February 9, 2021

Where to watch the impeachment trial live

The Senate impeachment trial will be aired on most major TV news networks starting at 1PM EST 2/9/21. If you don't have cable, here's where you can view the trial for free.
* C-Span (website)
* YouTube
* CNN
* PBS News Hour

How long will the trial last?
There's no set time for an impeachment trial. Trump's first impeachment, in 2019, lasted three weeks. This one is expected to go faster and rely largely on evidence gathered from news video, social media posts and live video from people on the scene.

Current schedule of Trump's impeachment trial
This is how the trial will unfold:
* Feb. 9: four hours of debate equally divided between prosecutors and defense on whether the trial is constitutional, followed by a vote needing a simply majority to proceed
* Feb. 10, 12:00 p.m. ET: House of Representatives will begin arguing its case; prosecutors and defense will have up to 16 hours each to present their arguments, with neither side permitted to present for more than eight hours per day
* Feb. 12, 5:00 p.m. ET: The trial will break through Saturday
* Feb. 14, 2:00 p.m. ET: The trial will reconvene Sunday
* Arguments will be followed by four hours for senators' questions
* If the House impeachment managers want to call witnesses or subpoena documents, there will be two hours of debate by each side followed by a Senate vote on whether to allow this
* If witnesses are called, there will be enough time given to depose them, and for each party to complete discovery before testimony is given
* Once witnesses and evidence is dealt with, there will be four hours of closing arguments divided evenly between the prosecutors and defense
* Lastly will come the vote on conviction or acquittal, for which a two-thirds majority is required

https://www.cnet.com/news/trump-impeachment-trial-starts-tuesday-schedule-potential-outcomes-what-happened-today/

February 4, 2021

Former Illinois (R) Senator/Gubernatorial Candidate Sam McCann Indicted for Fraud

https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdil/pr/former-illinois-state-senator-gubernatorial-candidate-sam-mccann-indicted-alleged

McCann allegedly:
* used more than $60,000 in campaign funds to partially fund the purchases of a 2017 Ford Expedition and a 2018 Ford F-250 in which he titled in his own name and used for personal travel.
* used campaign funds for loan payments on the F-250 and for fuel and insurance expenses for both vehicles
* used campaign funds to reimburse mileage expense claims which he did not incur.
* used $18,000 in campaign funds to purchase a 2018 RV trailer
* used $25,000 in campaign funds to buy a 2006 recreational motor home--both titled in his personal name.
* established an online account with a RV rental business in Ohio and listed the vehicles for rent identifying himself as owner. * * * established a second account with the same rental business and identified himself as a potential renter, with a different residential address and email than those he listed as the owner.
* while representing himself as the renter, William--rented both the travel trailer and motor home from Sam, the owner, through the RV rental business-- a total of $62,666 in campaign funds and the rental business retained approximately $9,838 for commission and paid McCann $52,827
* reimbursed the campaign accounts $18,000, resulting in more than $77,000 in campaign funds used to buy and rent from himself.
* On or about Oct. 4, 2016, used a $20,000 cashier’s check from a campaign account to pay off a personal loan issued to him in 2011 that was in collection by the bank due to non-payment.
* from May 2015 to August 2020, paid $64,750 on two separate personal mortgage loans
* Used a payroll service, to conceal himself as the payee for the expenditures from the campaign account continuing to June 2020, causing the Conservative Party of Illinois to issue approximately $187,000 in payments to him personally and an additional $52,282 in payments for payroll taxes.
* used $50,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses including Green Dot credit card payments related to a family vacation in Colorado and other personal expenses, charges from Apple iTunes, Amazon, a skeet and trap club, Cabela’s, Scheels, Best Buy, a gun store, and cash withdrawals.

February 3, 2021

You gotta see this

https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeJaKVjA/

February 1, 2021

Should I buy the Kitchenaid standing mixer? is there a reliable, less expensive substitute?

I’ve been hesitant to buy because of the price and because of the lack of counter space.

I see cheaper alternatives on Amazon but don’t trust the reliability.

I hope to get some opinions to help decide if this a worthwhile investment and/or recommended alternatives.

February 1, 2021

Term limits: another way to kill off the government

I listened to Thom Hartman the other day and once again learned something I didn’t know.

Term limits do away with the ongoing presence of experienced and skilled legislators in government positions. That I knew—it’s pretty logical and I’ve always been against it. But there’s more that I didn’t know.

Most new representatives rely upon experienced members to show them the ropes—or where the bodies are buried so to speak. Imagine people like Bobert and MTG being the most experienced. The prospect is dismal.

The institutional memory of a government body is only as long as the experience of those serving. With term limits, the maximum experience of any legislator would be eight years.

The problem is exacerbated because lobbyists have no time limits and would remain in place as elected officials come and go. Only lobbyists would know where the bodies are buried giving them an advantage over the government and the people.

Scary.

January 26, 2021

Antifa Hoedown

I know you hate to click links but it’s the only way I can share it... unless you go directly to TikTok and search for Antifa Hoedown.



https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMJEkXLQm/

January 26, 2021

2022

I am VERY worried about next year’s midterms already.

Gerrymandering, media propaganda (internet based especially) and Republican ownership of voting machines make for a steep hill to victory. It took a blue tsunami in 2020 to override these obstacles thanks in part to **. With him out of the picture the much lower expected turnout will be a lot less likely to overcome the ever increasing rigs.

A Republican controlled congress or Senate during Biden‘s presidency will bring further advancement by his administration to a screeching halt.

So unless something extraordinary happens, we are looking at a guarantee of two years of progress and then lots of uncertainty.

I hope for the extraordinary—that we come together and do some very hard work to focus ahead.

I know we were responsible for raising massive amounts of money here and elsewhere. I’m sure many continue to donate.

I wonder what others think as I hope and pray that Biden literally makes hay while the sun shines.

January 26, 2021

Postal Service decline experiences first hand

In the past few days, two creditors notified me payment was late for bills that I never received. I’m a stickler for paying bills fully and on time. As soon as I open an envelope, I set up an ebill pay and carefully discard the paid bill.

I know there are other payment options but managing multiple subscriptions and autopay accounts can easily get out of hand so I prefer billing by mail.

The problem with late-arriving bills is, of course, personal as it can potentially affect my credit. But I am more concerned that unprecedented poor service like this erodes confidence in yet another government agency leading others to choose alternatives to the Postal Service.

Normally I wouldn’t be as concerned but when the postmaster general is invested in a company that competes with the Postal Service it’s a problem.

I hope they dump him fast.

January 22, 2021

I just finished watching the documentary The Way I See It.

I’m sure many here have already seen it but it just brought a couple of thoughts to mind.

First some background: Pete Souza contrasts historic and intimate moments as a photographer for presidents Obama, Reagan and **.

In comparison to virtually unlimited free access during other administrations, Souza became alarmed and began speaking out because ** isolationist policies prevented capturing the photojournalistic history of his presidency. There are very few if any behind-the-scenes images of **.

The isolation affected us all. He isolated us—or tried to—from the world; and from each other. Isolation is a hallmark tactic of abusers. Hitler isolated himself and Germany from the rest of the world in order to commit heinous crimes against humanity. We were very much in similar grave danger had he gotten the office a second time.

He must be prevented from any further divisive/isolationist actions. He must never hold office again. He and his name should be shunned. Forever.