Saturday Open Thread 3/15/25: Odds and Ends
Good morning, good people!
Good: COP30 is meeting in Brazil to address climate change.
Bad: 10s of thousands of acres of the Amazon are being cut down to build a road built especially for for the officials.
I have been fortunate to travel in the Amazon several times. Lots of wildlife then. Indigenous tribes. I distinctly remember numerous cities in Brazil that are world tourist destinations that can easily accommodate billionaires without cutting down a single tree.
Good: Ground chuck beef, high in fat content, has been replaced on store shelves everywhere I have shopped this past year by ground beef with an 80% to 20% ratio of lean to fat. 4 states, iirc.
Bad: Ground beef is becoming very expensive. Surprise!
Good: Languages are adding new words and expression to keep pace with modern times. We oldsters need to keep up so we can communicate with the kids.
Bad: Old words and expressions have undergone remarkable changes in definitions. Protesting is defined as terrorism. Saying that Israel is committing genocide is defined as anti-Semitic. Genocide only happens to Jews. We shall see what the new definition of Anti-Christian is when we start raising hell about HTS butchering Christians in Syria. That may require a different word/definition. HTS is Our Guy, after all, and must be exempt from criticism.
Good: Winter has passed, spring has sprung.
Bad: Fucking pollen.
Good: 4 court hearings in one day all get settled or moved off docket by agreement.
Bad: A former probate judge, now a probate attorney, and I appeared for our 4th adversarial hearing in a very complicated estate. We each accomplished what our clients desired. However, she has worn the same dress for all 4 appearances, whether in summer or winter. I will assume she washes the thing as needed. I will also assume she has at least one other dress, given her hourly rate, and assume she is unaware of the impression she makes in public. The court clerks are having a field day with this. I am thinking Asperger's Syndrome.
Good: I didn't board a plane this week.
Bad: I won't risk flying. Pretty much ends my goal of seeing those last 25 countries on my Wish List. Must make time to find places in the US I haven't seen before. Dammit!!!
Good: Schumer made sure we don't go into gummint shutdown.
Bad: Young poor and old poor starve or die from treatable health conditions, cut in SS benes.
Oh, well, surprise---not.
Good: An old movie we watched last weekend, a clip below:
Bad: There are no Elvis Pressleys since. FWIW, my late husband met him in a bar with live music back in the 70s. They had a nice chat, Elvis was alone, said the music was awesome.
Good: we get to see the Jfk. Epstein, Seth Rich files.
Bad: We haven't seen said files. And will not.
Comments
Beware the Ides of March
Good morning folks.
You know the story. Julius Caesar was assassinated
around now in 44 BCE. Shakespeare wrote a story
about the sordid affair in one of his tragedies.
“Rome had for the couple of centuries up to the life of Caesar had been a Republic, and it had a Senate, and it had some things that sound a bit like modern American democracy, but it was basically an oligarchy, a powerful elite of inherited senators sort of dominated Roman political life. But it was unstable."
https://www.witf.org/2025/03/14/beware-the-ides-of-march/
History seems to rhyme with time.
Ah well. Thanks for the OT and enjoy the weekend!
Thought is the wind, knowledge the sail, and mankind the vessel.
-- August Hare
Good morning, Cap'n!
Et tu, Brute? Politics then, politics now.
At least Roman Senators put on a good show of trying to save the Republic (for themselves, of course}.
BTW, do you remember the last time we didn't have the big dust up about a spending bill right up until the moment of capitulation and passing the damn thing? At least Schumer got a headline with calling out his besties "bastards".
Sail on, my friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Yeah, the game for awhile now
.
has been to wait until the 11th hour
to avoid a shut-down with the budget
so a bunch of pet riders get slipped-in
sheesh
Thought is the wind, knowledge the sail, and mankind the vessel.
-- August Hare
Good morning...
The bad storms tracked north of us this AM, but we're due another round this pm and night.
Good and bad to see everywhere as you note.
Spring has sprung indeed. I love the flush of blooms this time of year. Of course it signals, not just pollen, but the coming mowing season. Enjoy the view through the woods while you can. Soon it will be a wall of green. The green man arrives soon.
Well, hope everyone has a good weekend! Thanks for the OT!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
We have been watching the radar,
wondering if this storm will hit the holler, friend. Maybe it will miss you. We hope.
Dear One was out mowing last week. Some client walked in to speak to me yesterday, asked if I needed him to come mow the office lawn. I suppose he just isn't into wildflowers.
I have seen Green Men in art works, never read a word about what I was observing. I appreciate the article.
We only have 3 or 4 weeks of spring, sometimes even less. That's long enough to gunk up everyone's sinuses.
I look forward to hearing from you tomorrow and letting us all know you are ok.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
First thing I thought of
with that Green Man motif was Pan, God of the forest and garden, shepherds, and flocks, ruler of the Wood Nymphs.
Also involved with fertility and ancient music.
Have been busy trapping squirrels in my back yard garden where they dig up any thing I plant. I take them down to the Columbia waterfront where the rich bitches live and spring 'em. Ten so far have new living arrangements.
Pan would probably frown on me.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Pan’s cameo appearance in chapter 7 of “The Wind in the Willows”
https://threestonefarm.com/chapters/the-piper-at-the-gates-of-dawn/
Nothing like living on a fixed income
in the 21st century.
Keeping an eagle eyeball on my bank accounts regarding SS and Medicare. I've always been frugal, now just going into hyper mode. Glad I'm an old fart with no kids. The worsening international climate change crisis really makes the dimwitted human greedball antics a moot point. Appreciate the diary. Rec'd!!
Inner and Outer Space: the Final Frontiers.
Good morning, friend!
The reason I keep working is the fear of fixed income. And now, tariffs.
Suppose a piece of Canadian lumber costs $25, and that same piece from East Texas costs $10. Does anyone believe the saw mills in Texas will keep their prices down?
Remember when it was common for kids to take their parents in to care for them? Now, kids never become financially able to leave home. And the world's richest man says Social Security is a Ponzi scheme and should be disappeared. Oh, and Medicare is bad to the bone, amirite?
Well, fwiw, most working people are living pay check to paycheck, so transitioning to the fixed income of SS is just more of the same. It is rarely enough to live comfortably without worry.
Well, let us know if you run across anything good today!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Howdy y'all
Hi OtC,
Thanks for the OT.
I can barely see so can't stay long but thought some might like this: Made my morning...
"The Pope needs to fix the church!" ROFLMAO.
https://x.com/TulsiGabbardrep/status/1900680065970528502?ref_src=twsrc%5...
Have an appointment with a laser to do one eye the 24th. Three months of delays due to what I would call equipment failures and poor communication on THEIR end. Getting this far has been a shit-show.
Fortunately our fearless leader uses a large font of open airy sort so I can still read here with a magnifying glass, unlike many other sites I can't read now.
Our hamburger here is so outstanding, it was like going 50 years back in time to the local butcher store when I was a kid. Always only from one cow, and amazingly great. Of course since deer season we have received a bunch of venison. Had some venison sausage this week on noodles with red sauce and mysdys suggested I try to get the Parmessan ON the plate. Saving the butterfly backstrap AXIS until I can see and grill it. Axis Deer is the best meat in the world. We used to have big herds of them here but since price went up to $600 for a doe when sold to a game ranch for a citiot to pay thousands to shoot, they have all been trapped.
Everyone have a great weekend!
happy trails all,
We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein
Hey, friend!
Tell mysdys to turn the ceiling fan off before handing you the Parmesan shaker.That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
We sold our herd of cattle around 1968, so until I was 16, my family had never shopped for beef at a store. It took some time to adjust. It is wonderful you have good beef available.
I never developed a taste for venison. If we head toward a major depression, I will be learning new recipes, eating venison, eating pork from the herds of wild hogs roaming everywhere.
Dysto, the pre-op and post-op scheduled appointments were a royal pain, but the laser surgery itself was entirely pain free. What the drs. never tell you is that scarring will develop, and you will have subsequent surgery to suck out the scar tissue. All pain is in the ass, not the eyes.
I will be happy when you can see to read and see all the magnificent birds around you.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
venison
Hi OtC,
Here for most, the only part of a deer they eat straight, as a whole cut, is the backstrap. Which is nothing like the rest of the deer. Think Filet mignon. The rest is made into sausage, which is made either with beef or pork fat, or both. Pork fat rules. That has no gamey taste whatsoever. The beef fat only a very slight bit. Then it is mostly used as one would ground round. Eaten in chili, or over noodles or rice in red sauce, cajun type or tomatoe. In either case any gamey is drowned out. But I do think there is a curve acquiring the taste for it. There was a guy here that had a big Ben Franklin going all winter in the shop and always had his porkfat venison sausage on, big 4" patties, may well be the best sausage I ever had. Town misses him...
Thanks for the tip on post-op pleasures to look forward to!
happy trails!
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
I am surrounded by deer, deer hunters,
and guys who make sausage, and do believe they, too, prefer pork fat.
The problem: If a deer is shot while in fear, it is full of adrenaline. If it is dropped while at a feeder, calm and unaware of danger, the wild taste is not overwhelming. Even back strap needs to soak overnight in milk before it is cooked, usually in a smoker.
Taste buds change every 7 yrs. One day, I will bite into venison and really enjoy it.
Not sure if you have a ready supply of ophthalmologists. I am an hour from downtown Houston Medical center. Lots of choice. I went with Mann Eye Clinic, since he is the one who first came up with laser technique. Both Dear One and I were very satisfied. I get a little jittery, drank the valium, he didn't need it.
hey, you might be sexy wearing an eye patch! Mysdys might think it is cool as shit!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Mornin' OTC
I could add to your good/bad list but it makes my blood pressure yoyo.
Besides you did a good job on it.
Rain here for the foreseeable future. Flood watches everywhere.
2' to 3' of added snowpack in the mountains will give us a nice summer with plenty of water.
Thanks for the OT.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Good afternoon, e1!
I thought this might amuse you.
I just received an email from the county Democratic Party chairman. I can't say if this is his personal brain contortion, or if it is an official party line, but it goes like this: Schumer just saved the party by changing his vote on the spending bill. DOGE will destroy essential agencies, destroy the economy, cause Wall Street to collapse, and then the Democrats will win both the House and Senate in the mid-terms!
So, the Demwits must willingly destroy our country so they can take over and MAGA!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Tesla and Musk
Interesting video.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Tesla sucks.
The company apparently had lots of problems before Elon became so despised.
He is doing something strange in the Austin area. He owns a subdivision near the factory, and only Tesla employees can live there.
Reminiscent of the company store business model.
Trap a squirrel or two, take it to a mansion, let some millionaire deal with them.
It's the little things, ain't it friend?
Thanks for the video.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
These scenes in Seoul Saturday raised my spirits
During the day at Gwanghwamun. This is such a rich historical occurrence, the common people gather outside the palace walls with their grievances, it's seems as if out of a movie:
Last night the procession of protestors on Jongno. They take up the entire boulevard. Love the festive atmosphere the anti-Yoon protestors have:
I noticed a lot of women in the pro-impeachment crowds, which was also heartening, because scare stories about women being molested by drunk trade unionists (trade unions are usually a substantial portion of these anti-Yoon demos) have been circulated on social media by right wing youtubers to frighten women away from the movement. It's nice to see the scare tactics aren't working.
It's such a wonderful contrast to the menacing thugs on the right threatening police, government workers, and passers by near government buildings of institutions they are trying to intimidate. I understand from hearsay that in Seoul the anti-Yoon demonstrators far outnumber the Pastor Jeon crowd that was sequestered not too far away. I think the polls show 59 - 39 pro/against impeachment. If Yoon's impeachment is ordered, but not obeyed, there could be bloodshed most likely around the president's official residence in Hannamdong. If impeachment is not approved and Yoon is restored to office, a dictatorship of some kind or martial law could be forthcoming. I heard one analyst credibly describing the prospect of a civil war.
I'm not quite over my symptoms yet. The bathroom counter is covered with all the medications I've been taking, it's hard to keep track. The latest ones were most effective, doxycycline, and a prednisone drug. Also Albuterol. Before that I was in a nosedive. Coughing so much I couldn't sleep The ARNP warned me that these upper respiratory infections going around can last for months. I'd been basically flat on my back for two weeks. It's not over till its over.
Ms. So hasn't been well either. She's freaking now because there's a snake on the back patio.
I just loved that aviation safety professional saying "I don't worry about flying at all, it's safer than driving your car." This after the engine fire at Denver international. Ms. So who is quite the world traveler said, "I don't want to know."
I guess Julius Caesar has timeless appeal because betrayal is a universal human theme. Kind of like Judas in the passion of Christ story. I think it is anyway. You haven't lived unless you've been betrayed by your bestie.
Anyways, thanks for the Odds and Ends, OTC. I hope things go well for all of us.
語必忠信 行必正直
Sounds like a nasty bug
Had something similar a few years back.
Couldn't lay down without plugging-up.
Finally kicked it with a regular dosage of
Guaifenesin 600 mg. (OTC pills) with blasts
of Dextromethorphan (OTC liquid)
Took a few weeks.
Good luck.
Thought is the wind, knowledge the sail, and mankind the vessel.
-- August Hare
Yes
Guaifenesin. I'll have to rely on that, the current drug regimen I'm on expires tomorrow.
語必忠信 行必正直
Good afternoon, friend!
The protests are heartening, aren't they? I just have a concern that the CIA may get in the last word on this situation. They get around.
My secretary has been very ill with pneumonia. She got a Z-pack, some breathing treatment, and a steroid shot, and is finally getting back to normal. She has never had a respiratory illness of this magnitude. Something strange is going around, fer shure.
Uh, go get the snake out of the patio. Husbands are designated snake snatchers, iirc. Hopefully, it is non-poisonous!
As one who has been bitten, I suggest you be very, very careful!
Get well!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Good afternoon otc. Nada mucho happening here at the
moment. Spent the day so far catching up on a ton of miscellaneous stuff and paperwork.
A while back I put a bird camera in the backyard which we also use to alert and record humans out there, especially at night. For grins I included "pets". So far that's three different nocturnal cats, a skunk who is a regular night time visitor and, early this morning, a raccoon. We figure that to be good news as they'll keep down an assortment of pests and clean up some of the fallen oranges.
Meanwhile some of the eurodunces have declared the Rus' response to the zelinsklown's cease fire proposal "unsatisfactory" as if the proposal wasn't complete con and it ws any of their damn business anyway. What a world.
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 --
Well, el,
I am setting a record for not doing a damn thing today. I will wash up the dishes, but that's it for chores.
I was intending to watch a body cam video in one of my criminal cases. I am trying to understand why the plea offer is extremely harsh. The password to the evidence portal didn't work, so I won't work, either. It can wait until Monday.
I have been thinking about getting a security camera for the office. 2 weeks ago, the only homeless person in the community broke into a building right behind my office.
The camera would be busy filming squirrels.
Good that the raccoons serve a good purpose, friend. They are way more often than not a royal pain. They have taken a wrong turn, are lost in the path "forward". The coalition of the willing ready to go to war with Russia must be collectively insane. They want The Black Sea. Wish in one hand...
Enjoy your weekend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
My dad’s friend always told us dumb polish jokes
Did you hear about the Polish man who stayed up all night studying for his urine test?
The Washington Generals should probably sue the Democrats for copyright infringement.
Funny that
we can still can get away with telling a Polish joke.
I have been reading articles from time to time about Ashkenazi Jews from Europe. They are absolutely not Semitic.
The short video was interesting, chica! All it takes to fake a heritage is to fake your name. Simple as that.
Meanwhile, I hope the Ukie soldiers surrounded in Kursk will lay their weapons down, surrender, and live to see another day.
What's my client up to, chica? Who is entertaining whom at your house?
Make her a nice dinner!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
The Man of Peace strikes again
.
https://www.rt.com/news/614278-trump-launches-military-action-yemen/
And he’s threatening Iran. All the peace is killing me.
Hey MAGA…when are you gonna call him out on this? He’s bombing Yemen for Israel. He’s bombing Syria and bragging that he just killed a top ISIS terrorist while doing nothing to stop the genocide of the Alwaites by the terrorists we’ve put in charge.
The Washington Generals should probably sue the Democrats for copyright infringement.
We are officially
Israel's proxy fighters, US navy personnel sworn to defend the US by becoming a military target of Israels' enemies so the IDF doesn't have to be at risk
Trump being a liar isn't the surprise. It is his MAGA voters. That said, I am seeing some voter regret at their grassroots level.
The only US elected officials that do not lie are Massie and Paul. A short list.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
More lying
One of Putin’s terms is that Ukraine isn’t re-armed during the ceasefire so what is Trump doing? Sending Ukraine more long range missiles that can kill Russian civilians and a ton of other stuff.
https://southfront.press/carrots-and-sticks-flow-of-us-weapons-to-ukrain...
Trump begged Putin not to kill the Ukraine Nazis that have been torturing and killing civilians in Kursk. I’m betting that he asked that because there are a lot of Americans in Kursk helping the Nazis to kill people. Dumbest ceasefire I’ve ever heard of. Trump is walking around like he’s the biggest bully on the block, but he’s carrying a little stick. Oh yeah and he’s killing or letting a lot of civilians get killed.
Better than Biden? 6 vs a half dozen. But it doesn’t seem like much has changed since Biden left. The weapons are still flowing. People are still getting killed.
And Netanyahu is still doing whatever the hell he wants to. Killed more Gazans. More Lebanese. More Syrians. And telling Trump to cancel more of our rights. Yay!
The Washington Generals should probably sue the Democrats for copyright infringement.
A total shit show,
ain't it? Trump will spout off that the weapons to Ukraine were Biden's deal, but Trump seems to use EOs to stop whatever he wants. I just wonder how many Americans are in the Kursk area.
And, protesting is terrorism, unless it is the J6ers. Trump hasn't granted them a wholesale pardon. Why?
Well, no politician would ever inspire me to go to federal prison.
Federal prisons should be filled to capacity with politicians!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Trump doesn’t need to include Zelensky
in the ceasefire talks. That makes it look like it’s Ukraine standing up to the Russian invaders when it’s us who is using Ukraine as cannon fodder. In fact Trump recently admitted that he got the war started when he started arming Ukraine to kill Russians.
He is as responsible for the war as Obama was when he regime changed Ukraines president.
And for gawd’s sake will someone put them out of our misery? Canceling our rights isn’t enough?
Jewish leaders call for new editions of the Bible and the Koran to carry trigger warnings highlighting anti-Semitic passages
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6421233/Jewish-leaders-call-rel...
Was there a reason why Jews were persecuted thousands of years ago and before gawd the real estate agent gave them Palestine? Eventually the tide is going to turn against them again and they will be out of friends who let them get away with what they are doing now.
Gotta wonder how many more businesses have gone bankrupt in the last few months. Last I heard it was over 69,000.
The Washington Generals should probably sue the Democrats for copyright infringement.
Ukraine does not have a legitimate
president. That is why dealing with him about rare earth minerals, for example, is a joke. The contracts or treaties, have no authorized Ukrainian to sign those deals. They are unenforceable.
He should not be included in talks between Trump and Putin. That Trump is negotiating for an end to the war sufficiently proves it is his (our) war fought by proxy.
If we keep re-writing that Bible, we will eventually get it right, I suppose.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981