The Evening Blues - 5-27-22



eb1pt12


The day's news roundup + tonight's musical feature: Rufus Thomas

Hey! Good Evening!

This evening's music features Memphis soul singer Rufus Thomas. Enjoy!

Rufus Thomas - Walking The Dog

"Our enemies are innovative and resourceful, and so are we. They never stop thinking about new ways to harm our country and our people, and neither do we."

-- George W. Bush


News and Opinion

Worth a full read:

Russia-Ukraine War: George Bush’s Admission of His Crimes in Iraq Was No ‘Gaffe’

It was apparently a “gaffe” of the kind we had forgotten since George W Bush stepped down from the US presidency in early 2009. During a speech in Dallas last week, he momentarily confused Russian President Vladimir Putin’s current war of aggression against Ukraine and his own war of aggression against Iraq in 2003. ...

Last week, the New York Times very belatedly turned down the war rhetoric a notch and called on the Biden administration to advance negotiations. Even so, its assessment of where the blame lay for Ukraine’s destruction was unambiguous: “Mr. Putin will go down in history as a butcher.”

But have Bush or Blair gone down in history as butchers? They most certainly haven’t. And the reason is that the western media have been complicit in rehabilitating their images, presenting them as statesmen who “blundered” – with the implication that good people blunder when they fail to take account of how entrenched the evil of everyone else in the world is.

A butcher versus a pair of blunderers.

This false distinction means western leaders and western publics continue to evade responsibility for western crimes in Iraq and elsewhere.

That was why in late February – in reference to Ukraine – a TV journalist could suggest to Condoleezza Rice, who was one of the architects of the illegal war of aggression on Iraq as Bush’s national security adviser: “When you invade a sovereign nation, that is a war crime.” The journalist apparently did not consider for a moment that it was not just Putin who was a war criminal but the very woman she was sitting opposite.

It was also why Rice could nod solemnly and agree with a straight face that Putin’s invasion of Ukraine was “against every principle of international law and international order – and that’s why throwing the book at them [Russia] now in terms of economic sanctions and punishments is a part of it”.

But a West that has refused to come to terms with its role in committing the “supreme international crime” of invading Iraq, and has been supporting systematic crimes against the sovereignty of other states such as Yemen, Libya and Syria, cannot sit in judgment on Russia. And further, it should not be trying to take the high ground by meddling in the war in Ukraine.

If we took the implications of Bush’s comment seriously, rather than treating it as a “gaffe” and viewing the Iraq invasion as a “blunder”, we might be in a position to speak with moral authority instead of flaunting – once again – our hypocrisy.

Retired US general calls for “coalition of the willing” for naval conflict with Russia

The governments of the United States, the United Kingdom and other NATO members are preparing a major new stage of the US-NATO war against Russia by using their warships to break the Russian blockade of Ukrainian ports, creating the conditions for a direct shooting war between NATO and Russian naval forces. This massive escalation by the US and NATO is being billed as a “coalition of the willing,” echoing the words used by the Bush administration to describe the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Retired four-star General Jack Keane, chairman of the Institute for the Study of War and chairman of AM General, the maker of the Humvee military vehicle, called on Wednesday for the creation of an “international coalition of warships led by the United States” to secure control over the Black Sea.

“We… go to the port of Odessa and let the ships… pick up the grain that needs to be picked up and escort them out,” Keane told Fox News. “The other risk is the Russian Navy is there. They could see this as a provocation, and we could have a prospective confrontation.” He said it was “well within the risk profile to get this done.” Keane developed the comments of Admiral James Stavridis, who earlier this month said that the Black Sea would be “the next major front in the Ukraine war.”

Responding to an earlier version of Keane’s remarks, the Wall Street Journal published an editorial entitled “Breaking Russia’s Ukrainian Grain Blockade.” It declared, “A Black Sea mission to escort commercial ships may be needed to prevent a global food shortage.” The Journal enthusiastically agreed with Keane’s proposal. ...

Not even bothering to hide its cynicism, the Journal made clear that this major escalation would be “best planned and pitched as a humanitarian operation.” That is, a direct shooting war between the two largest nuclear powers would be “pitched” as a way to end world hunger.

The language of Keane and the Wall Street Journal dovetails perfectly with the rhetoric of US officials and those of its imperialist allies.

G7 Downplays US Sanctions’ Role in Food Shortage

“There is really no true solution to the problem of global food security without bringing back the agriculture production of Ukraine and the food and fertilizer production of Russia and Belarus into world markets despite the war.” These blunt words by U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres accurately describe the present global food crisis.

As the U.S. and the G7 (comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States) insist that cutting off food exports from Ukraine poses the biggest threat to world food security, rather than admitting the far more powerful negative effect of Western sanctions against Russia, their propaganda does immense damage to the world’s understanding and capability of avoiding a looming global food disaster.

Looking at the world food supply situation, many experts see an imminent threat of “human catastrophe,” as World Bank President David Malpass put it. Andrew Bailey, the governor of the Bank of England, characterized his outlook on global food supply problems as “apocalyptic” when discussing increasing food prices. This rise has led to the unfolding of two issues simultaneously: creating the threat of hunger and famine in parts of the Global South and hitting living standards in every country across the globe.

Even before rapid price rises surrounding the Ukraine war, more than 800 million people were suffering from chronic food insecurity — around 10 percent of the world’s population. ...

Faced with this rapidly rising threat of the deepening food crisis, the G7 foreign ministers met from May 12 to May 14 to finally focus their attention on this pressing matter. They issued a statement on May 13 expressing “deep concern” about the growing food insecurity, while pointing out the next day that “the world is now facing a worsening state of food insecurity and malnutrition … at a time when 43 million people were already one step away from famine.” But the G7 falsely claimed that the reason for this food crisis was primarily due to “Russia blocking the exit routes for Ukraine’s grain.” According to Canada’s foreign minister, Mélanie Joly: “We need to make sure that these cereals are sent to the world. If not, millions of people will be facing famine.”

This G7 statement deliberately misrepresented the present global food crisis. Instead of attempting to solve this crisis, the U.S, and the rest of the G7 used this opportunity to further their propaganda on the Ukraine war.

Russia Continues Donbass Offensive, Cuts Interest Rates Inflation Falls, Scholz Ukraine Cannot Win

Russian forces have ‘upper hand’ in Donbas fighting, Ukrainian officials say

Officials in Ukraine have admitted that Russia has the “upper hand” in fighting in the country’s east, as Ukrainian forces fell back from some of their positions in the Donbas region.

Amid reports that Lyman, the site of an important railway junction, had largely been taken by Russian forces, Ukraine’s general staff reported that Russian forces were also advancing on Sievierodonetsk, Bakhmut and Avdiivka.

The governor of Luhansk region, Serhiy Haidai, said just 5% of the region now remained in Ukrainian hands – down from about 10% little more than a week ago – and that Ukrainian forces were retreating in some areas.

“It is clear that our boys are slowly retreating to more fortified positions – we need to hold back this horde,” Haidai said. Hinting at further withdrawals, he said it was possible that troops would leave “one settlement, maybe two. We need to win the war, not the battle.”

Separately, a senior Ukrainian military official conceded at a briefing on Thursday that Russia had the upper hand in fighting in Luhansk. “Russia has the advantage, but we are doing everything we can,” Gen Oleksiy Gromov said.

Judo moves. Strong ruble, lower interest rates, higher pensions & surging reserves

Antony Blinken says US is not seeking ‘cold war’ with China

The US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, has called for a vigorous defence of the existing global order, but stressed that Joe Biden’s administration did not seek a “cold war” with China. “President Biden believes this decade will be decisive,” Blinken said in a China policy speech on Thursday. “The actions we take at home and with countries worldwide will determine whether our shared vision of the future will be realised.”

The Biden administration’s policy towards the world’s most populous country contained three words: invest, align and compete, Blinken said, adding that while the administration has devoted much of its resources to containing Moscow, Washington sees Beijing as a “long-term challenge”.

“China is the only country with both the intent to reshape the international order – and, increasingly, the economic, diplomatic, military and technological power to do it,” he warned in the speech hosted by Asia Society’s Policy Institute – delayed from earlier this month due to his positive Covid test result.

Blinken said that the administration will work with American partners and allies to preserve that international order, and double down on investments into research and development. The US will also attract the best talents from around the world – including those from the People’s Republic of China, he said. ...

Zhao Tong, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace based in Beijing, said that Blinken’s China speech on Thursday would not change Beijing’s perception about and its dealings with Washington significantly. “In Beijing’s view, the Biden administration has a darker heart than it is willing to admit,” Zhao said.

China is organizing military drills near Taiwan in warning to the U.S.

The People’s Liberation Army of China on Wednesday described organizing combat drills in the waters and airspace around Taiwan to send a blunt message to the United States over its “collusion” with Taiwan.

China’s announcement was short on details, and ambiguous as to whether such drills had taken place recently or were still to come. But it came a day after China and Russia sent bombers over the seas in northeast Asia, their first joint military exercise since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. ...

China has increased its incursions near Taiwan over the past year. Last week, on the day that Mr. Biden arrived in Asia, China sent 14 aircraft into the island’s air defense zone. Under Mr. Biden, the Pentagon has divulged more details about the sailings of American warships through the Taiwan Strait. Some analysts have worried that could lead to an accident that could trigger conflict.

On Wednesday, China described organizing drills near Taiwan as a “solemn warning to the recent collusion between the United States and Taiwan.”

“It is hypocritical and futile for the United States to say one thing and do another on the Taiwan issue and frequently encourage and support ‘Taiwan independence’ forces,” the spokesman for China’s Eastern Theater Command, Senior Col. Shi Yi, said in an online statement.

PINK TIDE Returning To Latin America? Colombia Poised To Elect FIRST LEFTIST Leader

Bezos BOOSTS WaPo Column Downplaying Corp Profiteering

Twitter fined $150m for handing users’ contact details to advertisers

Twitter has been fined $150m (£119m) by US authorities after collecting users’ email addresses and phone numbers for security purposes but then using the data to target them with adverts.

The social media platform had told users the information would be used to keep their accounts safe, according to a settlement with the US Department of Justice (DoJ) and the Federal Trade Commission.

“While Twitter represented to users that it collected their telephone numbers and email addresses to secure their accounts, Twitter failed to disclose that it also used user contact information to aid advertisers in reaching their preferred audiences,” said a court complaint filed by the DoJ.

The offences occurred between May 2013 and September 2019, according to the court document, with the information ostensibly used for purposes including two-factor authentication. But Twitter would then use this data to allow advertisers to target specific groups of Twitter users, by matching the telephone numbers and email addresses to the advertisers’ own lists of telephone numbers and email addresses.

In addition to the financial settlement, the agreement requires Twitter to improve its compliance practices. The complaint said the misrepresentations violated the FTC Act and a 2011 settlement with the agency.

“Doubling Down”: How Minneapolis Elites Worked to Stop Police Reform After George Floyd’s Murder



the horse race



Trump and two of his children must testify in tax fraud case, court rules

Donald Trump and his children Donald Trump Jr and Ivanka Trump have been ordered to testify in a New York state civil investigation of their business affairs.

The state attorney general, Letitia James, said: “A court has once again ruled in our favor and ordered Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr and Ivanka Trump to appear before my office to testify under oath.”

“Our investigation will continue undeterred because no one is above the law.”

James is a Democrat. Trump, a Republican, has claimed James’s investigation of suspected tax-related offences at the Trump Organization is politically motivated and a “witch-hunt”.



the evening greens


Biden Prepared To CRUSH A Historic Climate Change Lawsuit: Julia Rock

Biden Is Preparing To Crush A Historic Climate Change Lawsuit

Any day now, a federal district court is expected to deliver a ruling that would allow a historic climate change lawsuit to proceed to trial. If and when the case moves forward, however, it faces a major obstacle: President Joe Biden’s Justice Department.

The lawsuit, Juliana v. United States, was brought by 21 young plaintiffs in 2015 and seeks to establish a federal, constitutional right to a livable planet. If the case is successful, any federal policies that enable more fossil fuel development could be challenged as unconstitutional.

But the Obama and Trump administrations both vehemently fought the lawsuit, and now those close to the case say that Biden’s Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicated it will also use every procedural tool at its disposal to prevent the lawsuit from ever getting a trial.

“I have asked [them] very directly, if we win this motion, and we can move forward with the case, do you intend to go to trial?” Julia Olson, the lead plaintiff’s lawyer, told The Lever. “Their response has always been something along the lines of, ‘It is our position that the court doesn’t have jurisdiction and that this case should never go to trial.’”

American Solar Is Made With FORCED LABOR And Powered By COAL, Sparking New Trade War: Ryan Grim

People in US and UK face huge financial hit if fossil fuels lose value, study shows

Individuals in rich countries face huge financial losses if climate action slashes the value of fossil fuel assets, a study shows, despite many oil and gas fields being in other countries. The researchers estimated that existing oil and gas projects worth $1.4tn (£1.1tn) would lose their value if the world moved decisively to cut carbon emissions and limit global heating to 2C. By tracking many thousands of projects through 1.8m companies to their ultimate owners, the team found most of the losses would be borne by individual people through their pensions, investment funds and share holdings.

The analysis also found that financial institutions have $681bn of these potentially worthless assets on their balance sheets, more than the estimated $250-500bn of mispriced sub-prime housing assets that triggered the 2007-08 financial crisis.

The researchers did not predict if or when these fossil fuel “stranded assets” would cause a financial crash, but said the size of the number was worrying. The US and UK are by far the countries with the biggest potential stranded assets in their financial sectors. Overall, the study calculated that individuals own 54% of the $1.4tn oil and gas assets at risk – $756bn. Three-quarters of these people are in the 38 developed countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) group. Governments and corporate creditors carry the balance.

But the proportion is much higher in the US and UK, where individuals own 86% and 75% of the potentially stranded assets respectively. In contrast, 80% of those assets in China are owned by the government.

The study, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, said the rate of change needed to tackle the climate crisis was “so large that the rapid collapse of fossil fuel industries presents major transition risks”.

Scientists to BlackRock Vice Chairman: New Fossil Fuel Development 'Incompatible' With 1.5°C

As BlackRock held its annual general meeting on Wednesday, 22 climate scientists and academics sent an open letter to a top leader at the world's largest asset manager, calling for action to align the firm's business with the Paris agreement's 1.5°C goal for this century.

The experts directed their demand at Philipp Hildebrand, a Swiss banker who is BlackRock's vice chairman and a member of the firm's Global Executive Committee. While several signatories to the letter are based in Switzerland, others are from France, Germany, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

They wrote that despite BlackRock's recent climate pledges, it remains "one of the largest shareholders at many of the companies driving the climate crisis," and argued that as such, the firm "needs to be taking a firmer position advocating for energy transition."

"As scientists and academics, we are writing this letter to tell you directly that the facts are clear: New coal, oil, and gas development is incompatible with limiting warming to 1.5°C," the document states.

The letter continues:

The devastating impacts of the climate crisis are harming people around the world, from deadly heatwaves and floods, to fires, droughts, crop failure, extreme storms, and rising sea levels—as well as destroying entire ecosystems, such as coral reefs and the Amazon. Expanding fossil fuel production guarantees extreme events will become both more frequent and more severe, with immense costs in terms of human lives, livelihoods, and economies. The only responsible course of action is to do everything in our power to stop fossil fuel expansion and further emissions. This applies to us, as scientists, but even more to you, since your company is investing in companies pursuing and enabling fossil fuel expansion.

The experts also called out Hildebrand, noting that at the annual general meeting of Credit Suisse last month, "you personally had an opportunity to demonstrate that your and BlackRock's climate goals are more than mere greenwashing, empty words to distract from your actions. Instead, you failed to support a shareholder resolution that asks Credit Suisse to reduce its exposure to fossil fuel assets."

"Worse, BlackRock has argued for expansion of fossil fuel extraction to address the energy crisis emerging from Russia's invasion of Ukraine," notes the letter. "This war, rather than providing justification for fossil fuel expansion, demonstrates that these energy sources do more than threaten the stability of a livable planet."

"Mr. Hildebrand, you and BlackRock face a choice," the letter concludes. "For the stability and credibility of your company, we urge you to align your company's investment emissions trajectory to be consistent with 1.5°C, and to outline a clear path to eliminate fossil fuels. We await your actions, not just statements, at the upcoming BlackRock annual general meeting."

Some signatories—including NASA scientist Peter Kalmus and Michael Mann of Pennsylvania State University—have been involved in similar calls this year, such as a letter pushing U.S. President Joe Biden to ditch fossil fuels in favor of renewables, and another urging educational institutions to stop letting the dirty energy industry fund climate research.


Also of Interest

Here are some articles of interest, some which defied fair-use abstraction.

‘There Is No Off-Ramp’: A Recipe for Nuclear War

The Danger of Underestimating Russia

CN Live! — Due Process Violations in Assange Case

The Navy just launched a brand new ship it doesn’t even want

Ancient cypress in Chile may be the world’s oldest tree, new study suggests

Alan White, drummer with prog rock band Yes, dies aged 72

Killer whale that swam up France's River Seine in 'life-threatening condition'


A Little Night Music

Rufus Thomas - Boom Boom

Rufus Thomas Jr. - Bear Cat. (The Answer To Hound Dog)

Rufus Thomas Jr. - Night Workin' Blues

Rufus Thomas, Jr. - Save That Money

Rufus Thomas - The Memphis Train

Rufus Thomas- Can Your Monkey Do The Dog

Rufus Thomas - Funky Mississippi

Rufus Thomas - Itch and Scratch

Rufus Thomas - [Do The] Push And Pull

Rufus Thomas - Breakdown & Funky Chicken


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The Russian ruble is the best-performing currency in the world this year.

Two months after the ruble's value fell to less than a U.S. penny amid the swiftest, toughest economic sanctions in modern history, Russia's currency has mounted a stunning turnaround. The ruble has jumped 40% against the dollar since January.

"It's an unusual situation," said Jeffrey Frankel, professor of capital formation and growth at the Harvard Kennedy School.

Normally, a country facing international sanctions and a major military conflict would see investors fleeing and a steady outflow of capital, causing its currency to drop. But Russia's unusually aggressive measures to keep money from leaving the country, in combination with the forcefulness of Western sanctions, are working to create demand for rubles and pushing up its value.

The ruble's resiliency means that Russia is partly insulated from the punishing economic penalties imposed by Western nations after its invasion of Ukraine, although how long that protection will last is uncertain.

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ggersh's picture

@gjohnsit in particular and commodities in general that has caused the rise in the Ruble. Also the Euro has taken a massive hit and the $$$$ is starting it's decline against it.

The Dollar Store has to now be named the $1.25 Store, gas is at an all time high of $5.19. Food of all sorts is costing more and more but at least it's all Vlad's fault.

Wherever you go whether it be at the gas station, retail stores on the shelves you are seeing this.

https://www.theautomaticearth.com/2022/05/debt-rattle-may-27-2022/

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10 users have voted.

I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

joe shikspack's picture

@gjohnsit

i reckon that the russians will be rolling in it by the time that biden and his team of neocons get finished punishing them.

could the comfy couch be next?

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7 users have voted.

if climate action slashes the value of fossil fuel assets

serves the greedy bastids right. somebody gotta pay for the destruction

Thanks for the blues and news joe!

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joe shikspack's picture

@QMS

sadly, a lot of people who will probably be hurt the worst are probably pensioners whose funds have been invested for them by wall street morons following their incentives to invest in hot industries like fossil fools.

that's not to say that a lot of the correct people won't be hurt by a crash of the fossil industry, but for the really rich, it's just numbers. mostly zeroes and ones.

a sane and reasonable culture would have planned for this. sadly we do not belong to such a culture.

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dystopian's picture

Hi all, Hey Joe! Hope it's all good out there...

Rufus was great. Very creative, great singer, fantastic vocal work. That Sun Records put out a song called Bear Cat is hilarious. Wink Rufus was a big influence on lots... Booker T.! I always loved Walkin' the Dog. Great tunes!

Welcome to the opening weekend of summer! Have a good one! Thanks for the great soundscape!

be well all!

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We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

joe shikspack's picture

@dystopian

everything is ok here, hope all is well for you.

rufus had a great sense of humor and a playfulness that i always enjoyed. he put on a great show, too.

happy summer backatcha! we've had one heat wave here (causing me to frantically install air conditioners) and we may be headed for another next week. i hope that the summer weather in texas treats you well.

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ggersh's picture

Spring is finally being sprung this weekend with temps in the 70''s-80's
and no rain forecast for at least a week.

Another "own goal" by our fearless leaders. Why does this continually happen?
Just asking for a friend

https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/is-america-the-real-vic...

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8 users have voted.

I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

joe shikspack's picture

@ggersh

heh, our too-clever-by-half elites have not yet learned to correctly value a mixed economy that is fully capable of sustaining a nation-state. they have always assumed that because they have lots of bankers, economists and lawyers that they are "winning." they have no idea that it's a good idea to have people with resources who can grow things (other than money), build things and get some dirt under their fingernails from time to time.

our economy suffers from dominance by bubble-ensconced idiot elites.

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snoopydawg's picture

Biden can fck things up. Well we’re certainly seeing how Biden quickly fck’d things up for the whole world. Whoever is running Biden’s agenda sure brought the world to the brink of many things including world hunger and possible nuclear war in just over a year. And it’s not like history isn’t full of examples of dying empires doing just that so it’s not like they weren’t warned about what could happen if they did what they are doing.

It is the ultimate insult that the American people are still forced to pay Blinken’s salary

Here, here..I feel the same way for every member of government who has taken us on the wild ride.

A friend FEW days ago Sam started bringing me some new toys that I didn’t buy her. I watched as she played by the fence with the dawg next door and thought he had given them to her. Imagine my surprise when I found Sam playing in the neighbors yard and when I called her back she slipped under the fence like it wasn’t even there. I plugged it, but she found a hole in the fence and off she went to play with Theo a cinnamon lab. I guess Sam thinks that the grass is greener over there. Until now only my beagles felt that they needed to escape from the yard.

Ah well I hope everyone has a great weekend. I’m staying home for the holiday. Too many people on the roads here.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

joe shikspack's picture

@snoopydawg

heh, well, obama was a pretty impressive fuck-up, too. he is responsible for setting the stage for biden. and frankly, other than physical appearance, there really hasn't been much difference between presidents since shrubya was presidunce.

i hope you get your fence problems settled, though now that sam knows what's on the other side of the fence, it sounds like you are only going to be issuing a series of challenges and obstacles for sam to overcome. Smile

give her a scritch for me anyway, and then tell her that she should be nicer to the person that fills her bowl and gives her toys.

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snoopydawg's picture

@joe shikspack

She’s going to help me find a way to keep Sam’s buttocks in her yard. Old fence with lots of bushes and trees in the way. Hey it’s always something ain’t it. The trailer is in again because the propane tubing was old and leaked and by golly this better be the last time.

Thanks for backing me up here. Sam’s lawyer always makes excuses for why everything Sam does is my fault. Sam called on the cusp once after I accused her of taking something that I had misplaced and now she’s on permanent retainer. Scritches delivered.

Crimea a river Barr. How long was he Trump’s AG who actually knew that both Russia gate and the Mueller investigation were bogus and could have actually done something earlier? How long did he wait till he appointed Durham?

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/dirty-political-trick-bill-barr-says...

Kinda weird that Mueller didn’t uncover the facts that were sitting there in plain site for years. Did he even question anyone from Hillary’s team? Comey gave them immunity and then never asked them any questions. Both covered up Hillary’s crimes.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

joe shikspack's picture

@snoopydawg

good luck with making the fence work. working dogs, along with being physically able, are often remarkable problem-solvers. unfortunately, they don't always work on the problems that you'd like them to. Smile

though this may be more work for you than you wanted, you might try giving sam some challenges (obstacle courses, finding hidden objects by smell) to work at, which might distract her from the challenges that she sets for herself (getting into the pond or the neighbor's backyard). sometimes working dogs need more work than we give them.

heh, speaking of dogs, mueller wasn't there to uncover the facts, he was there to bury them and provide closure on an unpleasant episode.

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snoopydawg's picture

@joe shikspack

but inside the house. She has gotten good at sniffing them out. She spends most of the day outside either playing with her toys or bringing the sticks I’ve raked up back on the lawn or dismembering the stuffing inside her stuffed animals. Or making a mess with toilet paper if I’ve forgotten to put it on the roller. That’s her favorite thing to do. She actually throws it in the air. I don’t know how she knew to go under the fence because just looking at it you wouldn’t think she could. She started doing it after she went under the fence and into the pond. Maybe that gave her the idea. And it’s not like she doesn’t get enough exercise on our walk. Especially if she gets to play with her friends. Just have to remember that she is still a puppy.

Watch the video I just posted. He’s good!

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janis b's picture

@snoopydawg

https://twitter.com/rexchapman/status/1530059698006892544?s=10&t=j78sOpP...

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snoopydawg's picture

@janis b

Wouldn’t it be funny if dawgs actually understood everything we say to them but pretend that they don’t? Sam has been getting my socks every morning for over a year, but sometimes she gets a toy instead and thinks that I can wear it. I swear she does it just to be funny. She keeps me on my toes that’s for sure.

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janis b's picture

@snoopydawg

I think dogs are far more observant than we are, making language incidental. Dogs, like young children are so entertaining and funny, naturally.

May Sam keep you forever young

[video:https://youtu.be/P1fSVbBwVX8]

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snoopydawg's picture

@janis b

She sure keeps me on my toes. Starting the day out with a laugh is a great way to start the day. I have steps that go up to my bed and she loves to sit on them after getting my socks. Sometimes she just gives them up, other times she has to make sure that they are good and wet before she lets me have it.

She has also started bringing them to me just after I fall asleep and I have to pretend that I’m mad at her for stealing pilfering them. I don’t think I’ve ever had such a fun relationship with a dawg like I do with the Sam dawg. I’ve loved them all, but…oh goodness she just disemboweled one of her stuffed animals. Oh no it’s the bunny that just bit the dust. There’s stuffing all over the floor…dawgs!

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

janis b's picture

@snoopydawg

and best supporting actor to you ; ).

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@snoopydawg
sounds not much different from the Boston Terrier that I dog sit. He's killed most of his stuffed toys; working on the last two that were intact yesterday. Shredding paper remains one of his favorite sports. Along with dragging in twigs from outside to chomp on. A leafy branch yesterday was a real treat as he first got to shred the leaves off before chewing the remaining stick.

The video you posted is lol.

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snoopydawg's picture

@Marie

Dawgs are known for giving their owners hours of entertainment. Sam once tried to bring a 4 foot branch in through the dawg door. I heard this huge racket and when I looked there it was stuck in the door. I had a hella time opening the door and getting it unstuck. She has destroyed few of her favorite toys, but for some reason she decided that the bunny’s time was up. I put all her toys in her dawg bed yesterday and this morning I found the bed across the room and her toys scattered.

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Yeah Matt did a great job with the video. Too bad no one from the media will be held accountable for their lies and attacks on Trump. Hillary got away with using the intelligence agencies to try to take down Trump. I think Bob Woodward was in one of the scenes. I’ve read rumors that he was fed the watergate story to help take down Nixon. After Russia Gate I can believe it.

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6 users have voted.

Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

@snoopydawg
on the carpet. (That area rug has seen better days after forty years, but in less than a year, he's doing a good job of killing it.)

That cartoon nails it.

His owner only lets him have healthy (expensive) dog treats. So, when with me, he scams regular biscuits from a neighbor. Seemed okay since his owner didn't see it. Then he started hiding them -- cute because he would hide it several times before eating it. Then he ratted us out by leaving it hidden until his owner came home and ate it in front of her.

There's no secret about how the reporting on Watergate developed and there was no "deep state" conspiracy to bring down Nixon. That's nothing more than revisionist fantasy. The FBI investigation of the Watergate break-in was solid but fell short of nabbing Nixon. It was some of the info that Mark Felt passed along to Woodward. Felt's revenge for not having been made FBI Director when J Edgar died. Anyway, it wasn't Woodstein's reporting that brought Nixon down.

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3 users have voted.