It rained again last night, and today is both warmer and beautifully clear with some puffy white clouds. When we got up we could see snow on the mountains, but by the time we left for our walk, clouds had obscured it (which is typical).
During the past hour and a half or two hours I estimate the cloud cover has increased from roughly 10% to 80%; such rapid change is unusual here. Clear blue sky between the clouds, though.
There is speculation continuing today about why Trump vetoed the Defense Authorization Act. The reasons he has given just don’t seem to be enough. But there is one part of the bill that would presumably be a huge threat to his companies, and probably himself. Another bill was folded into it: the Corporate Transparency Act, [Click] which requires identification of the owners of shell corporations—not just new ones, but existing ones as well. It has been suggested that he might have folded on signing the Covid relief act because he was promised some sort of deal on the defense bill, but I suspect he just delayed signing the former to make the GOP sweat.
And because he quite literally does not care how many millions of people go hungry or lose their homes.
I hear there was a plan for him to sign it on Christmas Eve. Can you imagine the hype and warm fuzzies that would have generated? He's not much of a showman if he let that marvelous opportunity slip.
I hadn't heard of the Corporate Transparency Act. That must have struck fear right to his marrow. Speculation on CNN is that Lefler and Purdue got to him, but your explanation of some wiggle room or escape hatch on the corporate transparency bill sounds more likely.
A while back I bought Simple Shapes Puzzle Board [click] for Mom. The first time I gave her the circle, she seemed to like holding and feeling it, but she said she didn't know what shape it was. This did not trouble me too much, since she was obviously very tired.
Today I gave her one block and asked her to identify shape and color. It took a moment, but she did. Then I gave her another, repeating the question. She identified that one and said very clearly, "What else do we have?" which is a very Mom question. We went through all nine shapes. She called the Quatrefoil club rather than flower or four leaf clover, and misidentified the rectangle as a square, but though I'm usually pretty pedantic, I let those ride, I was just so delighted. By the end she even anticipated the questions and stated the shape and color of the last couple of blocks before being asked.
Then, warning her that it might be too challenging, I gave her the board and handed her each block. The rectangle and oval proved slightly more challenging since each of them has to be correctly oriented. Even so, she zipped right through it. I could hardly keep from crying, I was so excited. She was alert and engaged, and able to complete kind of thought-intensive tasks much more easily than I'd anticipated.
I praised her and told her she deserved a rest, and she said complacently, "I deserve a rest."
It gets better! After about twenty minutes she asked for the puzzle again. It took me a few moments to work out what she wanted. Incredulously, I gave her the board and started handing her the blocks. Again, she worked steadily, quickly and with evident interest. After that, being tired out, she went to sleep.
I don't want to read too much into this, to get my hopes up too high. She may not be able to identify shapes tomorrow. But for now, that was quite an accomplishment.
Jees, it's only Monday? I thought it was at least Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment about hearing on the last thread, Listener. I do notice that Mom responds to some extent when I talk to her or play music.
It rained again last night, and today is both warmer and beautifully clear with some puffy white clouds. When we got up we could see snow on the mountains, but by the time we left for our walk, clouds had obscured it (which is typical).
ReplyDeleteDuring the past hour and a half or two hours I estimate the cloud cover has increased from roughly 10% to 80%; such rapid change is unusual here. Clear blue sky between the clouds, though.
DeleteThere is speculation continuing today about why Trump vetoed the Defense Authorization Act. The reasons he has given just don’t seem to be enough. But there is one part of the bill that would presumably be a huge threat to his companies, and probably himself. Another bill was folded into it: the Corporate Transparency Act, [Click] which requires identification of the owners of shell corporations—not just new ones, but existing ones as well. It has been suggested that he might have folded on signing the Covid relief act because he was promised some sort of deal on the defense bill, but I suspect he just delayed signing the former to make the GOP sweat.
ReplyDeleteAnd because he quite literally does not care how many millions of people go hungry or lose their homes.
DeleteI hear there was a plan for him to sign it on Christmas Eve. Can you imagine the hype and warm fuzzies that would have generated? He's not much of a showman if he let that marvelous opportunity slip.
I hadn't heard of the Corporate Transparency Act. That must have struck fear right to his marrow. Speculation on CNN is that Lefler and Purdue got to him, but your explanation of some wiggle room or escape hatch on the corporate transparency bill sounds more likely.
And congratulations on your engagement, listener.
ReplyDeleteWhat watchdogs? Trump leaves office with inspector general jobs vacant across government [Click]
ReplyDeleteWalter Reed doctor who criticized Trump's hospital drive-by works last shift after being removed from schedule [Click]
ReplyDeleteWil says good doctor ought to be put in charge of funding at Walter Reed...or become Biden's personal physician.
DeleteThe Guardian view on Britain’s global role: shrinking around Brexit [Click]
ReplyDeleteOHIO; COVID cases 675,044 and 8,571 deaths.
ReplyDelete1.27%
DeleteSo far today 3 $$ requests from Warnock, 5 from Ossoff. I feel sure there will be more before midnight.
ReplyDeleteA couple days ago I started hearing Warnock ads on Sirius XM, not many or obnoxious. It surprised me though. No Ossoff ads so far.
DeleteNY Post: Donald and Melania Trump eye Palm Beach homes near Mar-a-Lago [Click] I certainly hope they choose low-lying beachfront property.
ReplyDeleteBad me.
DeleteYou have plenty of company.
DeleteAlligators and Burmese pythons would be a nice touch; quite decorative.
DeleteIvanka launch a political career from her new Florida estate? I don't know whether to guffaw or scream!
DeleteI've also been puzzling about how to respond; I seem to have settled into bemusement.
DeleteGeorgia’s political change came fast but has deep roots [Click]
ReplyDelete...and the picture of the man posted on Facebook with trump hat and "make liberals cry" was NOT the man who bombed Nashville.
ReplyDeleteWe had a beam of sunshine today.
ReplyDeleteA while back I bought Simple Shapes Puzzle Board [click] for Mom. The first time I gave her the circle, she seemed to like holding and feeling it, but she said she didn't know what shape it was. This did not trouble me too much, since she was obviously very tired.
Today I gave her one block and asked her to identify shape and color. It took a moment, but she did. Then I gave her another, repeating the question. She identified that one and said very clearly, "What else do we have?" which is a very Mom question. We went through all nine shapes. She called the Quatrefoil club rather than flower or four leaf clover, and misidentified the rectangle as a square, but though I'm usually pretty pedantic, I let those ride, I was just so delighted. By the end she even anticipated the questions and stated the shape and color of the last couple of blocks before being asked.
Then, warning her that it might be too challenging, I gave her the board and handed her each block. The rectangle and oval proved slightly more challenging since each of them has to be correctly oriented. Even so, she zipped right through it. I could hardly keep from crying, I was so excited. She was alert and engaged, and able to complete kind of thought-intensive tasks much more easily than I'd anticipated.
I praised her and told her she deserved a rest, and she said complacently, "I deserve a rest."
It gets better! After about twenty minutes she asked for the puzzle again. It took me a few moments to work out what she wanted. Incredulously, I gave her the board and started handing her the blocks. Again, she worked steadily, quickly and with evident interest. After that, being tired out, she went to sleep.
I don't want to read too much into this, to get my hopes up too high. She may not be able to identify shapes tomorrow. But for now, that was quite an accomplishment.
Great, great news!
DeleteHouse Votes to Override Trump’s Veto of Defense Bill [Click]
ReplyDeleteSen. Bernie Sanders will filibuster an override of President Donald Trump’s defense bill veto unless the Senate holds a vote on providing $2,000 direct payments to Americans. [Click] ZOT! Read the whole thing!