Saturday Open Thread - 11/2/24: Odds and Ends
Good morning, good people!
Well, this is The Last Saturday before the "most" important (s)election of our life times. Man, this election season has been filled with some of the most dangerous rhetoric evah. I know some crazy while folks down south, flying rebel flags, made some dangerous statements against Obama all day, every day. But, he was the main target, for want of a better term, not his supporters.
Now, half the country, more or less, is out for blood (metaphorically speaking, I hope) from the other half. The 99%ers split. Whoever is in control is thrilled. Good for them, the bastards.
Which side wins? Who do the controllers favor? Or will both sides be decimated to the controllers delight?
About midnight Thursday evening, word was sent out that the lawsuit to set aside the election for our County Sheriff was dismissed for lack of jurisdiction. As the final trial is scheduled for Nov. 18, long after the general election is certified, there is simply no way a judge can hear a case about a primary do over. The issue is moot. There is no longer a justiciable controversy. And who sought the delays for trial? The stupid attorney representing the pissed off sheriff who refuses to accept people don't want him around any longer. 8 years of his repeated arrests of political opponents that all resulted in findings of no evidence and summarily dismissed, has made his former supporters ashamed of him.
I spent my entire election season staying quiet. The sheriff despises me, has gone out of his way to intimidate me. The newly elected sheriff is a client and friend of mine for 25 years. I work for him, his wife, his son, his in-laws, his step-daughters, and many of his friends. I would not even attend his rallies and made no donations, as the rallies were infiltrated, the donations made public. Any mention of him to curious voters was cautiously spoken.
And my hidden-in-the-background position will continue until January when the swearing in takes place.
The claws will be out now. Whatever get-even harm the sheriff can do, he will, to the bitter end.
I tried to stay quiet, but one day, I might have to take a very public stand.
Well, a client's case fell apart about 10 days before trial. I asked him if I could try to get a settlement, but he wanted to fight to the end. I told him, "The judge is gonna rule this way on the issue, and this way on that issue, and will rule this way on the last issue." After one truly crazy trial, the judge ruled on the 3 issues exactly as I predicted. PSA: Take your attorney's advice or find another one, because you will pay thousands to keep the shit show going to give this appearance that you are righteous. In this case, I can add "manly" into the mix. Yet, he got what he needed. A show of fatherly behavior under specious circumstances.
Last weekend we went to a concert in Tomball, Texas, we stayed in a B&B, a first. A huge home, 4 rentals. The rooms for 2 were on one wing, the 2 suites for 4 to 8 were in the other wing. We found out when we arrived that the single rooms for 2 shared a bathroom. !!! Thank goodness, we were the only guests, so I didn't have to negotiate with strangers for a shower time shedule. We will stay at the cheap hotel next time we go to that concert venue.
Here is a taste of the concert. Ray Wylie Hubbard. His stories between songs is part of his uniqueness. He tells a hilarious story about his grandpa's guitar at the beginning of this song. He sold out the venue 3 straight nights.
We did see some beautiful white cranes come to the back yard pond. They do not come to where we live, so there is that. I watched them for over an hour, no pics, my bad. So beautiful, and they came to a back yard pond in a crowded edition, bursting with rich folks, traffic, and very little nature.
Well, catch me and the rest of us upon current events, you super poster commenters!
This is an open thread, and anything that is interesting to you is damn well likely to be interesting to the rest of us, ok, friends?
Comments
Happy Saturday, good people!
I hope everybody has some weekend fun planned.
We want to hear about it!
Let 'er rip!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
We finally got a light rain...
A mere 0.2", but at least it was a dust settler.
Dug sweet potatoes this week. One bed was great...the other had severe vole damage, but some nice potatoes for it a well. Have one more half bed to dig that w got in late. If the weather holds I'll dig them in a couple of weeks. We should end up with plenty for 2025.
I look forward to a rapid conclusion to this crazed election. My buddies think we won't know who won by this time next week. They may be right, but I hope not!
Thanks for the OT. The concert sounds like it was fun!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
LO I need some help
pop over to TPW and move the info about Consortium News here. I just posted it today.
I'll be happy to try...
But what is TPW?
Is this the info you wanted posted?
Many readers say they are unable to log on since CN came back online after a hack this week. Here’s what you should do.
more here: Winning a Battle Over Control of Our Site
Let me know if this is what you were after.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Yes Thank You
You might remember it from the D Kos days. Back then it was the BNR by LD. https://theprogressivewing.com
Yes, I do remember, now...
LD used to do the BNR - Bernie news report... till we were all kicked off.
Glad I guessed correctly and posted the info you had in mind!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Good morning, LO!
Glad you got some rain. It's easier to dig in moist soil. Don't believe me? Just ask a vole.
We have had several days of rain. 10 seconds of sprinkle every few hours. The forecast is showing t-storms daily for the next 9 days. Oh, well, we had a very long dry spell, so it will all come out in the weather wash.
A local investigative blogger says the fix was in months ago by Washington DC to get rid of the sheriff in favor of the opponent. It is so nutty, but some fanatics in the area will believe it.
Dear One doesn't eat sweet potatoes, so it has been years since I made this easy meal: boneless pork chops, sliced onions to cover them, topped with sliced sweet potatoes, pour in apple cider up to the level of the yams, cook away in a crock pot. The only spices I used, other than salt, pepper, and a pinch of cayenne, was coriander and paprika.
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
Yumm, your sweet taters and poke chops
.
.
sounds good enough to try out
would substitute the oven bake method
as crock pots are not my thing
should still work? Low and slow.
Thanks!
question everything
Absolutely works in
the oven. I have prepared it for family gatherings and absolutely everyone asked me how I made it. I like it because it is a complete meal, but coleslaw is a good side dish, and cornbread really pairs well with it.
The apple cider is a great meat tenderizer. I never needed a knife! Easy clean up! Let me know if you try it.
Have a great weekend, cap'n!
See if you can gently influence JtC about those Zoom meet ups, ok?
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Just once, try this on your hubby.
Scrub sweet potatoes and allow them to air dry.
Place them in the freezer for at least one hour
Bake them at 450 for about one hour or until they begin to ooze sugary syrup
Remove from the oven and slice them - the texture and flavor are amazing
bwahago
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 --
I will give that a try!
I just love them! Taste buds change every 7 years. Maybe his are due for new foods?
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Good morning otc. You expressed a wish to be
caught up on current events but I met a girl who sang the blues And I asked her for some happy news But she just smiled and turned away.
There is a riskk to human sanity from excessive quantities of hot air, especially across the USofA. Meanwhile anonymous persons have launched a campaign to write in Norman Thomas for US president.
After all, "Are we not men?" HEH
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 we not men ?"
might be answered in a variety of ways, eh, pal?
Well, a dead Thomas would be a better prez than the current half-dead one, or crazy Kam, or scaredy cat Trump.
I can remember Walter Cronkite. I didn't know we would wind up with Rachel. I am dizzy from the fall from grace.
I haven't gotten around to reading war news today. It will be there when we get back from a trip to grocery shop. War news goes down better with a cold beer, anyway.
Thanks for the tune. Here's one back atcha:
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
correct answer, iirc, is
"We are Devo"
bwahago
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 --
Sounds correct
to me. Some smarty pants might spell that "Deviants". Gotta watch for that.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Don't think we'll get much done
...this weekend. City and county offices are closed although the people contracted to collect debris are still out picking up cut up trees, tree limbs and natural debris.
Of course, some police are on duty. The apartments are right next to a public school, so I have to pass through a school zone on a two lane road with no passing at any point on the way to and from the house. The police often monitor this road, not just during school hours but other times as well, especially if something is going on at the school. It's a short ride back and forth to the house, yet during that ride, there are careless teenagers on bicycles, children on motorized skateboards, homeless people on bicycles and on foot, even dressed in dark clothes at night, etc. It isn't wise to speed through these areas and neighborhoods but most people do. I noticed some police on duty at the school driveway this morning. One of them was clocking motorist speeds at the school not in session when speed limit is 35 mph. I took note and on the way back stayed below the speed limit, which I always do anyway to conserve fuel in the van.
On the way back, some alpha hotel in a pickup tailgated me all the way, and when I finally turned, blared his horn at me for ten or fifteen seconds while he roared past me. I was driving the speed limit the entire time. Guess I'm the proverbial old person "driving slow" in Florida. If I counted right, there have been three road rage shootings in my county in the last two months, two dead persons, one seriously wounded and one wounded dog. So people are just hotheads, and can't control their emotions. Savages really.
Have to contend with this several times a day, as we drive around on errands and back and forth to the former home. On the one side road rage, on the other police doing their job, then the possibility of an accident, if one is careless, or in the case of road ragers and others, reckless.
Ms. So has made incredible efforts to make this apartment as comfortable as possible under the circumstances. We're both exhausted. Song below makes me think of another time and place when the future seemed wonderful and promising.
Azuma Aki and Ryu Won-jeong sing Yongdong Bridge a Korean trot classic in Korean and then Japanese:
OTC thanks for the oddsandends. Had similar experiences with local police when I was a lowly pd, for a couple of years a long time ago.
語必忠信 行必正直
You are welcome, friend.
I am glad the apartment is working out for you as a temporary shelter.
Moving is one of the most stressful things people experience. Knowing you have another move looming in the future is even more stressful.
I have had 8 sheriffs in the county since I was born. The first one went crazy, had to retire. The second one tied up black men to trees, bull whipped them until they deeded their land to him. He became a wealthy rancher on that stolen land. The third one did Federal prison time for his countless thefts and civil rights violations on that infamous stretch of highway made famous by the made-for-tv movie, "Terror on Highway 59". The fourth sheriff is believed to have murdered a drug dealer for not paying his kickback. The 5th got his kickbacks and became wealthy. The sixth was a drunk, did no harm, since he stayed at the bar during operating hours. The 7th sheriff was oddly ill, never was seen at work, did no work, did no active harm. The 8th and current sheriff has made gobs of raids on illegal gambling houses, all except the one operated by the Department of Public Safety Trooper's mother. Lots of cash was seized, admittedly some of it used to fly out to Vegas and gamble. |A salary of $68k annually is still enough for him to purchase a million dollar plane. Over 200 sexual assault charges filed by women have never been investigated in his 8 yr tenure. Unsolved murders are about a dozen. If my friend gets into office, and all of us fear for his safety over the next 2 months, and turns out to be a crook like all the rest, I will only be surprised momentarily, then go back to normal living.
Glad your time as a cop was brief, friend.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
I shouldn't use abreviations
I could never be a cop, not the type. I was an assistant public defender. When I subpoenaed police or deputies to deposition or trial, they'd get pissed. Coincidentally, they started showing up at my door with sundry complaints to investigate.
Only my felony judge's deputy and the local state trooper appreciated my efforts. When I quit, the bailiff said " but you're the only one who comes in here prepared."
語必忠信 行必正直
Sorry for the misidentification.
On the other hand, I am happy you do not have nightmares from doing what cops do.
FWIW, a gun was found at the mysterious murder scene that occurred involving sheriff no. 4. For reasons, no fingerprints were taken. The sheriff's arms were not tested for graphite particles. Hmmm...
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Quite a record...
With those sheriffs - probably material for a series of novels there. Hope your new guy
makes it to swearing in.
Here's one from the county my dad was from, still have relatives there - sheriff shot a local judge in his chambers. Long history of political violence and personal feuds in that country and more recently over drugs there have been shootouts in courtrooms before but this latest was unique even for that area. There was a domestic dispute apparently involved, plus possibly psych drugs - maybe an Ozempic defense in the offing.
https://www.npr.org/2024/10/11/nx-s1-5138357/kentucky-sheriff-judge-shoo...
Same county:
Shirttail relative of mine wrote about his experiences lawyering, politicking, etc. in
the same area: Slender Is the Thread: Tales From a Country Law Office
Malcolm Gladwell references his work in a chapter of Gladwell's 'Outliers'
The corruption
is everywhere, huh? My county is not in the lead?
I have been trying to keep up with that KY shooting. I had not heard the sheriff's statement about a kidnap plan, but had read that the judge's phone contained some sort of porn something or other concerning the sheriff's daughter.
When there is a politician implicated, cops forget everything they know about proper investigations. When our judge's son got high on meth and beer, ran over and killed a woman, the first on the scene was the judge, the second was a state trooper. The trooper forgot to give the son any driving while intoxicated roadside tests. The judge is solely responsible for providing office space to state troopers in this county.
Pure coincidence, of course.
That TikTok video was so damn sad. One day the woman and her family might luck upon the truth about the murder's identity.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Lol….
Place your bets….who do you think the oligarchs have chosen this time? Biden got more people living on the streets because he wouldn’t rein in the companies colluding on rent prices and he killed the housing market by letting Powell raise interest rates so high that they placed mortgages out of reach for people still making $7.25 minimum wage because he hid behind the parliamentarian. And don’t forget how Obama gave banks trillions to buy up the houses that they illegally foreclosed on.
Trump wants to lower taxes even more and decrease regulations on businesses. He might finally get the neocons' war with Iran in full swing.
I’m betting that Trump gets the nod this time because of how many ex dem oligarch supporters have switched to Trump.
What’s yours?
I think Trump will win.
I haven't seen it, but I did read a headline that Fetterman, on Joe Rogan's show, admitted that the democrats indeed let in the immigrants to get democrat votes in red states.
I will see if that can be brought into a comment.
I have seen many videos from Texas based alt media sites showing hundreds and hundreds of illegals coming through the process centers wearing tee shirt that say vote for Biden. Since he dropped out, I haven't seen videos of them wearing Harris tee shirts.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
perhaps the immigrants have yet to
.
.
interpret US culture with its nuances
well, I got paid to vote for Biden
but that name is not on the ballot
hmm, what to do??
ah, write it in!
question everything
Yeah.
Insofar as the plan to change the red state outcome, all these people who can't read English or speak English, need some helpers to make it work.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Here one recalls --
the German Presidential election of spring 1932, in which the "lesser evil" candidate defeated Hitler.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1932_German_presidential_election
Problem solved, right? At the end of January of 1933 the "lesser evil" appointed Hitler as Chancellor of Germany. Eight weeks later his dictatorship was cemented.
The ruling classes need an extra party to make the rest of us feel as if we participate in democracy. That's what the Democrats are for. They make the US more durable than the Soviet Union was.
Two faced woman dawg
What are the chances that October 7 would have happened if Israel hadn’t been blockading and killing Palestinians for decades? Not one government official has said that Palestinians have the right to defend themselves from Israel slaughter and for stealing their land and demolishing their homes. Or that the main targets were the Israeli military people who had been guarding the area and making sure that the Palestinians were cowed.
If Israelis think they are going to build homes in Gaza and then live peacefully after they have another think coming.
But listen to what this 2 faced ***** is telling people just to get their vote.
Kam is a liar.
Snoopy, I am both shocked and dismayed Kam is sucking up to constituents for votes. /s
Any occupied state has the right to defend itself and attack the illegal occupier, not that anybody is enforcing that international law at the moment.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Thought I would drop this in.
I visited Georgia. Wonderful people. I wish them all the best.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Heh, heh…..
That’s a keeper. They have been bitch talking about Nate because he has Trump winning. And he ruined his blog for Her. The big news is Kam is up by 3 in Iowa….oh wow! Stein is up in Michigan…that’s gotta hurt. T-hee.
Also she’s gonna be on Saturday Night Live.
Markos was relevant
until he wasn't.
I hope we can find a SNL livestream!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
non-elected government in Haiti hires U.S. mercenary army
this is not a good look
CIA
in Haiti. Boy, that's gonna turn out great for us! Haitians, not so much.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Is this funny?
Boy I miss the Gilda Radner days of SNL when it was actually funny.
Oops…that’s gonna leave a mark
what a little
idiot. Good grief.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Back in 2001...
(Hi, OTC)
I was in Spain (Galicia) for a couple months - 1st of which was sort of a boot camp
program to get a quickie certification in TESOL (teaching English to speakers of other languages)
which I had been doing for some years anyway.
Other students were from a collection of English-speaking countries: US,UK,Ireland,NZ,OZ...
We were kept pretty busy, but in off time often got together with the owners of the school (husband Scottish, wife Lebanese, their son) and singing was involved. Took a bit but we got to where we could get all the way through Hotel California and The Gambler.
Fast forward a few years and I went to Koh Samui, Thailand to do a week-long fasting program.
Went pretty well, but was pretty quiet, not going anywhere. Had a couple days after finishing the fast
so decided to get out a bit.
Rented a clunky out of repair mountain bike to small for me and started out to find someplasce I'd picked out on a map and ended up pushing the bike up a steep washed out track that came out
at a collection of huts in a couple different styles, none that looked exactly Thai. Turned out to be a backpacker's hostel type situation. The one somewhat substantial building was a terrace/bar with a killer view back down the coast of the island.
Only ones there were one guy and a cat. The guy was a black guy in his 20's that turned out to be Nigerian - said he preferred being out of Bankok (where Nigerian gangs are active in prostitution and other activities) and had built several of the bamboo and palm huts - which explained those.
Was offered and took a couple puffs of the local herbal product (only time *ever* in Thailand, although now it's essentially legal there), admired the view, played with the cat and the converstion got around to music. And he asked me if I liked...Kenny Rogers.
There was a stereo setup there and he offered to play some. Conversation then got around to favorite Kenny Rogers songs. I was sticking with The Gambler, but his was Coward of the County.
Guess American country music is popular in some parts of Africa - Zimbabwe mostly...
I remember in Kenya
the singer/guitarist that entertained us at a dinner played a few country tunes.
Kenny Rogers had no "twang", must have sounded more sophisticated, maybe? Sounds like you had a blast at the school!
I haven't forgotten the store fronts of the shops with sex toys and women for sale in Bangkok. Man, what a booming business.
A good friend left the states to work in Bangkok teaching at the veterinarian university. He said he would get rid of one of his women to make room for me if I chose to go visit him. He had planned (dreamed?) of having a harem.
Sounds like your world exploration brought you lasting returns, BR.
Thanks for sharing your memories.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981