Tuesday Open Thread ~ 18 APR 19


"There is a planet named Pluto, but we don't have one named Goofy. Goofy would be a good name for this planet. It certainly qualifies."

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Zsaitsits_Hear_50x40cm_2017_HI-RES.jpg

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"Bipartisan usually means that a larger-than-usual deception is being carried out."

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Welcome to today's edition of Open Thread. Thoughtfully brought to you by the makers of C99. For those of you new to this concept, this is an opportunity to express your ideas and comments in an open minded fashion. While we try to formulate words into a coherent theme at the outset, the way forward is up to you.

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"Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity."

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Today I am playing with some of George Carlin's framing of our condition(ed) in this democratic wasteland known to most of the world as (variously) the western devil, the evil empire, capitalist greed machine, warmongering militaristic earth destroying monster or MAGA for short. And these are our allies.

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"When fascism comes to America, it will not be in brown and black shirts. It will not be with jack-boots. It will be Nike sneakers and Smiley shirts."

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We are not without some highly idealistic tendencies. Although the framing of concepts like liberty and freedom are taught in a different light, our history shows another picture. Awareness of the truth behind the propaganda is not yet a crime. But apparently the authorities have bought up all the patents on truth and are criminalizing sharing of said truths, if it paints an embarrassing picture of their designs.

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"You know how I define the economic and social classes in this country? The upper class keeps all of the money, pays none of the taxes. The middle class pays all of the taxes, does all of the work. The poor are there...just to scare the shit out of the middle class. Keep 'em showing up at those 'jobs.'"

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"Careful. If you think too much, they'll take you away."

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The challenge to keeping an open mind is (partially) in the danger of our thought process being undermined by authoritarian agendas. When reasoned logic no longer matches public discourse, the trap has been set. Awakening to the fact we are being intentionally misled helps to clarify things.

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“I often warn people: ‘Somewhere along the way, someone is going to tell you, ‘There is no ‘I’ in team.’ What you should tell them is, ‘Maybe not. But there is an ‘I’ in independence, individuality, and integrity.”

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Normally, this is where I would include a song of great social and political import, but some commenter or critic posted that we are so lacking in purpose, all we amount to is playing songs for each other. Well screw that!

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"Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.

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So, there you have it. Things are not as bad as advertised, they are much worse. Laughing at life helps, somewhat. Do you have some favorite comic quotes to share? Have at it.

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All quotes (in gray) are by the late great comedian and social commentator George Carlin
Pencil on paper drawing by Stefan Zsaitst "Hear" via Colossal
And the late great Janis Joplin being her best radical angel impersonation

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"Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath."

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Raggedy Ann's picture

Ah, the good - they die young. That Carlin had to die at all is the real human tragedy. At least we have Dore.

Have a beautiful day, folks! Pleasantry

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

@Raggedy Ann
Hope you can find something to smile about today!
: -)

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Raggedy Ann's picture

@QMS
I'm generally a positive, upbeat person. No sense in dragging others down if I'm having a bad day - it's not THEIR bad day!

Have a smile today, yourself, QMS! Wink

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

https://youtu.be/THVIQfFNU_c

Thanks for all the wonderful Carlin quotes. What a treasure he was.

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@kath @kath
Got a good chuckle. Laughter is good medicine for what oils the spirit.

"... married filing jointly, tell me about it, my shoulders are about to fall off..."

funny stuff!

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Wally's picture

@kath Thanks!

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Mark from Queens's picture

Came here looking for zoe, because I haven't had much to time to check in with all the wonderful OT's lately, and happily came to your nice surprise featuring Carlin, QMS.

No doubt George was a sage, philosopher, social/political critic, jester. Really just so much to say, and I can feel myself taxed already to truncate what I'd love to discuss about such a sprawling body of intensely amazing work, having so little time for anything these days.

Have you read the official biography (with Tony Hendra) called "Last Words"?

My contribution then will just be mostly a few really good videos, showing him outside the standup comedian realm:

a preview of this excellent long-from interview he did just before he died, explaining his conversion from Catskills impersonator type to cultural critic/philosopher:

here's the whole thing:

a couple of all-time faves, from his last performances. i've heard people apt (or conditioned) to say that he was getting more bitter as he got older, as if that were a knock on his career. I disagree vehemently. He was getting sharper, more focused and better than ever:

and of course, this still serves succinctly as the absolute synthesis of Occupy Wall St, and the cornerstone, I believe, most all of what we stand for here at C99:

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"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:

THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"

- Kurt Vonnegut

Raggedy Ann's picture

@Mark from Queens
You can never get enough of Carlin! Drinks

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Lookout's picture

A pretty day here and as a result a busy Trade Day. Bought some beautiful peppers and some nice avocados.

I really don't approve of political jokes...I've seen too many of them get elected.

but here's a few good ones...
"Reader, suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself." Twain
another good Twain
"Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it."

"If ignorance goes to forty dollars a barrel, I want drilling rights to George Bush's head." Jim Hightower

"Everything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke." Will Rodgers

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."
Lincoln

...and St. George on the language of politics (9.5 min)
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEeDRUZIDq8]

Have a good day all!

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

@Lookout
Thanks for popping in.

"Here's a bumper sticker I'd like to see....We are the proud parents of a child who has resisted his teachers' attempts to break his spirit and bend him to the will of his corporate masters."

Have fun!

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Thanks Mark for posting these great synopsis vids. So many times I find his humor floating up into some of our contemporary conundrums. How would George skewer this issue or that. Unique outlook.

Cheers!

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detroitmechworks's picture

I bring this up because I went to the dentist yesterday. I had less fear in an actual combat situation than I do when going to the dentist. Three fillings, (One a complete rebuild) still have at least 2 more trips to get my teeth fixed, because I'm so freaking afraid of going, that I have put it off for years.

I've noticed a lot of things about myself that I need to fix, and I'm working on ALL of them. I'm not going to wait for the straw. I'm unloading this camel...

As far as the Carlin goes, he's always been one of my favorite 20th century philosophers. Still enjoy his "Muhammad Ali" rant.

He had an unusual job: Beating people up... It's a strange calling. But it's one you're entitled to. Government didn't see it that way. Government wanted him to change jobs. Government wanted him to KILL people. He said, "No, that's where I draw the line. I'll beat em up, but I don't want to kill em." And the government said "Well, if you Won't Kill em, we won't let you beat em up! Ha ha ha!"

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

@detroitmechworks

Dentists scare the living hell out of me too. I'm now paying for 30 years worth of avoiding tooth troubles. Good luck man.

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skod's picture

@QMS Ditto, in spades.

After the somewhat senile 80 year old family dentist ripped one of my molars out without benefit of anesthesia when I was 14, I refused to darken the doorway of one of those hellholes more often than once every decade. Then, at 59, I was finally having too much pain to put it off, so I went in. They did a root canal and a crown, and I saturated myself with Valium to try to cope.

Unfortunately, they did it on the wrong goddamned tooth, so it didn't help (although it did lighten my wallet by a couple of grand I couldn't afford). I put up with it for another almost two years, and went in to a different dentist and had them fix the right tooth (yay, Valium). And it actually was nice for a few months, despite lightening my wallet by another couple of grand I couldn't afford. But now after the second RC, there's something wrong with the first tooth, and the pain is back to where it was. At this point, I don't think I'm going to bother having it fixed. It's a fucking racket.

First comment here in a while. Have been away posting elsewhere...

(On edit: typos, and rethought the opportunity for alliteration)

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@skod
Something about the drills working so close to the brain cavity brings the concept of torture to a new level. No fun. The classical line they use -- this will sting a little bit. Oh dear. The intern at the VHS in New Orleans (when merchant mariners still had free health care) yanked out two impacted wisdom teeth which developed 'dry sockets' which were anything but dry. Aspirin was the proscribed pain reliever. Once the nitrous oxide wore off, it hurt like hell. Darkened doorways for sure.

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detroitmechworks's picture

@QMS [video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOtMizMQ6oM]

I like my current one a LOT though. Old Army Dentist, and he's straightforward. "Yup, this is gonna hurt a bit, but it'll stop hurting after this."

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Dawn's Meta's picture

@detroitmechworks I did learn something. I went to a dermatologist to have some small thing removed from my back. She injected me with an anesthetic which contained Lidocaine. I started uncontrollably shaking, and heart racing. She said, you are hyper-reactive to Lidocaine, which I recently found out has adrenaline in it. It is used to prevent the anesthetic from spreading outside the work area and diluting the numbing.

For many years I went Lidocaine free, which helped with dental fear. But they had to use unbelievable amounts of injections.

Just had two visits to a new dentist. He carefully tried me out on a new synthetic version of the "xxxcaine". It worked.

Just something to consider. Best luck on the teeth. It's good health to have them taken care of, but awful when it's really hard to go to the dentist.

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A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit. Allegedly Greek, but more possibly fairly modern quote.

Consider helping by donating using the button in the upper left hand corner. Thank you.

smiley7's picture

heart; melancholic whisperings of a time gone by and the Chelsea Hotel.

Thanks for the memories.

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Anja Geitz's picture

Thanks for the laughs this morning. Great idea for an OT! (and boy can we use the laughs this week)

My favorite quote was definitely the one about fighting for peace. Vintage Carlin. I don't have anything quite as witty to contribute, and the humor value of this ole chestnut greatly appreciates if you are British, but here goes, as told to me by a bloke named Liam, in a London pub called "The Mayor of Scaredy Cat Town" (a pub, I might add, that you enter through a fridge):

Question: Why did the French plant trees on the champs de élysées?

Answer: So, the German soldiers could walk in the shade

Bada Bump.

Sorry folks, it's all I got this morning Preved

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

@Anja Geitz
I do not understand it, but it's funny anyway. Especially the reefer door part.

Enjoy!

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thanatokephaloides's picture

@QMS

I do not understand it, but it's funny anyway. Especially the reefer door part.

You enter the bar through marijuana? No wonder it's so popular!

Wink

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

enhydra lutris's picture

paean to consumerism, prayer, and US culture by Ms. Joplin.

My mind was set a wanderin' (but not like the wild geese in the west) by your pronouncement that:

some commenter or critic posted that we are so lacking in purpose, all we amount to is playing songs for each other.

Presumably they meant a higher purpose like the once famous "mourn better Democrats", but, that devolved into, as noted by Ron Placone, "A Hillary site". So should a purpose be broad: living a better life, defending our civil liberties, saving the world, ending war, and like that, or narrow: (re-)electing this or that candidate, promoting a specific narrowly focused law or amendment, impeaching or ousting a specific politician or functionary, or what?

Cannot providing an open forum for any and all civil and preferably rational discourse (with a sporadic nod to the absurd and silly) be a sufficient purpose? Is not the ultimate purpose, Samadhi or Buddha mind, be best achieved through the path that is no path and the focus that is no focus, the way of the Tao that is no way but wu wei, the empty mind that is no mind and the purpose and direction that is both none and "omni"? And if not, may I suggest, not music, so broad and vast an arena, but a specific form extolled by the Blind Owl as "THE ESSENTIAL FACTOR IN THE LIFE OF ALL"

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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 --

Anja Geitz's picture

@enhydra lutris

Cannot providing an open forum for any and all civil and preferably rational discourse (with a sporadic nod to the absurd and silly) be a sufficient purpose

I've always felt that providing a sane place for political discourse refugees like us was a most valuable service. And as far as the silly goes and the "dozen of us spinning records for each other" is concerned, part of remaining sane is knowing when to step back from the fray and connecting with your humanity again.

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

enhydra lutris's picture

@Anja Geitz

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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 --

Puppets! lol Thanks QMS. "What's the count? What's the amount?" Man I watched a hella lot of Pat McMcormick on ye olde black and white, osmosis through my mom when I wasn't outside in the forest getting ticks or poison oak. ~yells at cloud~

Charley and Humphrey "Think for Yourself"

~shakes fist at sky~
A.G. William Barr Explains to Sen. Feinstein Why He Did Not Uphold the ACA

...
UniParty whips each other with wet noodles for the win. "I've never seen anything like this before" she said.
--
Yeah, me neither.

PEACE

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Unabashed Liberal's picture

discussion. Will take a while to get all the material together (particularly, if Fox doesn't publish a transcript), but, here's a short summary of a claim that is not factually correct.

It's interesting, about a week ago, I mentioned the OAP (healthcare system) which Congress and SCOTUS have access to. For free, or, for a nominal annual fee.

(Apparently, Congressional members/Justices, or SCOTUS are asked to pay the fee if they utilize the medical services, but, aren't denied care if they choose not to do so. Imagine that!)

According to Wikipedia,

Attending Physician of the United States Congress

Anyhoo, members of Congress and SCOTUS do not pay for the individual services they receive at the OAP, nor do they submit claims through their federal employee health insurance policies.

Instead, as of 2009, members pay a flat, annual fee of $503 for all the care they receive. The rest of the cost of their care is paid for by federal funding, from the U.S. Navy budget. The annual fee has not changed significantly since 1992.[4]

I also complained that the two proposed MFA Bills would dismantle all the existing/current US healthcare system--including Traditional Medicare, which is the ONLY system that I am in favor of expanding--but, doesn't touch the OAP. AT the same time, I noted that Bernie utilizes the OAP--per his Letter of Good Health (or, whatever it's called)--which I indicated that I would post, at a later date.

Well, was going to do just that, but, the OAP Letter from Admiral Brian P Monahan has been removed, even though I saw it just a week ago.

Here's what I found, in place of it,

Bernie's Health Letter - Replacement Screen_1.JPG

Interesting!

Biggrin

Seriously, thankfully, there are numerous print pieces about the healthcare letter from Monahan, so, I'll post one (at EB) while they're still available. (IOW, to back up my assertion that this is his primary healthcare system. The letter from Admiral Monahan stated that he'd received his healthcare from the OAP since he's been an elected federal lawmaker, or, for over twenty years.)

Of course, most lawmakers (that I know of) refuse to acknowledge that the OAP exists. It's not just Bernie. Guess they're all fearful of the blow back that they'd receive if a majority of the populace had any idea of the excellent (practically free) medical care they receive--on top of everything else.

Also, when I've got more time, I'll retell the story of our Medevac adventures while we were still in Alaska.

To show how excellent the active duty military healthcare system is:


We got back 'change' from a twenty dollar bill upon being discharged from the hospital. It was to cover a couple items which were non-medical (Kleenex, etc.).

And, that was it!

There was no charge for the medical care (including surgery), RX's, Medevac trips on a C-5, or the next smaller aircraft, never can remember which one, which was converted into an airborne military hospital.

(And, the surgery was at one of the leading military medical centers in the nation.)

Personally, prefer to scrap the proposed MFA 'managed care' schemes. I'd like to see the Original/Traditional Medicare program stay intact--eliminating co-pays and deductibles, extending it to Everyone, and, expanding its services and scope--to include LTC, dental, vision, etc.

or,

Open up, and greatly expand the military healthcare system. It would serve as a good excuse to get military personnel back here [from war theaters]--allowing them to serve the American people in a way that's positive. (Retraining many of them, of course.)

Hey, thanks for the piece about the Medicare 'Welcome' exams, QMS. Good info to know. And, thanks for today's OT. Especially, the quote,


"Bipartisan usually means that a larger-than-usual deception is being carried out."

(A bit of this comment will probably be copied and pasted at EB this evening, to save time. Hope that's okay.)

Have a good one!

[Edited: Changes in punctuation, only--replaced brackets with commas, deleted word 'the,' etc.]

Pleasantry Mollie

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive.
~~Gilda Radner, Comedienne

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Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.

@Unabashed Liberal thanks and lol have we been here before? yes I wanted to say something to DiFi about that, no wonder she thinks everything is fine for her past 26 years. Office of Attending Physician low cost, high quality care. Tax dollars at work; "other people's property" funding DiFi's face for nearly three decades:
OPP - Naughty By Nature

LOL thanks a lot
---
Today is tomorrow, yesterday. heh I looked up April 18, 1919 to see what day of the week it was then... same as now. QMS mind tricks, the whole year has exactly the same days, but the full moon was the 15th of April. no birthday quake
---
Current D-kabuki bills under construction:
H.R.1384 - Medicare for All Act of 2019

S.1129 - A bill to establish a Medicare-for-all national health insurance program.

GOTV HOPE

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Unabashed Liberal's picture

@eyo

you've finally gotten relief from your toothache. IMO, toothaches and earaches are two of the most miserable, nagging, and painful afflictions--so, sending a beaucoup of positive karma your way!

Pleasantry

Take care.

Mollie

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive.
~~Gilda Radner, Comedienne

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Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.

@Unabashed Liberal thanks, ~presses thumbs~ Every now and again that molar gives me pain fits, but then it goes away and so it goes. Today it is fine, great. I can't imagine a Medicare for All passing this congress, next congress, or any congress for that matter. What are Ds thinking? more book tours needed

My neighbor just spent four figures on her poor dawg's teeth, they pulled them all practically... 26? omg poor Lady. Bad teeth are a bummer, she had really bad breath even for a dawg. cheers

Today is the 17th, if yesterday was the 18th then what is tomorrow? progress

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magiamma's picture

https://au.investing.com/news/commodities-news/update-1london-climatecha...

Police have arrested 209 people in two days of protests after climate-change activists blocked some of London's most important junctions including Oxford Circus and Marble Arch, causing traffic chaos. ...

From yesterday...

more from today...

https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-47945397

A second day of disruption is under way after Extinction Rebellion campaigners camped overnight at Waterloo Bridge, Parliament Square and Oxford Circus.

Police said 500,000 people had been affected by the diversion of 55 bus routes in London.

The Met said 209 people had been arrested by 12:30 BST on Tuesday.

All remain in custody. Most were detained on suspicion of public order offences, while five people were held on suspicion of criminal damage at Shell's HQ.

Excellent pictures... !!!

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6926875/Londoners-rage-second-d...

Londoners face more rush-hour chaos tonight as eco-warriors call for reinforcements to 'swarm' police on Waterloo Bridge after 209 arrests

Police move protesters off Waterloo Bridge and tell them to head to Marble Arch to continue demonstration
By midday Scotland Yard had arrested 122 demonstrators, most for public order offences
Today at 5pm police ordered Oxford Circus protesters to disperse as well, announcing they have arrested a further 87 people through the course of Tuesday
Organisers Extinction Rebellion say five locations in London have been held by up to 10,000 people
The group has vowed to target the London Underground tomorrow

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Stop Climate Change Silence - Start the Conversation

Hot Air Website, Twitter, Facebook

magiamma's picture

shell scull.jpg

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJr_rHW3U_Q]

aerial view
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTyZybjG0HU]

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FitSDGF6o0]

Leading climate lawyer arrested after gluing herself to Shell headquarters

After decades working inside the law, international climate lawyer and diplomat Farhana Yamin charged through a police line, dived under the arms of an officer and superglued her hands to the pavement outside the London headquarters of oil company Shell.

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Stop Climate Change Silence - Start the Conversation

Hot Air Website, Twitter, Facebook

@magiamma thanks, I hope Extinction Rebellion USA will target Chevron and Exxon, specifically in The Permian basin, Texas. achilles pipeline

The only thing heard upon Newsom's return from El Salvador was "Surf's up" to help them build a tourist economy? Because the tourist economies are so great here in California, for Newsom. royal flush

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The obfuscating going on now with health care insurance is baffling. It helps to read your posts in trying to get a grip on all things Medicare.

Cheers!

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Unabashed Liberal's picture

@QMS

Mollie

I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive.
~~Gilda Radner, Comedienne

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Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.

SnappleBC's picture

http://www.spectrym.news/#!/interactives/2020-election

I'm dropping this here only because I found it so incredibly useful myself. You can basically see at a glance which candidates are being talked about in MSM and then drill into the details of what's being said.

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A lot of wanderers in the U.S. political desert recognize that all the duopoly has to offer is a choice of mirages. Come, let us trudge towards empty expanse of sand #1, littered with the bleached bones of Deaniacs and Hope and Changers.
-- lotlizard

janis b's picture

As someone who enjoys, but rarely remembers jokes, I’ll post one that I do remember. It’s not at all political. It’s more ’off-colour’ as only Redd Foxx can be, but it is one I’ll never forget …

[video:https://youtu.be/IDXGTvBauFo]

One of my favourite of Janis Joplin's …

[video:https://youtu.be/bn5TNqjuHiU]

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@janis b
Gotta love those bell bottoms.

Cheers!

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