(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Cheers and Jeers: Wednesday [1] ['Backgroundurl Avatar_Large', 'Nickname', 'Joined', 'Created_At', 'Story Count', 'N_Stories', 'Comment Count', 'N_Comments', 'Popular Tags', 'Showtags Popular_Tags'] Date: 2023-02-15 Birthdays Cont’d... "To me, the most important part of winning is joy. You can win without joy, but winning that’s joyless is like eating in a four-star restaurant when you’re not hungry. Joy is a current of energy in your body, like chlorophyll or sunlight, that fills you up and makes you naturally want to do your best." —Bill Russell "I don't have a short temper, I just have a quick reaction to bullshit." —Elizabeth Taylor "The legitimate object of government is to do for a community of people whatever they need to have done, but can not do at all, or can not so well do, for themselves, in their separate, and individual capacities." —President Lincoln "The life of a nation is secure only while the nation is honest, truthful, and virtuous." —Frederick Douglass "Seize the moment. Remember all those women on the Titanic who waved off the dessert cart." —Erma Bombeck "Guys, is this inauguration speech running too long? No? You sure? We're cool? Great. As I was saying…" —President William Henry Harrison And the classic: “You don’t need no gun control. You know what you need? We need some bullet control. That’s right—I think all bullets should cost five thousand dollars. Five thousand dollars per bullet. You know why? Cuz if a bullet costs five thousand dollars, there would be no more innocent bystanders.” —Chris Rock If you’re marking another year around the sun this month, Happy Birthday and many blessings on your camels. And now, our feature presentation... - Cheers and Jeers for Wednesday, February 15, 2023 Note: Today’s note is in a minor key today. I'm feeling villainous. - By the Numbers: 3 days!!! Days 'til we turn our clocks ahead: 25 Days 'til the annual Polish Festival in Phoenix: 3 Percent of phone calls to the IRS that got answered last tax season: 13% Percent of phone calls to the IRS that are getting answered this tax season, thanks to up-staffing by the Inflation Reduction Act: 90% Amount 14 states and Puerto Rico will get from the EPA to clean up 22 superfund sites: $1 billion Number of Chinese companies tied to airships and balloons that have been restricted from obtaining U.S. technology without government approval: 6 Average number of times the human eye blinks in a year: 4,200,000 - Mid-week Rapture Index: 187 (including 3 false Christs and your very own Virgin Pride Card). Soul Protection Factor 24 lotion is recommended if you’ll be walking amongst the heathen today. - Puppy Pic of the Day: In Travelers Rest, South Carolina…Found!!! - CHEERS to doling out some scholarly whupass. They waited around too long to act, but kudos to The College Board for defending their AP African American Studies program against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's attempt to water it down by—[checks notes]—taking out all the parts about African-Americans: We deeply regret not immediately denouncing the Florida Department of Education’s slander, magnified by the DeSantis administration’s subsequent comments, that African American Studies “lacks educational value.” Our failure to raise our voice betrayed Black scholars everywhere and those who have long toiled to build this remarkable field. […] Millions will take this course and pass on what they learn. So suck it, Ron. In Florida’s effort to engineer apolitical win, they have claimed credit for the specific changes we made to the official framework. In their February 7, 2023, letter to us, which they leaked to the media within hours of sending, Florida expresses gratitude for the removal of 19 topics, none of which they ever asked us to remove, and most of which remain in the official framework. They also claimed that we removed terms like “systemic marginalization” and “intersectionality” at their behest. This is not true. The notion that we needed Florida to enlighten us that these terms are politicized in several states is ridiculous. DeSantis hasn't responded yet. Probably because he still considers reading a commie plot by the deep state. JEERS to oil, oil everywhere. Well, they finally got around to announcing the reason for that Dec. 7 oil gusher from the Keystone Pipeline that spilled 13,000 barrels in what was the worst onshore oil disaster in a decade. And since you'll never guess, I'll let you in on the complex, multifaceted official cause: the pipe broke. Brilliant. This is why we pay ‘em the big bucks and let ‘em wear the executive hard hats. JEERS to incivility. On this date in 1798, the House of Representatives was the site of the first congressional brawl, when much knocking of noggins occurred after a hurling of insults followed by Rep. Matthew Lyon (Democratic-Republican-VT) spitting in the face of Roger Griswold (Federalist-CT). Among the weapons that were wielded: fireplace tongs. Based on his expression, the guy recording the minutes just got tonged in the crotch... And if you look toward the lower left corner, you’ll see a dog is present in the chamber. That would be Thaddeus T. Woofington from the great state of New York. He only lasted one term. Once he got tax cuts for the Wilson company passed, he spent the rest of his life working a cushy job at a pro-tennis-ball think tank. Crafty canine. - BRIEF SANITY BREAK - x Move over for the 🦭 king 😂😂 pic.twitter.com/9bXnDhd5XS — CCTV_IDIOTS (@cctv_idiots) February 10, 2023 - END BRIEF SANITY BREAK - CHEERS to unleashing the romantic within. My credit card isn't happy with me this morning, because yesterday I went all-out for my sweetie Michael on Valentine's Day. First I gave him the latest miracle weight loss plan. Then I got him a box of Hair Club for Men and lifts for his shoes. Then a cordless nose-hair trimmer. And finally, new vacuum cleaner bags and a lifetime supply of Windex. I know you're jonesin' to know how much he loved them. I'm jonesin' to tell ya! And I'll be sure to let you know just as soon as he lets me out of this crawlspace. (Y'know, with a little ketchup these cockroaches wouldn't taste half bad...) CHEERS to the world's most famous Bug. It sucks that such an enduring icon has to be associated with a genocidal maniac, but what can ya do? It was 87 years ago today that Adolf Hitler announced the introduction of the Volkswagen (German for "Grind it 'til ya find it"). The idea behind the Volkswagen was to stimulate the German economy into the modern era by putting as many Germans as possible behind the wheels of automobiles on the new Autobahn, something the US didn't get around to until the 1950's. The Volkswagen, originally known as the KDF car (Kraft-Durch-Freude or Strength Through Joy), was designed to be affordable to the average consumer, and so was the financing. It was small and noisy, but if its battery died you could roll it down the street to get it goin' again. Or as my friends used to call it: me after the bars closed on Saturday night. P.S. Can we all at least agree that it’s a good thing Trump never obsessed over creating a new national car? He killed enough of us with Covid, thanks. - Ten years ago in C&J: February 15, 2013 JEERS to too-close close shaves. Heads up, people! An asteroid approximately one thousand times the size of Hitler's testicle (Source: Nazipedia) will be whizzing by our heads tomorrow afternoon. Scientists say that the massive chunk of rock is in no danger of touching the earth's surface, as its velocity will keep it safely 17 inches off the ground. Which brings us to today's stock tip: sink everything you have into home repair companies and knee replacement clinics. - And just one more… CHEERS to U.S. Mint'y freshness. The new American Women Quarter is here! The new American Women Quarter is here! Yes indeed, the latest in the series of U.S. quarters celebrating accomplished American women was released this week, and this one comes to you from the wild blue yonder… Bessie Coleman was a pilot, advocate, and pioneer who flew to great heights as the first African American and first Native American woman pilot and first African American to earn an international pilot’s license. The reverse design depicts Bessie Coleman as she suits up in preparation for flight, her expression reflective of her determination to take to the skies, the only place she experienced a freedom she did not have on the ground. Coleman is the first graduate of the Mint's Class of '23. C&J will keep you posted on the next honoree ahead of her arrival. It'll give normal people time to learn more about these trailblazing women, and misogynists time to take their heart medication. Have a happy humpday. Floor's open...What are you cheering and jeering about today? - Today's Shameless C&J Testimonial "I don’t think the American people need to worry about aliens in the Cheers and Jeers kiddie pool. Period. I don’t think there’s any more that needs to be said there." —National Security Council spokesman John Kirby - [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/2/15/2152781/-Cheers-and-Jeers-Wednesday Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/