Yesterday my meeting with my guys was the annual Christmas meeting, so the occasion was social rather than work. I thoroughly enjoyed caroling with around 100 prisoners and a local Adventist choir, that came in to share in the singing. Even in such an environment, my guys demonstrated more loving spirit than Supply-side pseudo-Christians can even imagine. As always, I could not be more proud of them. Critter sends greetings to Critter. The prison changed their schedule again, and sadly, this became my only volunteer day this month. I’m pooped and am returning to bed as soon as I get this up. I’m current with replies. Tomorrow is a holy day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb, but it has less religious significance for me, because my Broncos have already meditated.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 7:09 (ARGH!) (average 7:32). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From MoveOn: Jon Stewart Happily Confirms For Gretchen Carlson That She Is, Indeed, ‘F’ing Nuts’
Those Faux Noise dingbats ARE nuts! I can prove it. If they were not nuts, they would not be on Faux Noise.
From Houston Chronicle: Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who was elected the state’s chief executive as a Republican and then ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate as an independent, announced on Twitter that he’s switching to the Democratic Party.
The announcement Friday night fanned speculation that Crist would seek to regain his old job from Republican Gov. Rick Scott in 2014.
Welcome Charlie. May those few Republicans who are still sane follow his example.
From MSNBC: The Ezra Klein Challenge
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
The measure saves government $5.7 billion. But it costs $3.7 billion to seniors, $0.7 billion to states, $4.5 billion to employers, and $2.5 billion to other people in ACA exchanges. That totals $11.4 billion in costs to others in the economy, exactly double what it saves. The best function of government is to provide those citizen needs that we can do more efficiently as a community. This is certainly such a case. If this is the least harm to America, Republicans will take, I can understand that, but it’s shameful for them to cause such harm just for a feather in their cap.
Cartoon:
13 Responses to “Open Thread–12/8/2012”
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5:14 I was getting loopy doing this puzzle.
5:22 That's one of the tougher puzzles that we have had. What the shell were they thinkin'?
7:00 I WAS loopy on this! What the shell were they thinking, indeed?
The Patty monster got us all again. 😉
It sounds as though you all had a good time at your Christmas party. I guess there is no war on Christmas in the prison.
MoveOn ~ Jon Stewart was Right On in his response to her.
Houston Chronicle ~ I was wondering how long it would take him to announce his switch in parties. He has been distancing himself from the GOP more and more lately.
MSNBC ~ The RepublicanTs keep coming up with crazy ideas. They just can't leave our Medicare and social Security alone. Ezra is a real Numbers guy and he explained it quite well.
Cartoon ~ I have the same response as I do to the MSNBC item.
That's only in the vacuum of Republican minds.
Indeed!
I also thought it was coming.
I agree.
Thanks!
Notice, raising the Medicare eligibility age costs more money overall. It saves the federal government money, but on the whole it raises healthcare costs. Now, our problem is that healthcare costs too high already. We pay about twice what most of the industrialized world pays. So, if raising the eligibility age increases costs, it stands to reason that LOWERING the eligibility age will LOWER healthcare costs.
Anybody for Medicare For All?
What an excellent thought, Jerry!
AGREED!
Puzzle — 7:00 I WAS loopy on this! What the shell were they thinking, indeed?
MoveOn — I watched 06/12 and 05/12 but there was no reference to Faux Noise. I did however get to see Chris Christie and Simpson of Simpson Bowles. I trust you when you say Jon Stewart put Carlson in her place.
Houston Chronicle — I've heard of recent and he makes sense. Distancing himself from the wack jobs that constitute the current Republican/Teabaggers is a very sane idea!
MSNBC — Anybody for true universal healthcare?
Cartoon — The Grinch, memories of long ago! How appropriate that the Grinch be a Republican/Teabagger! Years ago (grade 9 or 10) our minister was using 'How the Grinch stole Christmas' as the sermon and I was asked to draw several scenes on an overhead projector for the congregation as he told the story. That was the first time and the last time I did that. It was too nerve racking trying to keep up to his reading speed!
Beat me!
He did. 🙂
He's still far too conservative for my taste, but I can live with authentic conservatives.
Me!
That I would have enjoyed seeing!
Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, was a reasonable man and I would support him over Rick Scott (Medicare thief).
I would support Ivan the Terrible over Rick Scott!