Open Thread December 21 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 11:28 pm Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 202025

Yesterday, The radio opera was Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” in the abridged version and English translation they put on around Christmas-New Year’s Day every year because the kids are out of school. It’s always fun, and generally as much for the cast as it is for the audience – maybe even more. Although it’s contagious.

From The Borowitz Report. Not terribly funny – more of an “Oregon Leads the Way” story – a story which would have made TomCat even prouder of his city. Am I selectively remembering, or are these Portland heroes mostly sheros? (I couldn’t help but think of “Naked Athena.”

Yes, another veteran story, and a Colorado Springs story at that. (Colorado Springs has a lot of veterans, including even some Navy/Marine vets, although the Air Force Academy proximity along with Fort Carson account for the bulk of us.) And so many are struggling.

This happened on December 16. It should last until the Cantaloupe Caligula finds out about it. I hope it lasts longer. The comments from party leaders are revealing.

Open Thread September 12 2025

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:09 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 122025

Yesterday, I received an email about an upcoming demonstration, not sprcifically on electoral politic, but on climate, called Sun Day. It’s scheduled for September 21. They havealready scheduled over 350 events in 46 states – fewer that, for instabnce, No Kings, but very large for a climate demonstration. And they’d be happy to add more if there’s not one near you. For anyone interested, here’s the link.

As if the murder of Charlie Kirk wasn’t enough, we had another school shooting in Colorado on Wednesday. Colorado Public Radio reports.

It’s been a week with lots of news – and too much of it important for me to be able to begin to share it. But this by Robert Reich, which came out Tuesday has to be shared. We can’t afford not to. Reich is a specialist in labor, and from that place also an economist. He knows it will hurt. He also knows that any other course of action will hurt worse in the long run.

This is long for a Borowitz Report (at least it is for a free one) and it’s not terribly funny (although it is cute in its way). But it may come in very useful.

Open Thread August 11, 2023

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:02 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Aug 112023

Yesterday, (OK, actually the day before but I didn’t get the email from Joyce Vance until after midnight) Trump** advised the court that he wanted his very own SCIF built at Mar-a-Lago. He claimed it would be cheaper than his (and his SS) travel expenses to and fro (it wouldn’t.) But the main reason, IMO, is that if there were a SCIF on his property, he would think that gave him the right to keep any and all classified documents tht he touched. (Building it would also delay the proceedings indefinitely.) For a guy who has no balls when it comes to courage, he has balls the size of church bells when it comes to arrogance. Also yesterday (really) I took in a grocery order which contained everythingI had ordered – but cost $25 less than predicted the previous night when I placed it. I’m still a little confused, but I’ll take it. The thing that made me the happiest was – let me backtrack a little – this spring they came out with a new flavor of unsweetened seltzer in their house brand which I really, really like. Apparently so did everyone else, since for about three months I haven’t been able to order it – it’s been labeled “pickup only.” Finally this week it was available for delivery, but with a noet, “low inventory.” I ordered 2 12-packs, hoping to get one anyway, and received both. It’s called “blackberry citrus,” and it really does taste like that, only not sweet. Yum.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

Here’s an “Oregon leads the way” story.
AP News – Post-GOP walkout, Oregon elections chief says lawmakers with 10 or more absences can’t run next term
Quote – Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade made the announcement in a news release to clear up confusion over how reelection rules would affect those senators. Under Measure 113, which was approved by voters in 2022, lawmakers with more than 10 unexcused absences were supposed to be disqualified from being reelected for the following term. But some Republicans raised questions over the measure’s vague wording, sparking confusion over what the consequences of the walkout would be for boycotting senators. “My decision honors the voters’ intent by enforcing the measure the way it was commonly understood when Oregonians added it to our state constitution,” Griffin-Valade said.
Click through for story. Now that’s the kind of Secretary of State I want (and at this point have, though that hasn’t always been so.) There are some very spunky SoSes out there, mostly women.

Colorado Public Radio – ‘Hank the Tank,’ the California bear behind 21 home invasions, has been moved to Colorado
Quote – Tweet from Governor Jared Polis: “Today, wildlife biologists for the @CaliforniaDFW captured a large female black bear, who will be transferred to @animalsanctuary upon a one-time permission from @COParksWildlife and @coagriculture1. We welcome “Hank the Tank” (turned out to be Henrietta the Tank) to Colorado!”
Click through for more details. While in the service, I worked with a Master Sergeant named Henrietta, and she preferred to be called Hank, so I’m very comfortable with “Hank the Tank” being female. (P.S. I also love my governor.)

Food For Thought

Open Thread October 3, 2022

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 6:58 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Oct 032022

Yesterday, it was kind of quiet. I finished getting my meds together for the next two weeks (I had had to use one of my spares the previous night – but I replaced it in the filling process, and anyway, that’s why I keep spares.) I got an email from Virgil’s facility asking for a new application to visit, and the tone was almost apologetic. I did vaguely know that the public facilities kept their own, but all those years he was in private facilities, they were kept at the DOC headquarters, and therefore transferred, and I got spoiled. I emailed it to her by return, along with my request to visit the 9th.. She won’t see it until today, but that’s fine.

Also, I heard from Mitch. He used my name in the greeting, so I don’t know whether he sent it to others, and therefore will quote it in full:

We were in Pa. since the 23rd of Sept., did not decide to extend our time in Pa., but the airline and Tampa airport did, wisely closing on Thursday. We could not get a flight back from Trenton, at all so flew out of Philly, this morning, after 2 nice days staying with friends, and have been home since something like 3:00 PM, here. All is well, here, but we do not know what is going on with a cousin

of Susan’s, who lives in Venice Beach.

Our area didn’t get much impact, though, interestingly, the water in Hillsboro Bay got sucked

out for a while, the other day.

Cartoon – 03 Rob Roy

Short Takes –

It’s Not Just Ginni Thomas But Roberts’ And Coney Barrett’s Spouses, Too
Quote – Jane Roberts’ clients include lawyers or law firms sometimes with active Supreme Court practices, at least some of which were more likely to work with her because of her status as the chief justice’s spouse…. Justice Amy Coney Barrett redacted the clients and even the name of her husband’s law firm in her disclosure, even though he is featured prominently on the firm’s website.
Click through for story. Figuring that C&L would have at least glanced at other spouse, I didn’t, but I did look up Neil Gorsuch’s mother, being old enough to remember when she was decimating the EPA under Reagan. She’s dead now, but I noted that she was Catholic, so I looked up his religion. He is Protestant now, but was raised Catholic. His doctoral supervisor when he was at Oxford was a priest.

Oregon Capital Chronicle – Under federal $1 billion agreement, Oregon will expand Medicaid coverage
Quote – Under a new agreement, the federal government will give Oregon $1.1 billion to guarantee continued free health care coverage to tens of thousands of young children in households with low incomes and offer wider coverage to low-income young adults, especially those with special needs. The agreement, announced Wednesday in a conference call with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services officials and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown, also includes expanding Medicaid coverage to include housing and food support.
Click through for more details. This actually brought me to tears – because TomCat would have been so proud! Oregon leads the way!

Food For Thought

Open Thread for September 22, 2021

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 7:28 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Sep 222021

Yesterday, I observed that, although a high on 90°F had been forecast, it never actually made it above 66°F. Forecasts for the rest of the week have also been lowered around 10°F. So maybe it will cool off before the end of the month. Not that I’m really mentally ready for that, but it’s not my decision. My next visit is scheduled for October 1, and I’d be happy with cool weather for that day.

Cartoon –

Short Takes –

Crooks and Liars – Five Oregonians Hospitalized After Taking Ivermectin For COVID
Quote – The Oregon Poison Center has managed 25 cases involving Oregonians intentionally misusing ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19 between Aug. 1 and Sept. 14. Five of those cases involved hospitalization, and two people were so severely ill that they had to be admitted to an intensive care unit. Although the Oregon Poison Center also serves Alaska and Guam, the vast majority of ivermectin cases it has managed this year have come from Oregon.
Click through for stats. Sadly no state – and no county – and no town – and even no nation is idiot-free

The Hill – Five things to watch as Biden heads to the UN
The five are: 1. Do France tensions carry over
2. How does COVID-19 loom over the event
3. Do leaders announce any new climate initiatives
4. What is the Afghanistan fallout?
5. Biden looks for reset on foreign policy priorities
Click through for reasons. The missing question marks on #1 through #3 are The Hill’s omission, not mine.

Tampa Officials Shocked To Learn Evicting Black People For Basically No Reason Miiiiight Be Considered Racist
Quote – So it turns out the Tampa, Florida, police department has been encouraging landlords to evict their [usually Black] tenants, in the name of “crime prevention.” Because, as we all know, making people homeless is a great way to reduce crime.
Click through for complete story, in Wonkette’s inimitable style. You might consider cushioning your head first, since you may feel like hitting it against the wall.

Food for Thought –

Video Thread 6/22/21

Posted by Joanne Dixon at 1:00 pm Open Thread, Politics

Jun 222021

Glenn Kirschner – WAPO: Weisselberg & Trump Frequenting Trump Tower-DA Vance’s Next Move May be Indicting Weisselberg

Represent Us – Now that Crooks and Liars have pointed out Republicans are throwing fits, I need to share what the fits are about. Rachel has also responded.

Titus (with Bradley) Satire “Press Conference vs. Press Conference” – Well, I laughed out loud (more than once)

Corey Ryan Forrester – “COVIS” vaccine – too subtle for Republicans?

Rocky Mountain Mike – Life With Barack (Right Wing Radio Told Me)

Beau – Let’s talk about Portland cops resigning and what to do…. None of this would have surprised TomCat – unless it were the unanimity of Mayor, Judge, and Prosecutor, which would have pleased him.

Open Thread – 3/7/2021

Posted by TomCat at 10:25 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Mar 072021

It’s a very tired day here in the cat box. For the last week I had a pants load of long appointments setting up my hospice services, and all that chair time exacerbated my back pain. My hospice nurse adjusted my methadone dose to my new level of pain. That was too high for my normal level of activity, causing all the side effects. I told her that’s what I thought, and she agreed to put me back to 10 mg methadone every eight hours. I’m feeling better. Here is my new schedule. This is what I said I would explain today. Monday is a Wendy day, usually in the evening. Thursday a shower aide comes around 9 AM. Then Store to Door delivers groceries between 11:30 AM and Noon. That will be a rough day. Saturday morning is a Wendy day. My hospice nurse will come every two weeks on Monday. Then I will have occasional visits from Jo, the chaplain. I like her. She is an authentic Christian and loves the definitions for Republicitis and Republicosis. So except for the initial confusion everything is doing pretty well. Nevertheless, it will take a few days for me to catch up on sleep. May you be well and truly blessed this Sunday!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:41 (average 4:56). To do it, click here. How did you fo?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos:

…”It will be a Democratic Party Armageddon in 2022 if we sit here on our butts and say, ‘Oh, we’re sorry, we’re not as determined to get our agenda passed as Republicans were,'” Sen. Jeff Merkley, the Oregon Democrat spearheading filibuster reform efforts, told the Post. He’s right. With the Supreme Court seemingly ready to gut the remains of the Voting Rights Act and 43 states considering some 253 voter restriction bills, it could be Armageddon for Democrats. If the elections reforms passed by the House don’t become law, Democratic voters will be blocked from the polls. If President Biden’s critical agenda to address the pandemic, economic inequality, climate change, immigration—everything!—is stymied, Democratic voters won’t want to go to the polls in 2022.

Biden sure as hell recognizes that. That’s why the former longtime member of the Senate is open to filibuster reform. “One thing that is nonnegotiable is him delivering for the American people,” Emmy Ruiz, the White House political director, told the Post. “The number one priority here is to get this agenda, this bold agenda, passed through Congress.” Another White House official said the “‘strategy is adjusting every single day,’ reiterating Biden’s position that the filibuster is not sacrosanct while the agenda is.”…

Jeff could not be more correct. Oregon leads the way! RESIST the Republican Reich!!

From YouTube (CNN Channel): Trump State Department official charged for attacking police in Capitol riot

Could the Republican Reich be more guilty of treason than this? RESIST the Republican Reich!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Crimson and Clover – Tommy James & The Shondells

Ah… the memories! RESIST the Republican Reich!!

Don’t Let Republicans Steal YOUR Future!!

Open Thread – 2/28/2021

Posted by TomCat at 8:33 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 282021

It’s a painful and exhausted day, here in the CatBox. The intake meeting with Providence Home Hospice was excellent, but it was long. I was sitting up and putting pressure on my spine from around 10:30 AM when Wendy arrived until about 5:30 PM when the intake nurse left. My meds will be delivered today. They are putting me on 5 mg methadone pills every eight hours plus up to 10 – 15 mg Oxycodone every 3 – 6 hours as needed for pain. No more patches. They will give me a shower a week and I’ll get 1 – 2 from WWWendy. I’ll receive a pants load of other services. I really like the way they are handling it, but recovering from that appointment will take a few days. Have a wonderful Sunday!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:36 (average 4:51). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: Donald J. Trump will use his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference this weekend to announce that he has won the 2024 Presidential election.

According to leaked text from his cpac speech, Trump will claim that he won the 2024 election in a landslide and “everybody knows it.”

Trump will further state that any attempt to allege that the year 2024 has not arrived yet and is, in fact, not scheduled to occur until three years from now is “a rigged hoax.”

Dang, Andy! We all knew Trump** would say that. Furthermore, we knew that every damn one of those idiotic CPUKE Sheeple would believe it. RESIST the Republican Reich!!

From Alternet: Though House Democrats in the end had the votes to assure final passage of a sweeping Covid-19 relief package overnight—securing approval with a final 219-212 tally—it was the Republican Party membership in total lockstep, joined by two lonely members of the majority party, that voted to deny struggling American families, frontline workers, state governments, local communities, small businesses, and the nation’s schools and public health system nearly $2 trillion in urgent assistance to stabilize the economy, beat back the pandemic, and ensure solid footing for a robust recovery.

The two Democrats who sided with the GOP were Rep. Jared Golden, who represents Maine’s 2nd District, and Rep. Kurt Shrader, who represents Oregon’s 5th District.

That one of these is an Oregon Congressional makes me want to scream. In 2020, I donated money to Shrader’s campaign in the general. He was running against Amy Ryan Courser, the epitome of everything about the Republican Reich that makes it evil. Amy is a Koch sucker. So I would support him again in the same circumstances, but before it comes to that, we need to primary his DINO ass out of there! RESIST the Republican Reich!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Simon & Garfunkel – El Condor Pasa (If I Could) (Audio)

Ah… the memories! RESIST the Republican Reich!!

Don’t Let Republicans Steal YOUR Future!!

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