to this Year of the Snake new year’s eve.
A 2025 Guide to Lunar New Year Slithering into the Year of the Snake
Lunar New Year begins on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, marking the start of a 15-day celebration that culminates with the Lantern Festival. The holiday, also known as the Spring Festival in China, is observed by millions across East and Southeast Asia, as well as in diaspora communities worldwide.
first, let’s ward off evil by doing the lion and dragon dance
Chinese Lunar New Year of the Wood Snake 2025
Hawaii Lion Dance Association
a helpful handy guide on what not to do
jon’s chinese new year message about an AI that’s taking away another AI’s job
Jon Stewart discusses China’s new A.I. tool “DeepSeek,” and urges Democrats to convince voters of THEIR plan rather than react to Trump’s “fascist” first week of executive orders.
It’s official. CNN is Fascist captured. “Jim Acosta expected to leave CNN after he’s pulled from network’s programming schedule”.. https://nypost.com/2025/01/27/us-news/jim-acosta-leaving-cnn-after-being-pulled-from-networks-programming-schedule/
They always think someone else is going to get bit, never themselves. Cue the snake- handling you tubes!
The military members have been officially notified of the idiot EO to kick Transgender people out. As usual the only thing that was thought through was the 2025 list of what the white nationalists wanted to do. Nothing about process or consequences. And for general questions of “what in the hell is this” what is “Transgender Ideology”? White nationalism, fascisn, nazi, KKK, are white I consider ideology. Just living your life peacefully, not at all.
Jim Acosta apparently hosting his last CNN show right now, making a statement at the end. My last must-watch for that Fascist-captured channel, for sure.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-freeze-federal-loans-grants-white-house-memo/
“A memo from the White House budget office is calling for a spending freeze on federal assistance by 5 p.m. Tuesday, which could affect everything from aid to nonprofits, universities, small business loans and state and local government grants.”
“From pausing research on cures for childhood cancer to closing homeless shelters, halting food assistance, reducing safety from domestic violence, and shutting down suicide hotlines, the impact of even a short pause in funding could be devastating and cost lives,” Yentel said. “This order could decimate thousands of organizations and leave neighbors without the services they need.”
PELL grants and federal student loans frozen. That will impact my niece in nursing school. Wonder if her folks will still think it was good that they voted the right-wingnut way. Yep, and it’s only the beginning of week two, FFS!
Fun fact, she has a full-Cherokee grandmother on her mom’s side, so I wonder if she put anything about her ancestry on any documents? Hmmm, are they going to go after data from Ancestry and 23AndMe to find that pure, pure bloodline the n@zis insist upon? Hey, why not insist upon a spit test to check DNA for tax breaks and benefits? There are probably some Proud Toddlers who would be surprised at what they find. Better yet, force everyone to do and make us all pay for the test.
Will Trump kill another million Americans by mishandling a health crisis? Bird flu is forcing farmers to slaughter millions of chickens a month. Meanwhile, the Trump Administration has silenced CDC on bird flu or anything else..
Buttigieg opportunity? Michigan Dem Sen. Gary Peters not running for reelection.
But Billionaire Confidence is soaring
REUTERS: Transgender rights groups are preparing to file a lawsuit against US President Donald Trump’s order targeting transgender service members, in what would be the first legal challenge to a cornerstone of his conservative agenda at the Pentagon
https://www.reuters.com/legal/rights-groups-preparing-file-lawsuit-against-trumps-transgender-troops-order-2025-01-28/
Jim Acosta leaves CNN: “I’ve decided to move on.. It is never a good time to bow down to a tyrant.. Don’t give in to the lies, Don’t give in to the fear”
we were warned
https://apnews.com/article/florida-ron-desantis-donald-trump-republican-legislature-878ef5458b8815d455f60674587b3347
“In a stunning rebuke to DeSantis, who was once floated as the Republican successor to President Donald Trump, Florida lawmakers on Monday gaveled in a special session called by the governor to help carry out Trump’s aggressive immigration agenda — and then within minutes gaveled out again, summarily tossing out the governor’s proposals.”
“Moments later, the chambers’ Republican leaders called their own special session, ignoring some of the governor’s asks and instead presenting their own sweeping immigration bill.”
“The governor’s proposals included punishing officers with criminal charges if they didn’t enforce the measures and creating a database to track people who send money to their families outside the U.S. Albritton called the moves unconstitutional, and said he wouldn’t ask officers to violate the law.”
i know a hit when i hear one
All of their proposals involve throwing everybody in jail
Great job, America 👍 🇺🇸
oh except violent white meth-heads, they get pardoned 🫤
The son is aggravated by the DEI bans. He is charged with contract fulfillment and there are no guidelines to go with this ridiculous order. There has always been a percentage of military contracts reserved for small business, locally produced, women and minority owned firms. They don’t get any special breaks and must comply with contract requirements.
To cope with the frustration, the office folk are just promising to snitch on each other for obvious infractions.
“…bill being debated in Mississippi (House Bill 1484); in it, not only do we find a $1000 bounty put on each and every person made in the image and likeness of God who the state deems to be an “illegal immigrant” (a definition which is fluid and changes day by day), it says all those who are captured will either be given to federal authorities to have them immediately deported or else to be imprisoned for life without eligibility for parole. This is bad enough, but we must consider, why would Mississippi do this? Would it not be extremely expensive? Not only because of the bounty being given, but also because the cost it takes to hold someone indifferently in prison? While, to be sure, the way I see this going can, for now, be said to be speculative, as it is not yet proven this is where it will go, history tells me it is the most likely situation. So, what exactly do I see happening if the bill is turned into a law?”
”Mississippi will take those “illegal immigrants” it imprisons and force them to work, that is, they will be turned into a new slave labor force.”
“First, those in prison are not protected by the 13th Amendment, the Amendment which ended slavery, because it specifically allowed slavery to continue for those who are being punished for crimes. Second, many who would enslave them would say the 13thAmendment would not apply to them because they are not United States citizens (or those who are legally in the United States on their way to becoming citizens).”
“Now, if this bill is turned into the law in Mississippi, it should not be surprising that all newly imprisoned immigrants will be forced into labor to justify keeping them alive. History, again, demonstrates this is how such mass incarceration of peoples go (see Nazi Germany).”
pack and get dressed
I asked my ChatGPT AI to review and summarize my Bluesky posts. I like the result:
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-administration-delay-head-start-payments_n_6798f032e4b041a82d14726e
“Head Start providers logging onto the online funding system this morning found a message warning of delays because of “potentially unallowable grant payments.”
“The reference to “potentially unallowable grant payments” suggests the delays are part of a broader pause in federal payments that the Trump administration has been imposing through executive orders, across the entire federal government, in order to realign federal programs with President Donald Trump’s agenda.”
Head Start includes food assistance. Felon-in-Chief, Don-Old tRUMP, is going to starve little children.
Craig, most if not all of us here like it too. Otherwise we wouldn’t have hung around for 20 years. Thanks for sharing.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/tuesdays-us-house-primaries-replace-matt-gaetz-mike-118168473
“What to know about Tuesday’s US House primaries to replace Matt Gaetz and Mike Waltz”
“In the 1st District, Gay Valimont, an activist with Moms Demand Action, challenged Gaetz as a Democrat this past election cycle. She’s running again in the special election after losing in November with just 34% of the vote.”
“Waltz carried the 6th District by a 30-point margin in November. Now two Democrats are running for his seat — Josh Weil, an Orlando area teacher, and Ges Selmont, a businessman from Elkton. This isn’t Selmont’s first time running for Congress — he challenged Rep. John Rutherford in Florida’s 4th Congressional District in 2018.”
I hope enough bad stuff (Project 2025) has to/near folks in these districts to flip both seats and stop Orange Adolf in his tracks.
https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-tariffs-chips-drugs-would-hit-us-allies-asia-2025-01-28/
“U.S. President Donald Trump plans to impose tariffs on imported computer chips, pharmaceuticals and steel…”
“The comments mark the latest in a number of trade-related threats unleashed by Trump in recent days. He has already promised to slap 25% tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico by Feb. 1 if the two countries don’t meet demands on border security and other issues.”
“Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) (2330.TW), opens new tab
, the world’s largest contract chipmaker, makes semiconductors for Nvidia, Apple and other U.S. clients. TSMC generated 70% of its revenue in 2024 from customers based in North America.”
“Chips are a major source of export revenue for South Korea and Taiwan, meaning there’s a lot more at stake than just the impact on manufacturers themselves.”
“Japan is a major supplier of chipmaking equipment and materials, all of which, at least for now, appear to have avoided direct mention by Trump.”
Destabilization. Acceleration. Destroy.
Putin is having a good week.
The various legal groups and organizations, along with states, are getting the lawsuits going. Not near as fast as the groups attacking the doge thing, which was almost immediate. I keep getting the feeling that most did not believe that sfb would actually sign the EOs so were not ready to go when needed.
I think I know how stupid makes the “signature” the same every time. The documents are printed and the scribble is included for him to fill in the lines. He uses the wedge sharpie so it would cover up the cheat lines. It is always the same and this makes the most sense. He can’t even write his own name.
If only someone could get to those unredacted Epstein files. If only someone could screw with n@zi-billionaire-owned media. If only someone could break into broadcasting during the Super Bowl to snap cult members out of their stupor.
Google Maps still showing Gulf of Mexico. Once/if they switch it, I’m deleting the app.
We haven’t been visited by Ms. K. Graham Cracker that I’m aware of, not since the changeover. I hope she’s okay and that we see her. Her stuff is always good.
I enjoy taking artificial intelligence rewriting it to my own actual intelligence. I don’t know if that’s plagiarism or not.
Sarah McBride just finished interview with Andrea. Sarah’s going to be kept busy and I for one am grateful for her bravery and speaking out-ness.
https://www.stlpr.org/government-politics-issues/2025-01-27/missouri-senate-hears-bill-on-life-imprisonment-for-people-in-u-s-without-legal-status
“A Missouri Senate committee heard hours of testimony Monday on illegal immigration legislation that includes life imprisonment for those found guilty and a bounty of $1,000 for reporting people without legal status in the U.S.”
“The penalty would be life imprisonment withoutparole, probation or conditional release except by action of the governor.”
“Those penalties would not apply if the federal government enters into a written agreement with the Missouri Department of Public Safety to take into custody and deport the person.”
Life in prison (a private prison work farm/slave labor, just like MS)…but being undocumented is a civil offense, so how is this possible?
drunk with power
starting to think an army of septuagenarians starting with you lot is better than no army at all
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/01/28/kennedy-lettor-rfk/
Sprinks, we are still working out in the gym. 🏋️
This first WH presser is something else. I’m only watching the first one so I can know what the jokes are on SNL this weekend. She’s yelling everything, talking nonsense. Hire a clown, get a circus.
The battle of wits here everyday keeps us on our toes.
She seems angry and defensive. She’s pretty, though, and wearing the requisite cross pendant.
Heidi Gardner or Chloe Fineman?
Reporters doing well keeping their faces straight.
I’m not old enough for Medicare, but there will be millions of angry folks at varying proximity to benefits that will de-nut the n@zis and n@zi sympathizers in Congress one way or another.
Now legal to drive until I’m 87 …
Orange Adolph has been busy
https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2025-01-27/kansas-tuberculosis-outbreak-is-largest-in-recorded-u-s-history-what-to-know
“Kansas is currently experiencing the largest-ever reported outbreak of tuberculosis in the U.S.
People with active cases of TB display symptoms that can include chest pains, weight loss, coughing up blood, fever, chills and a cough that lasts more than three weeks.
So far, 67 active TB infections have been reported in the Kansas City area as of Jan. 24, with cases related to the current outbreak first reported in January 2024, Bronaugh says. An additional 79 people in the metro area have been reported to have latent infections of tuberculosis since 2024.”
IDK, rub some dirt on it and walk it off, I guess. We’re all on our own in the US.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/27/nvidia-sheds-almost-600-billion-in-market-cap-biggest-drop-ever.html
The more the US and the West suffers, the happier Putin gets. Something bigger is coming.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/27/deepseek-hit-with-large-scale-cyberattack-says-its-limiting-registrations.html
DeepSeek on Monday said it would temporarily limit user registrations “due to large-scale malicious attacks” on its services.The Chinese AI startup recently toppled OpenAI’s ChatGPT from its title of most-downloaded free app in Apple’s App Store.
“Connect the dots, la, la, la, la.” -PeeWee Herman
*Notice the banner on the 2nd link says Medicaid portals down in all 50 states.
Hey, Google
today’s meme…
If you have Hulu, check out Paradise. I’ve watched the first three episodes and decidedly hooked.
“Gardening leave” is what Brits call the contractual time-out between leaving one employer and joining another, typically six months. How long before Jim Acosta can join another team? There’s going to be a good time slot open when Andrea soon retires.
Sprinks, this is why we are still tough.
“This was your car seat in the 60’s, glad you made it”
Actually in the 50s we stood behind the driver seat and hung on.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/28/karoline-leavitt-white-house-press-conference
“She also defended Trump’s executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship, despite legal challenges from 22 state attorneys general. “This administration believes that birthright citizenship is unconstitutional,” Leavitt said, vowing to take the fight to the supreme court.”
This just in: The US Constitution is “unconstitutional.” Doesn’t the new Press Secretary look like a n@zi, straight outta Central Casting…except for the giant cross around her neck as a dog whistle to Christo-fascists. She’s not fooling us. Ah, I miss Sean Spicer.
All sorts of elected magats are going on camera to be a magat. No nazi salute though.
WH is learning 2025/sfb/white nationalists were not subtle enough this last week and have started getting attention to their actions. No obituary yet.
HUH??? Trump offering buyouts to all federal workers, source says
https://www.axios.com/2025/01/28/trump-federal-workers-quit-severance
This is too good for words. It is hard to overstate how stupid that statement is.
Now, it’s been a while – 34 & 1/2 years – since I took Constitutional Law, but I don’t recall any mechanism by which the Supreme Court can rule on the constitutionality of a provision of the Constitution. Article V provides the process to amend the Constitution – either by proposed amendment by Congress, passed by 2/3 vote of both houses and passed by 3/4 of the states or by Constitutional Convention by Petition to Congress by 2/3 of the states. How that would work out is a mystery – it’s never been done. It’s pretty clear that the one way it cannot be done is by challenging the constitutionality of a provision of the Constitution in the Supreme Court. But then again, we’ve never had a Supreme Court like this one.
Ha! PBS airing The Gunpowder Plot/Guy Fawkes.
There’s probably a smart kid or ten who can expose and/or upend Project 2025 and the n@zis destroying our country. Not sure why they’d want to help, other than for kicks and giggles. Digital Luigis, if you will.
Have any of you seen clips of protests elsewhere in the world? Have you seen a drop of it on the evening news? This is censorship, folks, and it is actually unconstitutional.
Wondering where elderly on Medicaid in nursing homes are going to go when rent is due in three days? Wondering what happens when they have a medical emergency and no coverage?
The Gulf of Elvis
Well, I just called one of my Senators and the pat speech is that it’s just a pause to make sure no benefits are going to DEI or the Green New Deal. I said this was illegal; Congress already allocated these funds and this will impact Medicaid patients in nursing homes, for instance, in three days when rent is due.
The breaking news is the “freeze” is on temporary hold. A D.C. judge said stop right now until we see more information. The media should, not guaranteed, update with more information over the next hours.
Hegseth has initiated review of General Milley to remove one star from his rank so he receives less pay/benefits
George Conway.
The video is too long for me to post here. But this is a link to Caroline Kennedy reading her letter to senators about her cousin Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
In a nutshell, she depicts him as an unqualified, deranged, drug-addled, corrupt, and lying sociopath.
Me: Should fit right in.
The Trump White House has no idea What the Trump White House just did.
Opinion | Karoline Leavitt’s first White House briefing doesn’t go as planned – The Washington Post
Reduction in rank is a demotion in military rank as punishment for a crime or wrongdoing, imposed by a court-martial or other authority. However, current law does not allow commissioned officers to be reduced in rank as a criminal sentence in a court-martial.
The Hegseth insanity in detail
Pentagon to revoke Gen. Mark Milley’s security detail, probe if he should be demoted in rank: report
It makes perfect sense that a Fascist would punish someone for calling him a Fascist by being a Fascist.
Ha, the “Gulf of Elvis” — a Sturg classic
The enemy of my enemy is still my enemy.
Jim Acosta’s first substack column..
https://jimacosta.substack.com/p/hold-on-to-the-truth?r=lpd3z&triedRedirect=true
https://www.ourquadcities.com/your-local-election-headquarters/democrat-mike-zimmer-anticipated-winner-for-seat-in-iowa-senate/
“Democrats flip seat in Iowa Senate”
Thought y’all might like good news.
NEW THREAD