Saturday Open Thread 7/13/24: Odds and Ends
Hey, friends!
It has been quite a hectic week here. No electricity at home, camping out at the office. I dread it, but I must clean out my fridge at home this weekend. I saved the contents of my freezer, but all those opened jars of condiments will have to be tossed.
So, this chihuahua came up in my office yard. He sort of adopted me. I called the number on the collar tag, got directions to take him somewhere to some friend of the owner, like the responsibility was mine to return him to the persons who lets him run loose all over town. "Lil' Man" had fleas. Not what I want in my vehicle.
I am sleeping on a borrowed air mattress.Google what happens when they blow up. Hoo, boy!
We only had 1 death in the county directly caused by the storm. A tree fell onto a camper and killed the person inside it.
Just yesterday, I finally got the crew out to chop down a dead oak tree that could have reached my home, had it fallen. I had it scheduled to be removed for 3 weeks.
Flooding delayed the crew. We got lucky.
I wonder what crazy stuff Biden will do today. Wow.
I hope all of you are well, and I look forward to your comments about anything and everything that crosses your mind.
Let 'er rip!
Comments
Good morning, everyone!
Another day in paradise here.
I didn't catch any news headlines this morning.
I hope commenters will keep us apprised about our arrival date for WWIII, who has been revealed as the leader of our country since 2020, how the dollar is holding up against the multipolar trade currencies, or anything that comes to your mind.
This is an open thread.
Let 'er rip!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Good morning...
I kinda think we're in WWIII. Listening to the NATO warmongers makes me think world war has arrived.
The NATO nuts remind me of your flea covered chihuahua, all bark and nips instead of bites.
Onward though the fog. Hope y'all get power soon.
Take care, and thanks for the OT!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Musk contributes to Trump
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/more-soul-crushing-news-dems-musk-en...
Anya
That's funny...
Yes heads are exploding. The TDS psyop has been very effective. TDS has infected many of my friends.
Thanks for the exploding heads clip.
Poor shitlibs.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
It does feel as though
This makes it difficult to protest. The anti-genocide protests are primarily directed against Israel, a foreign country. Our capitalist country requires giving the green light to the MIC and their profits. After all, we may need all those weapons for our troops one day, so those factories gotta manufacture for somebody until then. We can't effectively protest against the idiotic and dangerous maneuvers against Russia without getting into a fight about being a Putin puppet Trumper.
With a superpac using their bribe money to force Biden out and get a candidate they want, we 99% must get the message the USA is by, for, and of the 1%.
It is possible we can get back home today. It will take a while to get it back in order, with the cleaning out of the fridge being top on the to do list. If this happens, we will party!
Thanks for popping in this morning, and you and yours enjoy your weekend, dear friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Happy Saturday
-
-
being treated to a summer shower today.
Listening to Rockin' In the Days of Confusion
KZRJ FM 100.5 Gulch Radio
seems to go with the weather
somewhat better than dementia joe stumbling,
Palestine genocide and Ukie obliteration.
And WW.3.comercial coverage.
glad to hear you guys are recovering from Beryl
thanks for the OT otc!
good luck
Good morning, QMS!
The bad news is a forecast showing heavy rain this afternoon, with gusty winds. Lots of broken limbs that didn't fall to the ground may get blown from trees. More yard work possible.
Oh, well, it's always something!
For you, my friend:
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Dad-gum-it
.
I missed seeing Zelensky! Oh well I’ll get over it.
https://www.ksl.com/article/51067411/evil-must-always-always-lose-ukrain...
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
Oh, puke!
I was hoping to send you some Texas fools, but your fool pantry is quite full.
I am amazed that Rus people are are on a par with Palestinians. Neither would come across our radar if the did not sit on oil fields.
sigh...
Give my client a big hug from me, ok?
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
I agree…
.
It’s been exactly like that.
Biden donors are being accused of blackmailing him. They won’t release hundreds of millions of dollars unless he steps down. It’s the main PAC for his reelection. That’s a strong word….popcorn time? But seriously I don’t understand why we think our vote matters. Between rich donors and super delegates who can over rule voters do we little people even matter?
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
Is it blackmail
Here's my B: Bullshit.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
If you need something to read this weekend
I’m enjoying this article that has some good zingers.
https://www.counterpunch.org/2024/07/12/running-on-empty-3/
He questions why AOC and Omar are supporting Biden after they accuse him of supporting a genocide. And compares Bernie’s support to Biden's support of Strom Thurmond. It’s long and I’m just halfway through it.
Gotta take your spoiled client for a walk and then chauffeur her black bottom…she still enjoys it even though it’s 100 degrees.
Zelensky also met with the Mormon Elders. Very Christian to support war. Blehh! Ahh well they don’t follow the 10 commandments, but the tablets Joseph Smith pulled out of a hat.
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
I gotta read that!
Thanks for the link.
I did see a scathing video yesterday about our so-called liberal progressives, a/k/a, the squad. They are getting hammered with righteous criticism. Damn frauds, and that's all they always were.
Squad is now a bad name.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Good morning otc. Good luck with the ongoing post Beryl
processes. The news, thanks to its propaganda usages, rhymes even more than history itself does. Some things, however, are truisms.
Who runs the country? The Bourgeoisie (Marxist definition), to echo Pelosi "it's a Capitalist country".
WWIII - ongoing, just a different type of war than most priors, but nonetheless real. We are losing but can't/won't admit it and may force nuclear armageddon out of arrogance and stupidity. [Stupid editor highlights armageddon as if misspelled, no doubt because not capitalized, Sorry, but it doesn't meet the rules for capitalization, being a fictional place in a mediocre work of fiction and an otherwise ordinary noun describing a world ending cataclysm.]
The Rus continue t hammer the Ukies, recently taking out a lot of Ukie electronic warfare equipment, munitions plants and the usual troops and equipment.
The South China Morning Post, iirc, has a headline indicating concerns should Kamala get the nod, seemingly somehow due to her genetic makeup? Silly S.C.M.P. She has no ethnic genetic makeup, having long ago transitioned to full bourgeoisie.
The US sanctioned some more Chinese persons.
That's enough of a morning killjoy for any of us, and I've got chores in the offing.
be well and have a good one
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 --
Lots more to be concerned about with
Wasn't this the weekend we were supposed to get a Big Announcement from the Dems? Was it that Biden refuses to step down?
Well, the 1% always wins.
I dislike every candidate on the slate. They all suck in one or many ways. All large pieces of shit.
Well, as our expectations get a haircut, our standing is on quaky ground, at least we will see friendships binding as never before.
Seems the lights are now on at the house, so we will pack up and make a move shortly.
While air mattresses work in a pinch, the one we borrowed was strange. Only the middle was stable, Rolling over might just roll you off the damn bed. I had my pillow slide to the floor more than once!
Have a wonderful and productive day, and get that Camry in the garage, my friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Like petulant children
US officials are so transparently manipulative and whiny, they appear to be desperate.
"It's bad optics for you to meet with Putin during the NATO summit."
I don't agree with Arnaud's take on the Financial Review article, but agree with Arnaud's view on how to cope with China's rapid technological and economic advances- learn something from them or become like the Qing dynasty and collapse. The Financial Review article has the typical canards about China "stealing" our technology. At best it's a grudging admission that the west is on the wrong course.
The smarter way to exploit China’s technical expertise
Here's an article on US frustration or whatever it is with India's relationship with Russia.
US frustrated by PM Modi's Russia visit amid Nato summit: Report
I watched a video of their meeting and much as I hate to say anything good about Modi, he is dealing with this international situation quite skillfully. He rather strongly indicated his distaste for the war in Ukraine, and indicated a strong preference for peace as a policy course. Putin is no slouch either.
Hope you get your power back soon OTC. A couple of houses in flood area here sold last week. Looks like we're stragglers. I saw some public works guy working on the neighborhood run off pump again, that wasn't reassuring. We spent quite a bit removing as many of the old threatening trees as possible during the quiet period here. I wish my neighbors would get with it. Chihuahua with fleas, just what you needed.
語必忠信 行必正直
What upset me most about
Now that we know where the dog lives, if I see him running loose in town, I will call animal control, inform them that the owner of the dog intentionally lets him run loose right at the main intersection in town! I am not certain that the small apt. complex even allows pets. That dog deserves better, the owner deserves a ticket.
If you do not have sufficient financial means to take care of a pet, do not own one. Period. That is animal cruelty. The dog had some ribs showing. Just before he wandered up, we had disposed of all food stored in the fridge, and I had nothing to feed him. We are pretty stressed over the minor damage done to the office and home, and a guilt trip about a dog is just not needed!
The tree removal guy that was supposed to remove approx. 5 trees near my home decided to go on a meth binge. He has been out of his mind for several months, according to his son. I just located another tree removal service, and they are really professional. I gave up on the meth head.
News from Asia is always interesting.
Thanks, soryang, and be prepared for a rough hurricane season as best you can, friend.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Hurray for lights
Yeah! I know that you’re doing a happy dance having your electricity back on. You’ve probably survived more hurricanes that I have. The worst part is afterwards. When you see the destruction Mother Nature can do, it’s just unbelievable.
I can’t believe that people aren’t more prepared. Maybe they’re too poor to stock up. I have been known to give some food to one of my neighbors. It’s like I told her, I always got extra rice, beans, and spaghetti. If you’re broke, come over and get some. Don’t go hungry. They’ve also started a program here where they have a drop box at several parks where you can leave food. I have given away quite a bit. If it’s something I won’t eat, I might as well find someone who will.
Today was the first time I drove in almost 4 weeks. The worst part was getting out of the car. I have a small car because I am a short person and the older, I get the harder it is to drive something big. I see all these old men who are 10 years older than me driving these big trucks and if you look at them in the back, they all have dings and dents. Backing up is the first thing to go when you’re driving.
Want to thank everyone for the well wishes after my surgery. My knee is so much better. I think that I have done more housekeeping in the past week than the last six months. I waited so long to have my knee done that the bones were clacking together. And now I wish that I would have done it a year or more ago.
Good news, ma'am!
I remember being able to pull a 32 ft. 3-horse trailer with living quarters, could back that puppy up anywhere. Now, it is tough, even in my tiny car.
I know lots of folks cannot afford to plan ahead. Even though I had plenty of food, and the Plan B to head to the office, the Plan was shattered by the enormous surprise that my office was dark. That is the first and only time it has happened since I bought it in 1998. That is also why I never really felt a necessity to buy a generator. Isn't it impossible to prepare for the totally unexpected? I learned my lesson.
Meanwhile, I just finished emptying out my fridge. To say it was depressing to toss items that had never been opened is an understatement.
I sent my secretary to various food lines throughout the week, and then we shared the stuff with friends and family.
The grocery bill to even begin replacing what we just tossed will easily exceed $1,000.
Oh, well, it only took 2 hours for the house to get nice and cool.
The dinner party will be fun tonight!
Take care, chica!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Hi all,
Hi OtC, and any other tC's...
So sorry to hear about your Beryl experience. It sounds brutal in east Texas. Involuntary unplugging is bad for an hour. Days!?! We lose it here fairly regularly, but usually not for long, save that big deep freeze a few years back. I am frankly astonished at the fragility of Texas' power grid, though sorta been ascribing it to all the ruralness. I hear the Honda generators are very good, lots swear by them. Also on my wish list is a Jackery or somesuch portable solar system. Both expensive for not using it most of the time, but when you need it, worth it.
Here is a tip in case anyone besides me has been frustrated with the forced utube ads. When the ad starts, click on any vid in the sidebar. Let that start, you may or may not get another ad. As soon as that starts click your back arrow on your browser. Which will go back to the beginning of the prior video WITHOUT THE AD at start.
I gotta fly, happy trails all!
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
Hey dysto...
Thanks for the well wishes. We got our power back about 3 hours ago. I was so happy I went around and turned every light on in the house just for fun.
If you run Firefox, download the browser extension, Adblocker for Youtube, you'll never see another Youtube ad again.
I don't know about other browsers but they may have them too.
Good afternoon!
The ice storm knocked out the power at home, but my office lights never blinked. I am still baffled why we had the black out there this week.
A Jackery would have helped us charge our phones. I learned a lot about my SUV during the time I cranked it, let it idle for an hour to charge my phone. This was Monday night, and I needed an alarm to get up and get to court Tuesday morning.
So, the motor revs up from time to time to keep the motor cool. Also, it shuts off after 60 minutes idling. I hated to waste gas, but we were tired, hot, and I didn't want to be late for court, so that was the only option. I was sure I wouldn't wake up in time.
Well, we are still tired, just not hot!
It is gonna be a night of beef tacos, some libations, some music, some sleep afterwards in a comfy bed, a/c running as wide open as we wish!
Take care, dysto! Some day, let's ask someone on the inside why our power lines are above ground, right in the Piney Woods.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Raise your hand if you thought it would be Kennedy and not Trump
The NYT headline says: "Biden Speaks After Shooting At Trump Rally" but I don't really believe he did it. OTOH, it is pretty good evidence that genocide Joe will be the Dem candidate; first they rob Jill Stein of her campaign funds and then they shoot Trump.
Sure am glad that we're the defender of democracy.
be well and have a good one
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 --
Are you disappointed?
There was another victim as well. Head shot with gray matter. Medivaced but likely DOA.
Trump was lucky to be able to walk off the stage.
“ …and when we destroy nature, we diminish our capacity to sense the divine,and understand who God is, and what our own potential is and duties are as human beings.- RFK jr. 8/26/2024
I watched an interview on ABC
Can you even imagine what would have happened if Trump had bee n killed, in the context of all the lawsuits/lawfare to put him in prison that hasn't worked so far.
Shooter is dead, we won't ever know his motive. Trump is suddenly a hero.
Dems always get killed. The Kennedys, MLK, and R's survive, Reagan, Trump.
Will a passport turn up soon? Iranian? Chinese?
Inquiring minds want to know.
The country would have gone full bore CWII if Trump had been killed.
WTF do TPTB have planned for us?
What a way to end the day, attempt to have a "celebration of lights" dinner!
What will Trumps 'tude toward the 2nd Am be henceforth?
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
A Trump staffer referred to the lawfare. He posted something
"They have to keep him off the ballot. First they tried to put him in jail and now this."
Naturally it got taken down very quickly.
be well and have a good one
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 --
Actual post, per AP
Trump campaign senior adviser Chris LaCivita responded to the shooting with a post on X.
“well of course they tried too keep him off the ballot , they tried to put him in jail and now you see this …,” he wrote.
The post was later deleted.
be well and have a good one
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 --
That will be the meme
Trump for the win!
I would have thought RFK, Jr. would be the target, but he got little traction. Good for him.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Interesting questions otc
Enjoy the comfort of getting power back, and a comfortable bed.
Cool air!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
I bet you did!
Not at all, but it is par for the course. 2 other victims, is
what I read, one dead and one?
be well and have a good one
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 --
Par for the course,
indeed. This is indeed who we really are as a country. I now fully expect the heavily-armed MAGA-types to exact their revenge upon everyone who isn’t their chosen martyr. Kennedy, Biden, local pols: it is game on. I heard the news today, live at an foodie event in a local Repub stronghold, and there were people saying quite loudly that they were ready to go lock and load, and go out looking for “them”. I’m not making this shit up: we got the fuck out of there toot sweet, because I don’t know what “they” look like. Stochastic terrorism just got a big fucking shot of steroids.
WWIII is already in progress, and first shots were just fired in USCWII. All our Responsible Gun Owners now have a target-rich environment.
Boo-yeah.
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
Well, R's are more
Odd that their general impression is than a Dem would take their Ar-15 and try an assassination, when up until today, their general impression was that Ds are against anybody even owning a gun.
The MAGAs need to re-think that idea about gunning down the crowd that is not likely to be armed.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Dead
Is dead.
The only question is who has the sight picture, and who is in the sights.
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
I have already told my secretary
I then told her that might be a good attitude no matter if you are in the office or not.
X seems to be full of posts from Ds pissed off the shooter missed.
They are crazy and reckless to do that.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Agreed.
This is a corner from which there will be no returning. Whoever planned and executed it has figured out precisely how to finish off any sense of unity that we as a country might have been able to somehow recover from the ashes. We will destroy ourselves.
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
one shot dead, a back of the head shot.
The shooter is dead.
When JFK, RFK, Reagan, MLK, were shot, the news of "He got shot!" was instantaneous.This was initially reported as popping noises, possible shots, Trump possibly or apparently injured, etc...
Not normal, not good.
I am speaking of the media reaction only. I am not a fan of killing, no matter what. Only time it is necessary is self-defense. If a person can shoot well, wounding is better than killing the perpetrator.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Latest = 2 critical, I dead, + shooter "AR-15 style" weapon
found.
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 --
Democracy USA style
Isn’t that the ultimate irony, a real life actor (and possible president) playing the unfortunate victim. He belongs in the Hollywood Hall of Fame.
Simplicious has an essay on the shooting
.
The corporate media has been told to downplay the event and not call it an assassination attempt. Words like SS escort Trump off stage after popping noises heard. he has a screenshot of the instructions. But as usual he provides no links. Big pet peeve!
Link
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
I wonder if the crime scene
...will be ripped apart and "restored" so no forensic analysis can take place? These things are almost never what they are sold as.
I don't understand why the field of view in the video reports is so narrow. You can see people upper left in the stands looking toward something. So no one goes over there to look? Maybe some hand phone videos will have something on them.
語必忠信 行必正直
some news report(s) say shooter was outside of event
and SS can't figure out how he got where he was (which they don't describe).
be well and have a good one
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 --
Eyewitness
https://x.com/maskedoccult/status/1812288494611390715?s=46&t=bMCBuC6GejM...
Anya
I was surprised to see these guys
....
jump right in to breaking news mode:
IMAGINE if you woke up the day after a US Presidential Election and headlines around the the world blared, "The Majority of Americans Refused to Vote in US Presidential Election! What Does this Mean?"
the shooter
was a Chinese national.
No word if he was here illegally.
Holy shit.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Allegedly
Color me skeptical.
語必忠信 行必正直
Clearly
a Chinese national.
https://twitter.com/NationalFile/status/1812296613295247440/photo/1?ref_...
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
I should also be skeptical.
@#1.4.1 Larry Johnson does have contacts in the Secret Service and is pretty reliable. I quibble with his shot was from the side direction. Eye witnesses said rear, but we shall see.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Frankly
20 or thirty years could pass and we still might not know the truth behind this.
語必忠信 行必正直
65 years.
Does that sound about right?
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Yes
I'm very suspicious about this. I had the same feeling Jan.6. What a breakdown in security.
語必忠信 行必正直
Almost feels like
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Shooter was
20 yr old Thomas Michael Crooks of Bethel Park, PA.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981