Saturday Open Thread - 7/4/26: Odds and Ends
Good morning, good people! Hope you are enjoying your holiday!
Well, I am writing this OT on my least favorite holiday, 4th of July. What saves it from being sort of disdainful to me is that it is our wedding anniversary with all accompanying antics, such as fun and frolic.
You may recall that I never, ever, identified myself as an American in any country I visited. When asked where I was from, I answered, "Texas." The US has done so much harm all over the world, so I was uncomfortable with how any foreigner might react. Certainly, I do not consider being American a bragging right. Discussing The Battle of the Alamo is much easier no matter where you are in the world.
By the age of 4, I was reading quite well, and soon became enthralled with our history. How our colonists helped Britain steal from the natives, then we rebelled, stole the stolen lands and treasure from the Brits, so when we hear Trump say the oil in Venezuela, Syria, Iran, etc..., is ours, it isn't really anything new. I was 4 years old the last time I waved a flag. We are enabling a genocide, and preventing food, water, medicine, and energy from Cuba, because those unarmed civilians are dangerous...or something. They aren't proper capitalists.
My hope for the future:
Well, lots of bird action, but I haven't been able to identify any of them, except the wild turkeys. In a 5 hour drive from home, everything bird is totally different from what I know.
Planes fly over occasionally from the airport in Austin. One plane flew low, was loud, made some whistling sound, and it set off some coyotes that kept yipping until it was out of sight and hearing range. Cows better keep an eye on their baby calves. I don't think the ranch herd has a donkey or alpaca to chase them away. Being on a hill and overlooking a valley of wildlife mingling with cattle, I thought of this:
The years long road construction project in Austin is finished, so we breezed through it quickly. We dreaded it for nothing. Seems this ranch had a 5 inch rain day a few weeks ago, and grass is green, trees and brush have gotten taller and the foliage is more lush. That said, it hasn't rained a drop since, so the perpetual drought continues.
I will give you all a little run down of the concert and a deer head count later tonight.
In the meantime, I am worried Israel/Us will attack the funeral gathering in Iran. As well, other stuff is happening everywhere.
So,this is where we are and what we see:
(spring season for the Bluebonnets, Longhorns forever.)
This is an open thread, where dropping in information, ideas, opinions are encouraged. If you think it is worth sharing with your friends here, then help yourself.
Let 'er rip!
Comments
How are y'all?
You think y'all is a joke, come to Texas! Lol!
Y'all have some fun, share info, and enjoy your holiday in whatever suits you friends!
I will enjoy hearing from yo, fer shure! (You think that isn't real? Lol!)
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Happy anniversary cuff!
.
Another hot one here. Like the shot of the
Longhorn in the Bluebonnets. What, me worry?
This from Stevie's Hotter than the Fourth of July album.
Have fun in the hills!
Zionism is a social disease
Good morning, Cap'n!
Thanks for the tune!
In the spring, tour buses from San Antonio and New Braunfels take drives to wineries, and all along the highway, ranchers will dedicate an acre or so to bluebonnets. Show offs. Heh...
I hope you are enjoying your morning coffee, readying for tonight's fireworks.
Take care, my friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Peace and freedom for everyone
and may you all have a rockin' 666th of July...
"It's time for a revolution" -- Frank Zappa
Good morning, Cass!
That song crunches down virtually all of our shameful expressions of our nationhood. Good one!
Take care, friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Good morning...
You might enjoy the merlin app for bird song (and picture) ID. It is free, and is a Cornell bird lab project.
We've had rain all around the last two afternoons. They did help cool off things, but nary a drop of rain so far. Perhaps today will be the lucky day.
Y'all enjoy the concert(s), and be safe in your travels. Thanks for the OT!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Good morning, Lo!
Yas it got dark, ou just can't catch a rain break, can you? Maybe you will get a bit today.
I thought it would be hot here, but there is a constant strong breeze, cool, only warming up a few hours in the afternoon. When we got settled in on Thursday, after the sun set, that breeze got downright chilly. I didn't bring anything long sleeved, so resorted to covering myself with a bath towel!
We are driving like responsible adults, not because we are, but because we noticed the tags are past due for renewal as of July 1. As I have said, it isn't the first crime that gets you a ticket or an arrest, it is the second.
I will try that app. There are about 30 birds flying to the pond, doing a u-turn, then flying away. Over and over. I do not know what they are.
Time for another cup of coffee, and maybe to skim the Google News headlines, catch up on whatever stupid shit the US is doing today.
Take care, dear friend, and enjoy your holiday!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Thanks!
Thank you for the Merlin app. There are so many bird types in the area I’ve lived the past year. They’re the main feature of interest on my walks. I’ve often wished I could ID who was singing. How generous of them to share for free. There’s an app to ID plants but you have to pay.
Anya
For all the flag wavers out there
.
some subversive music from our cultural awakenings.
Zionism is a social disease
Good one!
n/t
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Places I go people love
Places I go people love America and Americans. They have family who are Americans and wish to come and live here themselves. Of course I'm talking about mostly Laos. I think that if you are proud of who you are, it carries over to pride of place where you come from. Ashamed of who you are and what you've done carries over to shame of country, family, and kinship.
I am American is one of the first things I learned how to say in Mandarin Chinese. The beautiful country, that's what they call us. and we are known as the beautiful country people. May-gwo-ren.
On weekends like this one I hang those half circle flags from the sides of my second story porch. I notice others around this small town do the flag thing. It's a way to be a little patriotic and have a little fun. As I'm putting them up guys driving by in jacked up pickups and Boulder refugees in Subarus both, smile and wave.
The declaration we are celebrating is a fairly revolutionary document for it's time. Based on John Locke's ideas of the Social Contract and Natural Laws. In a nutshell, the enlightenment.
Early summer is a great time for a holiday.
It's been my experience...
that people I have met over the years that feel morally superior to others are themselves exhibiting feelings of inferiority.
Ah, my time in Laos
was spent talking to men who had been promised that if they cooperated with US soldiers, they and their families would be taken to the US and granted citizenship. The gentlemen escaped being executed for betraying their country. They clearly understood that we US tourists have no say in what our country does. I was there to throw some tourist cash at them and apologize.
No doubt, the US is beautiful No doubt it does ugly murders and theft daily, all over the world.
Enjoy being a super patriot, ban nock. Flying the flag makes a statement, as does burning it.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
That kind of pseudo-psychology went out with Readers Digest.
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 morning otc et. y'all. Too early to write coherently and
all like that, but I had to echo Lookout's suggestion that you download the Merlin app . The Cornell bird lab is a go-to resource for all birders and ornithologists and the Merlin app is a great tool for identifying the birds you see and hear.
Se here's a yawl fer ya,
If you don't believe me, ask Cap'n Q. Fer sure, fer sure
I have no particular fondness for the fourth except that it was a date upon which, for many years, I attended celebratory pig roasts out in the woods as the highlight of a week or so of camping and all such ooutdoor rituals. I also never really developed much appreciation for fireworks, saw far, far too many f them as a little kid to be at all wowed by them as an adult.
I have been known to answer California when asked where I am from abroad, and have considered obtaining and wearing a "Berkeley" logo windbreaker, so I know what you mean. My nephews, when wandering abroad years back pretended to be Canadians.
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 --
Too true
.
I can testify, when the second mast is aft of the
rudder post, it is a yawl. The memory saying is:
in a blow down, ya can't catch yawl. In other words
when the sticks are breaking above deck, the aft mast
just goes overboard trailing aft. A ketch rig has the smaller
mast forward of the rudder post whereas a yawl is positioned aft.
It is all about balancing the sail plan to ease steering resistance.
Which has a lot to do with hull design in general. Keel shape and
placement, as well as center of effort with regards to the wind.
Zionism is a social disease
Never learned the blowdown bit, just
"mizzen stepped abaft the rudderpost"
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 --
Yeah, y'all can be transcribed as yawl
.
in sailing terms. In a yawl rigged vessel, the smaller mast is
positioned aft of the rudder whereas a ketch has the smaller
mast located ahead of the rudder post. It has to do with balancing
helm resistance and center of effort. Personally, I prefer the yawl,
as you don't have another stick in your face and the cockpit is less
complicated. Can't catch yawl.
Zionism is a social disease
Good morning, el!
Yawl? Where is spell check when you need it?
I may check out an occasional fireworks display, mostly on New Year's Day, since I like to celebrate that we made it through a year without starting a nuclear war.
If an American wants to be outed as an ignorant, unsophisticated yahoo, spend some time in Paris. London is almost as snooty. The Chinese seem to marvel at our lack history and culture, but are not rude about it.
Yeah, I gotta have some bird help. One just sat on a limb about 10 ft. away and had a cicada brunch.
I meant to mention that there is quite a bit of purple sage in bloom. Nice.
Thanks for the tunes! I want to go to a fancy shoe store now.
Take care and enjoy your holiday, and I hope you have ear plugs, dear friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Ahhh, purple sage, love the sight and smell.
Didn't really like the Zane Grey version all that much, but the NEW Riders is a whole different matter
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 --
Cool tune!
n/t
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Snooty Frenchmen, fer shure
About 1968 I visited Paris for the first time with a friend. We ate some hot dogs we bought from a street cart. I was sick all that night, running from my room to the bathroom down the hall. My father at the time had a business partner who was from France. He had lived in the U.S. for decades but still had a strong French accent. When my mother told him about my experience, he said very huffily, “Well, if she goes to Paris and eats a hot dog, she deserves to get sick.”
Anya
Hey, Anya!
Uncouth heathen, you!
The hotel in Paris where Trafalgar tour co. booked us was within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower. It was so shabby. Holes in the carpet. Homeless people in the courtyard, squatting and shitting. The beer and wine bar was at the front desk. As soon as I asked for a beer, in English, with no English accent, the front desk guy would frown, take his time, slam a can of beer on the desk top far enough away that I had to walk to it. 2 days of this prick, being superior, even though he worked the night shift in the shabbiest hotel I have ever stayed in, but he was French. The, my roommate and I took a stroll, finding a patio bar with seating right by the river. We were the last people to be seated. We were the last to be attended by the waitress. Drinks and food were slammed on the table. The food was cold before we were handed silverware. We knew better than to order a hamburger.
I never booked with Trafalgar again. I booked every tour with Gate 1, did a couple of trips with local guides.
I can't imagine Macron having to be respectful to Trump!Have a great holiday, chica!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Happy Anniversary!
OtC ❤️ JtC
I've been busy watching the political newsfront in NE Asia. The regime change plan is ongoing by the US supported insurrection faction but seems to be fizzling out. Or maybe I should call it a dud.
Morse Tan seems to be the US "tip of the spear" if one will pardon the expression. This article linked below shows him at the Chamsil Olympic Park venue. Tan is being investigated for criminal defamation of President Lee, which is typically a civil action, unless committed during the official dates for election campaigning. I understand he has met with Preacher Jeon from Sarang Jaeil Church. Jeon is out on bail. He is charged with instigating the Seoul Western Courthouse riot, after that court ruled that Yoon Seok-yeol needed to be committed to pretrial detention again for criminal offenses. Imo Jeon's troopers/street thugs were also outside Yoon's official Hannan dong residence while he was resisting subpoenas and arrest for the criminal insurrection charges.
Tan lately has been orchestrating the "Stop the Steal" operation in South Korea after the June 3 elections.
Morse Tan was Dean of the law school at Liberty University. This is a short video of him at CPAC in 2025 spreading disinformation about South Korea. The way to support democracy is to support a military coup in South Korea? If Lee was going to be convicted why was a coup d'etat necessary?
I learned of an interesting analysis of China's strategic view of the US published in Korean, called China Analyzes US "sinking" scenario. I think the surprising thing about the book, is that China doesn't want the US to collapse or fail as one of the great powers, it would be too disruptive of the world order. China also regards US weakness as primarily the result of the weakness of its internal government which allows it to be undermined by special interests who have been in the process of destroying the prosperity of the middle class, wrecking the health care system, allowing predatory and fraudulent financial practices on Wall Street, carrying out interminable wars, and allowing defense industry corruption and waste to go unchecked. Thus US strength has been hollowed out from the inside, now blamed on China. Dismantling globalism and returning to neo mercantile practices is a short term desperate fix that will not serve long term recovery. They are looking past the Trump administration and hoping for more informed and competent leadership.
己所不欲，勿施于人。
Good morning, soryang!
That's great news from SK!
Btw, I always felt something was "off" at Liberty Univ. Dean Tan, please note that Liberty Univ. Law School is the resort for students that can't score high enough on their admissions exams to get into any other law school. You jerk.
Thanks for the news and for the anniversary congrats, friend. We are setting a new record for relaxing, and feeling no stress!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Posted without comment but it is pretty good.
Good afternoon, humphrey!
I can't come up with a single argument or single fact in disagreement with that brilliant video!
Always, friend, keep 'em comin'!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Dangerous 4th of July celebration antics
Who dreams up this shit?
American flag skydiver crashes into beer tent (VIDEO)
The parachutist appeared to clip trees while carrying a giant US flag during an Independence Day event in California
https://www.rt.com/news/642570-american-flag-skydiver-crashes-rodeo/
ce 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 --
There's some irony
in this guy's show of patriotism, only to land flat on his face.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Hmm!
Good article here-
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jul/04/us-history-destruc...
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
Ouch!
Oh!
Snap!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
We are back from the concert.
It was fun! They played country, and Purple Rain, and some Fleetwood Mack,and fun was had by all! And JtC stepped on my toes when we danced!
The deer count is 22, does ad fawns, no bucks. 2 wild turkeys.
The man singing at the outdoor stage was Dallas Moore, old, limping, going strong, ties to Willie and David Allen Coe, was in their bands for decades. I bought a coozie that says, "Get drunk, piss on the fire".
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981