You better limber up before you go here

 


The Biggest Rip-Off




Twitler Training Academy

They not only kiss his ass but they eat his sh*t.


 

Johnny Cash - Sixteen Tons

 "I owe my soul to the company store." 


An honest Walmart greeter

What they mean when they say "welcome to Walmart."


 

Lakoff: Twitler is a Big Loser

In his recent post Lakoff highlights that for authoritarians (aka fascists) the leader must always be presented as a winner. And yet Twit is a Big Loser in so many ways and we must continually frame him that way because it is the truth. He lost the popular vote twice. He failed at every step in his multi-part coup and will likely be criminally charged. He failed repeatedly as a businessman and is under investigation for fraud. 

He has been a Big Loser his entire life and hid it behind an endless stream of Big Lies that have been exposed. The Jan. 6 Committee hearings are providing the proof in terms of the coup. And presenting it in an effective narrative of a betrayal of our sacred trust, values and institutions. Keep up framing his as a liar, a coward and most of all a Big Loser. In fact, the Biggest Loser.

Report: Twitler's intent to engage in seditious conspiracy

The Twitiots and Pox Spewers keep lying that Twit didn't have intent. Melber proves beyond any reasonable doubt that intent is written all over Twit and his co-conspirators. DOJ must file criminal charges ASAP. 

Updated parable of the fish

Explains crapitalism well and its fake complaint about workers.


 

Better than whom?

You can feel better than those who have created your problems instead: The crapitalists and their bribed cronies in government. Then you can take action to solve your problems by voting them out and demanding better wages etc. by joining unions and forming co-ops.


 

Are we there yet?

Never at this rate.


 

Fool's gold

The myth of trickle-down economics.


 

Toleration

Continuing the last post, may you be treated accordingly.



 

Another long COVID study

Recall this post on the CDC study that 19% of those who have had COVID experience long-term symptoms. Now this study, which focuses on only on loss of taste or smell, notes that about 5% suffer from these long-term symptoms. That translates into millions of Americans. These victims "are more likely to suffer depression and anxiety."

Then of course there's the fact that we are experiencing yet another surge of transmission, where 95% of US counties are in the high category (1st chart). Sure, double vax and double booster prevent the most severe cases and hospitalization for some but not all (2nd chart for NM). 

It's sick that we as a nation have decided to sacrifice the health and lives of millions because we're tired of wearing masks and social distancing. Fortunately there are still a few responsible people and organizations left that behave according to these facts and continue to take precautions. The rest of you are responsible for the devastation perpetuated by this pandemic and deserve condemnation.


 



Nunes v. Pena 2 tomorrow night

Pena shocked the UFC by beating GOAT Nunes last time. Can she repeat? Their first fight below.

Wilson on Pox turning to DeathSentence

Instead of covering Twitler's AZ rally Pox Spews instead had a 13-minute interview with DeathSentence. Rick Wilson of The Lincoln Project comments on Murdock now favoring Death over Twit.

Indigenous people call on Pope Francis to denounce Doctrine of Discovery

Continuing this post, so Enlightenment reason got the Doctrine of Discovery from the Catholic Church. Talk about cognitive dissonance. It'll be interesting to see if the Pope follows through. And if Enlightenment reason can address it's religious roots on this one. I have more hope for the former, which unlike the latter has shown a willingness to change in some regards.


The Creator

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1:1. Word.


Gosh Golly satire?

Seems like a statement of fact to me. See the entire piece here.


 

Kirschner: Dramatic new developments in DOJ investigation

Specifically into Twitler's criminal attempt to overthrow the 2020 election. The grand jury is asking witnesses, including Pence's Chief of Staff and his chief counsel, about fake electors. More subpoenas are forthcoming. The implication is that DOJ is gathering evidence to be used in a criminal trial. 

2 recent studies on origin of COVID

Peer-reviewed and published in Science journal, but don't let that stop your conspiracy theories.

"The coronavirus pandemic began in separate viral spillovers — at least two but perhaps as many as two dozen — from live animals sold and butchered in late 2019 at the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China, according to two papers published Tuesday in the journal Science." 

538 recent polls

Their three most recent polls asking "do voters want Democrats or Republicans in Congress?" (generic ballot):

YouGov (B+) 7/23-26, Dems 44%, Repubs 38%
The Winston Group (A/B)  7/23-24, Dems 47%, Repubs 41%
Morning Consult (B) 7/22-24, Dems 45%, Repubs 41%
 
Prior to that polls had Repubs up 1-10%. Is the shift partly due to the Jan. 6 hearings?
 
BTW, the OH Senate race is dead even and the Dems are up 3% in GA. 

Clang Clang Clang Went Josh Hawley

Randy Rainbow does it again. 

Glen and Susan at Denver Swingtime 2022

My favorite of the Champions Strictly Swing. 

Ava Swiss on AGT

A moving performance. She dedicates this song as a victim in a school shooting.

The correct frame

Same goes for false equivalence 'polarization.'


 

Why US Repugnaklans love Orban

The US Conservative PAC had their annual meeting in Hungary with Orban as a keynote speaker. Orban has long been a racist and fascist who has "eroded media freedoms and judicial independence, enabling corruption and nepotism, and attacking LGBTQ people." So the connection to our Repugs is obvious. 

Recently Orban said that "in the Carpathian Basin, we are not mixed race." So Zsuzsa Hegedus, a member of Orban's inner circle for two decades, resigned saying that comment is "pure Nazi text [...] worthy of Goebbels." 

Again, the connection to our Repugnaklan Party is obvious. Orban is just saying it out loud while our Repugnaklans at least try to be more subtle. At this point anyway. If they win Congress and the Presidency you can bet it will be in your face fascism all the way.

The science of stories

Unlike negative propaganda which uses lies and manipulation, we can construct positive propaganda using truth and facts. But the latter needs to understand the science of narrative structure as well as the former does to communicate effectively. "Just the facts ma'am" doesn't cut it for most of us. Continuing this post:

D. Jones, M., Anderson Crow, D. (2017). "How can we use the ‘science of stories’ to produce persuasive scientific stories?" Palgrave Communications 3:53. Abstract:

"The core goal of the science communicator is to convey accurate scientific information—to help people update existing understandings of the world and to change those understandings when necessary. However, science communicators, with their often extensive scientific training and educations, are often socialized into educating with information derived from scientific works in a way that mirrors the values of science itself. They do this by primarily relying on an approach termed the Knowledge Deficit Model, a model of communicating that emphasizes the repetition of emotionless objectively sterile information to increase understanding. The problem with this approach is that people do not actually make decisions or process information based on only objective scientific evidence. Their personal beliefs and emotional understandings of the world also play a powerful role. In this article we argue that to better connect with audiences communicators would do well to recognize themselves as storytellers–not to distort the truth, but to help people to connect with problems and issues on a more human level in terms of what matters to them. We reference extant narrative persuasion scholarship in public policy and elsewhere to offer a step-by-step guide to narrating scientific evidence. We argue that through understanding the structure of a narrative, science communicators can engage in the policy process, remaining true to the tenets of science and maintaining the integrity of the evidence, but doing so in a way that is compelling and thus also effective in helping solve problems."

Agatha Wong wins Gold in Wushu Taijiquan event

Excellent performance combining the slow and smooth with the fast and explosive.

Westworld season 4

Please listen in the background to the show's theme song below as you read the following. It sets the tone and mood.

This season the hosts have taken over the world and are doing to humanity what originally the latter had done to them: They are programming people to do their bidding by writing out narratives that they must blindly follow. They use subliminal sound waves to control us and implant the programs.

In episode 5 Teddy said something to Christina that highlights this theme. Something to the effect of our stories are more real than what we think is real. Christina works for a media company writing story lines for game apps. But what she comes to realize is that the stories she's writing are in fact the narratives that are being implanted in humanity.

Which of course is art once again reflecting reality. We all talk about 'controlling the narrative' since that is indeed how we program ourselves to believe in something. Our stories are far more important that the 'facts,' which we will twist and turn to cohere with our narrative. That goes for everyone, including those who think they are beyond all that. Which is of course part of the manipulative metanarrative.

As in the series there are outliers who have broken free of the dominant narrative. We need to understand the nature of narrative so that we don't get too attached to our cherished ones. Granted we need them in order to make sense of the world and function, but we can hold them more lightly. And be open enough to modify or change them when we recognize valid challenges to them. The danger is, as in the series, when we just blindly follow a particular narrative's scripts as the sole and ultimate reality. 

Instead of outing the outliers like a programmed bot perhaps consider them an opportunity for awakening. 

Raskin: Autocrats are on the march

Earlier in this clip they discuss democracy and those who would thwart it in the US like Twitler. I just highlighted this short statement about how fascism is a world-wide phenomenon. 

But Raskin and other Democrats must quit using the term 'autocracy' because it's a technical term that lacks emotional force. Call it what it is: Fascism. That word rightly elicits fear and disgust. And we need those feelings to motivate action against this assault on our cherished democracy.

Aka Turd Ooze

 


A different kind of conservative

Not at all like the fascists who have taken over the US Repugnaklan Party according to old school conservatives. So don't expect it here.


 

 

Short and Jacob testify in federal grand jury

Good news. The grand jury is investigating Jan. 6. Short was Pence's Chief of Staff, Jacob was his counsel. Both attended a Jan. 4 meeting with Trump and Pence where Eastman tried to convince Pence to not certify the election. Recall that Jacob testified to the House Committee that Eastman admitted in front of Trump that the plan was illegal. Seems we are getting somewhere. 

Poll on effect of Jan. 6 hearings on Republican voters

Based on a Reuters/Ipsos poll released on 7/21/22:

32% strongly or somewhat agree that Trump "should NOT run for president again in 2024." That's up from 26% six weeks ago. 

40% strongly or somewhat think that Trump "is at least partly to blame for starting" the Capitol riot, up from 33% six weeks ago.

Unfortunately 55% still believe the Big Lie. However that is down 11% from six weeks ago.

My bottom line: The hearings are moving the needle enough to make a big difference in elections.

 

Kinzinger's message to Republicans

The fascists in your own Party are laughing at how easily they can manipulate you. Quit being a stooge by believing their lies. Wake TF up, throw the bums out and take your Party back. 

Frontiers in Communication: Internet memes

Yes, memes are 'propaganda.' Which only has a negative connotation if you are a purist and idealist who mistakenly believes that we can all just get along if we coolly reason with and respect each other. That is, if you've fallen for the myth of Enlightenment reason. 

In case you haven't noticed, fascism is overrunning the US via the Repugnaklan Party. The January 6 hearings are making that very clear by responsible Republicans. We are at rhetorical (PSYOP) war with those who don't give a shit about getting along and talking it out. If you want to defeat these evil forces then use what works.

According to this academic article:

"Internet memes are one of the latest evolutions of 'leaflet' propaganda and an effective tool in the arsenal of digital persuasion. In the past such items were dropped from planes, now they find their way into social media across multiple platforms and their territory is global. Internet memes can be used to target specific groups to help build and solidify tribal bonds. Due to the ease of creation, and their ability to constantly reaffirm axiomatic tribal ideas, they have become an adroit tool allowing for mass influence across international borders. This text explores the link between internet memes and their ability to 'hack' the attention of anyone connected to internet using dense modality and cognitive biases. Furthermore, the text discusses Internet meme's ability sew discord by consistently reaffirming preexisting tribal bonds and their relation to traditional PSYOP tactics initially used for analog leaflet propaganda."

Memes are effective political framing

Humiliating your opponent with satire and humor is an effective political strategy. Think of the late night TV hosts like Colbert who is highly influential. And per cognitive science short, succinct phrases, especially with images, are highly effective influencers. 

In this clip The Young Turks are discussing all the memes about Josh Hawley (aka Gosh Golly) running away from the very people he incited to storm the Capitol. Cenk talks about how Fetterman in the PA race is using memes to belittle his opponent Oz. Republicans value strength and authority and his memes make Oz look weak and silly.

Keep up the good work citizens. Keep those memes coming. They are working.  

Freckled Zelda on AGT

When she first came out the judges were put off by her appearance. When she spoke about being a fairy even more so. They expected her to be terrible. And then she sang and they were enchanted. A great lesson that our preconceptions are biased and often wrong. And that there is much beauty and worth in our wonderful diversity. 

A match made in heaven

 


Lakoff on Newsom's effective framing

Continuing this post, Lakoff thinks Newsom is using progressive framing effectively. "Democrats must do a better job of speaking openly about what’s at stake: freedom. That’s what Newsom is trying to do." 

For example, Newsom ran an ad in Florida telling them that their Governor is taking away their freedoms to: vote, read books, speak and have reproductive rights. He closes with asking Floridians to join in the fight to restore those freedoms. Or join us in California, the land of the free.

Newsom's latest ad in Texas goes after the Governor for his draconian abortion law. Newsom plays on that in CA's new law that allows "private citizens to sue people who make or sell banned weapons, such as so-called ghost guns."

Newsom is right that Democrats have to "start playing hardball" effectively. And Lakoff thinks he's doing a good job of it. Be more like Gavin if you want to win.

NMDOH latest COVID data

Pay attention if your give a shit about anyone else. First chart from this link. Second chart from this one. 


 

Cheney's closing statement

She starts by praising the bravery, loyalty and honor of those Republican conservatives who have testified, contrasting with those cowards who did not. She reiterates that lying, cheating and stealing go against our American values of honesty, fair play and generosity. She highlights that Twitler twisted Americans' sense of patriotism and justice with those lies, and how those qualities must instead serve the truth and freedom. And she highlights that Twit had a clear choice between right and wrong, and that we the people must make the right choice since Twit did not. 

Lincoln Project: Gosh Golly is a b*tch

According to Michael Fanone, former DC police officer. 

Kinzinger's closing remarks

A good example of an impassioned speech about Twitler's dereliction of duty to our honor, our country and our democracy. The insurrection is only just getting started. Listen and learn liberals. 

Oblivious liberals

In this clip Rachel responds to a conversation the panel is having about the broader effect the hearings are having on the public. She thinks if liberals just tell the truth, provide the facts, and make a logical argument then what more can we do. She said we cannot fight their fire with fire but need to respond with water.

What she and other educated liberals like her miss is that the hearing is being effective not just by providing the facts but by framing it as a betrayal of the American values of law, order and justice. And they are doing it with the necessary fiery passion to move us, especially Cheney and Kinzinger, not just cooling water. That is the 'more' we must do Rachel and thankfully the Committee is doing it well.

Mutineers Island

 


Hawley runs for his life

There was a clip during the hearing tonight showing Hawley giving the raised fist of solidarity to the gathering insurrection. But when they breached the Capitol he ran away as fast as he could crying for his mama. 




Lincoln Project: What it was

 


Bannon's jury selection

 


Is humanity next on the extinction list?

All because of fascists and their collaborators like Manikin? Look up!

Note: He's the Anakin Skywalker aka Darth Vader of politicians. Manikin Diehawker is Death Raider. 


 

A gift-wrapped present to the Justice Department

So what are you going to do with it, huh?


 

Morning Joe: It's an attempted fascist overthrow of American democracy

A former Republican rants on this reality and demands that Garland wake up. 

Bring back the Dark Ages?

I think not.


 

No coincidence

It cannot be coincidence that texts on Jan. 5 and 6 were deleted given the circumstances. Don't let them get away with incompetence as an excuse. Investigate and prosecute. Do your job Garland.


 

No we cannot

On some things, like democracy and fascism. If you choose the latter you are my enemy and I will fight you.



 

Treason washers

Now those radicals think people who commit treason should be punished! Funny how the Cons want to wash their hands of that now.


 

 

 

Leonnig on SS text deletions

Carol Leonnig is a Washington Post reporter who has written about the Secret Service (SS). In this clip she won't speculate as to whether the deleted Secret Service texts was done intentionally unless and until evidence arises to prove it. But she did say that by reading SS agents' public posts and texts that the majority of Twiter's detail were on the MAGA bandwagon. Some were even cheering on the insurrection. Which of course adds weight to the speculation about such intentional deletion. 

Deputy AG on the Barr memo

Continuing this post, Deputy AG Monaco said that the referenced Barr memo does not prohibit the AG from investigating anyone engaged in an election campaign. It merely says that it's a sensitive thing that must be handled with care under the auspices of the AG so as to not give the impression of political favoritism. 

Given I've heard so many empty governmental assurances, I'll believe it when I see the AG hand down an indictment of Twitler and all of his Twitiots. The latter now includes the Secret Service destroying evidence about January 6. Until then it's just more gum flapping.

Wilson of the Lincoln Project on deleted texts

In an email today he said it best on the issue:

"Here’s why it matters that tens of thousands of you raised your hands and demanded answers about those deleted January 6th Secret Service texts:

If reports are to be believed, the Secret Service handed over exactly one – ONE! – message. That’s like writing “FU” on a blank cover sheet, crumpling it up, and throwing it in the general direction of Capitol Hill.

So to get this straight: the Secret Service let the dog eat all their text messages during, wait for it, and this coincidence will SHOCK you, the two days surrounding the most calamitous threat to our democracy. Literally every possible agency with investigatory power has a duty to figure out just what the hell happened.

It matters that a Federal agency given sweeping powers of action and discretion has quite clearly engaged in a coverup to protect Trump and his coup plot. Stay with me here, because my mind is wandering…

1) The long-rumored and discussed cadre of Trump Praetorians in the USSS needs to get aired the hell out. This just reeks.

2) The leadership and every single person on the detail and Uniformed Division that day needs to have their personal and work devices of every kind subpoenaed and examined. They must also be deposed. (Remember...this is the Federal agency on the tip of the spear against cybercrime! LOL!)

3) I hope you’ll let the 1/6 Committee know you’ll tune in for “The Long Hot Summer” series. They absolutely should add this to the docket and make it so hot even the DOJ can’t ignore it. They can skip vacation juuust this once and crack some skulls. 

4) I've noticed many Republicans get very livid lately when this whole scandal gumbo is compared to Watergate. (My advice to the GOP: Then stop doing Watergate sh*t!)

The Secret Service is a vital agency. Their unchallenged bravery at being the last line of defense between violence and assassination of U.S. Presidents and protectees is storied and written at times in blood. It is a brave and honorable duty. The core of their reputation wasn't just a fearsome readiness to defend the President. It was also a cool, detached professionalism that served the office, not simply the political whims of the man who held it. 

For months, Mike Pence's refusal to enter the VP limo has pinged the edges of my radar. I couldn't quite sort out his reluctance. He's not a physically brave man, to my knowledge, so what was it? What else did he know or sense? If you ask me, I think Pence knew parts of the Service were compromised and put Trump's politics over duty.

To go deeper down the rabbit hole: I'm no Presidential staff historian, but Trump's elevation of hyper-loyalist Tony Ornato from the Secret Service into a political role at the White House (who later planned the photo op with the Bible, and the tear gas attack on peaceful protestors in Lafayette Square…) might have been a tell. I suspect he's rather a key element here. We also know that when President Biden took office, he felt compelled to change out pro-Trump detail members. Putting all that together leads us to some unpleasant potential conclusions, to say the least.

This is not a matter where all of us – not the Committee, not the DOJ, not every American who cares about the rule of law and the vital role of the Secret Service – can sit back and be satisfied with one lousy text message. We have to pull at these threads and connect these dots.

The danger the Secret Service faces every day in the line of duty is real. Their sworn duty is an honorable one. But it’s starting to look like the MAGA rot runs deep here. Who knows how big of a role all of this played in the January 6th insurrection?

We owe it to our democracy to find out just how rotten this barrel of apples is. That’s why demanding answers is so important. That’s why we won’t stop pushing until we get the answers.

Are you with us?"

-Rick

 

Secret Service texts permanently gone

At least that's what they say. Does anyone else find it highly suspicious that the SS decided to do a 'phone migration' shortly after the Capitol attack? And that they'd leave it up to individual agents on what to migrate and what to delete from their phones? The same agents that were likely in on the plot to whisk Pence away so that he couldn't certify the election?

That is a federal crime and should be investigated and prosecuted. We cannot have insurrectionists serving in our government. Which of course goes for Twitler and members of his disadministration, as well as of Congress. This evil must be uprooted and thrown out because they are obviously not done with their plans for a fascist takeover.

False equivalencies

How the manipulation of the word 'polarization' becomes bothsideism to de-legitimize the fight against fascism. TFB: We will fight!




The Interamble of The Reconstitution Project

See their website here.

 


Maddow: Is this why Garland is stalling?

Maddow obtained a Justice Dept. memo from May signed by Garland that keeps in place a Barr policy. That policy said no investigation of a Presidential candidate can be initiated without the approval of the Attorney General. To do so might give the appearance of political partisanship.

Hence Twitler, knowing this, is thinking of announcing his 2024 Presidential candidacy as soon as possible to take advantage of this and avoid Justice Dept. investigation. It makes Garland look like he's stalling so he can use this as an excuse for not prosecuting the Twit, a frightening prospect. 

Too soon?

 


Newsom: The Repugnaklans are ruthless

And we need to be more ruthless if we want to win. You cannot negotiate with terrorists and fascists. You must beat them at their own game. He said:
 
"Right now we’re up against the ruthlessness of the Republican party. [...] We have to wake up with a different mindset. And not just a mindset, in terms of a collaborative mindset, a cup of tea and everyone is going to work together. [...] The Democratic party [...] has to organize with more ferocity of focus, more determination to set the agenda; set the course and put the other party on the defense. [...] In this world right now, you dominate the narrative you win and that's what I'm worried about and that's what I’m expressing."
 
 

Rolling Stone: Twitler runs for President again to escape the law

According to this article:

"In recent months, Trump has made clear to associates that the legal protections of occupying the Oval Office are front-of-mind for him, four people with knowledge of the situation tell Rolling Stone. Trump has 'spoken about how when you are the president of the United States, it is tough for politically motivated prosecutors to get to you' says one of the sources, who has discussed the issue with Trump this summer. 'He says when [not if] he is president again, a new Republican administration will put a stop to the [Justice Department] investigation that he views as the Biden administration working to hit him with criminal charges — or even put him and his people in prison.'"

Therefore Attorney General Garland, you need to act quickly before it's too late. You do realize that, right? Or maybe that's why you're stalling, because you're too afraid to take on the task? So a fascist takeover of our government is worth your personal risk?

 

Popeye's Panacea


 

How did the chicken cross the road?

New take on a old joke.



You get what you pay for

 


NMDOH recent COVID statistics

On Friday we had 1723 new cases and 21 new deaths. All but one country is in the red zone on the transmission report.

It's encouraging that they are once again provided data in the last 4-week period based on vaccination status. As you can see, from 6/13/22 to 7/11/22 46.2% of new cases were those who are vaccinated with booster. 19.5% were those who were vaccinated without booster. The hospitalization and death rates in those categories are high too.

So seriously folks, thinking you can go in public without a mask or social distancing because you're vaccinated, even with a booster, is naive at best. You are contributing to extending this pandemic and likely adding to our severe transmission rate. Take some responsibility for public heath and safety already.



Songs, lyrics, poems

Songs, lyrics, poems and other writing/media

Here are about a dozen songs I've recorded at YouTube.* And this link is to my lyrics and poems folder at Google docs, mostly from my ...