Open Thread for December 6, 2021

 Posted by at 7:08 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Dec 062021
 

Yesterday was quiet, but I got a late start, so didn’t do a whole lot. Which is fine. I did assemble the next two weeks meds (a day late.)

Cartoon –

Short Takes

The Conversation – What the public doesn’t get: Anti-CRT lawmakers are passing pro-CRT laws
Quote – [A Wisconsin] bill … includes a ban against teaching that “[o]ne race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex.” …. Now imagine a 10th grade social studies class begins a unit on corporate America. The teacher opens with basic facts about Fortune 500 CEOs…. In effect, this story suggests that white men are inherently superior – the precise message that Wisconsin’s bill prohibits.
Click through for the complete case. This would be funny if it weren’t so sad. Dunning and Kruger would be facepalming.

The New Yorker – A Son Sends Josephine Baker to the Panthéon
Quote – The panthéonisation was a go, making Baker the sixth woman, and the first woman of color, to be so recognized. Born in St. Louis in 1906, she is also the first American-born person (she became a French citizen in 1937) to be honored alongside the likes of Voltaire and Hugo.
Click through. I thought I had a fair idea of what Baker did for humanity … but I vastly overestimated ny knowledge. She certainly deseerves this honor. If you are paywalled, I’ll be happy to send a pdf.

Crooks and Liars – BOGO: Koch Industries Buys An AZ Senate Candidate’s…Company
Quote – Republican Jim Lamon was the founder and owner of DEPCOM Power, a solar power company headquartered in Arizona. Lamon’s company was acquired by a division of Koch Industries, just in time to give Lamon a huge cash infusion with which to challenge Mark Kelly, who is running for re-election in 2022.
Click through for details. I believe this is called “plausible deniability” – which is seldom, and in this case not, plausible.

Food for Thought –

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Video Thread 12/5/21

 Posted by at 12:07 pm  Open Thread, Politics
Dec 052021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Ethan Crumbley’s Parents Charged w/Manslaughter for Recklessly Enabling Son in High School Shooting

Thom Hartmann – Could Your Dreams Save Your Life??

Ring of Fire – Another Trump Supporter Has Been Arrested For Voter Fraud

Armageddon Update – The Lauren We Deserve

Rebel HQ – Trump Is Losing Everything He Loved

Rehabbed Raccoon Comes Back Every Night To Visit Some Unlikely Friends

Beau – Let’s talk about an update on a ruined Thanksgiving dinner….

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Open Thread for December 5, 2021

 Posted by at 6:51 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Dec 052021
 

Yesterday was the first day since the oandemic started that the Metropolitan Opera was able to do a live broadcast over the radio (Last season was all re-runs). It was a new opera, “Eurydice,” which tells (I can’t say re-tells because the story is very far out) the story of Orpheus and Eurydice, set in the 21st century, from the point of view of Eurydice. It’s very accessible (term of art for “easy to listen to, not a lot of dissonance”). Thatt’s a good thing as just following the plot is plenty challenging.

Cartoon – 05 MCel RTU

Short Takes

NPR – Parents of Michigan school shooting suspect are held on $500,000 bond after manhunt
Quote – “They sought multiple attempts to hide their location and were eventually tracked down after they parked their car somewhere a witness saw it,” said Oakland County prosecutor Karen McDonald. “These two individuals were found locked somewhere in a room, hiding. These are not people that we can be assured will return to court on their own.”
Click through for details.  I thought this was an update we’d all want to see.

Democratic Underground (Eleanor R) – Heartbreaking (tissue alert)
Quote – McClaren Hospital where Oxford community is gathered to supportthe family of Justin Shillings, one of the four teens killed this week. Justin is an organ donor and the crowd is here so that when his body is moved for surgery his family can look down andsee the love and support.
Click through for picture … and comments. Don’t miss comment #15 by barbtries.

HuffPost – ‘Obscene’ GOP Blockade Stalls Dozens Of Biden Nominees
Quote – Republicans can’t actually block all of Biden’s nominees from being confirmed. But they can use the existing rules of the Senate to drastically slow down their appointments, dragging out the process of filling what have typically been uncontroversial jobs in lower-level positions across the federal government. With the GOP refusing to expedite many of Biden’s nominees, placing so-called “holds” on them at the committee level, Democrats must carry out multiple votes to confirm each one, eating up valuable floor time that could be spent on other legislative business.
Click through for story. Dirty tricks and more dirty tricks. All done to “own the libs,” but really all done to hurt the American people.

Food for Thought –



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Video Thread 12/4/21

 Posted by at 11:39 am  Open Thread, Politics
Dec 042021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Trump Says Only Mobsters Plead the 5th as Trump DOJ Official Jeff Clark Prepares to…Plead the 5th

Meidas Touch – Politicsgirl on Brian Williams (I am going to miss him!)

The Lincoln Project – Work – Oh, boy, does this ever need to be seen by every American eligible to vote!

RepresentUs – How Billionaires Secretly Influence Society

Really American – Webster Reveals Two Biggest Words of 2021

Guy Finds A Stray Kitten, Bikes Around The World With Her For Two Years

Beau – Let’s talk about coats and hats….

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Open Thread for December 4, 2021

 Posted by at 6:44 am  Open Thread, Politics
Dec 042021
 

Yesterday, it was calm again. I’m beginning to be able to tell how much I overdid the previous day by how much my back hurts when I get up. It was worse yeatersay (after bringing in groceries) than the previous two days, but nothing compared to how it felt the day after I saw Virgil. On the whole, the back is improving, though, which is nice.

Cartoon –

Short Takes

Black parents say movement to ban critical race theory is ruining their children’s education
Quote – “This is a way for them to stop, or try to prevent the schools from actually teaching, and practicing, equity, diversity and inclusion across the schools,” Hutchsinon said. “I hear a lot of White mothers say they think their child is too young to learn about racism. You know what, my child’s not too young to experience it.”
Click through for story. It’s so obvious, isn’t it? If white children can have their snowflake fee-fees hurt be learning the truth about white history, what does that imply for black children who are systematically prevented from learning anything black history? So obvious. But apparently it needs to be said (and very loudly.)

Daily Kos (keefknight) – Cartoon: Black Mugshots
Quote – I’m going to screw the algorithm. Black people, post and sent s pic of yourself drinking out of your favorite mug. Non-Black people: Post and sentd a pic of yourself with a black mug.
Click through for cartoon and for comments. I love this idea. Photos can be uploaded at www.blackmugshots.com if you are interested. The hashtag is #blackmugshot.

HuffPost – Parents Of Oxford High School Shooting Suspect Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter
Quote – “While the shooter was the one who entered the high school and pulled the trigger, there were other individuals who contributed, and it’s my intention to hold them accountable as well,” McDonald said. “Gun ownership is a right, and with that right comes great responsibility.”
Click through for details. I think we can all agree it’s terribly sad that this is necessary – but, since apparently it is, I for one am glad to see it. (Glenn says the same and more, but that won’t post until tomorrow’s Video Thread.)

Food for Thought –

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Video Thread 12/3/21

 Posted by at 11:41 am  Open Thread, Politics
Dec 032021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Not his own video, but an appearance on Stephanie Miller from 11/28. So, not new. He just shows a slughtly different side of himself to Stephanie.

RHQ – Trump Rioter Hit By Most Ironic Karma

Now this News – Exhibit Sheds Light on Migrant Farmworkers’ Stories

Really American – INSANE “Dr.” Oz IS A Danger To America

The Alt-Right Playbook – I’m not sure whether this is a new end note or whether I just don’t remember it (or maybe issed it.) But hey, it’s worth watching multiple times.

Reuters – White House unveils Biden Christmas decorations

Beau – Let’s talk about Fred Gray, Alabama, and a new south….

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Open Thread for December 3, 2021

 Posted by at 7:19 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Dec 032021
 

Yesterday, I got the groceries put away. I finished all the cartoons for December. I put together and submitted the claim for reimbursement for my thyroid. And I puttered around a little with beads and pendants.

Cartoon –

Short Takes

Crooks and Liars – Wait Til You Hear What Kimmel Called Tucker Carlson This Time
Quote – To scare grandma, they need fresh villains. So they zero in on this tiny, adorable, tired man, who has done nothing but good for this world. Dr. Fauci has probably done more good for the world than all of us in this room combined.”
Click through for what he called Tucker. What impressed me more was his description of Fauci, so that’s what I quoted.

The Revelator – Invasive Species Are Threatening Antarctica’s Fragile Ecosystems
Quote – We mapped the last five years of planes and ships visiting the continent, illuminating for the first time the extent of travel across the hemispheres and the potential source locations for non-native species. We found that, luckily, while some have breached Antarctica, they generally have yet to get a stranglehold, leaving the continent still relatively pristine. But Antarctica is getting busier, with new research stations, rebuilding and more tourism activities planned. Our challenge is to keep it pristine under this growing human activity and climate change threat.
Click through for details and prognosis. The Revelator is a niche publication, ;iterally all about saving the earth for human habitation, which means it’s very much about climate change and reversing its effects.

SILive – Honoring frontline workers and more: See how Jill Biden decorated the White House for Christmas
Quote – This year marks Joe and Jill Biden’s first holiday season in the White House as president and first lady. Jill Biden explained they were inspired by Americans across the country who remind us that “our differences are precious and our similarities infinite.” The year was also defined by the uncommon acts of compassion, bravery and selflessness by many — and the White House celebrates their service and sacrifice, Jill Biden said.
Click through for more. I wanted an article that was positive about it, which eliminated Slate and the New York Times quickly. I think most of us are glad to have a President and First Lady who are human and humane.  BTW, I think the video – in the Video Thread – shows more detail.

Food for Thought –

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Video Thread 12/2/21

 Posted by at 12:20 pm  Open Thread, Politics
Dec 022021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Former DOJ Official Jeffrey Clark to Plead the 5th Amendment for Crimes he Committed w/Donald Trump

Lincoln Project – Last Week in the Republican Party

Ring of Fire – Corporations Are Using Inflation As An Excuse To Jack Up Prices For Consumers

Represent Us – Why We Should Make Election Day a Holiday (Look, I’m not opposed to making Election Day a holiday. But I am violently opposed to the idea that doing so will solve all out electoral problems. Frankly, that strikes me as elitism and privilege at its ugliest. Making Election Da a holiday will not enfranchise low income workers paid hourly in call centers, retail establishments, and places like hospitals and prisons where some one must work, holiday or no holiday. In fact, it may further disenfranchise the poorest, who are desparate to cover minimum expenses – time and a half or double time are a great incentive not to vote. Unless we also make voting by mail, no reason required, nationally available, safe, and dependable, and continue to support early voting and making more places available to vote, all the holidays on the world are not going to enfranchise the people who need it the most.)

Liberal Redneck – Liberal Redneck – SCOTUS and the “Pro-Life” Crowd

Brent Terhune – Black Friday

Beau – Let’s talk about a video for grown ups…

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