home

Tuesday Night TV and Open Thread

I've been meaning to write about Discovery+ which launched its streaming app in January. If you are an HGTV fan, it's got everything you want --almost. And for $5 more a month, it's commericial free.

My favorite show is House Hunters International. I watch every episode that has to do with Asia and South or Central America, i.e., Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Vietnam and Malaysia. I'm not too interested in Australia, Europe or Honduras, but if you are, there are episodes galore.

There are so many episodes, Discovery + gave the show its own channel. But therein lies the problem. So far, there's no index of episodes. It just streams 24/7 and you can't pick the episodes you want to watch. Maybe I'm just not tuning in right, but I've used my Roku, Apple TV and FireTV and none of them have a season/episode guide for you to choose from. Every other HGTV show does, so they need to fix this problem quick. (Or tell us how to find the episode guide). [More...]

I've also discovered that most shows about people tasting delicious foods in exotic places are boring and depressing. A good example is Bobby Flay and Gia's new show where they romp through Italy ogling and eating great bites of food. But the taste experience doesn't come through. You watch them eat one bite of each thing and say they love it. Meanwhile the viewer gets nothing. At least with Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre Foods, I always learn about the country, the customs, the locals and by the time he eats, I feel like I'm eating with him.

F*ck That's Delicious (on Viceland) with rapper Action Bronson and his crewmates is also great to watch because the flavor of the food just wafts through the screen. Action has a great vocabulary for describing what the food tastes like. My favorite may be the episode in Morocco where they cook the lamb in a hole in a ground next to their restaurant table and explore the open air markets. I never look at a marrow bone now without thinking of him and the delight he gets sucking out the contents. I really have never seen a person who gets so much joy from his food. It's contagious.

Even Guy Fieri at Diners, Drive-ins and Dives makes the food the star of his show, along with the people cooking it. Watching him when it comes time to take his bite, you can sense the taste. So I don't know why Bobby Flay and Gia's Italy show never gets off the ground. They might as well be wearing tee shirts that say "I got to eat in Italy and all you got was this shirt." I think the show would have been much better if he was paired with someone like Alex Guarnaschelli.

That said, Discovery + also has Bobby Flay's Throwdown and Beat Bobby Flay, both of which are fun to watch.

Lastly, I'll add commericial-free is the only way to go. Hulu, Peacock TV (NBC-related) and CBS all access each let you watch their content commercial free for an extra $5 a month. Considering the $200 a month I save from giving up Comcast, it's a great deal. (for Live TV, I use AT&T Now or an antenna.)

There's really a dearth of good programming available, which I suspect is the result of the pandemic. Watching late night comedians in their houses interview guests via Zoom is really not fun. Nor is it fun to watch music when the artists are in their houses. Even worse is when they're each in their own house and you watch them perform through four screens. Way too disjointed.

At least James Cordon is back in the studio with the band and some crew members to laugh at his jokes, and I never miss his monologue, even if I don't catch it till the next day. There is simply no one else who can make me laugh out loud when I'm standing by myself in my kitchen.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

< The Prince and the Pauper: Separated at Birth? | Monday Open Thread: If Impeachment Won't Work >
  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


  • Display: Sort:
    Tomorrow at 11:30 am I'm going (5.00 / 10) (#1)
    by fishcamp on Tue Feb 02, 2021 at 08:08:18 PM EST
    up to our little hospital for my second Pfizer vaccination.  I'm both thrilled to get vaccinated, and concerned about the side effects.  They called me in two days early which Dr. Fauci says is ok.  Full report tomorrow afternoon.

    Some people (5.00 / 3) (#2)
    by KeysDan on Tue Feb 02, 2021 at 08:43:11 PM EST
    have experienced flu-like experiences with the second shot, such as headache, fatigue, muscle aches, and chills.  More so than with the first shot.  However, such symptoms are usually short-lived.  I experienced no.reactions from the first shot (Moderna) just slight discomfort at the injection site.  The second shot, as with the first, was unremarkable.  Hope for the same for you,  

    Parent
    So happy for you, Fishcamp! (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by vml68 on Tue Feb 02, 2021 at 08:47:19 PM EST
    I understand your concern about side effects. While it will be a few months before it is my turn to get vaccinated, I am already worried about it.
    I have severe allergic reactions to a multitude of things, not Epi-pen territory but close enough to it that reading about people having allergic reactions to the vaccination makes me very nervous about taking it.

    Parent
    Pennsylvania is way behind Florida (none / 0) (#4)
    by Peter G on Tue Feb 02, 2021 at 10:26:07 PM EST
    in distribution of vaccine. Is there any reason to suspect that state allocations were initially influenced by the presidential vote in those states? My county is receiving 5000 doses per week, and we have over 120,000 people in Group 1A alone.

    Parent
    After being listed as dead last (5.00 / 3) (#35)
    by MO Blue on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 04:26:01 PM EST
    on getting shots in arms, Missouri is finally getting it's act together in my area somewhat this week. We now have several hospital systems and a DOH site giving the shots. I probably registered at a least 5 different sites in the last two weeks. I heard about people in several states having trouble getting into the portals to register or schedule appointments. If you have access to a computer, it is relatively easy here. You have to register and then wait until you are notified by one of the vaccination sites before you book an appointment. The hospital systems seem to be scheduling vaccinations for their senior patients with underlying medical conditions now.

    I got my first shot (Pfizer) today and am scheduled for the second one on 2/24.

    Parent

    We are equally slow (none / 0) (#10)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 08:20:16 AM EST
    and very red

    My brother is almost 80 and still has not gotten the first shot after being on the list from the start.

    Parent

    My 82 yr old brother, in a MO senior (5.00 / 1) (#175)
    by oculus on Sat Feb 06, 2021 at 01:43:47 PM EST
    residential complex, gets first jab Sunday. Whew.

    Parent
    So did my 97-year-old mother, who (none / 0) (#179)
    by Peter G on Sat Feb 06, 2021 at 02:22:34 PM EST
    resides, so to speak, in a Northern California memory care home, a few days ago. Our county's system (in PA) is grossly undersupplied, even for seniors and others in groups 1A and 1B. My wife and I have appointments at a Rite-Aid (idiotically an entirely separate, catch-as-catch-can on-line system) for about a month from now, almost 90 minutes from home (which in the suburbs is a long way). Assuming those aren't suddenly canceled without explanation, which seems to be happening a lot around here.

    Parent
    Gov Newsom should (none / 0) (#180)
    by oculus on Sat Feb 06, 2021 at 02:40:12 PM EST
    cite PA when the recall advocates allege he messed up CA roll out.

    Parent
    Spent (none / 0) (#12)
    by FlJoe on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 08:35:19 AM EST
    an hour on the Publix web site this morning hoping for one of the 3,200 slots available in my county, my third try at it.

    I am "pre-registered" with the DOH, whatever that means.

    Parent

    Yay (5.00 / 2) (#130)
    by FlJoe on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 06:51:01 AM EST
    finally booked for my first shot on Monday.

    Parent
    If I understand how it works here (none / 0) (#13)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 09:04:31 AM EST
    It's stupid.  Apparently they are doing everyone over 70, not quickly as I noted, and then they are doing "everyone else" based on when you signed up.  

    Being 69 this seems stupid as F to me.

    Parent

    MSNBC (none / 0) (#14)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 09:19:22 AM EST
    Just said deliveries to retail pharmacies will "start next week".

    Seriously? Start next week?

    Whatever.  That's we're Im signed up. Everyone here except extended care people I think.  3 different "official locations".  All drug stores.

    Parent

    FLJoe, are you in Palm Beach county? (none / 0) (#77)
    by vml68 on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 10:39:02 AM EST
    I'm (none / 0) (#87)
    by FlJoe on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 12:27:10 PM EST
    in Brevard. Last month the DOH was giving the shots, as far as I can tell they are doing none this month (although they are planning to start again at some unspecified time). Publix appears to be the only game in town right now so I suspect something similar has happened here.

    Parent
    How ya feeling Viejo Pescado? (none / 0) (#60)
    by kdog on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 05:55:59 AM EST
    My GF got her second shot the other night...she was banged up the day after aching everywhere and chills.

    Such a crazy virus...my 98 year old great uncle caught it in the Vets Home in December while he had pnuemonia...beat it and out of the covid wing. My moms caught it right after new years, I was really worried with her COPD and all, but after a few days of flu like symptoms she recovered and is out of quarantine. Whew! Meanwhile my friend's mom died from it, otherwise healthy. And another friend's young nephew was in the hospital with it and now has some kind of heart issue. Crazy, crazy, crazy.

    Parent

    Thanks kdog (5.00 / 1) (#101)
    by fishcamp on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 02:39:48 PM EST
    I'm still between the sheets with joint and muscle pain.  I just shuffle walked out to the kitchen for some juice and soda crackers.  No headache or fever, so that's good.  My roommate has two brothers that are doctors in Oregon, and he described my symptoms to them.  Both said I will probably be ok manaña.  I certainly hope so.  I'll check in tomorrow morning.

    Parent
    Glad you are getting your shots! (none / 0) (#116)
    by ruffian on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 07:32:57 PM EST
    I have a couple of other friends that have had both shots, with no serious side effects. I can't wait for mine!

    My 29 yr old nephew and his wife in Memphis got the virus last week. His wife is a nurse in a hospital so they suspect it came from there. She had been eligible for the vaccine but she is pregnant and did not want to risk it since it has not been tested much if at all on pregnant women. Anyway they were knocked flat for a few days but are on the mend.  My sister had to take care of their 1 yr old which was the only amusing part.

    It's hard to even imagine it is more prevalent now than it was six months ago yet it seems to play little role in people's lives, at least around here. I feel like I'm alone in staying as isolated as possible. I do have to go into the office a couple of times a week. I got a bit box of the N95 masks on Amazon. They are both easier to wear and more protective than the cloth ones. They make a nice little cone around your mouth so seem easier to breath through for some reason.

    Anyway, good times, huh?

    Parent

    I've started wearing (none / 0) (#121)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 09:33:31 PM EST
    An N95 with a cloth mask on top.   Holds it tight against the face.  I even shaved off my facial hair because I read the screws up the operation of the mask by keeping it from sealing.

    Parent
    2 masks are the new mask (none / 0) (#122)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 09:36:25 PM EST
    Good idea, then I can still be stylish too (none / 0) (#123)
    by ruffian on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 10:17:29 PM EST
    My 'A Girl Has No Name' mask must be seen!

    Parent
    I am patronizing Pelosi's go to source. (none / 0) (#176)
    by oculus on Sat Feb 06, 2021 at 01:48:34 PM EST
    There is a charitable component to each purchase.

    Parent
    April (none / 0) (#162)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 05:33:34 PM EST

    Vaccination beyond Phase 1-B is estimated to begin in April. Phase 1-C will extend eligibility to seniors 65 and older, individuals 16 and older with an increased risk of life-threatening complications, and essential infrastructure workers.

    Vaccination plans for the general public have not yet been determined in Arkansas, but distribution is generally estimated to begin mid-2021.

    info for your state

    Parent

    Congratulations. (none / 0) (#191)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Feb 07, 2021 at 09:36:23 PM EST
    I'm scheduled to get my first Moderna COVID vaccine on Feb. 17, which is coincidentally my 60th birthday. I was perfectly willing to wait until all the essential workers and older adults were inoculated first, but my doctor strongly advised otherwise because of my own pre-existing condition (polycythemia vera).

    Parent
    Today is Groundhog Day (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by Repack Rider on Tue Feb 02, 2021 at 10:32:44 PM EST
    So I'm eating a lot of sausage.

    A miracle.... I get it! (none / 0) (#6)
    by desertswine on Tue Feb 02, 2021 at 10:53:08 PM EST
    Resident Alien (5.00 / 2) (#25)
    by Towanda on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 12:04:55 PM EST
    on the Scy Fy channel is fun. A reviewer called it a cross between My Favorite Martian and Northern Exposure,

    Imagine an alien learning to speak English by binging Law and Order reruns. Ch-chung.

    I have a (5.00 / 3) (#30)
    by Zorba on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 02:27:11 PM EST
    Pan of anginaropita in the oven.  That's like a spanakopita but with artichoke hearts instead of spinach.  (For those who don't know about pitas, spanakopita is spinach and various cheeses and seasonings and eggs in layers of buttered phyllo, and the anginaropita substitutes artichoke hearts for the spinach.)

    That, some leftover cream of broccoli cheese soup, a salad, and it's dinner.  Heavy on the cheese, but we like cheese.

    I made Corned Beef (none / 0) (#31)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 02:44:17 PM EST
    In a Dutch oven today.  My house smells great.

    Parent
    That sounds (none / 0) (#32)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 02:57:54 PM EST
    delicious. I have made spanakopita before but one day when I get time I will have to try anginaropita. All the cooking shows had me terrified of doing anything with phyllo dough for the longest time.  

    Parent
    That really sounds delicious (none / 0) (#34)
    by MO Blue on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 04:09:27 PM EST
    I really like spanakopita and just the plain cheese pitas. Never had one with artichoke hearts. Broccoli cheese soup is also one of my favorites and cheese makes everything better.

    Parent
    We are making Korean beef bulgogi (none / 0) (#43)
    by Towanda on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 07:10:58 PM EST
    Soooo good, And Amazon makes it possible to get bulgogi sauce and other exotica not in our local stores.

    Parent
    YES! (5.00 / 1) (#89)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 01:00:30 PM EST
    Trump will (5.00 / 1) (#91)
    by KeysDan on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 01:12:47 PM EST
    be torn---but, in the end, he will claim fake trial.  A great move on the part of the Managers, though.  

    Parent
    They should (none / 0) (#95)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 01:19:59 PM EST
    and I think they might subpoena him.

    Parent
    How is (none / 0) (#97)
    by KeysDan on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 01:33:50 PM EST
    your popcorn supply?

    Parent
    More Like... (5.00 / 1) (#98)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 01:38:24 PM EST
    ...how is the country's popcorn supply, are there reserves ?

    Parent
    Popcorn!!! (5.00 / 1) (#103)
    by jmacWA on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 02:50:37 PM EST
    Not for me I'm going with pretzels in honor of those GOP senators who choose to speak

    Parent
    I was listening to (none / 0) (#99)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 02:15:24 PM EST
    Dan Abrams and he seems to think that he won't be subpoenaed simply because it would give Trump a reason to go to court.

    Parent
    Do the Senate's rules for "trial" of (none / 0) (#105)
    by Peter G on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 03:27:41 PM EST
    an impeachment even allow for issuance by the managers of subpoenas? Obviously, this process is not very much like a criminal trial.

    Parent
    I (none / 0) (#106)
    by FlJoe on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 04:34:18 PM EST
    heard that the house managers cannot but the Senate can issue one by a majority vote. Isn't it a fact that the rules of the "trial" are whatever the currently seated Senate decides they are?

    Given that the Senate often issues subpoenas(through committees) for many non-criminal reasons, it should be well within their power to do so in case of impeachment.

    Just my 2 cents.

    Parent

    AP (5.00 / 1) (#110)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 05:00:51 PM EST
    The request in a letter from House impeachment managers does not require Trump to appear -- though the Senate could later force a subpoena

    link

    Parent

    Given Tr*mp's enormous exposure (none / 0) (#111)
    by Peter G on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 05:36:05 PM EST
    (however theoretical) to a variety of criminal charges, he would clearly have a Fifth Amendment right to refuse to answer almost any question asked of him, even if he were subpoenaed.

    Parent
    That Would Go Over Very Well (5.00 / 1) (#113)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 06:32:57 PM EST
    Maybe the Kool Aid drinkers would find it acceptable, but I think the public in general(R's & D's) isn't going to a like a former President taking the 5th, presumably, on live TV.

    This totally reminds me of a Few Good Men and Cruz is gonna get the chance to cross examine Nicholson.  He is itching to tell the world what he did because he won the election and he'll be god damned if some piss ant lawyer is gonna tell him how he should have acted when he was President.

    Lawyer(yelling): President Trump did you incite the violence at the Captial building ?

    Judge:  Mr President you don't have to answer that question

    Trump:  I'll answer the question, You want answers?

    Lawyer: I think I'm entitled

    Trump:  You want answers?

    Lawyer: I want the truth !!!

    Trump: You can't handle the truth.  Son we live in a world that has elections, and those elections have to be tallied, whose gonna do it you ?  I have a greater responsibility than you can possibly fathom.  You have the luxury of not knowing what I know.  And my existence may be grotesque and incomprehensible to you it wins elections.  You don't want the truth because places deep down that you don't talk about at parties you want me winning elections, you need me winning elections.  I use words like fake, stolen, and fraud.  I use these words as a backbone of a life spent manipulating fools, you use them as a punchline.  I have neither the time nor the inclination to explain this to a person who rises and sleeps under the very elections I tried to undo.  Then questions the manor in which I tried to overturn it.  I'd rather you just said thank you and went on your way.  Otherwise I suggest you pick up some ballots and start counting.  Either way I don't give a damn what you think you are entitled to.

    Lawyer: Did you incite the violence ?

    Trump: I did the job

    Lawyer: Did you incite the violence ?

    Trump:  You are god damn right I did !!!!



    Mark 00:32



    Parent
    Forcing (none / 0) (#112)
    by FlJoe on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 05:57:48 PM EST
    tRump to plead the fifth would be a huge victory, politically speaking.

    Parent
    Would he be more like Col Jessup or Capt Queeg? (none / 0) (#119)
    by ruffian on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 07:38:32 PM EST
    I think Queeg for the insanity, with a big helping of the Jessup bombast.

    I hope he really wants to testify so much the lawyers will not be able to stop him. No one else will tell the story the way he wants it told. His last set of lawyers would not agree to lie about the results of the election for him. Will these new ones do that?  I hope not.

    On the other hand I never want to see him with a national stage again.  Oh well, it's not like I have any say in it.

    Parent

    He is Declining (none / 0) (#142)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 09:01:59 AM EST
    Trump Won't Testify at his Second impeachment Trial

    He won't testify at unconstitutional proceeding.

    Again, why go through Congress, if the right is going to say its unconstitutional, then let them have what they want.  Get him in a Federal Courtroom, with real jurors, and real consequences.  

    I bet the right and Trump would do a 180 quicker than you can say 'indictment'.

    Parent

    RIP Rennie Davis (5.00 / 1) (#100)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 02:35:08 PM EST
    His claim to fame was being a member of the Chicago Seven.

    That leaves (5.00 / 1) (#115)
    by Zorba on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 07:08:47 PM EST
    Lee Weiner and John Froines as the only ones of Chicago Seven alive.
    (Well, if you consider the original Chicago Eight, Bobby Seale is still alive, but his case was severed from the others.)
    I'm old.  I remember the Democratic Convention that summer, the protests, the police violence, as if it was yesterday.

    Parent
    We had the pleasure and honor of hosting (5.00 / 2) (#117)
    by Peter G on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 07:32:59 PM EST
    David Dellinger in our home one evening in 1988 (I think it was) when he was in Philadelphia to speak at the 40th anniversary of CCCO, on whose Board I then served. What a great man.

    Parent
    Of the the Seven (none / 0) (#139)
    by Chuck0 on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 08:19:05 AM EST
    I only ever met Abbie Hoffman and Tom Hayden.

    Parent
    I met Abbie Hoffman once, briefly, (none / 0) (#160)
    by Peter G on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 04:37:27 PM EST
    when I happened to be visiting the NYC Workshop in Nonviolence office as he returned there from scattering dollar bills from the visitors' gallery onto the floor of the Stock Exchange (August 1967, the summer between high school and college, for me).

    Parent
    And I'm still friends with both of the two (none / 0) (#161)
    by Peter G on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 04:44:03 PM EST
    (then-)young lawyers (Gerry Lefcourt and Michael Tigar) who were arrested and briefly jailed on the first day of the Chicago Eight trial for insisting that Bobby Seale had the right to be represented by Charles Garry, his counsel of choice.

    Parent
    So the SF school board (5.00 / 1) (#114)
    by coast on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 06:55:23 PM EST
    is moving forward with changing the names of various schools that are deemed offensive.  One of the criteria deemed to require changing name was due to ones affiliation with colonization.

    How is it lost on these most learned individuals that San Francisco itself was named by Spanish colonists.  Not only that, they named it after Saint Francis of Assisi, a Catholic friar.  How are they leaving the name San Francisco on the name of schools?

    The pain from my 2nd Pfizer jab is gone. (5.00 / 1) (#135)
    by fishcamp on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 08:00:53 AM EST
    While making coffee this morning I felt a little weak, but now I feel I can resume my walking and exercise program.  How fast we go downhill and how long it takes to get back up to par is perplexing.

     When registering for my first vaccination last month the take home page had one of those little heiroglyphic squares for a smart phone to register with the CDC's V-care program.  Up pops a registration page, and they contact you daily with a slick questionnaire.  I put down severe for the joint and muscle part.  Today, when it arrives I'll tell them I'm ok.

    The Florida keys are warming up to the low 80's thankfully.  Cold pain is worse than warm pain.  My $600 stimulus check arrived in my PO box, while my roommates came as a credit card.  The stock market is booming, so all is good.

    I had to file my taxes (none / 0) (#136)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 08:05:34 AM EST
    To get the second stimulus check.  There is a question in the tax forms this year.  I have not gotten it yet but probably soon.

    It's about to get really really cold here for the first and hopefully last time this winter starting tonight.  For the next week or so it's highs of about 30 and night lows in single digits with the wind chill.

    Parent

    Cold (none / 0) (#138)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 08:13:31 AM EST
    Arctic air predicted to bring dangerous cold to parts of Arkansas

    Couple of things about that map.  I'm in the pink. And my little town is labeled (right next to 10-15 F).  This is odd.  And it's something I have noticed.  It's one of the places that get a label on weather maps.  I don't know why.  It's tiny.  There are several larger towns very near.  But we have started being labeled.  I think it's because of the new dispensary.

    Parent

    Curious (none / 0) (#140)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 08:30:13 AM EST
    When you got the check.  If you google and read what you are directed to it says in more than one place that if you haven't gotten the check by the 15th of Jan you will probably have to get it with your taxes.  Which is why I filed my taxes the day I got the forms.

    There was some kind of screw up with direct deposit information.  I know it involved TurboTax because I got emails.  But I think it also involved H&R Block.  So it was probably an IRS screwup.

    I kept going to the "where's my check" IRS site and it always said the same thins.  We don't know.

    So just curious when your check came.


    Parent

    My stimulus check was written (none / 0) (#147)
    by fishcamp on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 09:56:23 AM EST
    on January 6th, but I don' know exactly when it arrived in my PO box since I don't stop there often.  I have home delivery in a mail box in front of my house too.  Not sure why the stimulus check may be linked to your taxes as it's tax free isn't it?

    Parent
    Ah (none / 0) (#148)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 10:05:35 AM EST
    That makes sense.  The word was it might arrive later but they stop going out Jan 15.

    Parent
    It's a way to get it (none / 0) (#149)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 10:42:22 AM EST
    for all the people who's direct deposit they screwed up.  As far as I know the standard way of delivering them is direct deposit using the last IRS information they have for you.  It's how I got the first 1200 one.  And it came, like, the first day.  It you do not have DD info on record they send you a check.

    This is what I read.  

    Parent

    If you are unaware of this problem (none / 0) (#150)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 10:46:48 AM EST
    Bless your heart

    read all about it

    Parent

    My first stimulus check (none / 0) (#152)
    by fishcamp on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 11:13:12 AM EST
    for $1,200 came as a direct deposit, so I thought it strange that they mailed the $600 to me, and even stranger that my roommate's came as a credit card.  He too received his $1,200 check via direct deposit.  BTW my recent check says economic impact payment President Donald J. Trump on the left side, but it is signed by Vona S Robinson.

    Parent
    Haven't (none / 0) (#154)
    by FlJoe on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 11:31:35 AM EST
    got mine yet. Got the last one by mail, they don't have my direct deposit info.

    The get my payment site just tells me that they don't have my info yet or I am ineligible.

    Parent

    Speaking of KN 95 masks, (5.00 / 2) (#153)
    by fishcamp on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 11:21:47 AM EST
    they are not all the same.  Once again my sleuth like roommate researched them, and found the Poweway brand from Office Depot are among the best.  They were on sale last week online only for $1 each.  They fit better, tighter, and kind of make you feel like a grasshopper.

    I Just Googled... (none / 0) (#155)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 11:33:58 AM EST
    ...Office Depot has Powecom KN95's 10 for $10.  
    I am going to run there at lunch, thanks for the tip.

    Parent
    Long Story... (5.00 / 2) (#159)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 03:55:35 PM EST
    ...but I got 2 ten packs for $9.98

    I put it on under my cloth mask for some errands.  What a difference, no foggy glasses and while it's a bit harder to breathe, you can tell it's really filtering the air.  It's more comfortable as well.


    Parent

    Lou gets cancelled (5.00 / 1) (#163)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 05:36:39 PM EST

    Fox News has canceled "Lou Dobbs Tonight," the program hosted by television's staunchest supporter of Donald Trump and of his assertions of voter fraud in the 2020 election, the Los Angeles Times reports.

    The cancellation comes a day after voting software company Smartmatic filed a $2.7 billion defamation suit against Fox News and three of its hosts -- Dobbs, Maria Bartiromo and Jeanine Pirro.



    Funny how (none / 0) (#164)
    by MO Blue on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 05:41:03 PM EST
    getting sued for big, big bucks makes promoting the Big Lie a little less attractive.

    A lot more disinfectant is needed but Dobbs is a good place to start.

    Parent

    Just said on CNN (none / 0) (#169)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 07:54:36 PM EST
    They are going to pay out his contract so he can't go to NEWSMAX or OANN.

    Parent
    Trump sad.. (none / 0) (#172)
    by desertswine on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 08:44:49 PM EST
    "Lou Dobbs is and was great," Mr. Trump said. "Nobody loves America more than Lou. He had a large and loyal following that will be watching closely for his next move, and that following includes me."

    Parent
    My friend Jane is a corporate litigator. (none / 0) (#192)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Feb 07, 2021 at 09:54:57 PM EST
    She told me when Smartmatic first filed that these lawsuits by election software companies hold great potential to actually compel the Murdochs to change the prevailing right-wing / know-nothing culture at Fox News. We'll see whether the family's pragmatic business sensibilities win out over the patriarch's ideological sympathies. If they do, then Lou Dobbs' head may not be the first and only one to roll at Fox News.

    Parent
    Fox is sitting on a double edged sword (none / 0) (#194)
    by MO Blue on Mon Feb 08, 2021 at 08:36:46 AM EST
    On one side they might be open to large payouts on lawsuits of this type. On the other side, they need the lying crazies to maintain their market share.

    If these lawsuits prevail, the country will benefit. People can move to other nut job networks but the lawsuits could follow.

    Parent

    Progress (none / 0) (#196)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Feb 08, 2021 at 08:43:06 AM EST
    New York Times: "In just a few weeks, lawsuits and legal threats from a pair of obscure election technology companies have achieved what years of advertising boycotts, public pressure campaigns and liberal outrage could not: curbing the flow of misinformation in right-wing media."

    "Litigation represents a new front in the war against misinformation, a scourge that has reshaped American politics, deprived citizens of common facts and paved the way for the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. ... But the use of defamation suits has also raised uneasy questions about how to police a news media that counts on First Amendment protections -- even as some conservative outlets advanced Mr. Trump's lies and eroded public faith in the democratic process."

    link


    Parent

    Smallest Reptile on Earth... (5.00 / 2) (#165)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 05:48:40 PM EST
     ...is a tiny chameleon.  Picture a small chameleon, then click HERE.

    From two of the larger ones (none / 0) (#174)
    by jondee on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 09:05:44 PM EST
    (Dobbs and Trump) to the smallest one.

    Parent
    Some of the Dems are really stupid (5.00 / 1) (#195)
    by MO Blue on Mon Feb 08, 2021 at 08:42:50 AM EST
    Just listened to two members of the Problem Solvers Conference on MSNBC. The Dem is willing to give up much of the negotiating emphasis to be able to sing kumbaya. The Republican is using this messaging opportunity to attack Biden's agenda.

    Totally dumb. It is no wonder the Republicans can maintain power even in the minority. Too many Dems are willing to give it to them.

    Margie's Times in the barrel (none / 0) (#7)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 07:58:27 AM EST
    "During a two-hour meeting Tuesday night with Greene, McCarthy explained to the QAnon supporter that her controversial past statements were coming to a head. The problem, McCarthy told her: Democrats are threatening to force a vote to remove her from her committees -- and that puts the entire GOP Conference in a bad spot. McCarthy tried to give Greene options, according to a person familiar with their talk: She could denounce QAnon and apologize publicly for espousing hurtful conspiracy theories and endorsing violence on Democrats. She could remove herself from the panel to spare her colleagues a vote on the matter. Or, she could face removal from her own GOP peers."

    "It must not have gone as well as McCarthy hoped, because he then called a late-night meeting with the panel that designates committee assignments to discuss removing Greene. According to our sources, the room agreed that a House vote on this issue would be catastrophic politically for their members who are already angry at being associated with Greene's crazy statements. That must be avoided, they concurred."

    link


    Said Green... (none / 0) (#19)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 10:34:43 AM EST
    "No matter what Kevin McCarthy does it would never be enough for the hate America Democrats. They are only set out to destroy Republicans, your jobs, our economy, your children's education and lives, steal our freedoms, and erase God's creation. And the bloodthirsty media are their henchmen who help them by relentlessly attacking anyone in their path."

    So, that's a no for quietly stepping down?  Then.

    Parent

    You Have to Respect... (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 10:56:27 AM EST
    ...the level of commitment.

    We are setting out to destroy jobs, the economy, children's education, children's lives, steal freedoms, and erase god's creation(Earth?);  it's not a byproduct of policy, it's what we are setting out to do.

    You have to have real mental problems if you think roughly half the country is wanting to accomplish the above.  You should be locked up if you voted for that level of mental disorder.

    She is like big ole Christmas present for democrats.  If only should would rant on about us eating kids and molesting them, we wouldn't have to even think about 2022.  The great thing is no matter what they do, no matter what we do, she's not going away, and she wants to be in front of the cameras, and the media can't say 'no'. And there is a good chance that Trump is going to christen her in the near future.

    Parent

    Liz Cheney (none / 0) (#21)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 11:01:55 AM EST
    is Snoke.

    Parent
    Supreme Leader ? (none / 0) (#22)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 11:34:37 AM EST
    Sorry that reference is way over my head.

    Parent
    Sorry, StarWars (none / 0) (#24)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 12:04:40 PM EST
    the invisible hand.  The puppeteer.

    Parent
    Marjorie (none / 0) (#27)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 01:01:18 PM EST
    is going to be every Georgia Republican in 2022's running mate and there is nothing they can do about it.

    Parent
    Kevin wiffed (none / 0) (#36)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 05:08:05 PM EST
    This is the worst outcome for House republicans.  The democrats are going to force a floor vote to remove her from the committees and every single republican is going make a 2022 campaign commercial for democrats by voting for her or against their constituents.

    Parent
    It is (none / 0) (#37)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 05:20:11 PM EST
    and even privately they were saying they did not want for it to come to a vote. I called my rep and asked his office if he supported Greene and they did not have an answer. So I said well, I would be surprised if he didn't since he already supports treason and sedition.

    Lord McCarthy is worse than Newt Gingrich as a GOP leader.

    Parent

    Wiffed (none / 0) (#38)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 06:15:40 PM EST
    House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) condemned comments made by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) but stopped short of proposing any action against her.

    Democrats said they would move to oust Greene from her two House committees -- a highly unusual move by the majority targeting a member of the opposing party.

    --

    Bonus Quote of the Day

    February 3, 2021 at 4:59 pm EST By Taegan Goddard 244 Comments

    "How stupid they are. They don't even realize they're helping me. I'm pretty amazed at how dumb they are."

    -- Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA)

    You almost feel sorry for her.  It's her and Matt Gates and Tommy Tubberville against the Cheneys.  The Cheneys.  

    Parent

    100 years (none / 0) (#39)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 06:28:00 PM EST
    from now people are going to be reading this and wonder how some guy who made up a conspiracy theory got so many adherents and ended up destroying a political party.

    McCarthy supports both Cheney and Greene. Yeah, that is gonna make nobody happy and he might as well just support Greene. Greene could have made this easy on the GOP by just denouncing what she said or apologizing but no, she is going to take everybody down with her. The GA GOP seems to think the answer to her is to gerrymander her into a district where she competes with another Republican but I wouldn't bet she wouldn't win in that case either.

    The GQP is gonna devolve in a full blown civil war and I am here for it.

    Parent

    Liz lives (none / 0) (#44)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 08:01:36 PM EST

    Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) survived a Republican caucus vote to keep her leadership position.

    The 145 to 61 vote, conducted by secret ballot, followed a marathon, closed-door "family discussion," The Hill reports.



    Parent
    I Fell Pretty Screwed Up... (none / 0) (#45)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 08:15:38 PM EST
    ...stating that there is hope for the GOP in keeping Liz Cheney in her leadership roles.

    So for Trumpism to die, the votes have to be secret.  I would love for a do-over without the secrecy to see how deep the gutlessness goes.

    Parent

    They should have (none / 0) (#49)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 08:41:43 PM EST
    a secret vote in the senate trial.

    Parent
    In this (none / 0) (#59)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 05:55:00 AM EST
    case I'm not sure that would help. Maybe it would get rid of Trump but the base would then be after every Republican instead of being able to target the ones that voted to remove Trump.

    Parent
    Someone voted "present" (5.00 / 1) (#63)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 08:00:22 AM EST
    Yesterday.  Real profile in courage to vote present in a secret vote.

    Betting is it was Kevin.

    Parent

    More likely (none / 0) (#47)
    by KeysDan on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 08:27:53 PM EST
    a Friendly Takeover than a Civil War.   Margarine Taylor Green has something to offer the Republican base, as awful and terrifying as it is, whereas the  un-Trump wing of the party has nothing to offer. The Republican Party could not even come up with a platform in 2020 and is bankrupt of ideas left being with the tired mantra of low taxes for corporations and the rich and no regulations.  Maybe, the common denominator Is anti-abortion.  

    The Republican Party is no longer an American political party.  It is an anti-democratic, authoritarian, white Christofascist, seditious movement.  It will probably take continued election losses for it to go the way it needs to go---the way of the Whigs.

    Parent

    Her statement, the little I read... (none / 0) (#120)
    by ruffian on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 07:42:32 PM EST
    "I was allowed to believe untrue things" or something to that affect. Allowed? Sure we are all allowed to believe whatever dipsh*t things we want.

    Amazing she or McCarthy for that matter thought any statement today was going to change any minds.

    Parent

    I am very worried about the precedent (none / 0) (#40)
    by Peter G on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 06:31:27 PM EST
    being turned on progressive Democratic legislators for pre-election public comments that now or later might seem unwise or reckless in hindsight.

    Parent
    Democrats would (none / 0) (#42)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 06:39:50 PM EST
    remove their own.  Ask Al Franken,

    Parent
    The two cases (none / 0) (#48)
    by Peter G on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 08:41:34 PM EST
    do not seem all that similar to me.

    Parent
    Just an example (none / 0) (#50)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 08:45:06 PM EST
    Something has to be done.  Full stop.

     If the republicans won't do it Nancy absolutely should.    The fallout can be dealt with.

    Parent

    How Does Someone Who Beleives in... (5.00 / 1) (#52)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 09:23:19 PM EST
    ...conspiracy theories that are quite frankly, ridiculous, get on an education committee ?  She doesn't even think school shootings are real and they want her views on education and want her crafting legislation related to it ?  

    The person or people making those appointments should be on the chopping block.  No reasonable person thinks someone that far gone has anything to contribute to education other than being shining example of what education failure looks like.

    Parent

    I really think (none / 0) (#53)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 09:34:04 PM EST
    they put her on education because they knew it would be offensive.  Their only governing philosophy is own the libs.

    Parent
    Each committee has a given number (none / 0) (#54)
    by Peter G on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 09:34:33 PM EST
    of seats, a certain number of which, in turn, are allocated to the majority party and the balance to the minority. The leadership of each party gets to assign members of their caucus to those seats. The sole question here is whether there are any circumstances under which the majority party (whoever they may be in a given Congress) can dictate who the minority party can put in the minority seats on a committee. This has nothing to do, it seems to me, with who you or I think is an appropriate member for any given committee. I think we can agree that MTG should not be in the Congress at all. But we don't get to decide that; the voters of her District do. I have no problem with the House as a body reprimanding her for advocating violence against the Speaker (or anyone else). I am troubled by setting a precedent that the majority can ever dictate which minority member can serve on committees, however.  Has it ever been done before?

    Parent
    I don't know (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 09:55:00 PM EST
    I do know there has never been an armed assault n the Capitol by the losing party in an election.  She encouraged that and cheered the results.  

    I do know she has said stuff that is insane and unacceptable by a member of Congress.  IMO you might make an argument about removing her from office for insane stuff but not removing her committee assignments.  She is not entitled to a committee assignment.

    The republicans did exactly that not long ago to Steve King.  For simply asking the question, what so bad about white supremacy.   The stuff she has sad makes Steve King look like a statesman.

    Parent

    The problem (not Trump) (none / 0) (#65)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 08:10:20 AM EST
    Conspiracist Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is far more popular than Rep. Liz Cheney among Americans who align with the Republican Party, according to a new Axios-SurveyMonkey poll.

    Greene has a net favorable rationing of 28% to 18% (+10) compared to Cheney at 14% to 42% (-28).



    Parent
    I never thought I'd see the day (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by Chuck0 on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 09:10:32 AM EST
    when I was rooting for Liz Cheney. Daughter of the dark lord.

    Parent
    FWIW (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 10:05:28 PM EST
    They are already using your argument.  Trying to do a both sides do it with Rep Omar.

    So what.  Let them do it.  Republican will do anything they can get away with.  And they will do it no matter how much democrats try to not upset them

    Democrats have to stop worrying about upsetting republicans and start doing the right thing.

    This is the right thing.  They should do it.

    Parent

    The Dems should absolutely NOT do this (none / 0) (#92)
    by Peter G on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 01:13:27 PM EST
    on any grounds other than Greene's calling explicitly for the assassination of the Speaker and/or of other members of the House. Any of the other asserted justifications are too much of a slippery slope.

    Parent
    Steny Hoyer made a very powerful IMO (5.00 / 1) (#124)
    by ruffian on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 10:24:42 PM EST
    speech about that. He had a poster with the post Greene did with herself with an AR-47 and pictures of Omar, Ocasio-Cortex, and Tlaib.  I agree that is the point. No one should have to serve on committees with someone who threatens them. Anyone that did that at my workplace would be walked out the door.

     She's getting off easy - she can still have a cushy job showing up for debates and votes.

    Parent

    TV (none / 0) (#8)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 08:07:34 AM EST
    I finally got Disney+.  Really just for The Mandalorian.   It's worth it.

    AMC+ gets overlooked but it's also a good deal.  You get lots of stuff including IFC, SUNDANCE and SHUDDER.

    I have a guilty pleasure there.  The Discovery of Witches.  It's dumb.  Like, Harry Potter dumb.  But at least there are no wands or broomsticks.  So far.  And it's easy to skip the Romance Novel parts.  One thing, the music is the worst.

    But it's beautifully done with a good cast.

    Clarice - the Silence of the Lambs spinoff starts in Feb on CBS AllAccess which will be called Paramount by then and looks very good.

    I do love HBO is releasing all the big movies in theaters and HBOMAX the same day all year.  Even if the film makers don't.  DUNE is one coming soon to HBO.

    I got Disney + as a free trial (5.00 / 1) (#29)
    by MO Blue on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 01:36:36 PM EST
    and binge watched Mandalorian. I really enjoyed it. Will have to sign up for Disney + when the next season comes out. I'm hooked.

    Parent
    I got it for Hamilton and kept it (none / 0) (#125)
    by ruffian on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 10:29:12 PM EST
    I started the Mandalorian and was enjoying it but got sidetracked, as I tend to do these days. Also I really love the nature documentaries. They are so beautiful and relaxing.

    I saw today that soon they are releasing the version of Rogers and Hammerstein's  Cinderella they did in the 90s with Brandy and Whitney Houston. I loved that production and will definitely be watching that too.

    That series with Jennifer Aniston was actually pretty good too, though I think the reviews were mixed. I enjoyed it well enough anyway.

    Parent

    I forgot (none / 0) (#133)
    by MO Blue on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 07:35:15 AM EST
    that Hamilton was on Disney. I also watched it and it was great to see it with the original cast, up close and personal. Hamilton has been at the Fabulous Fox here in St. Louis and I enjoyed it then.

    Parent
    I very much enjoyed seeing the orig (none / 0) (#177)
    by oculus on Sat Feb 06, 2021 at 01:55:47 PM EST
    cast and, after seeing the road show cast live , having closed caption.

    Parent
    One of the members of our group (none / 0) (#178)
    by MO Blue on Sat Feb 06, 2021 at 02:22:25 PM EST
    purchased the Hamilton album. We all listened to the music prior to going to the theater performance here. That was very helpful in understanding the lyrics in the fast pasted musical.

    Parent
    I read the entire libretto b/4 the live show. (none / 0) (#181)
    by oculus on Sat Feb 06, 2021 at 02:43:01 PM EST
    Even took the book along but too dark to see it. I have lousy hearing.

    Parent
    Our theater has hearing devices (none / 0) (#182)
    by MO Blue on Sat Feb 06, 2021 at 03:00:44 PM EST
    which you can borrow. They help quite a bit. We get them before each show.

    I'm definitely looking forward to going back to the theater some time this year. We normally have season tickets at 3 different theater venues and I definitely miss going. Our outdoor theater, the Muni, is going to attempt to have their season of shows starting this July. Hopefully, we will be back to some type of normal by then.

    Parent

    I loved the Muni when our family ventured (5.00 / 1) (#183)
    by oculus on Sat Feb 06, 2021 at 11:33:54 PM EST
    to St. Louis on school clothes shopping trip each August.

    Parent
    The Muni (5.00 / 1) (#184)
    by MO Blue on Sun Feb 07, 2021 at 12:34:31 AM EST
    Is America's oldest  and largest  outdoor musical theaters and maybe the only one that still has free seats.

    Parent
    I remember seeing Carrol Channing there (5.00 / 2) (#185)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Feb 07, 2021 at 09:08:42 AM EST
    She walks out and says "it's so lovely to see you all in this intimate chasm".  

    It is a great place.  When I lived in cities I was a park person.  I knew every square foot of public space in Central Park and also Forest Park.

    I actually liked Forest Park more.  It has great bike trails.

    Parent

    WandaVision (none / 0) (#167)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 06:37:10 PM EST
    Is pretty great

    Parent
    I hope this (none / 0) (#16)
    by Zorba on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 10:04:30 AM EST
    Dune is better than the 1984 version.

    Parent
    You and everyone else (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 10:13:18 AM EST
    That's a whole other conversation involving David Lynch.  

    But I'm pretty sure this DUNE is going to be a lot better than that.  

    But the decision to release financial tent pole movies, like Dune, the same day on cable is a big deal.

    A lot of people including the director of Dune and lots of others  are not happy about it.  I think it's good.

    Parent

    Not universally (none / 0) (#18)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 10:16:39 AM EST
    I think (none / 0) (#28)
    by Zorba on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 01:29:11 PM EST
    It's a good idea.  There are people (like us) who prefer to sit on our comfortable couch, have lots of snacks and some wine, and watch movies on our big screen TV.  And there are people who like to go to one of the modern cinemas with really comfortable chairs, and some are now serving food and beer, etc.

    Then there are those who like to see the film in a cinema, and then, if they like it, rewatch it at a later time at home.  This all also depends upon getting COVID under control, too.  The movie theaters, in those places where they are open, can only admit so many customers so that they can maintain social distancing.

    Parent

    You don't have to be a futurist (none / 0) (#41)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 06:38:13 PM EST
    to know it's the future.  It was always going to happen but Covid accelerated it.

    I think it's a prestige thing with the movie guys.  

    There is certainly very little difference in budgets between movies and made for tv.  And if there's a difference in quality it's tv is mostly better these days.

    It's a new world and film makers will adapt to survive like the rest of us.

    I love not needing to wait for weeks to see new releases.  

    Parent

    I hate though that sometimes the prices for (none / 0) (#126)
    by ruffian on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 10:35:14 PM EST
    the new releases are so high. I really wanted to watch 'Promising Young Woman' but balked at $19.95 to rent it.   I may break down this weekend - after all when I see things in a theater it is about that much with popcorn and a drink.

    I really still love the experience of sitting in the dark with a big screen. But movie makers have shot themselves in the foot with people like me with he glut of comic book movies in the last 10 years. I guess they made their money and don't care though.

    Parent

    Yeah (none / 0) (#131)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 07:15:38 AM EST
    I have not wanted it badly enough to pay 19.95.  But if you have HBOMAX they are free.  Same day free.  Can't beat it.

    Parent
    Low hanging Bipartisanship (none / 0) (#9)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 08:14:17 AM EST
    Washington Post: "One proposal discussed by senior Democrats includes lowering the threshold for the payments to begin phasing out above $50,000 for single taxpayers, $75,000 for people who file as the heads of households, and $100,000 for married couples... The conversations are fluid and legislation has not been finalized."



    Streaming Packages (none / 0) (#11)
    by Steve13209 on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 08:33:32 AM EST
    Looking at Discovery+, it has a package that includes much of what I like to view, but as with most services, falls short...requiring multiple subscriptions.

    The key to streaming channels is to share subscriptions with friends and family. Most services allow up to four separate logins. I pay for Netflix and Amazon Prime. One daughter gets Disney+ for free with her iPhone. Another pays for Hulu and Apple TV. The third just mooches off the rest of us!

    My super secret weapon is to use my Mom's cable login to get the "Go" versions of all major cable stations (TCM, ESPN, MSG, etc) and add them to my Roku TV.


    I like the Roku (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 03:44:25 AM EST
    better than the Apple TV and FireTV. It's the most intuitive and I can find what I'm looking for the fastest. The worst is the Apple TV, not only is the remote control the worst because it has no buttons (everything is supposed to be a swipe) but it's way too difficult to find stuff that is on non-Apple services or free.

    Parent
    Roku (none / 0) (#70)
    by Steve13209 on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 09:15:02 AM EST
    I think Roku is best also. I can only buy TVs with Roku now especially because of the single remote.

    If you were not aware (I figured this out only recently), if you do a search from Roku's main menu, it will search all the streaming services and show you where they are playing and if there is a cost. You can put an ALERT on a search too, so it will tell you if something comes available.

    Parent

    It doesn't have a mute button (none / 0) (#71)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 09:31:15 AM EST
    On the Remote.  I have Roku and Fire and I never use Roku fir that reason.

    Only the most expensive model has a mute button.

    Parent

    I have set up the Roku remote (none / 0) (#76)
    by MO Blue on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 10:29:15 AM EST
    On my phone and on my iPad. There is an app you can download.  There is a mute button on that remote. Google how to set up Roku remote on phone for step by step instructions if you are interested.

    I always use those remotes rather than the hand held one. My mute button gets plenty of use when the orange one or any of his nuttier cohorts are talking.

    Parent

    I love the Firestick remote (none / 0) (#82)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 11:08:51 AM EST
    for me it's hands down the best remote I ever used.   There are like 8 buttons and they are very well arranged.  I mentioned looking at web content, the remote makes even  that really easy.  Roku not.

    I guess it's all about what works for you

    Parent

    I don't love everything about Firestick (none / 0) (#83)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 11:11:06 AM EST
    but the remote is great.

    Parent
    Roku (none / 0) (#157)
    by Steve13209 on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 12:07:39 PM EST
    Plus the app lets you input text directly instead of having to use the arrow keys on the remote.

    Parent
    And it has a secret screen (none / 0) (#171)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 08:39:21 PM EST
    Snopes

    The process is authentic, and Roku players really do have a "secret screen" which can be accessed by pressing the following sequence of buttons: "Home" five or more times; "Fast forward" exactly three times; "Rewind" exactly twice.



    Parent
    There are More Than 1 (none / 0) (#197)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Feb 08, 2021 at 08:58:57 AM EST
    LINK
    Some of these have even more menus.

    I have been using these in Missouri to see where the best placement of router, Roku, etc. Also you can limit the stream speed.

    It's really dumb that basic stuff like signal strength and factory reset are hidden.  It is neat to see how much TV you have watched.

    Parent

    Oh I see that you (none / 0) (#81)
    by MO Blue on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 11:08:37 AM EST
    posted that further down in the thread. Hadn't read that far.

    Parent
    I have an easy time finding stuff on the AppleTV (none / 0) (#127)
    by ruffian on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 10:38:07 PM EST
    but I agree the remote makes me crazy. I can't swipe straight.Just give me arrow buttons.

    Parent
    FOX NEWS (none / 0) (#15)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 09:34:12 AM EST
    Is not carrying the service happening now in the Capitol for the dead officer.

    Did. Fox (none / 0) (#23)
    by KeysDan on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 11:41:53 AM EST
    carry President and Dr Biden's late night visit to the Capitol Rotunda to honor the officer?  

    Parent
    Wasn't paying attention (none / 0) (#26)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 12:06:38 PM EST
    But if you believe what you read there is a thing at FOXNEWS management not unlike the "thing" in the Republican Party.   Who wins could be just as important.

    Parent
    RICO (none / 0) (#33)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 03:18:49 PM EST
    "The Justice Department is considering whether to charge members of far-right groups involved in the deadly Jan. 6 storming of the Capitol under a federal law usually used against organized crime," Reuters reports.

    "The Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, known as RICO, enables prosecutors to combat certain ongoing racketeering crimes such as murder, kidnapping, bribery and money laundering. The 1970 statute provides for hefty criminal penalties including up to 20 years in prison and seizure of assets obtained illegally through a criminal enterprise."

    link

    Proud Boys Trademark Revoked (none / 0) (#46)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 08:21:25 PM EST
    The group's leaders have been charged in the Jan. 6 attack and their chairman has been exposed as an informant, and now former Proud Boys lawyer Jason Lee Van Dyke has released a letter revoking their right to use the name, reported The Daily Beast.

    "Your license to utilize the 'Proud Boys' trademark for any purposes is terminated, effective immediately," Van Dyke wrote in the letter to chairman Enrique Tarrio.

    Van Dyke holds the "Proud Boys" trademark, and he wants to prevent Tarrio from using the name due to its association with Nazi groups and the burning of a Washington, D.C., church's Black Lives Matter banner during a December march -- which the chairman was arrested for Jan. 4 after returning to the city to take part in a rally supporting then-president Donald Trump.

    LINK

    Canada (none / 0) (#51)
    by MO Blue on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 09:02:29 PM EST
    Has designated the Proud Boys as a terrorist organization.

    Parent
    It's amazing to me (none / 0) (#57)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Feb 03, 2021 at 10:22:58 PM EST
    we are actually worried, apparently we are, about The Super Bowl being a super spreader event.

    Honest to god.  If we are so weak and stupid we will risk our actual lives rather than watch a stupid football game alone we do not deserve to survive.

    I stopped by Walmart a couple of days ago (5.00 / 1) (#75)
    by vml68 on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 10:21:53 AM EST
    and saw a big banner saying 'Welcome Superbowl fans'. I asked my husband if it was the first time they put that banner up or if they did it every year and I had just never noticed it.
    I did not know the Superbowl was in Tampa this year :-)!

    Parent
    So This Year... (5.00 / 1) (#144)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 09:11:44 AM EST
    ...is the first time ever that a SB has been hosted in a town with a team in it.  It's a big deal, but you know, Covid.  Tampa is losing out on billions.  There is a lot of competition to get the SB, it usually a 'bonus' after you build a new stadium.

    I'm really surprised one is going to TB as the stadium isn't new and their normal go to cities are New Orleans and Miami when there isn't a new stadium.

    Parent

    Come on Man... (none / 0) (#66)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 08:39:39 AM EST
     ...don't be that guy.

    The actual game is pretty locked down with attendance will be about a third of normal and all the pre-game festivities either canceled or seriously scaled back.

    I'm having people over as I think most people are, this is the grand daddy of annual sporting events, second to none.  Don't dump on it just because you don't like sports.  No one deserves to die for watching a football game with friends, your hyperbole is uncalled for.

    Speaking of, the Weeknd's 'show' is going to be so out-of-hand, that he's tossing in 7 million of his own dollars.  WTF, I hate the half time show as it interrupts the game, they could easily do the show before the game and let half time be it's normal 15mins rather than 30.  But they are saying this is not just a show, it will be an event, unlike any other.  Plus who doesn't like the Weeknd ?

    Parent

    You know you can (5.00 / 1) (#72)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 09:34:22 AM EST
    Use your tv devise to watch with people who are not physically present, right.

    Look, sorry.  Anyone who risks their health with people they don't trust simply to watch any tv show needs to re-examine their life choices.

    IMO

    Parent

    But, a workaround (none / 0) (#73)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 09:42:37 AM EST
    Hi all.  I'm pretty new to Roku and streaming services in general, and one thing clearly missing from my Roku (Streaming Stick+) is a mute button.  I was poking around today and figured out a pretty nifty work around.  I searched and didn't find it mentioned, so I apologize if its been shared before already but in case not, maybe this will help others.

    First, don't use the Roku remote.  Instead download the mobile app.  Within the app, pull up the Remote feature.  Find the headphones icon on the bottom right of the screen.  Tap it.  You're now playing the audio thru your mobile device.  Turn down or off the media volume on your device.  Tap again to return the audio to your TV.  Bingo.  Instant mute.

    I tested this with both Android and iOS devices against the Streaming Stick+ and several different channels, and it works the same each time.  Can't speak for all Roku devices nor channels though so your mileage may vary.

    Hope that helps!

    Or you could get a Firestick.

    Parent

    Oops (none / 0) (#74)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 09:43:32 AM EST
    That is a response to the Roku subthread.

    Parent
    I've got a dumb question... (none / 0) (#79)
    by vml68 on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 10:48:44 AM EST
    Why do you need a Roku? I seem to remember you saying you bought a new TV recently and I was under the impression that all newer TVs are Smart TVs.

    Parent
    It's (they) are not that smart (none / 0) (#80)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 10:58:44 AM EST
    Also I bought them both four years ago.  Can you believe it?  I closed on this house the first day of March 2017.  So they are practically antiques.

    The big one has it's on very complicated (Smartcast?) that I don't use.

    But the sticks give you tons more stuff.  They both good things but basically Roku and Firestick are exactly the same idea.  It's an app filter.  All kinds of apps.

    I have been using a browser app to see web content on the tv.  

    Parent

    Alright Josh Hawley... (none / 0) (#84)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 11:43:20 AM EST
    ...having a couple friends over to watch TV is a bad life choice, you got me.

    Parent
    It's still an uncalculated risk. (none / 0) (#193)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Feb 07, 2021 at 10:22:25 PM EST
    Human beings are social creatures, so it's your call. But please make any decisions to socialize with the clear understanding that when you're with others, you have to be lucky all the time, whereas the COVID-19 virus only has to be lucky once.

    We're likely on the backstretch with this pandemic and we'll probably see some significant improvement by this summer. It would be a shame to be infected late in the term, after having made it this far.

    Anyway, take care. Sorry that this year's Super Bowl turned out to be a real dud. The Chiefs were roadkill.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    FWIW (none / 0) (#199)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Feb 08, 2021 at 09:13:38 AM EST
    I did follow CDC guidelines and only had a couple folks over.  I did not make them wear masks, sad face, and there was some cheering.

    The risk was calculated.  If I had to guess, the grocery store run before the game posed a higher risk than the actual game.  Pretty sure the Pizza Truck was safe, although I did get a beer inside while waiting.  It was not crowded.

    I was thinking Mahomey was going to stage a 4th quarter comeback and at least make the game interesting.  He failed, half time show was OK, the stupid Bucs beat the Packers so they weren't playing, so overall even though it is 2021, the Super Bowl has all the makings of a lame 2020 game.

    Parent

    The side effects from the 2nd Pfizer jab (none / 0) (#61)
    by fishcamp on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 06:35:25 AM EST
    are significant.  This is definitely a powerful drug, and I would hate to have the virus.  At 1:30 am I woke up to go to the bathroom, and felt some discomfort, but this morning I hurt all over.  After walking to the kitchen to make coffee I feel a little better.  Movement seems to help.The symptoms are an achy feeling all over with more pain in my joints.  Can't tell if I have the chills within since it's in the mid 50's here in the Florida keys, and that's chilly for us.  Pain never bothered me much before, but now that I'm an old guy it does.  I"m feeling better now that I type this report, so maybe it's not so bad.  I'll be fine.

    On the positive side (none / 0) (#62)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 07:57:40 AM EST
    they say that means your body is having a very strong immune response.

    Parent
    Yes I've heard that. (none / 0) (#64)
    by fishcamp on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 08:10:04 AM EST
    My roommate upstairs feels fine, with slight pain at injection site.  We went in together for the vaccination.  He's 74 so maybe that's it.

    Parent
    My oldest grandson, (none / 0) (#67)
    by MO Blue on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 08:45:24 AM EST
    a healthcare worker, said he felt really, really bad the day after his second Pfizer shot. He just turned 30 and is really fit, so the after effects of the second shot may not be age or health related. The good news was it only lasted for 24 hours.

    Hope you feel better tomorrow.

    Parent

    I had reactions similar to those (none / 0) (#78)
    by leap on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 10:40:09 AM EST
    after the first Shingrix vaccination (for shingles). Laid me low for 30 hours, could not lift my left arm it hurt so bad, had fever, aches all over, chills. It felt like the flu. Made me really reconsider getting the second shot. When I talked with the pharmacist,  she said the reactions she had lasted three days. Oy. So I figured, just deal. My second shot was a piece o' cake. Not even a sore arm.

    My first COVID-19 vac was a piece o' cake. I suppose the second one will be like that Shingrix...and I can deal.

    Parent

    Yes, I have heard that the Shingrix shot is tough (none / 0) (#128)
    by ruffian on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 10:42:34 PM EST
    but I need to get it anyway. I watched my mom suffer with shingles and I will take 3 days rather than months of that any time.

    Parent
    First shot or second shot? (none / 0) (#107)
    by Towanda on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 04:39:31 PM EST
    I had little problem with the first covid shot, and I often get the reaction to the flu shot that you got from the covid shot.

    I read that the second covid shot is more likely to cause side effects. So, i suspect that I may get some from my second shot.

    Parent

    Oops, I see that you (none / 0) (#108)
    by Towanda on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 04:40:33 PM EST
    Specified the scone shot in your header.

    Parent
    The Atlantic has a (none / 0) (#118)
    by leap on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 07:34:09 PM EST
    pretty good piece on side-effects of the second vaccination.

    Parent
    Want to Know Why Meetings Drag On... (none / 0) (#68)
    by ScottW714 on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 08:55:29 AM EST
    ...according to the Olympic Committee President, Yoshiro Mori,it's women.

    LINK

    "Board of directors meetings with many women take a lot of time," Mori said.  "When you increase the number of female executive members, if their speaking time isn't restricted to a certain extent, they have difficulty finishing, which is annoying," he added. He then explained why this happens, "Women are competitive. When one person raises a hand, others think they need to speak up as well. That's why everyone speaks."

    It's been my experience that meetings drag on because bosses love the sound of their own voices.  But for someone in a position of authority to make such a blatantly sexist comment, it's stunning and funny because I have heard a lot of sexist stereotypes, but dragging meetings on is a new one.  Also I like the part where he makes people raise their hands in meetings.

    Wonder how long before this relic is relieved of duty.

    In person meetings almost always ran over while online ones rarely do.  I wonder why.  I also noticed we have way more meetings since Covid, 50% of my time is pent on Teams.

    Margie is speaking live (none / 0) (#85)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 12:09:44 PM EST
    and it's pretty epic.   She doesn't believe any of that crazy stuff.

    I have a question.  Why did you say you believed them?

    I wish that Lynn Cheney (5.00 / 2) (#109)
    by Towanda on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 04:42:13 PM EST
    would take Taylor Greene and Boebert on a hunting trip.

    Parent
    I'll loan her (none / 0) (#168)
    by Zorba on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 07:17:33 PM EST
    One of our shotguns.
    Although I suspect her father would be willing to do so, as well.
    And she may have her own, for that matter.

    Parent
    I have no words. (none / 0) (#86)
    by vml68 on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 12:24:48 PM EST
    Speaking to former Trump White House chief strategist Steve Bannon on his "War Room Pandemic" podcast, Mr Gaetz said: "If the president called me and wanted me to go defend him on the floor of the Senate, that would be the top priority in my life. I would leave my House seat. I would leave my home. I would do anything I had to do to ensure that the greatest president in my lifetime, one of the greatest president this country has ever had, maybe the greatest president our country has ever had, got a full-throated defence."


    I have words (5.00 / 3) (#94)
    by jondee on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 01:16:39 PM EST
    it sounds like Gaetz's fondest wish is to be Trump's towel boy massaging him with fragrant oils in a Roman spa.

    Parent
    Blech! Where's the brain bleach so I can (5.00 / 2) (#102)
    by vml68 on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 02:44:38 PM EST
    get rid of that visual.

    Parent
    I thought that was Jim Jordan's (5.00 / 2) (#104)
    by Peter G on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 03:25:04 PM EST
    fantasy, not Matt Gaetz's.

    Parent
    These people (none / 0) (#88)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 12:36:13 PM EST
    a in a battle with the Cheneys

    Dick is literally the most ruthless effective political operative anywhere since the 70s.   And he's still alive.  And his enemy is Matt Gaetz


    Parent

    The world would be better (none / 0) (#93)
    by MO Blue on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 01:13:49 PM EST
    if they all focused their ruthlessness and vindictiveness on each other.

    Parent
    Yes, Dick is, (none / 0) (#96)
    by KeysDan on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 01:32:33 PM EST
    literally and figuratively heartless, and Liz is no slouch in the ruthless department having disavowed her sister's same sex marriage on FOX for political expediency.  Matt and his son Nestor have no idea of what Liz and Dad are capable.

    Parent
    Congress would be improved (none / 0) (#90)
    by MO Blue on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 01:12:00 PM EST
    if Mr. Gaetz left his House seat.

    Parent
    Like the New Testament (none / 0) (#129)
    by jondee on Thu Feb 04, 2021 at 11:19:12 PM EST
    Gadarene swine story, the 'unclean spirit' left Trump's body and went into Gaetz's. Now if only he'd go all the way and run off a cliff..

    Now he's grandstanding on Fox about Democrats refusing to say the Pledge of Allegiance before committee meetings.

    Parent

    A pattern of floridity (none / 0) (#151)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 10:55:34 AM EST
    that could become tedious

    "That was so good I almost had to smoke a cigarette afterwards."

    -- Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), in an interview on Fox News, on Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's (R-GA) press conference



    Parent
    This is how you do it (none / 0) (#132)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 07:19:19 AM EST
    "The Senate approved a budget bill early Friday that paves the way for passage of President Biden's $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, with Vice President Harris casting the tiebreaking vote on the measure that will be key to enacting Biden's first major legislative initiative," the Washington Post reports.

    "Passage of the budget bill by a 51-to-50 vote came just after 5:30 a.m. Friday, after an all-night Senate session during which senators plowed through dozens of amendments in a chaotic process known as a `vote-a-rama.' Democrats cheered the progress on measures to address the pandemic, while Republicans complained of partisanship and excessive spending."



    Mistake on the checks (5.00 / 1) (#141)
    by MO Blue on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 09:01:06 AM EST
    IMO, it is a huge mistake for the Dems to lower the threshold of who gets the $1,400 checks. The $2,000 checks are the most national and visible part of Biden and Democratic promises made. Those who barely miss the lower threshold will believe the Dems have broken their promise to them.
    Also, the current talking point that all the "rich" people making over $50,000 not spending the money and contributing to growing the economy, is missing the point. Many people who did make $50,000 in the past are hurting now. Those who are not in dire financial straits now are using some of those payments to contribute more to charities like food banks to help feed the many people who are hungry. Also, the minute the pandemic lessens with more people getting vaccinated, the additional funds will be quickly spent to bring back the leisure industry which provides millions of jobs.

    Parent
    Completely disagree (none / 0) (#143)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 09:09:32 AM EST
    There was all kinds of stories last time about people getting money who did not at all need it.  IMO it's not only bad financial policy it's bad public relations.

    People who have more income who need help are going to get it by other means like extended unemployment etc.

    People who need help are going to get it.   Think we can believe that.  It makes no sense to give billions of dollars, it is billions of dollars, to people who do not need it.

    There is actual need.

    Parent

    We definitely totally disagree (5.00 / 1) (#146)
    by MO Blue on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 09:31:58 AM EST
    It is a bad decision politically.

    We give billions of dollars to people who make a h£ll of a lot more than $50,000 each and every year and have done it for decades.

    People who make $50,000 a year are too rich to receive a check, yet, people who make $400,000 are too poor to pay more taxes. Billionaires are too poor to pay more taxes. In fact, billionaires are so poor they need and got a massive tax cut. So please, the talking point that we would waste money on people who make $50,000 just doesn't work for me.

    Parent

    Ratner was on M.J. this morning with charts (none / 0) (#145)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 09:31:10 AM EST
    I thought this one was interesting. Instead of trying to find it online I took a screenshot.  

    it shows the different direct payment proposals compared

    But I thought the interesting part was 71% of American households with 2 incomes make less than 110,000 a year.

    So many people.  So few getting their part of the pie.

    Parent

    Excessive Spending (none / 0) (#134)
    by coast on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 07:40:49 AM EST
    That's a hoot!  I'm not in favor of the bill, but come up with a better reason than that.

    Parent
    I hope this new round of lashing out (none / 0) (#137)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 08:07:25 AM EST
    means the wheels are coming off for Vlad.

    A top doctor at the Russian hospital where opposition leader Alexey Navalny was treated immediately after his poisoning last summer died "suddenly" at the age of 55, CNN reports.



    Section 230 (none / 0) (#156)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 11:55:14 AM EST
    Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) is set to introduce a new bill on Monday that could hold Facebook, Google and other tech giants more directly accountable when viral online posts and videos result in real-world harm, the Washington Post reports.

    "The decades-old federal rules help facilitate free expression online, but Democrats including Warner say they also allow the most profitable tech companies to skirt responsibility for hate speech, election disinformation and other dangerous content spreading across the web."

    paywall

    I am going (none / 0) (#158)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 01:20:54 PM EST
    to laugh and laugh when this passes and it shuts down a whole lot of conservative conspiracy sites.

    Parent
    But in General... (none / 0) (#166)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 05:55:33 PM EST
    ...it's going to shut down most open forums because the cost policing is prohibitive for most.  I like open forums and while maybe there could be more filtering, holding owners liable is going too far IMO.  It will stifle free speech on the internet.

    One could argue that Talk Left is ahead of it's time with its policies on liable and defamation.

    Parent

    There's going to be many things (none / 0) (#170)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 08:03:54 PM EST
    happening because of the Trump years and the ripples of the stuff it set in motion.

    Section 230 is one.  Another is likely to be the the renewed push for a bunch of domestic terrorism laws.

    As a thought experiment imagine if Trump had had domestic terrorism laws he could have used to go after BLM last summer.  Or during the civil rights and red scares.

    It will be a replay of the 2000s when we decided things like rendition and permanent confinement without charge was a necessary evil.

    We need domestic terrorism laws.  And Section 230 needs to be re-examined.  But it will probably not be great for civil rights, free speech and privacy.

    Parent

    This is true. (none / 0) (#173)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Feb 05, 2021 at 08:59:47 PM EST
    I have to laugh though at the people that got put on the no fly list due to their actions at the capitol. It was like they thought those laws were supposed to only apply to Muslims or people with darker complexions. I think we could survive without a no fly list as I don't see much benefit in it.

    The input of the ACLU might be helpful on some of these issues.

    Parent

    Nope... (none / 0) (#200)
    by ScottW714 on Mon Feb 08, 2021 at 09:45:16 AM EST
    ...these are white male republican US citizens.  There will be no need for memos from John Yoo about how un-Constitutional practices are actually Constitutional because legislation will not step over the line a single millimeter.

    There won't be any unauthorized surveillance based on profiling, there won't be any secret courts, with secret rulings, and secret warrants.  Evidence will not be pages and pages of redacted non-sense.  There will be convictions prior to imprisonment.  And the big one, they will not be torturing white male republican US Citizens.  In other words, they will actually abide by the Constitution when it comes to this group of criminals.  
    And I am very cool with that.

    Section 230 should be examined.  But let's make users liable for their words.  Maybe we make hosts validate user identity, if they can't identify, then the host becomes liable.  Incentives.  I know that would mean identifying ourselves here, but people should be held accountable for the words they use.
    Anonymous posting is the problem IMO.  

    I also think a master list of all debunked theories and misinformation should be kept so there is no 'I didn't know QAnon was looney tunes' defense Kevin McCarthy.  A public record of all the bonkers theories and lies.  A government Snopes if you will.

    Parent

    Maddow v OANN (none / 0) (#186)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Feb 07, 2021 at 09:19:12 AM EST
    "A federal judge in California has ordered Herring Networks, the parent company of far-right conservative media organization One America News Network, to pay MSNBC and host Rachel Maddow $250,000 in attorney's fees stemming from a defamation lawsuit that was dismissed last year."

    link

    Biden May halt executions (none / 0) (#187)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Feb 07, 2021 at 09:25:21 AM EST
    "Joe Biden, the first sitting U.S. president to openly oppose the death penalty, has discussed the possibility of instructing the Department of Justice to stop scheduling new executions," the AP reports.

    "If he does, that would end an extraordinary run of executions by the federal government, all during a pandemic that raged inside prison walls and infected journalists, federal employees and even those put to death."

    link

    On a unrelated subject I am really seeing a difference in the number of masks in public places.

    I was out doing stuff all day yesterday and I think I saw only one person without a mask all day.

    That is a big change from just a week ago.  There's been no change in rules I know of.  Just Bidens order which would not have effected anyone I saw yesterday but maybe people are really starting to get it.

    It is not enough for Biden to direct his DOJ (none / 0) (#189)
    by Peter G on Sun Feb 07, 2021 at 03:30:47 PM EST
    not to ask judges to schedule executions, or even to direct DOJ not to seek capital punishment in any pending or future federal murder cases. Those directives would only last as long as Biden remains president (or doesn't change his mind, or makes exceptions). It would not even be enough for him to commute all existing death sentences to terms of imprisonment (presumably LWOP). He needs to push Congress to repeal all the many federal statutes (or clauses of statutes) that authorize capital punishment, most of which date only to the "war on crime" of the 1980s, and to include in that legislation a provision making the repeal retroactive.

    Parent
    Anyone else watching Your Honor (none / 0) (#188)
    by McBain on Sun Feb 07, 2021 at 02:35:42 PM EST
    on Showtime?  It's not great but if you like Bryan Cranston it's worth checking out.  If any of our lawyers have seen it, I'm curious how Cranston comes across as a judge?

    One thing I found confusing is how they worked COVID into episode 8.  I don't remember anything about the virus in p prior episodes and it was just a subtle reference.  

    Other shows:  
    Started watching The Head on HBO Max. First episode was good about something going very wrong with an Arctic research station.  There was a nice tribute to The Thing.

    The Tiger Woods documentary on HBO was good.  No interviews with Tiger or Phil Mickelson but plenty of others.  I didn't know about Tiger's father (Earl) Vietnam war days or Tiger's Navy Seal training.

    Recording Your Honor (none / 0) (#190)
    by KeysDan on Sun Feb 07, 2021 at 04:18:57 PM EST
    and will begin watching next week after the tenth and final episode.  The reviews have not been great, but I look forward to giving it a try.  Flight Attendant on HBO Max gets high marks.  Only getting started (two episodes) -- pretty good, sort of Alfred Hitchcock meets Sex and the City.

    Parent
    I always record the Super Bowl (none / 0) (#198)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Feb 08, 2021 at 09:01:54 AM EST
    For the commercials.  There was a couple of good ones.

    this Bruce Springsteen Jeep ad is being discussed a lot

    They just mentioned something significant I totally missed.  There are no people.

    In a beautiful 120second commercial full of talk about Americans and the dirt Americans walk on etc. not a single American except Bruce.

    It was noted this was probably not an accident.   That in the world we live in who do you show to encourage unity.  

    It's the Super Bowl.  Not the Tonys.

    If you show to much multiculturalism some will be unhappy.  If you don't show enough others will be unhappy.  So if you want to make a moving and more importantly effective commercial encouraging unity among people, don't show people.

    Fascinating.