I’m writing for tomorrow, since tomorrow I need to be rested to cook. If you are traveling, please take extra care. Expect only an Open Thread at best on Thursday. May this day bring each of you all the joy you so richly deserve.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:09 (average 5:26). To do it click here. How did you do?
Fantasy Football Update:
Here’s the latest playoff bracket from our fantasy football league, Lefty Blog Friends.
Congrats to the winners, and enjoy the last week of the fantasy season.
Short Takes:
From Upworthy: ‘Ugh, Food Stamps Are For Lazy Freeloaders!’ Well, Let’s Look At The Facts.
These are things Republicans do not want you to know.
From Daily Kos: There are a lot of things not to like from a progressive perspective about the so-called Ryan-Murray compromise budget approved this past Wednesday by the Senate and on its way to President Obama’s desk. Perhaps the biggest is the expiration of long-term unemployment insurance benefits. These cuts will provide a very inopportune lump of coal in the stockings of the least fortunate right at the time that they need these benefits the most. And with Republicans in charge of the House of Representatives, the probability of these benefits being restored once they expire seems barely a stitch above zero.
Thankfully, as Greg Sargent writes, Democrats in the Senate and progressive institutions are refusing to concede the point. And whether they actually hope to embarrass Republicans into passing a new extension of benefits, or whether the only expectation is to use the issue to turn public opinion even further against a heartless Republican Party, the efforts involved look like they will be extensive. [emphasis added]
Click through for more about what Democrats will be doing to restore unemployment benefits.
From Common Dreams: Alberta, home to massive tar sands reserves, has a new environmental regulator in town.
Only this one is funded entirely by the fossil fuel industry, the Edmonton Journal reports Monday.
Roughly 150 publicly funded environment department staff including fish and wildlife officers, forestry officers, biologists, rangers and others who watch over the oil industry’s activities in the province are expected to move over to the new, industry-funded, Alberta Energy Regulator—a shift initiated by the government’s environmental department as it shuts down its Energy Resources Conservation Board.
Having regulators dependent on corporate criminals for their paychecks is a wide open door for corruption and abuse.
Cartoon:
33 Responses to “Open Thread–12/25/2013”
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Very good video on SNAP – contradicting all those rabid Reich Wing lies about it. (TC could you tell me how to tell others the link to this – can I refer them to this page – as I noticed a discussion elsewhere on C2 recently on Food Stamps and I think people need educating in the face of the Reich Wing Propoganda and would like to show them the video – or should I link them directly to Upworthy – I tried looking in my search bar for this video and got a plethora of confusion…). The Democrats have got to fight to restore benefits to the poor, disadvantaged and desperate or there is going to be a horrible backlash against them as well as the GOP/TP I fear.
Alberta is going to have an industry funded tar sands Alberta Energy Regulator? Putting the poachers in charge of the estate? I do hope Canadians band together to deselect Harper and his harpy cronies and to try and restore Canada before it is too late!
Happy Christmas everyone!
Pat A, if you mouse over the video, and move your mouse to the lower right, you should see a "watch on YouTube" logo. Click on that, it will open in a new window, and copy the URL from the new window's address line. I'm sure there are other ways bot that for me has always been the fastest.
Thanks Pat. Joanne's reply is spot-on.
There is a book, a very prophetc book, about the Republicanus/Teabaggers and the Canadian Conservatives (Harper and his harlots) . . . it's called "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" . . . and everything else!
Merry Christmas everyone!
Amen, Lynn!
This special little video and song for Christmas Canuck style. Enjoy!
http://www.youtube.com/embed/Gw8P8L1LfDM?rel=0
Please note that the pronunciation of 'Canuck' in this video is a little off so that it goes with the music better.
Delightful, eh!
Very good Lynn! Now, how can we get that moose out of the maple tree and onto the BBQ?
Canadian moose are so tough that not even a BBQ will soften them up. Better to enjoy them alive in their natural habitat, even if that is up a maple tree!
I ate moose once as a lad, when I hitched acxross Canada. It was quite tender.
Must have been an American moose that crossed the border. Remember, in the 'olden' days, crossing the border was a lot easier!
Maybe we can get Mooseolini tyo vrpss the border too!
4:46, no excuse.
Kos: Among all the sugary sweet e-Christmas cards (not that there's anything wrong with that), I did think this message from Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) was refreshingly different: "Dear Joanne,
As you know, last week the House Democrats had to vote for a not so great budget bill or face another possible government shutdown that could hurt ordinary Americans and our government even more.
I think it’s wrong that we asked nothing at all from the wealthiest individuals and corporations. We didn’t close a single loophole. Not one.
I will be back in Washington this January, adding my voice to the calls for food for our hungry, heat for those who are cold, jobs for the unemployed, health care for all, Meals on Wheels for our shut-ins, Head Start for our vulnerable little ones.
Standing together, we surely make a difference. Thank you for all you do for others. Keep working, and I will too!" I think she's one to watch.
Common Dreams: Well, we all know regulators are unduly influenced by the supposed regulatees. But putting it out in the open like that just boggles the mind. That's just paying for nothing.
Approaching individual issues in budget bills is difficult, because of the complexity involved, giving Republicans infinite ways to distract. Approacking inequality as a series of single issue bills will pin Republicans down. Then they can either cave-in or incecently expose themselves in an election year.
3:37 Merry Christmas one and all.
Eill I be Mashes?
Backatcha!
3:40 I was riding with Santa delivering presents Christmas Eve and am very tired so it's slowing me down today.
Wooo Hooo! One for me!
2:53pm Wa. time. Merry Christmas to All. ………1/3 of our Christmas Dinner is because of SNAP. The Turkey is from the Food Bank here on the Island. My roommate get $43.00 per mo. in SNAP.! She is 60yr. & on disability. No, The SNAP is not wasted on "junk". We have freash veggies still from my garden….& other people are bring things…… WaLa…Christmas Dinner…..The 1% have No Idea of the "real" world. Repubs. also don't have a clue. MY Sen. is Patty Murry…I called her office about cutting unemployment….poor office staff must have been fielding many calls like mine….& it seems Sen.Murry is none too happy with Ryan. Do believe She & DEMS. will do what they can to "Fix" it.
Thasnls for the personasl insight, Karen.
Reply to Karen.Patty Murray is my Senator also. Don't you just love her?
Alberta…..Tar Sands….Koch Bros…..need I say more.
Nope!
I actually was a social worker in the Food Stamp program in WV when it first started. I KNOW how much benefit this program is to hungry people. Then, I moved on and eventually ended up in the Unemployment Program in Kentucky. Believe me, I know how important these benefits are, too. Those idiots who cut unemployment not only hurt those who need the benefits, they also hurt the economy, grocery stores, gas stations, you name it. Without those funds, the needy won't be spending a dime they don't have to in order to survive. The daily action on Care 2 tonight was to look at the top five Scrooges. Those who have are always willing to take from those who have not.
Edie, you are in a unique position to discuss the issue on a human level. Please never shut up!
TC, I think you know by now, that I will probably never shut up. I give my husband a running account every day of what is on your blog at night. He is as big a fan of yours as I am. Don't you ever shut up!
{{{Blush}}} I'm glad he likes it. Every day, my ex used to gibe me a 40 minute synopsis of General Hospital without stopping to breathe. I never could make her understand that, if I nebver heard another word about that soap, that would be occsasion to rejoice.
Is it really any wonder why I have lost all faith in the federal government and perhaps in large segments of society? When someone can get arrested for simply doing a Christian thing like sharing his lunch with a starving homeless person? God bless our country, because we really need all the help we can get. Tom, it’s good to see you’re back in the swing of things. Merry Christmas and the Best and Happiest of New Years to all!
Thanks James. Our country needs more action than faith.
Amen to that, TC!
Thamks James!
6:06 – Merry Christmas everyone… 😆
Backatcha, Richard! 🙂