Or an astrologer, if you want the dollar-store version.

I enjoy it, too. Because of the granular data (e.g. what’s this road made of?), it’s got me thinking a lot more about my community, instead of just taking everything for granted.

Lemon and lavender. Yum!

I wish it was clear-cut. It sucks that it’s in this “technically legal” gray area to laypeople like us and the author. I would live to read a constitutional scholar’s, legal scholar’s, or a lawyer’s take on it.

I don’t see any legal way such a strategy can be stopped, because it’s all based on “legal” technicalities.

I’m not a scholar in any of this, but I can’t imagine the President is powerless to halt such a scheme. I’ve been given to understand that the Office has broad powers under certain invocations. Even if they manage to get everything rolling in just the right way, there’s still a period of time between when the elections happen and when the next president is sworn in.

I cannot believe our government would sit idly by and let this cockamamie scheme just unfold and go, “Damn, I guess it’s technically legal.” And if they do, then they obviously wanted it to happen.

My partner lived in AL. Avoid it if you are BIPOC. Period. Racism has continued not just to survive but to thrive there.

What do you mean? You can get a library card, often for free (in the US) or for a relative pittance, and you then have access to these streaming platforms and other media. I fail to see how it’s a loss of “nice things.”

Of course they do, like any streaming platform. However, you can only access them through your library membership. They don’t have subscription plans for the general public, afaik.

Did you suppose libraries would allow you to download copyrighted movies for free?

Public libraries are the best. Also, if your local library is very small, see if they’re part of a larger network that affords you extra resources or a bigger catalog. See if the nearest large metro city has eCards to check out digital materials; I have one that costs me a paltry $22/yr and gives me access to tens of thousands of ebooks/audiobooks and Hoopla, Kanopy, and free online classes (e.g. How to Cook Healthy, How to Become a Master Gardener, etc.).

The value of public libraries cannot be understated.

Well, if you’re going to do OMAD, seems like a tasty way to do it!

If it’s 5/7, is it really perfect…? 🤔

Also, I’m sure it’s delicious, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the calories. This must be half a day’s calories in one delicious meal!

The state’s notoriously incompetent executioners, who tried and failed to kill Smith via lethal injection in 2022, strapped the condemned man to a gurney and administered the nitrogen gas through a full-face mask. Smith was pronounced dead shortly before 8:30 pm after around four minutes of convulsions.

Wow. Sounds very humane. /s

“Tonight, Alabama caused humanity to take a step backwards,” Smith said in his final statement. “I’m leaving with love, peace, and light. Thank you for supporting me, love all of you.”

RIP, dude. Sorry we as a society couldn’t help you. May the people who glibly signed your death warrant get what they deserve.

True, but before we go making a wishlist, let’s remember that it’s not even a possibility if Trump wins in November.

If anyone likes these systemic changes, mundane as they may be, remember that at the voting booth.

Will not be sad when this literal mobster dies.

The core problem is “wrong” is not a self-evident concept. Christians think masturbation is wrong (and a host of other intrinsically human things). Not so terribly long ago, a disturbingly large number of Americans didn’t think it was wrong to own people.

“Minimizing harm,” on the other hand, is much easier to pin down.

His cultists have said over and over again that they would vote for him no matter what, no matter what crimes he commits or what piece of the government he dismantles.

Cultists defend their leaders’ faults with religious zeal; they’re brainwashed, and I don’t say that lightly.

I agree. If you want meaningful change, start at the local level. Republicans are enjoying a renewed moment in power due to doing just that (judges, school boards, city councils), and some of those local folks go on to higher level office.

Plus, it’s the local stuff that generally affects your day to day more than the national stuff.

The problem is we have a First Past the Post system. This essentially means that you get to vote for one or the other, and refusal to vote means the one you like even less gets more voting power.

To complicate matters, this particular upcoming vote is actual Nazi-style fascists (down to quoting Hitler) who would fund the Israel/Hamas war vs Dems (and Republicans) who are funding the Israel/Hamas war. Basically, it’s a really bad time to push for a third party when FPTP is still the main hurdle.

So I would encourage you to look at your local races and your state races to change things from the bottom up. These local candidates are often not beholden to the whims of the DNC. I’m not a fan of Dems, either, but I am also under no illusions that if I don’t help them win in 2024, we’ll wind up with a fascist dictator and lose our ability to meaningfully vote at all.

I believe we can dump both the Dems/DNC and the Fascists/RNC, but we have to vote strategically to get there in several cycles; it’s not going to happen overnight, and the sad reality is a lot of people are going to die in Gaza no matter which option we choose.

ETA: As someone smarter said, “Your vote is a chess move, not a love letter.”

But it was worth it, right?

The Loophole