Open Thread March 14 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Mar 142026
 

Today being Pi Day, and the rest of the news being so grim, a mathematical puzzle might be in order.

Yesterday, I discovered something – I knew Jim Acosta was on Substack, and I knew that S teve Schmidt was sometimes a guest of his, but I had no idea that Steve was going to be a regular guest every Friday, nor that they were calling this “Oh, Schmidt, It’s Friday.”  (Gotta laugh so you don’t cry, right?) Apparently the US death toll is up to 11 now. Or was yesterday.

From The Root. I figure that what Black people need to know, we all need to know.

It appears the shooting I mentioned yesterday, and another shooting, and a hacking, were not home-grown but Iranian retaliation. Robert Hubbell expands on this with multiple citations. He then goes into other ramifications of the war, also with citations.

From the Contrarian – a history and definition of Concentration Camps – so that if anyone tries to tell you they aren’t, you can prove that they are.

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Open Thread March 12 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Mar 122026
 

Yesterday, I watched/listened to Malcolm Nance’s Day 12 of the war (the only one I have missed was the one I told you was for paid subscribers only) and it was very much about sea mines – and how dumb our regime is being about them. And a few other things our regime is being dumb about. A quote: “Hegseth thinks this is a video game.” I would suggest our entire actual military command structure is stuck in a frozen facepalm – but I feel confident they are doing all they can to avoid useless loss of lives. But their hands are kind of tied.

This may well be more about what to expect in Iran than you wanted to know. But I doubt you’d find it anywhere else expressed in this way.

It’s not as if we don’t know this. It would be nice if someone could tell us how to change it. The people who are responsible for it have zero motivation to change – and appear impervious to our efforts to reach out – which further undermines our motivation to change it. Facts could help – if only the right had not been indoctrinated not to believe facts. That appears to me to be an impasse. We may have no recourse other than waiting for the delusional ones to kill theselves off with CoViD, ivermectin, bleach, measles, suet, and all the other fake nutrition advocated by our current HHS.

This is a letter sent by four Senators (including one Republican) to the GAO demanding an independent audit of the Epstein files by the GAO. They – and victimes of the money laundering by Halkbank, are pissed.

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Open Thread March 11 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Mar 112026
 

Yesterday, there was a hearing on disciplinary charges brought against Ed Martin by the DC Bar, and the charges were upheld. He is entitled to appeal – I’m not sure to whom but after the process plays out, he could well be disbarred. Also, Alabama governor Kay Ivey of all people commuted the sentence of Sonny Burton. It’s about damn time – but at least it is in time. Finally, Colorado Public Radio reported that one of the Americans killed in this war was one of ours – stationed at Fort Carson here in the Springs.

I have no desire to use AI – I [prefer to keep my HI as fit as possible by using it. But if I did, at this time, it would be Anthropic. But this link is really for the second story – the kerfuffle in the District of New Jersey. By the time you read this, the hearing will be over, but you can still use this link to get there if you wish. Click on the All Rise logo in the upper left and you’ll get the home page. If the hearing isn’t the first story, scroll down a bit.

Well this was certainly not on my bingo card. But it certainly does make sense.

Archived from Huff Post, this article reminded me of a Kipling quote shared by Malcolm Nance, who us a huge Kipling fan – a quote which could easily become our motto for this war: “with an epitaph drear,/a fool lies here/who tried to hustle the east.” Kipling was not free from racial prejudice, but he was bright enough to see that brains of all kind (intwllectual, practical, strategic, etc.) and a passion for self government were not limited to white westerners.

Pete Buttigieg’s speech last weekend in Selma, AL Only 6 1/2 minutes)

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Open Thread March 9 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Mar 092026
 

Yesterday, I saw Virgil and we played cribbage. There’s been a change in visiting hours, part of which is having visitation every day of the week, so I’m not surprised (nor aggrieved) that it includes shortening the Sunday hours, which has been 8:00-3:30 and is now 8:30 to 3:00. I had, during DST in previous years, been  getting there at 11:00 and staying to 3:30 – I got there at 11:00 today and stayed till 3:00 when it closed. I didn’t have to sorry at all about sunset, but driving down, the morning sun was kind of punishing. So I’ll have to think about that. Anyway, we had a good time with a wide range of hands. The drive home was easier then the morning drive – but I still got home pretty tired. I didn’t watch Malcolm Nance’s Iran update Saturday, because it was only available to paid subscribers, but I did yesterday. Speaking of cruelty – I think I would rather die fast being hit by a bomb than by being deprived of potable water (and this virtually everything one can drink) for up to sixty days. The amount of Iran which uses between 40% and 80% desalinized water is jaw-dropping. Also, between Mercator projections and general lack of attention, I don’t think may Americans realize that Iran is is close to the size of the United States’ entire midwest region.

At 80, I am old enough to remember when having a baby out of wedlock would brand a girl (or a grown-ass woman) for life. So I do get it that, then, parents were willing to allow their daughters to marry the men responsible, even though divorce was also tougher then. But that was then – this is now. Haven’t we outgrown this yet?

This is what happens when enough voters decide that “come people” don’t deserve rights and refuse to spend tax money on protecting those rights. Not all of these states are red. Oregon is blue, essentially because the coastal part has cities, culture, and higher education, but its rural eastern half is garnet red.

These “Five ways” are pretty much more in practice than just in theory. None of them, for example, involves litigation which he would ignore. But I’m not convinced that any of them is a certainty. Let me know your thoughts on this.

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Open Thread March 7 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Mar 072026
 

Yesterday, it snowed here. It was predicted – for about a fifth of an inch – it looks more like a half inch to me – but that’s just looking out the window. I didn’t measure it. The video today is long – about 48 minutes – but the subject is so huge, I don’t know how it could have been much shorter I won’t get upset if people choose to skip it. Just keep the title in the back of your mind.

This is a supplement to the daily “Chalet of the Two Spies” video update on the war in Iran. It’s no surprise to me. I don’t personally remember World War II (I was born before VJ Day, but only by days), but I remember Korea, and Vietnam, and Desert Storm, and I think it’s safe to say that all wars are subject to Hofstadter’s law (“Everything takes longer than you think it will, even after you have considered Hofstadter’s law.”) Doug and I went to the same high school – I graduated just before he moved to town when his father became a professor at Stanford. But I did meet him at the high school bridge club, which I kept attending because I was not good enough at it to play by tournament rules, which the university club required. (I never got terribly good.) I only have something like 3/8 of a master point.)

I can’t believe that there is anyone who reads here who has not noticed this happening. But Robert Reich says “All this has happened so suddenly that most Americans still haven’t noticed,” and he’s sadly probably correct, which means there are a lot of people who need to learn this. Please share it if you can.

Oh, good grief. WTF next? Will Ukraine ever catch a break? Certainly not from our country in the clutches of the Mango Monster. Ukrinform is on Substack, so I subscribed to it. One more new email every day, but we’ll never learn stuff like this from American media.

BREAKING: Sheldon Whitehouse Details Report On Alleged Ties Between Epstein, Trump, And Russia

Cat

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Open Thread March 5 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Mar 052026
 

Yesterday, the Senate refused to take action to restrain the Degenerate Darth Vader’s illegal war in Iran. I, as you have probably noticed, an struggling this week to keep abreast of what day it is. I think that may be at least in part because the first was on Sunday, and, although I consciously know that the week is Sunday through Saturday, I, because school weeks and work weeks start in Monday, subconsciously still see Monday through Friday as one through five. Hopefully I’ll be more on track next week.

I had realized I missed the start of Ramadan, hence the image. It goes until roughly March 19 this year.  The ending date is not totally predictable because the moon has to be in the right position at the time, but Eid al Fitr is predicted for March 20.

Tuesday, this happened. I hope you’ll find it as satisfying as I did. Of course, it’s still just words, no action – but coming from one Rethuglican to another, it’s like music. (Also, Josh Hawley even toreinto her, but I don’t have that quote.)

The first story at this link is the one I am posting -but just about every one is worth at least a look (and they are short.)

I don’t think Joyce is correct about every state. But, sadly, she doesn’t have to be right about every state for there to be fatal chaos. I stopped doing it when it became to much for my mobility, but I did work elections for many years administering elections in Colorado, and that under both Democratic and Republican Secretaries of State and County Clerks, during periods when Colorado was red, and periods when it was blue. The attitude of “If people are entitled to vote, we want them to vote” never changed through the years -though Democrats and Republicans disagreed on almost everything else. But that was then and this is now, and red states (and maybe counties, which might be worse) will ratf*** if they can.

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Open Thread March 1 2026

 Posted by at 5:57 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Mar 012026
 

Yesterday, the radio opera was Berlioz’s “Les Troyens” – just the first half. It was recorded in 1974, so all the stars are singers whom I remember vividly. It’s a beast to stage, and in fact was not staged in Berlioz’s lifetime. It’s in two acts, and we’ll hear the second act next week. It tells the story of the first four “books” of the Aeneid well – including Laocoon and his sons – which is probably the hardest to stage. The only character who is in both acts is Aeneas, so it’s also expensive to cast. But, if you like Berlioz, and I do, it is gorgeous. I’m not ignoring the fact that the Apricot Antichrist bombed Iran in the middle of the night Friday, and I’ll address that tomorrow. Today is a day of rest – and I’ll need time to go through multiple reports and decide what to stress and why. I did hear the Ayatollah has been confirmed to be dead, but as I type, I can’t vouch for it.

Sharing a story about the demand for tattoos rising as good news was never on my Bingo card. But I find the increasing demand for these specific tattoos both interesting – and encouraging that so many people care that much. Also, I’m impressed at how the owner of the shop is dedicating the increased revenue.

You may have to unmute this (I did), but it’s under 2 minutes, and it’s on loop so you won’t miss anything.

Building community is always good news (well, maybe not if it’s a “Christian Nationalist” community. But most are better than that.) This one sounds like fun – and is reaching more than just its members.

NM Granny

Cats

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Open Thread February 26 2026

 Posted by at 5:59 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 262026
 

Yesterday, I listened to last week’s “Coffee Klatch” which Robert Reich does (I would have done do sooner, but it had gone to Spam and I just found it.) Robert and Heather interviewed David Hogg. There was a lot of good stuff in that interview, but one thing which struck me is that he said they spend a lot of time telling young men they’re not ready to run because they’re not ready to do the job, and another lot of time convincing young women they are absolutely qualified to run and do the job. Why am I not surprised? Also, Andy Borowitz shared a 7 year old half hour long British documentary regarding the Mango Monster and underage girls.

Money in politics has always been an issue. But it is getting worse, and not just because of inflation. It’s also getting more and more blatant as those who engage in enriching themselves become more and more blatant. If we allow them to normalize it – well, you can see what will happen.

There are other sources for this, but I’m inclined to trust Robert Reich‘s take more than most. (Incidentally, if Kegsbreath is so damn smart, why would he want AI anyway? Truth is, he knows he can’t do it better himself.)

Please save this and re-read it frequently – especially around elections, including primaries. These frightful attitudes are not going away any time soon. These men are repeating what they learned at their father’s knee (or the knee of a brow-beaten mother, or both.) And their self-respect depends on keeping those opinions, despite any and all evidence to the contrary. Facts be damned. We will never successfully oppose it by pretending it doesn’t exist.

This video has a great punchline:

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