The city put on a New Year's Eve fireworks display.

We’re in a drought and it’s so bad that we’ve entered Stage 3 water restrictions. So, it was no surprise the falling embers caused a grass fire which burned over 40 acres and caused ferry service to our island city to be halted.

I hate to criticize my local governmental officials, but…

Here comes 2025

TCM theme today is Rock & Roll movies: Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, and currently Hard Days Night

How I feel (image)

How I feel

Louisiana government trying to kill its citizens

Just before the holidays, NPR had a great scoop – headlined “Louisiana forbids public health workers from promoting COVID, flu and mpox shots” – about a new policy being low-key implemented by the Louisiana Department of Health:
According to the employees, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they fear losing their jobs or other forms of retaliation, the policy would be implemented quietly and would not be put in writing.

Staffers were also told that it applies to every aspect of the health department’s work: Employees could not send out press releases, give interviews, hold vaccine events, give presentations or create social media posts encouraging the public to get the vaccines. They also could not put up signs at the department’s clinics that COVID, flu or mpox vaccines were available on site.

Court slaps down Trump's appeal in the E Jean Carroll case

Source: Raw Story

The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has slapped down President-elect Donald Trump's efforts to throw out a jury verdict that found he defamed and sexually abused journalist E. Jean Carroll.

In the ruling, the court not only affirmed the jury's verdict against Trump but also chided him for not putting forth anything close to sufficient evidence that would make the court even consider overturning it.

Seen on Facebook

POTUS (President of the US) Musk and DOTUS (Dotard of the US) Trump together have 17 children with 6 different women and represent a party that preaches about traditional families.

GOP Rep says Americans would celebrate cutting food stamps

Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) (Freedom Caucus Msmber)on Friday said Americans would celebrate cuts to the federal budget by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE – including a crackdown on food stamps and Medicaid.

The comments came Friday during Roy’s appearance on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” where he called on “the DOGE guys” – billionaires Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy – to identify non-defense discretionary spending that can be slashed.

If we were to go through and just put in restraints on the use of food stamps to feed our people sugar, for example…we can save hundreds of billions of dollars,” Roy, a conservative member of the House Freedom Caucus, told the host. He added other examples such as repealing the Inflation Reduction Act and a “return to non-defense to pre-Covid era explosion in spending” to also help reduce spending.

Source: Raw Story

OP - I believe this sums up the position of many Republicans. They hate to pay taxes to support people who they believe don’t work, especially if those people are not white. They claim to love Jesus, but feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, healing the sick, and welcoming the stranger just isn’t their thing.

Christams Eve Tradition - David Sedaris - The Dutch Tradition of St. Nicholas

We host a gathering every Christmas Eve for friends and neighbors who are also childless or not traveling for the Holidays. We have two traditions. One is to play the Nutcracker Suite in the background. The other is towards the end of the party, we quiet down and listen for 15 minutes while David Sedaris describes the Dutch Christmas tradition. We love his writing as he is hilarious.

He begins on how he asks locals questions about how they live and their local customs. Eventually, he tells the soy of his trip to the Netherlands and what he learned when he asked them how they celebrate Christmas.

We think it's best to listen and not watch the video. Merry Christmas everyone and Peace!