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Hello Sunshine, Goodby Freezing Temps: Open Thread

Thank goodness the freezing cold has passed us and the roads are now drivable. For those who are waiting for the icy weather to reach them, be prepared. It is really cold out there.

Today will be my first day outside in about 4 days. I'll be back after I make my rounds.

It is also Christmas Eve. Merry Xmas Eve, to all who observe.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    "Happy Christmas to all, (5.00 / 3) (#1)
    by Peter G on Sat Dec 24, 2022 at 06:14:08 PM EST
    and to all, a good night."

    It's been great winter weather here in central NM. (5.00 / 3) (#3)
    by desertswine on Sat Dec 24, 2022 at 08:22:49 PM EST
    Sunny and in the 50's.  The Big Storm missed us.  Happy Christmas to all.

    I got up one Christmas morning and we didn't have nothing to eat. We didn't have an apple, we didn't have an orange, we didn't have a cake, we didn't have nothing.

    Muddy Waters



    Currently 13 degrees here (5.00 / 4) (#5)
    by MO Blue on Sun Dec 25, 2022 at 10:18:31 AM EST
    Feels like -2 degrees. Might get up to a whopping 25 today. Luckily we didn't get any heavy snow.

    Luckily my youngest grandson and his fiancée were able to fly in for Christmas after long delays. They finally arrived at 3:00 a.m. Christmas Eve. My oldest, living in Chicago, came in a couple of days early to make sure he didn't get caught up in really bad storms. All is well now that they are here.

    Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone. Here is to good food, good companions and warm memories regardless of the weather.

    Parent

    But today it is 68? Checked (none / 0) (#73)
    by oculus on Thu Dec 29, 2022 at 02:19:53 PM EST
    weather for St. Peters.

    Parent
    64 here (5.00 / 1) (#74)
    by MO Blue on Thu Dec 29, 2022 at 02:30:42 PM EST
    Beautiful day after a really cold spell. Go figure.

    Everyone should expect beautiful, warm weather from 1/17-1/24. I'm traveling to Mexico to get away from the cold during that period. So expect warm weather while I'm gone.

    Parent

    Where in Mexico (none / 0) (#84)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Dec 29, 2022 at 06:01:11 PM EST
    are you going?

    We are going to Sayulita in February.

    Parent

    I am going to an all inclusive resort (none / 0) (#110)
    by MO Blue on Mon Jan 02, 2023 at 02:23:21 PM EST
    in Riviera Maya, it has miles of beaches to walk, 4 international buffet restaurants, 8 specialty restaurants, 4 snack bar and grills, 15 bars and 4 pools. Local tour group organizes it and it is popular enough that they offer it twice a year.

    Never heard of Sayulita. What is it like and is it expensive. Looking for somewhere to go February 2024.

    Parent

    Sayulita (none / 0) (#112)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Jan 04, 2023 at 08:39:35 PM EST
    is on the west coast about an hour north of Puerto Vallarta. We are renting an AirBnB for a week for 6 people for around 2400. It's a condo that has everything, pools, saunas etc.

    We were in Riviera Maya in August of '21 at Playa del Carmen. The beaches there are nothing to write home about & Tulum's are much better. A lot of people went over to Cozumel for the beaches.

    Anyway where you are going sounds fantastic and I can understand why it's so popular!

    Parent

    We are definitely not pass having (none / 0) (#76)
    by MO Blue on Thu Dec 29, 2022 at 02:36:38 PM EST
    our plans disrupted due to Covid.

    Corinto, Nicaragua, one of the cities we were scheduled to visit on our February Panama cruise, just closed its ports to cruise ships. Hope no other scheduled ports close. 14 days at sea is not at all a trip I would enjoy.

    Parent

    This is not encouraging (none / 0) (#78)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Dec 29, 2022 at 02:46:03 PM EST

    New research on the Omicron subvariant of the coronavirus has suggested the pathogen could be changing how it attacks the human body shifting from infecting respiratory systems to increasingly targeting the brain.
    Researchers from Australia and France found BA.5 - the coronavirus subvariant driving what is now the world's biggest surge of infections in China - did much more severe damage to mouse brains and cultured human brain tissues than the previous BA.1 subvariant, leading to brain inflammation, weight loss and death.
    The findings challenge the common belief that viruses usually evolve to become less pathogenic.

    Parent

    Jumped the gun by attributing the (none / 0) (#111)
    by MO Blue on Mon Jan 02, 2023 at 02:25:49 PM EST
    Nicaragua closure  to Covid. Evidently they are having civil disturbances and that is why the port had been closed by the government.

    Parent
    McKinley Morganfield (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by jondee on Sun Dec 25, 2022 at 10:53:35 AM EST
    My man.

    He and his running buddy Little Walter got me through some lean times and long nights.

    Peace On Earth, Good Will To Everyone.

    Parent

    Hasn't been above freezing here (none / 0) (#4)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Dec 25, 2022 at 08:01:52 AM EST
    Since Thursday.  Fri morning the chill was 28 below.  There was ice crystals on the inside on my double pane windows.

    It's supposed to be 33 here today.  Currently 17 feels like -5.

    Parent

    When I walked the dog at 1 pm today (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by Peter G on Sun Dec 25, 2022 at 02:00:25 PM EST
    it felt positively balmy out, compared to the last two days. I figured it must be in the mid- to higher 30s. Came inside and checked ... it was 27. What a difference between ordinary cold and single-digits with the wind blowing!

    Parent
    It's colder than (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by jondee on Mon Dec 26, 2022 at 12:14:04 PM EST
    a vampire's demeanor here. Or as Tom Waits says, colder than a ticket-taker's smile at the triple-x theatre on a Saturday night - a smile "like a sliver of moonlight on a prison wall." Cold out there.

    On the other hand:

    Even after all this time

    The Sun never says to Earth

    "You owe me"

    Look what happens

    With a love like that,

    It lights the whole sky.

        Hafiz

    Lordy (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 08:13:30 AM EST
    I didn't say I was Jewish

    `I said I was Jew-ish'



    Or Jew-like, if you prefer (none / 0) (#35)
    by jondee on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 01:40:13 PM EST
    I'm pretty sure that's an affront (none / 0) (#37)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 02:31:33 PM EST
    to Jews.  And the people who love them.  

    Parent
    I agree with JonDee's suggestion that (5.00 / 1) (#38)
    by Peter G on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 02:37:34 PM EST
    Santos's "explanation" of his lie was itself subconsciously and impliedly antisemitic.

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#41)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 02:49:16 PM EST
    Definitely

    I only meant the guy is repulsive and reptilian.

    Sadly the only thing he apparently said that was true is that he is gay.  AFAIK.

    Parent

    And even that's not clear (none / 0) (#42)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 02:51:41 PM EST
    There was a marriage I guess?  Still, I lived with a married father of two for 8 years.

    Parent
    Lots of gay men were at one time married (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by Peter G on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 07:42:50 PM EST
    to women, and quite a few are currently married to women. Santos's recent divorce, to me, means nothing so far as his actual sexuality is concerned. And in any event his sexual orientation is not what is important, one way or another; it is his habitual and casual dishonesty.

    Parent
    See Falsettos. (none / 0) (#60)
    by oculus on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 08:30:23 PM EST
    You've also gotta wonder (none / 0) (#61)
    by jondee on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 08:35:01 PM EST
    a little about his intelligence in thinking that none of this would come out.

    Parent
    He doesn't seem stupid (5.00 / 1) (#62)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 28, 2022 at 08:32:48 AM EST
    just morally empty.  I think maybe he expected exactly what is happening.  He's a media star.  He is the most Trump like of the freshman class.  Everyone lies.  

    Lying is the new black.

    Next he will be blaming Dem oppo and the media for not catching him.  He was testing the system.

    I kind of think the guy has a future in the Republican party.

    Parent

    The Tulsie Gabbard show last night (none / 0) (#63)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 28, 2022 at 08:42:55 AM EST
    filling in for Tucker Carlson, she shredded the guy.

    I won't link but it's all over the internets.

     But it was truly like whiplash to watch the host of a show on a channel that has made big big business of lying live 24/7 for years clutching her pearls about lying.  lying!

    Have you no shame? She asked.  Irony free and with a poker face.

    I actually think the fact he is gay might give them an acceptable excuse to try to dump him.

    Parent

    The Repugs can't dump him. (none / 0) (#64)
    by leap2 on Wed Dec 28, 2022 at 09:46:54 AM EST
    That is to say, Kevin McCarthy can't dump him because McCarthy needs his vote to become Speaker. He needs every scummy vote he can get, with such a slim margin.


    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#65)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 28, 2022 at 10:22:29 AM EST
    Very true

    I actually meant more like dump ON him.
    Try to make him sound other and not like us.

    Your point is the funniest part.  But, there are starting to be big questions about his finances.  And financial statements he signed.  That can be a crime.  They might not have a choice.

    This is going to be the next two years for them.  One after another each nuttier than the last.

    Parent

    Yes. the rags (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by KeysDan on Wed Dec 28, 2022 at 01:21:37 PM EST
    to riches from zero to sixty seems questionable. His explanation of matching buyers of mega yachts with sellers using his chuck-full Rolodex even more so...... because what 34-year old knows about, yet alone,  uses a Rolodex.

    Parent
    It's a metaphoric rolodex (5.00 / 3) (#70)
    by jondee on Wed Dec 28, 2022 at 03:29:58 PM EST
    like him being metaphorically Jewish and metaphorically honest.

    Parent
    Mistakes were made (none / 0) (#66)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 28, 2022 at 10:41:17 AM EST
    Yin Yang (none / 0) (#67)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Dec 28, 2022 at 12:40:36 PM EST

    Marjorie Taylor Greene Defends George Santos
    December 28, 2022 at 10:51 am EST By Taegan Goddard 144 Comments

    Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) attacked Tulsi Gabbard while calling on Republicans to give Rep.-elect George Santos (R-NY) a chance.

    Said Greene: "I think we Republicans should give George Santos a chance and see how he legislates and votes, not treat him the same as the left is.

    She then praised him for "being honest with his district now."



    Parent
    And, she tweeted: : (none / 0) (#68)
    by KeysDan on Wed Dec 28, 2022 at 01:07:18 PM EST
    " the real reason they ( Democrats) are attacking him is because he is the first openly gay Republican elected, and they hate him for it"

    Parent
    On the positive side (none / 0) (#44)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 03:00:02 PM EST
    We now have the Yang to MTGs Yin to make up the Face of the Modern Republican Party for the next 2 years.

    The mind boggles

    Parent

    The whole Trump-Bannon (none / 0) (#48)
    by jondee on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 03:17:08 PM EST
    mentality has set the bar so low, that the reptilian types are burrowing under it and still getting elected.

    In a way, it's like what Jean Paul Sartre said: the worst has already happened. Not say that it couldn't get worse.

    Parent

    It reminds of an old episode of ... (none / 0) (#55)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 05:21:58 PM EST
    ... "The Kids in the Hall", which opened with all the other guys in the cast coming to so-obviously-gay Scott Thompson's dressing room ostensibly just prior to taping, only to discover a rather shapely young blonde woman coming out of the bathroom shower, clad only in a white bath towel.

    So of course, all of Scott's castmates are surprised and stare at him in aghast, and poor Scott only makes matters worse when he says sheepishly by way of explanation, "She's, uh - my sister?"

    The show then took off into a running gag about the phony public outrage generated by the ensuing media scandal over Scott's inadvertent unmasking as a closet hetero, with people accusing him of being a fraud who had stolen his role in "TKITH" from someone who was actually gay, in order to court publicity and fame.

    It all culminated with a large crowd of demonstrators gathered outside the studio demanding that Scott be fired from the cast, chanting "What do we want? Homosexuality! When do we want it? Now!"

    It was a funny episode that flipped conventional wisdom on its ear.

    Parent

    After I posted, I was curious and looked it up on YouTube, found the TKITH episode from season 2 (1990-91) and watched it again. It turns out that my memory was incredibly hazy on the actual details.

    The woman wasn't blonde, she was a brunette and she wasn't clad in a towel but rather, a bathrobe and Scott admits to the guys she's actually his girlfriend and defiantly says so what, what's the big deal if he's now straight? Anyway, it's still really funny even if it wasn't how I had recalled it from over 30 years ago, especially when Dave Foley drags an unwilling Scott from the dressing room and tosses him rudely onstage to admit his ruse to an unruly crowd of "his people."

    Aloha.

    Parent

    I was trying to be (5.00 / 2) (#39)
    by jondee on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 02:47:46 PM EST
    ironic/funny, but those things don't always translate well.

    Parent
    The Biggest Mystery for Me (none / 0) (#57)
    by RickyJim on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 06:47:31 PM EST
    is how he flipped a district by 9 points that voted for Biden by 9 points in 2020.  Was his opponent really that bad?

    Parent
    Well, he's a man for all seasons (none / 0) (#58)
    by jondee on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 07:39:47 PM EST
    Catholic, Jewish, Gay, Straight, a double-dealing bald-faced, liar, a man of unimpeachable integrity..

    Behold The Man.

    Parent

    If you had told me some years ago (5.00 / 3) (#83)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Dec 29, 2022 at 03:37:11 PM EST
    I would ever be defending the FBI from attacks from the right I would have said you had me confused with somebody else

    Also RIP (5.00 / 3) (#92)
    by jondee on Fri Dec 30, 2022 at 10:16:55 AM EST
    Edson Arantes do Nascimento aka 'Pele'.

    "A sorcerer on the pitch" as the English commentators would say, who scored two goals in a Cup Final at seventeen, but who more importantly, always prioritized being an ambassador for peace and love.

    Ginni (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by KeysDan on Fri Dec 30, 2022 at 04:31:14 PM EST
    Comes across, in her J6 deposition, like an extremist right-wing crackpot. An "instigator" as she calls herself, of reactionary groups of several memberships.  As we all suspected, her " best friends" is, in fact, Clarence.

     Although she admitted that Mark Meadows was getting close to becoming a best friend because he made her feel better and able to "keep holding on".  And Clarence, too, but could not remember just how.  But, no talking about politics--- an "iron clad rule". In fact, Ginni assured that Clarence is  not a politician or involved in politics. . No mention of that campaign photo of Clarence and Herschel Walker posing together.

    After affirming that she turned over all related communications to the Committee, she was shown an email in which she endorsed the idea of state legislators rejecting the outcome and appointing Trump electors    Ginni failed to turn over these emails.  Well, you can't remember everything.  Sometimes you can't remember anything..

    "Instigator" (none / 0) (#98)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Dec 30, 2022 at 04:57:29 PM EST
    I can imagine her crinkling her nose and hunching her shoulders when she says that.

    They do not care. The fake news thing was brilliant. Credit where it's due. It absolutely does not matter what they do unless charges can actually be filed. And their supporters will ignore too.

    We have Lindsey with his "find me 5 dead voters and leave it to me"

    Parent

    Happy New Year, everyone! (5.00 / 1) (#99)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Dec 30, 2022 at 10:49:25 PM EST
    We are on Maui for the weekend, visiting with friends. Interisland airfares are so low at $76 R/T, we couldn't resist it. We're staying at the Kula Sandalwoods Inn upcountry on the slopes of Haleakala. Beautiful weather but it's a bit nippy this evening since we're at about 3,500' elevation.

    How much is a "bit nippy" (none / 0) (#100)
    by leap2 on Fri Dec 30, 2022 at 10:55:22 PM EST
    in Hawaii?

    Parent
    It was 52 degrees last night. (none / 0) (#106)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Dec 31, 2022 at 11:18:05 PM EST
    For us, that's chilly. And the higher in elevation you go, the colder it gets. Snow is not an uncommon sight on Haleakala this time of year.

    Parent
    Happy New Year (5.00 / 6) (#101)
    by Zorba on Sat Dec 31, 2022 at 03:53:45 PM EST
    To all!

    And, to good health (5.00 / 3) (#104)
    by KeysDan on Sat Dec 31, 2022 at 06:22:40 PM EST
    you and your family.  

    Parent
    Happy New Year (5.00 / 2) (#105)
    by MO Blue on Sat Dec 31, 2022 at 06:59:08 PM EST
    Everyone.

    Parent
    Wow (none / 0) (#2)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Dec 24, 2022 at 08:12:32 PM EST

    Two days after pro-Donald Trump rioters attacked the Capitol, then-national security adviser Robert O'Brien got a call from Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell and an aide who asked him to look into something he'd been hearing: retired military personnel sympathetic to Donald Trump might be preparing to prevent Joe Biden's inauguration.

    "[H]e was concerned that there were reports that there were retired military personnel who were sympathetic to the president and might be organizing," O'Brien said in the interview. McConnell's own national security aide, Robert Karem, was on the call as well and raised similar concerns about Navy SEALs, O'Brien said.

    link


    The Committee Report (5.00 / 2) (#6)
    by KeysDan on Sun Dec 25, 2022 at 10:33:02 AM EST
    shows just how wide and deep the Republican Party and its supporters were involved in the coup.  The criminal referral addressed Trump, Eastman and others.  The "others" seems to include many, in some way, of the Republican office holders.

    Time to dust off Section 3 of the 14th Amendment (Disqualification Clause) that prohibits any office holder, civil or military, from engaging in insurrection or rebellion at the risk of disqualification.  Trump's referral for prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 2383. Includes assisting and providing aid and comfort to an insurrection.  It clearly applies to a lot of "others". As the report shows.

    Madcap and crackpot theories persisted right up until Biden's.inauguration, such as the idea of Rep Ralph Norman( t R.SC) to involve Marshall (sic) law.  There were text messages exchanged with Meadows about plans for the coup with at least 34 Republicans in Congress.  The Republican Party is a lawless political party.

    Parent

    I am making (none / 0) (#7)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Dec 25, 2022 at 10:46:12 AM EST
    Chicken Pot Pot Pie

    this works well

    I add corn and peas.  Pepperridge Farm pastry crust works great.

    You insert the Pot into the chicken broth using butter and the chicken fat to grab the THC.

    Mmmmmmm

    We were going to have a traditional dinner (5.00 / 2) (#10)
    by Peter G on Sun Dec 25, 2022 at 02:11:27 PM EST
    of ham and latkes, for the 8th night of Hanukkah and first day of Christmas, honoring both traditions of our family's heritage(s). But we're not feeling that hungry. So it will be latkes and a green vegetable only tonight, and save the ham for tomorrow. Last night was the traditional shared reading-out-loud of The Night Before Christmas (a family tradition going back at least 70 years). This year it was a round-robin via FaceTime -- one couplet per reader, then pass it on -- from three cities, including all three daughters, their respective spouses, and the three grandchildren (one too young to participate verbally). And ending with everyone doing the last line in unison, of course.

    Parent
    That sounds lovely (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Dec 25, 2022 at 03:11:16 PM EST
    What a good idea for face time.

    The pie worked. 🥹

    Parent

    Funny story (5.00 / 5) (#12)
    by jondee on Sun Dec 25, 2022 at 05:16:30 PM EST
    a friend with a couple of little kids, 4 and 5ish, who is usually incredibly scrupulous about making things from scratch and organic this and organic that, got behind in everything and told her kids they were going to have a frozen pizza that night. The littlest one started crying and was on the verge of having a complete meltdown/tantrum with his mom right at the end of her emotional rope, when he finally asked through his tears, "But mama, can we at least warm it up?"

    Parent
    Working on a drawing of my (5.00 / 3) (#13)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Dec 25, 2022 at 06:13:38 PM EST
    great GREAT niece.  To give to my brother for Xmas.

    This is an Instagram link.

    link

    I would be curious if you can see it without an Instagram account

    Parent

    Very well done (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by jondee on Sun Dec 25, 2022 at 06:56:55 PM EST
    it looks a little like one of those Hans Holbein sketches.

    Parent
    Wonderful drawing, (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by Zorba on Mon Dec 26, 2022 at 11:58:16 AM EST
    Capt. I have an Instagram account, so I "liked" it, and am also following you now.

    Parent
    Yes (5.00 / 2) (#22)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Dec 26, 2022 at 04:33:19 PM EST
    I agree and now I am following both of you on Instagram. I only have grandson and vacations on my account.

    Parent
    Thanks for the likes (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Dec 26, 2022 at 06:23:24 PM EST
    I followed you back but I had to replace the image with an update so I deleted your likes.  Sorry.

    It will probably look the same to you but it's new and improved 😉

    Parent

    New (5.00 / 2) (#24)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Dec 26, 2022 at 06:24:59 PM EST
    I "reliked" (5.00 / 2) (#28)
    by Zorba on Mon Dec 26, 2022 at 11:24:55 PM EST
    Your picture.

    Parent
    beautiful (5.00 / 1) (#25)
    by leap2 on Mon Dec 26, 2022 at 06:26:15 PM EST
    It's reminiscent of silverpoint. Have you ever tried that technique?

    Parent
    No (none / 0) (#26)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Dec 26, 2022 at 06:47:15 PM EST
    But I also admire it.

    Parent
    A friend did not know what (none / 0) (#14)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Dec 25, 2022 at 06:16:52 PM EST
    A great great niece was.

    It's the daughter of my nephew's son.  My brothers great grandchild.

    Parent

    Yes, I can see it. But (none / 0) (#16)
    by Peter G on Sun Dec 25, 2022 at 07:45:09 PM EST
    I cannot "like" it without an account or otherwise logging in.

    Parent
    Thanks (none / 0) (#17)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Dec 25, 2022 at 07:53:16 PM EST
    I was wondering

    Parent
    What a wonderful gift to give (5.00 / 2) (#27)
    by MO Blue on Mon Dec 26, 2022 at 06:47:56 PM EST
    Lovely. I do not have an instagram account so I am unable to like it on line.

    Parent
    Ham and Hanukkah. (5.00 / 3) (#20)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Dec 26, 2022 at 04:27:04 PM EST
    Made me chuckle. Happy Holidays Peter G.


    Parent
    I love a good Chicken Pot Pie. (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Dec 26, 2022 at 04:31:52 PM EST
    I'll always order that if it's on the menu. Best I've ever ate was at a restaurant called Weidemann's in downtown Meridian, Mississippi. I was passing thru on I-20 and had stopped in for lunch.

    Pennsylvania chicken pot pie not so much. What they call pot pie around here is what I would call "stew". There's no pie, no crust.

    Parent

    Really good one on Netflix (none / 0) (#30)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 09:50:08 AM EST

    Glass Onion

    The right wingers are unhappy

    so you know it's worth the time

    Enough with the stairs (none / 0) (#31)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 10:52:10 AM EST

    Russian Oligarch Dies Falling Out of Window
    December 27, 2022 at 6:41 am EST By Taegan Goddard 165 Comments

    "A Russian sausage magnate and politician who briefly criticised Russia's invasion of Ukraine has died after falling from the third-floor window of a luxury hotel in India," The Telegraph reports.

    "Pavel Antov was a member of Vladimir Putin's United Russia party and a multi-millionaire, having founded one of Russia's largest sausage makers."



    I hope someone is (none / 0) (#32)
    by leap2 on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 11:04:49 AM EST
    keeping a spread-sheet of all of the Oligarchs' Pushing Up Daisies, including a column of Methods of Demise.

    Parent
    They really have no imagination (none / 0) (#33)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 11:38:47 AM EST
    He should have fallen in a sausage machine

    Parent
    or stuffed into a (none / 0) (#34)
    by leap2 on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 01:23:42 PM EST
    They don't make reporters (none / 0) (#36)
    by jondee on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 02:29:48 PM EST
    like that anymore.

    Parent
    That would (none / 0) (#40)
    by KeysDan on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 02:47:56 PM EST
    be right out of a Carl Hiaasen novel.

    Parent
    To avoid SODS (none / 0) (#43)
    by KeysDan on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 02:54:24 PM EST
    (Sudden Oligarch Death Syndrome) Trip Advisor recommends that such gentlemen take hotel rooms on the ground floor and skip the High Tea.

    Parent
    Seen this? (none / 0) (#45)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 03:05:50 PM EST

    Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, an arch loyalist of Vladimir Putin given a new job this week, predicted war between Germany and France next year and a civil war in the United States that would lead to Elon Musk becoming president," Reuters reports.



    Parent
    I think (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by KeysDan on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 03:11:59 PM EST
    Dmitry would be more on the mark with a prediction that Elon as president would lead to a civil war.  But, overall, as prognosticator, he should keep his day job of administering oppression. After all, it is Trump who claims to be " clairvoyant".

    Parent
    Sounds crazy alright (none / 0) (#47)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 03:15:28 PM EST
    In 2015 I would definitely have said it was ridiculous and impossible.      

    Parent
    Dmitry may (none / 0) (#49)
    by KeysDan on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 03:44:54 PM EST
    have had too much vodka and let their plans out of the bag. The German authorities recently broke up a fascist plot to overthrow the government and install Heinrich XIII, Prince of Reuss, of the Thuringer dynasty.  And, Marine Le Pen is "repose et pret".  
    Putin can be counted on to be at the bottom of the pile.

    Parent
    And, Musk-- (none / 0) (#50)
    by KeysDan on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 03:49:59 PM EST
    like his Teslas, is on fire.

    Parent
    The most disturbing moments (none / 0) (#51)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 03:54:03 PM EST
    of the Thanksgiving thing was hearing, more than once, how great Putin was.

    It's definitely a thing in US politics now. Tucker is all over it

    Parent

    Sorry (none / 0) (#52)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 03:55:01 PM EST
    The Xmas thing

    I managed to skate for TG.

    Parent

    It's almost never a good idea ... (none / 0) (#54)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 04:49:54 PM EST
    ... for domestic critics of Vladimir Putin to be in close proximity to a hotel balcony, an entrance to a dark basement, or a bridge or overpass. Clearly, like so many other things in Russia lately, they just don't make good railings, handrails and guardrails like they used to.

    Parent
    Another Friday before the holiday news dump (none / 0) (#53)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Dec 27, 2022 at 04:03:45 PM EST

    Trump's Tax Returns Will Be Made Public on Friday

    December 27, 2022 at 4:01 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 92 Comments

    "Donald Trump's redacted tax returns will be made public on Friday," Reuters reports



    Tomorrow at noon (none / 0) (#71)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Dec 29, 2022 at 11:13:25 AM EST
    Eastern I assume

    Parent
    We will (none / 0) (#72)
    by KeysDan on Thu Dec 29, 2022 at 01:21:18 PM EST
    need a forensic CPA with hip boots to wade through these barnyard products.

    Parent
    Trump was so rich, (5.00 / 4) (#93)
    by KeysDan on Fri Dec 30, 2022 at 12:07:24 PM EST
    he claimed, repeatedly, that he would not accept his presidential salary ($400,000 annually). He would donate, on a quarterly basis, his salary to charity.

    His tax returns show that he kept his presidential salary and did not donate it to charity. In 2020, his contributions to charity were $0.00.

    Republican ticket 2024: Trump/Santos

    Parent

    I give you guys (none / 0) (#75)
    by jondee on Thu Dec 29, 2022 at 02:33:57 PM EST
    all the credit in world for being able to track and document this stench day-in-and-day-out.

    After awhile, contemplating the 2016-to-2020 trainwreck makes me start fantasizing about something like an absinthe/opiate/strong spirits cocktail.

    Parent

    That doesn't sound so bad (5.00 / 1) (#77)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Dec 29, 2022 at 02:43:30 PM EST
    I just discovered Kaula brand White Russian.

    It's great.  You put some in a blender with ice and you get a milkshake.  Mmmmm.

    I also discovered an extra shot of rum doubles your pleasure and still tastes great.

    Parent

    Really butchered that spelling (none / 0) (#79)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Dec 29, 2022 at 02:56:22 PM EST
    It does sound good (none / 0) (#80)
    by jondee on Thu Dec 29, 2022 at 03:11:15 PM EST
    right about now.

    Parent
    Add a dash (5.00 / 1) (#82)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Dec 29, 2022 at 03:14:12 PM EST
    Of milk or 1/2 & 1/2!

    Parent
    You could make it (5.00 / 3) (#85)
    by leap2 on Thu Dec 29, 2022 at 06:27:42 PM EST
    a real milk-shake and put vanilla or coffee or chocolate ice cream in the blender with it. Oh yummm! That does sound tasty. And I even have the right equipment to make that, just not the ingredients. I also have one of these. (Decades ago I ran a small cafe with a friend.)

    Parent
    Those are (none / 0) (#86)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Dec 29, 2022 at 07:17:42 PM EST
    beautiful.  50s?

    Parent
    I believe so. (5.00 / 1) (#87)
    by leap2 on Thu Dec 29, 2022 at 07:33:31 PM EST
    At one point, after closing the cafe, I used the three-head shake machine to mix up soil samples in a soils lab. That worked great, too. No, we didn't drink those. Phtheh.

    Parent
    White Russian made with Kahlua (5.00 / 1) (#89)
    by Peter G on Thu Dec 29, 2022 at 09:33:07 PM EST
    is also one of our favorite treats (a couple of times a year, at most). Yes, to half-n-half, as well as the extra rum. Never tried it with ice cream.

    Parent
    Ice crème would make it even better, IMO (5.00 / 1) (#94)
    by MO Blue on Fri Dec 30, 2022 at 02:10:25 PM EST
    One of my favorites is a chocolate martini made with ice crème. Definitely great for people like me who really love chocolate and ice crème.

    Parent
    Same here (none / 0) (#90)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Dec 30, 2022 at 08:06:37 AM EST
    a winter tradition.  I was doubtful of White Russian in a bottle but it's pretty darn good.

    Parent
    We made and enjoyed our White Russians (none / 0) (#108)
    by Peter G on Mon Jan 02, 2023 at 09:15:38 AM EST
    while watching "The Thin Man" and "After the Thin Man" (again) on TCM New Year's Eve. Recent virus episode (not Covid this time) prevented us from being with friends, as we had tentatively planned.

    Parent
    I pay the Xtra 5 bucks to Sling (none / 0) (#109)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Jan 02, 2023 at 09:57:09 AM EST
    for the DVR function.  So I have lots of movies that I can watch over and over.  I have both of those  

    Im off White Russians for a while.  It's time for a few weeks of weight loss post holidays.  Also I can't think of White Russians without hearing my hillbilly nephew say "I thought all Russians wuz white" at Christmas dinner.

    Back to vodka.

    Parent

    I guess they didn't wait for noon (none / 0) (#91)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Dec 30, 2022 at 08:41:37 AM EST
    It's either that or (none / 0) (#81)
    by jondee on Thu Dec 29, 2022 at 03:13:54 PM EST
    that old standby Ayahuasca and Tequila.

    RIP (none / 0) (#88)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Dec 29, 2022 at 09:14:34 PM EST
    An old friend just relocated to South Korea (none / 0) (#95)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Dec 30, 2022 at 04:05:19 PM EST
    I honestly had a hard time imagining why anyone would do that.  
    In his case it was a woman.  But the more I read about SK the better it sounds.
    For example.  
    I especially like the Tighty Whitey competition.  It's like kicking objectification up a notch from the female swimsuit thing.

    Inside South Korea's male pageants

    What does it take to be crowned as the most beautiful man in the country?



    Forgot to add (5.00 / 1) (#96)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Dec 30, 2022 at 04:05:50 PM EST
    HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

    Parent
    Where Are the Polls? (none / 0) (#102)
    by RickyJim on Sat Dec 31, 2022 at 05:31:42 PM EST
    On whether or not Trump should be indicted.  Googling gives mostly months' old stuff. I have only been able to find one recent one.

    Under no circumstances should the results (5.00 / 4) (#103)
    by Peter G on Sat Dec 31, 2022 at 06:15:28 PM EST
    of a public opinion poll have anything to do with whether anyone should be indicted, be that person Tr*mp or anyone else. Nor should anyone who cares about justice be interested in any such poll.

    Parent
    ... Trump is a former president have any bearing on any decision by Attorney General Merrick Garland to indict him if the evidence otherwise supports the charge(s).

    This is not a normal case and sorry to say, such an indictment will not happen in a vacuum. The political repercussions of any move to indict Trump are likely unavoidable. The purpose of the poll is not to pressure DOJ's decision making but rather, to demonstrate that the public will support Garland if he and his prosecutors follow the evidence to its (painfully obvious) conclusion.

    From a political standpoint, if the evidence sustains the charge(s), then this country cannot afford to have Garland pull his punches and NOT indict Donald Trump.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Is this possible? (none / 0) (#113)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Jan 25, 2023 at 06:32:29 PM EST

    Members of the Proud Boys are reportedly telling former President Donald Trump to stand back and stand by for a subpoena.

    According to New York Times reported Alan Feuer, members of the Proud Boys who have been accused by the government of engaging in a seditious conspiracy are saying they "intend to subpoena Donald Trump as a witness at the trial."

    Although it's not clear why members of the gang would want Trump to testify on their behalf, many other January 6th defendants have argued that broke into the Capitol and violently clashed with police officers because it was what the former president wanted them to do.

    Feuer, however, expresses skepticism that the defendants will really be able to compel Trump's testimony.