Saturday Open Thread - 4/19/25: Odds and Ends
Good morning, good people!
I finally get an actual weekday off Friday, and spent it doing laundry, scrubbing a bathroom, cleaning the kitchen, grocery shopping, and enjoying the lovely view of my back pasture. We discovered we are providing a home for a pregnant doe. A little Bambi is coming soon.
So, 2 of my lawyer pals finished up their court hearings, came to the office to just plot, plan, talk shop. etc...
Well, I had just been hired to respond to a demand letter based on the nuttiest personal injury lawsuit I had ever seen. Scenario: Old woman calls 4 neighbors to help her get her elderly and deathly ill husband off the floor and back into his bed. The neighbor that lifted him hurt his back doing so and has incurred medical bills, so he says.
This type of suit must be filed and citation issued to the defendant within a 2 year window, or the suit is barred. Statute of Limitations.
So, friends were seated, I stood, did a dramatic reading for them. With flourishes, such as hushed voice, loud voice, waiving arms, and air quotes.
The suit claims the old man lift happened March 11, 2023. The suit was filed March 11, 2025. Pregnant pause. Figured it out yet? The pal who is former military dramatically exclaimed, the two year mark was March 10, 2025, so the plaintiff's lawyer was a draft dodger! Laughter ensued!
Instead of such alleging he lifted the old man and in so doing hurt himself by injuring his back, and the homeowner or their insurance should pay the damages, the attorney went all Hemingway. "Plaintiff responded to the fallen man's tears and expressions of pure agony, and bravely and without hesitation, Plaintiff reached around the man, "bear hugged" him, clenched his hands under the fallen man's shoulder blades, AMAZINGLY stood him upright, and "dog walked" the man to his bed. Each step of relief of the elderly man was a step into back injury HELL for Plaintiff. Yet, it NEVER CROSSED HIS MIND (loud voice dramatic reading moment) to stop until the elderly man was in the bed, safe, and comfortable."
Drama is in court, not pleadings. An example of appropriate courtroom drama: (Just over 3 minutes from the movie, Animal House)
The movie clip of The Otter Defense went all the way to standing up for America. Which is the segue into my next Odd: patriotism. I lost the taste for waving flags and saying the Pledge of Allegiance in 1963, and my love for or pride in my country has declined incrementally every since. The promise of America and the reality of America are night/day apart. I seem to have more affinity and admiration for Texas than the Perfect Union. Still, I run across something that keeps giving me some hope, makes me realize it is not without certain positive aspects. We are, after all, the only country in the world that does not require a criminal defendant to testify and defend his/her self. We do not prove we are innocent. The State must prove we are guilty. The Government has the burden to prove guilt. We are blessed for this, although that doesn't apply to these secret military and some federal level court cases after 911, and fucking George Bush, with signing Biden's Patriot Act.
Do remember I shut down all popular music in favor of classical music for probably 15 years. I missed part of the 70s and 80s. Hell, some 90s. I just ignored everything except from the 30s thru 60s. In so doing, I missed a song probably all of you have heard. Waylon Jennings, "America". It kept popping up on my YouTube suggestions, so I figured I would at least give it a listen, even if country patriotic songs make me gag. Well, it brought me to tears. This was a shocker!
I guess I needed a reminder we are all brothers and sisters, coast to coast, I just didn't expect to be reminded of our commonality by an outlaw country singer.
Waylon had the best voice in the genre during his life. The song is just over 3 minutes, check out the incredible lyrics, which, btw, he did not write. He just brought them to life.
Throwing in one more really interesting video, 14 minutes or so, about others reacting to their first time to hear the song:
Please note: Jennings is in his classic cowboy attire, singing on the porch of a classic rural store. The first few seconds of the video show a person riding a horse in the vicinity in English saddle, English clothing, always associated with the upper class. Remember Jacquelyn Beauvoir Kennedy and little Caroline riding? Maybe that was a way of drilling home the point of the song.
Ok, this is an open thread, open to all topics, all news and such any and all of you wish to share.
Please, share!
Comments
Happy Saturday!
Get your shopping done today, since tomorrow most stores will close. At least in rural East Texas.
Well, friends, share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Let 'er rip!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Speaking of shopping....
EXACTLY, humphrey! HILARIOUS!
These tariffs are absolutely gonna streamline store shelves, and what is left will be priced like it is sprinkled with gold.
Trump says it will hurt for a little while. He failed to define either "hurt" or "little while".
I foresee venison on the tables around here. Not enough Game Wardens to keep hungry folks from poaching.
I have been saying it for a while, but non-perishables should be filling up pantries. Every appliance you need to replace should be replaced now. Air compressors, battery chargers, kitchen and bathroom appliances, etc...
Hunker down in the holler, as it were.
Keep us amused, friend!
Enjoy your weekend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Happy holy Saturday
Thought this was funny.
So it is the burden of the accused to prove innocence? Seems a bit lopsided.
Especially when the state assumes we are all guilty. Does the government break
the laws? Make them , break them, selectively enforce them. Convoluted mess.
Thanks for the OT!
Zionism is a social disease
That's pretty funny.
Also:
"Our Left is out to lunch" -- Richard Wolff
Good afternoon, cass!
Hicks was so great. He died too soon. Imagine what his skits today would sound like.
Biden, Trump, and Bibi were spared being buried in his ridicule.
Enjoy your holiday, friend.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Funny meme, Cap'n!
I hope your weekend is going great!
We are gonna grill steaks tonight, and cook a roast for the Big Event tomorrow.
According to the weather forecast, tomorrow is the first of a nine day drenching. I am just hoping I do not have any court hearings out of town. Driving will suck.
Ok, the cops are after everybody, they are scary, when they show up, everyone wants to try and explain the situation. But we have a constitutional right to remain silent. From arrest, all the way to the jury verdict. Defendants need not present any defense at all, because they are presumed innocent.
The State, therefore, has to present evidence against the presumably innocent person that shows they are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, the highest burden of proof on the books.. What is not codified is "reasonable doubt". Some doubt? A little doubt? A vague doubt? That niggling thought in the back of your mind? In other words, how much doubt might an individual juror consider is just reasonable enough to vote "guilty" with a clear conscience?
History is full of defendants talking their way into prison. A recent infamous case was the Olympian Oscar Pistorius making an ass of himself on the stand, mansplaining he mistook his girlfriend for an intruder and shot her in self-defense. It was televised around the world.
We are the only country on earth that holds the governments feet to the fire.
I intend to wash dishes, grip the firmly, despite my pain, scrub them, rinse them in hot water that hurts my skin and turns my hands red, but because Dear One requested me to, and would be in agony if he had to do it, I will proceed with courage, but make his ass PAY if my hands stay red too long.
Always great to "see" you, dear friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Good morning otc, thanks for the OT. I never heard that
Waylon song before, it's interesting. Samuel Johnson famously said that
, to which some wise denizen of the US said it in fact was not, it was the first refuge of a scoundrel. Meanwhile Mark Twain said words to the effect that patriotism was supporting your country all of the time and your government when it deserved it, which is, imho, a fairly apt view. Shaw (GBS), of course, may have the final word on the questionable rationality of the whole thing when he (allegedly) said
. Ok, enough of that. I was unpatriotic early, especially in the various mainstream senses, but came to have a bit of faith in the Constitution until I got to College and, among othere things, took a closer look at that document, its underpinnings and implications.
So, as you note, much will be closed mañana and today is Farmers' market here, plus we're running low on tortillas and linguine, and I still have no Eostre candy (dark chocolate bunnies and eggs) for the celebratory basket, so I must go get stuff. Sadly, one of our two local chocolatiers closed for good and the other is closed for renovations, so I must avail myself of Walgreens and CVS with their mass produced goods. If course, chocolate prices are due to skyrocket soon, so I may get some extra to grate onto and into things. OTOH large solid dark chocolate bars are also available, i think, direct from Ghirardelli which has a store adjacent to their factory but one town further west, so, perhaps I should hold off on stocking up until Monday or so.
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!
I liked GBS' definition. It is like I am resigned to live here, tolerate the present, conform to accepted norms for the most part, but love, respect, admiration of the country is missing. I have one duty to this place, and that is a duty to myself to stay out of federal prison by paying income taxes.
Shopping on Christian holidays is always a cluster f.... And always, always, that traditional food item you want is hard to find. Dear One shopped for a pot roast this morning, found exactly 1 in the bin. It will work.
I am not surprised one of your specialty food shops closed. Hopefully, CVS might have been visited by some European bunnies.
We were so distracted by the huge crowd at the store yesterday, we forgot a couple of essentials, plan to go back today. Lists are your friend. Planning the menus helps, and deciding what to cook after you shopped is not recommended. (Read this, Dear One.)
Enjoy your shopping and your holiday, dear friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Miranda rights
South Korea has Miranda rights, right to remain silent, right to counsel warning. The standard of proof at trial: the prosecution has the burden of providing proof of the accused's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at trial before the judge or jurors. Ostensibly, South Korean law provides for freedom of speech, but freedom of speech is limited by national security laws, and a government practice especially in conservative administrations by blacklisting broadcasters, journalists, actors, and other high profile media figures, executives, union leaders, etc., and subjecting them to politically motivated prosecutions. This was a hallmark of the Yoon administration but also occured in the Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye administrations. Prosecutorial powers were also abused during the liberal Roh Moo-hyun administration against his leading advisors and cabinet members.
I coincidentally this morning was listening to an outtake of an interview by a former legislator subject to persecution by several conservative administrations including recently the Yoon administration and an older law professor, former judge and government official describing the "interview process" included in passing the bar exam in South Korea, and how it discriminated against human rights activism and facilitated "careerism" by prosecutors and judges who are currently in power in South Korea. These people were not old enough to experience the excesses of the earlier administrations which included imprisonment for political acts, torture, and killings, with remains often detected decades later in unmarked graves. Yoon had something like this planned.
Yoon Seok-yeol's career as a prosecutor made a joke of the right to trial by jury. He and his "careerist" proteges in the prosecution system solicited perjured testimony and forged documents to incriminate personal enemies, witnesses, and political rivals. He also conducted illegal background investigations on judges, making them subject to coercion as well (imo). He was sanctioned for this in the last disciplinary hearing against him, before he quit and declared his candidacy for president. A number of fraudulent acquittals and convictions were obtained to either exculpate Yoon's mother in law and wife from suspected cases of fraud. More recently, the prosecution just nolle prossed or stone walled any investigation of corruption by Yoon's family. As this became more blatant, and was publicly a matter of daily discussion in alternative media, with Yoon's wife overtly interfering in party election processes, Yoon resorted to the attempted military coup.
I note parenthetically that Japan doesn't have Miranda rights and one can be jailed for protracted periods without trial on suspicion, which is used as an effort to coerce confessions and obtain convictions. In Korea, Miranda rights are very much real, but if one insists on one's rights, your family may be threatened with jail and prosecution for matters, that are either mischaracterized, exaggerated beyond recognition, or simply false and supported by fraud, forgery, and perjury, elicited by prosecutors. This is the
mendacitybanality of evil of "careerism" among prosecutors and judges. I've been following this trend in Korea for a few years.Carter is the one who let the "draft dodgers" come back home from Canada, and be pardoned in general. Good move. I liked the song America. I think it was written in 84. Maybe it's a little too DEI for today's climate? I don't have any problem with it at all. I think the tone and perspective is spot on.
語必忠信 行必正直
Good afternoon, soryang!
I mm shocked about SK's Mirandas and burden of proof, although it appears the Mirandas exist to be used at one's peril.
Are you remotely hopeful the upcoming elections can clear out some of the graft there? Or will it just be more of the same?
Where do citizens really get what they want and need from their government? Where is this Paradise?
I hope your home is shaping up to be put on the market, friend. Hassle is an understatement!
Thanks for your comment, and enjoy your weekend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
I'm very hopeful about the election
Lee Jae-mung is the favorite. On the conservative side there are a lot of candidates running, some within the PPP and a couple of independents on the right. I've seen some polling report say each one of the best of these candidates only polls 7 percent right now against Lee's 49 percent. But those seven percents will consolidate during the selection process. Some of these people are Yoon supporters, so they don't have a chance. Hong Joon-pyo from Daegu has an edge on the others, because he is a strong willed conservative of the old school, with a no nonsense frankness. I don't know how he voted on the impeachment, but he's always been critical of Yoon. I could see Han Dong-hun throwing in with Hong for a cabinet position. Lee Jun-seok, the younger conservative candidate with his own small party could throw his independent support to Hong. Ahn Chul-soo will throw in with someone if he isn't on top. Whoever shows momentum will take the top or the field will be destructively divided. I understand Oh Se-oon, the repeated elected mayor of Seoul has dropped out because it isn't looking good for conservatives.
Han Joon-pyo
I pray for Lee Jae-myungs safety. They say he's been getting death threats lately. There was already one serious attempt on his life last year. There was an organized social media campaign spreading lies about his son just yesterday saying he rammed other cars in traffic near Dodong Station, including a police car. Defamation like this against a candidate or their family members during an election campaign is a felony. The driver of the mercedes was a middle aged woman, no relation at all.
The house is going very slow. The floors, walls, doors, trim, closets, etc. are in. I need to have the cabinets finished, with some trim and plumbing work still needed. I'm having difficulty repairing some contractor caused damage. Hopefully I'll make some progress there soon. There are it seems a hundred little things that need to be done because of shoddy attention to detail, or contractor indifference which set me back. This is worse than last time. The grounds of the house are a wreck too, but the butterflies like it. It seems like there is a lifetime of junk and trash to throw away, and one contractor left their trash as well. Ms. So is reluctant to part with things...except she doesn't want to live here ever again.
It's been so dry here lately, Ms. So's flowers and plants are doing poorly under my care. I just wasted the entire passion fruit yield by picking it too early. I didn't know it has to change color first.
There are eight homes for sale in the immediate neighborhood, with hurricane season not far off, I doubt if i will be able to sell it in time. If this happens again, what to do?? The city says they're clearing out the canals, and deepening the storm retention ponds. I don't think that is going to be sufficient. They say they're checking the sewage pipes and drains for debris, damage and flow, but I haven't seen them unearth a sewer pipe anywhere in the city. I think it's just talk.
One of the young neighbors, very nice people, said to me yesterday, that I'll regret giving my house away if there isn't a storm for the next ten years. This young family couple just purchased their home maybe four months before the last flood. Now they put an enormous amount of money back into it, restoring it. They have to think that way. But they have the energy because they're young, he also grew up here and knows a lot of people in the area to help them. We got significant help from the young people in the church at the beginning, but we basically only know elderly people, some recently died or are in nursing homes now, and people we know moved away (some to S.Korea).
edit: Hoon Joon-pyo is an old school conservative; I mistakenly typed independent.
語必忠信 行必正直
I have been having issues
with contractors myself. They are having to return to repair their work, overcharging, delaying, and quoting me one price, charging me another. They tend to haul off trash if there isn't that much, leave it if it is a huge amount.
I would not live near water in Florida. Or Texas, Alabama, etc...that are at high probability of hurricanes. I hope you can get it repaired quickly and professionally, sell it at a fair price, move and make new friends elsewhere.
I have been hurricane-proofing my home by cutting down trees close to the house. There is no chance of flooding, and now no chance a tree falls onto the house.
Well, I hope that good man can win the election and will be able to stay safe.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Sam…
.
Last night I opened a new package of ear plugs and put the container on the coffee table for Sam to find. She was laying next to me in the computer room and suddenly jumped up and went snooping and found it.
I’m wondering what went through her head that made her decide to do that. Of course she was all excited about finding it and bringing it to me to put a treat in it.
To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.
- Kevin Alfred Strom
Good afternoon, snoopy!
My client is so smart, she would break the IQ for dawgs record.
Have we killed any Russians or Iranians today, or are we content to kill some Palestinians? I haven't actually had a chance to check out news headlines today.
Wanna bet the Russians get attacked tomorrow during their Christian holiday pause?
My 2 centavos say yes.
Speaking of records, look at his fish. One of the reasons I will not swim in that lake!
https://www.outdoorlife.com/fishing/record-gar-heaviest-freshwater-fish-...
Have some Sam fun this weekend, chica!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
The hubris and hypocrisy of HuffPoo
The western countries are selling weapons to Ukraine to kill Russians. No problem with that.
And who’s
givingselling weapons to Israel to kill woman and children?Ukraine at least has defensive weapons while Palestinians have none.
This shit burns my buttocks to no end!
To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.
- Kevin Alfred Strom
I just read that we killed
78 Yemeni civilians yesterday and destroyed some oil or gas facility. Now, according to Tulsi, we must do that to protect commerce, (murder for capitalism! That's the ticket!) although it is specifically to keep goods out off Israel. Has nothing to do with the rest of the world's ships.
Being an ardent Hindu Zionist is the newest cool thing'
Huffpoo is as propagandistic as DK.
You are pretty damn tough to be able to go to their web sites.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
We are bombing Yemen again
I think we are on day 32. They have shot down 2 reapers in 24 hours. Good for them.
Meanwhile Israel is deliberately targeting women and children. I so agree with this!
Yesterday Mike Hucklebee went to the Al Asqa mosque and to a wall to leave a message from Trump. He has no right to be there doing what he’s doing. Just as bad as Haley and Shapiro signing bombs that kill children. Great look, USA.
Israel bombed the Baptist hospital in Gaza and the world’s Christian leaders have stayed silent.
Yesterday Mike Hucklebee went to the Al Asqa mosque and to a wall to leave a message from Trump.
To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.
- Kevin Alfred Strom
Lexington and Concord 250th
Seems the Powers That Be, while not able to completely ignore the occasion would much prefer that any echoes of 'The Shot Heard Around the World' die away into silence - or anyway into the white noise of the media environment.
Somebody wrote an encomium to the freedom fighters of the Massachusetts militia and other Revolutionary War veterans for Trump - and celebrating their victory over tyranny.
But with emphasis on that being a thing of the past and such problems resolved.
Reality however, being that Trump is about as interested in people considering the degree of tyranny they are subject to *now* as the PRC leadership are in instilling revolutionary zeal in their population - which is to say actively *uninterested*. Ongoing tension always in that the things they have to appeal to to claim legitimacy are things they actually fear as threats to their continued rule.
Among a number of authors I've discovered or re-discovered recently is Gore Vidal. Do most of my reading on an ancient Kindle, but have quite a few physical books many of which are inherited from people moving away, leaving the country, etc. - typically keep one or two in the car in case of the Kindle being forgotten or anyway unavailable.
Had read Vidal's 'Julian' decades back and nothing further by him, but had inherited and never until last year gotten around to reading his '1876' about America at the centennial and the election for who would succeed US Grant. Loads of election and other corruption on at least a 2020 scale. Turns out that was a sequel to another couple works covering earlier periods 'Burr' and 'Lincoln' - Vidal in 2003 also published 'Inventing a Country' - nonfiction concentrating on John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, Alexander Hamilton - from pre-revolution to Jefferson's election.
Written at the time the Patriot Act and Iraq war were being pushed, Vidal draws some pretty disturbing parallels, especially the pro-war and authoritarian tendencies of the Adams Administration such as the Alien and Sedition Acts.
Fortunately, much of that was reversed under Jefferson and his immediate successors. Unfortunately for us, the oppressive and war mongering of Post-9/11 has not been reversed but expanded on.
Plug America's relations with Israel, Russia, Iran into Washington's Farewell Address, for instance and consider how disastrous the results have been from ignoring the warnings. (the address was mainly written by Hamilton and then somewhat modified by Washington)
“Both Hamilton and Washington are as one in their fear of the stratagems of foreign nations in their wars which so often tended to embroil America. Washington prefers his prose formulation to that of Hamilton who wrote, marginally, “It is very material that while we entertain proper impressions of particular cases of friendly or unfriendly conduction of different foreign nations towards us, we nevertheless avoid fixed and rooted antipathies against any, or passionate attachments for any, instead of these cultivating, as a general rule, just and amicable feelings towards all.”
Washington’s text was looser:
Nothing is more essential than that antipathies against particular nations and passionate attachments for others should be avoided and that instead of them we should cultivate just and amicable feelings towards all. That nation which indulges towards another an habitual hatred or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. . . . It is a slave to its animosity, or to its affection—either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and interest.”
Excerpt From: Gore Vidal. “Inventing a Nation.”
Unfortunately, Trump seems to be more in tune with the spirit of 1798 than 1775:
“The Alien Act empowered the president in wartime to seize, secure, or remove from the country all resident aliens who were citizens of the enemy nation. Since the main targets of the Federalist majority in Congress were the Republican Irish and English aliens, nothing much could be done about them unless we were actually at war.
James Lloyd, a Maryland senator, filled in the gaps with a treason and sedition bill. There would be a penalty of not more than $5,000 and imprisonment for not more than five years for any persons, aliens or citizens, who should undertake to oppose or defeat the operation of any law of the United States “or shall threaten any officer of the United States Government with any danger to his character, person or property, or attempt to procure any insurrection plot, or unlawful assembly or unlawful combination.” The Sedition Act was passed on July 14, Bastille Day. The senator... declared that anyone could be prosecuted for “printing, writing, or speaking in a scandalous or malicious way against the government of the United States, either House in Congress, or the President, with the purpose of “with the purpose of bringing them into contempt, stirring up sedition, or aiding and abetting a foreign nation in hostile designs against the United States.”
Excerpt From: Gore Vidal. “Inventing a Nation.”
The more things change...
I have some Vidal books on the shelf
and should re-read them in the context of what is going on right now while we pig out on chocolate eggs.
I see the occasional MAGA type saying they did not vote for this. You'd think the Real ID to get on a domestic flight in the US would cause them concern. What will they do when CBDCs come to dominate our every move, every purchase, and maximally controls us all day, every day? Will they understand it is a prison with invisible walls? And btw, will blue no matter who types understand Democrats think it is a super cool idea?
Interesting times, friend.
Enjoy your weekend and your insightful comment was so appreciated!
edit: correct spelling errors and make some complete sentences!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Likely the number of 'MAGA types'
questioning or outright opposing various elements of Trump admin policy is already more than what's immediately obvious - and tending to increase.
A distressing number are falling for the authoritarian narrative - equating Real ID as either no big deal or necessary to ensure election integrity (neither is true, elections could be secured by far less intrusive means, for example). Others are demanding more and faster expulsions of immigrants and willing to throw out due process, judicial review and free speech to get it done (not reflecting on what could happen to themselves should they get on the wrong side of a system lacking those).
But, on the more positive side, there are growing numbers who are rejecting attacks on civil liberties and on the extreme degree of influence by Zionists in dictating US foreign and domestic policy and a general rejection of US involvement in forever conflicts on behalf of Israel and the MIC...
There's considerable dissatisfaction with the limited disclosure of JFK and RFK assassination files, Epstein client list, Seth Rich and Anthony Weiner laptops, 9/11, etc. Which puts the administration in a tough spot since they'd promised candor but full disclosure would no doubt expose more Israeli involvement and threaten powerful domestic interests - unacceptable to Trump's handlers...
The degree of lockstep support for Israel and various other authoritarian crap by congressional R's (and all too many D's) is pretty disgusting, but there is growing dissatisfaction with it, too.
Saw a recent poll asking whether people sympathized more with Israel or Hamas. With Dems it was fairly evenly divided, Republicans much more supportive of Israel overall *but* 17 percent were more supportive of Hamas - not something AIPAC is likely to be happy with.
FWIW - the long delay in fully implementing Real ID has been largely due to Red state resistance.
Anyhow, thanks for the OP, Happy Easter!
Ron Paul (best president America never had) on Real ID - 2005
Happy Easter to you as well!
I actually watch Ron Paul's podcasts from time to time. The older I get, the more I understand him and appreciate him.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
These might help...
Those videos clearly show
the world is not in lockstep with Israel. Now I can broaden my searches.
Btw, that hoss looked like a young Friesian. I watched it twice so far. I am an admitted horse addict.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
These might help...
Hi Blue Republic
I wondered about something while reading your comment, this part in particular …
I wondered if the republicans that loyally support Israel are the fundamentalist religious ones. I remember when the seeds of what would become the Tea Party started to fester, and to influence the direction of the US government. The timing coincided with our first year living here in NZ, in 1996. We moved to NZ for very different reasons than political ones, but certain political realisations became more acutely apparent from a different country, and a different perspective. How would you personally interpret the poll results? Would it suggest that 80% of republicans are coming from a place of religious identity? Is there a Fundamentalist Christian equivalent to AIPAC that supports the same strategy? If so, what is their organisation called, and how influential are they?
A big one is John Hagee and CUFI (Christians United for Israel)
> Is there a Fundamentalist Christian equivalent to AIPAC that supports the same strategy? If so, what is their organisation called, and how influential are they?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christians_United_for_Israel
Thank you for the link lotlizard
It's a start toward informing me further. I am eternally astounded by how strong a role religion and bibles play in politics and international affairs.
Like Lotlizard says...
a *lot* of effort has gone into programming the American people in general, with special emphasis on Evangelical Christians - some of it extends back to the Jewish-backed Scofield Bible of the late 19th Century, Unfortunately, it's proved very effective until now. Control of the media narrative means many get no exposure to the reality of Israel's actions and true (they despise them) attitude toward Christians.
Zionists have worked systematically to create division within and between Christianity and Islam - Israel (and the US) have supported Jihadi extremists but promote the idea that forces resisting them are anti-Christian and genocidal even as they oppress and despise their own Christians and as the Resistance fights to protect them...
Lexington and Concord 250th
Seems the Powers That Be, while not able to completely ignore the occasion would much prefer that any echoes of 'The Shot Heard Around the World' die away into silence - or anyway into the white noise of the media environment.
Somebody wrote an encomium to the freedom fighters of the Massachusetts militia and other Revolutionary War veterans for Trump - and celebrating their victory over tyranny.
But with emphasis on that being a thing of the past and such problems resolved.
Reality however, being that Trump is about as interested in people considering the degree of tyranny they are subject to *now* as the PRC leadership are in instilling revolutionary zeal in their population - which is to say actively *uninterested*. Ongoing tension always in that the things they have to appeal to to claim legitimacy are things they actually fear as threats to their continued rule.
Among a number of authors I've discovered or re-discovered recently is Gore Vidal. Do most of my reading on an ancient Kindle, but have quite a few physical books many of which are inherited from people moving away, leaving the country, etc. - typically keep one or two in the car in case of the Kindle being forgotten or anyway unavailable.
Had read Vidal's 'Julian' decades back and nothing further by him, but had inherited and never until last year gotten around to reading his '1876' about America at the centennial and the election for who would succeed US Grant. Loads of election and other corruption on at least a 2020 scale. Turns out that was a sequel to another couple works covering earlier periods 'Burr' and 'Lincoln' - Vidal in 2003 also published 'Inventing a Country' - nonfiction concentrating on John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, Alexander Hamilton - from pre-revolution to Jefferson's election.
Written at the time the Patriot Act and Iraq war were being pushed, Vidal draws some pretty disturbing parallels, especially the pro-war and authoritarian tendencies of the Adams Administration such as the Alien and Sedition Acts.
Fortunately, much of that was reversed under Jefferson and his immediate successors. Unfortunately for us, the oppressive and war mongering of Post-9/11 has not been reversed but expanded on.
Plug America's relations with Israel, Russia, Iran into Washington's Farewell Address, for instance and consider how disastrous the results have been from ignoring the warnings. (the address was mainly written by Hamilton and then somewhat modified by Washington)
“Both Hamilton and Washington are as one in their fear of the stratagems of foreign nations in their wars which so often tended to embroil America. Washington prefers his prose formulation to that of Hamilton who wrote, marginally, “It is very material that while we entertain proper impressions of particular cases of friendly or unfriendly conduction of different foreign nations towards us, we nevertheless avoid fixed and rooted antipathies against any, or passionate attachments for any, instead of these cultivating, as a general rule, just and amicable feelings towards all.”
Washington’s text was looser:
Nothing is more essential than that antipathies against particular nations and passionate attachments for others should be avoided and that instead of them we should cultivate just and amicable feelings towards all. That nation which indulges towards another an habitual hatred or an habitual fondness, is in some degree a slave. . . . It is a slave to its animosity, or to its affection—either of which is sufficient to lead it astray from its duty and interest.”
Excerpt From: Gore Vidal. “Inventing a Nation.”
Unfortunately, Trump seems to be more in tune with the spirit of 1798 than 1775:
“The Alien Act empowered the president in wartime to seize, secure, or remove from the country all resident aliens who were citizens of the enemy nation. Since the main targets of the Federalist majority in Congress were the Republican Irish and English aliens, nothing much could be done about them unless we were actually at war.
James Lloyd, a Maryland senator, filled in the gaps with a treason and sedition bill. There would be a penalty of not more than $5,000 and imprisonment for not more than five years for any persons, aliens or citizens, who should undertake to oppose or defeat the operation of any law of the United States “or shall threaten any officer of the United States Government with any danger to his character, person or property, or attempt to procure any insurrection plot, or unlawful assembly or unlawful combination.” The Sedition Act was passed on July 14, Bastille Day. The senator... declared that anyone could be prosecuted for “printing, writing, or speaking in a scandalous or malicious way against the government of the United States, either House in Congress, or the President, with the purpose of “with the purpose of bringing them into contempt, stirring up sedition, or aiding and abetting a foreign nation in hostile designs against the United States.”
Excerpt From: Gore Vidal. “Inventing a Nation.”
The more things change...
In a new poll of Democrats,
we see a change is gonna come! /s
Harris, AOC, and Buttegieg lead the way!
Visionaries, one and all!
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/04/harris-aoc-buttigieg-lead-new-2...
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Some good news
Judge Rules Blanket Search of Cell Tower Data Unconstitutional
https://www.404media.co/judge-rules-blanket-search-of-cell-tower-data-un...
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 --
Courts are making weird rulings on this data grab.
This ruling was good, but giving the cops and prosecutors a pass on he specific case because the cops were ignorant is is almost saying yeah, the 4th Am. applies from now forward. Seems that the Am. has been around for quite a while, iirc.
The 4th Am. is so watered down, it has little protection value anymore. The invisible walls of surveillance and control are closing in, friend.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Hollowing out Fourth Amendment protections has been an ongoing
process in U.S. law for a lo-o-ong time. Here’s a commentary from 19 years ago:
https://circuit6.blogspot.com/2006/01/drug-exception-to-fourth-amendment...
Kucinch
A Haunting Read
To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.
- Kevin Alfred Strom
Very haunting, indeed.
I do not see coverage of billions of protesters around the globe. Maybe RT? I haven't seen it at Al Jazeera. I would appreciate anyone's suggestions of anti-genocide news coverage. I would love some hope.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
there ain't much, but did find this
Maldives bans Israelis from entering country, in protest against Gaza's 'ongoing genocide'
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/maldives-bans-israelis-entering-prote...
Zionism is a social disease
Well, that is hopeful.
I keep forgetting to check Middle Eastern Eye. Maybe countries that have a moral compass can start doing the same, and if they also include the enablers, the US, of course, I'd love to see that as well.
Well, seems we will be helping herd cattle on the loose again. A neighbor has no business owning cattle if he can't keep them inside his damn fence. They will be pushed into my dressage arena where we can water them until the cowboys come get them. We will water them, and they can graze, but I do not have any hay for them. Dinner may be delayed, or we go to Plan B meal. Oh, well...running over/into a cow can easily kill you.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
You’ll enjoy Patrick’s too
I’m thankful for the people who can express their thoughts that echo mine. Caitlin is very good at it and this by Patrick is top notch.
I’m sick and tired of….
As you said the court must find us guilty.
That’s why Trump’s sending Venezuelans to El Salvador is without due process is so dangerous. Even for Americans.
https://scheerpost.com/2025/04/18/kilmar-abrego-garcia-case-shows-consti...
Sotomyer wrote that Trump can send any person he wants to wherever and the chances of them being returned is very nil.
Jefferson was told not to move the Indians. He said that the court has made its decision now let’s see them enforce and the Trail of Tears is history.
To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.
- Kevin Alfred Strom
That wasn't Jefferson, it was Andy Jackson
Can we at least keep our criminal Presidents sorted out? (BTW the full responsibility for the Trail of Tears actually falls on Jackson's successor, Martin "yes man" Van Buren. The worst of it occurred on *his* watch and he could have stopped it - but chose to do nothing.)
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
Thanks
I’ll blame my memory.
To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.
- Kevin Alfred Strom
Both articles were
outstanding.
I encourage everyone to read them.
Thanks, chica
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
In Germany it is actually dangerous to speak out for Palestine
As a U.S. citizen in Germany who has not yet been granted dual citizenship, I could be prosecuted or even deported for saying the wrong thing. Even merely having opined on c99% may end up being my undoing, if the new E.U.-approved Stasi 2.0 is on its toes.
The lesson the Atlanticist elites have drawn from history appears to be that the proper way to atone for genocide in the past is to rubber-stamp genocide in the present, as long as it has a Star of David on it.
Yep Germany and other European countries
are cracking down on free speech bigly. The UK is trying to make Apple toe its free speech line that would affect almost every country. But now the UK is trying to pass an even more draconian bill that will basically shut it down for good.
https://www.spiked-online.com/2025/04/13/the-uks-free-speech-crisis-is-a...
This is pre crime on steroids. But they aren’t alone. Many countries cracked down on speech during Covid and now the Zionists are making many more countries crack down on speech critical of Israel. Biden started it and Trump is taking it even farther.
Troubled times my friends.
To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.
- Kevin Alfred Strom
Good afternoon, lotl
I wonder if my anti-genocide and anti-Zionism I have said on this site might bite me in the ass upon landing at Heathrow or Frankfurt airport. It isn't clear when the laws apply to wrong-think. Something you say after the laws take effect or will they apply to something you expressed online in the last 2 years?
I will obey any and all laws. My law license depends upon that.
Trump and his magical team of highly placed Zionists are intending to disregard citizenship in the future, for the purpose of vanishing anti-Semitism. If Germany follows suit, obtaining dual citizenship will give you no real security. In one fell swoop, dual German/Americans will be barred from entry into both countries.
Best of luck, friend, and I hope what I am doing is worst case scenario thinking that never, ever happens to us.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
The bitter joke is that Palestinians ARE Semites,
as defined by both language and ethnicity. But the settler-colonial Zionist Israelis have arrogated that term exclusively to themselves.
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
EXACTLY, TOM!
Calling Palestinians animals and sub-humans is the perfect example of anti-Semitism, but you and I who know that won't have much of an influence screaming truth while behind prison walls, ya know?
The deadliest actions taken in history were always based on ignorance and indoctrination. The internet and media was of no help in the former, only helpful in the latter.
I hope you are enjoying your holiday in whatever way you so choose, chica!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
The power of myth
The Pieta is a powerful work of art. It's depicts the story of the passion of Christ in a compelling aesthetic. I was fortunate to see the Pieta as a child in 1964 when it was brought to New York for the World's Fair. My childhood home was laden with art books filled with great art works of classical Greece and Rome, and those of the Renaissance and later Europe so viewing this work of art had great significance to me. Even if one is not a believer, the myth of the passion and resurrection permeates US popular culture. I think Michelangelo's genius was in embodying the classical "pagan" theme of outsized universal characters in sculpture, in the Christian cultural context.
The Pieta represents a universal myth symbolizing enduring characteristics of human experience, the connection between love and grief, and birth of a new generation as renewal overcoming mortality. The death of a child, is a parent's worst nightmare. The female god mother figure suffers the ultimate loss. The grief is such that one cannot bear. Overcoming the ultimate loss is what the mayor envisages. Without such hope there is only despair and darkness.
What the US does with its bombs and instruments of industrial mass death is to kill the hopes and aspirations of mankind. It's is playing with the potential destruction of humanity as a whole, not just morally and spiritually, but in fact. The right of any human to exist is placed in question by the overruling mechanical nature of the MIC. It has destroyed our humanity. Any claim to morality or "values" disappears and soul destroying nihilism is revealed.
There is an underlying incompetence in the political servants of the MIC, what I call the "echo chamber" of faux experts, charlatans, and liars, that proselytize on behalf of genocide. It is grossly and unspeakably unjust that they serve their petty greed and lust for power, at the ultimate cost to humanity.
Picasso's 'Massacre in Korea' displayed here for first time
The Charnel House
Did it really end? Thanks for posting Snoopy Dawg.
語必忠信 行必正直
No it didn’t end
We along with other countries picked the best of the Nazis for their knowledge and put them to work serving our goals.
Absolutely and brilliantly stated. How lucky you are to have seen the statue in person. I’ve heard it’s a remarkable experience.
I’m amazed that it could be made without any flaws or mistakes seen. I read a book where a guy chiseled out a statue from a block of marble. Imagine being able to keep the image of your work in your head as you go along. I’m in awe of artists that can capture such beauty. I can see it, but can’t draw a straight line. That’s why I capture scenes with photography.
Happy Easter.
To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.
- Kevin Alfred Strom
Kudos, chica
damn well said.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Effing sheep dawg hypocrites
Notice that they didn’t say anything about the oligarchs got richer during the COVID lockdowns when mom and pop’s stores had to close down while the big companies that sold the same things got to stay open. How many little stores went bankrupt whilst the big stores got to rake in epic profits. I still can’t believe that churches were closed whilst gambling joints got to stay open. The churches should have told the government to ESAD.
To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.
- Kevin Alfred Strom
And while they burn jet fuel
they chide us for driving to much, not driving uvs, not recycling enough, and likely washing our clothes too often. Gotta think of the environment. (After you make bank.)
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
With a home in Chicago, a huge mansion on Martha’s Vineyard,
and two more mansions in Hawai‘i and Washington D.C., what’s Barack Obama’s family’s carbon footprint like these days?
Yuuge!
Especially now that, by all appearances, he and Michelle must schedule mansion visits so as to strenuously avoid laying eyes on each other. One flies in, the other flies out. When they land, they immediately remind we poors to recycle and eat bugs for the health of the environment.
Just as Zionism amps up anti-Semitism, hypocrisy such as this amps up climate change deniers.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981