Open Thread - Thurs 02 Feb 2023: Just Some Tidbits

Just Some Tidbits
Me being me, I've got to share :). Recently I've noticed a couple articles in the alternative press about ways to move towards a green economy, taxing the rich for a more equitable and fair country, and so on. On the other hand, I've also noticed the usual depressing news.

One Way to Move Forward to a Green Economy - No More Weapons:
Workers in the military-industrial complex support moving their jobs and manufacturing resources from military to civilian use. This is not surprising to me, people are not generally stupid, they know that making more and more weapons and military machines doesn't help anyone really. The article talks about two reports, one of which discusses how the military-industrial complex developed, and how much pollution, environmental destruction 'dollar for dollar, military spending creates far fewer jobs than spending on other sectors like education, health-care, and mass transit' and relative poverty the industry creates. The other report was a survey of, admittedly a small number, of workers in the military industrial complex in the US and Britain. Many of them think moving towards green industry, halting spending on weapons (and moving that spending to civil production and social projects) and not making new weapons is a good idea. I agree, it's a great idea, let's do it!


Workers building a bus in 2018 in CA ( from the article above)

Another Way Forward to a Better Society and Economy:
Oxfam, a global group that champions economic justice, amongst other things, released its annual report on how much the rich take from our economies, our environment, etc. They time this report to coincide with Davos. Anyway, the report discusses tax rates, historical tax rates (like the the 'good ole 1950s in the USA when the richest were paying something like 90% in taxes and the world's first mass middle class emerged) and how the tax rates on the richest need to be raised. I love this quote from the WWI era when taxes were being raised:

“If the government has a right to confiscate one man’s life for public purposes,” War Finance Committee chair Amos Pinchot pronounced, “it certainly ought to have the right to confiscate another man’s wealth for the same purposes.”

(note there's a typo in the article. It mentions 2017, but I think it means 1917). Heck, I support it! Tax the Rich, Feed the Poor!

In More 'Normal' Environmental News:
Biden has issued more permits for oil and gas well-drilling on public lands in his first two years than Trump did in the same period of his 'reign'. This is yet more evidence that it doesn't matter which side, donkey or elephant, is in control; they are all basically the same when it comes to oil, gas, and drilling. Lots of nice talk on the donkey side, but not all that much action. No talk on the elephant side, and no action.

On a More 'Funny' or Ironic Note - Who Coulda Predicted This?
Ok, maybe a lot of us. A British equity firm (aka a strip 'em and dump 'em firm) acquired the Democratic Party's campaign tech firm, NGP Van, and... ohh, troubles. Maybe this is why many of the begging emails have stopped?

A Final Comment
I ordered a couple of books from PM Press last week and they just arrived. The books are on aspects of the history of Punk music in England. I'm excited to start reading them, and going back into my memories of that time of my life. I love PM Press. It' radical, in some ways, and supports workers and socialism. When I read their books or website I get kinda ... weird - riled up and hopeful.

One of the books I got: The Fascist Groove Thing: A History of Thatcher's Britain in 21 Mixtapes is gonna be really fun to read. I am going to listen to each mixtape (after I collect all the music) while reading it!

So, thanks for reading, let us know what you think about the above and what's happening with you and what you are learning, paying attention to, pissed off about - whatever!

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Sima's picture

I hope things are going well for everyone. Let us know what's up in the comments!

Some good news about Jaska. Old as she is, she hasn't forgotten her duties. She got her nails done a couple days ago and it's made a huge improvement in her walking. She seems happy again! So she was outside, supervising while we fed the goats. The chickens were on the side lawn around the wood shed, having some scratch while Jaska laid nearby watching. All of a sudden Jaska stood up and started barking. There was loud squawking from the chickens and a big bald eagle flew up, frightened by the dog, after attempting to swoop down and grab a chicken. Go Jaska!

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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

Not really sure the groundhogs are happy - very cold here.
Interviewing today for a caretaker position on a local farm.
A bit of a change-up from the boats, but at least it is on the
water. No goats, but a few bovine types. We'll see.

d46638c3302c0ae03506c77784f7e903.jpg

Thanks for hosting. Go Jaska!

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enhydra lutris's picture

@QMS

Please be advised that on a farm the tiller is some gadget that you dig into the dirt and drag behind a mule or tractor, and not a lever to steer with.

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 --

@enhydra lutris

To till her before you spill her is apt in both the dirt and ocean.
Also applied for a seasonal captain job locally on a little 39'
Boston Whaler. Low stress and local are the goals.

enjoy the mental flagellation!

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Sima's picture

@enhydra lutris
Heh, never thought of that in regards to a boat tiller, but, yea!

We have a walk behind BCS rototiller from Europe. It dates back about 20-30 years, before there were lots of those kinds of rototillers here in the USA. I LOVE that tool.

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2 users have voted.

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

Sima's picture

@QMS
It looks like a nice place, and close to the water is good! What would the position require? Milking? Feeding? Just overseeing?

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2 users have voted.

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

I am glad to be in the part of Texas that isn't frozen.
I am also glad that my office copier is repaired and working normally.
Most of all, court got cancelled this morning, so I slept late, am enjoying several cups of coffee, have way more time to create some intricate pleadings, and lots of time to cause some court mischief.
The virus going round the area is "stomach flu". The bug has missed me thus far.
Hope all is well and Jaska rocks!

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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

Lasted me about 3 days. Not fun. Seems others got it much worse.
Something in the food? Hope Texas can keep the lights on this trip.

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@QMS spread. It seems to recur. I know a couple of kids, 8 and 11, who get it over and over. I had suspected e coli.
Meanwhile, my office cat, likely 16 yrs old or older, has discovered my desk top. She likes to smell my phone, my client files, and my check book.
When my husband can't think of anything better to say, which is a common occurrence, he exclaims, "Honey, we're fucked!" That is how he reacted to this sudden cat love of my desk.
That caretaker job just might be very cool! Nothing like going out and repairing fences in driving rain, chasing down little calves trying to get run over in the roads.
Good luck!

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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

Sima's picture

@on the cusp
I think it's spread via contact with an ill person, or contaminated food or water. But, who knows? I wonder if someone sneezes, if one can catch it that way.

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1 user has voted.

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

enhydra lutris's picture

@on the cusp

the copier is working. Back when I was very young I suggested that we just airlift many, many copiers to all the communist countries, guaranteeing economic collapse and bureaucratic standstill, later, I came to realize how critical the devices were to the "proper" functioning of today's society.

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 --

@enhydra lutris it just shifted storage costs to IT costs. Oh, and judges have the paper file in hand when presiding in court.
Our entire efile system in Texas was the brainchild of District Judge Fred Edwards. He famously died from chronic alcohol abuse. I watched him leave the courthouse, stop in a store, buy a six pack of long neck beer, nice and cold, and drive away, heading home 45 miles away. Bet he carried in 6 empty bottles when he arrived.

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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

@on the cusp ...brought up an old memory I had forgotten about a courts-martial judge I appeared before on a few occasions. In one general courts-martial he adjourned the case and dismissed the jury when the prosecutor began asking legally irrelevant leading questions that really had no other purpose than to taint the jury against my client. I was so used to the previous curmudgeon letting the prosecutors get away with anything, I was thunderstruck. I thought I'm really gonna like this guy.

Turns out he was a heavy drinker. A colleague and I saw him drinking heavily at a local watering hole. Frankly we were surprised to see him there, he was a full bird colonel. The judge obviously was quite drunk, he invited us to drink with him. We declined for a couple of reasons, one of which was thinking fraternizing with the judge might be taken the wrong way by others. He said, "don't worry about it." In fact whatever we said making our apologies he said, "don't worry about it."

The next day we found out he had been arrested for drunk driving and immediately dismissed from duty and sent back to Virginia or wherever he came from. This bar was literally right across from the base, he could have easily taken a cab. Some time later at another event, I was distressed to hear that there had been a terrible tragedy affecting the judge's family years earlier in which his child had simply disappeared and was never found.

I had completely forgotten these events until I read your post.

edited to remove my hitch hiking experiences- wrong thread.

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語必忠信 行必正直

@soryang @soryang He was pulled over, arrested for suspected "dwi" (driving while intoxicated). Cops put him in the back seat with it in mind to get him to the jail for the breathalyzer test. 45 minutes after you drink your last drink, your blood alcohol level peaks. Afterwards, it drops gradually.
He told the cops he was the district judge, they just kept him in the cop car for about 4 hours. When he entered the jail, blew in the machine, he blew a legal amount of blood alcohol content.
That made news, and he still won re-election!

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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

Sima's picture

@on the cusp
I haven't had a flu in years, no exposure to young kids (except at the gym) but I hate the stomach flu! Sounds like it was a good day at work too. And I hope the ice and cold stay the heck away from you!

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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

@Sima who said it is rampant in this community. My friend took her kids to see a dr. in a neighboring community 20 miles away. That dr. said the same thing. That was the condition of the majority of their patients. At least they are doing some lab work to pin point it.
The law office 2 blocks from mine has 3 secretaries, all of whom live out of this county. They are all out sick with this stomach flu.
Is this just an east Texas thing? Are the damn alligators the spreaders?

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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

I'm generally retreating into news and media evasion, greatly improving my attitude and productivity. However, I'm due for an infusion today, so that might restore my enthusiasm and tolerance for the mental self-flagellation that results from reading the news today.

You'd think that they could have at least sold NGP VAN to KK&R in order to keep it in country, that would be the patriotic thing to do. Heh. Dash 1

be well and have a good one

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6 users have voted.

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 --

Sima's picture

@enhydra lutris
It's getting too much, sometimes. I saw these articles on a rare foray into reading the news again. I never watch it, except for Breaking Points, sometimes. And even then I tend to skip a lot of their stuff. So, you aren't alone in that!

As for patriotic? Heh, that's only for us little people, not big business, not the Democratic Party!

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2 users have voted.

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

Brazil and Argentina, have recently unveiled plans to create a common currency called
the Sur - (translated as south).

It won’t replace the Brazilian real and Argentine peso, but will rather run beside them. It is not clear yet how the new monetary unit would be valued, but the Brazilian government is reportedly looking at stablecoins as a possible reference.

The financial gymnastics these countries are having to perform to negate the risk of
US sponsored sanctions is getting interesting. Investors may soon wake up?

Brazil and Argentina would invite other Latin American countries to join

The writing is on the wall. Greenbacks are losing international influence, therefore
BRICS, SUR, rubles and yen are getting traction.

https://www.rt.com/business/570706-single-latin-american-currency-dollar/

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Sima's picture

@QMS
I don't want the dollar to fail, I don't want to be in a super poor nation, but I don't want to be in the 'leader' (exploiter) of the world nation either.

up
2 users have voted.

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