Sep 032021
 

Yesterday, I was a little drowsy, having not slept well. As long as i could manage to do what I needed to do, I welcomed that – hoping it would help me get to sleep early last night, which I needed to do in order to get up so early today. By the time you see this (which should be fairly early), I will already be on the road. I’ll respond to comments when I return.

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Short Takes –

The Hill – Federal judge approves bankruptcy settlement for Purdue Pharma
Quote – Purdue, the maker of OxyContin, filed for bankruptcy in 2019 in an attempt to settle about 3,000 lawsuits from states, tribes and other local entities related to the company’s aggressive opioid marketing that they argue contributed to the opioid crisis that has killed nearly 500,000 people over the past 20 years. The settlement plan would shield members of the Sackler family and hundreds of their associates from future opioid lawsuits.
Click through for details. “Controversial” apparently in this case (as too often) being a euphemism for “outrageous.” I will say it sounds like the judge was holding his nose when he signed it.

Crooks and Liars – Even Karl Rove Is Bashing Madison Cawthorn
Quote – Rove wants the Congressman to focus more on Western North Carolina and less on traveling around the country. If it’s his own money then that would be fine, but he’s using his donors’ money to fund his trips around the country to focus on grievance politics. He’s already burnt through much of his coffers at this point.
Click through for a little more detail. His primary opponent is hitting this hard against him. But … look at all the people who voted for Mr. “Not paying taxes makes me smart.” Sigh.

New York Times – Go-to Lawyer for Capitol Riot Defendants Disappears   (Following up)
Quote – While the government has not yet weighed in on the merits on [Pierce’s] claims, prosecutors did express concern in their letters filed on Monday about the young associate, Ryan Joseph Marshall, who has been standing in for Mr. Pierce at the hearings he has missed. For one thing, Mr. Marshall is not a licensed lawyer, prosecutors said, and has taken actions on behalf of clients “that he is not permitted” to take. Moreover, they went on, it remains unclear if and when Mr. Marshall will be able to get his law license given that he is under indictment in two criminal cases accusing him of corruption, theft and fraud in Pennsylvania. Mr. Pierce’s situation is not his first encounter with personal and professional setbacks. Last year, his law firm nearly collapsed in a swirl of debts and resignations. Then his most prominent client, Kyle Rittenhouse, the young man charged with murder at a racial justice protest in Wisconsin last year, fired him in a highly public spat that included allegations that a charity arranged for the defense had engaged in financial improprieties.
Click through for a lot of information. I really hope y’all can get past the paywall. This is so much more bizarre than any secondary source has yet published.

Food for Thought –

Addendum:  The dude who assaulted the reporter has been nabbed.

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Sep 022021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Justice Matters Compilation of Legal Stories for the Month of August 2021

Ring of Fire – Anti-Vaxxer Facing Felony Charges For Selling Fake Vaccine Cards. Sheesh! Double facepalm.

MSNBC – Kevin McCarty Threatens Tech Companies Over GOP Phone Records

Now This News – Cow Stuck in Tree After Hurricane Ida Hits Louisiana (no words0

Vox – How oysters can stop a flood

Rob Rogers – Cowboy Diplomacy

Beau – Let’s talk about the US exit and criticism….

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Sep 022021
 

Yesterday, I got serious about getting ready to go see Virgil tomorrow. Even though I’ve done it once recently, it still requires thought and preparation. But I think I have it pretty much together. As the weather cools down, which I assume it will eventually, it will be easier … there are things I cannot put into the car a day ahead without risking heat damage to them at this point – unless I do so after dark, whidh has its own downsides.

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Short Takes –

The New Yorker (Borowitz) – New Law Requires Texans to Have Counselling Before Being Allowed to Vote
Quote – “Sometimes, a person is upset with their situation and thinks that voting is the only answer,” the Governor said. “A counsellor can sit with them, pray with them, and help them make the right choice.”
Click thgough for deets. For a split second I believed this was straight news.

The Hill – Colorado officers, paramedics charged in 2019 death of Elijah McClain
Quote – An independent probe submitted to the Aurora City Council in February determined that the police and paramedics involved were were at fault in McClain’s death, saying there was no reason to stop McClain, who was walking home from a convenience store. That report also concluded that no crime had been reported when McClain was stopped and he wasn’t exhibiting any threatening behavior.
Click through for a little more. Democratic AG + grand jury = results (sometimes.) You may remember that Elijah used to play the violing in animal shelters. As an animal lover and a former violinist, I took this personally.

The 19th – Even if Texas’ six-week abortion ban is overturned, clinics will close
Quote – “This law will end legal abortion in Texas. Allowing the state to do that and effectively close all abortion clinics — even if the law is ultimately struck down — will give the state what it wants,” said Leah Litman, an assistant professor of law at the University of Michigan and expert in constitutional law. “Just allowing this law to go into effect is ending abortion in Texas.”
Click through for story. In case you missed this (and had no idea what Andy was satirizing) this is it.

Food for Thought –

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Sep 012021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Congress Prepares to Subpoena…Members of Congress. What might Jim Jordan Do if Forced to Testify?

MSNBC Chris Hayes – U.S. Troops Are Finally Out Of Afghanistan–And It’s Remarkable

The Lincoln Peoject – Last Week in the Republica Party

Really Americn – Attorney General Must Arrest Trump Now

Robert Reich – Is Billionaire Philanthropy a Sham?

Mrs. Betty Bowers, America’s Best Christian – Explaining Humans to Aliens

Parody Project – MISS ME

Beau – Let’s talk about safe passage and a continuation of politics by other means….

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Aug 312021
 

Glenn Kirschner – 3 Judicial Fixes: Increase Justices; Accelerated Docket for Inter-Branch Disputes; Court Watching. I do think maybe if we increase the number of Federal Judges in the Districys and in Appeals,we might have a better chance of getting consensus on increasing the Supreme Court as well. Maybe not … but it couldn’e hurt.

Don Winslow Films – #KevinMcCarthyScandal

Now This News – Jen Psaki on U.S-Made Weapons Falling Into Hands of Taliban. She has a lot more patience than I have.

Really American – Rand Paul Pushes Horse Medication

Liberal Redneck – Ivermectin (I know – not in accordance with medical ethics – but so tempting!)

Thomas Benjamin Wild Esq – Stop Being An Arsehole (Live At Bedfringe)

Beau – Let’s talk about learning from history….

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Aug 312021
 

Yesterday, I received 3 packages from UPS and one from USPS. The one from USPS was small and delivered to my mailbox, so since I had to go out to the curb anyway, I bindled up a bunch of plastic shipping material (“popcorn” and heavy duty bubble wrap mostly), took it to the trash, and then took the trash to the curb. Today or tomorrow I’ll break up a few boxes and do the same for the recyclables. Pickip os Thursday, and I don’t put stuff out every week. Otherwise, the day was pretty uneventful.

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Short Takes –

Department of Justice – St. Paul Woman Charged in Child Sex Trafficking Conspiracy
Quote – According to court documents, from May 2020 through December 2020, Gisela Castro Medina, 19, and co-defendant Anton Joseph Lazzaro, 30, conspired with each other and others to recruit and solicit six minor victims to engage in commercial sex acts. Castro Medina, who was arrested on August 12, 2021, in Okaloosa County, Florida, made her initial appearance earlier today before Magistrate Judge Hope T. Cannon, in U.S. District Court in Pensacola, Florida.
Click through for DOJ press release. This has taken a couple of weeks to surface, but I figured the DOJ version would be the least sensational, and it appears to be. Law & Crime has photos.

The Daily Beast – ‘Wacky Guy’ Angrily Confronts NBC News Correspondent During Live Hurricane Report
Quote – Explaining that the rain had stopped in the area and mail delivery had returned in Gulfport, Brewster reported that the mayor of the town was still enforcing a curfew as they surveyed the damage. At the same time, a pickup truck pulled over in the background of Brewster’s shot, with a large, middle-aged man jumping out of the vehicle and running towards the NBC News crew. Keeping his composure, Brewster attempted to continue to deliver his report on the hurricane’s aftermath, but the man eventually grew disruptive and began shouting at both the camera crew and the reporter.
Click through for story and video. This kind of thing just breaks my heart.

AP News – Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, partner wed in New Mexico
Quote – Haaland wore a dress designed and sewn by her sister, said Interior Department spokeswoman Melissa Schwartz. The ceremony incorporated elements honoring her Native American ancestry. The former New Mexico congresswoman is a member of the Laguna Pueblo. According to Schwartz, guests had to be vaccinated to attend and wear masks per CDC and New Mexico guidelines.
Click through for story and photo. She looks absolutely gorgeous. They both do.

Food for Thought –

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Aug 282021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Florida Judge Rules Gov. Ron DeSantis CAN NOT Stop Schools From Requiring Masks to Protect Children

Don Winslow Films – #TheTruthAboutIvanka

Meidas Touch – Texas Democrat: Greg Abbott is a Psychopathic Murderer

The Lincoln Project – Pro-Life

Really American – Republicans Taking Horse De-Wormers

Trump’s the Disease That Keeps on Spreading, by Mangy Fetlocks

Al Franken on The Only Former U.S. Senator on Tour Tour (Yes, it’s a promo. But he’s funny.

Let’s talk about civilians, equipment, troops in that order….

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Aug 282021
 

Yesterday, I mostly rested. And thought. And crocheted some. I do have a small tip to share – if you are looking for a product and want to order online, either because of CoViD or any other reason, and would really rather not give money to amazon, consider Chewy. Yes, they’re for pets. But there are products which are needed or useful for pet care but which also have household uses completely unrelated to pets. Like, for instance, a “rug rake.” I am the only one who is shedding around here – but the rug rake I got from them is great and came fast. Other things too – cleaning items – you might be surprised. And they are the customer service polar opposite of amazon. I’ve heard stories of their going above and beyond what anyone might think of, let alone expect – like refunding for an automatic delivery upon the death of a pet -and then also sending flowers! They aren’t going to stock everything under the sun … but what they do stock can be surprising.

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Short Takes –

Dem Underground – Just click through (NSFW)
This could help get male MAGAts vaccinated with Pfizer – eat your heart out, Moderna and J&J!

The Hill – Supreme Court blocks Biden’s eviction moratorium
Quote – Some 15 million people are currently behind on rent in the U.S., according to one recent estimate, though it was not immediately clear how many tenants could be placed at greater risk of eviction as a result of the court’s move. A patchwork of state and local eviction freezes were unaffected by Thursday’s ruling…. The measure aimed in part to provide an additional layer of protection while emergency federal rental aid made its way to tenants. But the Treasury Department on Wednesday said only some $5 billion of the roughly $46 billion allocated for emergency rental aid had been distributed by state governments.
Click through for more. What I think pisses me off the most is that the moratorium might not even be necessary if the states government would get off their posteriors and distribute the over $40 BILLION on rental aid which they are still sitting on.

Wonkette – Texas’s Law Against Critical Race Theory Is Why Kids In One District Can’t Have Nice Things
Quote – Texas’s dumb law forbidding the teaching of “critical race theory” has led the school district in McKinney, Texas, to eliminate a popular elective program that gave students the chance to participate in a mock legislature and learn how bills are written. The district’s Youth and Government program had been a matter of pride for the schools, touted by the district as a “perennial standout” in its middle and high schools. But an attorney for the district advised that the program might fall afoul of the new law, House Bill 3979, which will go into effect September 1. Beyond banning anything that might make white parents uncomfortable about America’s history, HB 3979 also bars classes that require “political activism” or awarding grades or course credit for any classes “involving social or public policy advocacy,” and puts strict limits on classroom discussion of current events, requiring that “both” sides of any issue be presented equally and “fairly.” That must make science classes a load of fun, too.
Click through for story. Look, I’m not trying to dog on Texas (or Florida or Missouri or Alamaba or any other state where readers live). But some things really can’t be ignored. Or shouldn’t.

Food for Thought –

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