November 7, 2024

Leaving the country, becoming expats

My husband and I are retired (me a month ago). We live on social security augmented by small pensions.

We have considered Portugal, Ireland, Spain, and the south of France.

Are there any expats on the board who can advise us?

December 20, 2023

DU no longer works in Google Chrome

I can use it on Microsoft Edge like I'm doing now, but in google chrome is wrecked.

Help!!

October 1, 2023

House GOP members are seeking to quickly expel Gaetz over ethics report

https://x.com/Angry_Staffer/status/1708478978032369802?s=20

House GOP members are seeking to quickly expel Gaetz if the ethics report comes back with findings of guilt.

Following threats to vacate McCarthy, one tells me “No one can stand him at this point. A smart guy without morals.”

Maybe just wishful thinking but hope springs eternal.

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2023/07/13/politics/matt-gaetz-house-ethics-committee-investigation/index.html

August 25, 2023

Mug shot drops, crowd goes wild!

This made me happy.

https://x.com/projectlincoln/status/1694915174757449942?s=46&t=5rEIeFpaJ_CYBQWytz66fQ

August 24, 2023

Euthanasia for my beloved beagle Petey

Monday after our Petey was deathly sick all night our vet told us that he has a large tumor on his liver. They gave us two antiemetics and an antibiotic. So he's not vomiting anymore and after a day or so he seemed to return to normal. He's 13 years old.

The vet says we don't have to put him down now, but I know we will soon. Here's my worry. Our Jack died in 2015 from Lymphoma. He took a turn for the worse on a Friday night. Our vet back then had Saturday hours but we had a very long 12 hours between when his illness became painful and the vet's office opened.

For when Petey's time is up, is it reasonable of me to ask the vet for a serious pain killer to tide Petey over until we can get him to the vet when they open? I can't stand the thought of him suffering all night like our Jack did.

Hoping some DU pet lovers can offer some advice.

May 28, 2023

Is there such a thing as a blue county in Florida?

I live in Pasco but work in Hillsborough and wondered if there were a better place to live here, once I retire in a few years.

July 4, 2022

What the F*ck Liz Cheney? I thought you didn't believe in lying to the American people?

https://twitter.com/donwinslow/status/1544092307577679873?s=20&t=fkTg8VldtCSHKfd4HV743g

June 17, 2022

Best explanation I've ever read about Republican mindset and messaging

https://medium.com/@_EthanGrey/the-message-of-the-republican-party-dont-tread-on-me-i-tread-on-you-936037958bce]

"Here is the Republican message on everything of importance:

They can tell people what to do.
You cannot tell them what to do.

Let’s start with the COVID-19 pandemic. We were told by experts in infectious diseases that to control the spread of the pandemic, we had to socially distance, mask, and get vaccinated. So, in a general sense, we were being told what to do. Guess who had a big problem with that. All Republicans saw were certain people trying to tell them what to do, which was enough of a reason to make it their chief priority to insist that they will not be told what to do. Even though what they were told to do could save lives, including their own.

As you can see, this is a very stunning commitment to refusing to be told what to do. So much so that it is not in fact “pro-life.” But Republicans will nevertheless claim to be the “pro-life” party. That is because they recognize “pro-life” can be used to tell people what to do. The reason they say they are “pro-life” when they are trying to tell pregnant women and other pregnant people what to do with their bodies is not out of genuine concern for human life, but because they recognize that in this position, they can tell pregnant women and other pregnant people what to do with their bodies.

That’s why when you use that same appeal — “pro-life” — when you ask Republicans to do something about gun violence in schools, it doesn’t work. Because you are now in the position of telling Republicans what to do. That’s precisely why they don’t want to do anything about it. So gun violence in schools is not a problem, but their children having to wear masks in schools is. Because somebody is telling their children what to do. Dead children don’t bother them, but telling their children what to do? Only they should do that.

The reason Republicans are so focused on the border isn’t because they genuinely care about border security, it’s because they recognize it as the most glaring example of when they can tell other people what to do. This is why it’s their favorite issue.

“You want in? Too bad. Get out.”

If Republicans could do this in every social space — tell the people who aren’t like them “Too bad, now get the fuck out” — I’m here to assure you that would be something resembling their ideal society.

Link to Twitter thread from the author, because after 5 tries I can't get the link to the article to post correctly:
https://twitter.com/_EthanGrey/status/1534027408743051264?fbclid=IwAR0l6ah9TW3WBxayOJVffrIb0a16TpKl3Nx21-CmQwpZlgAC6nkwRriJgLU

June 12, 2022

31 Patriot Front members arrested near Idaho pride event

Source: Politico

Authorities arrested 31 members of the white supremacist group Patriot Front near an Idaho pride event Saturday after they were found packed into the back of a U-Haul truck with riot gear.

The men were standing inside the truck wearing khakis, navy blue shirts and beige hats with white balaclavas covering their faces when Coeur d’Alene police stopped the U-Haul and began arresting them on the side of the road.

“They came to riot downtown,” Coeur d’Alene Police Chief Lee White said at a news conference. All 31 were charged with conspiracy to riot, a misdemeanor, White said. The men were going through the booking process Saturday afternoon and are scheduled to be arraigned on Monday, he said.

Based on evidence collected and documents, authorities found that the group was planning to riot in several areas of downtown, not just the park, White said. Police found riot gear, one smoke grenade, shin guards and shields inside the van, White said. They wore arm patches and logos on their hats that identified them as members of Patriot Front, he said.

Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/11/patriot-front-members-arrested-idaho-00039000

July 8, 2021

The Speaker's office called Trump a twice-impeached Florida retiree

https://twitter.com/Angry_Staffer/status/1413163110492409856?s=20