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Joinfortmill
Joinfortmill's Journal
Joinfortmill's Journal
April 23, 2024
Ok, so I'm going out on a limb here about the attack on Israel.
My words: Below is a brief, not all inclusive, summary of events. In a nutshell, Israel retaliated fiercely. There's been a lot of criticism about just how fiercely. But, I remember as a child and young woman when the Holocaust in Germany was revealed with all the justifiable reactions of shock and horror were questions like, "Why didn't they fight? Why did they just go like lambs to the slaughter? Where was their resistance?" The implications raised by these questions was that in some way, the Jews were to blame for their own suffering. In 1933, they (the Jews) tried to act/react with reasonableness, and yes, there was some resistance, but it could not match the might of the Nazis, and six million Jews were slaughtered.
No country would take them. The doors to the world shut them out. They were trapped. Below is a video of "Remembering the MS St. Louis" https://mjhnyc.org/blog/remembering-the-ms-st-louis/
'...the MS St. Louis set sail from Hamburg, Germany, on its way to Cuba. On board were more than 900 Jews fleeing the Third Reich and hoping to find refuge in Cuba, and eventually the United States, but the ship was turned away from both countries. Forced to return to Europe, many of those passengers did not survive the Holocaust.'
When it was all over, the Nazis had slaughtered six million Jews along with millions of other innocent people. The horrors perpetrated upon the Jews of Europe was so great and so horrific that the world said they must have a Homeland of their own, and Israel was created. The cry, "Never Again" and 'Never Forget" arose. And they didn't forget, people, but maybe we did.
War is hell, so we should be very careful when we unleash it. I do hope that the suffering of the Palestinian people will soon cease, but never forget who started this horror.
1. Israel was attacked
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67480680
2. Israel retaliates
https://www.politico.eu/article/israel-palestina-gaza-air-and-ground-attack-by-hamas/
3. Hamas did not return all the hostages. Where are they?
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/number-hostages-still-alive-gaza-remains-mystery-officials-say-rcna148294
4. Gaza crisis grows under intense bombardment as Israel retaliates against Hamas atrocities
https://www.cnn.com/2023/10/12/middleeast/israel-gaza-humanitarian-crisis-war-thursday-intl-hnk/index.html
5. Iran attacks Israel
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/4/14/iran-attacks-israel-with-over-300-drones-missiles-what-you-need-to-know
6. Israel attacks Iran
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/report-israel-used-air-to-surface-missile-called-the-rampage-in-iran-attack/
April 23, 2024
'Seven men and five women have been chosen to sit on the jury in the ex-president’s hush-money trial. Here’s what we know'
'Juror No 1
Juror No 1, a man, works in sales and previously worked as a waiter, and has some college education. He is married with no children, and says he gets news from a range of outlets such as the New York Times, the Daily Mail, Fox News and MSNBC.
Juror No 2
Juror No 2 is a married man who works in investment banking. He has an MBA in finance. He described himself as someone who “reads basically everything” and said that while he doesn’t hold any strong beliefs or opinions, he does follow the news and sees Trump’s Truth Social posts via Twitter. He told the court that he had not read any of Trump’s books, but had seen quotes from The Art of the Deal.
Juror No 3
Juror No 3 is a man who appeared to be in his late 20s or early 30s, who is originally from the west coast. He works in corporate law and said that he gets his news from the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and Google.
Juror No 4
Juror No 4 is a man who is originally from the west coast. He is a security engineer with some college education, and is married with children. He said he was not on social media, and once served on a criminal jury in the past though could not remember the verdict. When asked if he had any concerns about returning a guilty verdict, he said no.
Juror No 5
Juror No 5 is a young woman who said that she had friends with strong opinions on Trump, but that she was not a political person and avoided the news. She said she did appreciate Trump’s candor, and that he “speaks his mind, and I’d rather that than someone who’s in office who you don’t know what they’re thinking”.
Juror No 6
Juror No 6 is a woman who works in tech. She told the court that she had no strong feelings about Trump, and pledged to be fair and impartial. She is unmarried with no children, and gets her news from the New York Times, Google, Facebook and TikTok.
Juror No 7
Juror No 7 is a man in his late middle age who works as a civil litigator. He is married with children and has never served on a jury. He gets his news from a variety of outlets including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post and the Washington Post, and from podcasts.
Juror No 8
Juror No 8 is a retired wealth manager who is married with children. Asked if he had any strong opinions about Trump, he paused for a moment before answering yes. When the judge followed up to ask him if he could be fair and impartial, he said he could.
Juror No 9
Juror No 9 is a woman who told the court she believed she could fully follow the judge’s instructions, but was not well versed in legal proceedings. She lives alone, does not follow the news closely and is originally from New Jersey.
Juror No 10
Juror No 10 is a man who works in e-commerce and said he did not really check the news, but listens to podcasts on behavioral psychology. He is originally from Ohio.
Juror No 11
Juror No 11 is a woman who said she did not follow the news, but did watch late-night comedy shows. She is originally from California, and said she had never rallied for or against Trump. One of her close friends was convicted of financial fraud, she said.
Juror No 12
Juror No 12 is a woman who works as a physical therapist. She lived in a few states before coming to New York, reads major news outlets and listens to podcasts about sports and faith.'
My Words: This jury is not a slam-dunk for the prosecution.
'The jurors: who is on the Trump trial jury?'
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/apr/18/jurors-trump-hush-money-trial-jury'Seven men and five women have been chosen to sit on the jury in the ex-president’s hush-money trial. Here’s what we know'
'Juror No 1
Juror No 1, a man, works in sales and previously worked as a waiter, and has some college education. He is married with no children, and says he gets news from a range of outlets such as the New York Times, the Daily Mail, Fox News and MSNBC.
Juror No 2
Juror No 2 is a married man who works in investment banking. He has an MBA in finance. He described himself as someone who “reads basically everything” and said that while he doesn’t hold any strong beliefs or opinions, he does follow the news and sees Trump’s Truth Social posts via Twitter. He told the court that he had not read any of Trump’s books, but had seen quotes from The Art of the Deal.
Juror No 3
Juror No 3 is a man who appeared to be in his late 20s or early 30s, who is originally from the west coast. He works in corporate law and said that he gets his news from the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal and Google.
Juror No 4
Juror No 4 is a man who is originally from the west coast. He is a security engineer with some college education, and is married with children. He said he was not on social media, and once served on a criminal jury in the past though could not remember the verdict. When asked if he had any concerns about returning a guilty verdict, he said no.
Juror No 5
Juror No 5 is a young woman who said that she had friends with strong opinions on Trump, but that she was not a political person and avoided the news. She said she did appreciate Trump’s candor, and that he “speaks his mind, and I’d rather that than someone who’s in office who you don’t know what they’re thinking”.
Juror No 6
Juror No 6 is a woman who works in tech. She told the court that she had no strong feelings about Trump, and pledged to be fair and impartial. She is unmarried with no children, and gets her news from the New York Times, Google, Facebook and TikTok.
Juror No 7
Juror No 7 is a man in his late middle age who works as a civil litigator. He is married with children and has never served on a jury. He gets his news from a variety of outlets including the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post and the Washington Post, and from podcasts.
Juror No 8
Juror No 8 is a retired wealth manager who is married with children. Asked if he had any strong opinions about Trump, he paused for a moment before answering yes. When the judge followed up to ask him if he could be fair and impartial, he said he could.
Juror No 9
Juror No 9 is a woman who told the court she believed she could fully follow the judge’s instructions, but was not well versed in legal proceedings. She lives alone, does not follow the news closely and is originally from New Jersey.
Juror No 10
Juror No 10 is a man who works in e-commerce and said he did not really check the news, but listens to podcasts on behavioral psychology. He is originally from Ohio.
Juror No 11
Juror No 11 is a woman who said she did not follow the news, but did watch late-night comedy shows. She is originally from California, and said she had never rallied for or against Trump. One of her close friends was convicted of financial fraud, she said.
Juror No 12
Juror No 12 is a woman who works as a physical therapist. She lived in a few states before coming to New York, reads major news outlets and listens to podcasts about sports and faith.'
My Words: This jury is not a slam-dunk for the prosecution.
April 18, 2024
'Congressman Eric Swalwell of California and Tim Heaphy, former lead investigator for the January 6th Select Committee join Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House with reaction to today's testimony from law enforcement about their readiness on January 6th, and how they were ready to defend the capitol but did not have the necessary authorization from then commander in chief Donald Trump.'
My words: Chilling. Please watch.
'We waited for hours': Law enforcement testify that Trump outright rejected sending help on Jan. 6'
&t=262s'Congressman Eric Swalwell of California and Tim Heaphy, former lead investigator for the January 6th Select Committee join Nicolle Wallace on Deadline White House with reaction to today's testimony from law enforcement about their readiness on January 6th, and how they were ready to defend the capitol but did not have the necessary authorization from then commander in chief Donald Trump.'
My words: Chilling. Please watch.
April 10, 2024
'The real question at the core of the Ukraine conflict, is simple & straightforward: “What’s the best way for humans to govern themselves?”'...Yesterday, Politico published an interview with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy titled “Zelenskyy warns Russia has penetrated U.S. politics, invites Trump to Ukraine.” It’s a chilling read...
Freedom House reported in 2021 that:..One of those countries they identified as a place where democracy itself is under assault is the USA, where virtually the entire Republican Party has rejected supporting democracy at home and supporting democratic governments abroad...
Donald Trump openly admired strongman autocrats the world over while denigrating and ridiculing the leaders of democratic nations...The same is apparently true of authoritarian-loving Fox “News” hosts, a perspective that appears to come down on high from the authority to whom they answer: Rupert Murdoch himself and his son, Lachlan...
Australia’s former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd documented Murdoch’s profitable career undermining democracy first in Australia, then the UK, and now here in the US after the Reagan administration granted him expedited citizenship so he could set up his television empire...Prime Minister Rudd characterized Murdoch’s empire in an op-ed for The Sydney Morning Herald as the “Cancer eating the heart of Australian democracy.”..
Right now they are embracing Vladimir Putin instead of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of our Democratic ally. The Putin Caucus in the House is willing to overturn Mike Johnson‘s speakership in service of Putin...They’ve joined the side of Russia and China in this debate, openly asserting that political power should flow from the top down; in our country’s case, they’ve embraced a ruling class of morbidly rich American oligarchs...
A “hot” war across greater Europe may be on the way if Ukraine falls, perhaps followed by China seizing Taiwan once the precedent of “reclaiming former territories” has been set...No matter how the crisis in Ukraine works out, the underlying dispute will remain: should humans govern themselves democratically from the ground up, or with oligarchy from the top down? ...The future of democracy is hanging in the balance, not just in Ukraine and Taiwan but here in the US, as well.'
My words: This is my feeble attempt to provide you a glimpse of the peril Mr. Hartmann warns us we are in. Please read the entire article for the full force of Mr. Hartmann's words.
'Is the Anti-Democracy Movement Reaching a Tipping Point in the US & Around the World?' Thom Hartmann
https://hartmannreport.com/p/is-the-anti-democracy-movement-reaching-877'The real question at the core of the Ukraine conflict, is simple & straightforward: “What’s the best way for humans to govern themselves?”'...Yesterday, Politico published an interview with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy titled “Zelenskyy warns Russia has penetrated U.S. politics, invites Trump to Ukraine.” It’s a chilling read...
Freedom House reported in 2021 that:..One of those countries they identified as a place where democracy itself is under assault is the USA, where virtually the entire Republican Party has rejected supporting democracy at home and supporting democratic governments abroad...
Donald Trump openly admired strongman autocrats the world over while denigrating and ridiculing the leaders of democratic nations...The same is apparently true of authoritarian-loving Fox “News” hosts, a perspective that appears to come down on high from the authority to whom they answer: Rupert Murdoch himself and his son, Lachlan...
Australia’s former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd documented Murdoch’s profitable career undermining democracy first in Australia, then the UK, and now here in the US after the Reagan administration granted him expedited citizenship so he could set up his television empire...Prime Minister Rudd characterized Murdoch’s empire in an op-ed for The Sydney Morning Herald as the “Cancer eating the heart of Australian democracy.”..
Right now they are embracing Vladimir Putin instead of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of our Democratic ally. The Putin Caucus in the House is willing to overturn Mike Johnson‘s speakership in service of Putin...They’ve joined the side of Russia and China in this debate, openly asserting that political power should flow from the top down; in our country’s case, they’ve embraced a ruling class of morbidly rich American oligarchs...
A “hot” war across greater Europe may be on the way if Ukraine falls, perhaps followed by China seizing Taiwan once the precedent of “reclaiming former territories” has been set...No matter how the crisis in Ukraine works out, the underlying dispute will remain: should humans govern themselves democratically from the ground up, or with oligarchy from the top down? ...The future of democracy is hanging in the balance, not just in Ukraine and Taiwan but here in the US, as well.'
My words: This is my feeble attempt to provide you a glimpse of the peril Mr. Hartmann warns us we are in. Please read the entire article for the full force of Mr. Hartmann's words.
April 6, 2024
https://www.rawstory.com/louis-dejoy-ballots/
"A noticeable slowdown in mail delivery by the US Postal Service (USPS) is becoming a significant concern for democracy advocates, as millions of Americans will be voting by mail this year. There's growing worry about whether mail ballots will be counted in time — particularly in swing states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
NBC News reported that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy — a GOP donor who has been in his position since a Republican-controlled USPS Board of Governors put him there in 2020 — is being blamed for mail delays due to his 10-year restructuring of the USPS. DeJoy's plan, dubbed "Delivering for America," involves consolidating all mail-sorting operations to 60 regional distribution centers.
In a a letter to DeJoy last month, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) led an effort with nearly two dozen Senate Democrats to publicly condemn DeJoy's USPS overhaul and its effect on mail delivery. They warned that under the plan, "outgoing mail processing will move hundreds of miles to a regional facility, outside reasonable commuting distance and, in some cases, to another state entirely."
And then there is this:
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/13/how-louis-dejoy-went-from-democratic-nightmare-fuel-to-biden-clean-energy-player-00110945
'Louis DeJoy: From Trump villain to Biden’s clean energy buddy'
"During the summer of 2020, there were few bigger Democratic super villains than Louis DeJoy. The postmaster general was accused of masterminding an attempt to steal the election for former President Donald Trump by subverting mail-in voting in the midst of the pandemic. He was hauled up to Capitol Hill to defend his policies. When Joe Biden won, it was generally assumed that his days were numbered.
Now, nearly three years later, DeJoy isn’t just still standing atop the U.S. Postal Service, he’s become a critical player in Biden’s environmental agenda, striking a partnership with the president’s green guru, John Podesta, as USPS considers an environmental renaissance of its fleet.
It’s a remarkable change of script for one of the more memorable side characters of the Trump years. And it produced one of the most unlikely pairings in Washington D.C., something that the camps will privately acknowledge even as they’re loath to discuss it personally. Asked repeatedly about their good-natured relationship, both DeJoy and Podesta declined to comment."
My words: Two Articles About USPS and DeJoy that matter to the upcoming election... It's complicated, people.
First there is this:https://www.rawstory.com/louis-dejoy-ballots/
"A noticeable slowdown in mail delivery by the US Postal Service (USPS) is becoming a significant concern for democracy advocates, as millions of Americans will be voting by mail this year. There's growing worry about whether mail ballots will be counted in time — particularly in swing states like Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.
NBC News reported that Postmaster General Louis DeJoy — a GOP donor who has been in his position since a Republican-controlled USPS Board of Governors put him there in 2020 — is being blamed for mail delays due to his 10-year restructuring of the USPS. DeJoy's plan, dubbed "Delivering for America," involves consolidating all mail-sorting operations to 60 regional distribution centers.
In a a letter to DeJoy last month, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) led an effort with nearly two dozen Senate Democrats to publicly condemn DeJoy's USPS overhaul and its effect on mail delivery. They warned that under the plan, "outgoing mail processing will move hundreds of miles to a regional facility, outside reasonable commuting distance and, in some cases, to another state entirely."
And then there is this:
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/13/how-louis-dejoy-went-from-democratic-nightmare-fuel-to-biden-clean-energy-player-00110945
'Louis DeJoy: From Trump villain to Biden’s clean energy buddy'
"During the summer of 2020, there were few bigger Democratic super villains than Louis DeJoy. The postmaster general was accused of masterminding an attempt to steal the election for former President Donald Trump by subverting mail-in voting in the midst of the pandemic. He was hauled up to Capitol Hill to defend his policies. When Joe Biden won, it was generally assumed that his days were numbered.
Now, nearly three years later, DeJoy isn’t just still standing atop the U.S. Postal Service, he’s become a critical player in Biden’s environmental agenda, striking a partnership with the president’s green guru, John Podesta, as USPS considers an environmental renaissance of its fleet.
It’s a remarkable change of script for one of the more memorable side characters of the Trump years. And it produced one of the most unlikely pairings in Washington D.C., something that the camps will privately acknowledge even as they’re loath to discuss it personally. Asked repeatedly about their good-natured relationship, both DeJoy and Podesta declined to comment."
April 6, 2024
'Looking for an unbiased, comprehensive review of Medicare Advantage and Supplement plans? Look no further! In this video, we'll discuss the pros and cons of each type of plan, and help you make an informed decision about which is best for you.
Medicare Advantage and Supplement plans are a big part of the healthcare system in the United States, and it can be difficult to understand the different options available to you. In this video, we'll provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision about Medicare Advantage and Supplement plans. We hope this video will help you with your Medicare decisions.'
My words: This is an excellent analysis of both types of plans that will help folks understand the differences and help them make a better informed decision about which type of plan is best for them.
'The Differences are Bigger Than You Think Medicare Advantage vs Supplement'
'Looking for an unbiased, comprehensive review of Medicare Advantage and Supplement plans? Look no further! In this video, we'll discuss the pros and cons of each type of plan, and help you make an informed decision about which is best for you.
Medicare Advantage and Supplement plans are a big part of the healthcare system in the United States, and it can be difficult to understand the different options available to you. In this video, we'll provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision about Medicare Advantage and Supplement plans. We hope this video will help you with your Medicare decisions.'
My words: This is an excellent analysis of both types of plans that will help folks understand the differences and help them make a better informed decision about which type of plan is best for them.
April 6, 2024
'Looking for an unbiased, comprehensive review of Medicare Advantage and Supplement plans? Look no further! In this video, we'll discuss the pros and cons of each type of plan, and help you make an informed decision about which is best for you.
Medicare Advantage and Supplement plans are a big part of the healthcare system in the United States, and it can be difficult to understand the different options available to you. In this video, we'll provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision about Medicare Advantage and Supplement plans. We hope this video will help you with your Medicare decisions.'
My words: This is an excellent analysis of both types of plans that will help folks understand the differences and help them make a better informed decision about which type of plan is best for them.
'The Differences are Bigger Than You Think Medicare Advantage vs Supplement'
'Looking for an unbiased, comprehensive review of Medicare Advantage and Supplement plans? Look no further! In this video, we'll discuss the pros and cons of each type of plan, and help you make an informed decision about which is best for you.
Medicare Advantage and Supplement plans are a big part of the healthcare system in the United States, and it can be difficult to understand the different options available to you. In this video, we'll provide you with all the information you need to make an informed decision about Medicare Advantage and Supplement plans. We hope this video will help you with your Medicare decisions.'
My words: This is an excellent analysis of both types of plans that will help folks understand the differences and help them make a better informed decision about which type of plan is best for them.
April 5, 2024
'Israel committed to opening additional aid routes to allow for increased assistance to flow into Gaza after a call with President Joe Biden warning of a potential shift in U.S. policy after a strike this week killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers. The Morning Joe panel discusses.'
My words: For the good of Israel, Netanyahu needs to go.
'Joe: If we're going to guarantee Israel's existence, then we need a responsible partner' Morning Joe: 12 min.
'Israel committed to opening additional aid routes to allow for increased assistance to flow into Gaza after a call with President Joe Biden warning of a potential shift in U.S. policy after a strike this week killed seven World Central Kitchen aid workers. The Morning Joe panel discusses.'
My words: For the good of Israel, Netanyahu needs to go.
April 5, 2024
'Wednesday, the State of Maine took America one giant step closer to ending the antidemocratic grip the GOP’s had on our presidential elections. Even though George W. Bush lost the 2000 election by a half-million votes nationally and Donald Trump lost in 2016 by 3 million votes, both ended up in the White House because of the Electoral College.
Right now, all but two states give 100% of their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who won the most votes in the state (Maine and Nebraska split their states in two but assign all electoral votes to whoever won the most popular votes in each region).
Yesterday, Maine’s legislature passed (with votes of both Democrats and Republicans) a bill joining the compact, bringing the total number of electoral votes now held by Compact states to 209. With Michigan, we’ll be at 225'
My words: This is a history lesson, people. Well, worth reading the entire article..
'Maine just took America one giant step closer to ending the GOP's grip on our elections'
https://www.rawstory.com/popular-vote/'Wednesday, the State of Maine took America one giant step closer to ending the antidemocratic grip the GOP’s had on our presidential elections. Even though George W. Bush lost the 2000 election by a half-million votes nationally and Donald Trump lost in 2016 by 3 million votes, both ended up in the White House because of the Electoral College.
Right now, all but two states give 100% of their electoral votes to the presidential candidate who won the most votes in the state (Maine and Nebraska split their states in two but assign all electoral votes to whoever won the most popular votes in each region).
Yesterday, Maine’s legislature passed (with votes of both Democrats and Republicans) a bill joining the compact, bringing the total number of electoral votes now held by Compact states to 209. With Michigan, we’ll be at 225'
My words: This is a history lesson, people. Well, worth reading the entire article..
April 4, 2024
'There’s something going on there. I want to debate. And I think debates, with him, at least, should be drug tested. I want a drug test," he (Trump) added.'
My words: You first, Trumpy.
"'I want a drug test': Trump floats idea President Biden is using cocaine"
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-biden-cocaine/'There’s something going on there. I want to debate. And I think debates, with him, at least, should be drug tested. I want a drug test," he (Trump) added.'
My words: You first, Trumpy.
Profile Information
Name: JoGender: Female
Hometown: Northeast
Home country: United States
Member since: Sat Jun 15, 2019, 11:56 PM
Number of posts: 14,408
