W Shawn M

Just started the book, about a fifth of the way through it. Quite the page-turner. It's been years since I've read a novel. I debated whether to read the book or wait for the movie.

Yeah, Tillis voted for Noem and these other shitbirds and he owns part of this mess. But for people who still have a shred of a conscience, that's going to make them more invested in righting what's gone wrong. We should all encourage that.

ok. and FDR created the modern welfare state despite being from an insanely wealthy family. JFK came from wealth, but his personal financial self interest didn’t define his politics.

We had elections during the Civil War.

Trump has no mechanism to delay, postpone, or suspend elections—legally or otherwise.

Accountability is coming.

And there's nothing that can be done to stop it.

The truth hurts.

“…that our flag was still there.” Ugh. Lyrics written by a lawyer.

Also calling them the "Department of War" is pure simping

I thought it was swell. Fun. Nice production design. Great score by Giacchino. Would have liked to have seen further stories in that universe.

Concur. It would be swell if you put yourself up for Dem leader in the Senate. I'd urge Merkley and Wyden to back you.

Paramount should enjoy its growing news monopoly while they have it because when Democrats win back power we are going to break up these anti-democratic information conglomerates. All of them.

Not optimal, but are there any "perfect" Dem Senators? Honest question. IIRC Warren covered for the medical device industry (with a strong presence in MA). Bernie opposed legislation to make gun manufacturers liable in shootings (many gun lovers in VT). Kelly in AZ keeps voting for Trump nominees.

I made this point in class the other day. Until Congress changes the name, it's the Department of Defense. It's not hard.

Pete Hegseth can call it whatever he wants. Uncle Drunky's Funtown or the He-Man Warfighters Secret Clubhouse or whatever. No one else should feel the need to follow him.

The Ballad of Briscoe Cain, the MAGA Legislator Whose Dreams Were Squashed by Trump Briscoe Cain could only exist in the Texas Legislature. He was tragically tempted to run for U.S. Congress.

Briscoe Cain could only exist in the Texas Legislature.

He was tragically tempted to run for U.S. Congress. https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/ballad-of-state-representative-briscoe-cain/

It probably doesn’t hold up, but I remember being spooked by The Horror at 37,000 Feet. Then you have your Trilogy of Terrors and Night Stalkers/Stranglers.

I would have been 9 or 10 when I saw this, and boy did that ending stick with me 50+ years later. So many great, scary TV movies back then.

Six fingers on the right hand? Lame AI Slop. Unfollowing.

You do not, under any circumstances, gotta hand it to them

Holy fuck, you don't "have to hand it to them" and agree on ANY policy position with ANY of these Trump people looking to end our democracy.

What they said - seriously wtf @captmarkkelly.bsky.social

@captmarkkelly.bsky.social
What gives, captain? This administration wants to court martial you. Why do you collaborate with a fascist regime? Whom does this benefit?

We’re going to need a better plan than to try to independent newsletter our way out of this horrific right-wing media consolidation situation.

(Which I say with deep respect for independent journalists.)

We need to demand politicians embrace antitrust policies, at a minimum.

Dem Presidential nominees need to promise to use the powers of their FTC to break up this media almost-monopoly.

ATTENTION HOLLYWOOD MEMBERS: We are currently experiencing issues with member logins and benefits on the Hollywood Theatre website. We are working to get it fixed as soon as we can. In the meantime, general admission tickets are able to be purchased. Thank you for your patience!

Too bad the special effects for the first episode filmed, The Corbomite Maneuver, were so complex it pushed its airing to tenth in the season. IMO it's the perfect encapsulation of Star Trek. So they had to settle for The Man Trap as the premiere.

Having enough money to incur an IRMAA penalty isn't the worst problem to have.

Senator, you don't "have to hand it to" anyone in the Trump administration on anything. Now isn't the time to try to appear all moderate. These people want to dismantle our democracy.

Who provided that response? The Boston Globe TV critic?

Amazing. Had no idea that shot had been touched by VFX. Now I want to know whether it was all shot in-camera or sent through an optical printer.

Yes, my lower premium is 100% due to my turning 65 in July. My wife is closer to your age and is paying a comparable Plan G premium here in OR. Still not clear how you went from Advantage to Medigap without medical underwriting (unless your MA plan was canceled like my wife's was).

Did you have to go through medical underwriting to go from Advantage to Medigap? Or are you in a state (like NY) that prohibits that? My wife's MA plan was dropped last year, so she was able to move to a Plan G with no underwriting (Oregon). Plan G for me would be around $150 here.