Thursday, December 15, 2022

Blue Sky Pre-Storm


 

33 comments:

  1. Wil heard somewhere (can't recall where) that Putin is going to be outside Russia for surgery of some sort. Keep an eye out for related news.

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    1. I think that was one of the suggested reasons for the presidential jetliner to fly to Caracas.
      -----Alan

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    2. Hmmm...you have to wonder if it's BOTH and one is something of a cover for the other.

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    3. Could be, all right.

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  2. Josh Marshall on the Mark Meadows texts. [Click] Most of the column is behind a paywall, but the beginning puts the basic thesis well: there are many frank lunatics among Republican members of Congress.
    —Alan

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  3. Many stories in the news this morning about chaos in the Republican caucus even before the new congress begins. Could "Chaos in the Caucus" become the GOP equivalent of "Democrats in Disarray?" It really does look like they will be having great difficulty accomplishing anything.
    ---Alan

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  4. Americans bought at least 150m guns in decade since Sandy Hook shooting [Click] ”Estimated number of US gun owners has grown by 20 million in recent years, which experts say may lead to more firearm deaths.” May? MAY?
    —Alan

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  5. The Duke of Sussex. . . says palace’s willingness to lie to press led to his and Meghan’s exit [Click] I am not one to thrive on such soap operas, but this sounds nearly incredible. BTW, certain members of the Japanese imperial family are also behaving very badly of late.
    ---Alan

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    1. (Susan). It wasn't a soap opera until the British tabloids made it one.

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  6. Elon Musk sells new $3.6bn tranche of Tesla shares [Click] “The bulk of Musk’s wealth is largely represented by stock in Tesla, in which he has a shareholding of more than 13%, according to data provider Refinitiv.”
    ---Alan

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  7. Another [Russian] oil refinery hit by huge explosion ‘like earthquake or plane crash’ amid wave of suspected sabotage blasts [Click] From The Sun, so the presentation deserves to be taken with a grain of salt, but still they are among the first to report some stories. Given its its location, [Click] I suspect it may adversely affect exports of petroleum products to China.
    —Alan

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    1. "Oh what a tangled web we weave..."

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    2. Thinking of tangled webs, I read that workers in Russian military industrial factories idled by lack of foreign-made parts have been given a choice--either go on indefinite unpaid leave or volunteer for the war with Ukraine. A procrustean choice indeed.
      ---Alan

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    3. It's not every day I get a chance to use the word "procrustean." Maybe the goings-on in the GOP "controlled" House will provide more opportunities.
      ---Alan

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  8. Buncha links
    --Alan

    House Votes to Pave Way for Puerto Rican Statehood or Independance [Click]

    New JFK Files Released [Click]

    John Boehner Pays Tribute to Nancy Pelosi [Click] Better article that the one I previously posted.

    McCarthy’s Ongoing Speaker Battle Paralyzes the House [Click] Damned shame, what?

    Moderate Republicans weigh hardball tactics to counter anti-McCarthy crew [Click] “Nice committee membership you got there; wouldn’t want anything to happen to it.”

    Three Men Sentenced in Whitmer Kidnapping Plot [Click]

    Trump’s Major Announcement! [Click] After teasing a “major announcement” on his social media platform yesterday, Donald Trump rolled out a set of digital trading cards featuring his image. They’re NFTs for $99 each, but the video announcement is beyond parody.

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    “I had some MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS the last couple of weeks, too…

    Inflation’s easing
    I just signed the Respect for Marriage Act
    We brought Brittney Griner home
    Gas prices are lower than a year ago
    10,000 new high-paying jobs in Arizona”

    — President Biden, mocking Donald Trump on Twitter.
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    Senate Races to Avert Government Shutdown [Click]

    Panel Recommends Rudy Giuliani Be Disbarred [Click]

    Newly-Revealed Texts Show Mark Meadows Is a Liar [Click] GASP!

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    1. Yes! LOL. Heather Cox Richardson had some fun with the "Announcements" tonight, too.

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    1. Like the stone-age culture centered in and near today's Romania that was discovered and described by Soviet archeologists but not generally known in the west, knowledge of it seems to have been suppressed by Soviet authorities because they didn't want Soviet science contaminated with Capitalist ideas, or because they thought theories about the culture might not be consistent with Marxist-Leninist [AKA Stalinist] social theory.
      ----Alan

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  10. So I had my exam at the Chicago Lighthouse and will be getting new glasses for the first time in more than8 years. All that remains is to get the price quote (~$1000) and find our when they will be delivered. For those thwo don't know, I get very special glasses, with an attached telescope and magnifying reading lenses. The last pair was about $700 and this has an improved telescope plus eight years' inflation.

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    1. I hope they work well for you, Bill. It's easy to spend $500 for a pair of more or less ordinary bifocals and a pair of readers, and they might last only two or three years.
      ---Alan

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    2. I echo Alan that the price doesn't sound unreasonable at all, relatively speaking. So glad for you that your vision will be a bit better.

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  11. There was just a bit of snow tonight. Maybe 1/4" at 7 pn, not clear if there will be more.

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  12. Congress Clears Weeklong Funding Extension [Click]

    Senate Passes $858 Billion Defense Bill [Click] I will be checking on whether it has previously passed the House, but don’t know at this time.

    --Alan

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    1. Yes, the Defense bill previously passed the house, so now goes to the President for signature. More assistance for Ukraine and Taiwan, end of vaccine mandate.
      --Alan

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    2. Right. There was talk of a rider on the bill that would make it okay for retirees to wait 'til age 75 before they must take money from their retirement accounts.

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    1. I thought the leak would be from the first (and oldest) module of the space station, which develops leaks from time to time, but it is from the just-arrived transporter.
      -----Alan

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