Saturday Open Thread - 6/29/24: Odds and Ends
Good morning!
As I compose this, I am looking at hills. I am in the Texas Hill Country, taking in the gorgeous views, making a valiant effort to relax.
Like a dumb ass, I checked my emails, wound up talking to a lawyer for an hour before I got unpacked.
Anyway, the cottage and surrounding yard look so spruced up and lovely this weekend. I await the cattle, deer, and wild turkeys.
Well, I remember stories about WWII about what happened here.
War Rationing Begins
During the spring of 1942, a rationing program was established that set limits on the amount of gas, food and clothing consumers could purchase. Families were issued ration stamps that were used to buy their allotment of everything from meat, sugar, fat, butter, vegetables and fruit to gas, tires, clothing and fuel oil.
The United States Office of War Information released patriotic posters in which Americans were urged to “Do with less—so they’ll have enough” (“they” referring to U.S. troops).
Meanwhile, individuals and communities conducted drives for the collection of scrap metal, aluminum cans and rubber, all of which were recycled and used to produce armaments. Individuals purchased U.S. war bonds to help pay for the high cost of armed conflict.
Mom was living in Baytown, TX, and Dad was at the hospital on the Army base in San Antonio. There was a black market for vouchers for gas, and cars would carry as many folks in them as they could stuff into the seats. She did manage to go see him, and he managed to slip out of the hospital in another soldier's uniform, and go for walks down the Riverwalk, and cold beer, of course. Dear One and I have taken such a walk, but didn't have to sneak around the highways, lie down in the floorboards so cops couldn't do a head count on a drive by.
A song from that time:
Now, we ration for...whom? We will own nothing and will be happy while some will own everything?
Who? Will the Gates family be eating bugs? Fake meat? Does anyone believe that?
Caitlin Johnstone did bring up an excellent point about Biden being taken off the November ballot, due to dementia, but staying in office to fill out his term. It is in joe's ebs last night.
Who is crazy (besides Biden)?
TPTB. As always.
I watched the debate on my computer. I have a tv that I have not turned on in 4 years. I didn't watch it due to vested interest in the big win. I watched it because of its' historical importance. If this country makes it a few more generations before it dissipates, that debate will be seen as a major shift in how our government works, how elections work, and how the empire fell.
Whatever comes, we need each other. Always.
This OT is a conversation starter, so take the conversation any which way you wish.
Let 'er rip!
Comments
Your turn, friends!
Here is the place where you let spill thoughts and stuff and things!
Hope you all have a great weekend planned, and that the plan pans out!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Hot and steamy this morning...
The good news is we got 0.5" yesterday and another 0.3" last night. Already mid-80's and now running the air.
we were invited to an outdoor party today, but I'm not going. Just too hot to enjoy.
I did get some cooking in on the smoker this week. Smoked a turkey breast below a pork butt. The pork fat bastes the turkey and keeps it moist. Guess I'll freeze about half since I'm not taking it to the potluck today.
The debate (which I didn't watch but listen to analysis) illustrates the state of US empire. A choice between an egotistical narcissist and a warmongering dementia patient. I'm still looking for a bait and switch at the DNC in August, but we'll have to wait and see.
Enjoy your mini-vacation, and thanks for the OT!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Good morning, LO!
I know what you mean about avoiding the outdoors due to hot weather.
Decades ago, a hurricane knocked out the electric grid. I slept under a wet beach towel for a few nights.
I have a small smoker a neighbor made for me. He was a welder. I used to smoke briskets. Another friend brought me mesquite wood from his ranch. Maybe one day I will have the time to fire it up again.
Your pork fat drip on the turkey is a great technique! Yum yum!
I am glad you got rain. Your garden is happy, no doubt.
Watching the debate was a peculiar experience. It felt pre-recorded, very scripted. For a portion of it, Biden looked straight ahead. For another portion, he was looking slightly to his left, even turning his body left. When he mumbled and couldn't be understood, the stenographer doing the closed caption nevertheless understood his every mumble. After it was over, Jill spoke to a small crowd as Biden stood by, speechless and expressionless. She got applause by bragging that he answered every question. What an accomplishment for the man who can drop a nuke anywhere, any time.
There doesn't seem to be anything that embarrasses the Bidens.
I feel the urge to go shop for a tee shirt. My secretary wore one to work last week that said, " George Strait, Whataburger, Bluebonnets, Luckenbach." I may go to the Luckenbach General Store today, see if I can do her one better!
Take good care, friend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Conspiracy theory
The thought crossed my mind that during the debate Joe may’ve had an earpiece which received input from his masters. This would explain why he was able to list his accomplishments even though they were so poorly delivered. Could also be another reason no noisy audience was allowed. Your comment about the stenographer just amplified my thoughts.
Anya
I thought of an earpiece
too. Very odd that he could run down a list but not complete sentences.
There week of grooming him for the debate was a flop. His handlers knew it was coming.
All of them know he isn't competent to stand trial, or to campaign. Where is the call to get him out of the most powerful office in the damn world? How are we ok with him running the show for 6 more months as we escalate tensions with 2 world powers?
The joke among right wingers is there are lots of pedos in office being blackmailed. As long as they include some Republicans on the list, I can't really argue their point! Lol!
I am going to go shop for a tee shirt, then get ready for a concert tonight. The dance hall has fans, no a/c, so we are hoping the steady breeze blowing all morning will continue.
Always good to "see" you, chica! No conspiracy theory is off limits regarding the strangest debate in our country's history!
Enjoy your weekend!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Good question
It seems to me that the answer is that POTUS is not really the most powerful office in the damn world. This was shown to be the reality by the defenestrations of JFK and Nixon. God only knows what pissed off the permanent government about Nixon. My own guess is that Nixon took the lead in improving relations with the Soviet Union and what we used to call Red China. They really don't want the Prez to do anything but talk.
At any rate, the Biden Saga shows that the powerful people who control our society are cool with Sleepy Joe. If they kick him out at this point, it will not be due to his "policies" but due to the fact that Biden is becoming a laughingstock.
I also remain skeptical of the vote count. It is possible that he "wins" the election, the same way
that Hillary won the Dem nomination in 2016, and how Biden won that nomination in 2020.
I cried when I wrote this song. Sue me if I play too long.
Was he sick or not?
They claim he had a brain fog inducing cold that caused him to lose the most important debate of his career, but it wasn't so bad as to keep him from two campaign events later that night. Anyone pushing to keep him in the race should be ashamed of themselves. And all of this is what many people have seen coming for FOUR YEARS, just two weeks ago the punditry was unanimous that this was the best Biden we've ever seen. And still I have friends who insist that the emperor is wearing the most beautiful robes of silk and gold. It's this rub-my-face-in-shit treatment of me as a would be voter that is beyond insulting.
“He may not have gotten the words out but the thoughts were great.”
Hola otc. So it's a McFerrin morning? Maybe everyday
should be one, at least if you wake up on the right side of the grass in your right mind. Didn't watch nuthin' and still won't, and trying to avoid reading about it too. 'Sall bullshit. They'll kill us or they won't, fast or slow, but nobody gets out of here alive anyway. Today, however, I'm still alive and have way far too much to do to even think about any of that shit, tons of major projects, gonna last to July or August, so
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 --
Thanks for the song!
All you missed was a shit show, not a debate. What a surprise!--not. What I would most appreciate is being informed of exactly who is running our government.
What kind of projects do you have going? All of our projects outdoors were delayed by endless rain. Now, it is too hot do work outdoors. The young guy who helps Dear One occasionally cannot withstand the heat. He can't put in more than an hour a day.
Well, get out into your garden, pick some fruit off your trees. It is acceptable for you to openly brag about how delicious and healthy your yield is.
Behave yourself and 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
I am a bit busy today so I will just pop in with a bit of humor.
Good one!
I got my boutique shopping done, and am watching the clock, making it a point to arrive at the dance hall early.
We got the obligatory Luckenbach tee shirts, and Dear One even got a really nice fishing shirt bearing the Luckenbach logo. The music blaring was all from the singers who made the place famous, and the young woman working the cash register ignored it. She is likely a Taylor Swift type.
Now, those 30 or 40 dead people with ties to Hillary were either suicidal, accident prone, or careless about walking around in dangerous neighborhoods. Not her fault. Not at all.
We would be lost if you didn't X-snoop.
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
Still Alive
I haven’t been around lately. I finally had the dreaded knee replacement surgery. Surgery went great. Although there’s still pain, I think that it will finally ease up after a few weeks. I have yet to meet anyone who has regretted having this done. In fact while sitting in the waiting room beforehand, I talked with a retired airman who was probably 10 years older than me who had his done in April and he was walking just fine. He told me that I was at the right place to have it done.
A few days before my surgery, I received word that my beloved father had died. It was unexpected but not unexpected. He hadn’t been ill, just old. He was only a strapping 90 years old. I think that he was just tired of living. And I believe that he hadn’t really had a happy day since Mom left seven years ago, even though he had women throwing themselves at him. The world seems smaller without him in it and I find it hard to grieve because of all the pain from my surgery.
I watched a little of the debate when I was changing channels. I saw where Trump told Biden that this country has gone downhill since he became President. True. I am surprised that they even let him debate. I thought that they might have used the excuse of him having an “emergency medical event.” Watch for those words when they replace him. They’ve probably already given him too many speed cocktails to keep him going. It’s probably not working as well as it used to. I even wonder if TPTB might give him a super one to disable him on purpose. Having worked with the elderly for several years, every time I look at him, I can see the deterioration. Do you remember that when they finally admitted that Reagan had dementia, you never saw him again? This is the type of aging which is done behind closed doors. I would not be surprised if we have the first female President before the end of the year.
I hope you have fun at your concert. I can’t think of anything more fun that listening to live music. I’m going to check out who is coming to this area in the fall and hopefully I should be healed and raring to go.
I am so glad
your surgery went well! Great news! The pain will go away. And I am glad you are back, too!
I have a client who's surgery was so goofed, it put her in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.
This time of year must be disappear time for the deer and wild turkeys. The only deer I have seen was on the adjacent ranch, and I haven't seen any turkeys, but did hear one in the distance.
As for your Dad, I experienced much the same thing with the robust, healthy 91 year old who outlived Mom by 5 or 6 years. He was constantly being flirted with by every older woman in town. Good grief! Dads are sometimes very damn cool! I hope you have a kagillion good memories of his long life, and I wish for you a short period of grief, and a long time to cherish those memories.
I didn't think Biden was mentally normal, for want of a better term, when he was campaigning in 2015.
He needs to resign. Today. What harm can Harris do in 6 months? She is not exactly a hands on type.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Good to hear you are healing E
.
.
Sorry about your Dad. Sometimes it is better just to exit.
Caught only a brief clip of the debate posted by Russel Brand.
Something about confusing Medicaid with Covid. Sheesh
Biden really needs to retire post haste. One would think his
wife is embarrassed by now?
Good luck with the knee and especially the surrounding tissue.
My experience with the procedure is less than stellar after 15
years.
question everything
I’m coming up on
2 years on my new knees. I’m still loving them, and I can testify that the pain is short-lived. I put up with them pre-surgery for decades longer than I should have, and have no regrets. The PT is the key to both pain control and to the ultimate outcome. You’ll do fine!
WRT Tweedledumb and Tweedledumber: bleh. Can’t really say much more about them, other than I can’t wait for it to be over. A pox on all their houses…
Twice bitten, permanently shy.
"Man on the Street" questions in China
.
Funny business.
What's your first impression?
My take:
.
For some reason, the Chinese seem more like Americans than the Americans do themselves.
In the US, people on the street seem more like like memes or editorial cartoons.
I just read that Biden
can't be taken off the ballots in 3 swing states except via death or 25th Am.
Anyone else run across that info?
Interesting times, folks!
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Can't remove him from the ballot?
With six months notice?
Well, that's US Democracy in action, I guess. Delusional until the bitter end.
I haven't seen Joe Biden on television for years and years. Not since his cheese slipped off his cracker.
Two things I cannot stand to see or think about. Animal abuse and elder abuse.
I have a visceral reaction to seeing an incompetent man with Adderall drip, talking through a face paralyzed by Botox. I can handle the photographs, but a video is too much for me. So, I have managed my schedule to avoid public displays of his abused state. I don't know what to think of people in the Democratic Party who deny that this deplorable situation exists. I've come to realize that many members of US political parties are prone to serious mental disabilities and should be treated with kindness.
Have a good time tonight. It sounds like fun.
On a sidetone: I read that the Chinese have developed a supplement that makes people feel cool without air conditioning. They have also taken a Great Leap Forward in anti-aging skin care. And apparently have developed a cure for diabetes. But I don't think we'll be hearing about any of this any time soon.
China wants healthy citizens.
The US, pharma run wild, wants to sell us things that help our symptoms, somewhat. No cure for anything. Lobbyists, and so on.
If they do have miracle cures, we here will never know. No $ in cures.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
No cure for anything is the most profitable business model.
Nature embodies the true love of life, backed by an eons long trial and error study of what works. Balance and competition are the engine that drive the process, ruthless and unsentimental, but neutral and utterly practical.
The plant kingdom is Nature’s repository of chemical compounds that the pharmaceutical industry has a history of “discovering” and claiming ownership of. When their period of patent protection runs out they modify the chemistry, not to make it better, but simply to make more profit.
So called “primitive societies” viewed plants that healed as a gift from Nature. Modern medicine has not only turned that attitude of gratitude and actual healing on its head, it has also repeatedly worked to suppress or prohibit the use of Natural drug store.
Modern medicine is all about profit. Cures are the last thing they want.
“ …and when we destroy nature, we diminish our capacity to sense the divine,and understand who God is, and what our own potential is and duties are as human beings.- RFK jr. 8/26/2024
Dementia Joe becomes a new man after receiving his meds. LOL
Good grief.
Doesn't he look so strong! Now? Suddenly?
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
Hmmm!
The rest of the tweet:
Coincidences. Always.
Shit happens. To put it into perspective that might make Israel look bad is conspiracy theory.
As I say, shit happens. Coincidences. Always.
Over and over.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
The wonderful time we expected
was just above ok.
The lead singer of the Derailers had to rush out to vomit twice. He said it was some flu. His voice was quivery, but did get better the longer he sang post-vomit. We didn't think he would make it for 2 hours. People who had heard them before left, said it was just not good.
Disappointment, still happy to have been there, done that. I didn't think the lead singer would trudge onward, but he did. We didn't stick around for autographs.
The cottage right beside the cottage we are in has a couple that came here specifically to go to the concert, just like we did.
The husband can't dance, the wife wanted to dance, so I grabbed her, taught her the Texas Two Step in the space on one song.
Funny how women dance together in Texas dance Hall all the time, but they are NOT gay/trans at all, or not viewed as such. They just want to dance with someone who knows how.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981