Video Thread 9/27/22

 Posted by at 11:54 am  Open Thread, Politics
Sep 272022
 

Glenn Kirschner – Trump’s secret grand jury litigation to stop aides from incriminating him & why it won’t work

Meidas Touch – BREAKING: Federal Court CITES Trump case and IMMEDIATELY DENIES Mike Lindell Search Warrant Motion (It takes Ben a while to get to the lede, but when he does, it’s delicious)

The Lincoln Project – How a Democracy Falls

Robert Reich – The Truth Behind “Self-Made” Billionaires

Armageddon Update – IMMIGRATION NATION!

Beau – Let’s talk about how Game of Thrones can change the world…. [Call me crazy, but I would recommend detective fiction – not what I would call crime fiction where the focus is on the crimes, but detective fiction where the focus is on analyzing and deducing to restore order.)

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Open Thread September 27, 2022

 Posted by at 6:50 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Sep 272022
 

Yesterday, the plumber came around 9:00 and was finished before 10:00. I had two separate small problems, one in the bathroom sink and one in the stool. That was a good thing – because with both stopped up, I was afraid there was one problem, farther out, that would require expensive digging. At least I dodged that bullet.

Some information I have come across recently I think is interesting, though it may not mean anything (but it is suggestive.) The area which is now Russia had indigenous peole in the Middle Ages, and was invaded by Vikings – whom the indigenous people called “the Rus.” Those people actually asked the Vikings to stay and rule over them, because the Vikings appeared to be more organized than they were. (Incidentally the Vikings were not an ethniv group – it was more like a career choice – there were Vikings of many ethnicities.) The name “Russia” comes from their name for the Vikings. Ukrainians, however, are descended from Cossacks (if their national anthem is to be believed.) The Cossacks were an ethnic group’ They were semi-nomadic. Groups of them settled in varioua eastern nations, making a deal that they would providwe military service to those nations in return for being allowed self-government – which was mostly democratic. Don’t be discouraged by the length of this video on the Vikings – you only need to listen about a minute and a half to get the content. And this article is on the Cossacks. Those are my sources.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

Letters from an American – September 24, 2022
Quote – In Arizona, Pima County Superior Court Judge Kellie Johnson has restored a law put into effect by Arizona’s Territorial legislature in 1864 and then reworked in 1901 that has been widely interpreted as a ban on all abortions except to save a woman’s life. Oddly, I know quite a bit about the 1864 Arizona Territorial legislature, and its story matters as we think about the attempt to impose its will in modern America. In fact, the Civil War era law seems not particularly concerned with women handling their own reproductive care—it actually seems to ignore that practice entirely. The laws for this territory, chaotic and still at war in 1864, appear to reflect the need to rein in a lawless population of men.
Click through for story. I believe I see a huge Plan B loophole in the way this law is worded – provided the user orders it from, or buys it in person, out of state (i.e., receives it from a person not under Arizona’s jurisdiction.)

ABC News [Australian Broadcasting Company] – Indigenous activists condemn New York Times obituary of Uncle Jack Charles as offensive Lona
Quote – The lede paragraph of the New York Times story initially read: “MELBOURNE, Australia — Jack Charles, one of Australia’s leading Indigenous actors, who has been called the “grandfather of Aboriginal theatre” but whose heroin addiction and penchant for burglary landed him in and out of jail throughout his life, died on September 13 in Melbourne. He was 79.” It was updated to read: “MELBOURNE, Australia — Jack Charles, one of Australia’s leading Indigenous actors and activists, who has been called the “grandfather of Aboriginal theatre” and who spent years in prison for burglaries that he saw as acts of reparations, died on September 13 in Melbourne. He was 79.”
Click through for story (I had no trouble so I assume y’all can see it – if not I’ll be happy to “print” it and sent a pdf) The ironic thing is that the Old Gray Lady is supposedly trying to be more sensitive in obituaries. Apparently, that only aqpplies to Americans.

Food For Thought

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Video Thread 9/26/22

 Posted by at 11:54 am  Open Thread, Politics
Sep 262022
 

Glenn Kirschner – Where is Sidney Powell? Gaetz skates? Judge Dearie tells Trump’s attorneys to put up or shut up

Meidas Touch – Michael Cohen REACTS to NY AG Filing on Trump Based On His Testimony

The Lincoln Project – A New Dark Age

This Week at Justice – September 23, 2022

Ojeda Live – Trump claims he can declassify documents “even by thinking about it.”

Beau – Let’s talk about the DISCLOSE Act….

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Open Thread September 26, 2022

 Posted by at 7:13 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Sep 262022
 

Yesterday, I went to see Virgil, who returns all greetings. I know he’s grateful to all of you for being there for me We were able to get in a little cribbage – the facility only has one deck of regular cards (I think they have a Uno set which has its own card in it, but that’s all) and they are not allowed to accept donations. There’s no board, so we don’t keep a running score – we are doing well if we remember whose deal it is – but it’s still fun. There is a large flat screen TV in the room, and today it was on (no sound) to the Chiefs-Colts game, about which the less said the better. The drive was easy enough both ways, and I got there and home safely.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

Mother Jones – An Insurrectionist Underwear Model Is Finally Having His January 6 Trial
Quote – Strand is the first insurrectionist “influencer” to go on trial, and is arguably the most fashionable and impeccably groomed January 6 defendant. His signature undercut hairstyle, with the top carefully gelled into a rooster’s comb, leather jacket, and aviator sunglasses made him stand out in the crowd of old bearded white men, other MAGA maniacs, the QAnon Shaman, and the cammo-garbed militia types.
Click through for article. Yes, this is from last Wednesday, and he was supposed to testify Thursday, and by now the case has likely gone to the jury, but I can’t find any information on it.

Crooks & Liars – Hundreds Turn Out For Dying Boy’s Last Halloween Wish
Quote – Alex’s parents wanted to make his remaining time as meaningful as possible. They asked him if there was anything that he still wished to experience. His response: Halloween. Specifically, he wanted to see monsters. As a toddler, Alex had gone to a haunted house in Niagara Falls, his father said, and he desperately wanted to go back. His doctors cautioned the Hurdakises against traveling, urging them to remain close to home.
Click through for story (and a video). President Joe always says, “I promise you, the time will come that what’s going to happen is six months will go by and everybody is going to think, well, it’s passed. But you are going to ride by that field or smell that fragrance or see that flashing image. You are going to feel like you did the day you got the news. But you know you are going to make it. The image of your dad, your husband, your friend. It crosses your mind and a smile comes to your lips before a tear to your eye. That’s how you know. I promise you, I give you my word, I promise you, this I know. The day will come. That day will come.” And when it does, this memory will be there for Alex’s family.

Food For Thought

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Video Thread 9/25/22

 Posted by at 11:43 am  Open Thread, Politics
Sep 252022
 

Glenn Kirschner – Appeals court reverses Judge Cannon’s ruling, FBI investigation of Trump/classified docs can resume

Meidas Touch – Furious Navy Vet SLAMS MAGA Group who BLOCKED Veteran Crisis Prevention Hotline

The Lincoln Project – Rally of Darkness

MSNBC – Trump Charges?: Anticipated Jan. 6 Report Hits #1 On US Book Chart Before It Is Released (Jamie Raskin is writing the actual report and David Remnick is the editor.)

Mrs.Betty Bowers – America’s Busiest Troll

Beau – Let’s talk about Trump getting exactly what he asked for….

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Open Thread September 25, 2022

 Posted by at 7:10 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Sep 252022
 

Yesterday, the radio opera was Rúsalka, sung in Czech, by Antonín Dvořák (there’s not actually an accent on the u -I put one there to remind myself that’s where the stress is.) Like every other culture, the Czech cultur is rich in fairy tales. But, if you think the Brothers Grimm are grim, don’t look up the Czech ones, because they are grimmer. A Rúsalka is a female water spirit (it isn’t her name), and her story is that of the Llittle Mermaid, only darker. She is a fresh water being, she doesn’t go to a sea witch, but a lake or river witch called Jezibaba, and forfeits her voice to become human. The prince falls for her but everyone in his castle is terrified of this speechless woman who seems so cold (she didn’t get a soul in the deal, you see.) A foreign princess comes to visit, and the Prince is tempted, and the Rúsalka fears all is lost and goes back to the water. The prince tries to stop her but it is too late. She has become a different kind of water spirit, one who exists to lure human men and kiss them, which condemns tham to hell for eternity (she did get her voice back, so she tells him this – she doesn’t want to doom him.) But he chooses to kiss her anyway. Not exactly a happily ever after ending for sure. The one aria from it which is often concertized is the “Song to the Moon,” about how much she loves the prince and wants to be with him. The role is for a soprano, but this aria isn’t high, and a mezzo-soprano can sing it, and in fact the best, IMO, I ever heard it was done by a mezzo, Frederica von Stade (also, Joshua Bell did a lovely violin version). But I digress. Dvořák also used Czech fairy tales as the bases for some tone poems, of which the three I can remember are “The Noon Witch,” “The Wood Dove,” and “The Golden Spinning Wheel.” All the music is lovely, and all the stories are gruesome.

Cartoon – 25 0925Cartoon.jpg also Rosh Hashanah loaded

Short Takes –

CPR News – Elijah McClain’s autopsy report changed to death by ketamine
Quote – “The forensic evidence revealed that the cause of death was undetermined. Specifically, the pathologist who conducted the autopsy stated that he was unable to conclude that the actions of any law enforcement officer caused Mr. McClain’s death. In order to prove any form of Homicide in the state of Colorado it is mandatory that the prosecution prove that the accused caused the death of the victim.” Even with this new cause of death being ketamine, it is unclear how prosecutors move forward with holding those who touched McClain that evening accountable for his death without a homicide declaration on the death certificate.
Click through for updates. We pretty well knew this. But now it’s official – but the manner of death is still wrong. I think our AG tried hard for accountability, but has been stymied, as usual, by law enforcement sticking together regardless.

Crooks & Liars – Ukraine Returns 215 POWs, Including Azovstal Defenders In Prisoner Swap
Quote – An amazing swap, as in total Ukraine returned 215 prisoners of war, 205 Ukrainians and 10 foreigners. The entire leadership of the Azov regiment appears to have survived and were freed, including commander Denys Prokopenko. British national Aidan Aslin, sentenced to death by Russian proxies of Donetsk, also swapped. Ukrainian medic and songstress Kateryna “Ptashka” Polishchuk aka “Birdie” was also among those released, just days after Russia released an interrogation video of her.
Click through for more details. This is astonishing, particularly since Putin has started conscripting. But I’ll definitely tke it.

Food For Thought

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Video Thread 9/24/22

 Posted by at 12:01 pm  Open Thread, Politics
Sep 242022
 

Glenn Kirschner – NY AG Leticia James sues Trump, Don Jr., Ivanka Trump, Eric Trump & others in massive fraud case

Meidas Touch – NEW: Senate CONDEMNS Trump’s DESPICABLE anti-FBI conduct in SCATHING UNANIMOUS RESOLUTION

The Lincoln Project – With Age Comes Wisdom

MSNBC – ‘This Reversal Will Be A Permanent Part Of Judge Cannon’s Legacy’: Dave Aronberg

The Riccardis – Boy from Mar-a-Lago (FBI Raid Edition)

Beau – Let’s talk about a stark warning from an Arizona republican….

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Open Thread September 24, 2022

 Posted by at 7:12 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Sep 242022
 

Yesterday was chilly again. That wasn’t supposed to happen. Oh well, it’s Colorado. Eventually, it did warm up.  Also, a new Betty Bowers video came out (It’ll be in tomorrow’s video thread) and by a strange coincidence, the answer to the Wordle was “Glory!” I am having plumbing issues, but can’t get a plumber unti Monday. Sigh. These things happen.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

Robert Reich – The Truth I’m telling Congress today (Part II) [A continuation from yesterday’s article. We seldom get such a quick response.]
Quote – This is the process, folks. The media begin to change how they report on a public problem such as inflation, because the current facts don’t square with the older view. This starts to reframe the debate. The reframing educates the public, and encourages lawmakers to talk differently about the problem. Which in turn encourages the media to further reframe it in line with current realities.
Click through for article. In his email he also refers to a New York Times article (sorry I don’t have a gift link) which also carries the message. Good news.

The Daily Beast – Donald Trump Tells Hannity He Can Declassify Docs Just by ‘Thinking About It’
Quote – When Hannity asked about the declassification process, Trump replied: “There doesn’t have to be a process, as I understand it. Different people see different things. But as I understand it, there doesn’t have to be. If you’re the president of the United States, you can declassify just by saying it’s declassified. Even by thinking about it,” he asserted. “It doesn’t have to be a process. It can be a process but it doesn’t have to be. You’re the president. You make that decision. So when you send it [to Mar-a-Lago or “wherever”], it’s declassified. We—I—declassified everything,” Trump insisted, even though his lawyers have not made that claim in court.
Click through for more, including a video if you can stand it (I didn’t even try.) This is so FRIKKEN ridiculous you have probably already heard it.

Food For Thought

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