Tuesday Overnight Open Thread (2/13/24) Valentine's Eve Edition

Quote I

“They’re penalizing me for something in the ‘80s. I don’t think anybody should be penalized for something that happened 40 years ago.” Englewood native Brenda Brooks
Ahhh, the old permanent record thing is apparently true.

Quote II

“While the Biden administration has said that human rights will be at the forefront of their foreign policy, they are now looking away as Pakistan moves toward becoming a full-fledged military dictatorship,”
Rafiq, the Middle East Institute scholar
If we here Russia, Russia, perhaps it should be open season on those people.

Quote III

"Being able to support a female founded company with a roster of thought provoking and highly entertaining podcasts is a fantastic way to kick off 2024." Me-again Markle
I thought you podcast listeners would find this titillating.

"They" tell us that the RNC isn't involved in legislation. The RNC is there to raise money and help candidates win. Every time I answer their phone call I tell them as soon as Mitch McConnell is gone, I might consider donating. As our country goes further and further into debt without any hope of being solvent, 22 fucking cocksucking "Republicans" vote to spend money we don't have on others outside of our borders.

Nearly two dozen Senate Republicans thumbed their noses at colleges and constituents by joining with Democrats to pass a massive $95 billion foreign aid bill.

Adding insult to injury, a final vote of 70-29 with 22 Republicans in favor pushed through the bill that pours American taxpayer money into aid for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan while doing nothing to secure the U.S. border.

With more than half of Senate Republicans voting against it during the overnight session, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was clear he placed no value on their arguments. He led the minority of 22 GOP lawmakers to hold hands with Democrats and get the bill passed. even delivering a drama-filled speech in defense of the measure from the floor.

At least my Senator Ron Johnson hasn't jumped the shark, yet.

If I were POTUS for a week, NATO would be revamped. Turkey would be gone. As well as nations who don't pull their weight. For years we paid for their defense while they played progressive faculty lounge games. I'm with President Trump. And now even some of the Never-Trumpers are seeing the light. About time that this "intellectual" started to see the light.

I don’t usually blog on “candidate topics,”or “Trump topics,” but a friend of mine asked me to cover this. As you probably know, Trump threatened to let NATO countries that failed to meet the two percent of gdp defense budget obligation fend for themselves against Putin (video here, with Canadian commentary). Trump even said he would encourage the attacker.

Long-time MR readers will know I am not fond of Trump, either as a president or otherwise. (And I am very fond of NATO.) But on this issue I think he is basically correct. Yes, I know all about backlash effects. But so many NATO members do not keep up serious defense capabilities. And for decades none of our jawboning has worked.

Personally, I would not have proceeded or spoken as Trump did, and I do not address the collective action problems in my own sphere of work and life in a comparable manner (“if you’re not ready with enough publications for tenure, we’ll let Bukele take you!” or “Spinoza, if you don’t stop scratching the couch, I won’t protect you against the coyotes!”). So if you wish to take that as a condemnation of Trump, so be it. Nonetheless, I cannot help but feel there is some room for an “unreasonable” approach on this issue, whether or not I am the one to carry that ball.

Nice to see General Lloyd "The Plumber" Austin back to work.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was discharged from the hospital Tuesday afternoon, the Pentagon said in a statement, after the secretary was admitted on Sunday to deal with what was called an “emergent bladder issue.”

Austin had transferred his duties to his deputy while he underwent a non-surgical procedure to remedy the ailment, which doctors confirmed in the statement Tuesday was related to his Dec. 22 prostate cancer surgery. He resumed his duties at 5 p.m. and will host a regularly-occurring meeting of defense ministers to discuss aid efforts for Ukraine virtually from home, according to statements.

Over the years I've driven many a mile and have seen quite a few unusual things. This is one thing I've never seen.

Dead cow with attached towing notice removed from I-675
The bovine fell off a livestock trailer on Friday.

Well, if you are going to fvck up, go big or stay home. Oh and he went big.

LAKE WALES, Fla. - A mechanic for the Polk County School Board is facing DUI charges after deputies say he abandoned an airboat in front of a sheriff’s substation on Sunday.

Deputies say a captain with Polk County Fire Rescue called the sheriff’s office shortly before 9:20 p.m. because an airboat had fallen off a trailer being towed by a dark Ford F150 in front of a Polk County Sheriff’s Office substation in Lake Wales.

On this day: 13 Feb 1960
Frank Sinatra launched his own record label, Reprise Records, in order to allow more artistic freedom for his own recordings. Hence, he garnered the nickname "The Chairman of the Board."One of the label’s founding principles under Sinatra’s leadership was that each artist would have full creative freedom, and at some point complete ownership of their work. Reprise later became the home of many influential US acts such as Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Randy Newman and The Beach Boys. via thisdayinmusic.com

Born on this day: 13 Feb 1950
English singer-songwriter and record producer Peter Gabriel, with Genesis who had the 1974 UK No.21 single 'I Know What I Like In Your Wardrobe'. Gabriel left Genesis in 1975 to launch his solo career and had the 1986 US No.1 & UK No.4 single 'Sledgehammer' from the 1986 UK No.1 & US No.2 album So. 'Sledgehammer' won a record nine MTV Awards at the 1987 MTV Video Music Awards and, according to a report in 2011, it was MTV's most played music video of all time. Gabriel has been a champion of world music for much of his career. He co-founded the WOMAD festival in 1982. via thisdayinmusic.com

As Bob Ross would say, "We don't make mistakes, we have happy accidents. Until there is a Genius Award Winner.

An art teacher in Canada is under investigation after parents discovered their children's artwork was being sold online.

CTV News spoke with two parents who said Westwood Junior High School art teacher Mario Perron was making a profit off their kids' school artwork.

"I'm extremely disgusted with this person. It's extremely, you know, it's unbelievable," Michael Bennett told the outlet.

The artwork made by Bennett's daughter was listed on at least four different sites for $151. Her artwork, and that of her classmates, was also found on multiple items, including $55 t-shirts, $41 coffee mugs, and iPhone cases that sold for $35.

Her day was certainly made. Tonight's Feel Good Story of The Day.

The customer, who wishes to remain anonymous, had breakfast at the Mason Jar Cafe after attending a memorial service for a close friend. Upon receiving a $32 check, he left an astonishing $10,000 tip for waitress Linsey Boyd.

Still in shock from the unexpected windfall, Boyd recounted the heartwarming encounter, saying, "I just gave him a hug. He then told me that he had left a memorial of someone very dear to him. And he just wanted to do something really kind and generous in her name."

Tonight's ONT has been brought to you by Practical Instructions.

Notice: Posted with permission by the Ace Media Empire & AceCorp, LLC. No shoes, no shirt, no pants, no problem.

Update. Yes, I miss Rep. George Santos.

posted by Misanthropic Humanitarian at 10:01 PM

| Access Comments