From Pine View Farm

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A Tune for the Times 0

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Precedented 0

.Sometimes, a picture is indeed worth a thousand words.

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What’s in a Word? 0

Sometimes, quite a lot.

At The Seattle Times, Steve Edwards describes how the Trump maladministration has redefined a word to as to further endanger endangered species. A snippet:

On Sept. 14, a new federal rule went into effect that redefines how the word “harm” is interpreted in the ESA. In essence, the new rule will now make it legal to kill and injure a protected species by degrading and destroying its habitat. The same day, the federal agencies responsible for enforcing the ESA doubled down by issuing memos that argue in order to violate the ESA, a person must affirmatively intend to directly kill a protected species.

In the agencies’ own example, if a protected species lives in a tree, it would be OK to cut down that tree and kill the animal so long as the purpose of cutting it down was something other than killing the animal. This view of ESA protection provides no protection at all.

Aside:

Apparently, extinction is a Republican family value.

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A Choice, Not an Echo 0

Man:  What are the midterm races to watch this year?  Woman:  Well, in Texas there's a Democrat running against a guy who partied in Dubai with his mistress and two U. S. fugitives who stole millions.  In Ohio there's a Dem runnning against a billionaire friend of J. D. Vance who ran a campaign ad so vile it even disgusted half the GOP.  In Maine there a Dem running against a woman who put Brett Kavanaugh on the Supreme Court and who was under investigation for accepting bribes from a defense contractor until Trump took office.  Man:  So, fairl typical choise for American voters.  Is there anything that might actualy help the Dems?  Wamon:  Gas prices, maybe.

Click for the original image.

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AI and This New Gilded Age 0

Thom looks at the possible fallout if and when the AI bubble bursts. From the Youtube page:

The artificial intelligence boom is showing clear signs of cracking, from massive tech layoffs to falling stock valuations and skyrocketing power bills for everyday consumers. As tech giants invest hundreds of billions into data centers and infrastructure while cutting tens of thousands of jobs, who really pays the price when the bubble bursts? Thom Hartmann breaks down how the current AI speculation boom mirrors past financial crashes, why corporate monopolies are seeking government bailouts, and what happens to working-class families and the economy when labor power is systematically stripped away.

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Truth in Labeling 0

Methinks Michael in Norfolk makes a valid point. A snippet:

It has always struck me as ridiculous that the Republican Party under the Felon has tried to depict itself as a populist party looking out for the interests of working and lower middle class Americans. Never mind that the GOP agenda since Reagan has been one of a reverse Robin Hood where benefits are taken from regular, everyday Americans and transferred to the ultra-wealthy to build a new Gilded Age.

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“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0

Another oxymoronic “responsible gun owner” performs an act neighborly politeness while fondling his portable phallus.

“The investigation determined that Mounts’ loaded, unsecured AR-15-style rifle, which had the safety disengaged, discharged inside his apartment, sending a projectile through the ceiling and into the occupied apartment above, where three individuals were present,” the law enforcement agency said. “During the incident, one juvenile sustained injuries and received medical evaluation and treatment on scene.”

Mounts was charged with Wanton Endangerment Involving a Firearm after he later admitted he had been handling the AR-15 when it discharged.

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QOTD 0

Sam Waterston, in the voice of Executive ADA Jack McCoy:

Fear’s in, commonsense judgment goes out the window.

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A Tune for the Times 0

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Faked Alaska 0

My old Philly DL friend Noz looks at how ranked choice voting, which is used in Alaska, works and debunks Trump’s bunk about the Alaskan Senatorial race.

In related news, Donald Trump claims people don’t know that “incumbent” means, in what is a clear and obvious case of psychological projection.

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American Stasi 0

The only surprising thing about this story is that he’s being held to account.

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All the News that Fits 0

David marvels at how Fox News ran away from interviewing a person when he turned out not to be a Trumpette and about what that reveals about Fox News vs. real news.

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Dis Coarse Discourse 0

Two trick-or-treaters stand outside a cemetary wherein

Click for the original image.

Based on the ads I’ve seen locally, methinks this is an understatement.

One would hope that voters would make their decisions based on something more substantial than campaign ads.

One would hope . . . .

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Suffer the Children 0

At the Las Vegas Sun, Mark Bird reminds us again that that’s not scripture. That’s a Republican family value.

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“An Armed Society Is a Polite Society” 0

Once again, politeness becomes child’s play.

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QOTD 0

Stefano Guazzo:

A king without instruction is like a donkey crowned.

Q. E. D.

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A Tune for the Times 0

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He’s Popeye the Sailor Meme 0

Florida man.

The stupid. It burns.

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Talking Heads 0

Sportswriter extraordinaire Bob Molinaro is talking about sports commentators here, but methinks what he has to say applies across much of dis coarse discourse (emphasis added):

Tony Romo has been replaced at CBS by a former defensive lineman, while Troy Aikman may not be long for ESPN’s Monday Night Football. America’s TV booths could be on the verge of a serious quarterback deficit. Does Aaron Rodgers, who says this is his final season, have interest in analyzing games? He likes to talk. He thinks he’s the smartest guy in the room. Seems like a natural.

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Petty Cheesy, Reprise 0

Seth takes a closer look at the Trump freak-out over Obama’s Cheesecake Factory remarks.

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