The last few days, I have been driving Ron from different stores to other places he wants to go. Yes he can still drive, but since the doctor talked to him about possible dementia he wants me to drive him everywhere. Plus I have caught him in several forgetful moments the last two days like forgetting to lock a door or forgetting to do something else important, he now shrinks like I hit him when I remind him of it.
It tears the shit out of me. I have never hit or abused Ron, but to see him cringe like I did as a child waiting for the blow … It is killing me. I find my self talking very gently around him, which then bothers him. I find myself checking up behind him like tonight he is cooking supper and I helped him get sauces out and small dishes. Then he noticed me checking the setting on the stove and oven.
That set him off, you don’t trust me. My response was Ron love you asked me what stuff we should get out and have with our supper. I feel this is a rollercoaster I am not prepared for as with my own memories of abuse hitting I go in and out of that same roller coaster. I can not have two of us cycling at the same time.
I have changed how I do my pills so it is clear and no doubt when I take them. I have added a note suggested by Suze to my desk reminding me to take my evening insulin. Again thanks to Suze I added a phone alarm to both Ron’s phone and mine that alert him to take his pills. It worked today, as I walked around trying to figure out why that sound was playing and Ron told me … it is time for me to take my pills.
Right now this is the best I can do. To say I am worried or scared is a large understatement. Please keep suggestions coming. Hugs
Oh a major issue has developed with my computers that I need to dump them and reset them to fix. But not today, not now, and hopefully I have a few days to do it. Tomorrow morning I have to get up at 5AM to get us ready for Ron’s brain scan first thing in the morning. Love to all that care about us, best wishes for all, and hugs for those that want them. Scottie
This approach makes a lot of sense from the standpoint of civil duty. They’re called public records for a reason, after all. And access to public documents is more important than ever at this moment, with government websites and records disappearing, Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency doing its best to operate outside the public’s view, and the National Archives in disarray.
But some may argue that, from a business standpoint, not charging for stories primarily relying on public records automatically means fewer subscriptions and therefore less revenue. We disagree. Sure, the FOIA process is time- and labor-intensive. Reporters face stonewalling, baseless denials, lengthy appeals processes, and countless other obstacles and delays. Investigative reports based on public records are among the most expensive stories to produce and share with the public.
And yes, publishers rely on subscriptions to cover those costs — which will only increase as a result of anti-press attacks by the Trump administration. But while some readers might not subscribe to outlets that give away some of their best journalism for free, it’s just as possible that readers will recognize this sacrifice and reward these outlets with more traffic and subscriptions in the long run.
We commend Wired for tipping the balance that all for-profit media outlets must strike between public interest and business more toward the public interest. We hope others will follow its lead (and shoutout to outlets like 404 Media that also make their FOIA-based reporting available for free). (snip-More)
You’ve likely heard that Judge Theodore Chuang has enjoined DOGE in the context of its destruction of USAID.
Just as importantly, he has ruled that an Appointments Clause challenge to DOGE is likely to succeed. As I have repeatedly argued, such a challenge — arguing that to wield as much power as Elon Musk does, you have to be Senate confirmed in a position created by Congress — would be most likely to survive a SCOTUS review. (It’s the same basis Aileen Cannon used to throw out the Jack Smith case.)
To be sure, I’m a bit skeptical about the order and injunction. The latter only enjoins DOGE from doing anything on their own; if they get USAID approval, they can do whatever they want to do.
But the opinion notes that the Appointments ruling only applies to two things that, the record before the court shows, Elon did himself: shutting down USAID as an agency and shutting down the building. While the injunction requires USAID to stop any further terminations and let employees start accessing payment systems again, even though it notes that Gavin Kliger sent the email that terminated at least a few of the plaintiffs, those decisions involved Marco Rubio and Pete Marocco.
The opinion is most fun for the two extended sections where it dismisses the government’s claim that Elon is not in charge of DOGE.
Most notably, on February 19, 2025, President Trump publicly stated, “I signed an order creating the Department of Government Efficiency and put a man named Elon Musk in charge.” J.R. 568. Musk spoke on behalf of DOGE at a joint press conference with the President on February 11, in a joint interview with the President on February 18, and at the Cabinet meeting on February 26.
Musk’s public statements and posts on X, in which he has stated on multiple occasions that DOGE will take action, and such action occurred shortly thereafter, demonstrate that he has firm control over DOGE.
[snip]
Althought the White House announced on February 25, 2025, that Amy Gleason is now the Acting USDS Administrator, that same day, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt maintained that “the president tasked Elon Musk to oversee the DOGE effort” while noting that others “are helping to run DOGE on a day-to-day basis.” J.R. 616. Notably, at the February 28, 2025 hearing on this Motion, Defendants’ counsel could not identify, despite having made an inquiry, who the USDS Administrator was before Gleason.
We shall see how this survives appeal (the suit was filed in Maryland, so it’ll go through a different Circuit than most DOGE challenges, including the New Mexico one that is closest to this stage).
But for the moment, it has held that Elon has absolutely no authority to do most of what he has done.
Trump fires FTC’s only two Democrats: ‘The President just illegally fired me’
Fired members of Federal Trade Commission confirmed to be Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter
‘I am a political prisoner’: Mahmoud Khalil says he’s being targeted for political beliefs
Exclusive: Palestinian activist and green card holder speaks out from Louisiana detention for first time
March 19, 1911 The first International Women’s Day was held in Germany, Austria, Denmark, and some other European countries. This date was chosen by German women because, on that date in 1848 the Prussian king, faced with an armed uprising, had promised many reforms, including an unfulfilled one of votes for women. A million leaflets calling for action on the right to vote were distributed throughout Germany.
March 19, 1963 The blacklisting of Pete Seeger (and other members of The Weavers) from the folk music television show “Hootenanny” prompted a boycott by 50 folk artists (The Kingston Trio, Bob Dylan, Joan Baez and Peter, Paul & Mary, among others). Seeger had become a cultural hero through his outspoken and joyful commitment to the anti-war and civil rights movements, and helped popularize the anthemic “We Shall Overcome.” Pete Seeger bio from Encyclopedia of the American Left Pete singing and talking about the music with Hugh Hefner on TV in the early ‘60s
March 19, 1978 50,000 marched in Amsterdam to protest U.S. deployment of the neutron bomb in Europe. The neutron bomb was a tactical (artillery shell) enhanced-radiation weapon. It killed people with a neutron flux that penetrated armor but was effective only over a limited area, leaving little fallout or residual radiation. It did minimal damage, however, to physical structures. More about the Neutron Bomb
March 19, 2003 U.S. and coalition forces launched missiles and bombs at targets in Iraq including a “decapitation attack” aimed at Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and other top members of the country’s leadership.
Baghdad, Iraq under attack There were nearly 300,000 American, British and other troops at the border. President George W. Bush warned Americans that the conflict “could be longer and more difficult than some predict.” He assured the nation that “this will not be a campaign of half-measures, and we will accept no outcome except victory.” Read about the cost of this war
March 19, 2011 In response to widespread peaceful demonstrations for political change in Syria, the government sealed off the city of Deraa. Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad claimed his country would not be affected by the movement for more democracy across the Arab world that had already toppled governments in Tunisia and Egypt. His regime was composed almost entirely of ethnic Allawites in a country more than 80% Sunni. Mourners at the funerals for five shot dead by security forces in Deraa chanted, “God, Syria and freedom only.” Demonstrations had been held in at least five cities, including the capital of Damascus.
so, obviously, NSFW, for blue language (I tried to put space in, but the preview showed it didn’t work.) Enjoy when you can; resistance is happening everywhere! -A.
let’s all watch some MAGA shithead get bounced from a bar by Jeff Tiedrich
“I’m not fucking around. get out of my bar right now.” Read on Substack
everything sucks right now, so let’s put the focus on our hero of the day. sit back and enjoy the shit out of this bartender eighty-sixing some Trumpist fuckwad.
bartender: “get out of the bar.” MAGA: “why?” bartender: “because you’re a Trump supporter.” MAGA: “I know, but don’t you guys want our money?” bartender: “no, actually, we don’t. get out of my bar right now. [picks up baseball bat] I’m not fucking around. get out of my bar right now.” MAGA: “are you serious? bartender: “I’m dead serious. out.” MAGA: “because I’m wearing a Trump hat.” bartender: “yes.” MAGA: “that’s wild.” bartender: “I don’t care. get out.” second bartender: “we can call the police, or you can just leave.” MAGA: “you know this is, like, discrimination, right?” bartender: “boo hoo. boo fucking hoo. get out of my bar.”
fuck yeah. that was satisfying. boo fucking hoo, indeed. here’s your binky, MAGA. now take a hike.
here’s the backstory.
the MAGA asshole who got bounced — and is now whining to the press about it — wants you to believe that she was some innocent victim who wandered into a random bar and met up with some surly bartender.
that’s not the case at all. the cultist — and her friends — showed up to cause trouble, and they got what was coming to them.
the bar in question is the Chatterbox Jazz Club in Indianapolis. the joint is LGBTQ+ inclusive, and much of the staff is trans.
it’s possible that Fuckface von Maga and her fuckface friends didn’t even know any of that when they showed up to make a scene. maybe they were just offended by the pride flag hanging outside the bar, and decided that it was their divine mission to stir up shit.
here’s David Andrichik, the bar’s owner, to explain.
“We were set up. This was a plan to do something like this. We don’t believe the people that came in to instigate even knew what Chatterbox was, but they came in because of our pride flag,” which is displayed outside the jazz bar.
premeditated or not, these MAGA shitstains stepped inside the Chatterbox and immediately cranked the asshole dial way past eleven. they shouted. they got abusive and confrontational. they deliberately misgendered the bartender. and they got tossed the fuck out.
and then, they came back in and recorded the clip you saw at top of this post — and went whining to the media about it.
look at us, we’re the real victims here! they hated us for our hats! so unfair! come see the violence inherent in the system!
like their beloved Dear Leader, the cultists always imagine they’re the real victims — everything is unfair, and everything is rigged against them.
all we wanted was to hang out. the bartender was so mean to us.
MAGA, you are cordially invited to fuck straight off with your divisive hate. could you just fucking well leave people alone? they just want to live their lives in peace. next time you see a pride flag, just walk on by. the Earth won’t fall off its axis. I promise.
cultists, can we talk? you’re getting played by the ruling class, and you don’t even realize it. you’re being distracted from the real enemy.
‘keep the people ignorant and fighting each other, and they won’t notice the plutocrats picking their pockets’ is right on page one of the oligarch’s playbook.
and please shut the fuck up already about how unfairly you got treated. you acted like an asshole and you got treated like one.
you fucked around, and you found out. enjoy the tiniest of violins.
On Friday, March 14th, a group of individuals visited Chatterbox and intentionally misgendered and harassed a Chatterbox employee, resulting in them being asked to leave by our staff. They then continued verbally assaulting our patrons and staff, threatened our establishment, and returned to record a video which has now been posted on multiple social media platforms.
The Chatterbox is home to a diverse group of staff and patrons. We do not tolerate dehumanizing or disrespectful language or symbolism in our establishment. We have a right, by law, to refuse service to anyone who disrupts our business. We look forward to continue being a home for people who love music and appreciate our community.
I was at a shitty crustpunk bar once getting an after-work beer. One of those shitholes where the bartenders clearly hate you. So the bartender and I were ignoring one another when someone sits next to me and he immediately says, “no. get out.”
And the dude next to me says, “hey i’m not doing anything, i’m a paying customer.” and the bartender reaches under the counter for a bat or something and says, “out. now.” and the dude leaves, kind of yelling. And he was dressed in a punk uniform, I noticed
Anyway, I asked what that was about and the bartender was like, “you didn’t see his vest but it was all nazi shit. Iron crosses and stuff. You get to recognize them.” And i was like, oh ok and he continues.
“you have to nip it in the bud immediately. These guys come in and it’s always a nice, polite one. And you serve them because you don’t want to cause a scene. And then they become a regular and after awhile they bring a friend. And that dude is cool too.”
“And then THEY bring friends and the friends bring friends and they stop being cool and then you realize, oh shit, this is a Nazi bar now. And it’s too late because they’re entrenched and if you try to kick them out, they cause a PROBLEM. So you have to shut them down.”
of course, what happened at the Chatterbox isn’t totally analogous — Fuckface von MAGA and her friends weren’t polite, and they certainly weren’t there to infiltrate — but the lesson is the same: you have to nip that shit in the bud. zero tolerance for Nazi assholes.
fuck around and find out is in short supply right now. let’s celebrate when it happens.
if you find yourself in Indianapolis, stop by the Chatterbox and show them your support.
here’s your daily reminder that I can be found on Blue Sky at this link.
this is going to be my closing message for the foreseeable future:
practice self-care. do what you need to do to keep sane. if that means you need to disengage with my daily posts for a while, I get it. this community of ours will still be here when you return.
to all the people who have signed on in the days since the election, welcome aboard. settle in as we all try to deal with the shitfuckery that’s ahead of us.
we are all in this together, and we are all here for each other.
Trump has already started giving Ukraine land to Russia/ Putin. It is clear he is not including Ukraine in these negotiations. Hugs
Trump says discussions to divide assets between Ukraine and Russia have begun
In talks expected Tuesday, Trump will attempt to win Putin’s unlikely support for a 30-day ceasefire agreed to by the U.S. and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia last week.
‘Segregated facilities’ are no longer explicitly banned in federal contracts
The Trump administration cut a clause from federal contracting rules that had been on the books since the 1960s: Companies are no longer explicitly prohibited from having segregated facilities.
Scottie's Playtime 