Video Thread 3/8/2021

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 1:33 pm Open Thread, Politics

Mar 082021

The Damage Report – Long-ish (under 6 minutes) but an important topic – and Ro Khanna.

Extremist military and veterans. I do apologize for no CC.

This is only a partial transcript.
Whoever coined the phrase “Once a Marine, always a Marine” did not have this in mind: A Marine Corps veteran using the Marine Corps flag to attack a Capitol police officer. Thomas Webster is one of more than 30 who have served in the military now charged with crimes at the Capitol.
“It doesn’t take an army to do what happened; it takes people with some skill set to lead those others,” said former FBI Agent Tom O’Connor, who spent two decades investigating extremists.
“Extremist elements in the United States have long tried to recruit former military and former law enforcement into their ranks for their skill set.”
And for the mindset of a culture trained to resort to violence when all else fails.
Army veteran Stewart Rhodes founded a group called Oath Keepers in 2009. “All you veterans out there, you’ve got to stand up,” he said in a video on the conspiracy theory-spreading website InfoWars. “Lead your local community in watching over their own backyards, over their own neighborhoods, and over their own towns.”

Now This News – The kids are all right.

Robert Reich on Guaranteed Income. (You know, the “work ethic” is really overrated. I have felt for decades that people who have wealth but choose to work just take jobs away from more needy – and often more competent – people.)

Trae on royalty. For a different take on the interview, check out this. Though neither seems to be aware that royals, particularly those in the direct line, do work, and do pay taxes.

The quote to be carved in stone on the exterior of the Obama Presidential Library has been chosen.

Today, we’re excited to unveil the words that will appear on the exterior of the Obama Presidential Center Museum—a place to learn from history that will also offer future leaders inspiration and tools to write chapters of their own.

Watch the video below to see for yourself: pic.twitter.com/gWCpCGIf31

— The Obama Foundation (@ObamaFoundation) March 7, 2021

Is someone in the Biden administration watching Beau’s videos?

Open Thread – 3/8/2021

Posted by TomCat at 10:12 am Open Thread, Politics

Mar 082021

It’s a tired day here in the CatBox. The methadone has ruined the way food tastes for me. I still haven’t caught up with my sleep. WWWendy is coming this evening. Oh God, it’s Monday!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 5:16 (average 7:10). Ti do it, click here. How did you sdo?

Cartoons:

Short Takes:

From Crooks and Liars: Disgusting and hateful Senator Tommy Tuberville tried to get an Amendment passed that would have prevented schools from getting funding if they allow transgender students to compete in sports. Sen. Joe Manchin — a Democrat — voted in SUPPORT of the Amendment, while Sen. Lisa Murkowski — a Republican — voted AGAINST it.

Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) blasted Tuberville for the measure that would have blocked funding for schools that allow transgender athletes to participate in women’s sports. Murray came out and called a spade a spade, saying that this stunt by Tuberville was “simply an attempt to discriminate against transgender students.”

She added, “For the love of god, can’t we just have a little bit of heart and compassion in this world for someone who doesn’t look or live exactly like you? All students, including transgender students, benefit from participating in sports to challenge themselves, to improve fitness, to be part of a team.”

That ANY Democrat could vote for such a vile amendment makes me want to puke. Unfortunately we can’t challenge DINO Joe in the primaries until the elections of 2024. Even more unfortunately, we need to be damn glad we have him until them, because he alone stands between us and Majority Leader Bought Bitch Mitch! RESIST the Republican Reich!!

From Alternet:

A Florida hospital diverted vaccines from the general public to an ultra-wealthy community where its CEO and Republican donors lived.

Gov. Ron DeSantis insists “the state was not involved” in helping to vaccinate 1,200 residents of the wealthy Ocean Reef community in January, but a spokeswoman for Baptist Health Systems, which administered the doses, told Tampa Bay Times and Miami Herald that state officials did intervene.

“It is our understanding that the Medical Center at Ocean Reef asked the State of Florida for vaccine doses, and the State of Florida asked Baptist Health to take delivery of the doses to our ultra-cold freezer storage for delivery to the Medical Center at Ocean Reef,” said Baptist Health spokeswoman Dori Alvarez in a statement.

Some of the beneficiaries had donated to the governor’s political action committee, which has garnered almost $4 million, and Baptist Health Systems president and CEO Brian Keeley and his wife own a home in Ocean Reef.

The spokeswoman would not say whether the couple was involved in getting the vaccine doses delivered to their community.

If you believe that that DeSantis had nothing to do with this absurd lie, you should also believe the Pope is not Catholic, Trump** is not an asshole, and bears never ever shit in the woods! RESIST the Republican Reich!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Creedence Clearwater Revival – Proud Mary

Ah… the memories! RESIST the Republican Reich!!

Don’t Let Republicans Steal YOUR Future!!

Video Thread 3/7/2021

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 5:17 pm Open Thread, Politics

Mar 072021

Now This News — Something Nice

Now This News – Something interesting (sounds expensive, but at least not invasive.

Justice Matters – Glenn Kirschner – Derek Chauvin Trial (12 and a half minutes but it’s an important case)

Ring of Fire – Yeah, I know it’s Trump**, but it’s kind of promising. And better then looking at Jared, isn’t it?

KAREN blocks road to man’s driveway and slaps his phone away (with bonus intro)

Cole and Marmalade – Cat Logic 3

Beau on questions about Black History Month

Open Thread – 3/7/2021

Posted by TomCat at 10:25 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Mar 072021

It’s a very tired day here in the cat box. For the last week I had a pants load of long appointments setting up my hospice services, and all that chair time exacerbated my back pain. My hospice nurse adjusted my methadone dose to my new level of pain. That was too high for my normal level of activity, causing all the side effects. I told her that’s what I thought, and she agreed to put me back to 10 mg methadone every eight hours. I’m feeling better. Here is my new schedule. This is what I said I would explain today. Monday is a Wendy day, usually in the evening. Thursday a shower aide comes around 9 AM. Then Store to Door delivers groceries between 11:30 AM and Noon. That will be a rough day. Saturday morning is a Wendy day. My hospice nurse will come every two weeks on Monday. Then I will have occasional visits from Jo, the chaplain. I like her. She is an authentic Christian and loves the definitions for Republicitis and Republicosis. So except for the initial confusion everything is doing pretty well. Nevertheless, it will take a few days for me to catch up on sleep. May you be well and truly blessed this Sunday!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:41 (average 4:56). To do it, click here. How did you fo?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos:

…”It will be a Democratic Party Armageddon in 2022 if we sit here on our butts and say, ‘Oh, we’re sorry, we’re not as determined to get our agenda passed as Republicans were,'” Sen. Jeff Merkley, the Oregon Democrat spearheading filibuster reform efforts, told the Post. He’s right. With the Supreme Court seemingly ready to gut the remains of the Voting Rights Act and 43 states considering some 253 voter restriction bills, it could be Armageddon for Democrats. If the elections reforms passed by the House don’t become law, Democratic voters will be blocked from the polls. If President Biden’s critical agenda to address the pandemic, economic inequality, climate change, immigration—everything!—is stymied, Democratic voters won’t want to go to the polls in 2022.

Biden sure as hell recognizes that. That’s why the former longtime member of the Senate is open to filibuster reform. “One thing that is nonnegotiable is him delivering for the American people,” Emmy Ruiz, the White House political director, told the Post. “The number one priority here is to get this agenda, this bold agenda, passed through Congress.” Another White House official said the “‘strategy is adjusting every single day,’ reiterating Biden’s position that the filibuster is not sacrosanct while the agenda is.”…

Jeff could not be more correct. Oregon leads the way! RESIST the Republican Reich!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): Trump State Department official charged for attacking police in Capitol riot

Could the Republican Reich be more guilty of treason than this? RESIST the Republican Reich!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Crimson and Clover – Tommy James & The Shondells

Ah… the memories! RESIST the Republican Reich!!

Don’t Let Republicans Steal YOUR Future!!

Video Thread 3/6/2021

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 2:26 pm Open Thread, Politics

Mar 062021

Slow Ad Dat. But here are some others.

LeBron James

Aaand – Alt-Right Playbook Bonus! (Containing Q&A that wouldn’t fit into the long endnote #4 … so also long. And the CC doesn’t pick up the questions well.)
This is the last Alt-Right Playbook video so far. I’ll be putting up the compendium soon.

Good Grief. Some people’s children.

There’s a new “Karen meme” channel and this is it’s promo

Beau on Congress limiting Biden and why it’s a good thing.

Personal Update – 3/6/2021

Posted by TomCat at 6:29 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Mar 062021

It’s a sick day here in the CatBox. Yesterday my hospice nurse increased my methadone dose from 10 to 15 mg every 8 hours. I’m sweating, have trouble swallowing, am shaky and feel nervous. I called the 24 hour line and they told me to cut back until later today. We’ll call back when Wendy is here. I think the new dose could be too high or I could be having an anxiety attack. I’ll keep you posted.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 6:13 (average 4:54). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Take:

From YouTube (a blast from the past): catch the wind Donovan

Ah… the memories! RESIST the Republican Reich!!

Don’t Let Republicans Steal YOUR Future!!

Video Thread 3/5/2021

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 2:36 pm Open Thread, Politics

Mar 052021

Well, this is interesting. (at about 4 minutes, it goes to a promotion and you can cut it off.)

Really American – QNoShow

Meidas Touch parody

Meidas Touch – Ali Velshi (podcast)

Ring of Fire – essentially news – but you may not have seen it. (Facepalm.)

Puppet Regime

Beau’s message to Texas from “Florida Man”

Personal Update – 3/5/2021

Posted by TomCat at 6:52 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Mar 052021

It’s medical mayhem here in the CatBox. WWWendy and two Hospice shower aides were here yesterday. My hospice nurse will be here today. WWWendy will be here tomorrow. I’m completely exhausted. I’ll have lots to explain Sunday. TGIF!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 6:26 (average 8:31). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Take:

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Sunshine Superman- Donovan

Ah… the memories!! RESIST the Republican Reich!!

Don’t Let Republicans Steal YOUR Future!!

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PHP is a programming language used to build websites. We have it at all through our hosting partner, BlueHost. In order to update it, we have to go through Bluehost. During his life, TomCat was the only one who had access to our account there. I (JD) am now the only one. I have been to BlueHost and investigated updating our PHP to 8.3 or even to 8.1. I found instructions to do so - in fact, I found two conflicting sets of instructions. I went through one set of the steps and got the message that Our site could not handle 8.3, but that it had successfully updated to 8.1. I then went back here to see what it looked like. But I couldn't get in - either as an administrator or as a reader. It was just gone. I had to reach BlueHost by phone. It was determined that Politics Plus is in fact not compatible with any version of PHP newer than the one we have. BlueHost therefore uninstalled it for me, and the site came back to normal. Of course, like everyone else, I care about security. But I also am aware that TomCat elected to use different providers for several of the services that BlueHost provides, for instance backups. We are backed up daily - but not by BlueHost. However, out PHP is through Bluehost. I feel that if they are not worried about the older version, I am not going to worry about it. I believe that our security here is all or mostly through WordFence, whom I trust.