(right-click videos to play)
I like snow. It’s pretty. It looks boss on a clear night with a full moon. It keeps bugs in the ground. Most importantly, it keeps my house cleaner since a certain girl is no longer tracking in dirt.
This week is dominated, and I mean DOMINATED by a construction in which Jupiter retrograde, the Earth, the Sun, Mars and Venus are all in a line. On scales like this it’s hard to determine exactly when everything is precisely lines up (as much as the ecliptic allows for that sort of thing) but I’d say it’s definitely there by the 7th and goes through the 9th. What to expect? EVERYTHING. If Jupiter were in direct motion, we would be well on our way to “The Second Coming of Christ.” As it stands, this is a warning not to let unfinished projects go past this time, or Bad Things Will Happen. Getting stuff done? They will work out with better results than expected, and if you’re in a stable situation, then life will be much better than normal. Monday is especially good for Capricorn. Not only do you have all the good planets, those who oppose you will be distracted and confused.
Capricorn: The Star reversed – Being lead astray.
Aquarius: 8 of Coins – Doing good work.
Pisces: 4 of Wands reversed – having a happy live.
Aries: 7 of Swords reversed – Getting such terrible advice that if you can’t tell how bad it is, it’s your own damn fault.
Taurus: Ace of coins reversed – The bad side of money. Either yours is causing problems, or the people you’re having problems with have more than you do.
Gemini: 9 of Wands – Delays, roadblocks, resistance. This is not necessarily a bad thing.
Cancer: 8 of Swords – OTOH, this is a bad thing. All shitty choices, not enough information and the status quo sucks.
Leo: The Moon reversed – Sufficiently shitty. Things are unreliable. Can you depend on anyone/anything/yourself? No.
Virgo: Queen of coins – An awful rich bitch, or those characteristics of being an awful rich bitch.
Libra: 6 of Coins reversed – LOTS of demand on your resources, not all are worthwhile, and it’s going to be difficult to tell which ones those are.
Scorpio: 6 of Cups – This is a pretty blah card. Congratulations! Your week is better than most!
Sagittarius: Strength reversed – The Evil side of power/aptitude.
“My God….its full of stars!”
::looks at three large expanses of bare white on the page:: That’s a lot of snow!
Please tell me you see still images from the videos. There were problems with them.
Tall video on a wide screen does that. The original links had video control barss at the bottom of each; the video control bars take up the entire text width and looked really fugly when juxtaposed with the tall video.
When I right-click in the blank space, I get the option to “Open video in new tab.” However, in the new tab I get the message “No video with supported format and MIME type found.” Same results in my usual browser, LibreWolf, and in Firefox, 🤷♀️ (I wonder what type of MIME works. I’m a little out of practice, but…)
I got blank space too but I was able to right-click the empty space and open in a separate tab and window.
(Safari)
Thanks, everyone.
I see video stills in Firefox / Win11.
When NA submitted this the first video worked but the second two were ugly black boxes with “No video with supported format and MIME type found” error messages like GT reported. NA must have been having trouble with the videos, but helpfully posted links to the videos as they were uploaded in our media library, and I recreated the video links from that.
I’ll ask WebDom.
On my home computer they were embedding fine, but on a couple others they were not working at all.
It opened the ‘Open vid in new browser’ list and I opened it in a new tab on Chrome thru my Windows 11 no prob.
Please tell me you see still images from the videos. There were problems with them.
Big whitespace for me. If I right click, I have a menu option to open audio in a new tab. If I do that, I can play a MP4 file which is hosted on glibs.
I figured it was all a part of the horoscope being sufficiently shitty for a change.
and… I’m using Brave on Linux.
Sagittarius: Strength reversed – The Evil side of power/aptitude.
Profit!
Welp. I guess I’m spending the second January 4th in a row in the hospital with my mom. 😒
So sorry to hear that.
Oh no!
I haven’t been around much lately. Saw your comment that it was the one year anniversary of the start of all this recently. Hope all is well.
Sorry
Ugh, sorry to hear that.
Boy the whole family has a shitty horoscope. Sufficiently shitty indeed!
“ Cancer: 8 of Swords – OTOH, this is a bad thing. All shitty choices, not enough information and the status quo sucks.”
I reject this. Life is always good when you’re getting laid.
*Wide-eyed, unblinking stare into the ether, drifts backwards through the hedges, face unbroken*
Maybe someone somewhere has covered this, but with Maduro being brought here he’s presumably going to have to be charged with crimes. They seem to be going hard with the drug trafficking angle which is going to be interesting. The last we heard or I heard at least was that the CIA and other intel agencies let it leak that they found no credible evidence that Maduro had any real connection to organized crime, particularly as it relates to importing it into America.
Another note on all this – let’s say for a second that the real motivating factor for Trump here was election conspiracies. Is he smart enough to know that he’d have to keep that under wraps because the media would launch a full on assault? Not to mention the instability such an accusation could cause? I”m sure his underlings have let him know.
The main thing that’s puzzling about the Venezuela stuff is there’s yet to be any answer to the why that seems credible to me. Trump may have directed some verbal jabs at Maduro and did the usual sanctions in his first term, but there was hardly any fixation on it. I can’t believe it’s really about oil or resources. A lot of resources were put into making this happen.
And I’ll reiterate that regardless of whether you agree with it or not, the American military has done some exceptional things under Trump’s orders. Or at least two now that you know full damn well have struck terror into the heart of every tinpot dictator across the globe. And as of yet, there’s been no particular blow back to where you can actually argue it was a mistake.
That was a spectacular special operation. Afghanistan stated with a similarly spectacular SF and Ranger operation.
It’s easy to break things. It’s the “running Venezuela” part that worries me. Can we get a viable replacement government up and running before the place collapse into civil war? And not draw in tens of thousands of American troops to get shot at.
Empire building has a certain logic to it.
Nation building is just fucking stupid.
Stay out. Or take it over. Either way. Just stop straddling the fucking fence. Your balls will thank you.
The last we heard or I heard at least was that the CIA and other intel agencies let it leak that they found no credible evidence that Maduro had any real connection to organized crime, particularly as it relates to importing it into America.
The Maduro regime may or may not have been helping drugs get to America, but the fact that CIA and other intel agencies say it wasn’t happening is not credible evidence to believe that is wasn’t happening. They have a vested interest in saying Maduro wasn’t involved.
That’s kind of my point. Who or where is the evidence to convict Maduro in court going to come from?
How did Noriega get convicted? Expect a replay of that I would imagine.
Because he’ll be tried in NYC, I expect an acquittal on all charges because OMB.
Again, those are things I’m thinking about. You try him in NY with some judge who is hostile to Trump and/or perhaps compromised (far crazier things have happened) by intelligence agencies who don’t want to cough up the evidence apparently in the first place?
I don’t know. You’d like to think they’d have a pretty strong rock solid case to go this route. But the Trump admin is not known for dotting it’s i’s and crossing it’s t’s.
Does it really matter if he’s convicted? Once the regime is changed, he can’t go back or they’ll kill him.
Our men and women in uniform can do a spectacular job of kicking the shit out of Iran and Venezuela in surprise attacks.
How would they do in defending Taiwan against an all-out Chinese Commie invasion? Yeah, there’s probably a submarine or two in the South China Sea that could turn fifty Chinese cities into glass, but do we really want to go the nuclear option way?
The main issue in defending Taiwan is that the one edge China/Russia seem to legitimately have on us is in their hypersonic cruise missiles. Our anti-missile defenses at least don’t appear to be able to cope with them (it was always a bad investment in my humble asshole on the internet opinion) making a lot of our massive naval vessels pretty easy targets for what would be a tiny fraction of the cost to China.
I have actually think we would mop the floor with China in a ground war if it were fought on a neutral site but obviously that’s not going to be happening (which in itself speaks to America’s absolute dominance militarily – we are pretty much the only nation that even retains the ability to project forces across the globe).
But I remain skeptical that for all the big talk that China really wants to risk the status quo over Taiwan. There may come a point in the coming decades where conflict occurs between China and America. I’m not going to say its inevitable because in some respects this era of history is very different from what proceeded it in terms of interconnected economies and global trade.
And we’re also counting on the ability of commies to launch one of the most highly sophisticated and massive naval invasions in history to make this happen. The politicians can set whatever dumb deadlines to be “ready” to do anything. The military actually having the professionalism, experience, and ability to execute that are a completely different story.
I’m not sure how our drones compare to theirs. They can certainly produce them in absolutely absurd quantities during a conflict. That might make any other advantages our military has irrelevant.
I would rather not find out.
The media have already launched a full-on assault over this.
Just saw the Telegraph arguing this will drive even more countries from the Western “system.”
Curiously, I don’t recall them having such thoughts after Libya.
It’s never about oil.
That’s just a tired phrase.
This case isn’t really about how impressive the US Military is — everyone already knows that.
This is a stunningly impressive piece of… Statecraft? Rat-fuckery? Whatever you call the ability to turn the VP of a country to hand his boss over to a hostile country.
He was indicted by a grand jury in 2020 on several charges.
Whoopie-do. That’s the same bullshit that was applied to Assange. No, the reach of U.S. law ends at the shore (or other territorial boundary). You start arguing that OUR law is worldwide, someone else is going to argue that their’s is as well. Our constitution and law is rooted in our sovereignty, nothing more.
JI, of all people I’d think you’d realize that law only reaches where the enforcer’s application of force can be applied.
Sovereignty is just a gentleman’s agreement.
Mumbo jumbo of a different sort
As the first officially certified Estate Whiskey, Star Hill Farm reflects Maker’s Mark’s longstanding interest in terroir and environmental responsibility — from grain-variety research to sustainable and regenerative farming practices.
But it’d be naive to presume that any distiller’s interest in Estate Certification wasn’t also grounded partially in business interests.
After all, should consumer recognition for the term grow, having an Estate Whiskey Certified seal on the bottle becomes a powerful market distinction, akin to what organic stickers were to produce (at least in the early days), creating for producers like Maker’s Mark, with its acreage and resources, a new premium perch above the commodity-sourced spirits.
That tension is exactly what makes this moment compelling. Estate whiskey could drive meaningful progress toward more sustainable, place-driven production… or become another dividing line between well-resourced distillers and everyone else. Most likely, it will do a bit of both.
Finally, a whisky that’s good for you and good for the planet!
An excuse to charge more for the fart-sniffing privilege?
Whiskey glut is real. Distillers are grasping at straws to keep the music from stopping.
It’s nice to finally see some of the higher end stuff on the shelves regularly.
Indeed. Although at higher prices around here. But not museum store prices at least.
I will continue to be spoiled by access to River Roots.
No one cares about the awards claimed on bottles.
I joked about the ‘gold medal’ label on Martenellies sparkling cider the other day to my wife. 1998 or some such. Nobody notices.
Sufficiently shitty. Things are unreliable. Can you depend on anyone/anything/yourself? No.
YES YES YES!!!!
From ded thred. Another LBJ fuckup of policy leading to problems decades later
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_termination_policy#Regaining_federal_recognition
Good grief what a cluster-fuck.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRQFli6zMh4
The Klamath and Grand Rounde tribes have been nothing but trouble in the last decade. Pulling out flood control dams and ruining hundreds or private wells.
They should man up and fight for a better treaty. A new Indian war would crush them in a few hours when all their not special neighbors came out and put them down like the rabid dogs they are.
Just sue them for gambling addiction, just like the oxy and other pain pill manufacturers.
New wood stove is cooking. Well, not really. Still doing the first couple of lower curing fires. But it’s burning!
https://media1.tenor.com/m/tUjomOVj8wEAAAAC/fire-bravos.gif
Are you burning wood for heat or back up?
We’re using wood, we have a couple more years worth in the shed. Gas furnace hasn’t been used for about the last 4 winters. We burn about 5-6 cords a winter, we like it warm but don’t run a fire at night. It’s in the 60s in the morning.
New insert. Plan is to be half and half. Main heat in the non sleeping areas with heat pump backup/circulation.
Vacation over, the commute to the (216) about to begin.
God, I dont want to go back to work.
Just got home from a really nice cruise to the Dutch Caribbean, and I instruct my first Track Day of the year outside Savannah in less than two weeks.
Happy life, indeed.
That’s the way to start the year 👍
Now I want to go back to Sint Maarten…
We’re headed on an ABC cruise next Xmas break. I hope it’s nice. Having been born and raised in Miami, going to the tropics isn’t really that high on my list of desires. All of our cruising is generally in much more chilly climes. Norway (twice) and Alaska (3 times) are more my speed. My dad had us look up cruises for next year. I wanted Argentina. He didn’t want to fly that far with mom, who is a massive wet blanket about such things.
The ABC islands really are different from much of the rest of the Caribbean. Not just the Dutch heritage, but the geography, flora, and fauna.
In addition, they’re far enough south at 12 degrees latitude that you can see the Southern Cross this time of year. Big deal for an astronomy buff like me.
My wife’s sister, her son, and her husband went to Bonaire to scuba dive. Nephew was supposed to be flying home yesterday to start college on Monday. Still closed airspace over the southern Caribbean. Apparently his school has a pretty strict attendance policy so he’s a little freaked out right now.
Watching the pups: I love how *mammalian* play is. An alien would think they’re trying to eat each other, but it’s all play. (For now.?…) Just a ‘basic’ part of childhood, the rough ‘n tumble stuff, to learn how to play for real, and having a great time doin’ it. All mammals do it. A huge advantage for pack/ social animals over others. And so cute!
Sport is one of the universal mammalian things we do. Sport, visual and aural art; song; dance; religion (not believing is in the minority); I’m sure I’ve thought of several more, but I just got home to some thc and a slick, slick play by the Colts. Spoiler: They scored.
Who dosent love the oral arts?
*raises hand*
I actually enjoy goin’ down on girls to further their enjoyment. Dividends. But I kinda hate *getting* one, lovely as they are. I’m not sure how to ‘act.’ I don’t have a ‘Don’t Overthink’ switch, and it really does make me upset. It’s remarkably rare for me to have moments like that. *kicks at pebble, misses*
Also on oral arts: I really don’t like lip rings. A male Team Lead has one. I.. just don’t get it.
I finally tho k I figured out another Glib acronym. (There should be a page listing them with what exactly they mean)
IFLA
It’s the Butt Seks part of weed and Mexican isn’t it?
I always assumed the “A” was for Astrology, but you may be on to something.
If you go back in the archives, you can see me flailing for a column name, SugarFree giving me one, then me abbreviating it because I am lazy.
Myles Garrett gets the sack record, Sanders gets back to back wins, and the Browns have a worse draft selection.
Overall a decent day. If the Browns pick anything other than linemen and receivers, I will be unhappy (which will mean nothing to the ownership).
[psssst] Fernando Mendoza [bet on it]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Webb#Death