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Thanks. I know you are a Wes fan and should be were the coming contest one of choosing a swell human being. I would be a very happy camper if we lived in an enlightened land where a female with a german name could be elected leader by a nation of latino's but we are too backward and our founding documents are plainly insufficient in this more modern world. Look, by now we all should know that America would be a safer and more collaborative place if old white men would recognize that diversity and inclusion aren't just concepts but strengths to act upon. Or, better yet, if they would just take a hike. But that won't miraculously be the landscape in 4 years and definitely not in the 4 years we have to prepare. So we need to quit talking Moore and start talking less of what middle America and the boys and girls proudly waving Confederate flags will never vote for. Instead we need to focus only on what has the best chance to win the Presidency. Then we use the rulings of our current, corrupt Supreme Court to start the process of, 1. Ensuring the Right has no chance in 2028 and, 2. Jamming democracy down the throats of all of the ignorant motherfuckers who made this shitty, zero tomatoes, movie a reality.

Tom talked about this at CC23. Here is a video of the presentation in case anyone missed it.

Great piece, at least for me, as a reminder of how we got to today. It is very well written, accurate, and is pleasingly intellectual. So, it won't be much of a surprise that I disagree with the conclusion and it's form, in part: "To develop an alternative to the regressive modernization underpinning Trump’s reelection, the left must come up with a governing economic idea that can compete. Technocratic fixes of the old system look very unlikely to inspire a broad-enough coalition to defeat the potent, if unstable, electoral alliance that reelected Trump. The most promising avenue—one that could address the needs of millions of Americans who feel shut out of growth and prosperity and alienated from America’s governing elite—might be a fusion of AOC/Bernie populism with a more political, less technocratic version of abundance." Those soaring conclusions, especially the last sentence, are hogwash. It is exactly the crap that won't resonate with any voter that we need to turn. The term, "fusion of AOC/Bernie populism" are words exquisitely designed to turn away any voter in dire need of the "fusion of AOC/Bernie populism". That, telling voters what they truly need, is exactly what we don't need. Sure, we need AOC and Bernie in the rear guard, but not in the discussions about who will lead us into the future or why.

Paragliding is worth a look. Just saying.....

For the hell of it I decided to upload a bunch of the Cooper money photos to ChatGPT. I explained that it washed up on a beach originally in a bundle and asked what would be the cause of the edges looking that way. Soil Acidity & Microbial Activity: Paper currency buried underground is vulnerable to fungi, bacteria, and acidic soil. These eat away at the cellulose fibers, starting from exposed edges. That’s why the edges are more deteriorated—microbes attack from the outside in. Water Damage (Floodplain or Tidal Influence): Repeated wetting and drying cycles from a tidal area or seasonal flooding cause the paper to delaminate and rot unevenly. Saltwater or brackish water could accelerate this if found near a coast or estuary. Oxygen Deprivation (Partial Anaerobic Conditions): In deeper soil or under dense sediment, oxygen is limited, slowing decomposition in the core of the bundle. This can explain why some interior pieces might be more intact than the outer ones. Compression from the Rubber Band: The rubber band would have held the bundle together tightly for a time, protecting the inner bills slightly. However, over time, rubber decays, and the band either breaks or fuses with the outer bills, sometimes leaving distinct discoloration or causing distortion. Bills on the outside of the bundle would have taken the brunt of environmental damage. Sediment Abrasion: If the bundle was moved by floodwaters or a shifting riverbank, sand and silt could act like sandpaper, rounding and fraying the edges. I then asked it if rolling along the bottom of the river could cause that damage.... Yes—rolling submerged along the bottom of a river could absolutely cause the rounded, scalloped edges you see in the image. In fact, that kind of mechanical erosion is one of the most plausible explanations for the distinctive damage pattern. Here’s how that would work: Constant Abrasion: As the bundle tumbles or slides along the riverbed, it gets scraped by sand, gravel, and small rocks. This slowly wears away the outer edges of the bills—just like how rocks in a river become smooth and rounded over time. Edge-First Damage: Since bills are thin and flexible, the edges are most exposed during tumbling. Repeated folding, flapping, and scraping action causes the edges to fray, break, and wear away, creating those irregular, rounded contours. Bundle Dynamics: If the bills were still in a rubber band (even partially decayed), the bundle would roll and drag as a single unit, meaning the outer bills would absorb most of the damage. Interior bills might remain more intact—especially if compressed. Water Saturation and Fiber Breakdown: Prolonged submersion softens the paper (cotton/linen blend), weakening its fibers. This makes it more susceptible to tearing and abrasion, especially at the edges. Combined with mechanical motion, this would produce rounded and lace-like damage—exactly what we see. How Long Would It Take? It would likely take weeks to months of tumbling in a moderately strong river current to cause this degree of damage. A single storm event or spring flood could also loosen a buried bundle and send it rolling.

Agree, the democrats are a rudderless Ford class carrier.

Hi Joe, Well put; I absolutely agree. Thanks for taking the time. And, since we are dreaming: We need to get rid of the Electoral College. That old albatross is holding this country back. Jerry Baumchen

Too late now. I’m sure you’ve heard of that old barn door. You and yours fucked up and there is no going back.

Could well be too late by then.

According to Hesgeth, the Iran airstrikes were " “the most complex and secretive military operation in history.” So much for D-Day, breaking the Enigma codes, and the Manhattan Project.

I think claiming that "the left" all attack Christians is pretty similar; a painting of an entire group with a characteristic that you then use to denigrate them.