The First Trump Conviction (Actually, 34 Convictions)

Riveted to the TV, were you?

 

This Trial Has Been Talked About Ad Nauseum. Focus on Just 4 Key Points to Take Away

The System Worked, Darn Near Perfectly

In spite of delays, distractions, lies, threats, and more, the system did what was needed to be done. Twelve citizens (and six back up jurors) took the oath, took the time took the risks, and did the right thing. The judge was the model of patience, decorum, and fairness.

In some ways, this reminded me of the last presidential election and the midterms after that.

Six for Today

A Range of Very Different Topics To Fill Our Basket This Week

First, A Moment to Reflect Upon Memorial Day

Yesterday was Memorial Day. This is being published a day after Memorial Day. Hope yours was a meaningful one and that you reflected at least a little on what they day means and the service members who sacrificed it all. Of all our national holidays, this is one of the  most purposeful and thoughtful. I had the opportunity to participate in a local service yesterday; it was a powerful thing to be in the midst of a large group that absolutely understood what this day honors and commemorates.

Two Parties, Three+ Parties, Uniparty, No Party?

Parties – or Their Absence – Are More Important Than We May Think

Many of Our Founders Disliked Parties

No less than George Washington warned against forming political parties, fearing a long list of evils they would bring along into national life. In more recent times, a lot of people feel the same. Common complaints are that the parties “don’t represent me,” or that they are corrupt and only interested in power.

On a somewhat different tangent, Marjorie Taylor Greene has complained about a “Uniparty.” She is saying that everyone who disagrees with her (and that is just about everyone) constitute one party,

April 30, 2024

A Lot of Different Topics This Week, All with Key Legal Elements (Except the Last One)

Tik Tok’s Pending Death?


Well, the legislation passed, and the president signed it, so the countdown begins. This one has some really interesting aspects about it. Let’s see how it unrolls.

First, as noted before in this space, I am not much on the government banning communication in about any form, but I think the case can be made for this one. The amount of personal information Tik Tok tracks on users is substantial and it certainly would not be hard to use it as an entry point to more of your computer data.

A Little Science, A Little Medicine

Interesting Tidbits Found Cruising the Internet

First, Some Close to Home Technical News

 Good news and bad news!

The good news is that the mysterious failure of the COMMENTS section of this blog to accept input has been resolved. A really smart fellow who knows more than I ever will about what all goes on behind the screen resolved it and provided some other good upgrades and tune ups.

The bad news is that in the process, we somehow hit an invisible button that sent about a half-dozen of my previous posts back out to everyone.

March 26, 2024

Today a Look at Trump, Health, & Journalism

If (When) Trump Loses, What’s Next?

What about the MAGA “movement?” What about the Republican party? I have long felt that Trump had strong possibilities of flaming out and crashing before (or during) the coming election, and that seems to be coming about. Never write off this guy’s survival instincts, but FINALLY a growing list of well-known Republicans are beginning to speak out and to say they cannot support Trump. We might not be where we are had they found the courage to stand up earlier, but perhaps better late than never.

Those Were Quite a Few Days

American Politics Has Been on Quite the Ride Lately. Tired yet?

McConnell

Mitch McConnell finally announced his retirement as Minority Leader.  At least he was physically able to make that speech. There has been a lot of talk about whoever replaces him will be even more of a MAGA wingnut. Likely true, but that will not make much difference anyway. McConnell has made it crystal clear that all he ever cared about was raw political power; he was always more than ready to sell his soul to the MAGA crowd to hang on to power.

The bad history is long indeed,

Hey! That’s a Good Idea!

We Should be Doing More With These Winners

Have You Ever Noticed?

Sometimes a good idea rises to the surface, gets into use, has good results, but for one reason or another does not spread as quickly or as far as might be expected. Herein are half a dozen of such ideas that I think have proven out fully that really should be much more in use everywhere. Let me know if you have an addition to such a list.

Transportation

Traffic circles work like a champ. They are not very common in the USA,

Voters, Judges, and Nikki Haley

Observations on American Life

Voters

The folks responsible for voting in my area are reportedly having some trouble recruiting volunteers to work the polling places this year. People are afraid of the risk of conflict and even of physical danger. That is sad, to say the least. It’s also unacceptable, so I have up my usual spot out front of polling places in election season, passing out literature, to be a poll worker inside. The preparation process was illuminating.

First, there are still quite a few willing to show up for the 14 hour day required.

A Connected Set of Observations on Guns, Addiction, and Alexei Navalny  

Three Very Different Yet Connected Realities

Guns

One of the latest mass shooting to hit America just occurred, in Kansas City, in an area where people gathered to celebrate their Super Bowl win. People were shot because they were in a place where someone else came to hurt people.

Shortly thereafter, police and first responders in a small town in Minnesota answered a call for help in the wee hours of the morning; a family was in danger. Shortly thereafter, two policemen and a fire rescue member were shot dead.

And so it goes,