Bobservations

Our remote control to the garage door opener has died—first world problems, I know—and because it’s the original door opener—the door itself was replaced a few years ago—we need to do some searching to find a new opener; even the universal openers are too new! Until then, this is how we work the door …

I leave for work in the morning and with the push of a button Carlos closes the door after I’m gone.

I come home from work in the evening and with the push of a button Carlos opens the door for me.

We come home together after being out and about and I stop the car and poke Carlos in the side and he shrieks like a howler monkey:

“Quit poking me! I am not the garage door opener.”

I poke him again and he gets out to open the door …

“Aren’t you?”

I’m enjoying this game so I may take my time looking for a real solution.

This Tuxedo Says is still from those dark days of mask wearing:

While some of y’all are out there bitching about being uncomfortable wearing masks think of what else the government has done to some of us …

Tuxedo was always right.

Isn’t it funny how there are no more rapists and criminals storming the border, only rapists and criminals joining the incoming administration.

Linda Lavin, best known for her Emmy-nominated role in the 1976 sitcom Alice and her Tony-winning performance in the 1986 play Broadway Bound, died Sunday at the age of 87 due to complications from recently discovered lung cancer.

A former child stage actor, Lavin started her Broadway career in the 1960s, appearing in the musical It’s a Bird…It’s a Plane…It’s Superman and the play Last of the Red-Hot Lovers, which earned her the first of six Tony Award nominations in 1970.

A funny, talented woman. RIP

This is the problem with America:

Bayer is a pharmaceutical company and Monsanto is a pesticide company.

Bayer bought Monsanto. 

Bayer makes drugs for Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma while Monsanto makes a chemical called glyphosate to spray on food crops and Glyphosate causes Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

We have come full circle.

After some Costco shareholders asked the company to end its DEI policies, this was their response:

“Our board has considered this proposal and believes that our commitment to an enterprise rooted in respect and inclusion is appropriate and necessary."

Snap.

Well, well, well … doesn’t he have the perfect name … I mean, did he create the cakes because of his name or did he change his name when he made those cakes?

Either way ...

The Boulder County Courthouse has been designated a National Historic Landmark after it became a beacon of equality and justice in 1975 when Boulder County Clerk Clela Rorex issued the first same-sex marriage license in the nation.

On March 26, 1975, Rorex consulted the Assistant District Attorney to confirm there were no Colorado laws prohibiting marriage between individuals of the same sex and so she began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couple, stating years later:

“After having been so deeply involved in the women’s rights movements, who was I to then deny a right to anyone else? It wasn’t my job to legislate morality.”

This act of courage ignited a nationwide conversation about marriage equality and cemented the courthouse’s role as a symbol of hope and progress for the LGBTQ+ community and, within weeks, Rorex issued five more same-sex marriage licenses.

It’s nice they’ve made the courthouse a National Historic Landmark, but they should have made Clela Rorex one, too.

Here’s a list of some of the men I might choose to hit, or you might choose to hit …

1^st Row: British actor Andrew Scott, All Of Us Strangers; British actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Nosferatu; Canadian actor  Charles Vandervaart from Outlander.

2^nd Row: actor and rapper Common,   American Gangster; Australian-Canadian actor, David Berry, Outlander: British actor Jonathan Bailey, Fellow Travelers and Wicked.

3^rd Row: American actor John Cho, Star Trek; American actor Josh Brolin, No Country For Old Men; American actor Kelvin Harrison Jr, Luce.

4^th row: Irish actor Paul Mescal, Gladiator II; German-Irish actor Michael Fassbender, Inglourious Basterds; Scottish actor Richard Rankin, Outlander.

Which One[s] Would You Hit?

The Funny Papers

Davie Whamond, David Horsey, Mike Luckovich, John Cole, Adam Zyglis, Kevin Siers, Bill Bramhall, Clay Bennett, Gary Huck, JD Crowe, Nick Anderson, Pat Byrnes, Liam Simonelli, Darrin Bell, Michael de Adder, MacLeod Cartoons,

Bobservations on Ukraine

I didn’t write this, but I found it at Hopes and Fears  and if for anyone confused about what's happening in Russia and Ukraine:

Ukraine used to be in an abusive relationship with Russia, feeding him, letting him use her car, paying for the coffee etc. and giving him whatever he asked for until she built up the confidence to call it quits back in 1991.

Since then, Ukraine has been working on herself, becoming a strong independent woman with help from friends like France, America, Poland, and others. They give her support, loan her money, and are helping her find her way.

Ukraine has been enjoying being single for 30 years and looking forward to continuing to grow and create new friendships.

Now Russia, being the toxic ex that he is, wants her back, and doesn't want her meeting new people or creating any new relationships as this impacts the level of power and control he can exert over her.

A couple of weeks ago Russia started sitting out the front of Ukraine's house and when her friends ask him what was he doing there, he said "Oh nothing, just getting a little bit of exercise in, that's all."

After her friends told her that Russia was potentially getting ready to do something bad to her, he said "They're lying, they just want you to be scared of me and that's not what it is."

Yesterday Russia broke into Ukraine's house, beat her up and "took advantage" of her while live-streaming and double dog dared any of her friends to do something about it. She's still waiting for help.

I didn't write this, but it's a great analogy, with one exception: she's not waiting for help. She's kicking that abusive boyfriend's ass while her friends are destroying him on social media.

In a statement published to Twitter, imprisoned Putin opposition leader Alexei Navalny has called on the Russian people to protest the invasion of Ukraine and has called Putin an “obviously insane tsar.” Navalny noted that protests from within Russia would signal to the world that not all Russians support Putin’s attacks.

Flori-duh Governor Ron DeSantis has rejected a push for his state to sell investments in Russian-owned companies in retaliation for the invasion of Ukraine. In the past, however, he has called for taking on Communist China and reviewing the state’s investments in Chinese companies. He’s also called for the state to stop investing in Ben & Jerry’s parent company over its decision to stop selling ice cream in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and contested east Jerusalem.

But Russia? He won’t do it and won’t say why. Understand that Flori-duh and do something about it.

Just the other day in Ukraine a Russian military convoy that was ALLEGEDLY more than 40 miles long reportedly stalled on its way to the capital of Kyiv because … wait of it … they ran out of gas; and food.

That Putin  isn’t a good planner of attacks, eh?

The International Criminal Court has opened an investigation into possible war crimes in Ukraine, an early step in a process that potentially could lead to Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Kremlin leaders being charged at The Hague.

The Moscow Exchange is not open for stock trading this week in hopes to stop the flow of blood from their economy thanks to the invasion.

Ordinary Russians are facing the prospect of higher prices and banned foreign travel as Western sanctions over the invasion of Ukraine sent the ruble plummeting 30% against the U.S. dollar. Russian citizens are lining up at banks and ATMs to try and save their assets and Russia’s central bank increased interest rates 9.5% to 20% to prevent a run on the banks.

Never was there a better illustration of Thing 45’s “alternative facts” than what was presented by Russian state media this week.

As BBC World TV opened its bulletin with reports of a Russian attack on a TV tower in the capital Kyiv, Russian TV was announcing that Ukraine was responsible for strikes on its own cities. Seriously.

But … rather than commenting on the food and service at Russian restaurants and cafes, some users have begun posting online reviews detailing Russian actions in Ukraine to try to smuggle information past the tight control of state media.

In an effort to stop the truth from getting out, Russia's communications regulator took radio station Ekho Moskvy off air, because of its coverage of the invasion, but online comments on platforms such as Google Maps and Afisha.ru are harder to contain … like these “reviews”:

"The place was nice! However, Putin spoiled our mood by invading Ukraine. Rise up against your dictator, stop killing innocent people! Your government is lying to you."

"The deployment of troops in Ukraine is a war, not a special operation. Russian military kill children and civilians!!!!"

Online users in Russia also recommended posting pictures of Ukraine in reviews for popular eateries.

Look at that! Social media can do some good.

A Ukrainian woman has been praised for her bravery after she confronted a heavily armed Russian soldier with sunflower seeds. She handed him the sunflower seeds—Ukraine's national flower—so that they might grow when he dies.

Switzerland, a favorite destination for Russian oligarchs and their money, announced that it would freeze Russian financial assets in the country, set aside its long history of neutrality to join the EU to penalize Russia for the invasion of Ukraine.

Boeing suspended maintenance and technical support for Russian airlines this week while US energy firm Exxon Mobil is leaving Russia. Airbus stopped sending spare parts to Russia and supporting Russian airlines. Apple has stopped sales of iPhones and other products in Russia, while Ford Motor joined other automakers by suspending operations in the country.

Visa and Mastercard have blocked multiple Russian financial institutions from their network, complying with government sanctions imposed over Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. And both companies have announced that they will donate $2 million for humanitarian aid.

Google has announced that YouTube will geoblock Kremlin-affiliated media outlets Russia Today [RT] and Sputnik in Europe to choke off Russian war propaganda. Facebook, Microsoft, TikTok and Twitter announced similar restrictions.

After calling Putin a “genius” last week, Thing 45 has changed his tune and is now condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Fuck all the way off you pandering traitor.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was ready to justify the invasion of Ukraine to a top UN human-rights forum on Tuesday—but was left humiliated when more than a hundred diplomats abruptly walked out.

Ain’t nobody got time for lies.

I love that people, and countries, around the world are standing up with, and for, Ukraine, but some of them to rethink their messages.

And I’m looking at you Carmen Carrera. Carrera, of RuPaul’s Drag Race, looked all kinds of messy and thirsty when she posted her support for the people of Ukraine while wearing a lingerie ensemble that she believes matches the colors of Ukraine’s flag. It doesn’t.

But she’s not the only one. Actor AnnaLynne McCord went viral after posting a video on social media where she apologized to Russian President Vladimir Putin for not being his mother, saying she believed she would have loved Little Vlad so much that he’d would not become a Micro-dick-tator. Seriously.

And then we have John Cena, used the attack to promote his new HBO Max show by Tweeting:

“If I could somehow summon the powers of a real life #Peacemaker I think this would be a great time to do so.”

Yes, let’s summon a fictional superhero to fix an actual war. Oh John, take a seat.

Then there’s The View’s Joy Behar ranting about how she hasn’t been able to go to Italy because of the pandemic “and now this.”

Sorry people dying and being forced to flee their homeland has put a snag in your vacation plans you entitled one-percenter.

Now, while I am hopeful when I see the world, and the Ukrainian people, and the Russian people speaking out, I do realize that Putin is a lunatic and you cannot count him out until you take him out. But know that he is squirming watching Ukraine take on his troops, watching the entire world Stand with Ukraine, and watching his own people turning against him.

Bad Companies, Part 2

A year has passed since the deadly insurrection on the U.S. Capitol and in the aftermath of the insurrection a great many corporations promised to defend democracy. By the end of that week, nearly every major company in the US and dozens committed to cutting off the lawmakers involved.  

Sounded nice on paper but the facts are quite different. By the end of 2021, corporations and trade groups still donated over $8.1 million to the 147 members of the Sedition Caucus ¹—the members of Congress who validated dangerous myths of voter fraud by objecting to election certification.  

I’m going to share those companies with you …

Cigna 

According to CNBC, who reported on January 12, 2021:

“Health insurer Cigna will stop giving money to elected officials who ‘encouraged or supported violence’ during last week’s siege of the U.S. Capitol by followers of [Thing 45].” 

After seeing the violence inflicted during the insurrection, the company and its executives condemned these actions with Chief Human Resources Officer John Murabito saying democracy “makes our nation strong” in a memo announcing Cigna’s decision to halt donations to lawmakers who spurred the insurrection.  

However, by the end of 2021, the company’s PAC had gone back on its word to the tune of $30,000. Additionally, Cigna has made donations to anti-democratic officials in Texas who shepherded a controversial voter suppression bill to passage.

Duke Energy 

Grace Rountree, Duke Energy spokesperson, on January 15, 2021:

“We were shocked and dismayed by the events at the Capitol last week. Duke Energy is taking this very seriously…” 

Duke Energy is one of America’s largest energy holding companies, serving nearly 8 million customers and employing tens of thousands of Americans, and they say they care strongly about the democratic process …

So strongly that since then Duke Energy has donated a total of $59,500 to members of Congress who refused to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. 

Eli Lilly 

Eli Lilly spokesperson Bradley Jacklin, January 2021:

“We expect any candidate we support to demonstrate respect for people and respect for our democratic process and institutions. […] This certainly covers anyone who promoted violence or sedition that contributed to the appalling events on January 6th…” 

The Eli Lilly company spoke out against the insurrection in January, implying that legislators who voted against certifying the 2020 election results were disrespectful of America’s democratic process.

However, by July 2021, Eli Lilly had given $32,500 to election objectors and funneled money to Governor of Georgia Brian Kemp, who signed into law one of the most restrictive voter suppression bills in the country. 

ExxonMobil 

From an ExxonMobil statement on January 13, 2021:

“Before giving to any political candidate, the ExxonMobil PAC has a robust process to assess the candidate’s platform, prior voting record, and consistency with the company’s priorities.” 

It sounded like ExxonMobil was saying its political contributions are subject to a lengthy vetting process and regular reviews, but it is evident that the company’s “process” doesn’t include weeding out of lawmakers who spent months supporting baseless and dangerous claims about election fraud, stoking a fatal attack on our nation’s Capitol.

Since then ExxonMobil has donated a total of $61,000 to election objectors and given even more to Governor of Texas Greg Abbott, who signed an anti-democratic voter suppression bill into law. 

FedEx 

In a statement from January 2021, FedEx said:

“Multiple factors impact our decisions to support candidates, and we are reviewing all future political contributions. We condemn the violence that occurred in Washington, D.C., and fully support the results of the U.S. general election.” 

FedEx joined many other major U.S. companies in condemning the violence at the Capitol, and even assured Americans that the company looked forward to working with the incoming Biden administration on policy matters relevant to FedEx and its customers, and they promised to review all future contributions, but …

This review did not bar FedEx from donating $58,500 in 2021 to the very people whose actions helped fuel the violence the company condemned in January 2021. FedEx has also supported Tennessee’s governor and Secretary of State while they pushed anti-voting rights legislation. 

More to come …

Accountabel US

Bobservations

A couple of years after buying this house, we had it painted but, for some reason, we never had the “barn”—folks around here say barn, we say shed—painted. Recently Carlos began giving English lessons to a Hispanic couple in kind of a bartered deal; lessons for painting the shed.

This week the barn shed went red, and it looks, I know, like a little barn. Carlos also wanted the interior painted white so he could see better when he went in there and we cleaned everything out.  But before putting things back, I suggested we thin that shed herd a bit and began separating things into piles of Keep, Toss, Donate.

There was an old fireplace screen we removed from the house. Habitat for Humanity. Check. Old boxes. Trash. Garden tools? Keep. A small tabletop charcoal grill. He says keep; I say donate. But, he says, we use that, and I say …

“Tell me one time in the last twenty years we used it, and remember, we don’t have charcoal or lighter fluid or anything for it.”

I think in Miami I cooked chicken on it once.”

So, sometime, over fourteen-and-a-half years ago, you slapped a chicken on the grill and you think we still need it?”

“It can go.”

This hoarding sense of his explains the cluster of 80s silk shirts in the back of the closet that he doesn’t wear but needs to keep … just in case.

PS She's kina purty now, isn't she?

Tuxedo never went to school, and so he doesn’t know from mathematics, but even he can see how this seems all kinds of wrong!

Last weekend the San Francisco Giants became the very first Major League Baseball team to incorporate LGBTQ+ Pride colors into their on-field uniforms.

In honor of Pride month, players will sport an SF logo Pride Patch on the right sleeve of their home jersey as well as a custom cap with the 11 colors of the Progress Pride Flag, which incorporates black, brown and the transgender pride flag colors with the original six rainbow stripes.

Bravo!

Why don’t these anti-choice politicians and states just use “thoughts and prayers” to stop abortions. I mean, that’s what they do when people murder actual live children in schools.

Just a thought.

The twice-impeached, one-term loser’s blog, where he shared his thought [singular] after larger social media companies banned him from their platforms, has been permanently shut down.

His people made some excuse about it being planned to shut it down, but it had only been a month and was getting less traffic than my little bloggy thing here.

Sorry not sorry.

JP Morgan Chase & Co will resume making political donations to U.S. lawmakers … but not to any Republicans who voted to overturn President Biden’s election victory.

Good. Hit ‘em in the only real place their care about, their wallets.

In other Thing #45 news, he is set to do a series of rallies around the country will fellow sexual assaulter Bill O’Reilly that I have dubbed Sexual Predator-a-Palooza.

And I hear Matt Gaetz is going to open for them.

This week, during a House Natural Resources hearing, Texas Representative Louie Loonie Gohmert asked if the Forest Service or the BLM [Bureau of Land Management] can alter the orbit of the moon or the Earth in order to fight climate change.

Gohmert represents 725,000 Americans, just so you know.

Alex Sewall is a 30-year-old model from Chicago, and a former football player at Indiana State University, who played for a brief time in arena football before beginning a modeling career.

Alex also is very smart, noting that his ass … and it’s real and it’s spectacular is “is usually the thing that gets the most comments and compliments” and he has no problems showing skin.

He seems to love his country, he seems to love music, and he appears to like the sports ball things. Plus, any man that can pull off a hat, after pulling off everything else, is all right in my book.

That’s all.