Welcome to The Now

 With a president elected and the Queen now relieved of her duties as head of state, the country is beginning a life post-colonialism . Keeping in mind its demographics , let's hope that they don't fall victim to the US Military-Industrial-Complex (i.e., they either reject capitalism or decide to do business with countries other than America). 

 It will be closed and it will stay closed during Thanksgiving for the foreseeable future.

       So apparently the relationship between Republicans and Democrats have gone from disagreement-yet-mutual-respect to disdain to thinking that the other is the root of all evil on Earth .  Considering that neither has a locked on the voting majority (about 40% of registered voters identify as independent, and neither Republican and Democratic registered voters can't crack 25%), this shouldn't be a big issue. Sadly, the media, our political system and everyone you'll see or talk to during Thanksgiving believes that Democrats and Republicans are our only option. The vast majority of the American political world ignores that fact that many third parties exist, from "veteran" Green Party and Libertarian Party to the new [Movement for a] People's Party . The mainstream media downplays their significance, while relatively independent social media outlets argue that while both major parties are less than desired, voting third party is a waste of a vote.  In tru

 The enemy in the battle against COVID-19 is not your neighbor who caught COVID and doesn't want to get vaccinated. It's not the co-worker who insists on wearing masks both inside and outside. It's not the relative who has been vaccinated and is speaking out against mandates. The enemy is Pfizer, who is profiteering, covering up data, and attacking/firing anyone who exposes either:

 

 Channing Tatum has made no secret that "G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra" was not something he found of acting in . Among his complaints was the script, no being able to play Snake Eyes (he wanted the only guaranteed non-speaking role ?) and not wanting to be pigeon-holed into being an action star. No sir ; we certainly don't want Tatum to get stuck with that label. Not at all .  I also remember a video where Tatum said he was hesitant because he was worried that G.I. joe may be to propagandistic (for the record, this is that director's resume ).  Anyway, now that America is in a post-"Why-Did-We-Leave-Afghanistan" mood, Hollywood has greenlit a propaganda war/dram/action movie that Tatum and "Venom" star Tom Hardy are attached to. Well, at least he won't have to wear a cheesy battle suit, right? 

 Those who believe that the COVID-19 vaccine will make you immune to the virus need to read this CNN story about someone who has had four shots and is no more protected than someone who had zero , and this Newsweek story about how Florida is experiencing the lowest infection levels in the country .  Reminder: the vaccine is supposed to make sure that you don't die when you catch COVID-19, not prevent you from catching it.  Also: having a universal health care system should have been the solution from the jump. 

When the government gives money to rich people, they usually don't ask for it back . Considering that the US was one of the few industrialized nations to not pay workers during the COVID-19 lockdown, would it hurt so much to let people keep the money? 

 Art by Barry Deutsch. 

The Washington Post's take on before , during and after the Jan 6th event.  Newsweek: Now everyone is talking about how lousy Terry McAuliffe's campaign was. Left Voice: The Center Cannot Hold , indeed.

While it seemed that Fauci's dog-killing story would (finally) sink his public credibility, The Washington Post comes to the rescue, accusing a bipartisan organization of playing favorites .

Compare the Democrats' strategy for self-described socialist India Walton for the Buffalo mayor's race to their strategy for GOP candidate in the VA Governor's race .   In Buffalo, NY Walton was labeled as an ineffective radical by her opposition (who were ignoring the fact that Walton touted the endorsements of establishment and left-leaning Democrats ). Panicking by her primary victory, supporters of Byron Brown (who has been mayor for 16 years) relied on money and votes from Republicans and Independents. Technically-speaking, Brown is not currently a Democrat, so he can keep doing what he's been doing without having to worry about incurring their wrath. In Virginia, Democrats were desperate to get Democratic Terry McAuliffe any traction. Instead of addressing some really bad takes , they decided to flood the Commonwealth with Democratic Party celebrities and act like the election was Biden vs Trump Part II. The truth is McAuliffe had some things in common with Yo

 Especially those in the two major parties. What do they do with your donations? Pay their consultants (who usually give them bad advice) Pay for ads, which: Beg more people for money Beg other people to vote for them Pass along to their other party members... including those you don't agree with policy-wise . You could be using your hard-earned money to invest in yourself or more directly in causes/programs that help people in the way you wish elected official have been doing.  Besides, it's been shown that even when you donate to people who (a) already are well-off or (b) already well-connected they don't listen because there are donors with more money and influence than you who are contributing to these candidates .

 Press Secretary Jen Psaki has COVID-19 . Can we have Universal Health Care now ?