Saturday Open Thread - 4/26/25: Odds and Ends
Good morning, good people! I wish for everyone good health, good financial security, good air and water, and good times as the day, and as our future progresses!
It seems the judiciary is fighting for balance of power here and there, against the incessant Executive Orders and arbitrary DOGE directives, and are also being called out when they fail in their duties. The FBI arrested a Milwaukee Judge they believe hindered ICE in some detentions. We shall see. The media colors everything, so the truth comes to the fore later. I am extremely curious and concerned about the facts of what the judge did or didn't do. My life, your life, and our system is affected by this.
So, years ago, an older and revered real estate lawyer asked me to second chair him in a jury trial. The old lawyer sat silent as I tried the case. A man bought land in a 100 year flood plane, and it flooded, so, representing himself pro se, sued the realtor who negotiated the sale for defrauding him. She was our client.
It was a two day trial. The judge, understanding that pro se litigants are entitled to some leeway, let it drag out.
I would walk from the courthouse to my office during recess, and pass by the guy. Outside of the building he pronounced my name correctly. A syllable in my name is "prig". Yet, in the courtroom, he pronounced it "prick". I asked the judge to admonish him. I asked the judge to order him to call me counselor. The pro se litigant persisted. The judge, jury, and court officers didn't want to stop the fun, apparently.
On day 2, as I was entering the courthouse, nobody present, he politely said, "Good morning, Ms. ---prig---, to which I responded, "fuck you!". After that, in front of the jury, he spurted out my name incorrectly numerous times, and before I knew it, I had sailed over the attorney's table, grabbed him by his throat, and then the bailiff ran across the room, peeled my hands off his damn throat, and grabbed me under my arms, picked me up from behind and pulled me back, my feet in the air. The judge put his hand over his mouth to hide his laughter, sent the jury out for a recess.
The jury ruled for my client. After they were dismissed and leaving, they passed by me, one by one, to shake my hand, promised they would never mispronounce my name.
Many of those jurors either hired me later, or sent me clients. It is local legend.
Pro se appealed. The appellate court said I comported with the law, affirmed the ruling, and properly and effectively made my case, in a Very Professional Manner. He filed a grievance against me, The State Bar grievance committee said I did not breach any ethics rules and only asserted my rights as a citizen of the State of Texas, and a lawyer in good standing who stood up for her client in a jury trial, in a Very Professional Manner.
In honor of my Dad, WWII combat veteran, who taught me hand to hand combat when I was a child,
I never changed my name, married twice, I was born a ---prig---, will die one. Can't change it. It is what it is.
Ok, good people, how did your week go, or life go, and what is going on in your world right now? Does your last name lend itself to to ridicule? If so, send me a PM.
This is an open thread, so all topics are very welcome and encouraged. Share with us, PLEASE!
Comments
Hello, folks!
So much bad news, I hope you have some good news to share.
Whatevah, good, bad, or ugly.
Let 'er rip!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Something from my younger days
I had a discusion with someone. I said that if you make people laugh they might listen to you, getting them to agree is something else. If you piss them off, they think you're an idiot or an asshole. If you make them angry all they want to do is hit you.
Can't disagree with that, la58!
I try to be the adult in the room. That might be remaining calm and keeping the debate on an even keel against a wacky person, or in an extreme circumstance, shutting down the debate forcefully.B
I don't like to get distracted from the task at hand.
Ok. I admit I have a hot temper. Nobody in my entire life ever described me as "sweet". I'll blame it on my parents, how about that? Lol!
Have a great weekend, friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Two noteworthy items this AM
Heavy duty explosion in Iran
and
Trump backtracking his tariff fight with China
Good on you to stand your ground counselor.
Zionism is a social disease
Good afternoon, Cap'n!
Seems when he back tracts, the stock market goes up. Well, Trump, just DUH!
Xi is busy in one Asian or S. American country after another, joining forces to battle back against the tariffs.
Iran's main port got whomped. Strangely, the article I read didn't mention who was claiming to be responsible. I can't tell which is the craziest enough to do it--Trump or Nuttyahoo. A funny RW meme shows a picture of Trump: "I voted for him." Bib's picture: "I got him". Even MAGAS meant to accomplish an America First agenda, and are tired of the money disappearing to Israel.
I must be getting conservative in my old age because I absolutely believe both Israel and Ukraine should fight their own wars. We need to pull ourselves up to first world again. We are the shit hope type of country we make jokes about.
I hope the mahogany is working as desired on your project.
Have a great weekend and smooth sailing, 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...
Lawfare is common these days...on both sides of the so called aisle. The Constitution is ignored. The empire is in collapse.
Congrats on your old case. Glad it all worked out well. Have a great weekend and thanks for the OT!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Some news about the ukie /Russ war
Putin announced the Kursk region is in the complete control of Russia. The ukies took a huge hit in losses of soldiers and equipment. Maybe the war will end soon. Maybe the truce talks will change in tone. I wonder if Trump and Zelensky, who are talking at the Pope's funeral, have been informed of this dramatic turn of events.
From RT: https://www.rt.com/russia/616360-kursk-region-liberation-putin-recap/
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Trump Tariff Titanic news
Asia will stick together against Nutjob Trump. Escobar mansplains the developments in this article:https://strategic-culture.su/news/2025/04/25/china-hong-kong-and-art-bli...
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Well well well….
A Jewish man wanted to pass through a space where Palestinian protesters were standing, but he wasn’t able to and it made the news everywhere.
What are the chances any corporate media will cover this? Will any of Trump’s toadies say that this is unacceptable? Place your bets.
To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.
- Kevin Alfred Strom
Have a question for the survivors here
Why is the American flag being flown at half mast?
Is it because of another dead Roman emperor?
Zionism is a social disease
Yeppers.
I will show you my list of changes in my life the Pope made, then a list of changes by his passing.
List 1.
no content
List 2.
no content
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
It seems to me that his passing has filled up a ton of news
slots which would otherwise be filled with significantly more umpleasant content, which means that it shoud be considered to be a plus.
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 --
Info on the arrested judge
.
https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/breaking/2025/04/25/milwaukee-county...
Laugh now you idiots. Try to think ahead to a dem president doing this, but to Trump supporters. If there is no rule of law….
This isn’t deportation. It’s renditioning them to a country not their own.
Hey remember when MAGA bitched about J-6ers being locked up without due process? I bitched about it too because I thought it was wrong to do it.
Just like they bitched about censorship, but they are now cheering for it.
To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.
- Kevin Alfred Strom
Lawfare can be used against you
.
In a kangaroo court of your non-peers
to entertain certain un-constitutional provisions
at the pleasure of the powerful at your expense.
Ain't American injustice grand?
Zionism is a social disease
Yup
Democrats are bitching about Trump pardoning a woman who stole money from a charity or something and used it to get a face lift.
Well Biden pardoned a judge who got paid to send juveniles to a detention facility. I don’t remember them griping about that.
Greenwald explains why the judge was arrested. According to him she aided and abetted the immigrant to evade being detained so of course she was arrested. She did take him out a private exit…
The details will come out if this goes to court.
To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.
- Kevin Alfred Strom
Greenwald
gave a great monologue in that video. That is the clearest definition I have heard on the definition of a sanctuary city. It is just a declaration of passively not assisting ICE. On the other hand, if that judge actively hindered an arrest, that is a crime that's been on the books forever, and the only political overtones it has is what she brought to the scene.
I hope everyone can find the time to watch this.
Thanks, snoopy!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Greenwald speaks with Intellectual honesty
....and is consistently a voice of reason.
In this particular example, Greenwald's careful reasoning reminds me very much of the times of the Russia Hoax, when the Democrats were gripped by a complete lack of rational thinking. They lost control of themselves in a flood of insanity and paranoid conspiracies, from which they never fully recovered. Their cognitive thinking minds shut down so as to avoid facing reality and known facts. It was a sudden and drastic loss of intellectual functioning that spanned many years. There was lasting brain damage that continues to plague their Cult, today, while blocking their ability connect with the people they are supposed to represent and protect. They really have nothing to contribute to a malfunctioning government that is currently awash in bad decisions.
The arrested judge certainly did commit a crime — under the types of harsh and inhumane laws that American authorities love to pass and love to punish. Over the past 20 years or so, I've learned to enjoy the unintended consequences and karmic misery that is unleashed by evilly spirited laws of the US. It's true that Self Destruction can be slow work, but it eventually gets the job done.
This wholesale degradation
of the justice system is as big of a constitutional crisis this country has faced since the Civil War. The President has declared an emergency here and there that other branches of government just do not see. I do not know when the DOD is required to activate within our borders. Maybe be President has the power to rendition. Judge Nap will hopefully educate us all on on the legality of this judicial bypass strategy.
We have had a workable process to determine which illegals stay, and which are barred from entry. It worked for decades. Why isn't it allowed now all of a sudden? Obama deported over 10 million legally. Trump has deported a hundred thousand, more or less, so what's his damn problem?
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Trump isn’t doing regular deportations
Of course he has the authority to do that. But he’s sending people to prison in another country without giving them the right to due process first. How people can’t see the difference is beyond me. When I point that out to his supporters they tell me to open my home and keep them there. No argument about the law, just stupid comments.
They are also saying that his tariffs are the goat even though they are hurting them so it’ll be funny to watch them when he folds on them like he’s already doing.
To learn who rules over you, simply find out who you are not allowed to criticize.
- Kevin Alfred Strom
The difference is obvious.
I am looking more along the lines of some emergency use of detentions through the DOD. How is it an emergency when we accomplished way more people through the existing HHS system, so no emergency has been demonstrated. It's like he pulled one out of his ass.
We should not ever be comfortable with his authoritarian acts, and MAGAS must not have heard him repeatedly claim he had the right to deport US citizens without due process as well. Nobody should worry that they committed the crime of wrong-think and get deported or detained. This just can't be normalized.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
For over 100 years, there’s been this law called Posse Comitatus
barring domestic use of the military, but it may have been weakened in the interim to the point that, de facto, it offers no protection.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Posse_Comitatus_Act
As everyone here knows, Obama did push through a change to federal law that, de jure, allows the government to target the domestic population as well as foreign countries with lies, disinformation, and propaganda.
Yeah...
Various legal tweaks have occurred. I truly do not know where we stand now. If we are lucky, the Supreme Court will have a chance to make a ruling sooner rather than later, while the Supreme Court is still a viable entity.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Imagine
@#Pro-Gaza protesters chanting "death to the Israelis" in front of a cop? Pushing and shoving a Jew in front of a cop? El Salvadore prison for them, special Presidential Executive Orders for the protection of the Jews, all on the tax payers' dime. Just like the realistic pundits all say, it is this sort of activity that causes antisemitism where none existed before.
It is a human quality to despise anybody who calls for another's death due to racial, religious, or even political differences. Humanity makes no exceptions. Calls for mass murder need a solid basis.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
This shipping story seems under reported
I could be wrong but I came across only one article on this in the normal beg algorithm (g00gle phonetically means beg in Korean). It was a yahoo article which I couldn't understand well. It didn't seem well written. This is a link to a report from a specialized shipping blog that is much more informative.
USTR Targets China’s Maritime Dominance With New Fee Structure and U.S.-Build Incentives
I'm unable to post an excerpt, but the bottom line is exorbitant fees will be imposed by the ton or by the container on cargo unloaded by Chinese ships or by any country's ships where the vessel is of Chinese manufacture. This goes into effect in 180 days. Down the line will be "fees" imposed on Chinese manufactured LNG carriers, and Chinese made container cranes needed to operate port facilities. It is going to hurt our economy imo. Adverse economic and market impacts from the ill conceived tariff moves by the administration will probably occur before those from the shipping fee scheme. Those impacts will show a couple of months later.
The whole plan to discriminate against Chinese ships and shipping is based upon some faulty assumptions. First is that the US will be able to build out necessary infrastructure to achieve a competitive status in the shipbuilding industry. China has anywhere from 50 to 200 times the US shipbuilding capacity depending on who's reporting. I know that in an attempt to bridge the gap (so to speak) the US wants to clear domestic shipbuilding and repair berths by shifting some repair and maintenance of naval vessels to South Korean and Japanese shipbuilding facilities. Don't think that will have enough impact. I think some SSN maintenance has been or will be farmed off to Australia. Further, US construction of warships at home which is time consuming compared to commercial vessel construction is much more profitable by several multiples than commercial shipbuilding; so there is another major disincentive to the plan. Elsewhere I've heard of US proposals to farm out US warship production as well. This doesn't seem to make much sense to me. You move TSMC to the US, and move warship production abroad? This is another shoot yourself in the foot operation.
Check out the link for some specifics on the port fees, crane proposals, and LNG plans.
So the dispute over Panama and the Chinese port facilities there takes place in this context. It is rarely if ever mentioned in the shipping fees context. Not sure what the current status of the Panama dispute is. The article linked below is a month old. I understand, Panama yielded passage for US warships through the canal.
China delays $23B sale of Panama Canal ports to US-backed consortium led by BlackRock
An Apr. 10 DW article:
Panama on edge as US targets China's canal influence
What a dramatic trial story OTC! Thanks for the odds and ends! I got a lot done this week on the house, after months of various adverse events and other bumps in the road. But I think I over did it. I always say to Ms. So who is always busy doing something, "don't overdo it. If you overdo, your likely to suffer consequences." I should follow my own advice. At least I finally got some results.
語必忠信 行必正直
Good afternoon, soryang!
Thanks for the links!
It is goofy and chaotic to bring home the manufacture of US products from China, for the purpose of re-building manufacturing on these shores, but openly planning on setting them up in another foreign country at the same time. We don't have a trained and knowledgeable work force to build anything other than bullets and the occasional defective plane.
US companies are delaying orders for all kinds of shipments and projects because they do not know how to price their purchases or sales. Planning anything responsibly can't be done right now. Soon, the commercial stalls will cause mass layoffs. The MAGAS might just open their eyes as they stand in line at the local food bank, try to make ends meet with their meager unemployment checks.
A psychologist pal told me that if you have an overwhelming task list of 10 things, break it down both mentally and physically into small lists. Get 2 things accomplished, take time to appreciate the accomplishment, then start on the next list of 2 or 3. I do this all the time at work, and since we did renovations on the property, I relaxrd between each one, moved onto the next.
As for the courtroom choke, it was when the jury started snickering and whispering to one another that I lost my shit. Make me the butt of your joke at your peril. At least that's the lecture I gave the man as I was trying to choke him.
Good times, friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Well, went to farmers' market and got vegetables
and then went to babysit a friend's chickens, providing a bit of food, water and entertainment. Though we intended this to be free, we werre rewarded with a dozen already harvested eggs + seven we collected, which is quite a haul. Sadly, just a few days ago, when low on eggs, we got a couple of dozed at costco, so there will be a lot of egg dishes in our immediate future, egg salad sandwiches, pasta carbonara, omelettes, old fashioned chocolate pudding, eyc. Ah well, you have to do what you have to do, s they say.
Congrats on your case and the support you received.
FWIW, the Rus have stated that there were some N. Korean troops in the Kursk combat, so it appears that Zee Linsky can, on occasion, tell the truth.
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 --
Ooh, egg payment!
Lemon meringue pie coming soon!
Raising chickens in these parts is now a "thing". Exotic looking chickens, blue eggs, is becoming people's income stream type hobby.
Dear One was running an errand, saw a young woman in a trick on the side of the road displaying a sign that said, "chicks for sale".
You are right. The Pope is hogging the news, so we get less videos of genocide atrocities as a little emotional relief. I guess he didn't die in vain.
Zelensky can tell the truth? Wow. I want to read some news about the NK's combat participation. They do have some treaty with Russia. Hmmm...
Enjoy your weekend, dear friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
https://www.rt.com/russia/616356-north-korean-troops-kursk/
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 --
Thanks, el
Neither Russ nor NK confirmed or denied until Kursk was re-taken. Now, they can brag. And, they have a brag coming. Ukies invaded The Bear. The restraint shown by said Bear is one for the ages. If it had happened to us here, nukes would have exploded.
Thanks, el. You da bomb, baby, and only have egg on your face if you fall on your egg stash! Lol!
Don't know how your Saturday night is going, but here, the rib eyes were grilled to perfection!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
My preliminary take on this
This really is the first persuasive evidence that North Korea participated in a substantial operational role. I'll refer to the doctrine of admissions against interest on Russia's part. I question why they would want to further solidify block politics in NE Asia until they see who the next president in South Korea is going to be. I guess this all revolves around rumors that Trump may be harboring an ambition to hobnob again with Kim Jong-eun. So it's an effort to reinforce or emphasize a military relationship between North Korea and Russia, before Trump can do any grandstanding. Politically speaking it narrows the prospects for any sort of Singapore II reality show by Trump. I'm not sure this is a wise move by Gerasimov. There are small signs that relations between Japan and South Korea could weaken somewhat over "comfort women" judgements against Japan. It looks like Bruce Bennett, the Rand "Korea expert" made some stupid recommendation that perhaps preceded this Russian disclosure:
The original article is behind a paywall at NK News.
One might think this is a proposal by a private think tank, rather than an official US pronouncement, so why take it seriously at this time? I think it was Brian Berletic who said recently, that whatever Rand proposes tends to become US policy. Threaten to return US nuclear weapons to South Korea, really? That is opposed to the so called US denuclearization of the peninsula policy. Maybe Russia felt it appropriate to chime in on behalf of North Korea at this time. China wouldn't like this either. It's such a reactionary US approach. It's almost as if neocons are trying to foreclose any Trump initiatives and deny South Korea any room for maneuver. Is Bennett just a blabbermouth or did they put him up to it? Good job, Bruce!
Spent the last couple of days watching The Man Standing Next, aka the Chiefs of Namsan, about the assassination of dictator Park Chung-hee. This is like part I, with Part II, being 12.12 The Day about the Chun Doo-hwan military coup. Good movies!
I had to watch movie the hard way, there were no English subs. The assassination was Oct. 26, 1979, with Chun's coup following soon after in 12.12 (1979)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Man_Standing_Next
I learned that the song Ruins of Hwangseong was performed by some gisaeng just before the assassination. I was a little taken aback to hear that Park loved this song, because it's a favorite of mine. There is a scene where he sings it to himself while alone. It's a Korean classic. Many South Korean singers have recordings of this song.
lyriics in English
語必忠信 行必正直
A portent of doom, like the song “The Rains of Castamere” in the
“Game of Thrones” books and TV adaptation?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rains_of_Castamere_%28song%29
The Kneecap Israel controversy
A hip-hop group from Northern Ireland called “Kneecap” caused a stir at the Coachella music festival with a light display that flashed the words “F*** Israel - Free Palestine” during their set, and is now the target of a cancellation campaign.
https://www.qwant.com/?q=kneecap+israel+controversy
I ran across an article
about the band late last night and thought, they wil have their visas taken, kicked out of the country, but will they face legal problems for their wrong-think when they arrive home?
I feel I am living in a nightmare dream with my country making a genocide possible, and making it criminal to oppose it.
There will be a reckoning, friend.
edit for typo
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
The Irish as a people and nation have supported Palestine more
than any other country and society in the West, perhaps knowing all too well what it is like to be treated as inferior “small potatoes” by a proud, callous empire that claims to be favored by G~d.
On the other hand, Northern Ireland is still part of the U.K. … Labour under Keir Starmer is basically the Blairite anti-Corbyn faction, notorious for gladly acting as Israel’s stooges.
As the son of WWII refugees from Eastern Europe...
As the son of WWII refugees from Eastern Europe...nobody could say my name so strangely avoided any insults as nobody knew how to pervert it. However, I told a bunch of black kids on the football team my last name, but for some reason they heard "orange juice" which became my nickname to them.
My parents gave me downhome names from the rural areas they came from. Those names were like centuries old and no longer in favor of the city folk.
I have been watching for several years cop/civilian interactions and various criminal and civil rights lawyers talk about fundamentals of basically rights afforded to people when dealing with the cops. I am surprised how little we the small people understand about our rights which included me at one time. And not unsurprising how many cops do now know, or delibrately violate rights knowing they will suffer no consequences.
Well, here is a lawyer who once was both a cop and prosecutor, turned what might be called a "people's lawyer" who does seem legit as I would not trust at first encounter a lawyer who was once a prosecutor.
He gave this exposition on the announcement of a settlement between the families of the Uvalde massacre and city government. He wanted to explain how decades of court rulings by the Supreme Court and others made Uvalde inevitable. For me at least, it started in my mind with Columbine where cops refused to enter the high school.
Mr. Webster!
THANK YOU THANK YOU!
I remember when peace officers were just that. Peace keepers. Now, they are enforcement officers. Force used is a given. I remember when public safety was the goal. Now, it is cop safety. Thin Blue Line.
My best friends include our county sheriff, the district attorney, 2 assistant district attorneys, the district attorney's office two secretaries, a constable, and a retired highway patrolman who is now a justice of the peace. I don't mean just friends..I mean we have each other's backs. We are in this together.
While I sometimes want to bug out, I realize this is where I have the fucking benefit of the doubt when the cops come.
It didn't have to be this way, Mr. W.
Have a great weekend, my friend. So sorry I replied to this so late today.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Things Chinese Theater
.
In the mood for a walking tour where you get to sit still?
Witty China blogger, Jason, is strolling through "The World's Largest City that You Never Heard Of" — Chongqing. It's impossible to explain this city and I'm not going to try. Chongqing is famous for its Hot Pot restaurants that serve the hottest peppers on earth. And for housing 32 million happy people in a wild, brightly-lit maze of cyberPunk scenery. This one is great fun.
.
.
Good afternoon, P'sR!
That city was not on my tour itinerary. Too bad! The lack of privacy to achieve safety will never fly in this country until a dictator comes into power.
Until then, we need to use common sense about where to go and when to go, and, of course, when to take protection.
If I ever have to eat ze bugs, I want them prepared Chinese-style!
Thanks so much for the video. It is important for us to know how other peoples live and thrive.
Have a great weekend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Well, well...
Syrian leader once called Julani, now Sharaa, or something close to that, is gonna give The Golan Heights to Israel. He was born there. This is a 13 minute video...you can maybe think about the connection between Al Quieda and Israel, like they are linked? MAYBE?
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981