otchmoson
otchmoson's JournalDo you know any canine diabetics?
My Jack is gone. Today was the final trip to the vet. My dear golden boy (approx 12 years old) fought the good battle with our help. He came to us 10 years ago, re-homed because of dog-aggression issues. As former obedience trainers, and a vigilant small kennel operator, that problem was solved rather quickly. Four years ago, he developed insulin-dependent diabetes. Hubby, a T1 diabetic for almost 70 years, was well equipped to deal with that issue. Last four years have been a routine of diet management and 2 injections daily, with intermittent blood glucose monitoring. Two years ago, he developed a mass cell tumor for which vet offered a pessimistic outcome. I found a site offering alternative treatment suggestion, which I followed for more than 2 years. The last week has been trying, with appetite declining, and quite a lot of panting, suggesting stress and/or pain. Vision and hearing had disappeared over the past 6 months, so quality of life was at its nadir. Today's euthanasia was different from past experiences. The final injection was preceded by a tranquilizer . . . which I wish had been the case for previous beloved pets. Gone, but wonderful memories remain.
At any rate it is done, and I'm asking the community if anyone knows someone who could benefit from the remaining bits and pieces of diabetes treatment for canines. . . syringes, bG monitor, test strips, lancets. If so, you can add a centurylink dot net to my DU moniker to get in touch.
Love those furry babies!
To my Republican senators and congressman
Are there any media members who can make this side-by-side dream happen?
My message to my Republican senators and congressman tomorrow:
Good morning Senator/Congressman Pedo Protector,
Day number 31 of the Trump/Epstein shutdown. What an embarrassment! President Pedo has been flying throughout Asia, demanding investment (money) and giving all a front-row seat to his unfitness for office. At the same time, he’s telling whoever will listen how “hot” we are and how he has taken in 17, no 18, no 20, make that 21 trillion dollars—an amount that has NEVER been achieved by anyone. I expect that today, or tomorrow, the world will scratch its collective head when, after hearing President Pedo speak, it can view side-by-side media pictures. On one side will be the grand, glorious Epstein ballroom and/or his new Qatari jet; on the other side will be multiple panes of hungry people filling food lines because government support programs have disappeared. Many of them have lost jobs or are currently being forced to work without pay (call it what it is—SLAVERY) because of the Trump/Epstein shutdown. Do you really think that will be a good look for the reputation of the United States? If so, go look in the mirror and pat yourself on the back, because you enabled it. Thank you for all your hard work.
Has anyone tried the Congressional switchboard today?
I e-mail and call my congressman and two senators every day. Today (beginning at 8:15 a.m.) each call was connected, I received the greeting and voice mail instructions. After identifying myself (name, phone number, and/or zip code) there was a click followed by disconnection. I'll keep trying, and if I do not have success will try local offices. Has anyone else experienced this?
A letter to my senators . . . I will remember
You supported Donald Trump in his campaign for the presidency. A convicted felon, a sexual assaulter, a bigot, a fraudster, a racist, a misogynist, and the leader of an insurrection garnered your support, and I will remember.
You advocate for his positions regarding issues the majority of Americans do not support, and I will remember.
You say that a president should be able to choose his cabinet –regardless of the fact that many are completely unqualified. You supported the confirmation of each and every one, and I will remember.
When many of these incompetent and unqualified “leaders” fail . . . and I believe their failure is a certainty (shall I reference Sean Duffy and RFK Jr. as a start?), I will always associate YOU with their failure because you put them there.
By the same token, silence is complicity.
When you do NOT speak out about our treatment of Ukraine and our NATO allies, I will remember.
When you do NOT speak out about an Israeli leader intent on avoiding prison by staying in a constant state of war against a helpless, crippled, quasi-state, but continue to fund him, I will remember.
When you do NOT point out that many unlawful deportation—with attendant cruelty—are occurring daily, I will remember.
When you do NOT speak up for the vulnerable—the old, the young, the sick, the disabled, the veteran, the “different”, I will remember.
When you do NOT speak out when you see convicted felons pardoned and set free among us, and you do NOT speak about law and order and our revered judicial system, I will remember.
When you do NOT speak up to retain valued, experienced civil servants, many with lifetime careers serving Americans, I will remember.
When you do NOT speak up for law enforcement officers harmed by the insurrectionist-in-chief, I will remember.
When, in silence, you allow your powers to be co-opted by co-presidents and incompetent cabinet members who seem intent not on remaking our democracy, but on tearing it down and replacing it with a dictatorship, I will remember.
And now, you support a president whose association with pedophiles and child sex traffickers and convicted criminals is public information. Your silence is deafening, and I will remember.
My Dad taught me more than 70 years ago: “you’re known by the company you keep.” I believe you are keeping company with some very bad people. YOU will be painted with the same brush that paints them as evil, cruel, destructive, anti-democratic, self-serving power mongers. I will remember.
Sample boycott letters (e-mail, phone calls) to Sinclair and advertisers
(I asked Chat GPT to compose for me. I've edited it and offer it hear for your cut-and-paste convenience.)
Threatening to contact advertisers can be a powerful tactic when protesting a media company like Sinclair, as advertising revenue is crucial to its business model. When adding this to a protest letter, you should state your intentions clearly and professionally. For this to be most effective, research which companies advertise on your local Sinclair-owned station. You can watch the station's local newscasts and primetime programming to identify advertisers. Below is a template for a protest letter with a direct threat to contact advertisers.
Sample letter protesting Sinclair's censorship with advertiser warning
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your City, State, Zip]
[Your Email]
[Your Phone Number]
[Date]
Sinclair Broadcast Group
10706 Beaver Dam Road
Hunt Valley, MD 21030
Subject: Protest of Sinclair's censorship of Jimmy Kimmel Live! and intent to contact advertisers
To the Management of Sinclair Broadcast Group,
I am writing to express my profound disappointment and outrage regarding Sinclair's decision to censor Jimmy Kimmel Live! This action represents a blatant disregard for journalistic integrity and free speech, and it sets a dangerous precedent for corporate control over content that does not align with your political agenda.
I find it unacceptable that a media company would use its corporate power to silence a comedian for expressing his opinion. This is not simply a content dispute; it is an act of censorship aimed at punishing a program for speech with which you disagree. As a viewer, this destroys my trust in your network as an independent and reliable source of news and entertainment.
I will be actively boycotting all Sinclair-owned stations and their programming. Furthermore, I intend to take my protest a step further. I will be compiling a list of your most prominent local and national advertisers from the Sinclair-owned stations in my area, [City, State]. I will inform these advertisers that I, along with many other concerned consumers, will be boycotting their products and services until they cease supporting your network's actions. I will also be encouraging others online and in my community to join this boycott.
Advertisers are essential to your revenue stream, and I believe they should be aware that their dollars are funding an organization that engages in corporate censorship. I urge you to reverse your decision and reinstate Jimmy Kimmel Live! immediately. Be aware that your continued actions will be met with organized consumer pushback that will directly impact your financial bottom line.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Printed Signature]
Tips for carrying out your protest
• Keep a list: Maintain a list of advertisers and their contact information.
• Use social media: Engage with your protest on social media and tag the advertisers and Sinclair in your posts to increase visibility and pressure.
• Stay professional: When contacting advertisers, be polite and firm. Explain your rationale and state your intent to boycott their products unless they reconsider their advertising with Sinclair.
• Track your progress: Keep an eye on any advertiser responses or changes in their ad placements.
Sample boycott email to an advertiser
Subject: Withdrawal of Support Due to Censorship of Jimmy Kimmel on ABC
Dear [Company Name] Advertising and Marketing Team,
I am writing to inform you that as a consumer and concerned member of the public, I will be boycotting your products and services that are advertised during the time slot usually allotted to Jimmy Kimmel Live! This decision is in direct response to your decision to pre-empt the program demonstrating a disregard for freedom of speech. The subsequent actions by ABC and Disney demonstrate a disregard for our Freedom of Speech and the decision of Sinclair to censor the program due to political bias.
This email serves as a formal complaint and a statement of my intention to boycott your company's products and services. My decision is based on your company's continued advertising on programs that, in my opinion, feature content that is politically biased and not aligned with First Amendment rights. By associating your brand with this sort of censorship, you risk alienating consumers who find such censorship unacceptable.
I urge you to reconsider your advertising placement and take action to ensure your brand is not associated with such blatant censorship. Consumers are increasingly making purchasing decisions based on the values and associations of the brands they support.
I will monitor this situation and will consider resuming my patronage only when your company demonstrates a commitment to ethical advertising practices and disassociates from programming that promotes ignoring the First Amendment.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your City/State]
[Your Email Address]
Epstein--my note to my Congressman tomorrow
Good morning Congressman Pedo Protector:
I’m sending you this gift: 🗂️ AN EMPTY FOLDER.
Just like Pam Bondi’s Epstein file, you’ll note there is nothing in it. As a matter of fact, the DOJ says this doesn’t exist. Do you believe them? And here’s what I’ve heard you say about the Epstein cover-up: absolutely nothing. I encourage you to alter course. Contact Rep. Khanna or Massie and tell them you will change your discharge vote from NO to YES, and then follow through.
Epstein--my note to my Congressman tomorrow
Good morning Congressman Pedo Protector:
I’m sending you this gift: 🗂️ AN EMPTY FOLDER.
Just like Pam Bondi’s Epstein file, you’ll note there is nothing in it. As a matter of fact, the DOJ says this doesn’t exist. Do you believe them? And here’s what I’ve heard you say about the Epstein cover-up: absolutely nothing. I encourage you to alter course. Contact Rep. Khanna or Massie and tell them you will change your discharge vote from NO to YES, and then follow through.
Florida legislature--listen up
The speaker and the legislative leadership are playing a dangerous game with our democracy. Texas is showing that authoritarian rule—as demonstrated in Texas by holding Democrats captive and voiceless, with no negotiation—only sits well with an exceedingly small base, and the power-hungry leadership. This attempt to lock in one-party rule is not democratic.
Governor DeSantis has made it clear he wants more power—perhaps the presidency—and in accommodating the desires of Trump, he is merely currying favor, a means to the end he desires. One could say his behavior makes him look weak; I would be crass, and call him whorish.
The American people, including Floridians, watching the debacle in Texas, are learning much. Here in Florida, I blame our substandard educational system for the lack of understanding about gerrymandering. But seeing Trump’s use of the military against our citizenry, and his obvious willingness to do anything and everything to remain in power, merely emphasizes how the powerful are seeking nothing short of complete control of the citizenry. While you may think the forging of Alligator Auschwitz to please Trump is seen as a positive step for you and DeSantis, I think you are misreading the room.
I urge you to temper your desire to support the wannabe dictator and listen—really listen—to your constituents. In this time of unrest and uncertainty, I don’t think you are going to find that voters want to spend even more taxpayer dollars to battle an irregular, if not illegal, gerrymandering effort. Even if you win, you may find you have—as in California—poked the bear.
Who's making the money?
(Is there a knowledgeable insider who can do the math? I’m just a curious but outraged onlooker.)
So, we’re adding 10,000 new ICE agents. We’re paying them generous entry-level salaries, “signing bonuses”, performance bonuses, unlimited overtime (at overtime rates), & healthcare. (I’ve seen no mention of per diem reimbursement. Have you?) Whew! That’s a bunch of my taxes!
Have you looked at how these folks are outfitted? Uniform, boots, weapons, weapon holders, ammunition, helmet, protective vests, caps, kerchiefs, masks, gloves, eye protection, communication devices. How much does it cost to outfit a single ICE agent? Now multiply by 10,000. And then ask, not who’s paying (WE THE TAXPAYERS ARE), but who got the contracts for all these provisions? Who’s making the money?
Then ask what is the allowable mark-up. With the purely transactional considerations embraced by the uber-capitalists, this is just another boondoggle for preferred, selected contractors. Remember the Cheney/Rumsfeld no-bid, cost-plus contracting initiatives that made the Iraq invasion hyper-costly. Looks like we’re doing this again. Where is congressional oversight? I would say we never learn, but the reality is: some do. Some who got rich during the Iraq war have pigeon-holed past ways of doing business that eventually caused an outcry. After an appropriate time, these folks pull out the tried-and-true public exploitation methods and get back in the game, or share their memories to educate a new generation of get-rich-quick “entrepreneurs.”
Law enforcement redundancy
I’m wondering if police unions (and their law enforcement members) will continue to support President Pedo? These unions represent law enforcement officers in matters related to their employment, including wages, benefits, working conditions, and disciplinary procedures. They negotiate collective bargaining agreements with police departments, influencing policies on staffing, overtime, and even the use of force. In addition to collective bargaining, they also engage in political advocacy, lobbying for legislation that supports law enforcement interests and public safety.
When they find they are being supplanted by national guardsmen and (ultimately) the military in general, they may see jobs, salaries, perks, pensions and leverage evaporate. Essentially, they become non-essential. Why should towns, cities and states use taxpayer money to fund their own police protection when President Pedo will supply them military “law enforcement” at “no cost.” [This answers the question: What are we going to do with current ICE agents when all the immigrants have been deported?]
I hope there will be a time when listing "ICE" as a former employer on one's CV results in immediate non-consideration.
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Member since: Wed Aug 31, 2016, 02:07 PMNumber of posts: 300