OT WE 12 FEB 25 ~ Full moon

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 6:36am

Something like poetry

For lack of anything pertinent, will offer this jumble of words percolating out of the
cranial cavity yesterday. FWIW, some constrictions may apply in your state.

It has been said, when a conch shell is placed against the ear
the sounds of the sea may be detected. How does this work?
Within my mind's ear, there exists no need for a shell.
Waves lap with every beat of my heart. Permanently etched
with the rhythm of waves. A lifetime afloat engenders the
oceans' embrace. Shorelines fade like a dream upon awakening.

Picture of an imagined Dead Sea scroll.
Open thread so do your thing.

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Comments

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 7:18am

Hey, good morning!

What are you finding today?

Ran across a piece saying Disney is ditching
their disastrous DEI policies, blaming trumpet.
(The recent civil rights suit may have more to do with it).

It may be a bit late to salvage the damaged brand.

https://www.rt.com/pop-culture/612547-disney-ditching-woke-policies/

—

question everything

Submitted by Lookout on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 8:36am

Good morning...

A chilly rain falling here. Tonight is the full snow moon. Seems appropriate since it is snowing across much of the nation. Just rain here...5-6" predicted over the week. We can use it since we're still in drought across much of Alabama. Unusual for this time of year, but the winter rains are finally kicking into gear.
Screenshot 2025-02-12 at 08-33-11 Alabama U.S. Drought Monitor.png
Hope all is well in your world. Thanks for the OT!

—

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 9:04am

Just treated to a nature show

@Lookout
.

A good sized flock of wild turkeys strutted by
outside my office window in the snow. Some of the
big ones stopped to listen to the music playing inside.

Good luck with the rains.

Howling at the moon.

—

question everything

Submitted by usefewersyllables on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 11:06am

-1degF this morning,

with about a half-inch of snow. Lots of Texas, Georgia, and California license plates in the ditches on my way to work. And a nice flock of walking-around honks were standing in the parking lot here (of course, since my office is near an airport), discussing the weather. Business as usual in the late winter...

The post-cloture 30-hour blatherfest should end sometime today, I think, so perhaps we'll see what happens with the Gabbard nomination.

On edit: her confirmation vote is underway now, and is currently 33-16, entirely along party lines as expected.

And on edit-edit: the final vote was 52-48, with both independents and one repub voting "no". Thus, Lt.Col. Gabbard now becomes DNI.

—

Twice bitten, permanently shy.

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 11:15am

Good for Tulsi

@usefewersyllables
.
Hopefully good for us.
She had to dance a bit to get in.
But now that she is there, watch out!
More blob exposure. He he

—

question everything

Submitted by snoopydawg on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 12:29pm

Aaron took Bernie to task for voting against

@usefewersyllables

Tulsi after she quit the DNC because HerHeinous was cheating and she supported him. What a doosh!
I was actually shocked to see that Bernie was the biggest receiver of big pharma money. Shame on what Bernie has become.

It’s appalling that Tulsi accused Palestinian supporters of being pro Hamas and was taking money from Iran after years of her being accused of being a Russian puppet. Shame on her.

Let’s see if she returns to her principles after being confirmed. Your choice, Tulsi. Puppet or not a puppet of the deep state?

—

Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by Socialprogressive on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 1:15pm

That Bernie big pharma $ statistic

@snoopydawg
is misleading. Due Dissidence did a segment about it the other day.

—

I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 10:43am

I enjoy it when the judge discusses the constitution

He talks with Hanh who he worked with at Fox about the things Trump is doing and what or how the constitution is there to stop or support him.

—

Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 10:52am

Also too

@snoopydawg

Hakeem Jeffries says Democrats have no power. He's lying. If Democrats wanted to, today, they could hold a press conference and say that they will filibuster every single piece of legislation that goes through Congress until Donald Trump tells DOGE to stop what it's doing.… pic.twitter.com/FaS8UFftOz

— Prof Zenkus (@anthonyzenkus) February 10, 2025

Hakeem Jeffries says Democrats have no power. He's lying. If Democrats wanted to, today, they could hold a press conference and say that they will filibuster every single piece of legislation that goes through Congress until Donald Trump tells DOGE to stop what it's doing.
Republicans only have a 3 seat majority in the Senate, not enough to break a fulibuster. So if Dems were really serious about being an opposition party, they would vow to stop Trump's legislative agenda IN ITS TRACKS. But they won't.

They won't because they have no backbone and because there are enough Demicrats who AGREE with Trump's agenda. Over 40 Democrats in the House voted for the Laken Riley Act. 12 Democrats in the Senate voted for it.

Time and time again, Democrats prove that they are not a real opposition party to the Republicans and Donald Trump's agenda. But the opportunity to fundraise off Trump's worst abuses is never missed.

Won't you please send $3?????

Shitlibs report that they are still getting emails from democrats asking for money. They too want democrats to do something.

Shitlibs are also asking where the protesters are now that Trump wants to cleanse Gaza. I saw absolutely no one being against the crackdown on the college students protesting Biden’s genocide. I saw many of them making excuses for why Biden couldn’t tell Netanyahu to stop killing and destroying Gaza. They are fcking ghouls.

—

Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 11:06am

Not ready to post yet, so here's some entertainment

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 enhydra lutris on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 11:27am

Video URL is https://youtu.be/l8FyOhjX8Yc n/t

@enhydra lutris

—

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 humphrey on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 11:17am

I have no idea as to how it will impact the Deep State?

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5140620-senate-confirms-tulsi-gabbar...

The Senate voted largely along party lines Wednesday to confirm Tulsi Gabbard to serve as the director of national intelligence, the nation’s top intelligence official, despite strong objections from Democrats and initial misgivings from Republicans who questioned her experience and judgment.

The 52-48 vote caps two months of deliberations in the Senate over whether Gabbard, a former House Democrat from Hawaii, is qualified to lead the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies and prepare President Trump’s daily intelligence brief.

Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was the only GOP “no” vote.

Submitted by QMS on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 11:22am

guess old Mitch is watching his influence wane

@humphrey
.
.
can't vote against his donors

—

question everything

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 11:31am

We have 18 "intel" agencies. The noise to signal ratios

@humphrey of them vary from an estimated 99% to a wag that at least one might come in as low as 50%, so she will have her work cut out for her trying to find some actual "intel" buried in the morass of bullshit.

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 humphrey on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 11:31am

For some reason this brought chuckle to my warped sense

sense of humor.

The movie is to be released this weekend.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 11:34am

Got a very hearty LOL out of me.

@humphrey

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 Wed, 02/12/2025 - 12:16pm

Good one, humphrey!

@humphrey n/t

—

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

Submitted by humphrey on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 11:51am

Another example of how the MSM attempts to distort the facts in

order to mold the readers perception.

BREAKING: Convicted Russian criminal Alexander Vinnik is being freed in the swap that released American Marc Fogel, U.S. officials confirm. https://t.co/Jvr21hGHuH

— The Associated Press (@AP) February 12, 2025

From the link the truth is eventually included. Also it brings some additional possible good news.

MOSCOW (AP) — President Donald Trump said he and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed during a phone call Wednesday to begin “negotiations” on ending the Ukraine war and would “work together, very closely” toward winding down the conflict.

“We each talked about the strengths of our respective Nations, and the great benefit that we will someday have in working together,” Trump said in a social media post disclosing details about a call that followed a prisoner swap between the two nations. “But first, as we both agreed, we want to stop the millions of deaths taking place in the War with Russia/Ukraine.

The Republican president said the leaders also “agreed to have our respective teams start negotiations immediately” and would be alerting Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy about their conversation.

White House officials declined to clarify whether Ukraine would be a party to the U.S. negotiations with Russia.

The call came on the heels of a prisoner swap in which Russia released "American schoolteacher Marc Fogel, of Pennsylvania, after more than three years of detention on drug charges." Alexander Vinnik, a convicted Russian criminal, is being freed as part of the swap that saw Moscow’s release of Fogel, according to people familiar with the deal who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss nonpublic details.

Submitted by enhydra lutris on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 2:17pm

I saw one article that asserted that Fogel was busted on

@humphrey

minor medical marijuana charges. Heh. The Federal Government does not recognize that medical marijuana is a thing, all pot is illegal under fed law. Meanwhile, Vinnik, the Rus was busted for running a crypto-currency exchange, and though some declare that it received proceeds of illegal activities and allowed criminals to "launder those funds, which may or may not be true, but, in the end, it was simply a currency exchange.

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 Linda Wood on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 12:15pm

Hegseth at Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Brussels

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2025/02/ukraine-there-is-nothing-to-trade-...

Sputnik covering Pete Hegseth’s comments:

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The United States holds the view that Ukraine's NATO membership is not a feasible outcome of any potential negotiation with Russia, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday.

"The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement," Hegseth said during a Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting.

Returning to Ukraine's Pre-2014 Borders Unrealistic Objective

The idea of returning to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is unrealistic and pursuing this goal will only cause more suffering, Hegseth said.

"We want, like you, a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine, but we must start by recognizing that returning to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective. Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering," Hegseth said.

Security Guarantees for Ukraine Must Be Backed by European, Non-European Troops

Any future security assurances for Ukraine need to be supported by capable European and non-European forces, which should be deployed under a non-NATO mission and not fall under the purview of Article Five, Pete Hegseth said.

"Any security guarantee must be backed by capable European and non-European troops. If these troops are deployed as peacekeepers to Ukraine at any point, they should be deployed as part of a non-NATO mission, and they should not be covered under Article Five," Hegseth said.

Hegseth highlighted that these security assurances will not entail the deployment of US forces to Ukraine.

US Prioritizing Deterring War With China in Pacific

The United States is making its priority deterring war with China in the Pacific, US Secretary of Defense Hegseth said.

"We also face a peer competitor in the Communist Chinese with the capability and intent to threaten our homeland and core national interests in the Indo-Pacific. The US is prioritizing deterring war with China in the Pacific," Hegseth said.

US Won't Tolerate Imbalanced Relationship With Allies Based on Dependency

The United States under the Trump administration will no longer tolerate an imbalanced relationship with allies that is based on dependency, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said.

"The United States will no longer tolerate an imbalanced relationship which encourages dependency. Rather, our relationship will prioritize empowering Europe to own responsibility for its own security," Hegseth said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250212/pentagon-chief-casts-doubt-on-ukraines...
Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Feb 12 2025 17:03 utc | 341

Submitted by Linda Wood on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 12:45pm

Full text of Hegseth speech

@Linda Wood

https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/4064113/opening-rem...

SPEECH
Opening Remarks by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at Ukraine Defense Contact Group (As Delivered)
Feb. 12, 2025
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth
Brussels, Belgium…

https://www.moonofalabama.org/2025/02/ukraine-there-is-nothing-to-trade-... Sputnik covering Pete Hegseth’s comments: WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – The United States holds the view that Ukraine's NATO membership is not a feasible outcome of any potential negotiation with Russia, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday. "The United States does not believe that NATO membership for Ukraine is a realistic outcome of a negotiated settlement," Hegseth said during a Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting. Returning to Ukraine's Pre-2014 Borders Unrealistic Objective The idea of returning to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is unrealistic and pursuing this goal will only cause more suffering, Hegseth said. "We want, like you, a sovereign and prosperous Ukraine, but we must start by recognizing that returning to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders is an unrealistic objective. Chasing this illusionary goal will only prolong the war and cause more suffering," Hegseth said. Security Guarantees for Ukraine Must Be Backed by European, Non-European Troops Any future security assurances for Ukraine need to be supported by capable European and non-European forces, which should be deployed under a non-NATO mission and not fall under the purview of Article Five, Pete Hegseth said. "Any security guarantee must be backed by capable European and non-European troops. If these troops are deployed as peacekeepers to Ukraine at any point, they should be deployed as part of a non-NATO mission, and they should not be covered under Article Five," Hegseth said. Hegseth highlighted that these security assurances will not entail the deployment of US forces to Ukraine. US Prioritizing Deterring War With China in Pacific The United States is making its priority deterring war with China in the Pacific, US Secretary of Defense Hegseth said. "We also face a peer competitor in the Communist Chinese with the capability and intent to threaten our homeland and core national interests in the Indo-Pacific. The US is prioritizing deterring war with China in the Pacific," Hegseth said. US Won't Tolerate Imbalanced Relationship With Allies Based on Dependency The United States under the Trump administration will no longer tolerate an imbalanced relationship with allies that is based on dependency, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said. "The United States will no longer tolerate an imbalanced relationship which encourages dependency. Rather, our relationship will prioritize empowering Europe to own responsibility for its own security," Hegseth said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20250212/pentagon-chief-casts-doubt-on-ukraines... Posted by: Jeremy Rhymings-Lang | Feb 12 2025 17:03 utc | 341

Submitted by on the cusp on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 12:40pm

Good afternoon, Cap'n!

Waxing poetic today, eh?
I looked at the label on a pasta sauce in my pantry. On the label, it proudly displayed a claim that it is made with REAL INGREDIENTS.
Preservatives are real ingredients.
We are constantly bamboozled!
Thanks for the OT, dear friend!

—

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

Submitted by humphrey on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 12:59pm

WOW! Things are happening at warp speed!

A few headlines!

Putin invited Trump to Moscow to discuss Ukraine, Kremlin ...

USA Today
https://www.usatoday.com › news › politics › 2025/02/12
32 minutes ago — "The Russian president invited the U.S. president to visit Moscow and expressed his readiness to receive American officials in Russia in those ...

Trump Says Call With Putin Is Beginning of Ukraine Peace ...

The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com › U.S. › Politics
58 minutes ago — He said that the two men agreed to hold a personal meeting and that Mr. Putin invited Mr. Trump to visit Moscow. He also said that in the call, ...

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin discuss ending Ukraine ...

Australian Broadcasting Corporation
https://www.abc.net.au › news › donald-trump-vladimir...
2 hours ago — Vladimir Putin invited Donald Trump to Moscow and discussed negotiating an end to the war in Ukraine during a Wednesday phone call likely to ...

Putin, Trump agree to arrange in-person meeting in phone ...

Interfax
https://interfax.com › newsroom › top-stories
50 minutes ago — "The Russian president invited the U.S. president to visit Moscow and expressed a willingness to receive American officials in Russia to address ...

Trump says he spoke to Putin about ending the war in ...

NBC News
https://www.nbcnews.com › politics › white-house › tru...
36 minutes ago — Putin invited Trump to visit Moscow, Peskov said, "and expressed readiness to receive American officials in Russia regarding areas of mutual ...
Missing: top ‎| Show results with: top

Submitted by humphrey on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 1:08pm

Supporters of Ukraine are having a sad! LOL

@humphrey

here we go https://t.co/NT0j18HiDB pic.twitter.com/umCf8eaP5a

— -- GEROMAN -- time will tell - -- (@GeromanAT) February 12, 2025

Submitted by snoopydawg on Wed, 02/12/2025 - 1:18pm

HuffPoo

@humphrey

I remember the days when HuffPoo was anti war, but that ship sailed away during Obama’s presidency when he not only continued the Bush wars, but started 7 more of his own.

—

Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.