Seems like the unendurable thing is coming soon.
I am so proud of my hometown. Good work, Los Angeles.
Better late than never. For so many things.
The media, less so. "Clashes / tensions between protestors and law enforcement", way to equivocate.
Dunno if significant but I have never gone through US passport control as quickly as I did yesterday. I was braced for drama but the IO just went "here on business? OK, there you go". I wasn't the only one neither; the same happened to everyone I knew on the same flight.
Could be either "we're busy, who cares about ESTAs?" or "I am working-to-rule by not bothering anyone, looking at anything closely, or asking any questions"
CBP is about as right-wing as ICE. If they skipped hassling you this time, it's unlikely out of some institutional change or cultural vibe shift - more likely happenstance. (You may have seen my mention when I returned to the county on I think the last day of last year, my passport-checker had a bag with a Trump patch just casually facing the traveler.)
I can't believe stonks are up 0.6% since Friday.
Things were really fucked up on Friday too.
8: This is just fascinating to me. I can tell myself that TSLA and bitcoin are essentially meme investments and explain those phenomena away, but I am unable to account for the way the entire market is behaving.
(Although I don't think anything terribly interesting has happened, market-wise, in the last several days.)
Or, indeed, that the S&P 500 is now up 2.7% from Jan 1, 2025.
I went to the protest in downtown LA over the weekend and it was heartening to see so many people. There was no violence where I was -- big crowd, but all peaceful.
I'll definitely be at the No Kings rally this Saturday. Debating whether it should be my own town or Oakland.
Anyone planning on attending one of the No Kings protests on Saturday?
Any NYC area commenters planning on going? I think I will go to the march at Bryant Park
8,11 Immediate recession fears haven't materialized and there are ongoing US-PRC talks? I'm also surprised, not personally optimistic about next year's state of the economy.
A friend has a long-planned party I'm going to on the 14th, otherwise I would go, likely would not have without LA events.
Going to try to find the Berlin demonstration.
I'll be out in the streets. Just commiserating with one of my old anarchist friends last night that age, infirmity and filial responsibilities certainly put a crimp in one's ability to leap up and attend protests on the spur of the moment.
19.1 Maybe! But I'm one of those efficient markets people. I have dramatically reduced my exposure to the market, but I'm still in because I don't trust my own opinions that much.
An efficient market (I believe) would regard the current political economy as irretrievably fucked. To be sure, I am unimpressed with the short- or medium-term impact on the markets of military dictatorship or the evisceration of government science. But having nitwits in charge who are efficacious in promoting ruinous economic policies -- that's bad! And it's just the sort of thing that markets ought to be able to recognize today. I am puzzled.
In February, I took 80% of my non-taxable holdings out of the market -- and we're right about back where I sold. If stocks go up much more from here, I expect to sell more.
||
Israel's ambassador to Ukraine, Michael Brodsky, said this week that Tel-Aviv had transferred an unspecified number of Patriot air defence missile systems used by the Israeli military in the 1990s.An inflection?
Are the Patriots still effective? When I first heard of them, computer had floppy disks.
In terms of Israeli sales, not the whole war, obvs.
I was just wondering if they were selling junk or useful weapons.
I know we still use them, but nobody is shooting at us much.
I was supposed to be in NYC for work this weekend and was excited about meeting up with old friends for the protest. It's been a long time since I was in a New York-sized demonstration. Alas, the work thing was canceled so I'll hit the Austin-sized one instead.
My guess is Israel is under enormous diplomatic pressure right now (UK sanctioning two prominent cabinet ministers) and it's about to get a lot worse for them as reporting has it that France, the UK, and several other states are going to recognize Palestine so they're scrambling for any diplomatic cover they can get and Ukraine will likely give it to them in return for Patriots. Some will remember when Israel refused any such aid before, not even agreeing to let them have obsolete SAMs that actually belonged to the US but were held on Israeli territory.
If you do get to New York City, try the bagels. They are very good.
We've got a big No Kings / No Clowns festival planned. We're leaning into being family friendly in hopes of bringing in a younger crowd. A bunch of food was donated, we got some bands. We got the Democratic party to cover insurance and buy a big tent.
I'm the MC, in case you know any jokes I should use.
Supposedly, recent pictures show that Trump is using a urinary catheter. That's always a good thing to speculate about.
Publicly and in front of children, I mean.
Willie Catheter's novel, My Anti-pee-on-mia.
Fucking Nebraska history class finally paid off.
You can get cream cheese on them too.
Did anyone else have high school stop for a day while someone explained George Norris to them?
I find it weirdly encouraging that a spineless panderer like Gavin Newsom finds it politically expedient to denounce Trump.
Like when Sweden stopped selling iron to the Nazis. Someone text Fetterman though.
I'm the fucking MC. But will forward any jokes to Spike.
Should I put my hands in the air like I just don't care?
Supposedly, recent pictures show that Trump is using a urinary catheter.
First term, Trump supporters: Trump resembles the God-Emperor of Humanity!
Second term, Trump opponents: Trump resembles the God-Emperor of Humanity!
(And he's fallen out with his closest ally, an obsessive techie who has a near-religious fixation on Mars and a disturbing tendency towards body modification)
Stephen Miller appointed Warmaster when
Protest organizers seem to be keeping it out of DC on the 14th itself, wanting to avoid a confrontation or starve the orange one of attention, so we're going to a protest in Bethesda instead. It was Cassandane's idea and I've agreed, but honestly, I'm very reluctant.
The reason I told her is that we're very busy these days, which is true; we have two parties that day and at least four more unusual appointments over the coming week. The kid spends most of the summer with her grandparents, so a lot gets sandwiched into the days before she leaves.
But the the bigger reason I'm reluctant is that I'm a lot more defeatist than I was until the election. Turning protests into concrete results seemed kind of tenuous when Democrats held one or two houses of Congress and/or the presidency and/or when courts had some semblance of principles. When none of those are the case, it's hard to imagine a cause-and-effect relationship between the action and the desired result. Cassandane quotes the "3.5 percent rule" like it's a law of nature, but it seems a lot more like underpants gnomes territory to me. I'm going to the protest just to be counted on the right side of history, not in any expectation that it'll matter.
Sorry to be a downer, but I feel like I can't say this to Cassandane or my dad, whose mood is similar to hers, so there's no better place for it.
52: I don't know how optimistic I feel, but I think this is the argument in favor of thinking protests matter: https://danieldrezner.substack.com/p/the-bullys-pulpit-comes-home
The mistake in analyzing this crisis is presuming that the Trump administration is the only actor with agency in this situation. Protestors -- and potential protestors -- also hold some cards.
If protestors maintain discipline, and if the protests spread, then the TACO logic will start to kick in. Trump might have comparatively stronger political support for his immigration policies. The media attention on Kilmar Abrego Garcia hurt Trump's standing, however, as G. Elliott Morris demonstrated on his Substack. Imagine what the press coverage of widespread attempts to use military force to suppress democratic protests inside the United States will look like.
I have no doubt that if Stephen Miller was the president, the administration would continue to escalate. He might persuade Trump to act tough domestically precisely to counteract the TACO principle abroad. But I am slightly more inclined to put money on Trump's cowardice.
Yeah. I am super ambivalent about protests. I haven't gone to any yet.
I figure I'll know it is time when my normie friends feel driven to go.
The ones that aren't ashamed to call themselves "center left".
I'm convinced that my views ought to represent the political center.
I'm contemplating attending on Saturday; some friends are getting together to game and one asked to delay our start so he can attend. So if I go, there'll be someone I know well in the crowd... and someone I can get a ride away from the demonstration with.
And nmm to him, while you're at it. Or preferably before you're at it.
I feel bad that I'm not going to any protests, but I've got some overwhelming family caregiving happening now. I figure the world will still be on fire when my personal life is more resolved.
I was doing caregiver stuff during the protests of the first Trump administration and now there's plenty for me to protest.
I'm not sure what I'm doing on Saturday, but the weather looks like it's going to be nice. I don't need to be convinced that these protests do anything, but they do lighten my mood. It's nice to see non-assholes assembling in public.
The real work of protest is going to be done when people start getting shot. I think we all know that Trump intends for people to be shot, and will do what it takes to make that happen. I don't think anybody is going to be shot in my suburb this weekend, though.
The Women's March in DC in 2017 was a remarkable moment and I'm glad I was there. Regardless of what followed, it's a happy memory.
"No Kings" seems a bit demanding. Maybe just a not evil king?
We're Americans, Moby; we can demand no kings.
Come to think, does anyone in the NYC area (or willing to travel to the NYC area for pickup) want to adopt a pair of healthy, appealing, friendly middle-aged cats? They are not the caregiving problem, but they are very much not making the situation easier, and I was already trying to find them a new home before the situation(s) arose.
I'm serious about this -- email at the linked address if you're at all interested for details. Lurkers (or friends of lurkers, or anyone at all) welcome.
Come to think, does anyone in the NYC area (or willing to travel to the NYC area for pickup) want to adopt a pair of healthy, appealing, friendly middle-aged cats? They are not the caregiving problem, but they are very much not making the situation easier, and I was already trying to find them a new home before the situation(s) arose.
I'm serious about this -- email at the linked address if you're at all interested for details. Lurkers (or friends of lurkers, or anyone at all) welcome.
Can you put cats on a train and have someone meet them at the station, like with kids on airplanes?
I could put them on the train if no one caught me doing it.
The conductor would still check for a ticket.
We should go full 18th century and have protests called "No Title of Nobility shall be granted by the United States: And no Person holding any Office of Profit or Trust under them, shall, without the Consent of the Congress, accept of any present, Emolument, Office, or Title, of any kind whatever, from any King, Prince, or foreign State."
All signs must have multiple clauses separated by semicolons.
33, 41: This might be of interest.
33, 41: This might be of interest.
76, 77: Because bagels are such a NYC thing, my comment is like NY: it's so nice I had to say it twice!
I want to make a sign that hints at the New Sedevacantism, mentioning both Trump's ineligibility (Insurrection Clause) and his senility/incapacity in the same breath.
Bonus points if you can fit a reference to his catheter in there too
We're going to No Kings here in Missoula.
He only has two modes of speaking: ex catheter and ex recto
64/70/71: hope everything resolves ok and isn't too stressful!
I'm going to the one in Boston.
I'm currently in France, flying back this afternoon, so I've only skimmed headlines and haven't read much news, so I almost missed the LA protests. I kind of don't want to go back to the US.
The Boston Globe does not have the deep bench of reporters that The NY Times does. They could not, for example, manage the data reporting that the NYTimes did during the first couple of years of COVID. But, during Trump 2.0, their headlines are so much better. "Trump continues to attack Harvard". Part of that has to with the fact that attacks on funding Harvard are a bread and butter issue for a greater percentage of the population than attacks on Columbia were in NY. Harvard is the 4th largest employer in the state. But the lack of both sides-ism is refreshing.
They are annoying on many local issues, referring to the Fair share millionaire's tax as a surtax rather than a progressive income tax and constantly fretting that it will cause high net worth individuals to flee the state.
85- It looks like the only one in Boston is the combined Pride/No Kings in Copley? I'd have expected something at the Common/State house/City hall, Copley plaza isn't very big.
The 87: Looks like there are a bunch of smaller ones all across the state, including one in Lowell. Maybe I should go to that one, since my Rep represents Lowell.
We're Americans, Moby; we can demand no kings.
But you already have no kings and there is no prospect of this changing. If you had a king, you wouldn't have this problem. Trust me, the problem of "too much king" is very solvable.
What you have is a completely different problem - you have an elected authoritarian leader who wants to use the power of the state to crush his opposition, and a lot of your fellow citizens want him to do it, which is why they voted for him to be leader.
OT: Air India 787 just crashed on takeoff from Ahmedabad, into a built-up area just outside the airport perimeter. One Mayday sent, 242 souls on board. First 787 crash - the record's been pretty good except for the grounding in 2013 over the lithium batteries catching fire.
90: Normally, I'm not anxious about flying, but this -coupled with Trump's FAA changes - leaves me nervous.
Boeing Dreamliner so uh...India halted payments to Boeing awhile back which led to a shortage of spare parts so I wonder if that's related. Could be a bird strike too.
I think a general strike in humans is going to be needed no matter what labor actions the birds take.
Dreamliner was a well-documented manufacturing nightmare but it's actually turned out to be a pretty good aircraft to operate - quiet, efficient, reliable - as I say, this is the first hull loss ever. Weather conditions were good so it's not that. Both pilots had plenty of flying experience - 8000 hours and 1100 hours - though not clear how much was on type. VT-ANB had been in service with AI since 2013, pretty clear history as far as I can see.
Could be a tech failure, could be a bird strike... too early to say.
Appallingly, the crash site seems to have been on top of the doctors' residences for the nearest hospital.
I'd be more concerned about India blaming Pakistan.
India typically blames the manufacturer and since it's Boeing, well...
89: the problem of "too much king" is very solvable
About eight inches less king solves the problem almost instantly, if you take them off the top. Taking them off the bottom solves the problem in minutes, as long as you take care to deny medical attention.
Theoretically this brings up the problem of what about the next king, but in practice this tends (e.g., 1649, 1793, 1918) not to be an issue for quite some time.
According to some Indian news channels "No thrust, plane not taking lift" was the mayday message
I quite like the image of a bunch of revolutionaries going "No, but seriously, why not try befooting him instead? Let's think outside the box here and do something really innovative and groundbreaking."
Interesting story from someone arrested (but not jailed) at the protests: https://smotus.substack.com/p/arrested-in-la
Apparently one passenger survived the crash.
Seat 11A, which seems more to the front than usual for that.
It's reassuring that no other right-wing authoritarian leader in history who was very unpopular for being too close to Israel has ever regretted holding a massive military parade to celebrate how amazing he was.
100: Thanks, that was an interesting story - very clear eyed, and self-interested in escape when things turned to mass arrest in a way that I'm very sympathetic to.
104: Agreed. It made me wonder who was behind the decision to arrest all these people, rather than just let them go home.
Anyone see that Kristi Noem press conference?:
"We are not going away. We are staying here to liberate the city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into the city."
The only survivor from the crash is talking about "When the flight took off, within five to 10 seconds it felt like it was stuck in the air. Suddenly, the lights started flickering - green and white.
"The aircraft wasn't gaining altitude and was just gliding before it suddenly slammed into a building and exploded."
That doesn't sound like a bird strike, to be honest.
Ignore the piece in the American Prospect, by the way. It's an innuendo dump, very carefully structured to conceal the fact that the author hasn't got anything. Tkachik has previous here - she wasn't great on the 737 MAX crashes either IIRC.