This is the website of Abulsme Noibatno Itramne (also known as Sam Minter). Comments here or emails to me at abulsme@abulsme.com are encouraged... or follow me on
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This week on Curmudgeon’s Corner, Sam and Ivan talk about the Cohen hearings, the North Korean summit, Ivan’s trip to Vietnam, the Florida sex trafficking ring, and the India/Pakistan conflict. Plus, a reminder of the upcoming Seattle meetup.
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Show Details:
Recorded 2019-03-02 Length this week – 1:46:54
(0:00:20-0:22:38) But First
Agenda
Seattle Meetup
Ivan in Vietnam
(0:23:22-1:08:54) Cohen Testimony
Everything priced in?
Republican response
AOC performance
Cohen’s receipts
Cohen denials
Democratic plans
(1:10:03-1:24:01) North Korean Summit
How not to do a summit
Trump trusting dictators
Credit for Trump?
(1:25:21-1:46:34) Mini Lightning Round
Ivan: Florida sex trafficking ring
Sam: India and Pakistan
The Curmudgeon’s Corner theme music is generously provided by Ray Lynch.
On this week’s Curmudgeon’s Corner, Sam and Ivan get back to the normal format with the main topics being the Shutdown/Wall and Trump/Russia. Before that, a bit on the Mexican gas shortage and a movie Sam watched.
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Show Details:
Recorded 2019-01-11 Length this week – 1:45:43
(0:03:38-0:17:31) But First
Mexican gas shortage
Sam Movie: The Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000)
(0:19:13-1:05:32) Shutdown / Wall
The walls themselves
Now what
Should the Dems take a deal?
The impact of the shutdown
National emergency?
Border neighbors
Live Address
Civility
(1:06:41-1:45:23) Trump / Russia
Manafort poll data
Improper redaction
Confirming conspiracy theories
Who knew what when?
Cohen testifying
Impeachable offenses?
Almost over?
Trump kids
The Curmudgeon’s Corner theme music is generously provided by Ray Lynch.
This week on Curmudgeon’s Corner, Sam and Ivan’s biggest topic is the Michael Flynn case and everything surrounding that. Beyond that, they also hit the closure of the Trump Foundation, the mystery case going through the DC Federal Courts, Trump announcing a withdrawal from Syria, the current state of Obamacare, some movies Ivan watched, and lots more!
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Show Details:
Recorded 2018-12-20 Length this week – 1:46:19
(0:01:42-0:13:27) But First
Agenda
Ivan Movie: Adrift (2018)
Ivan Movie: A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
Ivan Movie: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011)
Ivan Movie: The Children Act (2017)
Next week’s predictions show
(0:14:11-0:47:21) Mike Flynn
Recap
Trump reactions
Things Flynn touched
Things that don’t add up
What is lurking?
Connecting the dots
(0:49:03-1:16:59) First Lightning
Ivan: Syria withdrawal
Sam: Prison reform bill
Ivan: Obamacare signups
Sam: Trump Foundation
(1:17:40-1:45:58) Second Lightning
Ivan: Fundraising for the wall
Sam: Mystery case going through the DC Federal Courts
Ivan: Stock Market
Sam: Republican power grabs in Wisconsin and Michigan
The Curmudgeon’s Corner theme music is generously provided by Ray Lynch.
On this week’s Curmudgeon’s Corner, Ivan and Sam’s two big topics are the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh including all the surrounding issues relating to the climate that leads to such things, and their final pre-election thoughts on the 2018 midterms. But as usual, there are smaller topics to round things out, including thoughts on a movie, a book, a new iPhone, the economy, and even Gary Hart. Also, after you listen… go vote!
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Show Details:
Recorded 2018-11-03
Length this week – 2:06:38
(0:01:38-0:32:18) But First
Agenda
Local candidates, amendments and initiatives
Sam Movie: Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 2 (2017)
Sam Book: Arrow of God (1964)
Mistake from last year
Sam’s new iPhone XS Max
(0:34:18-1:04:24) Pittsburgh and Trump
Sam and Ivan Pittsburgh connections
Long term trends
Synagogue security
anti-Semitic motives
Presidential responsibility and response?
Trump and racists
(1:05:09-1:45:53) Election 2018
Current Numbers
Early voting
Polling errors
Reactions if the Democrats win
Reactions if the Republicans win
Go vote… Democrat please.
(1:47:09-2:06:17) Mini Lightning Round
Ivan: Economy update
Sam: Gary Hart’s Monkey Business
Go vote. Really.
The Curmudgeon’s Corner theme music is generously provided by Ray Lynch.
On this week’s Curmudgeon’s Corner, Sam and Ivan talk about the politics of the short government shutdown and what that means to the continuing immigration debate, then they move on to reviewing many of the latest developments related to the various scandals surrounding the Trump White House. Along the way, Ivan also reports on his recent trip to Thailand.
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Show Details:
Recorded 2018-01-25
Length this week – 1:39:38
(0:01:20-0:22:18) But First
Agenda
Ivan in Thailand
Ivan on a Zipline
Baby on a plane
Climate change migrations
(0:24:21-0:54:17) Shutdown and Immigration
Should the Dems have forced this?
Should the Dems have agreed to end shutdown?
What next?
(0:56:00-1:39:18) Trump and Mueller
Wendy Murdoch and Jared Kushner
Russia to NRA to Trump?
Mueller/Trump negotiations
Trump’s prospects if he testifies
Discrediting Meuller
Release the Memo
Trump and McCabe
Are we near the end?
Trump Live
The Curmudgeon’s Corner theme music is generously provided by Ray Lynch.
This week on Curmudgeon’s Corner, Sam and Ivan do their duty and talk about the tax bill… how the Republicans managed to get it done, how it will impact people, and what the political ramifications are. Then they put politics aside for a bit and talk about movies. All kinds of movies. From Star Wars to Dunkirk to Ninjago and others. Rounding out the show, some bits on Apple slowing down phones, Bitcoin, Ivan meeting an (acting) ambassador, an update on Puerto Rico… and more!
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Show Details:
Recorded 2017-12-23
Length this week – 1:47:01
(0:01:16-0:13:56) Intro
Agenda
Ivan and the Ambassador
Ivan ankle twisting
(0:14:36-0:47:40) Tax Bill
How’d the R’s pull it off?
The actual bill
The politics
(0:49:23-1:08:16) Movies
Ivan: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Ivan: Her (2013)
Sam: Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)
Ivan: X-Men Movies (2000-2017)
Ivan: Dunkirk (2017)
Sam: The Secret Life of Pets (2016)
Ivan: Rough Night (2017)
Sam: Calling All Engines (2002)
Sam: Escape from Witch Mountain (1995)
Sam: The Lego Ninjago Movie (2017)
(1:09:31-1:46:10) Random Stuff
Ivan: Atlanta airport power failure
Sam: Feedback from Diane
Ivan: Apple slowing down phones
Sam: Puerto Rico update
Ivan: Bitcoin
Sam: Swiftkey and Swype
Ivan: Trump challenge coin
The Curmudgeon’s Corner theme music is generously provided by Ray Lynch.
On this week’s Curmudgeon’s Corner, Sam and Ivan talk about the Alabama Senate results, possible bias in the Mueller investigation, the Republican Tax Bill, Net Neutrality, Trump’s judicial nominations, and the Patreon fee structure misfire. Plus Ivan makes fun of Sam’s speech, and Sam’s son Alex pipes up a few times.
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Show Details:
Recorded 2017-12-15
Length this week – 1:37:02
(0:00:15-0:03:39) But First
(0:05:21-0:30:41) Alabama
(0:32:42-0:53:09) Mueller Bias
(0:53:49-1:06:59) Tax Bill
(1:08:46-1:18:13) Net Neutrality
(1:18:51-1:24:01) Judicial Nominations
(1:24:41-1:36:42) Patreon Misfire
The Curmudgeon’s Corner theme music is generously provided by Ray Lynch.
On this week’s Curmudgeon’s Corner, Sam and Ivan start out talking about travel things again. Ivan talks about “mileage runs”. Sam talks about the dramatic end to his DC vacation. But then they move on to the news. The travails of Flynn, Page, Sessions, Don Jr, and Kushner with Turkey, Russia, Russia, Russia, and Russia respectively. Then the GOP tax plan. Then of course the mounting evidence that all men are scum, and what should be done about it.
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Show Details:
Recorded 2017-11-17
Length this week – 2:27:00
(0:00:45-0:37:58) Travel adventures
(0:40:35-1:20:18) Turkey Russia Russia Russia Russia
(1:22:18-1:42:25) GOP tax plan
(1:44:09-2:26:38) All men are scum
The Curmudgeon’s Corner theme music is generously provided by Ray Lynch.
This week on Curmudgeon’s Corner, Sam and Ivan do eventually talk politics… namely Donna Brazile, this week’s election results, and the accusations against Roy Moore… but first they talk about some more pedestrian things. Ivan has ants! Sam and his wife have issues with iPhones! Sam and his family have an adventurous vacation! So a lot of everything this week. Enjoy!
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Show Details:
Recorded 2017-11-10
Length this week – 1:51:07
(0:00:15-0:03:25) Intro
(0:04:34-0:11:44) Ivan’s Ants
(0:12:59-0:29:58) iPhone Travails
(0:30:43-0:44:13) Sam’s Trip
(0:45:55-1:02:42) Donna Brazile Book
(1:03:22-1:27:57) Election 2017
(1:29:33-1:50:46) Ray Moore
The Curmudgeon’s Corner theme music is generously provided by Ray Lynch.
On this week’s Curmudgeon’s Corner, Sam and Ivan talk about Hong Kong, the Republicans who are starting to worry about Trump, Trump’s executive actions on healthcare and Iran, and Harvey Weinstein. Oh. And Sam gets locked in his office. Fun times!
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Show Details:
Recorded 2017-10-14
Length this week – 1:58:02
(0:01:05-0:23:08) But First
Agenda
Ivan in Hong Kong
Trump Puerto Rico comments
(0:24:24-1:03:55) Worried Republicans
Trump-Tillerson IQ challenge
Corker comments
Alex Interlude #1
Republicans containing Trump
Robert Reich post
Roy Moore
Breaking the wall
Trump understanding things
Downward spiral
Trump attacks on the press
Pence alternative
Fitness for duty
Alex Interlude #2
(1:05:04-1:32:44) Executive Actions
Birth control requirements
ACA Subsidies
Expanding low quality plans
3 in Three Interlude
Tradeoffs
Alex Interlude #3
Iran false start
Locking the door
Iran Deal
(1:35:28-1:52:31) Weinstein
More and more stories
Blaming the victim
Blocking the story
Impact of Trump
The Pence rule
Locked in
The Curmudgeon’s Corner theme music is generously provided by Ray Lynch.
Edward Haines { I got curious about John Bolton’s military experience since he is always anxious to commit troops to battle. He had a draft lottery number that... } on Curmudgeon's Corner: Danger to the World at 23 June 2019 13:34:26 UTC
Edward T Haines { I have heard occasional blurbs about using bleach to treat various conditions but tend to ignore these. It sounds that the problem may be greater... } on Curmudgeon's Corner: March of Icons at 26 May 2019 22:08:57 UTC
The 2020 Starting Line – Election Graphs { […] Before I start rolling in the state polls that have already come out, let's look at a more general Democratic vs Republican view based... } on Electoral College: The Race Begins at 3 March 2019 04:26:58 UTC
So what to do for 2020? – Election Graphs { […] be fair, there was a lot of movement just in the last day of poll updates. Before that, I had a 108 EV margin... } on Electoral College: Trump makes it tight again at 27 February 2019 01:16:20 UTC
So what to do for 2020? – Election Graphs { […] the 2016 post mortem here is a list of where a bunch of the election tracking sites ended […] } on Electoral College: Post Mortem at 1 February 2019 00:04:01 UTC
Predicting 2016 by Cheating – Election Graphs { […] does this compare to where other folks were at the end of 2016? I looked at this in my last regular update prior to... } on Electoral College: Trump makes it tight again at 30 January 2019 00:01:22 UTC
Clearing things out for 2020 – Election Graphs { […] Election 2016 Post Mortem […] } on Electoral College: Post Mortem at 28 January 2019 07:59:19 UTC
Polling Averages vs Reality – Election Graphs { […] one of the key elements I called out in my 2016 Port Mortem was the need to “trust the uncertainty” and look at the range... } on Electoral College: Post Mortem at 27 January 2019 00:01:04 UTC
Ruth B { hmm! These prognosticators are right less than two-thirds of the time - but at least they are having a good time doing it! Go guys! } on Curmudgeon's Corner: 2018 Predictions Review at 7 January 2019 05:18:11 UTC
Abulsme.com: 2018 Reading List { […] a quarter of the way through 2018, I lamented that I wasn’t reading enough books, and made a resolution to do better. My goal... } on I'm not reading enough. I blame Trump. And Twitter. at 3 January 2019 04:18:43 UTC
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