I have often wondered over the last eighteen months and over a previous four year period under the regime, if the federal government collected, digitized, dug through, scanned, read, made lists, scrutinized, reviewed, misfiled and then refound, and threatened individuals, institutions, and state and local governments all for obtaining and creating a centralized detailed database of all gun owners, all gun and ammunition sales, and all people that bought gun and ammunition magazines (because reading, researching, fantasizing and other thought processes equate to real action) in violation of every real, legal, imagined, and pretzel logic definition of a Second Amendment right to the same degree and effort that same regime has done the same to journalists, scientists, educators, gay/lesbian/bi/trans/nonbinary/queer persons, peaceful protestors, environmentalists, medical professionals, and members of the ACLU, SPLC, and NAACP, if those gun and ammunition owners and magazine readers would feel okay with their so-called rights violated.
Trump's bromance partner, Elon Musk, of course launched this process of scrutinizing government databases in the name of "efficiency"--ha, "funny" about nothing being done about the waste over at the Pentagon, even though I believe they were looked at in a cursory fashion. Now the effort to purge the voter rolls in areas deemed to favor Dem. candidates in the midterms is in serious full swing. I guess we're being asked to "trust" AI programs to obtain accurate info. Good luck with that! GIGO still rules: Garbage In, Garbage Out in terms of content of computer programs.
I fought GIGO for most of my professional career. Part of that was spent as a DOD contractor. The smaller the dollar amount on a contract or delivery order (multiple orders under one large contract), the more it was scrutinized and nickel and dimed every cent to beat down the contract price. It disgusts me how the Pentagon now throws money around without a thought. A billion here, a billion there. Oh, you a close buddy of the Orange AntiChrist or a MAGA senator? then a multibillion here, a multibillion there.
And how about the ultimate irony that the USA--note that I never say "we" in this regard--has not "won" a war since end of WW II, which victory of course was the work of the Allied Forces plus the USSR?? Saddam Hussein's military was a bad joke, easily defeated. But the aftermath of the Bush, father and son, adventures was and remains CHAOS. One of our country's chief exports now! Note that I am not expressing a desire for US military victories. My desire is to put an end to this utter insanity and grossest imaginable waste of lives and resources. Yeah, I know, dream on. But I believe it is essential to express dissenting views while we are still able to!
Indeed, Gregory. I worked in both the big pharmaceutical and defense industries before and after computers became ubiquitous. Thanks for the GIGO reminder.
Those people are so evil and every single republican is complicit with this crap. I have noticed that these people never and I mean NEVER do anything to help people. They are always persecuting at least one 1️⃣ r more groups of people. They are just evil incarnate and I’m sorry it is impacting your health.
Thanks for reading, Gayna. I’m actually very pleased to be able to access world-class medical care. I’m learning how to take care of myself by limiting doomscrolling. At 80, I’m thrilled to be alive—one day at a time.
I hope you’re right. My perception is that many are indifferent and too many believe that allowing MAGA to chop off the left pinky finger will spare the rest of the body. The demonizing and freakifying is insidious and dangerous. And, yes, to your point about their efforts overlapping and encompassing aspects that more broadly affect everyone, such as medical records being made available to partisan players. This is perhaps the grumbling that will be my next essay. But “being trans” doesn’t define me. I don’t want to allow those who believe it does or should shape how I see myself or how I handle myself. So, if this is the subject of my next essay, I need to add this latter point—who is fixated on identity and how that impacts those being identified. The narrative is currently flipped.
NOTE: This comment was intended for your previous note about going to New York City for specialized medical care. I goofed and wrote it here but the feelings are the same. Get well soon.
Katharine... hope you feel better soon. I grew up in the New Haven area, and I'm suprised (and pleased) that you did not get your treatment at the excellent Yale New Haven Medical Center, but apparently they sent you to an even more appropriate hospital in New York City (2 hours by car, for those who don't know the region). So again, wish you a speedy and nice recovery. Cheers, JTC
Classic bully conduct: Find the weakest target to go after. Because of general public ignorance about the transgender phenomenon and built-in prejudice against "the really weird," Trump and his minions have declared that organizations and individuals who are "radically pro-transgender" (their exact language I believe) are a threat to NATIONAL SECURITY--because transgender folks are such a threat, by their very existence, not because they might sign up to spy for Russia or China--and shall be monitored as potential TERRORISTS!! No, one cannot make this stuff up, that's for sure!! And that is truly, truly pathetic. Human sexuality is a deep and, frankly, weird arena. But the notion that DIVERSITY is healthy for a society, which is so OBVIOUS a truth--"E pluribus unum," anyone?--has been a whipping boy for these Fascist bastards from Day One.
I have often wondered over the last eighteen months and over a previous four year period under the regime, if the federal government collected, digitized, dug through, scanned, read, made lists, scrutinized, reviewed, misfiled and then refound, and threatened individuals, institutions, and state and local governments all for obtaining and creating a centralized detailed database of all gun owners, all gun and ammunition sales, and all people that bought gun and ammunition magazines (because reading, researching, fantasizing and other thought processes equate to real action) in violation of every real, legal, imagined, and pretzel logic definition of a Second Amendment right to the same degree and effort that same regime has done the same to journalists, scientists, educators, gay/lesbian/bi/trans/nonbinary/queer persons, peaceful protestors, environmentalists, medical professionals, and members of the ACLU, SPLC, and NAACP, if those gun and ammunition owners and magazine readers would feel okay with their so-called rights violated.
Trump's bromance partner, Elon Musk, of course launched this process of scrutinizing government databases in the name of "efficiency"--ha, "funny" about nothing being done about the waste over at the Pentagon, even though I believe they were looked at in a cursory fashion. Now the effort to purge the voter rolls in areas deemed to favor Dem. candidates in the midterms is in serious full swing. I guess we're being asked to "trust" AI programs to obtain accurate info. Good luck with that! GIGO still rules: Garbage In, Garbage Out in terms of content of computer programs.
I fought GIGO for most of my professional career. Part of that was spent as a DOD contractor. The smaller the dollar amount on a contract or delivery order (multiple orders under one large contract), the more it was scrutinized and nickel and dimed every cent to beat down the contract price. It disgusts me how the Pentagon now throws money around without a thought. A billion here, a billion there. Oh, you a close buddy of the Orange AntiChrist or a MAGA senator? then a multibillion here, a multibillion there.
And how about the ultimate irony that the USA--note that I never say "we" in this regard--has not "won" a war since end of WW II, which victory of course was the work of the Allied Forces plus the USSR?? Saddam Hussein's military was a bad joke, easily defeated. But the aftermath of the Bush, father and son, adventures was and remains CHAOS. One of our country's chief exports now! Note that I am not expressing a desire for US military victories. My desire is to put an end to this utter insanity and grossest imaginable waste of lives and resources. Yeah, I know, dream on. But I believe it is essential to express dissenting views while we are still able to!
Indeed, Gregory. I worked in both the big pharmaceutical and defense industries before and after computers became ubiquitous. Thanks for the GIGO reminder.
Well said, Michael G. Let’s spread the word by every means possible.
Those people are so evil and every single republican is complicit with this crap. I have noticed that these people never and I mean NEVER do anything to help people. They are always persecuting at least one 1️⃣ r more groups of people. They are just evil incarnate and I’m sorry it is impacting your health.
Thanks for reading, Gayna. I’m actually very pleased to be able to access world-class medical care. I’m learning how to take care of myself by limiting doomscrolling. At 80, I’m thrilled to be alive—one day at a time.
You might appreciate this report from Erin in the Morning: https://erininthemorn.substack.com/p/federal-court-finds-trump-admin-doj?r=5k9s3t&utm_medium=ios
Thank you, Freddie, for reading my rant. The links you provide are very helpful. So many people are tracking this despicable waste of taxpayer money.
I hope you’re right. My perception is that many are indifferent and too many believe that allowing MAGA to chop off the left pinky finger will spare the rest of the body. The demonizing and freakifying is insidious and dangerous. And, yes, to your point about their efforts overlapping and encompassing aspects that more broadly affect everyone, such as medical records being made available to partisan players. This is perhaps the grumbling that will be my next essay. But “being trans” doesn’t define me. I don’t want to allow those who believe it does or should shape how I see myself or how I handle myself. So, if this is the subject of my next essay, I need to add this latter point—who is fixated on identity and how that impacts those being identified. The narrative is currently flipped.
See your messages for a nice postcard/calendar view of the lighthouse.
Thank you. I’m glad we’ve both discovered how to private message.
Climb Mt Fuji
Oh snail
But slowly, slowly!
The above pertains to Rhode Island hospital. This one is about a badass state judge’s ruling in Kansas: https://substack.com/@erininthemorn/note/p-198438794?r=5k9s3t&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
It might quell your heart. Or, if these victories are too much excitement, wait awhile. 🥹
NOTE: This comment was intended for your previous note about going to New York City for specialized medical care. I goofed and wrote it here but the feelings are the same. Get well soon.
Katharine... hope you feel better soon. I grew up in the New Haven area, and I'm suprised (and pleased) that you did not get your treatment at the excellent Yale New Haven Medical Center, but apparently they sent you to an even more appropriate hospital in New York City (2 hours by car, for those who don't know the region). So again, wish you a speedy and nice recovery. Cheers, JTC
John T. Cullen
https://www.johntcullen.com author
johntcullen.substack.com journalist
My Pensive Pen
Classic bully conduct: Find the weakest target to go after. Because of general public ignorance about the transgender phenomenon and built-in prejudice against "the really weird," Trump and his minions have declared that organizations and individuals who are "radically pro-transgender" (their exact language I believe) are a threat to NATIONAL SECURITY--because transgender folks are such a threat, by their very existence, not because they might sign up to spy for Russia or China--and shall be monitored as potential TERRORISTS!! No, one cannot make this stuff up, that's for sure!! And that is truly, truly pathetic. Human sexuality is a deep and, frankly, weird arena. But the notion that DIVERSITY is healthy for a society, which is so OBVIOUS a truth--"E pluribus unum," anyone?--has been a whipping boy for these Fascist bastards from Day One.