Archive for July, 2019
Song of the Day 7/25: Sly and the Family Stone, “Hot Fun in the Summertime”
Though it’s a quintessential summer song, the single, recorded for an album but rushed into release shortly after the band’s triumphant set at Woodstock, didn’t reach its No. 2 chart position until October of 1969. As a summertime anthem, this might be Sly’s most-covered composition. An early-’80s funk band from Dayton, Ohio, called Dayton, gave […]
DL Open Thread: Thurs., July 25, 2019
Puerto Rico’s Governor To Resign. Proof that public protest on a mass scale matters. Senate Rethug Blocks Election Security Bills. A senator from Mississippi did the blocking, but you know that Mitch McConnell ordered someone to do it. Can’t interfere with those Trump-supporting Russians. Mueller, House D’s, Play Alphonse-Gaston. ‘Say the word.’ ‘No, you say […]
Song of the Day 7/24: Toots and the Maytals, “Monkey Man”
Jane Goodall met Prince Harry yesterday and they enacted a “chimpanzee greeting.” As you can see at the link, it’s not much different from a human greeting, because we are basically near-hairless, smarter, weaker chimps. Toots and the Maytals released the song in 1969, inspired by Toots losing a woman to a guy who, he […]
DL Open Thread: Weds., July 24, 2019
How Trump Administration Has Given Blank Check To Gun Exporters. A sign of the exporters’ appreciation? Their convention is taking place at Trump’s DC hotel. How China Is Trying To Address Its Massive Trash Problem. Step 1 is recognizing that you have a problem. ICE Held A US Citizen For Three Weeks Because They Could. […]
For some reason Democrats continue to outsource oversight
What a bunch of losers and idiots we have representing us in congress. I mean, it is pitiful. Trump is the most patently and transparently corrupt politician in American history but Democrats who control the House can’t manage to lay a finger on him. Instead they continue to hope that a proxy can […]
What is flesh eating bacteria?
What we call flesh-eating bacteria is really a disease called Necrotizing fasciitis. (NF). (The bacteria itself is frequently Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) but other flesh-eating bacterias are out there such as Vibrio vulnificus which has been found in Delaware’s waters just waiting for you to ignore your next underwater cut or scrape). Whatever the strain, this shit means […]
Song of the Day 7/23: The National, “Secret Meeting”
I once heard The National described as “REM for the 21st century,” and the comparison makes some sense. Both groups are guitar-driven alternative bands that feature inward-looking, literate, cryptic lyrics and vocals by their brooding front men. Both write songs that, as the rock-crit adage has it, reward repeated listens. This song, which led off […]
DL Open Thread: Tues., July 23, 2019
The Al Franken Case. In-depth profile in the New Yorker. Bottom line: He got royally screwed. Set up by a bunch of RWNJ’s, including the alleged victim, and thrown out with the trash by D senators who never bothered to even investigate the allegations. If Gillibrand had any self-respect, she’d resign. Or at least apologize. […]
Tom Carper, Ken Simpler and John Carney’s Masters are going to hate this
End Wall Street’s Stranglehold On Our Economy Elizabeth Warren’s Plan to Rein in Wall Street Here are some bullet points, but do yourself a favor and read the whole thing: My plan would transform the private equity industry and end this looting with a comprehensive set of legal changes, including: Putting private equity firms on […]
Song of the Day 7/22: Dave Mason, “We Just Disagree”
A message for people who know who they are. Dave Mason is one of those rockers who, like Mick Ronson, was famous as a sideman but never became a front-rank star himself. He’s best known as a founding member of Traffic, a group he subsequently left and rejoined several times. He also did a good […]
DL Open Thread: Mon., July 22, 2019
Wilbur Ross Can’t Stay Awake. Of course the Commerce Department is a disaster. But, if Ross is asleep, he can’t do more damage. Can he? Adam Schiff On The Mueller Testimony. He’s not sure whether any minds can be changed at this point. How DJT Jr’s Hunting Buddy Is Influencing Chinese Trade Negotiations. Despite, of […]
DL Open Thread: Sun., July 21, 2019
Centrist PAC Backs Rethug Over Freshman D. This ‘bipartisan’ PAC features the following alleged D’s: The caucus is co-chaired by California Democrat Jimmy Panetta, who was first elected in 2016 and is the son of longtime Democratic operative and former Rep. Leon Panetta. The caucus also includes Democratic Reps. Seth Moulton, Mass., Chrissy Houlahan, Pa., […]
Mainers finally sick of their version of Tom Carper
I know Susan Collins is an “R” and Tom Carper is nomnially a “D” but they are so close to each other in political philosphy that party affiliation don’t really mean much. The bad news for Sen. Susan Collins, Republican from Maine, just doesn’t stop. First she learns that she’s the second least popular senator, […]
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