Open Thread for August 14, 2021

 Posted by at 6:36 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Aug 142021
 

So yesterday I attempted to get my new noise generator up and running … and coudn’t get a peep outof it. So I fired off an email to customer service. In the eantime, the travel size works just fine. As far as weather – we’ve been hotter – but our air quality is the pits. We are a large, smoke-filled room. I’m staying in, thanks.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

The Hill – Census shows US growth driven by minorities; white pop falls under 60 percent
Quote – A part of that decrease comes as a result of a new effort by the Census Bureau to measure the number of people who identify as multiracial, a population that skyrocketed over the last decade. But much of the drop in the white population, experts and demographers said, stems from an aging demographic that is producing fewer children later in life. “Whites, no matter how you count them, declined since 2010,” said William Frey, a senior demographer at the Brookings Institution.
Click through for exact numbers and ramifications. I consider this to be excellent news, but you know you can hear RWNJ heads exploding all over.

HuffPost – 3 Former Cops Charged In Wrongful Conviction That Sent A Man To Prison For 25 Years
Quote – It is exceedingly rare for law enforcement officials to face criminal prosecution in relation to their roles in wrongful convictions. But reviewing wrongful convictions has been a key agenda item for Krasner, one of the leaders of the progressive prosecutor movement. In 2018, his office created the Conviction Integrity Unit, which has helped secure exonerations for 22 people. At least 18 of the exonerated were Black men. The detectives charged on Friday worked on at least four of the cases that the Conviction Integrity Unit has helped overturn.
Click through for details, including (trigger warning) description of initial interrogation and also the Grand Jury findings document. This is why I actually sent money to Krasner’s campaign. Not much, but some. Oh, and there’s a little video too.

Reuters – U.S. Homeland Security warns fresh COVID-19 restrictions could spark violent attacks
Quote – In an interview with CNN, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said his department considered domestic violent extremists to constitute “the greatest terrorist-related threat to our homeland.” He said the Department was seeing expressions of extremism fueled by “false narratives” and “ideologies of hate.” U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson, chair of the House Homeland Security Committee, welcomed the DHS warning but said it was “troubling that the terrorism threat increasingly is based on grievance-based violence and conspiracy theories, especially related to the election and former President Trump.”
Click through. Dam right they “could” (read “will.” They won’t be happy unless they can kill all of us – but they’ll settle for any of us (and even some of themselves.) Here’s just one example. 

Food for Thought –

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SOUND OFF! 8/14/21 – Mask Madness

 Posted by at 5:10 am  Politics
Aug 142021
 

What the flap is wrong with some people? We are in the middle of a national emergency – hell, an INTERNATIONAL emergency – and some people simply will not adapt. I’m talking about all those who have a problem with mask mandates, as well as the anti-vaxxers.

People who refuse to be vaccinated against the novel coronavirus are either ignorant, selfish, stupid or cowardly – and probably some combination of the four. One thing all of them are, regardless of their excuses, is unpatriotic. Whatever happened to taking one for the team? A society comprises individuals, and individual rights are important; however, your rights end where your neighbor’s nose begins. A society works – and can protect individual rights – only when everybody follows certain rules.

When anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers hide behind “my body my choice,” they are being self-centered in the extreme. Refusing to wear a mask and avoiding vaccination are not matters of individual rights or risk – all those who are unvaccinated without good reason and go about unprotected pose threats to all those around them. The infection and death rates in the USA would be a lot lower, and ICUs would not be crammed to the gills, if more of us had at least a lick of sense.

Not long after COVID-19 was recognized as a deadly pandemic, “liberation” groups began protesting lockdowns. They claimed that shelter-in-place orders violated their civil rights. Clearly they did not understand the difference between inconvenience and oppression. Individual freedom does not mean doing anything you want, and it does not give you the right to put other people’s lives in peril just because you are a crybaby or don’t like following orders. Just as the better part of valor is discretion, so the better part of freedom is responsibility for one’s actions. Dying stupidly because you didn’t take reasonable precautions to protect against a dangerous disease – especially if you infected others – is a far cry from dying heroically on some battlefield.

During the devastating influenza pandemic of 1918-1919, a group called the Anti-Mask League arose in San Francisco. They managed to get a city ordnance requiring mask-wearing in public rescinded. The result? Flu cases in the city nearly doubled over the next month, and flu deaths spiked. Kudos to Arnold Schwarzenegger for roasting anti-maskers with “No, screw your freedom, because with freedom comes obligation and responsibilities.” Way to go, Governator. Those who are unwilling to accept responsibility do not deserve freedom.

If we used our heads and listened to doctors and scientists, we wouldn’t need mask mandates, because everybody would be taking the proper precautions. How can anybody think that an ignoramus with a big mouth and a half-assed blog is more trustworthy than somebody who has had years of education and decades of experience in the medical field? People who actually care about their family, friends, co-workers, drinking buddies, indeed, all of humanity get the “jab,” practice social distancing, and wear masks even if they are fully vaccinated. If we truly want this pandemic to end as soon as possible, we all need to do our part.

Consider seat belts. People have perished in wrecks even while wearing them; however, you are much more likely to survive an accident if you have yours on. Just ask any police officer, EMT or emergency room doctor. Keep in mind that over 99% of those who have died from COVID-19 have been unvaccinated.

This pandemic is not over, and we may – no, will – have to deal with more variants. We will almost certainly need to get more shots. (As for those evil Bill Gates microchips, even the smallest chip is far too large to fit through a vaccination needle!) We may have to endure another round or two of lockdown. But we need to think of others. There is no reason to not wear a mask in public, and unless you have some medical condition that precludes vaccination there is no reason to not get inoculated. The best weapon to use against the coronavirus is common sense – which, unfortunately, is anything but common.

Bored Panda burns “covidiots”

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Video Thread for 8/13/21

 Posted by at 12:15 pm  Open Thread, Politics
Aug 132021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Part 2 of My Conversation w/Rep. Eric Swalwell: Is Accountability on the Horizon for Trump & Company  (If anyone is a member of YouTube and wants to leave a suggestion in a coment there,  – Adam Schiff.  Val Demings.  Jamie Raskin.  Ted lieu.  And of Course others.  The delegate from USVI – is her name Stacie Plaskett?)

Christo Alvalis – Judge Calls Trump a DIRTY ROTTEN LIAR in Court

The Lincoln Project – Back to School

Now This News – Jen Psaki Takes on GOP Debt Ceiling Talking Points

This video was made for the Democrat running to unseat him. But that doesn’t mean it’s purely partisan. There’s good, strong evidence behind it.

Drew Morgan – Social Media Coach

Beau – Let’s talk about hurricanes and vaccines….

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Open Thread for August 13, 2021

 Posted by at 6:59 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Aug 132021
 

Yesterday my new noise generator came, a day earlier than expected, and I didn’t get it set up yet. So, still “to be contiued.” Although with Mitch in Maine (though he should be back soon, maybe today), Pat away with family for the weekend (grandparents can also have empty nests), and Nameless having refrigerator issues (hopefully resolved soon?) I’m not sure there’s much interest.

Cartoon – (Incidentally, do read yesterdays cartoon again, or look up “quagga” on Wikipedia.  They are being brought back naturally, through selective breeding.  This is only possible because they are not a species but a subspecies.

Short Takes –

Crooks and Liars – New Oath Keepers Indictment Adds Defendants, Charges To Jan. 6 Conspiracy Case
Quote – The release of a fifth superseding indictment against the Oath Keepers involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection—adding two more men, one from Georgia and another from Florida, to what is now a total of 16 co-conspirators in the case, as well as further charges against one of the women already indicted—is stark testament to how the evidence against the Patriot organization’s members for their key role in the attack on Congress that day has been mounting steadily, doubtlessly aided by the participants who have turned state’s evidence.
Click through for deets. I wanted to talk about this, because this is how you handle a case that you need to get a start on even though you may not be ready for court. Each superseding indictment resets the clock on the right to a speedy trial. And that suggests the question, “So why aren’t they doing this with Trump**?” Well, in my opinion (granted, that and $5 will get yu a cup of coffee) they are not doing it with Trump** because his crazy followers would pose a greater public danger if he were locked up than they do if he is merely being investigated (and that very quietly) and blathering. As crazy as the Oath Keepers are, locking up groups of them doesn’t precipitate the same publc hazard, because it’s pretty clear that, if they try, they will also get locked up speedily. MAGAts not affiliated with any particular group, or even with many different smaller groups, are more susceptible to the “They can’t arrest all of us” mentality.

HuffPost – After 8 Months, Cities And States Are Still Sitting On Rental Aid
Quote – The amount is significant: $46.5 billion, a sum that nearly matches the entire annual budget of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. States, counties and cities with populations of at least 200,000 were eligible for the money, which offers up to 15 months of rental assistance to low-income individuals (12 months of past-due payments and three months for the future). But that money has been incredibly slow in getting to the people who need it the most. Through June, only 15 states and the District of Columbia had spent 10% or more of their Emergency Rental Assistance Program funds, which were initially approved by Congress in December.
Click through for story. The bottom line, it appears to me, is that Congress actually DID think of “the people sitting around waiting for money” and authorized this so that low-income people could actually pay them. But instead of goig after this money in their own states and localities, they’d rather sue tobe able to evict people. Am I off-base here? Be honest.

Mother Jones – QAnon Hero Claims to Present Sensitive Election Files at MyPillow CEO Event
Quote – On Wednesday, computer files apparently associated with the Mesa County election system were presented and analyzed live on a giant screen behind the stage by [Ron] Watkins, who beamed into the event via livestream. In a confusing back and forth, Watkins told the crowd that his lawyer instructed him to say that the files were from hard drives taken “without authorization” from [Tina] Peters’ [top Mesa County election official] office, and the hard drives should be returned to the clerk, and “we should stop this data review.” Peters then came on stage and said the the hard drives did not come from her office, “unless it happened during the raid.” Watkins then spoke again, saying that the drives made their way to him via Sheronna Bishop, a right-wing activist from Colorado who was reportedly one of Rep. Lauren Boebert’s campaign managers in 2020.
Click through for more. Mesa County is on the Western Slope, close to the border with Utah and about halfway between the northern and southern borders of Colorado. I’m almosy glad this was Colorado, because I guarantee Jena Griswold will get to the bottom of what happened, and I can’t say that about the secretary of state of every state. But I’ll bet Jena is furious.

Food for Thought –

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Video Thread for 8/12/21

 Posted by at 11:36 am  Open Thread, Politics
Aug 122021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Is the FBI/DOJ Criminally Investigating Donald Trump? Here’s Why the Answer is Almost Certainly YES! (I guess the rest of the Swalwell interview must wait.)

Meidas Touch – We heard about this, but we had not seen video here. Well, here it is …

Now This News – AOC Reveals January 6 Sexual Assault Fears

Grab Your Engorged Hose! LAFD Training Is Dirty – more on Titus’s sister (self-described badass

Ring of Fire – Former Trump FDA Official Gets Schooled For Saying Being Unvaccinated Doesn’t Hurt Anyone

“Belugas are the trolls of the sea.” I wouldn’t blame a beluga sturgeon for trolling, but we don’t steal the beluga whale’s babies for caviar. Maybe it’s a form of solidarity, however.

Beau – Let’s talk about Rand Paul needing a remedial civics lesson….

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Open Thread for August 12, 2021

 Posted by at 7:07 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Aug 122021
 

Yesterday it was cooler again.That and tha fact I went into it with more and better sleep than i have been getting lately ade it a good day right from the start. And then, I filled up the Short Takes quite early and even have a head start on tomorrow. So I spent some quality time untangling tangled yarns /s. OK, that really isn’t quality time … but it’s good to have it done.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

Second Nexus – Dems Hilariously Troll GOP Senator by Unanimously Voting for His Petty Infrastructure Amendment
Quote – Once the bill was brought to debate, the first amendment offered came from Republican Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, who proceeded to rail against the Green New Deal—an ambitious climate policy overhaul championed by progressives as the only viable option to significantly curb the climate crisis…. [Bernie] Sanders told Barrasso: “As a supporter of the Green New Deal, I have no problem voting for this amendment because it has nothing to do with the Green New Deal.”
Click through for giggles. This is from George Takei, though it may have been published elsewhere.

The 19th – Cuomo’s exit puts two women in New York’s highest offices
Quote – Lt. Gov Kathy Hochul will soon become New York’s first woman governor, ushering in a historic first for women’s political leadership at the state level. New York state Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins is next in line to replace Hochul as lieutenant governor. She would be the first Black woman to serve in the role in New York — and her appointment to the position would mark the first time in U.S. history that a state has been led by a woman governor and a woman lieutenant governor. Stewart-Cousins was already the first woman Senate majority leader in the state’s history.
Click through for story. Talk about unintended consequences (which apparently aren’t always bad). Who knew Andy Borowitz was a prophet (in the colloquial sense)?

Crooks and liars – YouTube Suspends Rand Paul For 7 Days Over Mask Disinfo
Quote – Senator Rand Paul, who has already had COVID, used an online video to attack Dr. Fauci and all CDC guidelines regarding masks. That got him kicked off YouTube for a week.
Click through for the rest. I guess after you suspend a former President, suspending a Senator comes easier. (Also, Marjorie’s off Twitter for a week.)

Food for Thought –

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Personal Update

 Posted by at 6:44 am  Politics
Aug 122021
 

I’m going to have to be in absentia for a few days.

My refrigerator no longer refrigerates.  Don’t know if it’s reparable or not.  (Seems like I remember reading that it’s usually the compressor – but not sure.)

So have fun & behave yourselves.  Hope to be back soon.

SoINeedAName

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Video Thread for 8/11/21

 Posted by at 11:55 am  Open Thread, Politics
Aug 112021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Interview w/Rep. Swalwell About Impeachment, Trump’s Election Attacks, Enforcing Subpoenas & More

Don Winslow Films – #MyLetterToRepublicans

The Lincoln Project – Marjorie Taylor Greene at AL GOP fundraiser

Ring of Fire – Trump Supporter Gets Busted For Voter Fraud, Then Charged With Murder (CO man tring to complete with FL man) Here is the latest update 

Now This News – Mattel Creates Barbie to Honor COVID-19 Vaccine Co-Creator (something probably no one cares about but me. But it does help, not all girls, but some girls.)

Baby Magpie Falls In Love With His Rescuer’s Cat (The title is just the tip of this iceberg – you may not need a hanky – but you may.

Beau – Let’s talk about what it means to be woke and Garth Brooks….

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