should check it out just for the baseball cartoons that finish it up.

I did know about the statue. Some of this other stuff I didn’t know, some I expected, some I didn’t. It’s a fairly comprehensive roundup.

I hope that I read this The Warning article long enough before my dinner to be able to keep it down. Not all my memories from Quantico ae happy ones – but even those which are less so are formative. The thought of Hegseth even setting foot there makes me nauseous.

Open Thread September 28 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 282025

Yesterday, the radio opera was Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” I had to use that laptop again, and I suppose I might have skipped it – it’s not as if I’d never heard it – it was one of the first operas I ever owned on vinyl. But it is also the opera which got me my “A” in Advanced Conducting. I’m actually a terrible conductor. But there’s one scena in Rigoletto that I knew I stood a good chance of putting across, and put it across I did – mostly with my face – not even controlling it – the music and situation just gave me the expressions. Also, the part of Rigoletto yesterday was sung by Quinn Kelsey, who recently got such an outstanding review in this role, and even specifically in that scena, that I wanted to hear whether he deserved it. Did he? Oh, yeah. I have never heard a baritone put as much feeling into “Io vo’ mia figlia…” as he did. And I have heard some great baritones sing it. The most famous excerpt from Rigoletto, of course, is the aria “La donna e mobile,” which is pure projection, and, although the word in that sense did not exist in 1851, I’m confident Verdi knew it (the plot of the opera itself belies the aria’s words.) But it’s also catchy, and he knew that too – so catchy that he hid it from everyone including the tenor until the day of the premier, and essentially locked the cast and orchestra up until the show opened. Opera was then so popular that by the time one opened, the town in which it was opening knew every note. But not this time. This time the audience was surprised, and completely won over. And, as projectionist as it is, it’s not really a bad thing it’s so popular and well known – it gives the ending even more punch. Today’s cartoon is a gif file that was used by Wonkette, and you will see why the late Queen Elizabeth liked to be surrounded by corgis – they were her secret service. 🤣

Fat Bear week – Sorry that this is too late to vote for – not that I could tell you how anyway – but the winner won’t be announced until Tuesday, so there’s that.

I love stories like this one from Good News Network. You’ve heard of win-win, but this is more like win-win-win-win. The animals are benefited, as well as the inmates. But so is the prison staff, because inmates in these programs are easier to work with. And so is the entire community, because the recidivism rate goes down. Kudos to Ohio.

This is not news at all – it is Borowitz. But I think TomCat would have loved it. So here it is.

Open Thread September 27 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 5:58 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 272025

Yesterday, with the announcement of, among other things, a 100% tariff on pharmaceuticals, I think it’s time for me to share this article and the website it cites. I don’t use it myself because I don’t need to, on account of my HRA, which is tied to my keeping a Part D with a specific carrier, and which pays the premiums for it. An HRA is essentially free money, so I can’t really complain if they claw a little back – I still have a bundle left to use. But I’m sure most people don’t have HRAs. But I digress. I don’t use this but besides the original post (and I don’t think Mark Cuban is an idiot or a grifter), there are plenty of comments from people who do, and since I belong to DU and know how it works, I know these are all real people, real Democrats, just sharing what they know with like-minded people. Also, Tim Walz emailed that Mike Lindell (the pillow guy) is “taking steps” to run for governor of Minnesota. And Sinclair will be broadcasting Jimmy Kimmel again starting Friday.

I think I would have said “mobsters” before Gestapo myself. But really, is there even an English word for this level of evil?

I don’t really know what to say about this from Robert Reich. Except maybe, he’s right, you know. I’m actually less worried for myself than for those who go to and from work, shopping, or whatever. The danger appear to me mostly of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Much of the killing appears to be based on whims of the moment.

Heather Cox Richardson kind of sums up the week. If you get too depressed reading it, don’t stop, but do skip to the last couple of paragraphs. Hopefully, that should help.

Open Thread September 26 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 262025

Yesterday, the electrician came and fixed my kitchen light in about 20 minutes. the problem was in the switch. He said that outlets and switches generally last abut 20 years (and I am at 23 – I had everything rewired before moving in in 2002.) And added that my switch box panel is in good shape (they last 30-40 years.) He only charged for a service call (I would have been happy with up to 3x the amount, or at least would have if parts had been needed.) It’s good to have light!

Last might Carrie B (NannyCarrie from Care2) emailed that her husband Barry is in the hospital with what they think is a brain stem stroke. He can’t breathe without a ventilator. She is terrified and asks for prayers, vibes, or as TC would say, however you communicate with the universe. If anyone wants her email please let me know in a comment.

Well, we don’t have to go back to the Third Reich to understand the politicization of the military – the seventies and eighties are well within the lifetimes of most of us.

This link is to a petition, but scrolling down brings you to the article explaining why the petition. Please read that first. Then, if you want, feel free to sign. My goal is for you to be aware this is happening.

Since RFK Jr is so hung up on prenatal acetominaphen being the cause of autism (though autism has been around a whole lot longer than acetominaphen has), when I read this (and all of the comments -they contain many more stories as well as gratitude), I thought it might be good for us to have something more accurate – and more sane – to read on the subject

Open Thread September 25 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 252025

Yesterday, The Resistance PAC and Win Without War were circulating a petition to use the 25th Amendment, but also to hold the Orange Oligarch accountable for treason. The suggested basis was his putting troops into American cities. As I assume we all know by now, the Constitution limits the definition of treason to making war on the US, or providing aid and comfort to anyone making war on the US. I think his putting the military into US cities is iffy, especially since apparently Jan 6 didn’t qualify – but at least it’s not totally unreasonable under the definition (and his working on changing “Defense” to “War” adds a little plausibility.) So i went ahead and signed this one. Not that it will go anywhere, nor am I recommending anyone else to sign it. Just explaining my reasoning. Also, Adelita Grijalva has won handily the special election for the House seat of her late father Raul in Arizona (she got 71% of the vote.) And I don’t want to hear a word about nepo babies. Yes, her highest elected office previously was for County Supervisor, but she’s not totally without experience. And then – there’s this. (Don’t click with liquid in your mouth.)

Wonkette discusses the Poopypants Pasha’s plans to profit from immigration. Is everything about money with him, or is everything just about him? Or can he tell the difference?

I suppose I could bring back the Furies, or chat with Themis, on this. But I think most of us already know the general outlines of the history of the FBI, as shared by The Conversation. The devil, however, is in the details – literally.

And I’m adding this from NBC News with the caveat that we have very little knowledge yet because I expect to se a lot of misinformation and want us to be prepared.

Open Thread September 24 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:00 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 242025

Yesterday, another quiet day – which is wonderful, Heck, any one day under the current regime is more excitement than I need for the rest of my life.

Apparently Jimmy Kimmel was back on TV last night (as Wonkette and others expected). But that doesn’t matter in connection with what Robert Reich has to say about the whole kerfuffle, both here and in his video for Inequality Media (below).

Dan Froomkin from Press Watch thinks the Old Gray Lady may be reverting to actual journalism. I think the key words are “may be,” but he does have some examples to share. I note that this does NOT apply to the Washington Post.

This from the Talking Feds Substack is, of course, an opinion, but I have seen a fair amount about this, and thought about it. I would never support shutting down a government which is working well. But this one isn’t. It is in fact actively harmful. And I think Talking Feds is on to something. To shut down the Government and make it count, we need to make it about fascism. I think we can, and I think we should.

A guest video today from Robert Reich – not just OK but encouraged to share.

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