Glimmer of Hope re the Impeachment Trial

Trump's legal defense team quit rather than argue that the election was stolen, and they have been replaced with a new team that supposedly will. If that is so, the House managers should request a special verdict/interrogatory to be propounded to the jurors, i.e., the senators in attendance, that read: "Did you find from the evidence submitted here that the 2020 presidential election was stolen?" While it might not change the ultimate verdict on conviction, doing so would at least put the Republicans on record as to which ones buy Trump's assertions of election fraud and which do not. And if the Republicans answered honestly (which of course would be a first), at least the Senate will have put the House Republicans and the Trump supporters to shame--although shame is not something the Republicans seem to cower from.

Another Reason to Do Amazon Gift Cards

Amazon Gift Cards apparently  do not expire. As such, they make wonderful presents for grandchildren, especially ones whose parents (your children) seem to not have a clue. This tip was learned upon receiving notice that a certain gift card was redeemed more than a year after the birthday on which it was sent.

Trumpism, Vaccines, and the Elite

In an article entitled, "Yes, It Matters That People Are Jumping the Vaccine Line," Elizabeth Rosenthal explains how confidence in the system and a belief in fairness is undermined when the elites are able to get vaccinated ahead of their rightful turn. Trumpism was born by tapping into the disenfranchised millions of under-educated deplorable people who were right about one thing: The "system" in America is, and for too long has been, rigged in favor of the elites who disproportionately receive its benefits of access and riches. If hypocrisy ever applied as a proper castigation, it surely applies to those of privilege who claim to find Trump and his followers despicable while "jumping the vaccine line."  

Link to NYT Article 

Google Password Manager

If you don't have a password manager, or even if you do, you should also use Google Password manager. It will sync your passwords across all your devices and apps, and if you use LastPass, when you save a password in the Google manager, LastPass will enable you to save it there as well. While the Google manager is not as robust as LastPass (e.g., the LastPass secure note system is fantastic), it merits your consideration.

Link to Google Password Manager  and Other Link to Google Password Manager

King of Staten Island (2020 Movie on HBO)

The first half or perhaps a bit more is very good ... terrific acting, crisp dialogue, an intriguing story, and best of Marisa Tomei has a substantial part in it. HBO says it's 1h40m, but it turns out it's at least a half-hour longer than that. If they could have had it end at about the 1.5h mark, it would get a strong recommendation to watch it. Alas, it kept droning on and on and just got boring. I have no idea how it ended, because I gave up. But I've been informed that the last 30-40 minutes is not worth watching. The good news is back to Get Shorty, which continues to get better with each episode.

IMDb Link to King of Staten Island 

Gift Returns at Amazon: Another Great Reason to Shop on Amazon

Returning gifts sent from Amazon are easy peasy. If you don't like the gift for any reason, or it's just the wrong size or color and you want to do an exchange, a few clicks will get it done and the gifter will never know anything. Just go to the Return Center on The Amazon and put in the Order Number (which will come with the gift), and then you will get a return code for shipping the item for free back to The  Amazon. As soon as Amazon sees the item is at UPS, it will issue a credit to your account, so you then can buy a replacement in the correct size or color, or you can buy anything else you want instead--given, as noted, the gifter will not that the item has been returned. In essence, then, any gift you give through Amazon is in essence just like giving a gift card.

J & J Vaccine Basics From the WSJ

[If this doesn't enlarge in the email, go to it on the blog site]

 

Myth That There Is a Split in the Republican Party

The common wisdom says there is a split in the Republican Party between the Trump wing and the supposed traditional wing. That's boloney. Whatever traditional wing might have existed, there is no traditional wing left. If what was the traditional wing wants a party that might have an ideology that resembles what the pre-Trump Republican party had and wants a party that is willing to reject conspiracy theories and whack-a-doodle thinking and base itself on facts and truth instead of made-up garbage and lies, it will need to start a new party with a new name. Otherwise, it is tethered and subjugated to a group of power-hungry amoral nut jobs, even more power hungry and more amoral than the supposedly traditional Republicans, who came dangerously close to upending the election to install Trump into what was once an office created and protected by Article II.

Create YouTube Playlists Without an Account

Drag & Drop Playlist Creator allows you to put together a YouTube playlist and save the playlist as browser link (URL) that you can share with others, save in a folder in your browser, or add to the bookmark bar in your browser. The Playlist Creator is simple to use. Open the Playlist Creator in your browser and as you browse YouTube, drag and drop any thumbnail (or URL from the address bar) into the Play List Creator. From there you can add, remove and re-order songs, copy the Playlist link to the Clipboard, add the Playlist URL to your bookmark bar, share your playlist using the Share icon, or save the Playlist link in the browser. A few of these require that you agree to the Cookie and Privacy policy to use. Having a link to a YouTube playlist that will play in a browser with no YouTube account is a useful way to bring your playlist with you. It worked fine with small to medium sized playlists but shouldn’t have trouble with larger lists. Drag & Drop Playlist Creator is a great idea packaged in a minimal, easy to use interface, with or without a YouTube (Google) account. 

Link to Drag & Drop Playlist Creater

Notice re Future Posts Concerning Covid-19 Variants and Vaccines

As some loyal readers and others have guessed, I'm neither a scientist nor a doctor. The "news" and "reporting" on the latest Covid-19 variants and the efficacy of the existing and imminent vaccines is making my head spin. I might link an article from a reputable source about any of this stuff, but I don't know enough nor am I smart enough to understand what the supposed experts are saying. Indeed, I don't know if they're talking in plain English or medical jargon which are two entirely different languages. For example, if you think you know what it means when a surgeon says "I did the operation," think again: It simply means he or she stuck their head into the operating room during the operation. Similarly, that is why dentists or other doctors want to say hello while you're still in the little room having only seen an assistant. 

Tax and Deductibility Treatment of IRA Withdrawals and Charitable Contributions of Over $100,000

[Prefatory Note: This post is in response to a slew of loyal readers raising the issue with us. Why they don't ask their accountant is a mystery, and you should check this conclusion with your accountant and not rely on. But it's our best understanding]

As we have pointed out in an earlier post, you can make up to $100,000 of QCDs from your IRA without paying any income tax on the withdrawal, and the deduction effectively reduces one's adjusted gross income. The question put to us is: If one gives more than $100,000 to a charity, is the excess then taxable as ordinary income to the IRA owner, with a corresponding itemizable charitable deduction?  We are pleased to say, and we know all our loyal readers in this category will be pleased to know, that the answer is "yes," provided the IRA owner otherwise meets the threshold for itemizing their deductions.

Home Covid-19 Test Available at Amazon

The Dexterity home saliva Covid-19 test kit (at $110@) is available through Amazon. Here is a description of how it works (if it doesn't enlarge on the email, go to the blog website itself): 

Link to Dexterity Website 

Some Troubling Reports on Vaccine Effectiveness Viz Covid-19 Variants

Link to NYT Story No. 1

Link to NYT Story No. 2

New Tip on Whole Foods Delivery Scheduling

The best time it might be to place a Whole Foods delivery order for getting the most number of available delivery slot times is very early in the morning you want the delivery or in the afternoon the day before, and not early the day before. In short, slots seem to follow a sine-curve shape in terms of the opening of an increased number of slots as the day wears on. You can always add to your order or make quantity changes until the shopper starts shopping, although be aware that might happen a couple of hours before the shopper actually begins.

Another Suggestion re the Impeachment Trial

[Prefatory Note: Given the criticism heaped upon me for even daring to try to find a way nail the Republicans at the impeachment trial without coming up with some better idea than that in yesterday's post, here is the text of another letter to the NYT that tries a different way]

"The Senate by majority vote should pass a motion that reads: 'To abide the senate impeachment oath, any senator in attendance for the vote on guilty/not guilty may not 'not guilty' on the grounds that this impeachment trial is unconstitutional, and any vote based on the asserted grounds that this impeachment trial is unconstitutional will be tallied as ‘not present for the vote’; and the senator who so votes shall be deemed as 'not present and not voting' and shall be considered not present in the Senate in determining the Senate’s quorum. Trump's conviction becomes highly likely then give that, under Section 2 of Article I, the 2/3 vote requirement is 'two-thirds of the Members present' and not 67 votes as is often said."

Caution for Covid-19 Vaccines for Pregnant Women

We are surprised by the number of loyal readers who are pregnant or might be pregnant or know someone who is pregnant or might be pregnant. For them, as well as for one's general knowledge, note the caution from the WSJ re the vaccines but also note there is a split of views on the issue between the CDC and WHO (if you cannot enlarge it here you can online):

 

Photo Image Optimizing in Your Browser

Here are two photo image optimizers that work strictly in your browser: JPEG Rocks and Squoosh. Your photos never leave your computer or go anywhere.

Link to JPEG Rocks

Link to Squoosh

mRNA Adaptability

Unfortunately, if I explained this in technical terms, most loyal readers would swoon. But in layperson's terms, the great news about the mRNA approach to vaccination is its adaptability to variant strains of what it is vaccinating against. In short, both the safety and efficacy clinical trials to deal with a variant can be shortened dramatically and the additional protection be given by an add-on booster shot.  

Suggestion re Impeachment Trial

[Prefatory Note re below text of letter submitted to NYT: What skeptics of this suggestion might not recognize is: (i) the Senate trial has nothing to do with what might work or not or matter or not in a regular trial--the point here is to nail the Republicans and Trump; (ii) the rules of the trial are made by majority vote which the Dems control; and (iii) and most important, 55 yeses on the last question and even just 51 yeses would create the predicate of a Article 14 Section 3 ban of Trump from future office]

Unwilling to face up to holding Trump accountable for anything, the overwhelming majority of Senate Republicans appear poised to vote “no” on convicting Trump at the impeachment trial on any procedural ground, most notably, that it is unconstitutional to impeach a former president. One way to address this issue is to have expert testimony at the trial confirming the constitutionality of the proceeding. An additional, and more pointed, way to hold the Republicans feet to the fire is to submit to the “jury,” i.e., to the Senators, special verdict questions that they must answer—just as is done in trials every day. Here are just a few of such special verdict questions: Did Trump pursue a studied course to invalidate the election based on claims of fraud; did Trump produce any evidence of fraud sufficient to invalidate the election; did Trump pressure any state or state official to change the outcome of the election in that state; did Trump engage in conduct and use language that could be seen by followers as encouragement to storm the Capitol and stop VP Pence from performing his constitutional duty; and did Trump engage in, or could have been seen by followers as engaging in, the provocation of unlawful behavior, including a violent uprising against an authority or branch of government. In this way, if the Republicans return an answer of “no” to each such special verdict, it will make clear to history they truly live in a separate universe where facts do not exist. On the other hand, if they return an answer of “yes,” even if they refuse to vote for conviction, it will make clear to history they truly live in a separate universe where presidential behavior and words no longer are subject to sanction no matter how vile or dangerous. But they will not have escaped the verdict of history embodied in Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.

 

Caution re Alcohol-Based Sanitizer From Mexico

The US Food and Drug Administration has placed all alcohol-based hand sanitizers coming from Mexico on a countrywide "import alert" until it is able to review the products' safety, the agency said. Link to Full Article

Phoenix Housing Market and Maybe Elsewhere

The property noted here (which is around the corner from me but, other than being on one of my walks, is in a totally different world) originally was owned by Judge Craig. It had one house on it and a couple of camels. It sold a few times and was bought by someone who added a second house and a bunch of stables. It went on the market in November for $6.5M. Two weeks later, the asking price was raised to $7.5M, which confirms the adage that buyers in Phoenix are learning the hard way, "you snooze, you loose." It also confirms the adage that you might have no clue what your house is worth.  Or, to put it another way, see: This Link

Link to Photos and Description of Noted House

Outlook Default Settings Often in Word

You might think Microsoft would put Outlook's default settings in Outlook, and for some it does. But, for others, it doesn't. For example, there is not default save as setting in Outlook, but there is in Word, and the Word default save as setting will become the default save as setting for Outlook. In fine, if you can't find a default setting in one Office program, look for it in another Office program.  

The Latest on Masks

With COVID-19 cases surging and the discovery of new, faster-spreading coronavirus strains in the U.S., it might be time to double down on face masks — literally — by wearing two at a time. My menteeTony (often referred to as Dr. Fauci) endorses the idea. Layering one mask over another can significantly boost your protection against the coronavirus, some experts say, especially if your ordinary mask is thin or loose-fitting. For more on best practices when it comes to masks, see the linked article.

Link to Article

Trump at His Impeachment Trial

Given that Giuliani will not be Trump's lawyer at the impeachment trial, and that it appears a real lawyer will be, his defense team likely won’t call Trump to testify. But the House managers could subpoena him. Now lacking presidential privilege, he could assert his fifth amendment rights and refuse to testify. Or he might follow his instincts and try to defend himself. When it comes to trial strategy and politics, this is called a win/win. When it comes to Trump, this is called a lose/lose.

Prenups: Not Just for the Very Wealthy

Prenups are often thought to be something only the very wealthy do or should do (or those like Melania Trump who are married to total sleezeballs who welch on all their obligations). They are not. Even younger people with more debts than assets should give serious consideration to prenups, which can make divorcing far less painful and far more equitable. For example, a prenup can provide for the terms of: financial separation; scaled alimony depending on the length of the marriage; debt issues; frozen embryos; pet issues; and social media matters. In short, it can be much easier to deal with these things under the warm glow of loving feelings than under the clashing of long knives and hurt feelings. For a fuller discussion of the desideratum of prenups, see: Link to WSJ Article Entitle Millennials Embrace Prenups

Correction re Flack Post

Thanks to the eagle eye of a loyal reader, it has been brought to our attention that yesterday's post re Flack misspelled it as Flak, and hence had no link to IMDb, which is our practice, because you have to spell it correctly for IMDb to recognize it. Here is the IMDb link: IMDb Link re Flack  As it turns out, it's a 12 episode series where each episode is its own story about a different celebrity client of the PR firm. So, it's a nice series to have on hand to break up say your catching up on 3 seasons of Get Shorty. In all events, we apologize for any inconvenience, consternation, or concern caused by our slip-up.

Moderna and Pfizer and the New Covid-19 Variants

Moderna’s vaccine is being reported by the company as effective against new variants of the coronavirus that have emerged in Britain and South Africa. But it appears to be less protective against the variant discovered in South Africa, and so the company is developing a new form of the vaccine that could be used as a booster shot against that virus. Link to NYT Article  Pfizer claims its vaccine also is effective against the new variants. Link to Supporting Article Neither of these articles discusses the new variant from Brazil. Here's the big point: This (the virus and the antidote) is difficult stuff and what's know about them and done about them and reported about them are changing rapidly.

Flak (Amazon Prime Original Series)

Flak revolves around how a PR firm deals with itself and with its celebrities. The action is fast-paced and the dialogue even faster and quite witty, and a scene now and then is predictable but more often not so much. Although you might not know people who can say such clever things with the pace with which they say them, these are real people dealing with real stuff. At least based on Episode 1, it's not heavy, but it's not frivolous either. Some might love it, some like like it, some might not take to it, but few will hate it. And, btw, the lead was the little girl in The Piano, a movie no one should have suffered through.  

Importance of the Impeachment Trial Outcome: And Why Trump Just Might Be Convicted

[Submitted in revised form by letter to the NYT]

The second Trump impeachment trial has nothing to do with resolving any fact dispute as to what happened. It is a case ripe for summary judgment. In short, there is no question that Trump and his allies embarked on a studied course, starting before the election and continuing through January 6, to overturn the constitution, invalidate the election, and invest Trump with the office and powers of the presidency despite his having no right to them. While no one with a mind would deny that is an impeachable offense, it is not what the impeachment trial is all about. Rather, the impeachment trial, which surely will split the Republican party and the Senate Republicans, will decide whether a Republican party headed by Trump or even a third-party headed by Trump will remain viable, or whether Trump will be cleansed from the leadership of any party by being denied even the prospect of ever holding federal office again. To put it in medical terms, when a cancer invades a body, the body cannot be made healthy again by reconciling or unifying with the cancer. The cancer has to be removed, and if there's a way to stop its re-entering the body, that too must be done, no matter how uncomfortable the surgery or the chemotherapy. The Republican party will never develop a conscience, that is for sure. But there just might be enough Republicans in the Senate to know a cancer when they see one and know what must be done with it for them to survive. For the good of the country, let’s hope there are.

Some Great Places for Vacation Rentals

Santa Fe Adobes With Italian Linens: These aren't you run of the mill rentals, but they're still affordable. Link to Aquasante Luxury Rentals Website

The Beach Houses in Venice Beach and Santa Monica: Modern Life (ecoboutiquehomes) features a mid-century modern house with lots of glass at under $300/night. Link to Ecoboutique Website

Catskills: Red Cottage Inc. seeks out houses with exceptional interiors and wonderful, often remote, locations at very reasonable prices. Link to Red Cottage Website

Electric Cars Make Budget Sense as Well as Help to Save the Planet

As the NYT reports, electric vehicles are better for the climate than gas-powered cars, but many Americans are still reluctant to buy them. One reason: The larger upfront cost. But, new data published Thursday shows that despite the higher sticker price, electric cars may actually save drivers money in the long-run. So, unless Elon Musk's friendship with a certain former family member is an impediment to your buying a Tesla, there's no excuse any more for keeping your gas guzzler and not buying a Tesla.

Link to Full NYT Article 

New CDC Guidance on Second Vaccine Dosages

In guidelines posted on the agency’s website on Thursday, the C.D.C. said that patients may switch between the two authorized vaccines — one by Pfizer and BioNTech, the other by Moderna — between the first and second doses in “exceptional situations.” The C.D.C. also said patients may extend the interval between doses to six weeks from three or four if giving the second dose sooner was “not feasible.” Link to Full NYT Article

Ending the Senate Filibuster

The last time the Senate Filibuster ended, thanks to Harry Reid, it ended up with the Supreme Court we now have. If the filibuster is now ended, it had better apply to allowing the Senate to establish a "constitutional question court" and depriving the current Supreme Court of jurisdiction of constitutional questions, and so undo the damage the current Supreme Court could do for generations. Otherwise, taking the short-term gain of ending the filibuster undoubtedly will lead to untold misery when the Senate next flips, and it shall flip at some point. 

Why Lawyers Are and Should Be Loathed (Alternative Title: Are You Kidding Me Award of the Century)

The President of the Arizona State Bar Association apparently put out the following statement with no qualification as to age, type of practice, whether or not one is even practicing or on inactive status, or anything:

Dear State Bar Members,

You may be wondering if you are considered an essential service provider, qualifying for Phase 1B prioritization to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. You are.

Henry Aaron (1934-2021)

Henry Aaron was a giant of a baseball player and a beautiful giant of a person. May he rest in peace.

Poignant comments of MW and TK on PTI:  Link to Comments  (click on it to have sound start)

See also NYT and WaPo Articles:

"Hank Aaron Was More Than His Stats, But His Stats Were Outrageous" Link to Full Article

"There Are Hall of Famers and Then There Are Hall of Famers" Link to Full Article

"Baseball Legend Who Became Voice for Civil Rights" Link to Full Article

PS: When it comes to Tiger Woods' time, do you think they'll write anything except that he was the best men's golfer of all times and had some severe difficulties in his personal life and character? Same goes for Annika Sorenstam except she was not the best women's golfer of all time and, along with Jack Nicklaus, disgraced herself in her defense of Trump. 

Unitary Test of Cognitive Ability and Political Savvy

There is no doubt there are tough negotiations going on now between McConnell on the one side and Schumer and Biden and perhaps (and I hope) Pelosi on the other side. There are serious issues on the table including Covid-19 stuff of all kinds (from vaccination delivery to relief packages), to the filibuster rule, to power sharing in the senate, to impeachment, and on and on. Being up against McConnell, we all might wish that LBJ were the majority leader instead of Schumer and LBJ were the president instead of Biden, and we are all glad if Pelosi is at the table on everything and not just on House stuff, but we have to play the hand we are dealt, not the hand we want. All that said, assume that among the other arrows in his quiver, McConnell has the ability to determine whether or not Trump will be convicted and barred from office as well as cooperate on other matters. So, here's the tests you might take to assess your cognitive ability and your political savvy: When the grand bargain is revealed, what will be the issues that are part of that bargain and who will have gotten what, i.e., what will the outcome be? Put another way, would you put your money on McConnell or his negotiating opponents? Or maybe no grand bargain but instead slug out every issue, issue by issue, and then whom would you put your money on?

"Essential Worker" re Vaccination Protocol (Lawyers?)

The term "essential worker" is a term of art for purposes of Covid-19 vaccinations. You might be surprised to learn that, under the CDC guidelines, lawyers are "essential workers." That said, when it comes to "essential workers," there are "frontline essential workers" who get 1-b status and plain "essential workers" who get 1-c status. It's over my paygrade to go any further. You just might check how it works in your state and county. And there might be some conflict of interpretation (e.g., Mayo classifies lawyers as 1-c but the president of the Arizona State Bar says lawyers are 1-b).

Five Reasons to Wear Masks Post-Vaccination

 [It would be wonderful if, once vaccinated, everyone could get back to pre-2020 normal. Alas, until there's herd immunity, the best hope for ending the pandemic isn’t to choose between masks, physical distancing and vaccines, but to combine them. From Kaiser Health News: Link to Full Article] 

1. No vaccine is 100% effective.

Large clinical trials found that two doses of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines prevented 95% of illnesses caused by the coronavirus. While those results are impressive, 1 in 20 people are left unprotected.In the real world, vaccines are usually slightly less effective. Scientists use specific terms to describe the phenomenon. They refer to the protection offered by vaccines in clinical trials as “efficacy,” while the actual immunity seen in a vaccinated population is “effectiveness.”

2. Vaccines don’t provide immediate protection.

No vaccine is effective right away. Full protection won’t arrive until five or six weeks after the first shot. So, a person vaccinated on New Year’s Day won’t be fully protected until Valentine’s Day.

3. Covid vaccines may not prevent you from spreading the virus.

“We don’t yet know if the vaccine protects against infection, or only against illness,” said Frieden, now CEO of Resolve to Save Lives, a global public health initiative. “In other words, a vaccinated person might still be able to spread the virus, even if they don’t feel sick.”

4. Masks protect people with compromised immune systems.

5. Masks protect against any strain of the coronavirus, in spite of genetic mutations.

See this link re vaccines' loss of potency viz new variants: Link to Article From Nature

Some Interesting Questions on Trump's Future

1. Many Republicans surely would like to be rid of Trump but cannot bring themselves to vote to impeach him, and will either cling to the supposed defense that a former president may not be impeached (the Dershowitz position as outlined in the WSJ and elsewhere) or that the riotous mob  had planned the attack on their own so Trump did not cause the insurrection (the McConnell "provoked' position). However, do not be surprised, and remember you heard it hear first and it is what I predict will happen, when the Senate votes first to censure Trump and then, needing only a majority, votes to apply the 14th Amendment to ban him from holding future federal office, which will then be declared to have preempted the need for an impeachment trial.

2. Do not be surprised if Trump is indicted and prosecuted for inciting and perhaps even being a conspirator in the January 6 assault on the Capitol. In that event, how does a jury get impaneled for that case? Are those who were appalled by the riot disqualified for cause? Are those who think the election was stolen disqualified for cause? Same questions for those who voted for or against Trump.

The Impeachment Managers Read This Blog or the NYT Has Again Forwarded My Stuff

Eight days ago, a post appeared on this blog, and a letter sent to the NYT, suggesting that, rather than do a traditional trial-type presentation for the second impeachment as was done for the first, and was boring as a box of bricks, that the impeachment managers do a multi-presentation. As reported in WaPo, it looks like that's exactly what's going to happen and precisely because of the reasons stated in the blog post and NYT letter: Link to WaPo Article

Bridgerton: Season 2

Netflix has given the go-ahead to shoot a second season of Bridgerton. Rest assured, the people and stories should remain as insipid as ever, but there's no reason to believe it will be any less entertaining. I wish I could, but I'm under a strict NDA, tell you whether the porn level might be raised.

Get Shorty (TV Series on Amazon Prime)

Some people apparently were unaware that, in addition to being a movie, Get Shorty also was a TV series, and it's very funny. It's 3 seasons and a total of 27 episodes, with a fantastic-headed cast of Chris O'Dowd and Ray Romano. Unless you're made of stone or a Trump-hater (just kidding on the Trump-hater), there is no way you won't fall in love with a story that presents the adventures of a mobster-turned-movie producer in Hollywood. If you hear this was recommended by a loyal reader, that's a lie--told by someone who doesn't know what a "loyal reader" is.

IMDb Link to Get Shorty

LG Exiting the Smartphone Market

LG makes nice looking cellphones. But, there is good chance it will leave the market this year. So, you might consider twice before buying an LG phone. Just saying. 

Fixing Vertical Black Streaks When Copying or Scanning

If your multi-function machine starts copying or scanning or printing with black vertical streaks, first determine if it's a copy, print, or auto-feed function. First, print something and if there are no streaks, it's not a print function. Then make a single copy not using the auto-feeder, and if no streaks, it's an auto-feeder problem. Then open the auto-feeder and clean the white bar and the glass bar, and that should solve the problem. If not, ask The Google.  

Tip re Rescheduling Vaccine Appointments in Phoenix (Change of Dates and of Locations)

Once you have a vaccine appointment, the process for changing is easy. There is a button called "Reschedule Appointment." Click on it, and then pick the day you want, and just keep hitting the Search button over and over and over again. You might tire and give up and come back later or an availability might show up. Note that rescheduling might also allow a change in location, so if your original appointment was at State Farm Stadium, you might be able to change to Phoenix Muni. In all events, if you get the chance to reschedule, you need to move with alacrity or it could be gone. 

Benefits of Procrastination: Letting Medical Advances Catch Up to You

Procrastination usually is thought of not as a good thing. But, when it comes to medical advances, the longer you wait, the better the methods of prevention, diagnosis and treatment are likely to become. That’s true for almost every field of medicine — cardiology, gastroenterology, oncology, etc. And it may be particularly relevant for orthopedic surgery, a specialty facing ever-increasing demands from an aging population with bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles that break down after decades of wear and tear. Link to Full NYT Article

What's My Name: Muhammed Ali (2019 on HBO)

What's My Name is a 1.5H story of Muhammed Ali. It's fantastic, largely because he's fantastic. It captures so much of the time and the people and racism and our country that I'm not insightful enough to describe it in words. You don't have to like boxing. You just have to have a curiosity about a slice of history, that unfortunately is not behind us, and an interest in one amazing human being to be enthralled.  

IMDb Link to What's My Name

One of the Greatest Birthday Presents Ever

The recipient of this birthday present (and it is not me) loves crossword puzzles (I do love crossword puzzles but still, this was not for me). What appears below is the cake his kids baked him for his birthday (and how they did it is beyond me):

 

Lupin PS

We gave Lupin (Netflix Original Series) a positive review after one episode. Each subsequent episode is better than the previous one. This would be a must-see series, but it just ends after Episode 5 and nothing is wrapped up. And they don't even tell you that it's ended. They just take it off your Netflix list.   

Making Lemonade If Your Computer Becomes a Lemon

When it comes to technology, one's computer blowing up is one of the most stressful and difficult experiences one might have. Even if your computer is fixable (e.g., the motherboard went back), it would be days before you find out, in which event you likely don't want to wait so you buy a new computer. You then spend hours bringing up to speed and trying to get everything how you liked it. Then, it turns out your blooey computer just needed a new motherboard and it was covered by warranty, and so back it comes. By now, your set on your second computer. You would be able to return it if you bought it from Costco but you probably didn't because your needed it the next day so you bought it from Amazon and it is not subject to return because it's not defective. So, you sigh, and put your original computer on a shelf. Then, shzam, it hits you, why wait for your replacement computer to blow up before re-setting up your original computer? There is no reason to wait, and, indeed, by bringing up the original computer now you can do so leisurely, without any pressure, and you have your second computer to reference to get all your settings the way you like them. So, the lesson is this: If you can afford it, consider getting and setting up a back-up computer. You can get one that will work great for less than you'd pay for a new smart phone. 

Trump Could Be Impeached: Miracles Happen

Trump is having difficulty finding a reputable lawyer to defend him in the impeachment trial. If the below report turns out to be what happens, you can be certain there will be no reputable lawyer appearing in Trump's defense, and as even Karl Rove admits, if the defense is that the election was stolen by voter fraud, conviction becomes the likely outcome.

"Rudy Giuliani says he will be a part of President Donald Trump's defense team in his upcoming impeachment trial. Giuliani spoke to ABC News about the defense, saying he plans to argue that the president's widely debunked claims of voter fraud are true and that they did not incite violence. 'I'm involved right now ... that's what I'm working on,' Giuliani told ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl. A few hours later, Giuliani -- who led the president's efforts to overturn the 2020 election results -- was spotted at the White House. If the effort to dismiss the impeachment article fails, Giuliani also said he wouldn't rule out the president testifying."  Link to Quote Source 

The other shoe that might drop is that Trump pardons the January 6 rioters. If he doesn't, he just might lose the core and enthusiasm of the base he has left. But, of course, if he does issue such pardons (which would be effective just as Carter's blanket pardons of draft dodgers was), even 17+ senators might find that a step too far.

If you don't believe in miracles, don't watch this: Link to Proof of Miracles

Stasher: For the Sake of the Planet and Especially the Oceans

Saving left-overs is a good thing. But wrapping them in clear-wrap which is not recyclable or aluminum foil which is not airtight and too often not recycled is bad. Just ask the oceans which are getting inundated with plastic. Stasher, which is made from silicone, and is available everywhere is re-useable, airtight, dishwasher safe, and freezer safe, and conforms in size to the food you store in it so it is efficient space-wise. Pyrex is an acceptable alternative but is not always air tight and does not conform to the size of the stored food. Zip-lock bags are re-useable and hence acceptable but they are not that easy to clean between uses.

Link to Stasher Website 

How the Republicans Could Do Good By Not Showing Up

Text of Letter to NYT: "While getting 17 Republicans to vote to convict Trump in the Senate impeachment trial might be impossible, there is a way for the Republicans to allow a conviction to go through without endorsing it. Specifically, consistent with their already stated position that impeachment is not necessary and even improper given that Trump will no longer be in office, the Republicans unwilling to convict need simply announce they will not participate in this “sham” proceeding and will not show up for the senate trial. As long as one Republican does show up (and Romney, Toomey, and Murkowski surely will), then there will be a senate quorum and conviction can be had without even one Republican vote given that all that’s needed to convict is 2/3 of those present. And after that, barring Trump from holding future federal office needs only a majority vote of those present. In this way, the Republicans could do far more for this country by not showing up than they have done in the past four years when they have shown up."

Glimmer of Hope: Trump's Poll Numbers

Although the poll numbers remain depressing and scary in terms of the number of morons who continue to believe the election was stolen and on other metrics, at least a majority of those polled say Trump should be impeached and convicted and, according to Pew, Trump's approval rating has dropped to 29% (much as GWB's did at the end of his failed term). So, maybe, just maybe, although still shockingly and disturbingly high, the number of morons in what Clinton called the basket of deplorables is not the 40% it had been feared to be.  

Another Better Analogy: Vandalism Not Fascism

Trumpism's Fascist underpinnings are undeniable. But, in reality, where the Fascist states of the 20th Century aimed for world domination, Trumpism might be better seen as a return of the Vandali (the Latin name for the tribe of Germanic people who sacked Rome in 445 AD). These vandals had no goal of creating a great state or nation or dominating the world. They just wanted to bring down an empire whose elites they believed had sneered at them, snubbed them, and left them without a voice. In essence, then, MAGA was never intended to build anything (except statues to an insane ego)--its goal was to get rid of the America these vandals felt had left them behind and cared for them not at all. With 25,000 troops now in place to guard the Capitol, it is said that our democracy has held. Maybe so. I hope so. But history tells us that once brute force is the main safeguard against chaos and sacking, one's confidence in its ability to hold often is mistaken for hubris. Indeed, that's why empires fall. See Link to Apt Song

 

Some More New Cool Tech

Rapid Freezing Machine: From coldsnap.com, this is not just an ice cream maker, but it will also make smoothies, protein shakes, frozen yogurt, and, as if that weren't enough, margaritas. Link to coldnsap Website Not surprisingly, Jimmy Buffett has endorsed it: Link to JB's Endorsement

 

Fila Tata Pad and Tata Band: How many times have you driven with your toddler to the store or to a restaurant or to fitness center, and after you've gone inside and been there for a while, you've slapped your head because you forgot you had left the toddler in your car? Now, with these sensors, once you walk away from your car and have forgotten your toddler, you will get an alert on your phone. Link to Tata Pad Website

Toto Wellness Toilet: The Wellness Toilet is a Toto concept that senses and analyzes the user's "body and key outputs" to provide recommendations on ways to improve their health. In a connected app, you'd be able to view your stats, and see those improvement diet recommendations such as eat more salmon. Toto also points to the unique combination of skin sensing and human outputs as the toilet's advantage in the wellness landscape. If you've ever provided samples at your doctor's office, you know there's a wealth of information just waiting to be gleaned.

Easier Hazardous Waste Disposal in Phoenix: They Will Pick It Up

Starting Jan. 19, the Public Works Department is offering "a 6-month pilot program that assists solid waste residential customers with the proper disposal of their household hazardous waste items (HHW)." While all the details are on the linked website, if you are a current Phoenix city services customers, you can have hazardous waste picked up instead of having to drop it off which you can still do. Now, there is no excuse for throwing in the trash batteries, paint, chemicals etc. 

Link to Explanatory Website

Some New Cool "Invisible" Tech

Wireless Charger: If you're into wireless charging (Qi), and you should be because it's so much easier than having to plug in your phone, Kew labs has a wireless charger that you tape to the underside of your non-metallic desk or table and it works right through it so you don't even see the charging pad. Link to Kew Labs Website

Touchless Faucets and Toilets: Moen and Kohler have a variety of smart touchless faucets and toilets, including faucets that stay on for 20 seconds so you don't short-change your hand-washing and toilets that open as you approach them and automatically flushes as you walk away.

Transparent, Collapsible Televisions: LG Display has an array of televisions that will "disappear" when not in use and which you can even see through if you are watching something where you don't care to see the picture. Some can be pricey but $18,000 is not that much when you think about it. 

Lupin (2021 Series on Netflix)

Lupin is a 7-episode series set in France and done in French (although there are subtitles for anyone who does not speak The French) with each episode is 1-hour. The series is inspired by the adventures of Arsène Lupin, as gentleman thief Assane Diop sets out to avenge his father for an injustice inflicted by a wealthy family. The first episode is definitely worth watching--it grabs your attention quick and holds onto it with a quick enough pace albeit it has dalliances of chronological fancy. It could turn out to be a bore and silly like Money Heist, but it could hold up and turn out to be a terrific series.

IMDb Link to Lupin

Last Update on Fox News

Whatever small step Fox News took to disassociate itself from the Trumpian lies of voter fraud and campaign to undo the election that ultimately culminated in the assault on the Capitol, it's stepped back. Now the major themes being pounded out on Fox News are: there's no longer any need to impeach because Trump's term is about up and will be up on January 20; the impeachment process has been tainted in view of how it was rushed through with no hearings or presentation of evidence in the House; any talk of impeachment (or anything else that's even mildly anti-Republican) should give way to the need for unity; the more important issue now is social media's stifling free speech; and the assault on the Capitol in terms of damage to business and lives lost and injury is no greater and morally the equivalent of the summer BLM protests which the Democrats did not condemn. Although I've felt a duty to keep loyal readers updated on how Fox News sees things, I cannot watch it anymore. In short, the divide in this country is real and is surely not going away with calls for unity: Both sides see their struggle as one for the soul of the country and the preservation of American ... they just have different understandings of "soul" and "America."  

Covid-19 Vaccinations in Maricopa County Will Open to 65s Tuesday January 19

I have been informed by the daughter of a loyal reader that the age has now dropped to 65 for getting the Covid-19 vaccine in Maricopa County, Arizona, starting Tuesday, January 19.

Some Interesting Impeachment Questions

1. If it is shown that the assault on the capitol was planned ahead of time by extremists, is that a defense to the impeachment charge?

2. The Constitution states that “when the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside.” Trump won't be president. Who presides?  [Courtesy of a loyal reader]

3. Who pays for Trump’s lawyers at the Senate impeachment trial?

4. Can Giuliani be called to testify as a witness given his participation in the rally and in trying to invalidate the election?

5. Same question re Don Jr?

6. Is there subpoena power to be able to compel depositions and trial testimony? 

 

Scope of Impeachment

Text of Letter to NYT: "Given that Senator McConnell will not hold an impeachment trial, there is no impediment to the House adding and sending to the Senate additional articles of impeachment, and good reasons for them to do so. Specifically, Trump’s efforts to have Georgia “find” enough votes to change the result, which was part of a concerted effort to overturn the election through lies and deceit, are deserving of impeachment. Further, because there is no double jeopardy in impeachment cases, the House ought to re-submit the Ukraine impeachment articles because, with the Democrats in control, the Senate could now actually hear the evidence (from Bolton and others) that the Republicans stopped from being presented. In this way, the Senate would have a mulligan that would enable them to correct their earlier rationale for voting not to convict and send a message to all future presidents about what happens when they did not “learn their lesson” the first time."

Suggestion re Impeachment Trial in the Senate

 As fantastic a lawyering job as Adam Schiff did in the first impeachment, a performance likely no one could equal, it fell short in two critical ways: (i) it was highly repetitive and ultimately boring in part at least because all the managers had to make multiple presentations–which in the main they just read; and (ii) with the exception of some blow-ups that were over-done (as some have seen in other contexts), it was a uni-dimensional legal presentation much akin to appellate arguments directed to a panel instead of being a multi-dimensional presentation aimed equally at the senators and the TV audience. Given that, my suggestion is this: Instead of making a legalistic/appellate-style presentation of essentially speeches by the managers, do a 22 minute film presentation that starts with Trump’s pre-November rally and other statements that the election was being rigged, and then goes to his post-election statements that the election was stolen and democracy was being hijacked, and then to his demonization of Pence, and then to the January 6 rally statements by Don Jr., Giuliani, and Trump, and then to the riot, and then to his post-January 6 statements, and then to his various confirmations of lack of remorse, etc. etc. In short: One fantastic 22 minute visual is worth a lot more than a million words. 

Impeachment Fact Not Widely Known

[Prefatory Note: This was brought to my attention by someone way smarter than me. I bring it to your attention because it very well might change your thinking as to the chances of Trump's being convicted in the Senate]

Article I, Section 3 provides that conviction in the senate shall take place with two-thirds of the members present … not 2/3 of the senate … so, it will not take 17 Republicans to convict.

 

Moderna Said to Last at Least a Year

Moderna said it is confident that the immunity created by its Covid-19 vaccine will last at least one year.

Link to Source

Note re Norton Security Software Accuracy

It has been reported by an occasional reader that Norton has coded my blog's website as a "suspicious" link. I don't know what to say. All I can think of is that the Failing NYT does not like what I've said about them on occasion and, instead of stepping up and admitting how they steal my stuff (which has given rise to the fast-growing movement called "Stop the Steal"), has sullied my impeccable name. 

Tips on Vaccine Registration in Maricopa County, AZ

[This is courtesy of the daughter of a loyal reader]

Although you cannot actually make an appointment until your group's date comes up, you can in effect set up an "account," that is, you can be sure your name and password are set up before-hand and then, when they open up your group, you're ready to go. Just go to Link to Setup Login Account  (which you can also copy and paste as https://podvaccine.azdhs.gov/) and try to make an appointment even though you cannot do so.

When you make the login account, use chrome or firefox and do NOT use a .cox, .edu, or .gov email (although it's been reported cox.net might be working now). If you don't have one, get yourself a gmail account. Also there is a two-part authentication process which can be a little confusing. You need to have two browser windows open to do it.  If you don't get the verification email, check your junk mail. Change the password to a password you want.

Once you are logged in, and you're group's date comes up (or perhaps the day before), then you can book an appointment.  To search for appointment, you have to click on each day to check availability. If you're a married couple or have a dependent, you do not need two accounts. Rather, instead of "booking for self," choose "book for other" and then "dependent or family member."  Then all appointment info will be sent to your email.   Also, if you are having trouble finding an appointment time, keep checking.  

Alternatively, some pharmacies will be or perhaps even now are scheduling appointments.  I have not gone through the process.  To access that go to Link to Pharmacy Registration Site or cut and paste this link: https://www.maricopa.gov/5659/COVID-19-Vaccine-Locations#pharmacy).

For general info, go to Link to General Info  or cut and paste this site: https://www.maricopa.gov/5651/Phase-1B).

Update: The CDC has revised its recommendations that people 65 and older (instead of 75 and older) be included in Group l-B, but the decision to actually do so is left up to each state.

The 25th Amendment Does Not Remove a President

A loyal reader, with perhaps a deep understanding of the constitution but more than likely just read it, has pointed that, under both Sections 3 and 4 of the 25th Amendment, a president is not removed from office. He or she remains President, but without any authority, all of which is transferred to the Vice President, who becomes "Acting President." See Section 3 ("such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President") and Section 4 ("the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President"), and in both instances the powers may be re-assumed by the President. So, even if Pence were to invoke and execute the 25th Amendment, impeachment, conviction, and barring from federal office must still be on the table. 

Cox: Perhaps Now Is a Time to Look for a Discount

[Prefatory Note: This post pertains to Cox, but, while the contact number will different, a similar approach might work with other cable (TV, internet, phone) providers]

Cox changes its promotions at least every quarter and perhaps more often. They might also just make it up as they go on the fly. That said, they just might be making available a significant discount if you sign up for 1-year of service (there's a $120 early termination fee but it reduces by $10/month and the savings you get make it worthwhile viz the ETF in just a couple of months). There's no guarantee this will work for everyone (although I can report one instance where it did), but here's what to try:

1. Phone 800-234-3993 and say you've talked to several reps about your current billing and you'd please like to talk to a supervisor. Ultimately, you should get through to a supervisor.

2. Explain to the supervisor that you very much would like to have done whatever might be able to be done to lower your monthly bill, and that you  understand there might be a 1-year service option that could do so.

 

Go Daddy Website Hosting

I have not compared Go Daddy's website hosting with its competitors on price or anything else, but I can say their customer service is excellent. If you encounter an issue (e.g., billing), you can get through quickly to a rep and have the matter resolved quickly and efficiently (unlike Cox which is impossible to deal with). 

How Fox News Is Covering All This

Fox News's major focus at this point is the shutting down of Trump's Twitter and Facebook accounts and the closing of Parlour, which they see as a "5 alarm fire" in terms of free speech and antitrust, their main point being that it is hypocritical to shut down Trump for urging violence against the United States when the Ayatollah of Iran is allowed to keep his social media accounts. Oh please. Its spends modest time attacking efforts to impeach or remove the president through comments and guests yapping about how unprecedented it would be. Oh please. Bottom-line: Fox News appears unchastened.

How to Put the Republicans on Record

[What follows is the text of a letter to the Failing NYT. It will never be published of course. It is a virtual certainty it will find its way into a column]

"If an impeachment vote in the House is held now and a trial in the Senate is held before Trump leaves office, the Republicans who want to vote against it will do so on the ground that he has only a few days left in office. If the Senate trial is held after he leaves office, the Republicans who want to vote against conviction will do so on the ground that he already is out of office. The first option then is akin to saying it is a defense to impeachment once one’s remaining term is short. The second option is akin to saying it is a defense to impeachment (and being barred from holding future office) once one’s term has ended. So, what Speaker Pelosi and then Majority Leader Schumer should do is this: Put a resolution on each floor that states as follows: Without impairing or preempting [this chamber’s] right and prerogative to impeach or conduct an impeachment trial of Donald J. Trump, [this chamber] resolves that Donald J. Trump has committed at least one impeachable offense for which he is hereby censored. In that way, each legislator will have to be on record as to their view as to whether or not what Trump did was an impeachable defense even if they have some “other reason” for voting not to impeach or convict. The constitution and the American people deserve to know at least that."

The Susan Collins Award for Idiocy

CBS’ Margaret Brennan asked Republican Senator Roy Blunt (who is in so-called party leadership postion) if he agrees with the two Republican senators saying the president should resign. Blunt signaled he’s not supportive of that idea, saying Trump should just “finish the last 10 days of his presidency.” He slammed the president for his “clearly reckless” actions on the day of the riots, but Brennan questioned him on whether Republicans will hold him “accountable in any way.” Blunt sidestepped a bit and said, “Well, I think the country is the right way to hold presidents accountable.” He added, “The president should be very careful over the next 10 days that his behavior is what you’d expect from the leader of the greatest country in the world. Now, my personal view is that the president touched the hot stove on Wednesday and is unlikely to touch it again.”

The Most Despicable Lawyer and Law School in the World

Alan Dershowitz: In sharp contrast to Chris Christie and the obvious, that if what Trump did is not impeachable, then there is no such thing as an impeachable offense, Dershowitz said that Trump's conduct "comes within core political speech, and to impeach a president for exercising his First Amendment rights would be so dangerous to the Constitution"--and an impeachment  "would lie around like a loaded weapon ready to be used by either party against the other party, and that’s not what impeachment or the 25th Amendment were intended to be." Is the word "sanity" unknown about retired law professors?

Harvard Law School: He still has the title, albeit as Emeritus, of being the Felix Frankfurter Professor of Law at The Harvard Law School. Is the word "disassociate" unknown to THE HLS?

Blanket Pardons Might Insure Prosecution of Trump's Family

While the law is not settled (certainly not by the Supreme Court), there is a strong argument that blank pardons and amnesty are unconstitutional and ineffective. In all events, just as was noted in yesterday's post re Trump pardoning himself, should he issue blanket pardons or amnesty to his family or others, such an action likely would and certainly should command the DOJ to test their legality by bringing prosecutions.

Why Trump Might Be Smart Not to Self-Pardon

If Trump pardons himself, there is virtually no way the DOJ cannot test the legality of that move, and indict him. If he does not pardon himself, and especially if he is impeached, one can see DOJ letting him go.  

The Better Analogy: Post Civil War, Not Chamberlain/Hitler

There's been much commentary invoking the Chamberlin/Hitler analogy to take strong action against Trump. There is no dispute Trump needs to be ousted from office now and barred from holding future office. But the Chamberlin/Hitler not the right one and not the best one. Chamberlin was trying to stop Hitler from invading any other country. What Trump and his officers and army did was insurrection from within in an effort to usurp our democracy and our constitution and our country. In essence, then, it is akin to what the South did in waging the Civil War. Just as it was a mistake after the Civil War to in effect say to the South, okay, we need to heal and unite again, and let the South go on and build its culture and society of racial segregation, so too it is a mistake for Biden or others to say now, we need to heal and unite. The mistake after the Civil War was to not cleanse the country of those who supported the insurrection. It would be tragedy to commit the same mistake again. In fine, then, it is time to get rid of not just Trump, but also those who served as officers in his insurrectionist army, including first Hawley and Cruz. Sherrod Brown is right … expel them from the Senate, along with others in the Senate, and the same goes for those in the House who voted in violation of the constitution to overturn the election.

PS: Nothing in the foregoing should be read to conclude that the dark forces of the Fascist/Nazi spirit do not underlie and serve to fan the flames of what distinguishes the moronic Trump cultists from normal, decent human beings.

PS re Enforcement of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment

[An earlier post, based on a comment by non-lawyer David Brooks, tossed out the possibility of removing Trump from office under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. We had our staff do some research on the issue and it does not seem that it should be considered in lieu of impeachment and removal but perhaps in addition to]

Section 3 of the 14th Amendment disqualifies persons from holding civil office who, after taking an oath to support federal or state governments, engages in insurrection against the same.  However, section 3 has been held to be non-self-enforcing.  That is, it has been held to possess no effect until Congress invokes its power under section 5 of the 14th amendment to give it effect.  See Griffin's Case, 11 Fed. Cas. 7 (C.C.D. Va. 1869).  

Following the Civil War, the Congress enacted legislation that applied to persons who engaged in insurrection against state or federal governments to which they had respectively taken oaths, but, it likely applied only to persons who did so during the period 1860-65.  In any event, Congress repealed that Act in 1898, declaring that "the disability imposed by section three of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States heretofore incurred is hereby removed" (30 Stat. 432).  Therefore, no federal enforcing legislation appears to be in effect.

The 117th Congress may have the power under section 3 to enact legislation that applies to persons who invaded the Capitol on January 6 and to persons who gave "aid and comfort" to them, depending upon whether courts agree that the invasion constituted "insurrection" under section 3. And, if the 117th Congress has such power, it could exercise it without having first impeached Trump.  But it would be up to the courts to decide whether Trump did, indeed, give "aid and comfort" to those who invaded the Capitol.

Congress as "Essential Workers": Really?

Essential workers (doctors, nurses, bus drivers, grocery clerks) and many others work on weekends. If there is a substantial risk in leaving Trump in office even one more day than necessary (and surely there is), the House might be reminded that there is no law preventing them from reporting out any article(s) of impeachment on Saturday instead of taking the weekend off and delaying until Monday. At the very least, given they are not doing so, they and their aides should be stripped of their so-called "essential worker status" that enables them to get vaccinated ahead of everyone else.

PS: Although for naught, submitted in slightly different form to the NYT. So, expect to see the point noted in a Sunday Review column.

Invoke Article 3 of the 14th Amendment to Bar Trump From Office

How about invoking Article 3 of the 14th Amendment, which states: "No Person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability."

Shame on the Golf, the LPGA and Annika Sorenstam

 On Thursday, January 7, the day after Trump incited a mob to commit insurrection, sedition, and murder, and occupy the Capitol, he held a private ceremony in which he gave the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Annika Sorenstam and Gary Player, and they accepted. Let's put Gary Player aside because, other than having a stellar career and a swing and follow-through that a certain young, short golf tried to emulate, he's not worth mentioning (e.g., he supported his home country's (South Africa's) apartheid policies). But Annika is another story. She has long been one of the stellar embodiments of the LPGA, both because of her golf accomplishments and her seeming character. It was certainly stained when she re-tweeted Jack Nicklaus's endorsement of Trump, but that was then. That she went through this ceremony is not just disappointing, it's appalling. The LPGA, if it has any character, and it likely does not, should disassociate her from them.

PS: Babe Didrickson Zaharias (considered the greatest female athlete of all time) also was honored. She can be excused for not shunning the ceremony. Although, it might be said she did. She died long before Trump popped onto the scene.

Link to Confirming Story

How Do We Solve a Problem Like Lindsey Graham?

There's no way to understand Lindsey Graham other than God's way of showing us that a remora, while often in fish form, apparently can take the guise of a seeming human. First, he had John McCain, who unfortunately died, leaving LG without his dolphin to attach his suction cups to. Then, he turned to Donald Trump, who, in addition to some relatively lesser offenses such as abusing his power and attempting to corrupt an election, unfortunately incited insurrection, terrorism, and murder, leaving LG without his shark to attach his suction cups to. To whom might he attach his suction cups to now? Or perhaps the Senate and the Republican party might say to him: Get thee to a nunnery.

How Do We Solve a Problem Song

Another Whole Foods Delivery Tip

 There's no reason not to and every reason to put your delivery order in the morning of the day before you want delivery. Not only will that give you more choices as to delivery time, but you can add to your order until the shopping begins which won't be until the next morning at the earliest, so you can add to the order all day long and into the night and even very early the next morning. See All Day Long Reminder

Some Questions Post the Events of January 6

[Prefatory Note: Where the answer is obvious, the question is marked by an asterisk (*)]

1. Should Trump be removed from office immediately as well as being impeached and convicted and voted to be barred from ever again holding office?*

2. Should Trump be prosecuted for engaging in terrorist activities?* 

3. Given that the videotapes and cellphone tracking would disclose the identities of every mob participant who was in the Capitol building yesterday, is there any justification for all of them not to be arrested?*

4. If the demographic make-up and signage of yesterday's mob looked like the demographic make-up and signage of the BLM protests, might law enforcement have been a bit different?* [Hint: Does anyone remember one BLM or even any left-wing protest where the story was in whole or in part the lack of force used by law enforcement or lack of law enforcement?]

5. Do the people resigning their Trump administration positions at this point deserve any credit?*

6. Do the senators and representatives who had "changes of heart" on objecting to the election deserve any credit?* [Hint: Would anything short of an armed insurrection caused any "change of heart"?]

7. Might and should any president's power over the nuclear codes be subject to some kind of check?*

8. What will the polls show re Trump's approval ratings?

9. Will Trump go down in history as the worst and most dangerous president ever?*

10. Will Hawley or Cruz (or whomever it is declare he will restore Trumpism) be the 2024 Republican nominee for president?

11. If the core of Trump's power over legislatures is the ability to "primary them," is it time for term limits?

12. As a loyal reader commented, might the two scenarios set out in yesterday's post, positing two directions the country might go in, both happen? 

Bonus Question: Is there any reason to impeach Trump?* [Hints: He abused his power and promoted an act of terrorism re the siege of the Capitol and his Georgia phone call; make him the only president to be impeached twice; make the Republicans go on record; see who his lawyers will be and what they will say; it's worth a shot if the Senate does convict to have him barred from ever holding federal office; the original abuse of power impeachment involving Ukraine can be re-litigated (there's no double jeopardy when it comes to impeachment and with Dems in control, all the evidence can be presented and Bolton forced to testify; and it's always good and right to do the right thing]  PS: This was submitted in letter form (amended to include the Georgia phone call) and accepted for publication by the Arizona Republic within 5 minutes of its being submitted.

 

Lab Work Done at Home (by Unique Lab Services) PS

Two posts have noted the possibility of having blood work by someone coming to your house instead of having to go into a lab. Those posts were done before I had first-hand knowledge of the blood work actually being done. Now, I have such knowledge, and my view of them is enhanced. You will get a call the day before your appointment to set a specific time, the tech (if asked) will call when he's a few minutes away, the tech comes right on time, it can be done outside without the tech coming into your house, it's totally professional, it's over in a jiff, and it's covered by Medicare and likely other insurers. 

Link to Earlier Posts

Link to Unique Lab Services

 

The Events of January 6, 2021

What an astounding day: We have witnessed either the beginning of the end of Trumpism and the making of America America again or the beginning of a new and more virulent mutation of Trumpism. We know which side Trump is on with a bunch of insane cultists being towed along. It remains to be seen, now that they get a new chance to pick sides, which side 140 House Republicans, and 14 Republican Senators, along with the Fox News echo chamber, are on.

Trump May and Should Be Impeached Even Upon Leaving Office

Trump and Trumpism are indisputably a threat to America's democracy and its position in the world as a defender of democracy and force for stability. The Republicans' kowtowing to Trump is nothing less than a shameless obsession with power as well as a Faustian bargain with evil. But, unless the Democrats press to the extent they can the point that no one in America, not even a president, is above the law, and that when a president goes off the constitutional rails, they will do what the constitution tells them to do, the Democrats are also enablers. Thus, if all the Democrats do is mouth platitudes and name-call, they might remain smug in being marginally better than the Republicans, but they will have done nothing to restore the integrity of the Republic in the eyes of anyone here or abroad, friend or foe. Hence, the House should, indeed must, immediately impeach Trump for the Georgia phone call and his assault on the election, so that the Senate in 2021 gets a do-over on the conviction and a chance to vote to bar him from holding office in the future. And, yes, Trump's leaving office does not divest the Congress of the power to do just that.   

Trump's Way Out of the Self-Pardon Problem and Attending the Inauguration

There has been much debate as whether a self-pardon by Trump would hold up in court given that it's never been tested, and some debate about the efficacy of pardoning his children. There also is much questions as to whether or not he will attend the inauguration. Here's how he kills two birds with one stone: Trump pardons everyone he wants including himself and his family on or before January 18 and resigns the office, Pence becomes president, and then Pence on January 19 pardons Trump and his family, and attends the inauguration which Trump likely will not be invited to attend.  

Do Covid-19 Vaccines Just Protect the Individual Or Do They Also Stop the Spread?

[From the WSJ]

Plans have stalled for a large study on U.S. college campuses that was intended to answer a question critical to the coronavirus pandemic response: Do the new Covid-19 vaccines stop the virus from spreading, in addition to protecting individuals from getting sick? A network of medical researchers who have helped run federally funded studies of Covid-19 vaccines were hoping to start a clinical trial of Moderna Inc.’s shot in more than 20,000 college students in January. The study would test whether the vaccine prevented transmission of the coronavirus from person to person and whether it prevented infections that don’t trigger symptoms. But last week, the researchers told about 20 universities that were considering participating in the study that it wouldn’t move forward yet, according to people involved in the effort. The researchers weren’t able to secure federal funding for the trial, which would have cost several hundred million dollars, and faced time constraints in getting the complex study up and running so it could yield results before students ended the spring semester. 

Link to WSJ Article

Recommended Espresso Maker: The Nuova Simonelli Appia Life Compact

Of course, you can skimp when buying your espresso maker. But, if you're like me and Wolfgang Puck and keep your espressor maker going all day for yourself and company, you don't want to do that. Go for the Nuova Simonelli Appia Life Compact (which you can get in red) with the standard capacity water system for just $8,000. Wolf not only has it at home, he has a similar model in his restaurants.

Link to Nuova Simonelli Website

TV Remote Controls: More Complicated Than You Might Think

While TV remote control technology might becoming more standard, different TVs, even of the same brand, have different "connection" modes, from IR to bluetooth (in which event only 1 remote can pair at a time with the TV) to who knows what. You won't think about it unless you lose your remote or you have only one TV remote (having foolishly not bought a backup earlier) and it goes blooey (in which events you need to check carefully that the replacement, be it a universal or branded, is compatible and will operate the smart functions of your TV). Of course, it can take a couple of days or longer for the new remote to arrive, but there is likely an app available for your phone that will control your control. Again, not all apps work with all TVs (even apps and TVs with the same brand), and they might not be obvious how to set up, so rather than wait until you need it to get to your smart TV functions, you might install one and get it set up ahead of time. Finally, of course, as to the smart functions, if you have a Firestick or Roku stick, they can handle your streaming until the new remote arrives or the app is downloaded and working.

Link to Joni Mitchell's Take on the Isse 

Hopeful Words Overheard at Shul

 In synagogue last Sabbath, I heard a sweet elderly lady  saying a prayer. She was so innocent and sincere that I just had to share it with you: “Avinu she'ba'shamayim (Our Father in Heaven): This last year has been very tough. You have taken my favorite actors Sean Connery, Kirk Douglas and Diana Rigg; my favorite television host, Alex Trebek; Carl Reiner from ‘Your Show of Shows’; my favorite singer from the 50’s, Little Richard; even Charlie Daniels and Kenny Rogers my two favorite country western singers; and from sports you took Gale Sayers and my favorite basketball player Kobe Bryant. I just wanted you to know that my favorite politicians are Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, and Lindsey Graham. Amen."

Bridgerton (2020 Original Series on Netflix)

This is the 8-episode (1 hour each, boo) first season of Bridgerton. Based on the first episode, it would seem impossible to tell who might like it and who might find it too silly and be totally bored. Take your own shot and see. It focuses on a ridiculous era (the Regency era in England) with people perfectly willing to act accordingly, but perhaps there's an analogy there. In any event, it's beautifully choreographed and shot, with stunning scenes and scenery, and deftly acted with engaging dialogue, and we'll just have to see how engrossing the family intrigues, scandals, and such are going to be. It's worth at least a second episode, and I'm guessing more. As it turns out, the second episode is better than the first, and hooks you on the series. You don't care anymore how stupid the era was or even if this is a fair depiction of it. The people are a hoot.

IMDb Link to Bridgerton

Another Nightmare Scenario

Trump runs against and beats Rubio in 2022 for the Senate seat up in Florida, and becomes majority leader of the Senate assuming the Reps control it which they likely will.  

Yes, Our Federal Government Is Incompetent--But That's Not a Reason to Throw Stones

There’s been a lot of criticism of the federal government’s incompetence dealing with Covid-19--first with testing and now with the so-called “roll-out” of the vaccines. Before throwing stones, we should thank our lucky stars that this was not the government in charge at the time of World War II. Had it been, there is no question we would have lost that war.

Whole Foods Delivery: Minutes to Learn How to Do, a Lifetime to Master

I've been doing Whole Foods delivery for nearly a year now. If you're careful, you'll find much stuff at competitive prices and even stuff that beats the prices of Fry's and Safeway and such. If you order $35, delivery is free, and the optional tip for the delivery person helps someone who needs the income. Putting aside the one drawback that you never know until the shopping is done whether or not you got everything you ordered (although usually there's at most one or two items you don't get), and the other drawback that the shopper might make a mistake (this is quite rare and it's easy to get a no-return refund when that happens), and the one annoying thing that they "start the shopping"--which actually simply means you no longer can add to your list and likely cannot cancel the order--up to 6 hours before your scheduled delivery time which can make it inconvenient as to when you might get a substitution notice, the real challenge is figuring out when the best time is to put in your order and specify the delivery window in terms of maximizing the likelihood of getting everything you want and getting a delivery window you want. I thought I had this figured out and noted so in an earlier post. Forget it. Ignore that post. The whole thing is like when I was trying to impress my then father-in-law by going to the deli Sunday morning to get the brunch schmear and, no matter what I did or how hard I tried or how closely I watched him like a hawk, the deli guy always managed to slip in fatty corned beef instead of the lean corned beef I wanted so that my father-in-law would not belittle me as an incompetent deli food getter.   

What Leaders Do

[Prefatory Note: Submitted as a letter to the AR. Aside from reasons of substance, it's length precludes any likelihood of their publishing it. They prefer short stupid letters]

Whatever  one's view of John McCain's politics or the war he served in, there is no dispute that his refusal to "jump ahead in line" and take the offered "early release" from the Hanoi prison he was tortured and kept in was an act of unbridled heroism, character, and leadership. How many people could have made the same choice is anyone's guess. I wish I could say I would have, but I fear I would fall short. 

Fast forward to the Covid-19 vaccine: While there is an exception here and there (such as Representative Ilhan Omar) who have refused to take the "early vaccination" opportunity offered them, it is sickening to watch elected officials and even their staffers and countless others of privilege elbow their way to the front of the line. By way of example, one can offer many rationales for VP-elect Harris's husband getting vaccinated, but what a glorious modeling message it would have sent for him to have said: My wife and I agreed that, while the CDC guidelines have these "early vaccination" exceptions I can sneak under, I am going to wait my place in line. While it pales in comparison to McCain's heroism, it would have been an act of character and leadership instead of an act of "me first." 

We have spent the last four years watching a person who despises heroism, displays the worst of character, and represents the antithesis of leadership, while idolizing the notion of "me first." If President Biden wants to start putting Trumpism behind us, he needs to stand up, and be a leader, and say: "We are going to lead by example. No one who works for me or any of their family members 'jumps ahead in line.'" It's what leaders do.

Pence's Role at the January 6 Senate Session: Effectively None

Many loyal reader expressed their gratitude for our clarifying explanation as to the limited issue that will be posed when Congress meets on January 6 to certify the election. We have been surprised at how confused many pundits and others are about Pence's role. In short, it is akin to an Oscar presenter opening the envelope and announcing the winner. Yes, there was a goof up a couple of years ago at the Oscars. But in the Senate, as WaPo has explained: "The authors of this process were very aware that the vice president would have intense personal interest in who won. So his role is more symbolic than active. He is supposed to open the envelopes submitted by each state and say out loud how many electors go to each candidate. He’s not even doing the counting — clerks are doing all that for him, said Adav Noti, a director with the Campaign Legal Center and an expert on this normally overlooked role. 'They tell him what the numbers are [for each state], and he reports that back.'"

Link to Full WaPo Article