Saturday Open Thread - 5/3/25: Odds and Ends

Good morning, good people!

Is anyone not sick and tired of Hegseth? I, for one, wish he would pack up, move to Israel, join the IDF, get citizenship there, help them plan a war with Iran that doesn't involve us. He is dedicating his life to Israel as it is.

Oh, well...

Moving on to my next have-had-a-damn-gut-full-of this-shit topic: AI. It might be a wondrous technology for many types of businesses. We are sure going to find out.

A month ago, the parties settled their divorce in mediation, but opposing attorney was very slow to reduce the final decree to writing for the judge's signature. My client started preparing various documents to re-finance vehicles, and then, without my knowing it in advance, filed some pleadings with the court about forcing her ex to give out various account numbers on phones and loans. I told her to file an appearance of counsel and get me off the case and herself recognized as pro se before she got herself and me in trouble. Where was she getting these professional looking documents that had some weird defects?

This week, a guy wanted to hire me to restore his visitation rights to his kids post-divorce. He sent me his previous court documents. The last one was extremely well written, looked amazing, like it came from a law office. I asked him where it came from, and he said his sister did it and that it was AI generated. I declined his case. It would have taken me hours to explain the multiple defects in content.

I imagine the sister asked AI to give her the document needed to make this court order go away.

Her wish and her dream. This seems to be the trend. "AI, I want to get a house in my divorce and my husband pay all the debt. Could you find me a case on that?" The pleading was a Motion to Dissolve a Temporary Restraining Order. First problem: There is no such thing as as getting an order to dissolve an order. TROs are replaced by Temporary Injunctions after the hearing. He had his TRO hearing, refused to take a drug test, lost the right temporarily to visit his kids on weekends. By the time AI produced the nonsense, no TRO was in effect. There is no such thing in Texas Family Law called a dissolved order. It became an injunction to last until final hearing.
Now, according to a panel of judges educating us in a continuing legal education course May 1, they are seeing lawyers rely on AI generated documents, and they are getting sanctioned, sued, and disbarred right and left. At the same time, the State Bar of Texas says it is a grievable offense of ethic for a lawyer to fail to integrate AI into their practice. I get corporate sponsored articles from them weekly featuring various companies hawking their magical AI services. Did the State Bar get bought out? It was not supposed to be this way. My best attorney pal says if this keeps up, she will walk away, find a better and less complicated life in retirement.

Well, I had a wonderful birthday, got an excellent report from my dermatologist, got a new bird feeder to nourish some birds within my view from the new room on my home, and I will continue to think for myself for the benefit of my clients.

Friends, this is an open thread, open to any topic you folks wish to mention, ideas and info you wish to share. Seems like we all scatter for news all over the internet, so bring your treasure trove to the rest of us.

I look forward to it, friends!

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What's happening in your neck of the woods? Here, we have rain and storms drenching the place, but that will only lead to greener grass in the grand scheme of things.
Let us all know what is own everyone's mind. I am a believer that great minds think alike, as long as they are thinking about the same topic.
Your turn, friends!
Let 'er rip!

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

QMS's picture

Like how the spring rains fill the bird baths.

20250503_090349.jpg

This is a copper cupper with a stylized hummer in the center.
About a foot in diameter. The catbirds and orioles love it.

Kinda weird how you have to compete with computers.
Lo siento mucho.

Kicking back sounds like a great idea.

Thanks for the odds and ends!

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Zionism is a social disease

@QMS What a beautiful bird bath!
As it happens, we shopped for one a few months ago to put in my office back lawn. We were surprised at how few we had to choose from. Most were plastic. We found a ceramic one, but after several months, not a single bird tried it out. None bathed or drank from it. My office is swarmed with blue jays, cardinals (a/k/a red birds), and mocking birds. The Plan B is to set it up near the new bird feeder.
As for AI, any attorney who uses it deserves to be chewed up and spit out. But lay people thinking they are saving money by avoiding attorney's fees adopt an attitude that AI is infallible, what they read in their internet researches, is superior and 100% accurate. I am already sick of arguing with people about what can be done and what their research says can be done. I had a preference for older clients who aren't computer literate, but now, they pose their legal questions to friends on FB, and I have to argue with that bs.
We have a few perfect weather days, but lots of rain from Tuesday thru Friday. The burn piles will have to wait.
Smooth sailin', dear friend!

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

Lookout's picture

A wet one here also. Glad I got the mowing done earlier this week.

Think for yourself? Ha, TPTB want to put a usb plug in your brain and download what they think you should think.
The Darkside of AI – Transhumanism and the War Against Humanity
Transcript here

On the flip side, these over hyped search engines can be helpful for example...

I guess we all better think for ourselves while we still can!

Have a great weekend, and thanks for the OT!

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

@Lookout curdled my coffee! Lol!
I do not remember ever hearing a person, or hearing of a person, who aspired to be a god. At least since the Greeks and Romans, Incas, and Mayans had their asses handed to them.
What I do see is a strong tendency for humans to sit back, chill, let a machine do the work for them. Will those lazy people also willingly give up the enjoyment of seeing a rose? Will they enjoy rescuing a bird? Will they enjoy listening to rippling waters of a creek? Or seeing the majesty of a mountain?
Will they create music? Will they appreciate the taste of a fresh peach or ear of sweet corn?
I am glad I am old, dear friend. Maybe we truly are living in the best of times without realizing it.
Great video, scary as shit medicine chart.
We all need to be on the look out!
Enjoy your weekend in the holler!

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

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@la58 What beautiful song! Let me be the first to thank you for sharing it with us!
Speaking of the Kentucky Derby, I was sitting in front of my tv watching this in 1973:https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=Secrtariat+at+the+K...
Secretariat holds the record to this day for the fastest time.
Have a fun weekend, friend!

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

@on the cusp BUCK, a richly textured and visually stunning film, follows Brannaman from his abusive childhood to his phenomenally successful approach to horses. A real-life "horse-whisperer", he eschews the violence of his upbringing and teaches people to communicate with their horses through leadership and sensitivity, not punishment. Buck possesses near magical abilities as he dramatically transforms horses -- and people -- with his understanding, compassion and respect. In this film, the animal-human relationship becomes a metaphor for facing the daily challenges of life

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@la58 I should have time to watch it this afternoon!

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

@on the cusp @on the cusp Horse trainers don't get enough credit for what they do!

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

@la58 Wonderful!
Now, I am looking for Robert Redfords's movie, "The Horse Whisperer" because this guy was the influencer.
Great stuff, can't thank you enough.
"A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse", not for battle victory, but for me, giving up as many things as possible to have and love, forever, a horse.

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

snoopydawg's picture

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Apparently holocaust denial is not an issue anymore. Lots of people are denying the one in Gaza with absolutely no repercussions.

@snoopydawg I am blessed that none of my horses ever saw that video and got any ideas...
When we all become trans humans, will there be pets? Will there be livestock? Wildlife?
If TPTB have no compunction in killing off humanity, I guess critters have no chance, either.
Hug my client, and stock up on her treats before some tariff makes them impossible to find or afford!.
Sometime today, I am gonna watch the Tucker interview with Katherine Austin Fitts. If it depresses me, I will watch this smart horse video over and over.
Have a great weekend, chica!

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

snoopydawg's picture

@on the cusp

but like you said it’s depressing as hell.
That Trump is doing this is not surprising because his base supports almost everything he does. The PTB knows which party to put in power to get their agendas passed.

Bush1 couldn’t pass NAFTA because the democrat base opposed it. But Clinton got it passed because they didn’t oppose a dem president doing it.

Dems were against the Iraq war until Obama continued and expanded it. No war on Ukraine during Obama, but when Trump refused to send weapons they were all for it. Couldn’t support Nazis until Biden and its bad that Trump says he wants to end it.

Trump got mRNA on the market, but the dem base wouldn’t take a ‘Trump’ vaccine. Biden and Harris came out against it and yet when they won it got mandated and the base cheered.

Biden couldn’t have gotten digital currency passed, but can Trump?

Also his base is cheering the takedown of the government even though it’s gonna bite them in the ass as well as their parents.

Y’all see the pattern don’t you?

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Apparently holocaust denial is not an issue anymore. Lots of people are denying the one in Gaza with absolutely no repercussions.

@snoopydawg controlled opposition? If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck...

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

snoopydawg's picture

@on the cusp

Link

The state demands loyalty. The loyalty construct is modeled by both major parties, all the way down to local Republican and Democratic committees, who operate in generally polite Bolshevik-mode. It is this very construct that we saw used under the Biden administration – where swearing that mostly peaceful cities burning is a national good, and under Trump – where criticizing a genocide conducted by an “ally” fueled and funded by the American taxpayer is verboten hate speech, illegal.

Did you hear about this?

A Texas town is considering a non-binding resolution stating, among other things, that it no longer wishes for its State of Texas tax haul of $4.4 million being sent to Israel. Read it for yourself, nothing in the resolution is false, and it represents – we may know for sure after the May 6th Town Council meeting – the wishes of the people of San Marcos. Governor Abbott is beside himself.

Abbot is livid and calls them antisemites and he won’t stand for it.

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Apparently holocaust denial is not an issue anymore. Lots of people are denying the one in Gaza with absolutely no repercussions.

@snoopydawg letter. Now he is pushing for some state law that is harsher on antisemitism than the proposed Federal law.

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

@on the cusp @on the cusp interview swung from interesting to pure stupidity. Don't watch unless you have nothing around to throw at the screen. Screens cost to replace.

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

snoopydawg's picture

.

The good news is that congress is fighting back against the antisemitism bill. Or at least some members aren’t just rolling over for Israel.

https://www.jns.org/vote-on-antisemitism-awareness-act-delayed-after-fie...

“The First Amendment, the Constitution, the Supreme Court, ruled that you can say terrible things,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said in opposing the legislation.

Rand Paul says that even jokes by Jews wouldn’t be allowed.

He also submitted into the record the names of 400 Jewish-American comedians, who he said had used stereotypical language about Jews that might fall afoul of the legislation.

“This one’s from Joan Rivers. She says, ‘I’m Jewish. I don’t work out. If God had wanted us to bend over, he would have put diamonds on the floor,’” Paul said.

“That’s obviously very negative, that Jewish people think only of money and stuff, but she’s Jewish, and it’s funny or it’s not funny, and it’s just her right to make a joke,” he said.

The bad news is that Trump has hired 2 Zionists who have dual citizenship with Israel and he has appointed another Zionist to monitor American’s speech.

Phil Giraldi

https://www.unz.com/pgiraldi/more-exciting-news-from-the-white-house/

“Power, Priorities, and Puppeteers: Who Really Governs America?”: The nomination of Yehuda Kaploun — a Chabad-Lubavitch rabbi, Trump loyalist, and confidant of Republican megadonor Miriam Adelson — as US Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism underscores an uncomfortable reality: Zionist interests wield disproportionate influence over American politics, even as the nation fractures under economic despair. Kaploun’s appointment, framed as a defense against antisemitism, instead reveals a political dynamic that prioritizes the interests of world Jewry over the needs of ordinary Americans. Consider the timing. Household debt has soared to $18.04 trillion, credit card delinquencies hit 14-year highs, and inflation continues to erode wages. Yet policymakers focus on policing campus activism, cracking down criticism of Israel, while ignoring the collapse of social mobility. Kaploun’s own rhetoric comparing US universities to “1930s Germany” diverts attention from the rising cost of living and the United States’ fraying social fabric. Meanwhile, pro-Israel groups like AIPAC have funneled $100+ million into elections, ensuring bipartisan fealty to policies that prioritize Israeli interests at the expense of America. This is not governance. It’s an occupation by foreign interests.”

Worth repeating:

This is not governance. It’s an occupation by foreign interests.”

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Apparently holocaust denial is not an issue anymore. Lots of people are denying the one in Gaza with absolutely no repercussions.

@snoopydawg Giraldi article. One day, he could be imprisoned for writing it and we could be for reading and sharing it. At that point, antisemitism will permeate the land.
Appreciate you sharing this with us while it is legal to do so.

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

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snoopydawg's picture

@humphrey

Ukraine used France and UK storm shadow missiles to attract Crimea and they have been busily droning many parts of Russia. Just where are they getting the coordinates to target the targets? From Trump.

He’s also sending $50 million of parts for the jets Russia keeps shooting down. Who is going to install the parts? Who indeed.

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Apparently holocaust denial is not an issue anymore. Lots of people are denying the one in Gaza with absolutely no repercussions.

@humphrey Zelensky is looking at being killed by his Neo-Nazi troops, or Russians. Either way, he is a dead man walking.
Trump got played by the punk in that minerals deal. Does anyone expect Ukraine will repay us 10 years in the future, when there is no guarantee it will exist, and those minerals just might at that point be Russian minerals.Humphrey, bring it on, friend!
Have some fun this weekend!

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

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@humphrey We are officially Israelis! We need to take down our flags, ban the Star Spangled Banner, change our military's uniforms. We need to come out.

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

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@humphrey Beautiful bay!

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

snoopydawg's picture

@humphrey

Unless it’s a dawg running on the water.

IMG_1344_0.jpeg

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Apparently holocaust denial is not an issue anymore. Lots of people are denying the one in Gaza with absolutely no repercussions.

@snoopydawg there's that, too!

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

enhydra lutris's picture

the State Bar of Texas says it is a grievable offense of ethic for a lawyer to fail to integrate AI into their practice.

The Texas Bar really wants you to integrate? Is this widely known /s

It's easy to integrate AI into your life and affairs. I have a little google speaker thingie on my desk that I use all of the time. "Hey google, what's tomorrow's weather?" "Hey google, how do you spell acromegaly?" "Hey google, where does one hyphenate omphaloskepsis? "Hey google, when did Balboa reach the Pacific?" You can even use it "legal" information, such as "Hey google, what's the citation for Ginsburg v. United States?", but you might have to reformat the answer. As long as you stick to its competencies, specifically, looking things up, flipping coins and "what time is it in Novgorod?" type shit, it is very useful.

Maybe somebody could ask the state Bar how to compute the integral of ai from zero to 2pi

Cue Freddy Fender - AI Yi Yi

be well and have a goog one

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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 --

@enhydra lutris accredited classes taught by AI sales reps who are not lawyers. Use Chatgpt to replace your receptionist or else your billing is irresponsible. Replace paralegals with AI. Or else...
Just e sure to double check any document AI produces before you use it because you might get in trouble...but AI is so smart, how could you doubt it...or something like that.
Why ask it to cite a case that matches the facts in my case so I can go for the win, but then I look at the law library and discover there is no such case. And it's ok to bill for that?
I always hated to argue with clients who would insist their research online was right, and I often refused their cases. Get a lawyer who gives a shit. But since AI, they go behind their lawyer's back and undermine their case. It is just horrible, el.
I got outside today, pruned a rose bush, trimmed some wild grape vines, took a drive in my Kawasaki Mule around the acreage. The temperatures this week range from 78 highs, to 61 lows. That is just about perfect.
Hope you and Siri get things done! Let Siri do the chores, dear friend!
Take good care of you and yours!

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

enhydra lutris's picture

@on the cusp

oxymoron. Ai receptionists is just a crazy idea that's not a basic competency likelooking something up, and you, the "employer" have no idea who trained it, or how, or on what. It's obvious that when ai gets "thinking", it makes shit up and goes off the deep end pattern matching. Dunno 'bout siri, but except for spelling and weather reports and stuff like that, when I ask my little gadget something a bit more complicated, like "when did Balboa first see the Pacific" it gives me a source, the date, and then a quote or two from the source

I do wish it could wash windows or vacuum, however, that would be nice, but I remember too clearly the sorcerers apprentice from fantasia, so probably not. Wink

be well and have a good one

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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 --

janis b's picture

@enhydra lutris

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snoopydawg's picture

Yep we’re under a foreign occupation.

Will Paul fight this bill?

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Apparently holocaust denial is not an issue anymore. Lots of people are denying the one in Gaza with absolutely no repercussions.

QMS's picture

@snoopydawg
.
or we are not.
I would go with the not option.
Rand Paul is a true statesman.

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Zionism is a social disease

@QMS @QMS I respect and admire Rand Paul and Thomas Massie.
That's the entirety of my list of governmental officials I would actual allow to set foot in my home.
Don't know if you have heard, but Gov. Abbott is pushing for an even harsher law against antisemitism and BDS here in Texas. The rural red necks aren't up in arms yet, but it just might come.
edit:I had mispelled antisemitism.

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

QMS's picture

@on the cusp

semite anything is confusing
smite to smithereens

sorry to hear Abbot is such a dick head
we have had a few here as well
seems it goes with the job description

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Zionism is a social disease

@QMS of him wearing the whatever that Jewish religious cap is called, head and hands on the wall in Israel. Much like Trump. Lots of Texans are pissed. They didn't vote for that.
BTW, I can't remember what scarves and hats and caps of any religion are, other than the hijab for Muslim women.
The attorneys in Houston called him a Nazi back before the tree fell on him and he got millions in the personal injury lawsuit settlement and moved on to politics.

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

@snoopydawg are EXTREMELY harsh! Will the next law be forcing us to only do business with companies owned by Zionist Jews?
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.

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

soryang's picture

@snoopydawg

This law, the one cited in the tweet is already in effect, and has been in effect for some time. The particular legislation being discussed now is an extension of its scope to "International Governmental Organizations." So I imagine this is specifically targeted at support for any international organization established by states that attempts to sanction Israel. Someone should put this into the westlaw or equivalent whatever it is now to see if it has been tested in court yet.

It seems overbroad to me but they attempt to cure it by saying that the absence of commercial activities with the described "allies" or individuals, persons, groups, etc., friendly to the US is not of itself proof of criminal activity. In order words, I'm thinking the prohibited advocacy or speech has to be manifest. This is why I think it's overbroad.

This is not intended as legal advice, I'm not a lawyer. It is strictly my personal opinion.

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語必忠信 行必正直

soryang's picture

@soryang @soryang

in 2018. I tried to find who voted for the NDAA for fiscal year 2019. Public Law 115 - 232 - John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019

Senate- YEAs87
NAYs10
Not Voting3

Looks like Rand Paul didn't vote. McCain and Flake didn't. Of course, I can't tell why. This is the entire Defense Budget Bill for the next fiscal year, so this anti-bds law was just buried in there.

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1152/vote_115...

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