Nov 072021
 

Yesterday the radio opera was Carmen – an opera set in Spain, by a French composer. The Carmen was from Georgia (not ours, the one in Asia.) The Don Jose was from Poland, and the Escamillo from Germany. The performance was done in Vienna, Austria, and the radio station broadcasting it is in Chicago. I suspect Republican heads would explode.

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Short Takes –

PoliticusUSA – Adam Schiff Confirms That Trump’s Staff Are Flipping On Him
Quote – When MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell asked if any of the nearly 150 interviews conducted by the 1/6 Committee contained Trump officials, Rep. Schiff answered: They do include people from the former administration. They include people in the private sector. They include people are experts in some of the — for example, the social media issues that we’re investigating. So they run the gamut.
Click through for a little more. Of course he can’t name names at this point.

Crooks and Liars – Rittenhouse Juror Dismissed After Telling Racist Joke
Quote – To make matters worse, the jokester tried to defend himself by claiming that the so-called joke had nothing to do with the current trial, showing how utterly clueless the juror was not only to what the trial was about but to his own inherent racism.
Click through for story, including complete “joke.” I am so glad the bailiff reported him …

Politizoom – Thank You Brandon Trends As October Jobs Report Is So Stellar Not Even Fox News Can Spin It
Quote – Revenge may be best served cold but Crow is a dish that Fox News really does not digest well at any temperature. Be that as it may, they’re eating a lot of it. The October jobs growth exceeded the original prediction of 450K and came in at 531K. People are rejoicing, and right-wing media is not sure quite what to do.
Click through for more detailed good news. If you have no idea how “Brandon” got into this, you can look here (NSFW).

Food for Thought –

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Nov 062021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Federal Judge Chutkan Destroys Arguments by Donald Tump’s Lawyer on Executive Privilege.

Now This News – How Gang Leaders Are Helping Get New Zealanders Vaccinated. I like it. Progress doesn’t get made by being too chickens**t to take risks.

Really American – Congressmembers Say “‘Let’s Go Brandon”

Robert Reich – How Wealth Inequality Spiraled Out of Control

politicsrus -When Evil Came to America (pretty dramatic, but I won’t say the drama isn’t needed.)

Mrs. Betty Bowers – The United States of Freedom

Beau – Let’s talk about the FEC’s worst decision since their last one….

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Nov 062021
 

Yesterday, another quiet day, thankfully.

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Short Takes –

The 19th – A Duchess and a senator go to dinner
Quote – In a furious dash to ensure a universal paid leave policy — however small — makes it into the final version of a care package weaving its way through Congress, the Democratic legislators who have advocated for the policy for years are trying everything — including working with the Duchess of Sussex.
Click through for how this happened. I have nor forgiven Gillibramd, but if this helps get it done, that may help. (Incidentally, SOME people are capable of rising above “I’ve got mine” and work to help others.)

Wonkette – Special Counsel John Durham Arrests Russian Pee Tape Man For TERRIBLE LIES!
Quote – We’re sorry, but does any of that rise to the level of “lied to FBI about secret negotiations with Russian government”? We are just asking, because we are unclear on what the standards are here in Wonderland.
Click through for story. I don’t know what else you’d expect from a “Special Prosecutor” appointed by Bill Barr. Couldn’t (and shouldn’t) he be replaced with a real person?

The Hill – Democrats ramp up filibuster talks after voting rights setback
Quote – After months of trying to give space for bipartisan discussions on election legislation, Democrats are planning internal talks about what, if any, rules changes they’ll be able to get through on their own. Those ideas include smaller shifts on nominations or amendments. But altering the filibuster — particularly when it comes to elections bills — is getting the most attention.
Click through for more – I should bloody well hope the filibuster’s abolishment is getting discussed!

Food for Thought –

Democracy for America and Robert Reich want you to sign (and share) this petition (and I don’t know why you wouldn’t want to.)

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Nov 052021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Trump Lawyers Falsely Claim in Court Filing that FBI & Senate Committee Cleared Trump Re: Jan 6

Meidas Touch – QAnon cult humiliated after JFK Jr. fails to ‘reappear’ in Dallas, declare Trump king

The Lincoln Project – Last Week in the Republican Party…

CNN – QAnon believers gathered to see something physically impossible

Liberal Redneck – January 6th Was Not a False Flag

Puppet Regime – Biden’s Paid Leave Problem |

Beau – Let’s talk about Manchin and political games….

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Nov 052021
 

Yesterday, my visor extender came, and it is substantial. It’s already a little longer than my visor without any extending – and it has a side extender which I probably won’t be able to extend completely when it’s in the windshield, because it will run into the rear view mirror, but which will be very handy when it’s turned to the side window. In the package were two items which are not what I thought I had ordered, and whch are hard to describe, but which I think I can use to good effect also. So, 9 days ahead of my next visit, I am set.

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Short Takes –

Zuckerberg’s ‘Meta’ Name Already Taken By Anti-Capitalist Org
Quote – “Through art and research, argument, and poetry,” the site says, “mέta (the abbreviation of our Our Center for Postcapitalist Civilization) works to break with a dystopic present to imagine the world anew—to grasp our present historical moment so as to help radical progressive movements find a path from the emergent dismal postcapitalism to one worth fighting, and living, for.”
Click through for story. I can’t find it now, but I’m sure I saw somewhere that mέta applies for trademark protection four months ago. This is important because names are not subject to copyright. Trademarks, on the other hand, are protected at least as strongly as copyrights. So Zuck may have to think again. I ceertainly hope so.

‘That Is Literally Congress’s House’: Judge Skewers Donald Trump’s Argument That Jan. 6 Investigation Lacks Legislative Purpose
Quote – The judge quickly took aim at Trump’s reliance on the Supreme Court’s Mazars decision, which established that lower courts must take into account separation of powers concerns implicated by congressional subpoenas when information related to the president is implicated. Much has changed since that July 2020 decision. Namely, Trump is no longer president.
Click through for more. This is somewhat under everyone’s radar (well, except for Glemm’s radar), but I think worth knowing.

Giuliani investigators home in on 2019 plan to advance Ukraine interests in US
Quote – The high-profile federal criminal investigation of Rudy Giuliani in recent days has zeroed in on evidence that in the spring of 2019 three Ukrainian government prosecutors agreed to award contracts, valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, to Giuliani and two other American attorneys as a way to gain political and personal influence with the Trump administration.
Click through for somewhat mealy-mouthed details. Subtitle: “Prosecutors believe Giuliani and two others may have violated law over agreement that would have seen them win lucrative contracts” Gee, ya think?

Food for Thought –

 

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Nov 042021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Recap of Legal Stories for October 2021: From Trump Crimes to Congress; From Garland to Bannon

The Lincoln Project – Anti-American

Dem Congressman Expertly Breaks Down How Progressive Policies Are Key to Competing With China in Fiery Speech

Liberal Redneck – Virginia Governor Fallout

Rocky Mountain Mike shares Richard Henzel reading “The Craven.”

Leroy Anderson – The Classical Jukebox (complete with skips and “broken record” repeats – remember?)

Beau – Let’s talk about 30% of Republicans, Trump, and the midterms…

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Nov 042021
 

Yesterday, I overslept a biy – still tired from the day before. So I kind of took my time – and worked some on a new portrait doll. Otherwise, a quiet day.

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Short Takes –

The Daily Beast – Florida Trio Accused of Smuggling Guns to ‘400 Mawozo’ Gang in Haiti
Quote – Three Florida residents are facing federal charges for allegedly smuggling firearms from South Florida to leaders of Haiti’s notorious 400 Mawozo gang, recently accused of kidnapping at least 17 American and Canadian missionaries last month near Port-au-Prince.
Click through for the exact charges. Who did they think they were, the CIA?

Law & Crime – Woman Pointed Gun at 7-Year-Old Child Who Was Trick-or-Treating: Deputies
Quote – According to authorities, Bradford was yelling at nearby trick-or-treaters. Deputies did not explain how this escalated to her pointing a gun at the 7-year-old, or specify why she was mad in the first place, but that is what they alleged she did.
Click through for mugshot. There’s not much detail but the quote was so Dunning-Kruger I couldn’t resist.

Crooks and Liars – Everyone Is Watching Sir David Attenborough Today And You Should Too
Quote – The problem often feels too big for one person to understand, let alone make a difference in solving it. But Sir David Attenborough makes it EASY to understand…. I watched it this morning and feel BETTER and better informed on the topic of climate change than I ever have before. I hope you do, too.
Click through for video and full accurate transcript. We really need this.

Food for Thought –

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Nov 032021
 

Glenn Kirschner – Washington Post’s January 6 Deep Dive; Is AG Garland/DOJ Criminally Investigating Donald Trump?

Ring of Fire – Cyber Ninjas Isn’t Turning Over Their Documents And Republicans Are Getting Angry

Everett Stern – almost 22 minutes and he’s not the world’s greatest orator. But the material is – plutonium. There is a related article in Newsweek 

RepresentUs – Two riffs on the gerrymandered pizza.

Sprouts – We all know about the Dunning-Kruger effect in dumb folks. But the corollaries go all the way up.

Beau – Let’s talk about roses, history, and a reality check….

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