The one program I never missed was MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace. But now, with the confirmation hearings, I can’t bear to watch. The results are in before the nominees are even questioned. It’s beyond dispiriting.
I think frugality is one of the things we learn from our parents and so can span many generations. 'Waste not, want not' was around long before environmentalism.
We also bought the Louisiana territories from France, Florida from Spain, southern New Mexico and Arizona from Mexico, and the US Virgin Islands from Denmark. Sale of territories between countries is very common historically.
It was common historically, but it hasn’t happened since 1916 when the U.S. bought the Danish West Indies from Denmark. I think that’s because one country buying territory from another country is a remnant of colonialism. Now we tend to believe in self-determination by the inhabitants of the territory.
Not sure about the scoffing but it was about 160 years ago in a time when imperialism was at its height. Nice to think that we have moved on since then ... oh, wait a minute, trump has said he will acquire Greenland "by force if necessary," so no we haven't. They had better do it in the morning because rumor has it that SecDef nominee Hegseth is NGITA (No Good In The Afternoon).
The "new Illinois flag" on the left above appears to shows Abraham Lincoln in blue facing trump in profile across a void. OK, but wouldn't a blue Lincoln profile surrounded by a sea of orange have been better?
I didn't see the Trump profile, just the western side of the map of Illinois, but looking again after your comment, it totally does look like a petulant, upturned profile of Trump!
Seriously Illinois flag option no. 2? Perhaps I’ve got a bad case of Long TDS, but I can’t be the only one who sees a defiant Trump silhouette looking down on honest Abe. And is that white space between the blue and red images supposed to represent something like the “I” of option no.1? All I see is maybe a dancing alien or the gerrymandered district of the pol who’s being buttered up with this silly design.
I have no love for the flag of Illinois, but none of the contenders is worth any of the time and money already spent to replace it. Illinois could have looked to Mississippi, which could have replaced it's previous banner, whose dominant design element was the Confederate battle flag and HAD to go, with anything else and looked good. But instead of settling for a mediocre graphic designer's second draft with all the staying power of the Pantone Color of the Year, which most of the Illinois options seem to be, most of Mississippi's final options focused on a widely embraced state symbol, its state flower and source of its nickname, the Magnolia State, and built into it some symbolism relevant to the entire state. Clear, direct, meaningful, seen positively throughout a famously divided citizenry, it's a splendid state flag. After Illinois gets over the impending no-more-COVID-money shock and has its pension funds on lasting solid ground, it could be worthwhile to get past our lazy slap-the-state-seal-on-a-white-background-and move-on pennant, but this is NOT that moment.
"I’m discouraged and depressed by national political news, and find that getting spun up by the latest MAGA outrage and the latest failure of Democrats to blunt Trumpian initiatives simply exhausts me."
That describes my feelings perfectly. Before the election I watched all the time, Morning Joe while eating breakfast, Nicole Wallace while making/eating dinner, etc. I thought it was important to keep track of and understand the threats and find an occasional reason for hope and optimism. I basically switched it totally off after the election. It's all ESPN for me now. There is no point, I know the dangers are more real than before, but there is nothing I can do now and there is no reason for hope. It's infuriating and exhausting with no possible payoff. The Morning Joe hosts visiting Mar A Lago didn't help either.
I find this is a very, VERY common feeling and response among many people I know - close friends, casual acquaintances, and those I follow online. I find it *extremely* difficult to square my strong desire to retreat with the great respect I have for folks like Joyce Vance, Heather Cox Richardson, Jennifer Rubin, et al who are not retreating at all. I believe they are correct that we in the opposition cannot just slink away and must continue to push back on the garbage policies from this incoming administration. If we give up, the long-term damage will be much, much worse than we can imagine. Based on the advice "action alleviates anxiety," I'm still struggling to find what the focus of my action will be but I know that consuming news the way I've done for the last many years is certainly not worthwhile action.
Exactly. I am grateful and have the highest respect for people like the ones you listed, all of whom I follow. But until it is clear what action is even possible, the outrage is just draining and counterproductive. We can save the energy for when it can be put to good use.
Agree on the absolute utility of the Dual Angle Snow Pusher, but how much room does it take up in a garage? An ordinary snow shovel is a great deal more work to clear the snow (but still useful), but can be hung on the wall taking up little space when not in use (which is 99% of the year).
As the strike looms or even begins - I can see all the attack ads leading with these comments. Maybe D-G should have said Pedro uses a short bus to commute to work or a janitor who won't give up with broom or a cafeteria worker who refuses to use a hair net. Oh - but she apologizes. "It's not who I am. I will meet with parents (bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers...) to discuss the importance of their character and support. Welch: Let's just have 'legislation advancement' led only by parties in majority. Winner take all. Starbucks: There seems like a thin line between those who make no purchases - and those who buy a small cup and milk (or dairy free alternative) it for 8 hours. Hegseth: and bring back our statues too! LOL. Sex Workers: Tax those tips! Enforce minimum wage. TikTokToe - Isn't Blue Sky trying to oust X in a similar fashion. It seems that social media and the tech world is more "ooops" we lucked into something big - but duplicating such success rarely meets it. Ford's Bill stated today: "I'm just a bill. Yes, I'm only a bill. And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill. Well, it's a long, long journey
I try to maintain equal disgust for political figures regardless of party affiliations. Ironic at the nostalgia the past weeks for Carter. Still a poor president - at a time when likely no one could have succeeded - but in the end was true to form good person beyond the politics. Looking at the 5 former presidents at the funeral service - nope, nope, nope, hell nope, nope.
I couldn't agree more about taking a break from the relentless drumbeat of news and the futility it represents. I don't watch MSNBC for the same reasons I don't watch Fox. They are both bubbles for a singular POV. But I have been a regular viewer of the PBS NewsHour for years and I have hardly watched it since the election. Between the weight they place on the victims of the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and the ridiculous pronouncements of the Trump regime, I just can't watch without contemplating how helpless I feel.
Still, I plan to resume watching after the inauguration in the hope that real effective opposition will develop and I don't want to miss that boat. I also know that I can't allow myself to withdraw forever. I just need to find something that is more effective than complaining about the opposition and waiting for a schadenfreude moment to enjoy.
I’ve watched maybe 30 minutes of MSNBC and Fox News/commentary combined in my life. That was enough to see how boring, shrill, reflexive, predictable, and narrow they are.
Perfectly said, both you and Eric. I and others I know have decided to take a mental health break from the obsession we have about instant media coverage. It's not an act of rebellion or disengagement, just a pause from the irrationality and helplessness we feel about the next two to four years. Once the traditional 100 Day honeymoon given to newly elected presidents is over, then I'll be back strong as part of the Loyal Opposition.
"Not marinating nightly in impotent despair and gloom has become a form of self-care."
This is my feeling exactly. The daily anxiety during the last Trump administration took a toll on my mental and physical health and I want to try avoid that this time around. I still have a TV with newsish shows in the morning on as my background noise while working, but I'm only half paying attention. I still listen to NPR when I wake up and as I make dinner. But I'm not swimming in the muck this time around as I try to detach from the expected daily horror. If I'm still kicking after the next 4 years, it will have worked. Ditching cable 17 years ago was also a form of self-care. Other than BTN, I don't miss it (can't stream BTN, sadly)
I certainly have no love for Notre Dame, but if we’re speaking of insufferable I think the OSU fans wearing “F*** Dolly Parton” shirts when their team played Tennessee are the worst of the worst.
On the topic of using a store’s restroom, I have always felt obliged to buy something when I’ve had to do that, such as on road trips with no rest areas in sight. I can’t be in the minority on that one, can I?
And I find it a bit amusing that TikTok users have started flocking to an app called RedNote in response to the looming ban — an app that has the same Chinese ownership issues as TikTok. What I don’t understand is why the app is the problem and not the platform it’s installed on. Apple, Samsung, Google, et al, could probably solve the privacy concerns through changes to the OS they put on their mobile devices instead of having the government play whack-a-mole with all of these Chinese apps.
Interesting idea about having the operating system (android or IOS) firewall the app. But I am not sure how feasible that is or how easy it would be for the app to get around. Particularly since so much data passes directly through the app.
I think the snowplow name should be related to Chicago, not just a bad wintry pun. It should also be spoken trippingly on the tongue. Which is why I like "Deep Drift Pizza" and "Chilly Goat Tavern".
Regarding selection of media consumption: I recently learned about Tangle News, which is commentary on issues which has a goal of appealing equally to both left leaning and right leaning people. I have given it a try and I am very happy with it. The editor, Isaac Saul, is earnest about being as objective as he can. This includes a year-end evaluation of opinions he has written in the past year and grading them. Also, with each issue they put corrections right at the top of the website.
I’ve mentioned the 1440 Daily Digest here before. Broad range of topics. No slant. Free. They want you to tell them when their story has bias. I’ve replied twice in two years. Now has a daily business edition…
I think they recommended Tangle to their readers a while back.
The only print magazine we receive is "The Week", which sums up stories and views beautifully, and much more content besides politics. "All you need to know about everything that matters" https://theweek.com/
If need to watch national news, NewsNation moreso than the others.
Thanks for the list. I've been following The Flipside for a long time and like that it's short and skimmable. Its comment section leaves a lot to be desired but I greatly appreciate it has a comment section that encourages calm discussion.
I recently started with Tangle but not loving it as I sort of think it needs a tough editor to cut the thing by about 1/2. I very much appreciate seeing how both sides are treating a topic but not feeling the need for his musings. I won't give up on it just yet but am glad to hear about 1440 and Ground News which I'll check out.
I also subscribe to Ground News. With that, it became very clear how reporting varies between right and left leaning media outlets regarding choice of words and what aspects of the story they focus on.
I reuse zipper bags that had dry items in them, but ones used for freezing or marinating meat/veg definitely get tossed or rinsed and recycled - if you cut the zipper part off, the rest of the bag can be recycled with plastic grocery bags at your local grocery store/Target/Walmart)
I've had the same snow shovel shortcoming thoughts myself. One has to take extra passes to clean things up. Not a big deal, but it's a bit aggravating.
The one program I never missed was MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace. But now, with the confirmation hearings, I can’t bear to watch. The results are in before the nominees are even questioned. It’s beyond dispiriting.
I do reuse plastic bags. But I don’t rinse them. I’ll use them for sandwiches or for breakfast cereal that I eat like snack food.
And Supermarket bags get used to empty my cat’s litter box into.
I use the grocery store bags to line small wastebaskets & to throw out wet food garbage.
I think frugality is one of the things we learn from our parents and so can span many generations. 'Waste not, want not' was around long before environmentalism.
In addition to trying to buy Greenland, a number of US presidents tried to buy or take Cuba. And remember that people scoffed when we bought Alaska.
We also bought the Louisiana territories from France, Florida from Spain, southern New Mexico and Arizona from Mexico, and the US Virgin Islands from Denmark. Sale of territories between countries is very common historically.
It was common historically, but it hasn’t happened since 1916 when the U.S. bought the Danish West Indies from Denmark. I think that’s because one country buying territory from another country is a remnant of colonialism. Now we tend to believe in self-determination by the inhabitants of the territory.
Not sure about the scoffing but it was about 160 years ago in a time when imperialism was at its height. Nice to think that we have moved on since then ... oh, wait a minute, trump has said he will acquire Greenland "by force if necessary," so no we haven't. They had better do it in the morning because rumor has it that SecDef nominee Hegseth is NGITA (No Good In The Afternoon).
The "new Illinois flag" on the left above appears to shows Abraham Lincoln in blue facing trump in profile across a void. OK, but wouldn't a blue Lincoln profile surrounded by a sea of orange have been better?
I didn't see the Trump profile, just the western side of the map of Illinois, but looking again after your comment, it totally does look like a petulant, upturned profile of Trump!
Seriously Illinois flag option no. 2? Perhaps I’ve got a bad case of Long TDS, but I can’t be the only one who sees a defiant Trump silhouette looking down on honest Abe. And is that white space between the blue and red images supposed to represent something like the “I” of option no.1? All I see is maybe a dancing alien or the gerrymandered district of the pol who’s being buttered up with this silly design.
I have no love for the flag of Illinois, but none of the contenders is worth any of the time and money already spent to replace it. Illinois could have looked to Mississippi, which could have replaced it's previous banner, whose dominant design element was the Confederate battle flag and HAD to go, with anything else and looked good. But instead of settling for a mediocre graphic designer's second draft with all the staying power of the Pantone Color of the Year, which most of the Illinois options seem to be, most of Mississippi's final options focused on a widely embraced state symbol, its state flower and source of its nickname, the Magnolia State, and built into it some symbolism relevant to the entire state. Clear, direct, meaningful, seen positively throughout a famously divided citizenry, it's a splendid state flag. After Illinois gets over the impending no-more-COVID-money shock and has its pension funds on lasting solid ground, it could be worthwhile to get past our lazy slap-the-state-seal-on-a-white-background-and move-on pennant, but this is NOT that moment.
"I’m discouraged and depressed by national political news, and find that getting spun up by the latest MAGA outrage and the latest failure of Democrats to blunt Trumpian initiatives simply exhausts me."
That describes my feelings perfectly. Before the election I watched all the time, Morning Joe while eating breakfast, Nicole Wallace while making/eating dinner, etc. I thought it was important to keep track of and understand the threats and find an occasional reason for hope and optimism. I basically switched it totally off after the election. It's all ESPN for me now. There is no point, I know the dangers are more real than before, but there is nothing I can do now and there is no reason for hope. It's infuriating and exhausting with no possible payoff. The Morning Joe hosts visiting Mar A Lago didn't help either.
I find this is a very, VERY common feeling and response among many people I know - close friends, casual acquaintances, and those I follow online. I find it *extremely* difficult to square my strong desire to retreat with the great respect I have for folks like Joyce Vance, Heather Cox Richardson, Jennifer Rubin, et al who are not retreating at all. I believe they are correct that we in the opposition cannot just slink away and must continue to push back on the garbage policies from this incoming administration. If we give up, the long-term damage will be much, much worse than we can imagine. Based on the advice "action alleviates anxiety," I'm still struggling to find what the focus of my action will be but I know that consuming news the way I've done for the last many years is certainly not worthwhile action.
Exactly. I am grateful and have the highest respect for people like the ones you listed, all of whom I follow. But until it is clear what action is even possible, the outrage is just draining and counterproductive. We can save the energy for when it can be put to good use.
https://www.shopfurnitureville.com/product/ivation-dual-angle-snow-pusher--manual-push-plow-for-walkways-sidewalks-stoops-decks-patios--more-ptm4g-up318
Dual Angle Snow Pusher
Agree on the absolute utility of the Dual Angle Snow Pusher, but how much room does it take up in a garage? An ordinary snow shovel is a great deal more work to clear the snow (but still useful), but can be hung on the wall taking up little space when not in use (which is 99% of the year).
As the strike looms or even begins - I can see all the attack ads leading with these comments. Maybe D-G should have said Pedro uses a short bus to commute to work or a janitor who won't give up with broom or a cafeteria worker who refuses to use a hair net. Oh - but she apologizes. "It's not who I am. I will meet with parents (bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers...) to discuss the importance of their character and support. Welch: Let's just have 'legislation advancement' led only by parties in majority. Winner take all. Starbucks: There seems like a thin line between those who make no purchases - and those who buy a small cup and milk (or dairy free alternative) it for 8 hours. Hegseth: and bring back our statues too! LOL. Sex Workers: Tax those tips! Enforce minimum wage. TikTokToe - Isn't Blue Sky trying to oust X in a similar fashion. It seems that social media and the tech world is more "ooops" we lucked into something big - but duplicating such success rarely meets it. Ford's Bill stated today: "I'm just a bill. Yes, I'm only a bill. And I'm sitting here on Capitol Hill. Well, it's a long, long journey
To the capital city. It's a long, long wait."
Her non apology was a sincere as my liking of the fat traitor.
I try to maintain equal disgust for political figures regardless of party affiliations. Ironic at the nostalgia the past weeks for Carter. Still a poor president - at a time when likely no one could have succeeded - but in the end was true to form good person beyond the politics. Looking at the 5 former presidents at the funeral service - nope, nope, nope, hell nope, nope.
I couldn't agree more about taking a break from the relentless drumbeat of news and the futility it represents. I don't watch MSNBC for the same reasons I don't watch Fox. They are both bubbles for a singular POV. But I have been a regular viewer of the PBS NewsHour for years and I have hardly watched it since the election. Between the weight they place on the victims of the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and the ridiculous pronouncements of the Trump regime, I just can't watch without contemplating how helpless I feel.
Still, I plan to resume watching after the inauguration in the hope that real effective opposition will develop and I don't want to miss that boat. I also know that I can't allow myself to withdraw forever. I just need to find something that is more effective than complaining about the opposition and waiting for a schadenfreude moment to enjoy.
I’ve watched maybe 30 minutes of MSNBC and Fox News/commentary combined in my life. That was enough to see how boring, shrill, reflexive, predictable, and narrow they are.
Perfectly said, both you and Eric. I and others I know have decided to take a mental health break from the obsession we have about instant media coverage. It's not an act of rebellion or disengagement, just a pause from the irrationality and helplessness we feel about the next two to four years. Once the traditional 100 Day honeymoon given to newly elected presidents is over, then I'll be back strong as part of the Loyal Opposition.
"Not marinating nightly in impotent despair and gloom has become a form of self-care."
This is my feeling exactly. The daily anxiety during the last Trump administration took a toll on my mental and physical health and I want to try avoid that this time around. I still have a TV with newsish shows in the morning on as my background noise while working, but I'm only half paying attention. I still listen to NPR when I wake up and as I make dinner. But I'm not swimming in the muck this time around as I try to detach from the expected daily horror. If I'm still kicking after the next 4 years, it will have worked. Ditching cable 17 years ago was also a form of self-care. Other than BTN, I don't miss it (can't stream BTN, sadly)
I certainly have no love for Notre Dame, but if we’re speaking of insufferable I think the OSU fans wearing “F*** Dolly Parton” shirts when their team played Tennessee are the worst of the worst.
On the topic of using a store’s restroom, I have always felt obliged to buy something when I’ve had to do that, such as on road trips with no rest areas in sight. I can’t be in the minority on that one, can I?
And I find it a bit amusing that TikTok users have started flocking to an app called RedNote in response to the looming ban — an app that has the same Chinese ownership issues as TikTok. What I don’t understand is why the app is the problem and not the platform it’s installed on. Apple, Samsung, Google, et al, could probably solve the privacy concerns through changes to the OS they put on their mobile devices instead of having the government play whack-a-mole with all of these Chinese apps.
Interesting idea about having the operating system (android or IOS) firewall the app. But I am not sure how feasible that is or how easy it would be for the app to get around. Particularly since so much data passes directly through the app.
I think the snowplow name should be related to Chicago, not just a bad wintry pun. It should also be spoken trippingly on the tongue. Which is why I like "Deep Drift Pizza" and "Chilly Goat Tavern".
Regarding selection of media consumption: I recently learned about Tangle News, which is commentary on issues which has a goal of appealing equally to both left leaning and right leaning people. I have given it a try and I am very happy with it. The editor, Isaac Saul, is earnest about being as objective as he can. This includes a year-end evaluation of opinions he has written in the past year and grading them. Also, with each issue they put corrections right at the top of the website.
I’ve mentioned the 1440 Daily Digest here before. Broad range of topics. No slant. Free. They want you to tell them when their story has bias. I’ve replied twice in two years. Now has a daily business edition…
I think they recommended Tangle to their readers a while back.
Do you have a link to Tangle News?
In addition to Tangle and 1440:
Tangle https://www.readtangle.com/
1440 https://join1440.com/
Have also used:
The Flipside https://www.theflipside.io/
Ground News, mainly for blindspots https://ground.news/
The only print magazine we receive is "The Week", which sums up stories and views beautifully, and much more content besides politics. "All you need to know about everything that matters" https://theweek.com/
If need to watch national news, NewsNation moreso than the others.
Thanks for the list. I've been following The Flipside for a long time and like that it's short and skimmable. Its comment section leaves a lot to be desired but I greatly appreciate it has a comment section that encourages calm discussion.
I recently started with Tangle but not loving it as I sort of think it needs a tough editor to cut the thing by about 1/2. I very much appreciate seeing how both sides are treating a topic but not feeling the need for his musings. I won't give up on it just yet but am glad to hear about 1440 and Ground News which I'll check out.
I also subscribe to Ground News. With that, it became very clear how reporting varies between right and left leaning media outlets regarding choice of words and what aspects of the story they focus on.
Thanks!
I also watch the foreign news shows - DW- Germany, France24, and BBC. They always have stories that never make the news here.
I reuse zipper bags that had dry items in them, but ones used for freezing or marinating meat/veg definitely get tossed or rinsed and recycled - if you cut the zipper part off, the rest of the bag can be recycled with plastic grocery bags at your local grocery store/Target/Walmart)
I didn't know that! Thanks for the tip!
Or maybe, thanks for the zip!
I've had the same snow shovel shortcoming thoughts myself. One has to take extra passes to clean things up. Not a big deal, but it's a bit aggravating.