Open Thread February 26, 2024

 Posted by at 5:54 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 262024
 

Yesterday, Trinette was by to bring in mail, take out trash and recyclables, and start the car. (Hi back to all.) While here, she noticed I had acquired an HD antenna and had not done anything with it. I know you all think I am highly computer literate, but the truth is, I had no more idea what to do with it than a dog who has caught a car. With a book or pamphlet of instructions, I could have coped, but it didn’t come with one. But Trinette got it working and set on PBS in practically no time. What a gem!

As a veteran, I’m deeply interested in this, because no one can be a MAGAt and a good soldier at the same time, any more than one can be a MAGAt and a patriot at the same time. The mention of individual unit commanders developing their own training tells me two things – first, that there are multiple unit commanders whose hearts are in the right place (and in sync with their brains), and second, that these commanders’ own superior officers have failed them. Yes, there’s much more to get out of this report; those were just what struck me.

Dearfield, Colorado, a town in Weld County (Northeast of Denver), now a ghost town, began to be homesteaded by black people in 1910. Eventually it became the home of 300 people of color, making it the largest black homestead in the state. It is already on the National Register of Historic Places. Now, descendants of the homesteaders, historians, and others who care, want it to be designated as a National Park. I for one certainly hope the effort succeeds.

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Open Thread February 25, 2024

 Posted by at 5:46 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 252024
 

Yesterday,as I said on Fridaay,  the radio opera wasn’t an opera – it was a Requiem Mass and a movement from a symphony.  But the orchestra was the Met Orchestra, and the Chorus was the Met Chorus, and the soloists – four for each pieces wereall Met Opera stars, and the conductor was the Met Opera Music Director.    And, as I listened to the Mozart Requiem, and Beethoven’s Ode to Joy from the Metropolitan opera, I realized it was the second anniversary of the (insert adjective here) Russian war on Ukraine. (At least for now, my adjective is “despicable.”)-  Well, the General Manager of the Opera is married to a Ukrainian-American, so it should surprise noone that the Metroplitan Opera does not forget Ukraine.

I realize this is a little late in the month. But I only just received it. And we do have a few days left

This has been on my mind. What is so different about it is that the murderers were children – not only the victim..

We already know – those of us who are alert to real news and intelligent enough to think about it – that the two partiea are not the same. So it’s no surprise that these contrasting arguments do not have the same legitimacy.

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Open Thread February 24, 2024

 Posted by at 6:17 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 242024
 

Yesterday, I received another grocery order. Only a week since the last ne, but there’s a terrific sale on some things I do use, and wich keep well frozen. The luck of the draw assigned me another really good driver. I adjusted her tip, and in my comments included that she needs to be teaching other drivers clsses in how to tie the handles of a plastic bag into a knot that un-knots easily in one movement so the bag can be used again. Pat may know what the knot is called (she said she’d be back probably today) but I don’t. But it’s marvelous.

This is a story about making change, and particularly, about one person making change happen. I’m impressed, not least because the western part of the state is generally pretty red.

There are still good people in the world (hanky alert.)

If you think Republicans believe their base is dumb, just wait till you see how dumb they think black people are. (The full URL includes “substack” so be prepared to look for a “keep reading” button.

 

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Open Thread February 23, 2024

 Posted by at 6:15 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 232024
 

Yesterday, I had a visit from an old peoples’ services organization whom Trinette referred me to. She was very pleasant, but of course time was consumed

Certainly one doesn’t need to study the book (or the movie) to be able to see clearly what is happening,just based on published news (some true, some not so much). And just think how much more the FBI knows. With Trump** or without him, it’s not going to get any better unless it gets actively contained. And I have no idea how that’s to be done.

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Open Thread February 22, 2024

 Posted by at 6:06 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 222024
 

Yesterday, After getting a quick note from Nameless that the site was borked, I spent over an hour on the phone (much of it waiting, and much of it being told we needed a developer and they couldn’t help), I had to ask for a supervisor (I felt like an awful Karen, but it did the trick.) It’s working normally now. Also yesterday, I received the email that my ballot has been counted. If you haven’t already done so, be sure to check out Monday’s Open Thread, because it contains an update on Colleen. Also, this will be kind of short, not just due to BlueHost, but I lost time on some other things too. Mama said there’d be days like this.

I’d like to hope you will see, or have seen, this story elsewhere than the Black Star. But I wouldn’t bet any important body parts on it.

From Mary Trump’s keyboard straight to God’s monitor!

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Open Thread February 21, 2024

 Posted by at 6:32 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 212024
 

Yesterday, we learned that an arrest was made Monday in the case of the UCCS shooting, a 25-year-old man, also a UCCS student – Nicholas Jordan of Detroit, MI. “Investigative efforts continue to indicate this was an isolated incident between individuals who were known to one another and not a random attack against the school or other students at the university,” the police department said in the press release, which seemed fairly evident to me right up front. Certainly by the numbers this qualifies as a mass shooting, but I was smelling domestic violence from the get-go. Also yesterday, I received an email that my ballot has been received. Considering it only left the house Sunday, and Monday was a Federal Holiday so no mail, that’s like zero days to get there. (Think what they could accomplish if we could only get rid of De Joy.)  Finally, I realized I had put the wrong date on yesterday’s Open Thread, so it didn’t post in the morning, and by the time I discovered it, ir was already a couple of hours after sunset.  It’s there now.   Apologies!

This is pretty unbelievable. The ads are saying only 1000 pair are available, and the price is $399. That means the most he can raise from this would be $3,990. At that rate, he would have to sell 91,479 batches of shoes just to pay the New York Civil Fraud fines – and that does not include back interest, nor does it include what he owes E. Jean Carroll. (and as Beau pointe out, someone working at $15.00 per hour, 24/7/365-366, would have to have started in the year 678 – BCE. For a “businessman,” he certainly doesn’t understand money.

Here’s the link to a petition urging Clarence to accept John Oliver’s offer. (And if you also sign the second one, which addresses Xitter, you’ll get to see a list of their current actions, and it’s worth while just to read it

The Daily Beast has some dirt on one of Sherrod Brown’s potential opponents (unless Ohio has two vacant Senate seats, which is unlikely.)

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Open Thread February 20, 2024

 Posted by at 6:24 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 202024
 

Yesterday, one of the first things I did was check on my credit crard, and saw that the erroneous charges have been removed. I slept in, but I checked caller ID and I have not missed any phone calls today. I also have not receeived an email on the subject. It’s possible they just voided the transactions and didn’t tell anyone, but it’s also possible the Card company deleted them, with or without notification. They are watching the account also, so at this point I don’t need to call them again. I knew I would not be on the hook for the charges.

Many of us have issues with family, or longtime friends, who are Republicans. We all handle these issues in our own ways, because that is who we are. If any of us is dissatisfied with what we are currently doing, Mary Trump’s thoughts on this may help, one way or another.

This explains a lot. And notice, it can be acomplished without any politicians getting involved in the process.

Remember Justin Jones? he has a message for us. (Don’t click on the Xitter link – give it time to load – and if it still doesn’t, the transcript is complete, only missing his photo.)

(We did help through Greece – and that was “obsolete” ammunition, and I guess all we had – now, Congress’s approval is required to give anything. We could sell, but….)

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Open Thread February 19, 2024

 Posted by at 5:42 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 192024
 

Yesterday, Trinette was over and said “Hi back” to everyone. She brought my ballot in from the mailbox, I filled it out, signed the enveloe, stamped it, and put an ostentatious veteran sticker on the back, which I doubt will be needed, because Trinette took it and will mail it at a Post Office pickup. I forgot to mention that Saturday I started looking for Colleen’s phone number, and actually found it – had to pay $1 for it, which I thought was well worth it. And I did reach her yesterday, and she is safe and well, but the weather has continued to be soggy and windy, which has affected her internet, and on top oof that she had a rare visit from her son and grandson, who are now on their way to Italy. Neither she nor the internet are ready to come back, but she definitely will when she can, and continues to pray for all of us. She says hello to everyone (Then, today, I got a message from my credit card company that they hadhad correctly charged the $1.00 but had also incorrectly separately charged $155.40 – twice yet. So I was also on the phone to them. This is different from every other time I have had unauthorized charges – those were always strangers, so there was no choice but to cancel the card and issue a new one. This time there is a chance the vendor just goofed. I have called them (but at leas on weekends they have  no phone service – the message gave me an email addresss and I have sent an email to them. But one way or another, I will not lose the money.)

Heather Cox Richardson has put together a lesson in (recent) Ukrainian history to include the ups and downs of Paul Manafort, which is pretty revealing.

Canadian Black history … brought to you by who else but Wonkette? (part of Substack so remember to look for and click the “keep reading” button.)

If anyone cares… the ad that came up for me right after this was for a “Trumpinator Bobblehead.” Seriously.

This is not a cartoon today – it is a link to a promotion for Joe Biden made by Harrison Ford, stressing what real Presidents do and don’t do (such as they don’t do thing he did in his role in “Air Force One.” It also contains a complete transcription of his thoughts, so you can skip the clip if you prefer.

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