Open Thread - Friday, January 20, 2017 - Thank You Donald Trump

Submitted by NCTim on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 3:20am

open thread.jpg

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own, and you know what you know. And you are the guy who'll decide where to go.
~ Dr. Seuss ~

During my career, I traveled extensively. I was making my way through the Atlanta airport and my vector intersected with the vector of a traveler coming in the opposite direction. I looked up, drawing the person into focus and recognized the person. John Lewis and I were standing nearly face to face. I was awe struck and just stood there for a few seconds unable to say anything. We made eye contact. I smiled and gave the nod of acknowledgement. John Lewis smiled and returned the nod of acknowledgement. We each yielded a bit to the right and continued on our way.

The encounter was rather mundane, but I walked away exhilarated. It was a really good feeling that is hard to explain. I feel like I was enriched by the very brief encounter with John Lewis.

So, thank you Donald Trump for supplying a trigger event helping me relive that moment.

Is it apropos that today is the last day of Davos and the Trump inauguration? I have always found it insulting that the ultra-rich are passed off as thought leaders. Wealth is not a measurement of intellect. It seems to me that the rich running the show is part of the problem.

I wish the Trump administration tremendous success stimulating people.

March on.

The thread is OPEN. Have a great weekend!

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Comments

Submitted by eyo on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 5:58am

Conversation with Arlo Guthrie

Good day all. I hope someone enjoys this as much as I did. "folk music is social media" hmm, that made me think. This part I transcribed, but from beginning to end it is enjoyable.
https://youtu.be/jt_1R5HJmC4?t=11m38s

You gotta realize that when I started out there was maybe fifty years of recorded music, that was it, and at that time what they were recording was the previous thirty thousand years, because nobody had ever recorded it before. So anything that anybody remembered for the last thirty thousand years got recorded in the first twenty, thirty years of recorded music. They recorded speeches not just songs, it wasn't entertainment it was history.

So they recorded all that stuff, my dad and all his friends for the most part sat around recording old ballads and shanties and, cowboy songs and other stuff. People don't do those songs today but they have access to them, and I had access to the first fifty years of that when I was learning my stuff. Now people have a hundred years of stuff, that's a lot more to go through, and so they tend to acquire the techniques and the skills a lot younger then I was able to do. And so there are people who are really capable, now it takes the same amount of time to be able to be convincing. There are a lot of great technicians, but to be convincing every night, that has to do with art and it has to do with discipline and you know, all the other stuff that you don't acquire in the same way. You have to actually go out and do it.

Keep going he talks about hearing his dad live for the first time ever, "more genetic than art but what are gonna do?" made me LOL.

Peace

Submitted by Lookout on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 7:34am

I heard Arlo was a republican?

@eyo

Hey eyo,
Woody, Pete , and Arlo are 3 of my faves. Arlo has been down to the Florida Folk fest a couple of times over the last few years. Credible sources informed me he votes republican, but I still find it hard to believe.

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by eyo on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 7:54am

I don't know his politics but I liked what he said

@Lookout - Sorry if you didn't like his words. I listened to the video twice there's a lot in there, parts made me think about and view subjects in a different way. I like that. Also, I can find common cause with another human trying to "sneak in a couple of keys" because cannabis is the peace plant in my view. Why should I care how he votes? ~shrug~ Maybe if he gives lots of money to shitty people, that's another thing.

Given that, I am really sad about what is happening with cannabis in California. One step forward, two steps back. Just like the loggers before and grape-growers now, there will be over-planting and under-regulation. The cronies are in charge as far as I can tell, the "market" is captured by Monsanto & friends before it has even started. Goodbye fisheries. Too bad future kids can't know what was theirs, the abundance that nature provided. Sorry about that.

Peace & Love

Submitted by Lookout on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 9:08am

Arlo Guthrie Net Worth is $10 Million.

@eyo

That may explain his republican...he's a ron paul supporter
https://www.headcount.org/arlo-guthrie-unexpected-republican/
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/arlo-guthrie-from-flag-burning-to-ron-...

Arlo Guthrie has reportedly made comments during concerts that reveal his frustrations with the trade unions including those working on his shows whose rules prevent him from carrying his own guitars onto the stage.

Reading his blog site, it’s clear that Arlo is not so much a Republican as he is a traditional libertarian:
http://commonamericanjournal.com/arlo-guthrie-republican/

I wanted to do a little homework to see if there was any truth. It is always interesting to me to find people with money who don't want government helping those who do not.

I still enjoy his music and performance, but it is good to be aware it is a show.

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by eyo on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 10:22am

"good to be aware it is a show"

@Lookout - thanks a lot for your research. I did not know he had enough money to buy a politician or two, thanks.
"There are a lot of great technicians, but to be convincing every night, that has to do with art and it has to do with discipline and you know, all the other stuff that you don't acquire in the same way. You have to actually go out and do it."

Bouncing to another topic I missed this terrific news:
The Clinton Foundation Is Dead — But The Case Against Hillary Isn't

While everyone's been gearing up for President Trump's inauguration, the Clinton Foundation made a major announcement this week that went by with almost no notice: For all intents and purposes, it's closing its doors.

In a tax filing, the Clinton Global Initiative said it's firing 22 staffers and closing its offices, a result of the gusher of foreign money that kept the foundation afloat suddenly drying up after Hillary Clinton failed to win the presidency.

one down

Submitted by UntimelyRippd on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 12:12pm

uh ... did you actually READ that?

@Lookout @Lookout He observes that he joined the Republican Party (says nothing about how he votes), not because he hates the Democrats, but because he wants to influence the Republican Party to be more of a libertarian, rather than fascist, counterweight to the Democrats: "Where the hell are these guys [i.e., the Republicans] when you need them? It’s not a matter of being right or wrong. I’ve been both many times. It’s a matter of having a real contest of ideas between different opinions". He acknowledges that he has little in common with them ("I know full well, they won’t be inviting me to any clambakes or anything").

Ultimately, like a lot of hippie-dippie types, he's uncomfortable with particular elements of what the old-timey republicans used to call the "nanny-state", not least because like a lot of hippie-dippie types he has a fairly casual understanding of biological sciences -- as do not a few c99p'rs, i suspect (see my recent exchange with the_poorly_educated). I strongly disagree with him on some of this, but his perspective appears to be that it is the Republican Party, not the Democratic Party, that must provide the "small government" pushback against us high-minded social engineers trying to take away his (ineffective and often fraudulently manufactured and advertised) supplements. There's similar "room for agreement" between some far lefties and republicanists over the nature of public education.

The bottom line is that his criticisms are well in line with "normal" thought around here:

…What’s up with health care?…The current administration and the Congress has been talking about how to make health care accessible to everyone, because they all know that these multinational organizations will be more than happy to provide long term drugs and services to a nation that permits and even encourages bad health whether or not a new health care plan comes into being. It’s a win – win for government, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, doctors, lawyers and agriculture. Only you lose
…I want government and big business out of my garden. I want insurance companies out of my way when I go visit my doc
…Will the new health care reform, do more than just recycle the same bad health care to more people for less money? Now is a chance to do more than what’s being debated on TV.

as to "people with money who don't want government helping those who do not", that doesn't exactly square with AG's explicitly stated philosophy (my emphasis):

…there’s more to life than arguing about everything, but maintaining the basic nature of a free and democratic nation, taking care of each other in ways that encourage security, prosperity and tranquility – Freedom, Liberty, Justice – You know, all the good stuff, these are worth talking about.

BTW, with respect to his frustration over union rules, I wonder, do you disagree with him? Inane rules about who is allowed to carry a guitar onto a stage are negotiated by unions only under conditions in which the unions are pathetically weak, and thus are absorbed almost entirely by two objectives: Maximize the number of workers required to get something done, and maximize the wages of those workers. Those rules are indeed a symptom of a hopelessly broken system of labor. When labor has any significant power, the unions focus, not on making sure everyone has a job and enough money for food/shelter/transportation/doctors, but on the things that actually relate to the quality of their working lives: The conditions of their workplace, of their work hours, of their relationships with (and power relative to) management, of their safety, of their occupational education, and so on.

Neil Young (who was also pilloried once upon a time, for once saying something about something that was insufficiently hateful of Republicans) wrote a scathing satirical song about the essential uselessness of the musicians' union, Union Man. It's unkind, and it's pretty sad, but unfortunately it isn't entirely wrong.

—

The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.

Submitted by dervish on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 2:08pm

I agree with Arlo, in many respects

@UntimelyRippd and the "nanny state" is odious, not high-minded.

In theory, government could work for the greater good, and federal agencies could accomplish great things, through regulation, etc. Unfortunately, here on Earth, and especially here in the United States, corruption is endemic, and these agencies frequently become the problem instead of the solution. In the name of "safety" we are being robbed (ie Booker).

Politicians of every strip are full of platitudes about how great government is, but too few talk about or admit the corruption and filthy dealing that is so widespread in DC.

#1.1.1.1 #1.1.1.1 He observes that he joined the Republican Party (says nothing about how he votes), not because he hates the Democrats, but because he wants to influence the Republican Party to be more of a libertarian, rather than fascist, counterweight to the Democrats: "Where the hell are these guys [i.e., the Republicans] when you need them? It’s not a matter of being right or wrong. I’ve been both many times. It’s a matter of having a real contest of ideas between different opinions". He acknowledges that he has little in common with them ("I know full well, they won’t be inviting me to any clambakes or anything"). Ultimately, like a lot of hippie-dippie types, he's uncomfortable with particular elements of what the old-timey republicans used to call the "nanny-state", not least because like a lot of hippie-dippie types he has a fairly casual understanding of biological sciences -- as do not a few c99p'rs, i suspect (see my recent exchange with the_poorly_educated). I strongly disagree with him on some of this, but his perspective appears to be that it is the Republican Party, not the Democratic Party, that must provide the "small government" pushback against us high-minded social engineers trying to take away his (ineffective and often fraudulently manufactured and advertised) supplements. There's similar "room for agreement" between some far lefties and republicanists over the nature of public education. The bottom line is that his criticisms are well in line with "normal" thought around here: …What’s up with health care?…The current administration and the Congress has been talking about how to make health care accessible to everyone, because they all know that these multinational organizations will be more than happy to provide long term drugs and services to a nation that permits and even encourages bad health whether or not a new health care plan comes into being. It’s a win – win for government, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, doctors, lawyers and agriculture. Only you lose …I want government and big business out of my garden. I want insurance companies out of my way when I go visit my doc …Will the new health care reform, do more than just recycle the same bad health care to more people for less money? Now is a chance to do more than what’s being debated on TV. as to "people with money who don't want government helping those who do not", that doesn't exactly square with AG's explicitly stated philosophy (my emphasis): …there’s more to life than arguing about everything, but maintaining the basic nature of a free and democratic nation, taking care of each other in ways that encourage security, prosperity and tranquility – Freedom, Liberty, Justice – You know, all the good stuff, these are worth talking about. BTW, with respect to his frustration over union rules, I wonder, do you disagree with him? Inane rules about who is allowed to carry a guitar onto a stage are negotiated by unions only under conditions in which the unions are pathetically weak, and thus are absorbed almost entirely by two objectives: Maximize the number of workers required to get something done, and maximize the wages of those workers. Those rules are indeed a symptom of a hopelessly broken system of labor. When labor has any significant power, the unions focus, not on making sure everyone has a job and enough money for food/shelter/transportation/doctors, but on the things that actually relate to the quality of their working lives: The conditions of their workplace, of their work hours, of their relationships with (and power relative to) management, of their safety, of their occupational education, and so on. Neil Young (who was also pilloried once upon a time, for once saying something about something that was insufficiently hateful of Republicans) wrote a scathing satirical song about the essential uselessness of the musicians' union, Union Man. It's unkind, and it's pretty sad, but unfortunately it isn't entirely wrong.

—

"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

Submitted by NCTim on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 9:30am

He endorsed Romney

@eyo IDK about this time. We should not give a funk about celebrity endorsements. Funkin' A!

—

The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. - Friedrich Nietzsche -

Submitted by UntimelyRippd on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 5:44pm

i attempted -- and failed -- to substantiate that claim.

@NCTim @NCTim

—

Submitted by Lookout on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 7:44am

the corporate coronation

If anyone has an interest in watching the corporate coup live, Amy at Democracy Now is broadcasting 8-3 today and tomorrow will be covering the women's march.
https://www.democracynow.org/

Also Jill is broadcasting the Green Party activities on her facebook site:
https://www.facebook.com/drjillstein

Fri, Jan 20 - Occupy Inauguration

9:30am ET Rally at Malcolm X Park (aka Meridian Hill Park)
2400 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20009.

Speakers include:

Jumping Buffalo (Standing Rock)
Asa Khalif (Black Lives Matter)
Charles Eisenstein (author, Gift Economics)
Jill Stein (2016 Green Party Presidential Nominee)
George Friday (Move To Amend)
Daniel Curcio (The Equality Coalition)
Head Roc - (Rap Artist named "Mayor of DC Hip Hop")
IIYC Reps (International Indigenous Youth Council)
Red Dawn Foster (Standing Rock, #FreeRedFawn)
Lindsey Disler (United Students Against Sweatshops)

We will then march to McPherson Square, located at intersection of 5th St & K Street NW, Washington, DC and rally with our colleagues from Disrupt J20 at a "Festival of Resistance."

There will be additional speakers, musicians, poets and performers. The marches and rallies will be peaceful, and have permits issued by the National Park Service and the DC Police.

12:00pm ET Inaugural Address by soon to be President Trump
Immediately afterward Jill Stein and Seattle City Council member Kshama will deliver "The People's Response," which can be viewed on the Green News Network. Tune in online to hear these powerful women at https://www.facebook.com/drjillstein

Sat, Jan 21
10:00am-5:00pm ET - "Inaugurate the Resistance"

Jill, her running mate Ajamu Baraka, and campaign manager David Cobb will co-host a "Movement Telethon" brought to you by the Green News Network.

Tune in online to https://www.facebook.com/drjillstein to hear voices from across the movement.

5:30pm-7:30pm ET - "Inaugurate the Resistance: How Do We Defeat Trump, Right Populism *and* Neoliberalism?"

Co-hosted by Socialist Alternative and The Green Party
The entire event will be streamed live on Jill Stein’s Facebook page
Located at Alma's Temple, located at 1315 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Space is limited, buy your ticket online now here!

Confirmed speakers are Jill Stein, Kshama Sawant, Chris Hedges, Chase Iron Eyes, and Tim Canova.

BLM is already active today.

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by NCTim on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 9:37am

Good

@Lookout

BLM is already active today

If anyone has an interest in watching the corporate coup live, Amy at Democracy Now is broadcasting 8-3 today and tomorrow will be covering the women's march. https://www.democracynow.org/ Also Jill is broadcasting the Green Party activities on her facebook site: https://www.facebook.com/drjillstein Fri, Jan 20 - Occupy Inauguration 9:30am ET Rally at Malcolm X Park (aka Meridian Hill Park) 2400 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20009. Speakers include: Jumping Buffalo (Standing Rock) Asa Khalif (Black Lives Matter) Charles Eisenstein (author, Gift Economics) Jill Stein (2016 Green Party Presidential Nominee) George Friday (Move To Amend) Daniel Curcio (The Equality Coalition) Head Roc - (Rap Artist named "Mayor of DC Hip Hop") IIYC Reps (International Indigenous Youth Council) Red Dawn Foster (Standing Rock, #FreeRedFawn) Lindsey Disler (United Students Against Sweatshops) We will then march to McPherson Square, located at intersection of 5th St & K Street NW, Washington, DC and rally with our colleagues from Disrupt J20 at a "Festival of Resistance." There will be additional speakers, musicians, poets and performers. The marches and rallies will be peaceful, and have permits issued by the National Park Service and the DC Police. 12:00pm ET Inaugural Address by soon to be President Trump Immediately afterward Jill Stein and Seattle City Council member Kshama will deliver "The People's Response," which can be viewed on the Green News Network. Tune in online to hear these powerful women at https://www.facebook.com/drjillstein Sat, Jan 21 10:00am-5:00pm ET - "Inaugurate the Resistance" Jill, her running mate Ajamu Baraka, and campaign manager David Cobb will co-host a "Movement Telethon" brought to you by the Green News Network. Tune in online to https://www.facebook.com/drjillstein to hear voices from across the movement. 5:30pm-7:30pm ET - "Inaugurate the Resistance: How Do We Defeat Trump, Right Populism *and* Neoliberalism?" Co-hosted by Socialist Alternative and The Green Party The entire event will be streamed live on Jill Stein’s Facebook page Located at Alma's Temple, located at 1315 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 Space is limited, buy your ticket online now here! Confirmed speakers are Jill Stein, Kshama Sawant, Chris Hedges, Chase Iron Eyes, and Tim Canova. BLM is already active today.

—

Submitted by Arrow on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 9:14am

A bad day

He's here!

People will come to realize just how bad soon.

One person who has written succinctly about it is Umair Haque. (He's always a good read)

Here's some his latest article -
"The first thing that America has lost is prosperity. How do I know? The fundamental equation of macroeconomics says so, without a shred of doubt. Y = C+G+I+NX. Don’t be scared. It’s much simpler than it looks. It just means: GDP = Consumption + Government expenditure + Investment + eXports.

Now. What are the effects of Trumponomics going to be? Simple. He’s going to slash government expenditure. He’s going to tear up trade agreements, leading to fewer exports. He’s going to deregulate across the board, thus disincentivizing investment (monopolies don’t invest: competitive industries do). And he’s going to eviscerate public goods like healthcare — and because people will pay more for them, they will be able to spend less on other things, they will be forced to consume less.

All the terms of that equation are going to fall.

Therefore, GDP must also fall. Whether we call it a “recession” or a “depression” is a technicality: what is true is that the US now faces an economic catastrophe on the scale of a historic natural disaster or a war. Those are the only phenomena that can depress all the factors of the macroeconomy at once. Reread that last sentence, because I can’t overstate it.

Three things America lost today - Umair Haque

https://umairhaque.com/three-things-america-lost-today-12e9217c523a#.sux...

Losers! So sad! - DJT

—

I want a Pony!

Submitted by NCTim on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 9:39am

Is it

@Arrow ... too early to start drinking?

—

Submitted by Arrow on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 9:58am

Time to start

@NCTim Myers Rum and Coke for me.

—

I want a Pony!

Submitted by riverlover on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 10:11am

Nope. My gall bladder is kicking me.

@NCTim Self-medication plus hydrocodone. I ain't goin' nowhere.

—

Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

Submitted by Steven D on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 11:57am

Sorry to hear that

@riverlover Having had my gall bladder removed was one of the best things thta ever happened to me.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by Steven D on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 11:57am

Sorry to hear that

@riverlover Having had my gall bladder removed was one of the best things thta ever happened to me.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by UntimelyRippd on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 5:45pm

i find your economic analysis uncompelling.

@Arrow

—

Submitted by Azazello on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 9:29am

The quote of the day comes from H. L. Mencken.

“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”

—

We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.

Submitted by NCTim on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 9:43am

A reason for optimism?

@Azazello

—

Submitted by Steven D on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 11:59am

We've had a few morons as President over the years

@Azazello What we haven't had is a clown.

—

"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott

Submitted by mimi on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 10:59am

Darn, I worked hard the whole day and finally

sit in front of the TV with my laptop on my knees. And I can't find a live blog as fast
as I want it to. It's 5:40 pm here. So far I heard nothing of any meaning on ARD.

Where do you follow this? I know, you don't want to watch it, but I at least want to know what is going on in the streets. And I want to follow blogs.

Darn, I hate to hear the German translators of original sound and the English sound is turned so low that I can't hear it.

Ok. I am now at truthdig and hear awful public prayers. Can't they pray in the privacy of their homes. Scheer is talking to Willie Nelson and his son in Hawaii. I guess that's better to listen to.

Mama, I am tired.

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by riverlover on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 11:12am

My gall bladder (what's the German term?) is now spasming

@mimi My house has been unboxed by my dog, entropy. At least I have not vomited in the past 4 hours. Had a Dr. appt today, cancelled. No reschedule, yet. Hydrocodone is blunting the ache.

—

Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

Submitted by mimi on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 11:28am

riverlover, I am so sorry to follow you for your

@riverlover @riverlover
painful health issues you have. I so hope you would get better. I am worried about you and hate it that it's only a helpless feeling in a virtual world. Stay strong in spirit.

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by mimi on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 2:07pm

redacted /nt

@riverlover

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by Crider on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 11:12am

If you are on Facebook, you can watch this live

@mimi

From Super Deluxe, for levity's sake

https://www.facebook.com/superdeluxevideo/videos/vb.117753738569185/4033...

Submitted by mimi on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 2:44pm

redacted - no problem

@Crider @Crider
I didn't regret to just have seen it live on German TV in the end. I am not on facebooks.Thx.

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by randtntx on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 11:16am

Yes it is.

Much too early. I am in deep sympathy with the impulse though. I would very much like to be oblivious to everything today.
[I meant this comment in reply to NCTim's question "Is it too early to drink?"]
I have not figured out the new set-up here yet.

Submitted by PriceRip on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 1:09pm

The pound sign number creates a reply to comment form.

@randtntx

[I meant this comment in reply to NCTim's question "Is it too early to drink?"]

Or, the reply button on the left edge at the end of a comment creates a reply to comment form.

Submitted by Crider on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 11:09am

I have a bad case of Trumparrhea

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UDcfOkOeTw]

Submitted by skod on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 11:51am

I can't even.

That is all.

Submitted by riverlover on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 11:23am

Jan, 2017.

My mother died, three days before her 97th birthday. In her sleep, with a smile, reported by my RN niece who Had to ID the body. I had to have a notary sign a Permission Slip to have the body cremated. She had prepaid over 15 years ago. Kentucky.

And now Coronation of Trump because Hillary desired to be Queen and effed it up. And destroyed the Democratic Party.

5th gall bladder attack. I have to surgeon shop to find someone who agrees that my quality of Life has been compromised. Also want an undo for Ti plate in arm, can't do both at once. And not sure about one-arm living in the winter. By myself.

And L eye has huge floater impairing vision. One hoss shay?

—

Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

Submitted by PriceRip on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 12:47pm

I feel your pain . . . sounds so lame.

@riverlover

5th gall bladder attack. I have to surgeon shop to find someone who agrees that my quality of Life has been compromised.

We who have so suffered actually do feel your pain, and it is so very much a "quality of Life" issue. Anyone even remotely aware understands what needs to be done, and it is one of the easiest, low risk, procedures imaginable. I was one of the lucky ones, the sludge and rocks removal followed by a minimal recovery room time was fully covered. There is no excuse that anyone (and I do mean anyone) should go through what you are enduring.

While I do sent best wishes and positive thoughts your way, I reserve my right to express my anger toward those that have the tools but not the will to (universally) correct this situation.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 11:42am

Heya, Tim. Good morning (here) and happy Friday. Thanks

for the inspirational videos and tunes.

—

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Submitted by riverlover on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 1:07pm

I know you are living a nightmare, Sweetie, too

And now you sense the runaway. They mostly do it. Courage! And Love! Fear abounds out there.

—

Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

Submitted by KyleGNally on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 1:10pm

Well, this is interesting.

As some of you may know, and for those who do not, I'm a student studying Web Design and Development at my local community college. I noticed while I was taking a look at the new site design we have here that there is some support for HTML tags. That got me to wondering: can we also insert inline CSS to give our individual posts a different look than the default theme of the site? Well, as it happens...Yes, we can use inline CSS!I just thought you'd all like to know.

Submitted by PriceRip on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 1:19pm

Each meta-web tool has its quirks

@KyleGNally
You will find that some raw HTML tricks will work, others will display in a non-standard way, and some will just return a blank. The same will probably be true for CSS.

I can not speak for JtC, but as long as you don't break the site, have fun. That's what I am doing.

Submitted by KyleGNally on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 1:27pm

@PriceRip I think any standard

@PriceRip I think any standard inline CSS will work. That could be a problem if someone decides to use, say, font-size: 12em. Interestingly, the code snippet tool does not revoke style rules for CSS code; those render regardless.

Obviously, pseudo tags like :hover don't work at all, nor do @media queries or web font linking. But then, those aren't inline styles anyway.

I won't break the site, promise

Submitted by UntimelyRippd on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 2:31pm

anarchist

@KyleGNally

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Submitted by mimi on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 2:52pm

what I remember from the Trump inaugural speech

he raised his arm with his hand forming a fist.
he raised his arm with his hand forming a thumb up.

Isn't that a sign he is in love with himself being an anarchist or revolutionary? Call me nuts? Sure.

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https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by pro left on Fri, 01/20/2017 - 5:41pm

As a long time union member

I disagree with AG and the comment you wrote: Those rules are indeed a symptom of a hopelessly broken system of labor. When labor has any significant power, the unions focus, not on making sure everyone has a job and enough money for food/shelter/transportation/doctors, but on the things that actually relate to the quality of their working lives: The conditions of their workplace, of their work hours, of their relationships with (and power relative to) management, of their safety, of their occupational education, and so on. Not sure of which Unions you speak of because the Unions I have been a member of ( Teamsters and IBEW ) focused on all the above which are all important, Unions are responsible for Living wages, safe work place, 40hr week,vacation time, sick days, etc. The comment sounds suspiciously like the corporatist mentality of Be Glad You Have A job! Comment meant for Untimelyripped

Submitted by AnotherPeasant on Sat, 01/21/2017 - 2:35am

Only been union once in my life, and the one time I needed them-

-they let me down. That being said, I can accept that I am a statistical anomaly. EVERY other union member that I have ever personally known, has had a positive experience of belonging to a union. And given how out of balance our economy has become, we desperately need more unions. They are one of the few effective counterbalances to the kind of mad-dog capitalism we are experiencing. IMO, complaining that they sometimes have silly rules (that don't hurt anybody, BTW), is like complaining about the Fire Department because they sometimes get things wet.

My only real criticism of unions, going forward, is that they have not always been as supportive of Labor in general, as their Euro counterparts. It is a major reason why Euro unions have not experienced the same level of repression as American unions. Over there, they have been known to strike over conditions for low-skilled, and even non-unionized workers. Our unions have given in to tribalism too often, that "I got mine" mentality, and it has allowed them to be dismantled piecemeal, over the years. I often wonder how different this country might look if Ronnie Raygun's first attack on union labor had been met with an all-out, nation-wide, general strike.

I hope that whatever's left of America's unions can unite with ALL Labor. We may well need each other in the years ahead. Much luck to you, pro left, and to your Union siblings. -and to us all.

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"Capitalism is the extraordinary belief that the nastiest of men for the nastiest of motives will somehow work for the benefit of all."
- John Maynard Keynes