Open Thread February 7 2026

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

Yesterday, I did my best to get this post finished and up and a dolid head start on tomorrow’s and still get to bed early. I wish I could say it was easy, but I don’t knowingly lie to y’all. But somehow I managed.

I still just have a landline myself. So it shouldn’t be surprising that I find this interesting.

I realize it’s hard to live without Amazon. But it can be done. If you can’t find a specialty online store which sells direct, you can check out etsy and ebay. You might still end up enriching a MAGAt without knowing it – but it will be one individual MAGAt, not a billionaire. I can live with that.

Archived from Huff Post. You could probably see it without, but it would be tedious. It should be no surprise that red states are facilitating, not merely accepting, right wing cruelty. Not surprising – just disgusting.

This is JoJo from Jerz, in case anyone has missed her. The “Siren Podcast” comprises her, Brooklyn Dad Defiant (BDD) and the occasional guest. NSFW.

Share

Open Thread February 5 2026

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

Yesterday, I heard from Harry Dunn that he is running for Congress. In case anyone has forgotten, he was the Capitol policeman who tricked the January 6 rioters into following him instead of gong into the Senate chambers that day, which gave the Senate time to secure the door. He led them into what was essentially a dead end, risking his life. He hasn’t been on progressive TV or podcasts as much as, say, Michael Fanone, but he is as much a hero, if not more. In much less exciting news, my exterminator came and found some improvement. That surprised me, given how far down my energy has been, but it was a nice surprise.

This from Joyce Vance is important enough that you have probably seen it. As her title suggests, the court has trapped itself – if they approve gerrymanders for Republicans because they are political, not racial, they cannot deny them to Democrats for the same reason.. I expect Karma is laughing her head off.

I don’t subscribe to Dean Blundell‘s Substack – if I tried to subscribe to every worthwhile Substack – well, there just aren’t enough hours in a day. But Democratic Underground tipped me off to this. and I hadn’t seen it elsewhere and consider it important.

This is an 8-9 minute video post, which I am including because Chris Bowers, though clear headed, comes across as more of an optimist. Steve Schmidt, who comes across as more of a pessimist, is saying the same thing. For anyone who is worried enough about this that it is slowing you down, there is an organization for Democratic Secretaries of State (DASS) which is deeply committed to safeguarding our elections, and can always use some help. (And it’s the states which have Democratic Secretaries which will probably need help the most.)

Share

Open Thread February 4 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 042026
 

Yesterday, I learned that I am not the only person who has noticed that the names of the two ICE/CBP murder victims in Minnesota resemble the phrase “pretty good” Robert Reich’s caption contest, which I just got around to reading, includes several all usages in the previous week’s answers. And while we are on the subject of linguistics, I learned last week that “Elon” and Ilhan” are correctly pronounced exactly the same way. and just yesterday I noticed that only a small space separates “Redactions” from “Red actions.” Andy Borowitz was not long enough to call an article, but was pretty funny.

Robert Reich addresses the fact that, in suing the IRS, the Saffron Sauron is really suing himself. With our money. it’s presented lightly, not heavy-handedly, but it’s quite a serious step.

I know exactly how Le feels. I won’t belabor it here, but I would like to add that working in the same office with criminals doesn’t necessarily make you a criminal. But it does take a toll.

I 100% agree that black folks need to be aware of this – but, frankly – everyone else needs to be just as aware of it. Renee Good was not black. Alex Pretti was not black. The sad fact is that anyone, of any age or any color, who is on a street that ICE or CBP or even the National Guard is on needs to be equally aware and careful.

Share

Open Thread February 3 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 032026
 

Yesterday, finally Liam and Dad are home. I have my exterminator coming tomorrow, and next Tuesday I have lab work scheduled. Both are late enough in the day that I should not be late for either.

Sometimes we need a little history – sometimes for cautionary reasons, and sometimes for hope. This one, from Steve Schmidt, is a little bit of both.

I seriously doubt that anyone here even considered seeing this movie for a millisecond, but in case you know anyone who is thinking about it, here’s the antidote from Robert Reich. (I would note that the “deadpan face” to which one reviewer refers is probably deliberate in order to prevent or at least delay facial wrinkles.)

Heaven knows there are issues with inconsistency among the states when it comes to federal elections. But “nationalizing” now would lock all the crap ln and sll the fairness and freedom out. No. Just No (well, maybe Hell, No.)

Cat

Share

Open Thread February 2 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Feb 022026
 

Yesterday, Pro Publica published the names of the two agents who shot and killed Alex Pretti. And, Trinette was by, taking out my trash and recyclables, and to chat and make my day.

Chris Bowers makes a strong case here. I hope he is right. Maybe I should phrase that “I hope there are enough people in this regime with enough brains to figure this out, because the Apricot Antichrist is definitely not one.”

For a partial post (paid subscribers get the full one), this is extremely informative. It’s clear why lawyers line up to work with Adam, who is not a lawyer, but a journalist.

This is a wrap-up, but it contains things I missed (which shouldn’t surprise me – I’m just one person, after all), such as a reference to the list of judicial orders defied by DHS (96 just in January).


Share

Open Thread February 1 2026

 Posted by at 11:41 am  Politics
Feb 012026
 

Yesterday, it didn’t snow (it hasn’t since Monday) and the snow we did have is virtually gone. The radio opera was Arabella by Richard Strauss, which the last summer season also included, so it’s way to soon to say anything else about it. Mostly, I just cleaned out my inbox and committed knitting. I have three projects going, which is rare for me – usually I just work on one till it’s finished.

This doesn’t sound like good news rom the headline. You need to read the story. Then it’s good news.

Veterans. And kids. If you get newsletters from “Read the Smile” and saw this, you might have guessed I would share it.

I am not in the least worried about the birth rate – well, maybe that it’s too high – but this is just sweet.

Share

Open Thread January 28 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jan 282026
 

Yesterday was Holocaust Remembrance Day, which I missed putting up a visual for. I tried to feel bad about missing it, but the truth is, that under our current regime, to me every day is Holocaust Remembrance Day. Also, several emails informed me that Alexander Vindman is running for a Senate seat in Florida. (His twin Eugene represents Virginia’s 7th District already). This may not be the suicide mission it looks like at first glance, but it’s not a walk in the park either. I may have to sign up as a monthly donor.

This may be the sickest thing I’ve heard about from this regime which didn’t involve direct physical violence – yet. Eagle County is not as close to me as it looks on this map, since it is up in the mountains of which I am on the eastern edge, and while there are roads up there, there are no direct routes to just about anything. But it still feels too close.

From Common Dreams – When the Saffron Sauron started bombing fishing boats in the Caribbean, claiming that they were Venezuelan drug mules, I would have bet good money that at least some of them were not even Venezuelan, let alone drug mules. And I would have won. Two families in Trinidad are now suing us for wrongful death of their relatives in one of those bombings. And hoo boy, do they ever have lawyers. Human lives may be no more important that insects to this regime, but these insects had families which will sting him. I just wish the money that will change hands would come from MAGA billionaires and not from us taxpayers.

From Axios, this is an article about an essay written by an AI CEO who seems almost as worried as I am about the potential for misuse, whether due to human naivete or human corruption. The article links to the full essay, but I felt both needed to be archived for readability.

Share

Open Thread January 27 2026

 Posted by at 6:00 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jan 272026
 

“Hell is empty and all the devils are here.”* Yesterday, I slept until after sunset. However, I had been up until almost sunrise, and Saturday night I had only gotten about 3 hours of sleep. I’m not kidding when I say that I’m not a morning person. That quote is from Act II of “The Tempest” where it is also a quote – Ariel is telling Prospero what the first guy said who jumped from the king’s ship when he (Ariel) made it sink in the storm. No one died in that storm, because it sank so close to shore the drew and passengers could practically walk to the shore – but it was still scary to them. We, on the other hand, have seen people die, and have seen the devils who pulled the triggers.

I can’t improve on Robert Reich. He has the facts and he explains them more clearly (and with more evidence) than I could.

I think Malcolm Nance makes a valid point here. Not that I’m certain where exactly we need to be going with it.

I have a quote here from the 19th which I cannot link to because it was just in the newsletter, and there’s no link to it, or any indication that it’s in an article at the 19th or elsewhere, but it struck me as significant:

A local doctor remembered him on social media as someone who “used to tell people off when they made sexist comments to female physicians … he made a point to teach medical residents without judgement [sic], but with a smile on his face and a joke.”

BTW, Renee Good was from Colorado. Alex Pretti’s parents live in Colorado. I am beginning to take this debacle personally.

From Rocky Mountain PBS. This is a great idea, although I am far from certain that federal Courts will uphold it, particularly in the cases of Federal Agents – who are the only kind of law enforcement likely to attempt it (unless there is another pandemic, which heaven, karma, and the cat goddesses forbid.)

Share
 Older Entries  Newer Entries