This is the website of Abulsme Noibatno Itramne (also known as Sam Minter). Posts here are rare these days. For current stuff, follow me on Mastodon

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Washington State Representative Donaghy

Snohomish County Council voted 4-1 tonight to appoint my wife Brandy Donaghy to the vacant Washington State House seat for the 44th legislative district left by John Lovick moving to the State Senate. She was sworn in about an hour later by Judge Okoloko. Congratulations Brandy! I am so proud!

Vote for Brandy!

I just filled in my ballot. I’m heading to the drop box momentarily. If you live in South Snohomish County and haven’t already voted, check out electbrandydonaghy.org and get that ballot in!

Brandy’s New Friend

Curmudgeon’s Corner: Punch the Cupcakes

On this week’s Curmudgeon’s Corner, guest host Brandy joins Sam to talk about this week’s news. The main topics for the week are of course the events in Charlottesville, everybody’s reactions to Charlottesville, the reactions to the reactions to Charlottesville, and the debate over Nazis and free speech. In addition, they also discuss Bannon’s departure, what that means to the administration, if we’re heading toward an invocation of the 25th amendment, Bannon’s “war”… and if the left should double down on their base or try to reach the Obama voters who flipped to Trump in 2016… and a few other things too.

Click below to listen and subscribe!

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1-Click Subscribe in iTunes
View Podcast in iTunes
View Raw Podcast Feed
Download MP3 File
Follow the podcast on Facebook
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Show Details:

Recorded 2017-08-19
Length this week – 2:26:15

  • (0:00:17-0:20:30) But First
    • Agenda
    • Intro to Brandy
    • Base vs Middle
    • Why Fire District?
  • (0:21:15-1:14:42) Charlottesville
    • What happened?
    • Why is this different?
    • Motivating resistance
    • Has Trump done damage?
    • Trump’s reactions
    • Trump racist himself?
    • Why is anyone surprised?
    • Trump vs Pence
    • What can R’s do?
    • What’s next?
    • Provoking violence
  • (1:15:48-2:03:00) Free Speech and Nazis
    • Disclaimer
    • Why Charlottesville isn’t a good example
    • Sam and Ivan conversation
    • Sam gets extreme on free speech
    • What about politicians and war?
    • Who gets to decide?
    • Judging entire groups
    • Actual speech vs symbols and code words
    • What about private speech, newspapers, websites?
    • Limits on government
    • How big is the threat?
    • Old doesn’t mean good
  • (2:04:08-2:25:55) Bannon Out
    • Chaos or Improvement?
    • Kelly in control?
    • Trump and his Staff
    • Controlling Trump
    • 25th Amendment
    • Bannon declaring war
    • Everything messy

 

The Curmudgeon’s Corner theme music is generously provided by Ray Lynch.

Our intro is “The Oh of Pleasure” (Amazon MP3 link)

Our outro is “Celestial Soda Pop” (Amazon MP3 link)

Both are from the album “Deep Breakfast” (iTunes link)

Please buy his music and support his GoFundMe.

Brandy didn’t win this time

Maybe she didn’t win her race this time… but I’m pretty sure she isn’t done with public service of one sort or another. Like her Facebook page to keep up with her in the future!

I Voted For My Wife!

Just finished filling out my ballot. I got to vote for my wife!

We will be dropping all three ballots from our family off at our closest drop box very soon.

If any of you actually live in Snohomish County Fire District 1 (map below) and haven’t voted yet, there is still time! Ballots need to be postmarked today, or in a drop box by 8 PM this evening. My wife and I thank you for your vote!

Curmudgeon’s Corner: Take it to the Bank

This week on Curmudgeon’s Corner, Sam and Ivan talk healthcare (recorded before McCain killed it, oops), the Spicer to Scaramucci transition (recorded before Scaramucci’s New Yorker rant, oops again), the Trump vs Sessions battle, and Kushner’s testimony. But they also talk about the Charlie Gard case, data tethering, Ivan’s treating himself after getting a new job, some TV stuff, Sam’s wife’s run for office, and even more! Another big full show as usual!

Click below to listen and subscribe!

CCCover20151125bw

 

1-Click Subscribe in iTunes
View Podcast in iTunes
View Raw Podcast Feed
Download MP3 File
Follow the podcast on Facebook
patreon-30x30 Support us on Patreon

Show Details:

Recorded 2017-07-27
Length this week – 2:14:12

  • (0:02:15-0:31:26) But First
    • Agenda
    • Intro Length and Show Length
    • Tethering and HBO
    • Ivan’s new job
    • Ivan fails
    • Ivan glasses again
    • Ivan’s Treat
  • (0:33:08-0:57:12) Healthcare
    • McCain and the MTP
    • Sausage making
    • Republican no-win scenario
    • What comes next?
    • Skinny repeal
  • (1:01:31-1:40:43) Trump Administration
    • Spicer Out, Scaramucci In
    • Trump vs Sessions
    • Kushner Testimony
    • Who is cooperating?
    • Ongoing drama
    • Trump misdirection?
  • (1:41:28-2:13:50) Lightning Round
    • TV: Class (2016)
    • Charlie Gard
    • Trump and the Boy Scouts
    • Run Brandy Run

 

The Curmudgeon’s Corner theme music is generously provided by Ray Lynch.

Our intro is “The Oh of Pleasure” (Amazon MP3 link)

Our outro is “Celestial Soda Pop” (Amazon MP3 link)

Both are from the album “Deep Breakfast” (iTunes link)

Please buy his music and support his GoFundMe.

Voters’ Pamphlets and Ballots Dropped – Vote Brandy!

The official voters’ pamphlets dropped a few days ago for the local primary elections on August 1st, two weeks from today. The ballots have been delivered as well. People are already voting.

The above is my wife Brandy’s section of the voter’s pamphlet. I’m very proud of her. She’s been getting lots of very positive reactions at various local events, and we keep hearing from more supporters. Win or lose, this has been a great experience. But of course we want Brandy to win, right? There are five people running for Snohomish County Fire District 1 Commissioner Position 3, and the top two from the primaries move on to the general election.

So if you haven’t yet, it would be great if you took a few minutes to help out by doing a few things… ESPECIALLY if you live in Snohomish County… but even if you don’t.

  • Like and share her Facebook page
  • Visit her website
  • Donate to her campaign!
  • If you have something to say or ask about the campaign, leave a message on her Facebook page as well
  • And finally, of course, if you actually live in Snohomish County Fire District 1 (map below), VOTE for Brandy!

Don’t wait, do it now! :-)

Thanks all!

And here is that map. Fire District 1 is actually three discontinuous pieces. Odd. But there you go. The areas surrounded by blue lines are all in Fire District 1. I think. :-)

Brandy is running for office!

For those who don’t already know… My wife Brandy is running for local office! Specifically, she is running for Snohomish County Fire District 1, Commissioner Position 3. Check out her candidate statement on her temporary campaign website. (She’s working on a more complete site, I quickly threw that one together for her as a starter site to have something up right away.)

This is a non-partisan position. There are five candidates in the primaries. The top two move on to the general election. The incumbent is David Chan, who got into trouble a few months ago for some comments about Mexicans he made during an official meeting.

Ever since the 2016 election… actually before, but it accelerated afterwards… Brandy has been increasingly engaged politically, and looking for places to make a difference. She’s been connecting with all sorts of people locally, and was urged by several to run for this position. It is her first run, but she is learning quickly. Win or lose, I’m pretty sure she intends to be actively engaged in things going forward.

If you are in the local area and want to know more or to help out, let me (or her) know!

I guess this means we’ll be investing in lawn signs and such soon… :-)

electbrandydonaghy.org

Curmudgeon’s Corner: Facepalms and Headdesks

On this week’s Curmudgeon’s Corner, guest host Jenn joins Sam to talk about the latest developments in the Trump/Russia saga, as well as Trump’s big overseas trip. Those are the big topics, and there is lots to talk about there, but they also touch on Jenn’s love of the Bay Area, healthcare for women, the Manchester attack, ransomware, electronics on planes, and something Sam’s wife is doing. Oh, and another WotD update too.

Click below to listen and subscribe!

CCCover20151125bw

 

1-Click Subscribe in iTunes
View Podcast in iTunes
View Raw Podcast Feed
Download MP3 File
Follow the podcast on Facebook
patreon-30x30 Support us on Patreon

Show Details:

Recorded 2017-05-27
Length this week – 1:36:06

  • (0:00:13-0:10:22) But First
    • Ivan Out
    • Agenda
    • The Bay Area
    • WotD Update
    • Brandy running
  • (0:11:00-0:51:04) Trump/Russia
    • Note taking apps
    • Just Stupidity?
    • Lack of Trust
    • More on Kushner
    • Trump fatigue
    • Nixon comparison
    • Republicans Afraid?
    • Draining the swamp
    • Follow the money
    • Collusion? Or just alignment?
    • Other Russia stuff
  • (0:52:24-1:08:02) Trump Trip
    • Success?
    • Trump and Melania
    • The non-stories
    • Body Language
    • Language Deterioration
    • Saudi Policy
    • NATO Policy
  • (1:09:10-1:35:45) Lightning Round
    • Hotel Lounge
    • Healthcare for Women
    • Search for new FBI Director
    • Manchester
    • Ransomware attack
    • Electronics on planes

 

The Curmudgeon’s Corner theme music is generously provided by Ray Lynch.

Our intro is “The Oh of Pleasure” (Amazon MP3 link)

Our outro is “Celestial Soda Pop” (Amazon MP3 link)

Both are from the album “Deep Breakfast” (iTunes link)

Please buy his music and support his GoFundMe.