Open Thread - 11-29-24 - Ruminations from the Texas Hill Country

Submitted by JtC on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 7:00am

It's Thanksgiving Day as I write this from a cabin in the Texas Hill Country. It's beautiful here, rolling and rocky hills full of cattle, wildlife, friendly people and great music. The Texas Hill Country (Central Texas), and especially Austin, have long been known as a hub for an eclectic blend of country, rock and folk music, best known as Cosmic Cowboy music, or more in modern terms, Americana Music. The Austin Music Scene, as it's also known, became a thing in the early 70s shaped by music greats, Jerry Jeff Walker, Gary P. Nunn, Ray Wylie Hubbard, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Michael Martin Murphey and many more. Although the Austin Music Scene isn't as vibrant as it once was many of the progenitors are still with us and playing great music.

Last night we went to Luckenbach, just a few miles away from the cabin, and enjoyed a show by Dale Watson, another of the icons of the Austin Music Scene, at the Luckenbach Dance Hall for the annual Thanksgiving Day Ball. We had an absolute great night of dancing (if you can call what I do dancing), libations and fine company. This was the third time we've seen Dale Watson, and the second time we've been here for the Thanksgiving Day Ball featuring Mr. Watson and His Lone Stars. He and the band were on fire, we consider this the best show of the three that we've seen. We left at 11:00 PM full of memories, tee shirts, autographs and photos.

We're staying here through Thanksgiving Day and we'll head back to Southeast Texas tomorrow, Friday. We're forgoing the traditional turkey dinner for barbecued baby back ribs. Yesterday we saw a large rafter of turkeys pass close by the cabin, probably about 100 feet away. I joked with otc that she should have grabbed one for Thanksgiving dinner, but instead we opted for the delicious ribs, being the rebels that we are.

Photos from Outside the Cabin

My wife and I have much to be grateful for on this Thanksgiving Day. Even though Thanksgiving is supposed to be a happy occasion, there's plenty of unhappiness and misery about, both here and abroad.

The recent election has left many in a state of discontent. The internet is abuzz with those opposed to the results of the recent election, just a few short weeks ago. They call for people to disavow family members this Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is supposedly about people of different walks of life coming together as illustrated by the early pilgrims, who were near starvation, and the Native Americans that inhabited the land, who supplied a huge feast as a peace offering. Ever since that first feast, Thanksgiving should be a means to bring families together rather than dividing them.

There's much consternation across the land about the direction the new administration wants to lead the country. It amazes me how intolerant we've become, even as "tolerance" was touted as campaign slogans, that's proof of the effectiveness of political manipulation.

No, wait a minute, it doesn't amaze me. That's the crux of the modern political climate.

How well those that wish to rule over us all have sown the seeds of division. They take satisfaction turning us against one another as the world burns in their vainglorious vanities. Much of the world has experienced the American concept of unity, as opposed to division, much like the Native Americans at the first Thanksgiving ultimately experienced, after the fact. As have the inhabitants of Ukraine, Gaza, Lebanon and every other strife worn nations around the globe that have been touched by supposed American democratic ideals. Watch out, here comes some democracy! You can rest assured they are not celebrating the notion of Thanksgiving this year.

So, yeah, Thanksgiving is a mixed bag for me.

Michael Martin Murphey: Cosmic Cowboy (3:55)

Lyrics

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Ruminations from the Texas Hill Country

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Submitted by JtC on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 12:10am

Good morning Free Rangers...

Sorry if this is a bit disjointed. I had to put it together on a laptop without regular wifi, we have to use a cellphone set up with a mobile hotspot to get a computer connected to the internet out here in the hills. It complicates things, but I get by on getting by.

We should be home by late afternoon, central time, I'll catch up on comments later.

Submitted by QMS on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 10:29am

Looks good from this perch

Wouldn't know a hot spot from a spatchcock.
Glad you could get away for a bit. Helps sometimes.
Say hey to the wild turkeys that survived.

—

question everything

Submitted by JtC on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 4:55pm

You can use a cell phone...

@QMS
as a wifi hotspot that a laptop or computer can connect to. Look under Settings/Connections/Mobile Hotspot. It will be as fast as your cell phone connection allows. It's pretty handy when no regular wifi is available.

We thought that the turkeys were greeting us since they showed up soon after we arrived. Then we realized that it was the cattle grain feeder that they were after. So I guess that makes us the turkeys after all.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 10:45am

Good morning JtC et. ux. et. al. and gracias, JtC, for the

OT and music. T-Day is a very mixed bag for me, I'm pretty negative about it overall, so I'll just side step the whole thing except to note that the "first thanksgiving" wad called by the "pilgrims" to give thanks for safely arriving at the shores of the land they intended to colonize, and most of the early subsequent ones were for one or another triumph in the conquest of said land and its inhabitants.

Gnus - Sputnik has a buncha good stuff today; first - Syria:

Syrian Army Eliminates Hundreds of Terrorists in Idlib and Aleppo, Including Foreign Mercenaries

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/syrian-army-eliminates-hundreds-of-ter...

that article, in passing makes note of al qaeda/al nusra and like that, setting the stage for:

Terrorist Offensive in Aleppo Reeks of US and Israeli Involvement - Expert

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/syrian-army-eliminates-hundreds-of-ter...

Many await the other shoe dropping in Ukiestan, and, though this probably isn't that, still

Russia Target Ukraine's Western Weapons in Response to Kiev's Strikes Deep Into Its Territory

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241128/russia-target-ukraines-western-weapons... --

On November 25, a strike on the headquarters of the Ukrainian GUR Kraken unit in Kharkov eliminated up to 40 foreign specialists, mostly from the US. An Iskander strike in Odessa destroyed 72 soldiers from the combat teams managing uncrewed maritime drones, including nine French instructors and technical specialists.
On November 25, Iskanders destroyed five ATACMS launchers, two MLRS launchers, three HIMARS MLRS launchers, and up to 30 soldiers from the launch systems' combat teams in the Sumy region.
On November 25 and 26, Iskanders destroyed two launchers with experimental Grom-2 ballistic missiles, as well as a launcher of the Ukrainian Neptun anti-ship missile system, in the Odessa region.
On November 28, a combined strike targeted Ukraine's defense-industrial facilities and energy infrastructure that supports them.

and the Rus seem to be doing OK cleaning up the crap launched into the Kursk area:

Russian Specialists Destroy 300 ATACMS Submunitions in Kursk Region in Past Day

https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/russian-specialists-destroy-300-atacms...

Meanwhile, RT quotes Orban as saying that all the western fighters in Ukietown are a serious escalation: https://www.rt.com/news/608401-orban-ukraine-mercenaries/ (after all, we know that the specialists aren't really mercs)

That should be enough for one dose, heh.3

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 --

Submitted by QMS on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 12:40pm

call me slow on the uptake

@enhydra lutris
.
.
does this mean the west is losing another fruitless war?

Today is turkey jerky day (not Black Friday)
breakfast was dirty rice dressing with pooched eggs
and a side of brandied cranberry chutney
(about 15 minutes ago) washed down by a Belgian
blonde (not the wife). Leftover paradise it is.
Cheers!

OT and music. T-Day is a very mixed bag for me, I'm pretty negative about it overall, so I'll just side step the whole thing except to note that the "first thanksgiving" wad called by the "pilgrims" to give thanks for safely arriving at the shores of the land they intended to colonize, and most of the early subsequent ones were for one or another triumph in the conquest of said land and its inhabitants. Gnus - Sputnik has a buncha good stuff today; first - Syria: Syrian Army Eliminates Hundreds of Terrorists in Idlib and Aleppo, Including Foreign Mercenaries https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/syrian-army-eliminates-hundreds-of-ter... that article, in passing makes note of al qaeda/al nusra and like that, setting the stage for: Terrorist Offensive in Aleppo Reeks of US and Israeli Involvement - Expert https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/syrian-army-eliminates-hundreds-of-ter... Many await the other shoe dropping in Ukiestan, and, though this probably isn't that, still Russia Target Ukraine's Western Weapons in Response to Kiev's Strikes Deep Into Its Territory https://sputnikglobe.com/20241128/russia-target-ukraines-western-weapons... -- On November 25, a strike on the headquarters of the Ukrainian GUR Kraken unit in Kharkov eliminated up to 40 foreign specialists, mostly from the US. An Iskander strike in Odessa destroyed 72 soldiers from the combat teams managing uncrewed maritime drones, including nine French instructors and technical specialists. On November 25, Iskanders destroyed five ATACMS launchers, two MLRS launchers, three HIMARS MLRS launchers, and up to 30 soldiers from the launch systems' combat teams in the Sumy region. On November 25 and 26, Iskanders destroyed two launchers with experimental Grom-2 ballistic missiles, as well as a launcher of the Ukrainian Neptun anti-ship missile system, in the Odessa region. On November 28, a combined strike targeted Ukraine's defense-industrial facilities and energy infrastructure that supports them. and the Rus seem to be doing OK cleaning up the crap launched into the Kursk area: Russian Specialists Destroy 300 ATACMS Submunitions in Kursk Region in Past Day https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/russian-specialists-destroy-300-atacms... Meanwhile, RT quotes Orban as saying that all the western fighters in Ukietown are a serious escalation: https://www.rt.com/news/608401-orban-ukraine-mercenaries/ (after all, we know that the specialists aren't really mercs) That should be enough for one dose, heh.3 be well and have a good one

—

question everything

Submitted by JtC on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 5:04pm

The Imperium started...

@enhydra lutris
started as soon as the pilgrims set foot on North American soil, and still goes on to this day as illustrated by your links. We swept over North America, mostly, and now we're working on the rest of the world.

Have a good post turkey day, mi amigo, as good as we turkey day detractors can have, anyway.

OT and music. T-Day is a very mixed bag for me, I'm pretty negative about it overall, so I'll just side step the whole thing except to note that the "first thanksgiving" wad called by the "pilgrims" to give thanks for safely arriving at the shores of the land they intended to colonize, and most of the early subsequent ones were for one or another triumph in the conquest of said land and its inhabitants. Gnus - Sputnik has a buncha good stuff today; first - Syria: Syrian Army Eliminates Hundreds of Terrorists in Idlib and Aleppo, Including Foreign Mercenaries https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/syrian-army-eliminates-hundreds-of-ter... that article, in passing makes note of al qaeda/al nusra and like that, setting the stage for: Terrorist Offensive in Aleppo Reeks of US and Israeli Involvement - Expert https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/syrian-army-eliminates-hundreds-of-ter... Many await the other shoe dropping in Ukiestan, and, though this probably isn't that, still Russia Target Ukraine's Western Weapons in Response to Kiev's Strikes Deep Into Its Territory https://sputnikglobe.com/20241128/russia-target-ukraines-western-weapons... -- On November 25, a strike on the headquarters of the Ukrainian GUR Kraken unit in Kharkov eliminated up to 40 foreign specialists, mostly from the US. An Iskander strike in Odessa destroyed 72 soldiers from the combat teams managing uncrewed maritime drones, including nine French instructors and technical specialists. On November 25, Iskanders destroyed five ATACMS launchers, two MLRS launchers, three HIMARS MLRS launchers, and up to 30 soldiers from the launch systems' combat teams in the Sumy region. On November 25 and 26, Iskanders destroyed two launchers with experimental Grom-2 ballistic missiles, as well as a launcher of the Ukrainian Neptun anti-ship missile system, in the Odessa region. On November 28, a combined strike targeted Ukraine's defense-industrial facilities and energy infrastructure that supports them. and the Rus seem to be doing OK cleaning up the crap launched into the Kursk area: Russian Specialists Destroy 300 ATACMS Submunitions in Kursk Region in Past Day https://sputnikglobe.com/20241129/russian-specialists-destroy-300-atacms... Meanwhile, RT quotes Orban as saying that all the western fighters in Ukietown are a serious escalation: https://www.rt.com/news/608401-orban-ukraine-mercenaries/ (after all, we know that the specialists aren't really mercs) That should be enough for one dose, heh.3 be well and have a good one

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 12:59pm

Unbelievable…l

Shitlibs are cheering the hostilities in Syria? Why?

Because Assad is a butcher and an alley of Russia.

Also too

Assad is still in power partially because we lost so much credibility when Obama made a big Red Line threat and the didnt follow through.

This was after the first false flag chemical attack and Obama got bailed out from attacking Syria by Putin. Syria gave up all its chemical weapons. The false chemical attack during Trump’s time they complained that he only hit empty buildings and gave Russia a heads up. They wanted blood and they were upset when they didn’t get it.

We can thank that ***** Obama for killing the anti war movement.

Speaking of false flag events:

Are they planning a false flag event in London?

Yesterday, as I was finalizing my new report on Great Britain, an update to my August 26 article "The Coming Collapse of Britain," YouTube randomly suggested to me a short video by one Craig Houston titled, "Why are ALL LONDON webcams offline...?"

I was nearly floored: Mr. Houston looked through hundreds of Webcams across London and could not find a single one that was live. See for yourself here and here! That's extremely odd: clearly, someone made the decision to switch them all off - they couldn't all have failed randomly.

You won't hear it on the news but CCTV cameras in London have been off for the last 24 hours.

Strange eh? pic.twitter.com/bqRtmxoSUg

— JeniusConcept (@ConceptJenius) November 27, 2024

With Biden giving Ukraine permission to use ATACMS even after Putin’s warning I can see them being desperate enough to do it.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 1:14pm

Groan…

@snoopydawg

Curious, why would an Israeli source like the JP follow the pro-Assad practice of referring to any and all anti-Assad forces as "terrorists"?

For those who prefer video

Submitted by on the cusp on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 5:31pm

Thanks for the video.

@snoopydawg The dark webcams in London does seem ominous, since the MSM is so mum about it.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by JtC on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 5:07pm

The only logical explanation is...

@snoopydawg
they are fucking insane.

Submitted by mimi on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 1:15pm

So, if I were a cosmic cow-girl. would it help to make you feel

less lonely?

Manno, I feel like shit. Depressed so to speak. No person around who knows anything about the US in my direct neighborhood. Just sickly people and evil-doers who use their power to split families apart. I hate them.

I need a mood lifter.

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by on the cusp on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 4:46pm

hey, mimi!

@mimi People in the US do not often have an understanding of what exactly the US truly is, so I share your feeling down about that.
I will start checking euro news in the future, just to see what their propaganda sounds like.
Cheer up, we are all in this together, chica!

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by JtC on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 5:17pm

Yes...

@mimi
Yes:

So, if I were a cosmic cow-girl. would it help to make you feel less lonely?

Splitting families and people in general is how they maintain control. As long as folks are fighting with each other it keeps folks from going after them. It's a story old as time.

As I've said for years: "The struggle is not horizontal, it is vertical." It's a class struggle.

Don't let the them get you down, mimi. That's exactly how they want you to feel.

Submitted by mimi on Thu, 12/05/2024 - 2:26pm

Thanks for your words- it helps me to keep going and have some

@JtC
faith.

—

https://www.euronews.com/live

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 1:19pm

Fun(ny) article in RT

Merkel blows a hole in Washington’s Nord Stream narrative

https://www.rt.com/news/608402-merkel-us-nord-stream-narrative/

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 --

Submitted by on the cusp on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 4:27pm

WTF

@enhydra lutris did Germany gain from the pipeline blow up? Did Germany redefine "allies" and "enemies"?
Germans on the upcoming cold winter nights might help their government gain a better grasp of the terms.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by usefewersyllables on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 4:43pm

Some US oligarch

@on the cusp

from Miami is apparently going to by=uy the Nordstream pipeline out of bankruptcy, at least if Zerohedge is to be believed. So, it's business as usual, with money changing hands all around...

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/why-might-us-let-american-investo...

—

Twice bitten, permanently shy.

Submitted by JtC on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 5:19pm

Good to see you...

@usefewersyllables
back in action, my friend.

Submitted by on the cusp on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 5:34pm

Let's see what Russia

@usefewersyllables has to say about it.
Interesting development.

—

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Submitted by dystopian on Fri, 11/29/2024 - 10:38pm

Hi JtC,

Well there is nothing like ruminating amongst a bunch of ruminants, not to mention while consuming some!! It is kinda the ruminant trifecta.

Folks, for those that don't know the Austin semi-offical motto seen on bumper stickers is "Keep it Weird".

Thanks for the OT JtC!

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

Submitted by JtC on Sat, 11/30/2024 - 10:38am