December 11

Good morning on what looks like a cloudy day. The temperature is supposed to stay in the 30s.

Check out the article by Andrea Mazzarino on Tomdispatch.

I have been busy today. Finished the oven roasted butternut squash. The pork roast and acorn squash are in the oven. In about half an hour I will fix the spaghetti for today's dinner. The butternut squash and pork roast will take care of tomorrow and Wednesday. Might even have some pork left for a chef salad for Thursday. By then I will decide on what to do for the next three or four days.

Robert Reich has some good comments on the furor over the testimony from three presidents of to questions during a House committee hearing last week. To date two of the three have resigned. They were asked for a "yes/no" answer to an ethical/moral question and gave instead a legalistic answer. They totally failed to recognize the difference. Reich asks a good question though considering the role big pockets donors had in the resignations: how will the environment of the institutions change if donors extend their pressure to other issues? Another question: exactly what role do we want our education system to play in our society and how do we balance the interests of our various constituencies?

December 9, 10

Shocking but not Surprising. Our landlord was victimized by this kind of scam. To find it has moved on line is taking it up a lot of steps to the worse. Mom prefers to use checks/cash because. I use my debit card or checks/cash. We have found that no method is really safe. There are always bastards out there hoping to take advantage.

10**********************************************************************

Skimming various news sites I found this Al Jazeera story which asks if Israel's dependence on high tech gadgetry helped cause the intelligence failure on October 7. And evidently that reliance on AI and so-called smart technologies is also failing in the Gaza offensive--it isn't as precise or selective as advertised.

Al Jazeera also has a long article about how Brexit affected people individually. Under Brexit people from most European countries could easily travel, live and work in most other European countries without passports and visas. They had gotten used to that until the unthinkable happened and the U.K. vote to leave the European Union. A lot of people lost not only the freedom to move, live and work easily throughout Europe but a sense of security.

I am so glad that the Medicare Advantage sign up period is over for this year. I so wanted to slap Martha and Karen. Mom has an advantage plan associated with Anthem but during this period was pestered with phone calls almost daily and actually changed providers at least four times because she couldn't get the "licensed insurance representative" to tell her who they represented. She did finally get it straightened out for her preferred provider. We haven't needed to tap it yet so what they will pay and how quickly is still a question. This article on Naked Capitalism provides me another reason to stay out. Some hospitals are now refusing to accept certain Medicare Advantage plans and the customer/patient probably won't know until they are billed for services.

December 8

 Starting out sunny and clear today. Supposed to be warmer also. All the snow we had earlier has disappeared and the latest Drought Monitor map shows our area back in "dry" conditions. I noted that all of the rain we saw in various drought stricken areas hasn't really shrunk the areas of drought much. Did you see the snow cover in parts of Europe? They got dumped on.

Robert Reich continues his series on "Why American Capitalism is so Rotten" continues with a discussion of the "Myth of a Free Market." He makes it clear that the real question is isn't a free vs an unfree market. The question is "free from what, for what, for whom?"

December 7

Good morning on what might be a sunny day and unseasonably warm. I looked at what is left of the gardens and was surprised to see the spicy oregano, both lavenders, all three sage plants are looking good. The mums show green at the lower levels. If we get a real stretch of winter I expect the only survivals will be the mints and chives which I didn't mention. We'll see.

Robert Reich comments this morning on the current state of the GOP. "De-evolution" is a good description. It is sad to think that the "party of Lincoln" has sunk to the level of threatening members and their families with violence (verbal or otherwise) and promising that The Twisted Santa in Mar-a-lago was taking names and would kick ass. It is also sad to think that a party that was established established in the 1850s on strong principles of anti-slavery and a reasoned political platform decided in 2019 that they wouldn't even put up a platform going with what ever whims their "Orange Jesus" farted out.

Yves Smith at Naked Capitalism has a phrase to describe the decline in quality of goods and services: crapification. Another blogger (sorry, can't remember who) upped the ante and coined a different, ruder term: shitification. This story exemplifies the trend. We have had a postal service since we were Britain's colonies. Whatever government financed it and when the country became bi-coastal with the wide swath of lightly populated territories between, the Pony Express was started to maintain speedy contact. It lasted until telegraph lines spanned the distance. But always the government supported communications. For about three decades political attitudes changed and a move to force the postal service to act more like a profit making business gathered momentum. I have said before that government and government functions are not businesses and making them act like they are opens up a "pay to play" regime. Those too poor to pay don't get to play. Users of the service have always paid some amount to send letters and packages, or to do business. But the costs were kept low as a policy. Another thought came to me: the town mentioned isn't far away from us. Looks like the trend of abandoning rural populations is coming closer.

I just finished a simple seasonal arrangement in a smiley vase. I should have gone looking for my wire cutters but I managed with my heavy kitchen shears which will cut through bone. I also changed the wreath but that feels more like wishful thinking than reflecting the season. I really need to get the clutter in the What-not Room cleaned up--so I can clutter it up again remaking several wreaths.

Naked Capitalism has this critique, originally posted by Thomas Neuburger at God's Spies, of the COP 28 meetings. Does anyone remember the old saying about the fox gaining control of the hen house?

Stray thought: When the Former Guy threatened to withdraw, unilaterally, from Nato, I thought his threat would lead our European allies to re-evaluate the stability and value of its alliance with the US. I wasn't surprised when new stories reported that they were doing just that. I wonder if the impasse in DC over funding for Ukraine's war, which Biden did a masterful job of persuading the EU into supporting, will further that process.

Andrew Bacevich has a new post on Tomdispatch concerning the Israeli-Hamas war. I almost wrote Palestinian instead of Hamas because it feels more like a war against Palestinians considering the official war in Gaza is being pursued by the IDF at the same time an unofficial war perpetrated by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank. A couple of points come to my mind. First, any claim the US might have had (ephemeral, at best) to being an "honest broker" in the matter is really gone. Second, the "rules based order" Biden has been trying to shore up after the knocks it took after The Former Guy tried his best to dismantle it, has probably been sunk. I think we will miss it. Third, US actions have been largely unilateral in spite of the efforts to discuss the situation with local powers. In the back of my mind is the question: how soon do we become more deeply involved? And what will be the blowback? Fourth, everyone from our government to a sizable portion of our citizenry, to friends and frenemies abroad are trying to get someone, anyone, US, UN to get Israel to stop the bombardment. They are all whistling past the graveyard because no one really has that kind of power or influence anymore. If anyone ever really did.

December 5, 6

 Snow today--wet, heavy, fluffy flakes. We might get more than the 1 inch predicted. It isn't all that cold and the temperatures will rise a bit over the next few days (maybe). I don't expect the snow will last long.

Naked Capitalism posted this article on "inflation inequality." I have noted before that the official inflation numbers have been massaged to minimize inflation in the economy. The economists eliminate food and some other costs that affect ordinary people on a daily basis and over emphasize the more "stable" costs like autos and electronics which people don't buy every day or so. That gives them, they think, an idea of "core" inflation which appears stable or declining but the process leaves them bewildered when ordinary Americans complain that their costs, their perceived inflation, are rising. The article explains another phenomenon: price increases hit low cost food items more than higher cost items even when the average doesn't seem so bad. Basically, it means that the upper economic groups can still afford their steak but the lower tiers have trouble affording hamburger.

06*********************************************************************

Most of the snow is already gone. We have an errand today. I hope it will be dry and a bit warmer.

I have just been watching a long bit speechifying on a morning news/entertainment show which started off with the confrontation between Representative Elise Stefanik and a college/university president. Stefanik asked if "calling for genocide against Jews" was against the institution's code of conduct and the president hedged claiming the answer depended on context. There are so many things wrong with the whole sequence. While a stopped clock is right twice a day when the clock is Stefanik I have to double check that it is a clock, that it is indeed stopped, and that it really is coincidentally at the time my own watch is showing. However, if Stefanik was going for gotcha moments she hit pay dirt. The answer the president gave is an example of why anyone espousing "situational ethics" should be very check their moral compass. Think back to an Oliver Wendell Holmes comment on freedom of speech: no one has the right to yell 'fire' in a crowded theater.' The speech doesn't have to be directed at a specific person to be dangerous. Yelling for genocide against any group is the equivalent to yelling fire. It doesn't have to be directed at a specific group to be dangerous. 

The discussion that started yesterday, and continues today, about Rep. Pramila Jayapal's responses to questions of Israel's conduct of the war with Hamas fits in here. I think some of the criticism was over the top and used the same "what-about-ism" they accused her of to attack her. The worst I can say of her responses is that trying to excuse one atrocity by pointing to another doesn't work. Hamas' attack on Israelis was horrific but so is Israel's response. Trying to white wash 1200 dead by pointing out the 15,000 dead on the other side is just that kind of what-about-ism.

Another good historical post from Tomdispatch. File in the "What is old (and not good) is (abhorrently) new" File.

And from The Free Press, another entry in the "What is old (and concerning) is New (with, hopefully, a better response) File. I have seen articles about the new respiratory illness hitting hard in China. And China is again treating the situation as a state secret.

I found this by way of Naked Capitalism. Middle East Monitor reports that Israel may decide to deal with the tunnels under Gaza by flooding them with sea water. The comparison the Naked Capitalism editor had on the link seems apt: Israel taking a page out of Roman history and "salting the earth." If you miss the reference look up the Punic Wars. It may go beyond by fouling the water supply and, perhaps, destabilizing the substrates under Gaza. The Times of Israel has more details.

There is an old challenge that tells people to "put your money where your mouth is." Judd Legum asks whether AT&T is putting their money where they say their values are and find they come very short. They spend their money to support candidates that vote for measures that directly infringe on voting rights, that curtail women's rights to appropriate medical care, support anti-LGBTQ+ laws, etc.

So Kevin McCarthy is resigning effective the end of this month. He won't finish his term. I am not sad about that. I thought he was a miserable excuse for an human being. His seat will be filled by a special election.

RIP Norman Lear.

Erin Brockovich posted a cautionary article on the use of cleaning agents that have quaternary ammonium compounds in them. There are some questions and recent studies which raises doubts about their efficacy and they can be toxic. We have Lysol wipes and Lysol spray but we use them sparingly. We have never been on the ultra-sanitary bandwagon. Our main cleaning agents are white vinegar and bleach (used very separately.) We, humans, have a habit of adopting products before we have any good information about the possible consequences. 

December 4

 I often feel like events are whirling around but nothing is really happening. For all the furor over George Santos, the politics haven't changed--it is still deadlocked. The Middle East is still deadlocked in a deadly confrontation between Hamas and Israel. And it is splitting the US into pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian camps both unwilling to admit the other side might have legitimate grievances. The Former Guy was handed two new decisions that confirm he doesn't have immunity from prosecution because of his status as a former president. But the cases continue and his lawyers continue to delay, and delay, and delay ad infinitum.

I found this opinion piece by Kieth Magee on CNN interesting. We don't really listen to the other side and too many of us are unwilling to "agree to disagree." Nor are some of us willing to let others make moral choices if those choices are what they would decide. And all too many think "there oughta be a law" which would take the issue out of the realm of morality. The question of what anyone would vote for or against The Former Guy (or, for that matter, why one would vote for The Other Guy) is by far a simpler question. 

NPR reports that the medical establishment, or rather some doctors, are moving away from aggressive suggestions that patients lose weight when ever a patient consults them whether the condition is directly related to the problem the patient wants addressed. The basic problem though is that patients don't feel doctors actually listen to them. My mother had the same complaint when she went to a doctor to deal with her shingles case. The doctor quickly moved away from the shingles, for which there is no cure and only treatment to ease the symptoms, and to a search for something to treat. Mom hasn't gone back. I have heard similar stories from others, all women. Even when the doctor is a woman. As with the last paragraph, listening, really listening, would be an excellent change.

It is amazing how people can't say something with which a sizable portion of vocal people don't agree without vicious responses. There was a report that actors who expressed either support for Palestinians or disapproval of Israel suddenly found themselves without jobs because of that political sin. Another example is the response to the man, an oil executive with the Abu Dhabi state oil company, who is running the COP28 conference who said that he didn't see any science behind the notion that phasing out fossil fuels would keep global temperatures below 1.5degrees above pre-industrial levels. He has now "walked back" his statement after an intense push back. I wonder, though, how right (or wrong) he might have been in his original statement. If we phased out fossil fuels, will it result in stop the rise in global temperatures? How quickly would we have to phase to phase out the use of fossil fuels? I have seen reports that say the greenhouse gases we have already released will keep increasing global temperatures for a long time even if we stopped using fossil fuels today. The proponents of phasing out fossil fuels, if not a total elimination, have their eyes on a single goal: stopping global temperatures from rising. They don't seem to have considered the possible negative impacts--and those will be considerable.

However, a healthy discussion (or debate) requires the expression of various ideas, even those many of us might not like. Right now there is no side of any debate which goes along with the notion (I forget who first expressed it)  "I don't agree with what you are saying, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." It is called "freedom of speech." So long as the speech doesn't further crimes or immediately and serious harm, we should tolerate it.

December 1

Welcome to meteorological winter and the last month of 2023. The snow we had earlier in the week has all gone. We have rain now and the overnight temps remained in the 40s. I got our dishes sorted out and the cabinet arranged so we can find things. Once upon a time all of the sorting of the books, pantry, and dishes would have occupied a single day. Not now. Now we do things a bit at a time.

Most of the news today has concerned two f**kups: Israel's intelligence failures leading up to October 7 and George Santos. The vote on whether Santos is expelled from Congress is supposed to take place later today. The Speaker is publicly telling his caucus to "vote their consciences" but who knows what he is saying privately. I was about to write "--and who knows whether the even have consciences" but stopped because I reminded myself that some may actually have good reasons for voting against expulsion just as some may have selfish and self centered reasons to vote either way. ( UPDATE: Santos has been expelled.) The Israel story is in early days and I am sure there will be more juicy details coming up. This is CNN's coverage this morning. What we can be sure of is that the politics in both Israel and the U.S.--and beyond--are in chaos. More chaos that has become usual.

The growing animosity between blue cities in red states is going to be another source of political chaos. As this article notes the cities are often far more diverse and liberal than the state which is often controlled by white men. But a more important fact is the growing divide between rural and urban areas in states. I think a conversation I had with one of my brothers with the last election--another in which the electoral college vote was closer than the popular vote though the two did coincide unlike the 2016 vote (and several others over the last 20 odd years.) The roll of the electoral college came up and my disappointed brother grumbled "why should a man's vote in Wyoming count less than another man's vote in California?" I asked "why the vote of the population of Wyoming count less than the vote of the population of California?" Wyoming has a bit under 600k while California has almost 40million. This was exactly the kind of discussion which led the framers of the Constitution to create the Electoral College: how to balance the power of the large states vs the small states. That is also why the House of Representatives is apportioned by population and the Senate is set at 2 senators for each state no matter the population.

I keep thinking I should put the winter wreath on the door but--it simply doesn't look or feel like winter.

Robert Reich posted his second installment on his series "Why American Capitalism is so Rotten" with What Really Happened to the American Dream. He makes the nexus between economics and politics very clear.

Richard Haas deals with Israel-Hamas (of course), Cop-28 (pessimistically), and Henry Kissinger (respectfully.) The glaring problem with the war in Gaza is that Israel has no realistic political path. As he notes that they can't seem to translated Clausewitz's observation (war is politics by other means) into Hebrew. Theirs is a war with any practical political objective. I have quoted an old saying before "when you go out for revenge dig two graves--one for your enemy and one for yourself." Israel went out for revenge and looks likely to bury both Gaza and itself. Haas isn't the only one who is pessimistic about finding a course of action that all  (or even a large proportion) of the participants will find acceptable or will hold to. And, finally, on Kissinger I think it is fair to say we will be arguing about his impact and legacy for decades to come.

On the Weather Channel the stories this week have focused on the continuing fall out from Hurricane Ian two years ago and what might happen in the next hurricane season only 6 months ago. Many people still haven't received their insurance payouts. Many can't rebuild because they can't get a mortgage without insurance which is hard or impossible to get. At least three major insurance providers have left the state leaving the state backed provider to carry the burden. They are talking about a "hurricane tax", a surcharge in double digits on ALL insurance policies (including auto and pet) in the state.

 Naked Capitalism posted a long article on what might develop into a border war between Guyana and Venezuela. And another on the election in the Netherlands which brought Geert Wilders a win. He is part of a move to the right in Europe's politics. Now the process of forming a ruling coalition begins. It took the just defeated Prime Minister 299 days to do that.

RIP Sandra Day O'Connor.