Phil Landmeier @shuttersparks@qoto.org

When I put my cynic hat on, I can't help but wonder if factions with the GOP itself are trying to rid the party of this millstone named Trump. I'm sure there are plenty of Republicans who feel that Kamala is going to crush Trump and turn a lot of seats blue. Obviously, they don't want that. There's only one desperate solution if they're going to have any chance at all.

@kevin Hmm. Thanks for the info. I guess there's no consistency between automakers.

@originlbookgirl @lovelylovely Exactly. But we can't put 100% of the blame on Republicans. Clinton signed the bills that got rid of the guardrails, and also (not to change the subject) the Glass-Steagall Act. I would like to think it was naivete, but I don't know one way or the other.

It wouldn't be the first time that a president was manipulated by his advisors. It happened to Eisenhower, too.

@lovelylovely Lmao. The facts are kind of harsh. Trump rallies are poorly attended with just a small fraction of seats in the venue filled. Kamala's rallies fill the venue with 15,000 more outside wishing they could get in.

Of course, the news media don't cover this little difference.

The bias in U.S. media is grotesque and should prompt future administrations to restore the rules that governed the media that we had back when I was young.

@randahl This is indeed very interesting. TBH, when I read your post and quote I was very surprised to see Erdogan's name. This doesn't bode well for Russia, either, and I'm glad.

Turkey is not only a formidable military power itself but is also a U.S. base. Some have joked that, for the U.S., Turkey is two aircraft carriers battle groups with a fixed location.

@kevin Hmm. On my car, if the battery is dead, nothing works EXCEPT the trunk which can always be opened with the key (mechanical lock).

@cdarwin Indeed, I've lived in WV coal mine country for 18 years now. I pulled the mine maps and studied them after wondering why my house shook when a heavy truck drove by. I've been to Monongah and examined it, studied the aftermath. One of my best friends was a member of one of the wealthy families that owned the mines in Southern WV 100 years ago. I made friends with two present day underground miners that still practice the room and pillar method, and learned a lot from them. (I'm not a mining engineer but I am an engineer.)

All very interesting history and engineering. I learned a lot of things that surprised me.

Basically, there are two ways of mining coal. You can do it underground, which is dangerous and has some long term effects. Or you can strip mine, which is less dangerous but destroys the landscape.

The solution is to stop mining coal to produce energy. Using coal to produce steel is okay. It's the most efficient way to produce steel and only consumes a tiny fraction of the coal mined today.

We have to stop burning things to make heat and electricity.

@TruthSandwich @GrimmReality Ah, yes, well, there is that. But I imagine that Travis is a gentleman and would stop short of doing permanent harm.

On the other hand, things happen. I had a friend long ago, who was sentenced to 7 to life in California. He was a very strong guy, grew up on a farm, body like iron. Got into a fight with a guy who was harrassing his wife. With one punch to the forehead he killed the guy. Accidents happen.

"Don't be messin' with people strange to you..." --Croce

@TruthSandwich @GrimmReality Yes, briefly. Not briefly for Musk, though. These encounters make a lasting impression, giving one a couple of weeks to consider one's error and hopefully learn something.

@thehomespundays @ai6yr Indeed. I'm fortunate to be able to walk to work. A couple of times I've set out at the same time that another person left from the same location driving. Both times we walked up to the entrance at the same time. 😆

@GottaLaff He says what the base believes and wants to hear.

@therobburgessshow Listening by today's standards, yes. But it was the style back then to have violins and cellos sawing away. Lol.

@GrimmReality Hah. Hadn't even thought of that. Yes, that would be most entertaining.