This is even more pathetic than accepting the FIFA Peace Prize. President Donald Trump is keeping Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado’s Nobel Peace Prize after she presented it to him during their meeting Thursday, a White House official said. “It was my Great Honor to meet María Corina Machado, of Venezuela, today,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect.” Machado left the medal at the White House, and it is currently in the president’s possession, according to a source familiar with the matter. https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-venezuela-machado-01-15-26?post-id=cmkg2o57400003b6p3vmthcxo

President Trump was advised that a large-scale strike against Iran was unlikely to make the government fall and could spark a wider conflict, U.S. officials said, and for now will monitor how Tehran handles protesters before deciding on the scope of a potential attack. The U.S. would need more military firepower in the Middle East both to launch a large-scale strike and protect American forces in the region and allies such as Israel should Iran retaliate, the advisers told Trump, the officials said. The U.S. officials and Middle Eastern partners told the White House the regime was unlikely to fall after a massive bombing campaign, which could instead spark a broader conflict. Smaller assault packages, meanwhile, could boost morale among protesters but ultimately not change the regime’s crackdown, the officials said. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/trump-was-told-attack-on-iran-wouldn-t-guarantee-collapse-of-regime/ar-AA1Uincx

Too many people are assuming that all this will be fixed and back to normal. Don't count on it.

Used our Instant Pot on the slow cooker setting for the first time since I bought it, what, ten years ago? Actually worked quite well. Nothing fancy, just everyday winter comfort food. Slow cooker paprika chicken: [image: 20260115_160749.jpg] [image: 20260115_160812.jpg] I used a big can of San Marzano tomatoes that I chopped up and I cooked some orzo separately and then dumped it in just before we ate. I think some crumbled feta would be a great addition.

@jon-nyc said in "We got a Honduran here! Gotta get status!": Haven’t seen them yet, fortunately. I was in Chicago in November but didn’t see them. I’ll be in SFO and LA and Sandy Eggo next month (west coast college tours with the boy). Might see them there. College tours. Jesus I feel old.

I wonder who made money on that one.

18F but at least it stopped snowing. Got about 8” from this storm. Just finished clearing the drive. Sun came out just now and it’s quite pretty!

@Steve-Miller said in About that Ford employee: $810K? Where do I sign up for a gig like that? The right heckle at the right time! But it’s great that he didn’t back down and his Union stood behind him, and only got a suspension.

Well, you can see this in HUD's new homelessness policy. Every expert knows shelter first is the prerequisite for success. HUD has overturned this methodology and slashed its budget request by 50%. People without housing will not be able to proceed to rehabilitation, jobs, or any meaningful change in life circumstances. They will eventually end up dead for a myriad of reasons. They will also be de facto criminals according to an executive order and jailed. It won't actually matter if they are mentally ill, drug addicts, mentally ill and addicted to drugs, or among the many people of all age groups, in all states, who can no longer afford the cost of living. .

Healthier foods cost more not less. The healthiest foods cost the most.

Wow some challenging pieces you people learn. I might add that the Chopin waltz 64/2 seems to be played quite differently by each pianist.

Thanks, both!

Happy Anniversary

Yes, nice. I especially like the respect to those awarded a US Medal of Honor; even a 4 star general salutes the holder first.

I just do a search for the title of the article. Sometimes I get lucky and there's a non-paywall version on MSN or Yahoo.

Mr wtg tried two different statins and had the muscle pain (and other side effects). He switched to an OTC product with plant sterols and stanols (Cholestoff Plus) that isn't a statin but that does reduce cholesterol very nicely. Problem solved!

Some context-- Link to video

Our cat in Hawaii bonded with Not Me instantly. And when we went to sign the papers and then came to get her she was running to the enclosure's metal door to greet him and be taken home. She was nine weeks, fostered, and gentle. The other cats were literally climbing up the walls. She eventually took his side in an argument we had before leaving Hawaii. She actually blamed me for everything. A cat. It was intense. I'll either have a cat like Mik describes (Mik, what a blessing!) or I won't have any cat at all or any other pet. I'm not going through that whole responsibility/ emotional journey in the discard pile again!