Yesterday, I had not slept terribly well, but I got by with a few yawns. Virgil called, and, as promised, I told him about those of y’all who commented you are praying for him, and he was deeply appreciative, as predicted. Quite touched, in fact.
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Democratic Underground [maxrandb] – Hey MSM! Maybe the “story” isn’t 2 Dem Senators that won’t kill the filibuster
Quote – Just like they publish thousands of stories of “Dems need to reach out to rural America bullshit” and ZERO “Retrumplicans need to reach out to urban America” stories. They report thousands of time that 2 Dems Senators don’t want to kill the filibuster. When is the last time you saw a story concentrating on the 50 Retrumplican Senators that couldn’t give one fuck if women die, or if teens need to carry their Uncles baby to term? Click through for full rant. I am SO over RWNJs babbling about the “liberal media.” Sometimes I just need to express it..
The 19th – 10 anti-LGBTQ+ bills impacting students go into effect across six states
Quote – It is already hard enough for transgender and LGBTQ+ youth to see themselves reflected in the culture or in the academic materials they’re learning from, Topping said — and harder still for LGBTQ+ youth to simply go to school if they are getting bullied. Taking away the ability for students to talk with teachers about their identity or learn about queer communities in school may hamper their ability to dream of a future with people like them in it. Click Through for states and details. As usual, the cruelty is the point – at least the immediate point. The long-term point is genocide.
Yesterday, I read Robert Reich‘s and Heather Cox Richardson‘s fourth-of-July essays, which cam in, one late the previous night, and one very early in the morning. In a way they say the same thing in different words. And in a way, both are wrong – not in the wrong direction, but not going far enough. It was this that struck me in Richardson’s piece (referencing the Gettysburg Address): “the Civil War was ‘testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure.’ It did, of course.” No. It didn’t. The same issues which divied us in 1776 and 1865 and 1964 have never gone away. We just managed to push them underground for a few years (a trifle longer the second time). And Trump** did not bring them to a boil. They were always at a boil. All he did was give the wrong side permission to speak.
If we are ever going to heal this divide, we have to do more than trying harder, because that isn’t working. The most recent time around (the 1960s), psychology had become a science, and there have been all kinds of psychological studies about perceptions which have provided new information about the states of mind of Americans – but not one (and no combination) has given any insight into what to do to make it go away. Now, again, some states are talking about seceding. And some progressives are saying (and more are secrtly thinking) perhaps we should let it happen (at least some of us are talking about the need to rescue sane people from the departing states, and how difficult that would be) We already have a Civil War on our hands now – right now. It’s not yet a shooting war. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be. And way too few appear to realize it.
Oddly, it may be Steve Schmidt who puts it the most clearly: “Then [the beginning of the Civil War, speaking of Congress] like now, there were some who looked at the empty desks and saw crisis in the absence – not [in] the cause of the absence.”
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Crooks and Liars – Double Whammy: Trump Media Group Subpoenaed Twice In One Week
Quote – Digital World Acquisition Corp. said in a filing Friday that Trump Media and Technology Group received a subpoena from the grand jury in Manhattan on Thursday. The Trump company also received a subpoena from the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding a civil probe on Monday, DWAC said Click thrpugh for details. Two different subpoenas by two diferent entities. Good.
Democratic Underground – Robert Hubbell has an idea for getting control of the Supreme Court.
Quote – It is debatable whether Congress can force Supreme Court justices to adopt an enforceable code of ethics. But the Constitution provides that Congress can restrict the appellate jurisdiction of the Court, as provided in Article III, Section 2: [T]he Supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make. Click through – This could be, not IMO a permanent solution, but a powerful stopgap until the Court can really be fixed (not that it shouldn’t stay in effect – it should always have been in effect. But we also need more)
It’s that time of year when we literally have a reprise of “the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air” with our traditional annual fireworks displays.
But a number of factors have joined forces to make it become less a tradition, supplanted by colorful and brightly-lit drones.
Firework critics, who have voiced their disfavor due to noise, pollution, injuries, and environmental harm, are celebrating the pandemic’s supply chain shortage of fireworks. They even find a silver-lining in the megadroughts plaguing the West that are forcing municipalities to forgo fireworks in favor of drone light shows.
Drone light shows have become so popular that they’re booked up months in advance for July 4th. And it’s easy to understand why>
Typical drone shows last 10-12 minutes, comparable to and average firework display. And they will use from 100 drones (felt to be an “entry-level” production) up to 500.
A drone July 4th generally starts at around $25,000 – which can be about twice as much as a municipal fireworks display. But they are much more technically cumbersome to design, setup and run. (To add some perspective, the American Pyrotechnics Association reports that firework displays are a $375 million industry.)
While the cost of drone light show might cause concern, they do have a number of advantages when compared to traditional fireworks. They are much quieter, cause significantly less pollution, result in far fewer injuries (including deaths) and dramatically less environmental harm.
It’s no surprise that the drought conditions in most of the West have really sparked communities to move to drone shows. Even before conditions became dire, there were approximately 19,500 fires caused by fireworks back in 2018, with the peak occurring on July 4th.
Also disturbing is the fact that the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reported that there were over 9,000 fireworks-related injuries seen in emergency departments in 2018.
I was a bit surprised to learn that one of the strongest supporters of drone light shows is from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). “Drone shows are quiet, safe, practically pollution-free,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk.
As many pet owners can attest, fireworks are pretty much loathed by our cats and dogs. PETA also points out that besides frightening for small children, they can also be a trigger for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
I’ve yet to enjoy a 4th of July drone show, but I certainly can see they offer a variety of pluses.
Glenn – J6 committee subpoenas WH Counsel Pat Cipollone. Will he testify or coverup Trump’s crimes?
Meidas Touch – Michael Cohen REACTS to Trump attacks on Cassidy Hutchinson
Robert Reich – The Supreme Court’s War on the People (yes, I also used the text article.)
Beloved Community Talks | The Replacement Theory and White Fear: It Starts in Our Minds
This is a seminar produced by The King Center through “The Beloved Comunity Speaks” program, and it is 45 minutes even after I cut off some intro. I don’t expect anyone to watch it without setting aside time to do so, and I understand anyone who doesn’t want to do that. I share it mainly because I have a long online relationship with Scott. When he first “came out” on LinkedIn as a “reformed racist” in 2010 (and asked for advice how best to help eliminate racism from anyone willing to give it), I was new to LinkedIn myself but I felt I had to respond with support, and we have been LinkedIn contacts ever since. It hasn’t been easy for him (racism is not the only thing he is recovering from) but he has never wavered. He works with The King Center at least annually now. I’m proud to know him.
Puppet Regine – CoVid-19
Beau – Let’s talk about Elmo and a phrase I never thought I say….
Yesterday, I went to see Virgil at the facility in Denver. The traffic was, I suppose, not all that bad; it was not bad enough to slow my speed, but it was ha=eavy enough to cause me concern about the potental danger of changing lanes (parts of I25 in Denver now have six lanes going one direction, and I thought I remembered how th junction with I225 worked, but I wasn’t positive – and it’s been so long since I’ve driven through there, it might have changed.) Fortumately my meory was correct and it hadn’t changed. The I225 junction with I70 was even easier – I225 just ends there and merges. The Havana Street exit was simple. I did turn the wrong way on the street the facility was actually on, but since I turned into a “no outlet,” it was quick to realize and quick to turn around. I arrived in good time and getting in went smoothly. Virgil was knd of late (they had to wake him up, and someone had to come with him.) He came with his walker, didn’t have a cast, and neither leg had any sign of swelling, but he said that both legs were still in pain, though somewhat improvred. So I think he’ll recover. I left before I saw all the good wishes, but I will share them with him and I know he will appreciate them. I will be watching the DOC site so that when I next visit I’ll know where to go. They may keep him there for some weeks or more, or they may return him to Fremont, or they may assign him to a different facility. But if I keep up with the website I won’t drive to the wrong place. Coming home, I knew where I was going, but there was a little rain so I still had to stay on my toes.
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Crooks and Liars – NM County Won’t Pay Capitol Rioter Couy Griffin’s Legal Costs
Quote – His defense sparked laughter from members of the audience Friday as he made the case for county legal representation and said it was time to take a stand against “tyrannical Marxists” who want to take away freedom. “Look this is hard enough without you all laughing,” Griffin said at one point in the meeting. Click through for setup and details. There are probably more important stories out there, but I needed a chuckle and figured you all did too. (If anyone cares, “Otero” is pronounced “oh-tear-oh” [tear as in rip up, not as in a drop,] accent on the “tear.” Not trying to insult anyone’s inte;;igence, but I have seen it in various news stories with various misspellings recently.)
Wonkette – What The Hell Is Happening In Wisconsin?
Quote – This week, the Wisconsin high court ruled 4-3 that Republican political appointees can refuse to leave and hold their offices for as long as they want, at least until a Republican is elected governor. Yes, quite literally. The outcome in Wisconsin v. Prehn is a rule that will only benefit the justices’ fellow Republicans. Click through. This is like the Garland appointment on steroids.
Glenn Kirschner with Stephanie Miller: Trump Will Hold onto His Lies Until the Day He Dies.
Meidas Touch – Texas Paul REACTS to Olivia Rodrigo and Megan Thee Stallion SLAMMING Roe Decision
The Lincoln Project – He Wanted to Help
Dakota Water Wars Part 5 – Ignoring Tribes, Ignoring Laws (I would point out that when the speaker castigates the DOJ official opinion, that was Trump**’s DOJ)
Mrs Betty Bowers – The Not-So-Supreme Court
Beau – Let’s talk about Trump’s denials from the committee….
