Open Thread - Thurs 29 Jan 2026 - Ice, Ice, Baby
Ice, Ice Baby
Like just about everyone else, I like the song which is the title of this post better than Ice. And I don't even like that song that much (I'm too old).
A couple of days ago Ken Klippenstein wrote an article about what at least some immigration officers are saying about how ICE is acting now. It's a good article. Apparently there is quite a bit of division in the Homeland Security Peeps (calling them that is mean to baby chickens, isn't it?) over the killings of Alex Pretti and others.
Bovino. He's out, as I'm sure you know, and is going to end up in California. What the hell did California do to deserve that? He should be in Mar-a-Lago, arresting men who abuse young women... ohh wait, he'd have to arrest Trump... (image from Klippenstein's substack article)
Really American and the US Democratic Socialists did a video about this. It includes some clips from Jon Stewart which are hilarious. The video adds a bit more biting commentary to Klippenstein's article. I really enjoyed watching it. So here it is.
And, why not?! Here's the actual Jon Stewart clip from his show. It's long, but funny!
Here's the open thread! What's up, whatcha doing? Reading? Thinking? Listening to? Remember, everything is interesting if you dive deep enough, so tell us about where you're diving!
Comments
Thursday has come!
Friday and the weekend are soon to follow. Yay!
Here in the PacNW our recent freezing, but at least not snowing, weather has suddenly turned warm. We went from 23 F Monday night - Tuesday morning, to 43 F Tuesday night - Wednesday morning, and all the way 'down' to 50 F Wednesday night. And we've had rain and snow, which might help the drought a tiny bit. Not bad. I am really feeling it for the people hit by the horrible snow storms back east, mid-west and so on. Yikes. Stay safe everyone!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Hey, good morning
.
.
Interesting stuff. Here is another one from Ken Klippenstein
who previously was not on my radar.
https://www.kenklippenstein.com/p/ices-secret-watchlists-of-americans
Thanks for keeping us abreast of the current trend towards tyranny.
ICE attacks Maine next. This is not about immigrants BTW. More like power politics.
Zionism is a social disease
I can't imagine...
why the hell Ice would go after Maine. Like you say, power plays. As for the lists of people Klippenstein talks about Ice having, that doesn't surprise me. It is very depressing though, isn't it?
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Good morning Sima, thanks for the OT.
Today's weather here is 48 to 66, whilst out on the coast (Half Moon Bay) it is 52 to 63 with a severe weather advisory for WHAT...An increased risk of sneaker waves and strong rip currents with breaking waves of 14 to 19 feet. *. Our plans for today are, coincidentally to go over to Pillar Point Harbor for lunch at Barbara's Fish Shack where, with luck, we'll be able to see the action out at Maverick's while we eat, or from the docks afterward; right on the shore with possible wave action right up to the pilings.
Thanks for the videos
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 --
Half Moon Bay
Some of my favorite memories from growing up, was when we'd go down to the beach at Half Moon Bay, or in Santa Cruz (used to live in the Santa Cruz Mountains). One time, I was swimming, riding on the waves. It was cold, but not that bad, I looked over to my side when I was about 60 ft from the beach and there was a sea otter, and then her baby, swimming right next to me. We surfed and floated together and I felt so lucky to have experienced swimming with them! I wasn't as keen on swimming with the sharks, I have to admit.
Hope lunch, and the wave action, was good! Thanks for stopping by!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Finally got around to posting these stories
Hi Sima! I'm so weary of the bad news cycle. Hope all is well for our members out there. This is my usual fare below-
Shadow fleet tanker’s captain and first officer taken onto US Coast Guard boat, media reports say Read more at: https://www.stripes.com/theaters/europe/2026-01-28/coast-guard-cutter-captain-tanker-us-scotland-20552689.html Source - Stars and Stripes
They arrested the Captain and first mate. Five Russians taken into US custody? The US ignored a Scottish court order while the ship was within Scottish territory? Then used the unlawful fait accompli, seizing the crew within Scottish territory, as the basis for an after the fact court dismissal of the earlier Scottish court order?
Wonder where these guys are now? It's been 8 days:
USNI Fleet Tracker
Reports on ship positions are usually delayed for operational security. They could just be in the region or...?
This is a computer translation below with a couple of errors in it. Japan's PM Takaichi milking nationalist anti-China fears for the upcoming election. I saw one poll that suggests the LDP will take a majority in the legislature.
Takaichi again mentions "Taiwan emergency": "We must rescue local Japanese and Americans."
The former First Lady gets off with a relatively light sentence for taking gifts, other more serious charges blown off. I've heard internet pundits say the judge is appeasing the conservative faction headed by the Supreme Court Chief Justice, a Yoon sympathizer. So she didn't interfere in party nominations, she didn't participate in illegal stock manipulation, etc., etc. Yeah, right. More reform of the administration of justice is required.
In South Korea, the executive from the Unification Church got off lightly for his bribery. In Japan the Unification Church favoring cabinet members endured a purge during the Kishi administration. Takaichi is now apparently endorsing some candidates with Unification ties.
Elsewhere I saw a report on a right wing demonstration showing South Korean president Lee Jae-myung being labeled "Maduro Lee." In spite of this Lee's approval rating is still quite strong arount 55 percent in one poll. Approval for the conservative PPP has dropped considerably except among the over 70 crowd. They are not expected to do well in the next election cycle.
Hong Dong-hoon, impeached former president Yoon's long time right hand man, (as a prosecutor and former justice minister) abandoned Yoon's party, the PPP, during the attempted martial law coup. That party stripped him of party leadership, and now membership as I understand it, yet Han looks to run for mayor of Seoul as an independent. The guy is an opportunistic fraud. He used to exchange messages with former first lady Kim Gon-hee frequently but somehow his phone was never decrypted, after it was seized under a warrant.
己所不欲，勿施于人。
Depressing news, as you say, but...
Thank you for letting us know about it, and keeping up on what's going on Asia (and, gads, Scottish waters) for us. It's good to know, it broadens our prospective. I hope you have a good weekend, hope I do too and maybe things can calm down politically for a bit (not a change, huh?).
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Good morning, sima!
A little bit of good news, methinks: Saudi Arabia and the UAE are denying airspace to US planes. Thus, the Beautiful Armada of aircraft carriers will have to figure out a way to drop bombs on Iran. I am glad that SA and UAE are reluctant to get drawn into this bs war for Israel.
https://www.rt.com/news/631684-saudi-uae-airspace-us-armada/
Meanwhile, it won't freeze tonight, but will freeze Saturday and Sunday. So far, our winterizing methods have worked. No frozen water pipes thus far.
And, I will watch an hour long video about various and sundry probate documents that are new, up to the minute in conforming with new laws and rules in the Estates Code. It is free. I usually pay $100 per hour for compliance classes. I can spend that $100 on something fun.
Glad you are warm, chica, and thanks for the OT!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Beware perfidity
The Saudis and UAE cold be faking resistance to draw Iran into minimizing their AD defenses from those directions.
Treachery runs rampant.
AFAIK, the UAE hosts a large US airbase on its soil, so how will that "no overflight" really work?
Hope you manage the freeze ok.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Yep.
Neither SA nor UAE are allies of Iran. Maybe this is to just keep us wondering if we will bomb the shit out of Iran or not.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
100$ for something fun!?
Yes! and the class is free, that is good. I'd have a hard time not falling asleep watching such a thing, lately. It's 9:30 pm and 50 degrees here tonight. That is so weird for this time of year, specially since last week it was like 23! We haven't had any frozen pipes yet either. Pheww. Fingers crossed for both of us! Have a great Friday and weekend!
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Good morning, sima
I'll check out the videos after the Due Dissidence pod cast is over.
MAGA
Morons
Are
Governing
America
That's a good cartoon!
I'm not sure it's tons funny, because it's realistic, though.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
China's spectacular futuristic EVs are Rolling into Canada
.
Also: Canada welcomes Chinese vehicles as U.S. automakers pull investments
And the Canadians are clamoring to see them. Canada has no affordable new cars available, and no advanced electric vehicles at all. The Chinese cars feature advance battery technology with rapid charging and extended ranges. For city dwellers, a typical 30 minute charge lasts a week.
Canada has specified that half the cars imported from China must be sold for under $35,000. Several proposed models are expected that could sell for under $20,000. The imported EVs shown in the video, below, are the mid-to-high priced models that Canada is expecting. Getting rid of the imposed tariffs dropped the costs up to one-half for Canadians buyers.
These cars are not like any other vehicles in the Canadian market, but they seem easy to get used to. I'll post another video later showing the lower-priced commuter EVs.
.
What is to pervent an American
.
to go to Canada and buy a BVD?
Bring your own plates and good luck
with customs. Doubt the border folks
have been trained in detecting such things.
China has the right idea, just need to open
new markets. Good for CN to recognize the
opportunity.
Zionism is a social disease
I'm sure that
the Cheeto could crank out an executive order to ban them in perpetuity, and establish draconian penalties for those with the effrontery to try to import them anyway, because after all he is Gawdhisowndamnedself and nobody will stop him.
But even if he doesn't, motor vehicles have always been a special case. With the legal requirements for titling, registration, and licensure, the law has its fingers deeply embedded in that market to start with. They've been trying to control gray-market supercars for years, for example- so there are already enforcement mechanisms in place, some of which are not that obvious.
You might get the thing into the country, but if the plates don't match the description of the vehicle called out in the registration, things could get weird very quickly. Cops call in plate numbers all the time- and with the proliferation of automatic license plate readers, the time-before-hassle is being reduced daily...
I'd counsel extreme caution here. But your mileage may vary.
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
Bulletss? Prison? Deportation to Somalia, Saidi Arabia or
Ecuador? Debanking and seizure of all of your assets? There are tons of things they could do and would be willing to do, and the law is no barrier because they ignore laws and courts.
be well and have a good one
That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --
Well, there is all of that.
.
But it wouldn't stop me from trying.
Kinda radical that way. Fake papers are
easy enough to forge. I drive a suspected
stolen vehicle (kinda shady deal) but got
it thru the authorities enough to make it seem
legit for all practical purposes. Saved about $10K
in the process. No longer care about legalities.
Following the example of our
leadersgangstas.Zionism is a social disease
An amazing motor home
.
from China
https://www.cnqixinggroup.com/caravans/motorhome/iveco-daily-class-c-rv....
Zionism is a social disease
That's like the one I was looking at
But China's is an EV.
The RV market is brand new in China, so its hard to figure out what they have in mind for foreign sale.:
A very good explanation of current trends
I could find myself in that market
coming from a nomadic background.
A land yacht for $20K seems reasonable.
Thanks for the tips.
Zionism is a social disease
I don't know:
.
...I feel the impulse, too. But please don't do it. The authorities are wack.
All over the world, people can't look away from the shit show we've unleashed. I hope nobody gets hurt but us.
Warming up
down here Vancouver way too. Hope this is the last of the cold.
But the snowpack could be better.
The farm gets it water from the southern flanks of Mt. Rainier, via the Cowlitz River.
Our big problem right now is the humidity inside our house, which has dropped to as low as 25%. We have been running a humidifier non-stop for a week and can only bump it up to 35%.
And our house is filled with houseplants, which should have helped.
The cacti look good though.
Thanks for the OT.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Canadians are also eying China's new RVs.
So am I. This is a new type of vehicle for China. (Very nice build under $20,000.) The Chinese have discovered camping, and China is building hundreds of campgrounds with RV parking throughout the country. After low cost high speed train transportation was completed in China, it was the first time in history that most Chinese have ever had the opportunity to actually see the country that they lived in. China is filled with amazing natural wonders and every possible environment. Some are learning about snow and ice for the first time, which has become so popular, that Shanghai and other cities have created indoor skiing resorts and parks that are open year round.
.
.
— I left you some solar panel links in your in your open thread, yesterday.
Yeah I saw those.
Watched them too. Good info. Thanks.
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
Humidity gets really low in our house...
too, in the winter. We've got a 'dragon' (a metal dragon on the top of the wood stove which gets filled with water and then belches 'smoke') to help with the humidity. And we've got plants too, and the humidity still gets so low that I can make sparks fly, my hair stands out straight, my skin gets super dry... bleh. As you say though, the cacti do well!
Hope our snowpacks' improve, the one over in the Olympics is really low, so far.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Ol' PeeWee German
really was chumming the waters. Nice pep rally there, Shrimp...
Our tax dollars at work.
https://x.com/AdamParkhomenko/status/2016744849332903997
Meanwhile, here's more of the result of that sort of friendly coaching- this time from Durango, CO.
https://x.com/GoodMornBadNews/status/2016928150316270001
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
It's weird witnessing...
our very rapid shift to this gestapo type stuff in real time. But, here it is. I hope that old lady is ok.
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Jon Stewart Shooting Fish in a Barrel
I laughed raucously all the way through as he explicated exactly what I have been thinking. It has seemed to me that the entrenched power structure is using Trump to test the limits of huffy bullshit as a way to keep the masses under control. Seeing those shit heads saying that the guy had a gun and therefore got what was coming to him is so far out there in nutjob land, that the rank and file of the GOP won't go there with him.
2026 is the beginning of the end of Trump.
I cried when I wrote this song. Sue me if I play too long.
Gods I hope this is true!
'2026 is the beginning of the end of Trump.' Hope is the beginning of a change, maybe a new New Deal, too. And yea, I laughed and laughed with Jon Stewart
If you're poor now, my friend, then you'll stay poor.
These days, only the rich get given more. -- Martial book 5:81, c. AD 100 or so
Nothing ever changes -- Sima, c. AD 2020 or so
Predictions are necessarily iffy
@ I'm not even sure that a public humiliation and eviction from the White House would stop the craziness. But the latest Big Stories about the Orange Fart Cloud have nowhere good to go. The GOP base of self described "patriots" is not going to support the notion of kill anybody who packs a gun in the vicinity of a Fed. The core belief of wingnuts is that the "government" is the enemy, and an armed citizenry is the only guarantee we have that the "government" doesn't enslave us.
I have changed my mind over the last five years of Covid/Ukraine/Hamas/ICE bullum shittum. I now oppose the idea of disarming the population. The risk of random villains killing me is real, but far less of the risk posed by Trumpian Federal agents.
As Trump pisses off his base with his reversal on guns, he loses his value to Big Money.
Wars that go on forever are good for Big Money. Ego trip wars are not predictable enough for rational investment.
Who knows for sure? But most of Trump's most strident critics overestimate his ambitions. He already has exactly what he has always wanted -- he is the most famous person on earth.
I cried when I wrote this song. Sue me if I play too long.