Immigration Solutions Will Never Come From The GOP
It’s like everything else from the anti-governing party. Continue reading Immigration Solutions Will Never Come From The GOP
Category: Uncategorized
Friday Catblogging: Claire Trevor’s Sit-In
Meow from Claire Trevor. Continue reading Friday Catblogging: Claire Trevor’s Sit-In
Crazy Ideas
Bizarre, delusional (and dangerous) myths have long infected the Amercian psyche. Continue reading Crazy Ideas
Dark Brandon Declared Dead, Rises Again
Joe Biden is feeling his oats and encouraging his base. Continue reading Dark Brandon Declared Dead, Rises Again
Meanwhile in Old California
Some thoughts on last Tuesday’s primary election here in the Golden State of mind. Continue reading Meanwhile in Old California
Must-See TV For Citizenry
Watching the January 6 hearings that kick off tonight is a civic duty, given the dire stakes. Continue reading Must-See TV For Citizenry
From Pundit To Troll: My Journey With Matt Yglesias
Yglesias’ tone-deaf Tweet soon after the Texas school shooting fits a recent pattern. Continue reading From Pundit To Troll: My Journey With Matt Yglesias
Vlad And The Magical Disappearing Currency
While Russian troops advance into Ukraine, the Russian economy looks to be slipping further and further into inflation, recession, and dare I say even depression. The New York Times has a good article that articulates in non-Economics Professor terms just what the West is doing financially to try and curtail the Mad Dog of Moscow.
Last week I advocated for severe economic punishment for Russia’s blatant disregard for Ukraine’s national sovereignty and amazingly (because who thought the Western Allies could ever agree on doing something) that punishment has been meted out.
Somewhat.
I’m hoping that the somewhat is only to give Vlad the Impersonator a taste of what could happen if full measures were in fact instituted. Hoping, but something tells me that somewhere along the line some country somewhere will do the “but we need their natural gas” and begin to fray the alliance. But as for now the sanctions currently in place are definitely worrying to Russia. Russians are lining up at ATM’s trying to get cash out. The Bank of Russia even went so far as to promise that
“The volume of bank notes ready for loading into A.T.M.s is more than sufficient. All customer funds on bank accounts are fully preserved and available for any transactions.”
Um, sure. But something tells me many Russians are getting ready to make a run on the bank which is never a good thing. Would that panic spread to the rest of the world? My college economics professor would have said yes, but the world has changed in the *cough cough* years since I took his class. As the sequel to Wall Street (the movie) said, “money never sleeps”. Besides with a government fiat against doing business with Russian banks in place, a default letter from any Russian bank will be laughed at by any foreign borrower.
Damn that let’s Trump off the hook for a while. No wonder he thought Putin’s Penetration was a smart move.
There’s more to the story, click the link below
Continue reading “Vlad And The Magical Disappearing Currency”
When Taking Precautions Is A Threat To ‘Freedom’
This is going to go down in history as one very strange period of time. A fairly large portion of the population has, apparently, decided that the COVID pandemic is over. When these people came to this conclusion varies anywhere from two weeks ago to two years ago. I honestly do not know how some of the more recent “the pandemic is over” converts will react if/when there is another variant. Perhaps they will accept going back to mask-wearing, or perhaps they will click their heels three times and pretend that will be protection. Where we go from here is … Continue reading When Taking Precautions Is A Threat To ‘Freedom’
Let’s Hear It For The Immigrants
The wife (Cruella) and I are travelling for the next two weeks. Actually we’ll be on a cruise ship. More about that next time. This time I’d like to say a good word for the newest Americans working the crappiest jobs who frankly saved our bacon over the last 24 hours. Our flight from San Francisco to Atlanta was delayed two and a half hours because of the winter weather on the East Coast. Just quickly, really Delta? Are you not aware that in late January, early February it can get really snowy on the East coast? And if so … Continue reading Let’s Hear It For The Immigrants
What Exactly Is America?
This is sort of a minor trope in the movies and TV, where a character realizes that someone they trusted/loved/partnered with is actually a villain, and the shocked character gasps out “what ARE you?” as they back away in horror. I’m sort of wondering that myself about our country. I do know the past two years have been a little unnerving. We learned that a disturbing number of Americans are perfectly cool with you dying if you are elderly or have an underlying condition. I just want to be able get a beer in a bar and it’s been MONTHS, … Continue reading What Exactly Is America?
Two Years and Counting of Magical Thinking
Back in February I wrote about the US passing the 500,000 mark in people who died from Covid. Today we crossed the 800,000 mark, and there is no end in sight to the unnecessary death. I tweeted this a few days ago: “Everyone wants to report back who died, but far fewer people want to talk about grief.” I was actually talking about the Sex and the City reboot “And Just Like That”, but it fits the real world, too. Even if you have not lost a loved one to Covid, the grief is palpable everywhere. In this moment as … Continue reading Two Years and Counting of Magical Thinking
Pulp Fiction Thursday: Profiles In Courage
JFK’s Profiles In Courage isn’t the sort of book that comes to mind when you think of pulp fiction. It’s not fictional and the covers do not feature women with three heads or breasts. But it fits the moment in … Continue reading Pulp Fiction Thursday: Profiles In Courage
I Am Running Out Of Patience With People Who Think God Needs Our Defense
This ulcer’s coming along nicely, thanks much: The Assembly GOP plan would also enact several restrictions on state and local governments when it comes to limiting crowds. It would: Restrict the power of local health officers from ordering the closure of a business unless it applies to all types of businesses. Similarly, a local health officer would be barred from restricting capacity at businesses unless those restrictions apply to all businesses. Prohibit state and local health departments from prohibiting gatherings in churches. Okay. Let’s ignore the obvious, which is that this entire bill is BUGBONKERS INSANE, punishing schools for offering … Continue reading I Am Running Out Of Patience With People Who Think God Needs Our Defense
Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – “Jim Rob’s not here, man” edition
Went to Freeperville this weekend, and got this on a splash page: FR Forum Down for Migration! IMPORTANT: Free Republic will be down all night tonight for migration. Will be going down at 8:00 pm (Pacific) and should up again within about 12 hours. Sorry, can’t be helped. We received notice from our provider that they were closing their San Jose data center on May 15, 2021 and that we could move our equipment to their new center when it’s ready. We thought we’d have months to prepare, but they recently moved the deadline up to Nov 15 (tomorrow). John … Continue reading Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – “Jim Rob’s not here, man” edition
You Want In the REAL LIVE VAN on Tuesday?
Then send an e-mail to me at athenae25 at yahoo.com and I will send you an invite to First Draft’s first LIVE election night party. ZOOM THE RESULTS, BITCHES. I can’t do this alone and you shouldn’t have to. You’ll get an invite the morning of Tuesday. A. Continue reading You Want In the REAL LIVE VAN on Tuesday?
Not Everything Sucks: British Muslim Charity Edition
Finsbury Park’s getting fed: Finsbury Park is a neighbourhood often characterised as ‘superdiverse’ or noted for its ‘working-class flavour’. Right in the centre of Jeremy Corbyn’s Islington North constituency, the smallest in the country by area, it is dense with successive migrant communities – most notably Irish, Afro-Caribbean, Greek and Turkish Cypriot, Turkish, Kurdish, and more recently Somali and Algerian. Now a hub of the North African community, the area has been experiencing rapid gentrification thanks in part to its position as a transport hub, the patchwork shops and restaurants of Seven Sisters Road and the surrounding estates now standing in the shadows of … Continue reading Not Everything Sucks: British Muslim Charity Edition
Final Debate Live Coverage Breaking CRACK VAN
Thank God it’s almost over, I’m back to hourly panic attacks again: THANKS FOR COMING ALL. SEE YOU IN THE VIDEO VAN ON ELECTION NIGHT. A. Continue reading Final Debate Live Coverage Breaking CRACK VAN
Not Everything Sucks
Jennifer Wheeler is cooking and posting videos: “It’s not just about cooking a meal and having the meal for lunch or dinner, but it’s about connection with our ancestors and how they have been so resilient and strong,” said Jennifer Wheeler. Jennifer Wheeler, a Navajo language teacher, posted a series of videos on her Facebook page showing her making traditional foods like blue corn much and kneel down bread. Her videos have been shared across the platform tens of thousands of times. “I didn’t even imagine the response that I’m getting now,” she said. BRB adding to my “watch and … Continue reading Not Everything Sucks
Fuck Him Up, Kamala, With the Crack Van of Loooooooooove
I might already be drunk. It’s been a day. Is it ever not, but especially today. Van closed! Thanks for coming and be here for the NEXT presidential debate, if it happens, who the fuck knows, I’m really drunk. A. Continue reading Fuck Him Up, Kamala, With the Crack Van of Loooooooooove
TEACH US HOW TO DOUGIE
I told you I’d be posting pretty much nothing but Democratic mash notes from here on out. You were warned. UGH, GOD, GET A ROOM. I’m so happy America is finally getting to know the @DouglasEmhoff that I know and love. Could not be more proud of you Dougie.https://t.co/uinTbIjcFK — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) October 5, 2020 Seeing a dude in these roles is always a really interesting prospect to me. Like 2/3 of the charm of a Hillary presidency would have been seeing First Gentleman Bill Clinton handling the Easter Egg Roll and all the other extremely gendered shit we … Continue reading TEACH US HOW TO DOUGIE
First Debate Crack Van!!!!!
VAN CLOSED. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. I could not do that alone. Jump into the comments and tell me what you think of the new van. Transcript highlights later! Like I was watching this shit alone. Pick a name and come on in! We don’t have the sound effects anymore but we do have a stable platform that works with WordPress and it won’t crash your browser 7 times in an hour. A. Continue reading First Debate Crack Van!!!!!
Happy Biden Things
SUNGLASSES: According to Biden, he’s been wearing Ray-Ban Aviator sunglasses for most of his life. “My lord, I’ve been wearing aviators since I was a freshman in college as a lifeguard,” he told the Skimm in 2016. An image search for “Joe Biden sunglasses” does not disappoint and turns up some B. Barry Bamz as well if that’s your kink, I’m not here to judge you. I’m here to serve you political crack and if you don’t know that by now, you are in the wrong place. A. Continue reading Happy Biden Things
Not Everything Sucks
Ferret edition: This little critter may only be 8 months old, but that hasn’t stopped him from raising thousands of dollars for charity. Over the course of just two and a half weeks, Bandit the pet ferret managed to complete a full marathon by taking the challenge in his tiny stride and completing several miles per day alongside his owners. I love my cats, don’t get me wrong, but sometimes I really miss my ferrets. Pictures at the link are priceless. Via NancyDrewed. A. Continue reading Not Everything Sucks
Here You Go
I heard this in the car and somehow it was just what I needed, and maybe you need it too: A. Continue reading Here You Go
Not Everything Sucks
Did we know this was still a thing? I DID NOT KNOW THIS WAS STILL A THING! Parents: If this thread is taking you back to a simpler time, a time when you knew finishing a book meant free Pizza Hut pizza, BOOK IT! is still around! AND we just launched a new summer program this month. Head on over to https://t.co/rdFvRO2FN3 to sign up! — The BOOK IT! Program (@bookitprogram) June 21, 2020 I am a huge OLD who assumes everything good from my childhood, like making homemade IEDs in the woods out of coke bottles and firecrackers, is … Continue reading Not Everything Sucks
Not Everything Sucks
Born in 1920, she’s still dancing: Rogers was twisting for her loved ones and neighbors who came out to celebrate her birthday Thursday. Born June 18, 1920 in Biloxi, Mississippi, Rogers has called her ranch house on the 6800 block of South Champlain Avenue home since the 1970s. A surprise parade and block party at the house was organized by members of Rogers’ Washington Park church, the Greater Bethesda Missionary Baptist Church, and the Andrew Holmes Foundation, whose “Club 100” throws grand celebrations for Chicagoans’ 99th and 100th birthdays. Dozens of attendees made the celebration “out of this world,” said Preston Allen, … Continue reading Not Everything Sucks
Fights That Shouldn’t Have to Be Fights
Aimee Stephens, heroine: Stephens’ lawyers argued her firing was a clear example of discrimination because of her sex, and the 6th Circuit agreed. “The unrefuted facts show that the Funeral Home fired Stephens because she refused to abide by her employer’s stereotypical conception of her sex,” the court wrote in a 49-page decision. “Discrimination against employees, either because of their failure to conform to sex stereotypes or their transgender and transitioning status, is illegal under Title VII,” the court said. “It is analytically impossible to fire an employee based on that employee’s status as a transgender person without being motivated, … Continue reading Fights That Shouldn’t Have to Be Fights
Not Everything Sucks
Nina Simone existed, and her music still does: Looking at Nina Simone’s statue in downtown Tryon, I recite the end of Rainer Maria Rilke’s poem, “Archaic Torso of Apollo,” which reads, “for here there is no place / that does not see you. You must change your life.” Rilke wrote the poem while staring, entranced, at a headless statue from Auguste Rodin that dazzled him to the point of imperative transformation. Now, almost exactly one hundred years later, I am standing in front of the eight-foot bronze statue of Nina Simone. I find most of the music I really love … Continue reading Not Everything Sucks
A Product of Their Times
Apropos of being reminded of the existence of an acquaintance I’d memory-holed but apparently forgotten to unfriend, nothing makes me crazier than the idea that someone was just A PRODUCT OF THEIR TIME. Oh, he’s an old man, let him be racist and sexist and garbage and shitty to you and in front of you, he’s a product of his time. You know who else was a product of their time? Sophie Scholl. Sojourner Truth. Fred Hampton. Every single goddamn Freedom Rider. Ida B. Wells was a product of her time. Nellie Bly, too. Every last one of the Tuskegee … Continue reading A Product of Their Times