Saturday Open Thread - 1/18/25: Odds and Ends
Several years ago, we went to Port Arthur to see the Janis Joplin exhibit in the Gulf Coast Museum.
They had a great shop with all kinds of tee shirts, souvenirs,and a big selection of books. I bought a book entitled, "The Texas Hysterical Society"authored by the head of the society, James E. Gaskin. I never seem to have time to read books anymore, but have delved into it for maybe 2 chapters.
Some quotes and factoids I wish to share:
"I do not fight downhill" --Sam Houston, #1 Honorary Texan [first Texas President] Said by six foot plus tall Sam when challenged to a duel by five foot one inch David Burnet.
*Sam is buried 30 miles away. He signed a treaty with the Natives 1 mile away. Monument is on private property. I played his wife's piano in his museum in his museum in Huntsville, Texas.
"If I am in a suit, somebody better be in a casket."---The Old Cowboy
"There are no traffic jams on the extra mile." --Roger Staubach, Dallas Cowboys quarterback, whom I met in Houston in a restaurant.
"The California crunch (energy fu) really is the result of not enough power-generating plants and then not enough power to power the power of generating plants. --- George W. Bush, Honorary Texan.
Willie Nelson got a special shout out for Red Headed Stranger kicking off Outlaw Country Music, my favorite country genre.
41 seconds of who knew?:
Sadly, a man wants help in a divorce his wife filed pro se. They were both black Christian ministers, live on 20 acres, good jobs, great 12 yr old son, and her Mom died. She got meds for depression. And more meds. And different drs. at the same time, apparently not on a medical sharing portal. And the meds didn't blend, and she went psychotic. Hospital saved her, but she left it a completely different person. She wants to move to Ca., doesn't want custody of her son, not only quit the church, marriage, and Christianity, she now hates white people, so court should be interesting. She is now a Jew, Jesus was fraudulently inserted into the Bible, and on and on. Facebook group, perhaps. Suggests to me she wants into some cult. She will never be the same due to meds clashing. While she is lucky to be alive, nobody knows who she is. Not even her brother.
Be sure to check ALL side effects of ANY medicine you take, especially how they may interact with some other meds.
This is an open thread, and comments can and should be about what you want to share with all of us who are here, open to ideas and discussion.
Texas State Flower is the Bluebonnet. The Texas State Food is chili. Try it, people! Great meal for cold weather!
Let 'er rip!
Comments
Good morning, good people!
I am preparing for cold this week. Like ice and snow we are not infrastructure (or life experience) in government prepared for, so I expect lots of crazy in these parts. Car crashes galore! Woohoo!
Hope any and all of you in this arctic thingie are prepared.
Your turn, folks!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Hola, otc, et. al. Thanks for the OT, otc. Hysterical
indeed. The fact that GWB was able to rise to prominence is a cause for hilarity, sadness and shame. He was not, like Biden, in cognitive decline but simply cognitively deficient. The reason nobody suspecyed him of tryng to provide cover for Enron's criminality is the certainty that he was not remotely capable of comprehending it, or much else.
Down in the thirties here again and still dry. We, of late, get these fits of torrential deluge for just long enough to seem like forever preceded and followed by long spells of dry cold (California cold, that is). Will be glad to get away for a bit.
Celebrated yesterday's infusion with a large serving of alfredo at a slightly upscale Italian place last evening and regretted it all night - can't eat like I used to.
Gnus- courtesy of Sputnik:
and Russia's response?
https://sputnikglobe.com/20250118/russia-warns-against-uk-ukraine-claims...
Heh
Meanwhile, Yellen is proposing to reneg on and violate the US' contracts with all existing and retired civil service employees, the kind of shit that the Dems constantly accuse the GOP of contemplating:
https://www.rt.com/news/611142-us-treasury-debt-ceiling/
And so it goes, as they say.
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 --
Good afternoon, el!
That Alfredo kicked your ass, huh? Are you finding yourself lactose intolerant? It can happen out of nowhere, so I hear.
George, a/k/a Shrub, was a dumb ass. Still is. No telling who was running things in his tenure. Likely Cheney.
How is an agreement with Zelenski of any force or effect? He is not a constitutionally elected president. That issue looms large in negotiation for an end to the conflict.
Yellen, a black mailer? Man, I am shocked! s/ Of course, she has no problem holding working people's earned benefits. Wall Streeters are hungry and want more! They will get it, one way or another.
I had a tour of Colonial Mexico when COVID caused all tours to be cancelled. One of these days I might take a cruise. The ships depart from Galveston, which is very close. But what happens next, 2 days of sailing without pause, is discouraging. Lots of opportunity for sea sickness right off the tour bat.
I wish we were somewhere, anywhere, and could avoid being in the freeze next week.
Well, friend, I know you are all excited about the inauguration, amirite? Lol!
Have a fun weekend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Excited in that I fear that exposure to it or
summaries or critiques, commentaries or "analyses" will be unavoidable, thrust upon me by barrom "news media" or patrons, restaurant patrons and the like. I'm already strting to grit my teeth.
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 --
I am on an email list of hard core Democrats.
They were attaching a NYT hit piece on Trump, and how dignified and honest Michelle Obama is for refusing to go. And also Pelosi, that paragon of integrity, will stay away.
Reading their emails was like reading Dailykos.
TDS looms large.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Yellen should be fired. Her job is to do everything in her
power to manage the nation's finances in such manner as to avoid ever defaulting on any payments which are legally due and payable. If there is any risk that such an event is immanent, she must immediately stop expenditures which the country is under no obligation to make. Thin incl\udes payments which are not to a legally binding agreement, such as any an all payments to the Ukies. In addition, the armed services should be ordered to immediately stop purchasing any fuel. He have no obligation to endlessly fly and sail in circles, so ground our airplanes and do not refuel them. Get all of our ships to the nearest us port and anchor them out. Park all of our infantry vehicles.
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 --
Yellen serves a different master,
....and not the master who wrote the rules. As long as she doesn't personally receive any of the money, she won't be held accountable.
Yellen's competence, however, briefly went beyond being a financial tool of the Neocon-run US government. Almost overnight, Yellen became an internationally recognized geopolitical twit. Yellen descended on China with a personal camera crew (gawd only knew why) for a routine meeting. She exhibited the same odd tone-deafness that Nancy Pelosi displayed when she travelled to Taiwan (gawd only knew what for) — that's when I first noticed a significant change in China's formal diplomacy with the US. Yellen was sent to China with a surprise message. During her public statement in China, she suddenly blurted out a demand and a warning to the Chinese officials in attendance. Raising her voice, Yellen told them they were not to supply Russia with any military parts or weapons; they were not to help Russia financially or in any other way. All of this caught on film by Yellen's crew and widely distributed throughout the world.
Everything about that encounter was wrong. It was a fool's errand; a psy-op. An unremarkable US banker, whose real job is pushing Treasuries to foreign central banks, arrives in China looking like Mrs. Santa Claus. She makes a brief statement and then delivers US orders of a military nature to China. Orders that must be obeyed. Yellen had no established authority to discuss or negotiate military matters with China. As for China, its neutrality is a matter of national principle, and it has been established and documented for a very long time. China wrote the rules of neutrality and non interference in the UN charter, and was the first nation in the world to sign that charter. The US has no authority or influence here, one way of the other. The Yellen encounter was basically a photo-op, purportedly showing that China takes orders from the US. China had no reaction or response; in fact, China dropped its decades-long dialogue with the US for a significant stretch of time.
I remember she traveled there
but didn't recall she was being used like a diplomat or geopolitical agent.
She needs to take a bow, then bow out.
Hope your weekend is a good one and that you are unaffected by the arctic blast, chica!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
That's way too practical.
The MIC can't thrive if we stop military spending. And think of Musk.
Yellin has her priorities, and the list does not include anything regarding the 99%ers except to punish and deprive us of necessities of life.
Call me sexist. I say she is a bitch.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
That woman's story
Reminds me of a woman my daughter knew. She was a real sweetheart of a person, had a complete unexplained personality change. Husband divorced her, teen kids disowned her. Some time later she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. But she lived only a couple of weeks after.
I think that woman needs to see appropriate MDs for some tests, just to be sure nothing else going on.
I agree the woman needs a thorough
exam. Nobody has any influence on her. She has no friends and disowned her family. It would take some mental health warrant to take her into a hospital against her will.
Her big psychotic episode happened 9 months ago. The only cooperation she accepts with her doctors is to get psychotropic meds.
Hope you are doing great, chica! And staying warm!
We have a storm coming Sunday night, bringing snow, sleet, ice, rain, likely for 4 days over the next 7. I expect power outages and lots of car wrecks. I may have to close the office for a few days. Oh, well, the soil gets rejuvenated by the freeze, so there's that!
Have a great weekend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Sounds so much like the woman
my daughter knew, who was also active in her church. She needs an MRI on her brain. Black people often get poor medical care. And women don't always get best medical care. The combination in Texas... if you have any influence at all with her, getting this done might save her life. Blaming it on after effects of medication sounds like a lazy diagnosis unless the doctors really looked for another explanation. I'm not a Dr. but this just sounds way too much like our friend's story.
Good luck in the frigid weather. We are cold too, but maybe not as cold as what is coming in your area. Keep warm and stay off the roads until it warms up again.
I agree that
women tend to get a quicker diagnosis and their hormones and periods get a lot of blame. I have had that happen to me a couple of times
The woman overdosed on Xanax and another mood altering drug that is never, ever supposed to be taken together with Xanax. It causes exactly what happened to her. A really bad drug mix.
Her husband has good insurance, and she was hospitalized for 2 weeks. She was still acting crazy at release, so the drs. recommended she stay in a mental hospital for at least 6 weeks.
I would be surprised if she hadn't had a scan to at least rule out some mini stroke or blood clot. I will suggest this to my client.
So glad you are missing this Artic freeze coming my way.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Max and Aaron on the Blinken takedown
“You too, Matt. You smirked your way through a genocide.” - Max
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
What gets me is how the rest of the press
just sat there and watched as the gestapo goons dragged Sam out of the room. The guy next to him did look a little embarrassed, but the guy in the back didn’t even look at Sam as he was dragged out.
Shame on everyone of them who didn’t get up and walk out.
The person who was next called on should have asked what Sam had asked. Or at least said that this didn’t look like free press in America. Or done something.
And then we see the CNN asswipes kissing up to power. Shame on them too.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
The video lags a bit in the middle
but the 2nd half is really worth watching. They show Biden in 1986 saying that if Israel didn’t exist we’d have to create it. Why? Because Israel is our dawg and we use it to accomplish the goals that we can’t do such as running guns to the Contras and helping to keep South Africa’s apartheid in place.
I think this puts to rest whether Israel is the dawg or the tail. AIPAC uses its power to keep congress members in line to support the agendas. This includes governments at all levels. It’s why so many states have anti BDS legislation.
Condolesa Rice talked about the Middle East birth pains during Bush. The reason why Syria needed regime change is because it was helping the anti resistance forces in the region. It’s why Biden supported Israel’s attacks on Lebanon.
Don’t miss the ending.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
I am setting up my laptop
to watch the video right now.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
It was a really good video.
Thanks for putting it in the comment thread, chica.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
The press didn't give a damn
about Assange, so more of the same silence and compliance is to be expected.
Shame on them. Free press? What's that? How quaint.
So, correctly identifying a person as an Israel lobbyist is anti-Semetic?
I am sure you have seen the proposed bill coming for debate in NY that makes it a crime to damage any poster, flag, or public display that is pro-Israel. No other country was afforded in this "protection". Pretty soon, the way things are going, we will call for a new official definition of genocide which excludes Israel as a perpetrator.
Have some fun today with my client!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
I posted a video on last night
Glenn covered the bill.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
By golly,
that's where I learned of the bill!
I was preaching to the choir! Lol!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
I was born in Dallas almost 72 years ago
and I moved away for good 25 years ago.
Texas looks great in your rear-view mirror.
My favorite Texas story demonstrating the mindset there:
I was a sophomore in high school when I got my first job working at a shoe store after school and on Saturdays. I got paid by commission -- I can't recall the exact percentage but it was an overt inducement to push the extras: handbags, hosiery and shoe polish. A boss told me that the extras were how they evaluated us sales clerks. I learned how to blush and seem nervous about selling hosiery and handbags -- the ladies ate it up.
I was the youngest employee of the store -- the other two sales clerks were college age young adults who liked to show the young kid how the world really works. One Saturday, a bigger boss from "corporate" spent the day at our store -- to tighten up the ship. He had me wash the windows, then he told thw other guy working that day and me to go to the back of the store to run inventory.
Coming from a union family, I was already pissed off about washing the windows for free and I let my elder statesman co-worker know that running inventory for free was against the law.
The young man chuckled, and in a voice dripping with condescension said, "You'll learn. Haw haw haw. You'll learn."
About 35 years later, the internet came along and made it plausible to apply for jobs thousands of miles away -- and I escaped the land of Boss Worship.
I cried when I wrote this song. Sue me if I play too long.
I hate Dallas!
No wonder you are glad to have escaped!
To me, that city doesn't really fit in with the rest of the state.
My shabby treatment with a shitty boss happened while I was working on my Master's degree.
I was a receptionist. I answered phones, made appointments, gave information. A manager would come by for an hour every few weeks. I didn't mind using my car to pick them up at the airport. I drew the line at making and serving the bastards coffee. I made it clear that was not in my job description.
I was fired.
To be a proper boss, being a prick is necessary.
Thank the Spaghetti Thing that I am my own boss!
Enjoy your environs this weekend and or all days to come. Don't have flashbacks when you wash your windows, friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Greenwald interviews Sam Husseini
.
He describes what happened after he was dragged out of the room.
I can’t get over how Blinken kept saying over and over to “I’ll answer questions later thank you.” Notice his dead eyes while Sam is dragged out.
Hey karma…are you busy?
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
This is not a surprise as Netenyahoo is already reneging on
details of the ceasefire agreement.
The ceasefire is a farce
If Israel was going to uphold it all of it would be done at once. This is just a ploy to get the hostages back and then Israel will restart the war. Bibi has admitted that numerous times.
Watch this space.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
Meanwhile Yemen is monitoring how the implimentation
of the ceasefire evolves.
Israel might learn
what a cease fire really is, with the Houthis educating them.
Good catch, humphrey!
As always, thanks, friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Agreed.
Once the hostages are returned, the gloves will come off.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
The space has been occupied
I’ve heard this from other sources too so I’m betting that it’s true. Besides
Bibi has said all along that even if the hostages are released he’s still going to wipe out Hamas.
Trump isn’t going to do a thing to stop Israel in the West Bank either.
Jarad is working on building homes in Gaza.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
Trump is more of the same
except he may get the CBDCs done quicker.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Little by little the truth is seeing the light of day.
Good afternoon...
Wet today and cold for the rest of the week. Covers have to go back over the winter bed tomorrow.
Too bad we poison our own folks for big pharma big med profit. It is what it is.
Thanks for the OT!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
It will freeze here
tonight. I dread the upcoming week.
I have been reading about the harms of psychiatry. A friend is doing her internships and getting her medical license in a few months. She was astonished by her time in a psychiatric clinic. There is no counseling, no therapies, except medicines. She said it was nothing but pill pushing, no real concern about anyone's health.
Every psyche med has a serious and often deadly side effect. The idea of chemical imbalance has been revealed as a mere supposition, and after decades of treating it with meds, it is finally being debunked. Seems every school shooting was done by kids or adults on ssris.
Pills are magic. Black magic.
Take good care of your Holler, dear friend.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Yoon supporters break in, vandalize court house
...they attacked police, threatened the judges life, etc.
In this video, there are close ups on the break in, smashing, and at 4:19 a sign in English "CCP OUT."
I've heard reports that behavior at the right wing assemblies gave rise to a suspicion that white helmets, christian fundy followers of Jeon Gwang-hoon, and taeguki paramilitary types were being paid for their participation in demonstrations. In one video it looked like a First Sergeant was taking muster after the "troops" arrived. In another video today, I saw a social media entry by Jeon, pastor of the "Best Love" Church, that promised each participant a 50,000 won payment for showing up, for "expenses." That's about 30 dollars. There were a lot of younger people in the riot breaking up the courthouse.
윤 대통령이 19일 새벽 서울구치소에 수감되면서 수용복으로 갈아입고 수용자번호 달고 얼굴 사진 찍는 머그샷 촬영을 하게 된다
The president was sent back to jail yesterday. Today in the very early hours of the morning, his confinement while the criminal investigation into his insurrection proceeds, was upheld by the Western District Court, for 20 days. At jail, Yoon had to take off the white shirt and suit, and don jail attire after a search, then get a mug shot. He will be confined in his own cell, but will be subject to jail regs, eat jail food etc. The judges main foundation for confinement appeared to be risk of destruction of evidence. Confinement is authorized for 20 days.
Thanks for open thread OTC. I remember Dallas from truck driving days. The truck stops there were among the nastiest in the nation. I always made a point of getting as far out of town after a delivery as possible. I do know the Killeen area well, and liked to go to San Antonio to get away when I could.
語必忠信 行必正直
I had an aunt and uncle
who lived in Killeen and my family visited a few times. I can't remember much about it.
I used to attend operas in Dallas. I'd get season tickets.
The motels were not that great. Restaurants were pricey.
The opera goers were the ultimate snobs. I would see women walking around in their evening gowns, dragging their mink stoles on the carpet. Such a pretend "royalty"! After all, if it got messed up in an accidental champagne spill, they could easily replace it.
We do our best to avoid driving through Dallas. Too much traffic, too many toll roads.
Yoon's backers do not seem to be earnestly backing him. It seems pretty staged, crisis actors, etc...
Glad he will get at least a 20 day taste of prison and the associated food!
Thanks for the latest SK news, friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Yes, it does seem staged
And it is. It is so carefully dressed up as a US operation, meaning CIA, while all the public official US statements were ever so politically correct, talking about democracy, the rule of law, and constitutional process. Yet, while it looks like some CIA op, the rumor mill actually has it as primarily a Japanese covert operation. Super conservative foundations (NGOs) in South Korea are supported by Japanese funding. Yoon, his wife, and the insurrection plotters (the defense minister and inner circle of generals) appear to have ties to these foundations. At this point, however, it's all speculation. The pro-Japanese underbelly of South Korean elites rarely sees the light of day, because the political response against pro-Japanese elements is so strong. The administration of justice and media is designed to protect these elites from the impact of popular democracy and any daylight.
Once, a few years back, far right South Korean demonstrators in Seoul tried demonstrating with Japanese flags, and it was so unpopular I've never seen anyone try it again.
(Source- 알리미 황희두 08.15) A Japanese flag in Seoul at the August 15, 2020, right wing demonstrations against "leftist dictator Moon Jae-in."
But the big concern about South Korea today, especially for Japan and the US, is the possible loss of military cooperation with Japan, and particularly agreements meant to facilitate the presence of Japanese Self Defense Forces in South Korea in time of war. This was the big "diplomatic achievement" of the Yoon administration, facilitated by his deception while campaigning as a pro-independence movement patriot, and subsequently, his actual total subservience to Japanese interests. The so called "new relationship" between South Korea and Japan may be lost when and if Yoon is out. Therefore, the emergence of a bogus Yoon defense strategy- Chinese interference in South Korean elections and internal politics. "Stop the steal" and "CCP OUT." This is typical, always accuse the other side with what they are actually doing themselves. Notice the similarity of the the mob violence in Seoul today, by right wing thugs, and the Hong Kong demonstrations. It's all smoke and mirrors.
語必忠信 行必正直
Say what? No beans in chili???
I just learned last year from a work comrade in Austin that real (Texas) chili does not have beans. What the hell was I thinking for the last 6 decades? Right before I was looking at cooking video from a NYTimes official cook making chili and at last minute decided to put in beans. Did not realize the snotty Eastern liberal he really was.
On the medication front, had a close relative who was diagnosed as being bipolar. She started taking lithium. It worked. Made her stable. But also a totally different person. Best I can describe is that she became like a version of the Stepford Wives. She stopped taking the lithium. I believe she stopped because she did not want to be the lithium created personality. She wanted herself back. After that she managed to control/work around her problem for over 30 years until she died last year. Her last years I believe she was in depression, but she had no problem with it as she was authentically herself if that makes sense.
It makes sense
Lithium and other mental drugs cause people to feel like they are numb and things along those lines. And it’s the biggest reason why people stop taking them.
I was going through some intense problems with my jaw and teeth with much pain and I was prescribed pain meds that threw me into a mania and given lithium. The way it made me feel was worse than the jaw and teeth pain. Actually no, but I couldn’t handle the side effects.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
Interesting discussion about
Trump and Israel. Col Wilkerson was especially clear and concise. (30 minutes)
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Watch this space too
According to Aaron this plan was cooked up during Bush the lesser and it’s why they planned on taking out 7 counties in the Middle East. I can’t recommend watching the 2nd half of their video enough.
Why would Trump appoint all the super Zionists if he didn’t plan to let Israel further off the leash? Because Israel has never been on the leash. It’s our attack dawg and it does our dirty work for us.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
You might enjoy this article on Zion
.
since you’re going there. It talks about less traveled hikes in Zion.
https://www.sfgate.com/travel/article/skip-angels-landing-in-zion-170738...
Also see the article on the most dangerous trails. No way in hell I’m taking any of them.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
The TikTok ban might have unintended consequences.
Somewhat related.