@goodreedAJ@sfba.social
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goodreedAJ

@goodreedAJ@sfba.social

Engineer, writer, activist, reed player, and music director. Founder of A Good Reed Review providing reviews, commentary, and stories.
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I've always been a science nerd. I even had a ragtime band called Avogadro's Ragtime Band in college. I spent my career as a software/systems engineer in the aerospace industry while simultaneously pursuing my passions as a pit musician for musical theater and a writer.
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Alternate ID is on mastodon.online - primarily used if the sfba.social server is down.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. Browse more on the original instance.

GottaLaff, to legal
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

Via Kyle Cheney

HAPPENING NOW: The jury says it wants Merchan to begin the instructions with the part about how they are supposed to consider the evidence and draw inferences -- including the metaphor about how if the ground is wet in the AM, you can infer it rained over night.

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff: I don't understand why the jury instructions can't be provided to the jurors like they are in federal trials. It seems like something that they should have for reference rather than being forced to request portions be read to them multiple times throughout their deliberations. If it's a matter of NY state law, that seems like an intentional inefficiency.

GottaLaff, to legal
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

📌Via Kyle Cheney:

MARK IT DOWN: Jury deliberations began at about 11:30am. We'll hear from them if they have a question ... or a verdict.

Via @atrupar:

fans haven't been rooting so hard for something to be hung this hard since Mike Pence

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff @atrupar: It will be interesting to see how long the jury deliberates on this one, and of course what verdict results from their deliberations.

GottaLaff, to legal
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

Btw, I am reading live posts of the but unable to post for you (sorry). Prosecution is killing it.

FYI: Via Kyle Griffin:

Judge Merchan tells the jury that Trump lawyer Todd Blanche's comment was "improper, and you must disregard it."

"If there is a verdict of guilty, it will be up to me to impose a sentence." He adds: A "prison sentence is not required in the event of a guilty verdict."

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff: Thanks for the heads-up on Nonilex. Her live stream of the trial is fantastic as well. If we can't have your stream on this very important trial day, having hers is just as good. (Not that we don't want yours of course.)

Hope the drive is going / went well, and looking forward to your return to the live action.

GottaLaff, to Canada
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

After a long morning of loading the POD, stuffing the car, cleaning, scrubbing, double-checking, all on very little sleep… we’re off! here we come.

loves these long road trips.

First night: Sacramento-ish.

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff: Happy trails! California will miss you, but we'll still have you in the Fediverse.

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff:
💙 💙

I take it that you're planning on keeping your U.S. citizenship even if you eventually become Canadian citizens after establishing permanent residency there?

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff: I did read them, and I was trying to find them again this morning, but I couldn't get them to come up. I appreciated how much work you had to do to arrange your move.

I know you were very concerned about what has been happening here since 2016, and that it took you several years work through the process to be able to move toward becoming permanent residents of Canada. I thought you were staying U.S. citizens and would continue to vote as expats, and you'd be safe in your new home if everything went to pieces here, but I wasn't sure if you intended to remain U.S. citizens if and when you had the chance to become Canadian citizens down the line. I thought it would depend on what happened here. After all, if the U.S. does go full fascist theocracy, being a citizen, even as an expat, could be dicey.

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff: It also takes years to qualify and become a permanent resident of Canada, assuming you can qualify like you, Mr. Laffy, and the boys have. You are very fortunate to have this option.

Sad indeed that you had to take these steps to remain safe in our increasingly disturbing times, but very glad to have your voice, insights, and visits. Thank you for all you continue to do.

GottaLaff, to legal
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

Roger Parloff did a 🧵on trial. Sigh.

As Trump’s classified docs prosecution goes forward, now w no pretense of trial before the election, Judge appears poised to permit him to use pub hearings in the case to sound his campaign themes. 1/…

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff @kwheaton: That's the scariest part of all of this. If the courts don't follow the rule of law, how can any of it function?

I wish I could follow you to Canada.

GottaLaff, to Canada
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

🇨🇦For those interested, finally, Part 3 of my series is done. Parts 1, 2 are linked in Part 3 but just in case, I'm linking here too.

This is for anyone interested in why, how we managed to get permanent residency.

Everyone else, ignore, although you may find it interesting regardless.

Part 3: https://thepoliticalcarnival.blogspot.com/2024/05/im-moving-to-canada-part-3-its-happening.html

Part 1: https://thepoliticalcarnival.blogspot.com/2024/01/im-moving-to-canada.html

Part 2: https://thepoliticalcarnival.blogspot.com/2024/01/im-moving-to-canada-part-two-how.html

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff: Wow. I knew it was complicated, but that's insane.

I looked into what it would take to emigrate to Canada in 2016 after Trump won in case things got bad enough to make it impossible to continue living in the U.S. and discovered that I didn't qualify. I sure hope that the worst doesn't happen going forward here this round, but congrats on your move. It must be a great piece of mind to know that you'll be safe no matter the outcome in the states.

Teri_Kanefield, to random
@Teri_Kanefield@mastodon.social avatar

I am going to answer this question for everyone:

https://mastodon.social/@timothyjohnson@mastodon.sdf.org/112349635246409685

My answer is here:

https://mastodon.social/

Remember:

There were possible crimes, but tax and reporting crimes are not election interference.

There is also a circular thing with Cohen and Pecker telling the court that they expected Trump to pay back the hush money payments.

If they expected to get paid back, it was a loan to Trump and not a contribution. Right?

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@Teri_Kanefield: Adding today's Status Kuo from @jaykuo to your weekend blog post, yes there were crimes committed, and because of NY's specific statutes, previously charged or not, it seems like this could even rise to the level of election interference. Yes, that's attention grabbing, but not inaccurate per NY state election laws.

It will be fascinating to see how this all plays out in any case.

https://statuskuo.substack.com/p/the-conspiracys-the-thing

GottaLaff, to random
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

Jury has been adjourned

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff: I thought today was scheduled to be a short day also because of Pesach.

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff: Today sounds like crazy day. You posted a lot, and I haven't caught up yet.

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff: Oh man, that's nuts. I know you're going back to Canada this round, but do you think you'll ever come back to California? Better yet, can you get Canada to adopt California, and Washington and Oregon? 😉

GottaLaff, to random
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

Oy.

Via Josh Gerstein;

JUST IN: signals it may undermine more common charges as justices ask DOJ to respond to petition challenging 'disorderly or disruptive' charges v. Russell Alford. DC Cir ruled charges valid even for nonviolent protesters.

DOJ had deemed Alford's petition unworthy of a response, but today asked for one

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff: Ugh. That's really not good news. I hope they are just covering their bases and the previous convictions don't get derailed.

GottaLaff, to legal
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

Mr. Blowdryer cooperated. I'm back, catching up now.

NEW THREAD🧵 1/...

Klasfeld:

We're back.

Prosecution: "The People call David Pecker."

Pecker, 72, provides some biographical information. He's married, and he now does consulting work.

After seeing that Jurors do not currently have notepads, the judge asks those who want them to raise their hands.

Their hands immediately shoot up — a studious bunch.

They are provided with them.

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff: I thought that they were running short days both Monday and Tuesday this week, so that might be all of it. If not though, I'm sure you'll catch up again after the fact like you always do. 🤓

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff: Right, I knew the contempt hearing was first up. Oh well, if you cut off about 1400 ET, folks can switch over to Klasfeld's feed on X for the day if need be. The stuff you pull from his stream is really good.

GottaLaff, to legal
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

Not sure how much I can post. Now my iPhone is slow. Via McBrien:

…waiting for the Sandoval hearing to begin, despite the tragedy that unfolded earlier this afternoon just outside the courtroom.

As Merchan said earlier, "We've come too far in this trial to jeopardize it now."

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff: What a week!

Thank you for sticking with it despite all the challenges - and not all from the court itself. You do excellent work here.

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff: I'm sure having to use your phone instead of your computer didn't help, but you still captured the day's events in rare form. Impressive! And a very positive public service too. 👍

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff: I get that. I much prefer to use a computer when I have to type a lot. Trying to do that on a phone or even an iPad is a pain. Would it have been possible to tether your laptop to your phone when your regular internet was out?

GottaLaff, to legal
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

NEW 🧵STARTS HERE
I CANNOT READ REPLIES. "NFL" (NotForLaffy) appreciated

1/...McBrien:

At 2:35 p.m. we have audio again, but still no video, and we hear Merchan say "Thank you, please be seated."

Merchan welcomes the jurors and starts by apologizing for how chilly it is in the courtroom.

Video is back on, and both sides are seated in the same seats as this morning

Merchan proceeds to read the boilerplate instructions for voir dire. Reminder: 30 mins per side

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff: These are such full days. You are doing a great job keeping it all organized and coherent injecting just the right amount of snark and/or levity where appropriate.

It's hard to believe that they may indeed finish jury selection tomorrow. Here's hoping that all of the jurors empaneled so far stay the course and that opening arguments begin on Monday. I'm impressed with Justice Merchan's handling of his courtroom under such difficult circumstances. I wouldn't expect this to get any easier as time goes on.

GottaLaff, to maine
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

👉🏼"In voting news, has become the latest state to join the National Popular Vote compact, which could transform the way presidents are elected in the United States. Sixteen states and Washington, D.C., have now pledged to award their combined 209 electoral votes to the presidential candidate who wins the nationwide popular vote. The compact will only go into effect once supporters of the compact control at least 270 votes." https://www.democracynow.org/2024/4/17/headlines/maine_joins_national_popular_vote_compact

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff: Still a ways to go, but we could get there. That would be such a huge boost to our democracy since it's impossible to pass a Constitutional amendment in today's political climate to eliminate the EC.

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff: Yes, frustratingly so. With so much on the line though, just maybe enough states will recognize that the EC no longer functions as it should and hinders democracy in a very tangible way forcing a tyranny of a very gerrymandered minority over the majority.

In other words, there is some hope.

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff: Looking at the list of current signatories, Michigan is notably absent. Now that they've got a Democratic trifecta, just maybe they'll be next!

GottaLaff, to random
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

I'm gonna go pack for awhile.

I can't take any more premature Debbie Downer stuff, sorry.

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff: Definitely take care of you!

GottaLaff, (edited ) to random
@GottaLaff@mastodon.social avatar

1/… I'll ask a favor of you.

This trial hasn't even started yet, not one witness. Yet...

I'm getting Doomers galore in my feed.

A Trumpy helped convict him in an earlier trial.

The prosecutors are vetting the jurors carefully.

I am not Dooming. Not yet.

Can we wait for the trial to be in full swing before predicting the worst possible outcome? Or do people thrive on constant pessimism? I just don't.

Thanks so much for listening. Let's try to be hopeful.

More…

goodreedAJ,
@goodreedAJ@sfba.social avatar

@GottaLaff @TheEjj: I would agree that trial is likely to be problematic if it stays with that judge based on the filings and the rulings so far, but even there, we won't really know until it plays out.

On the upside, the documents case is very well documented, and Jack Smith's team is the best of the best, so I wouldn't write it off yet.

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