I’ve been working my tail off for six hours preparing for tomorrow’s monthly report, and researching this article, and cooking at the same time, so I’m feeling pretty pooped today.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:36 (average 5:09). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From The New Yorker: As the curtain comes down on the Michael Bloomberg era, the three-term mayor of New York received fulsome praise last night from his most appreciative constituency: the people who can still afford to live there.
Harland Dorrinson, principal owner of the hedge fund Garrote Capital, hosted a black-tie dinner in the vault of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to pay tribute to a mayor who, in Mr. Dorrinson’s words, “put living in New York out of the reach of everyone except the deserving few.”
“To a lot of people, Mike Bloomberg will be remembered for reducing smoking and improving people’s diets,” said Mr. Dorrinson. “But that shouldn’t overshadow his greatest accomplishment, creating unaffordable housing throughout New York.”
“When Mike took office, this city was teeming with regular working people,” Mr. Dorrinson said, shuddering at the memory. “Today, it’s a magnificent tapestry of investment bankers, real-estate developers, and Russian oligarchs.”
As much as I liked Bloomberg’s stance on gun-control, he was a Bankster’s wet dream, otherwise.
From Upworthy: He Starts With 17 Lego Pieces And Ends Up With 6. The Reason Why Involves All Of Us.
Depressing as it is, he’s right!
From NY Times: A federal judge on Tuesday struck down as unconstitutional a Florida law that required welfare applicants to undergo mandatory drug testing, setting the stage for a legal battle that could affect similar efforts nationwide.
Judge Mary S. Scriven of the United States District Court in Orlando held that the testing requirement, the signature legislation of Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican who campaigned on the issue, violated the protection against unreasonable searches.
“The court finds there is no set of circumstances under which the warrantless, suspicionless drug testing at issue in this case could be constitutionally applied,” she wrote. The ruling made permanent an earlier, temporary ban by the judge.
Mr. Scott, who had argued that the drug testing was necessary to protect children and ensure that tax money was not going to illegal drugs, said that the state would appeal the ruling.
Extremist Republican Governor Scott wants you to believe that his profit from owning the lab that does the testing has nothing to do with it. Geez! You can fertilize the lawn with that one!
Cartoon:
18 Responses to “Open Thread–1/2/2013”
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3:21 I'm feeling pretty ducky right now. How long will it be before I'm crunched, stomped or beaten by a kitty?
3:34 I think I will duck out of sight for a while. You are not getting crunched today. If I am lucky, maybe tomorrow.
Mashed!
I really enjoyed this and wanted to share it with you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0K7hBTFML5g
Thanks Patty. I think a posted that a couple days ago.
New Yorker ~ Bravo, Andy!
Upworthy ~ Obviously, the lawmakers all over the world do not care about what happens to the world beyond their own lifetimes.
NY Times ~ Mayhaps the good Judge Mary S. Scriven has foiled his plans to steal more money from the State of florida's coffers.
Cartoon ~ All 4 of my grandparents came through Ellis Island around 1910 from Poland. None of them knew each other but they all ended up in the same neighborhood in Utica, NY and became friends. My Mom's mother was a guest at my Dad's parents' wedding and is in their wedding photo.
Amen!
Sad, but true.
I'm sure he has other ways to do so.
Cool!
God bless Judge Mary S Scriven in Orlando – otherwise the Fascists like Scott would continue on their path to condemn everyone who is not one of the 1% as guilty people who have to prove their innocence – whilst making more millions out of their cruelty and injustice – oh they are vile!
Amen Pat!
5:09 Just ducky.
Andy does it again!
Bloomberg: My blood pressure went up this morning about the community garden in Coney Island that was bulldozed in the middle of the night Dec. 28 by developers who had bribed the council for a zoning variance NOT supported by the neighborhood. Note – Dec. 28. de Blasio was sworn in THREE DAYS LATER. If that isn't evidence that the knew deBlasio would fight them and might win, then what is? I just hope he reams them.
Upworthy: Yup.
Florida: Not trying to mix politics and religion, but thank God for Mary Scriven. Oh, yeah, Scott's not the only one. The number of voting machines in 2012 supplied by a firm that Willard's son holds a huge interest in…. And I know there are more examples, I just don't have them on top of my head. But anyone who looks will find.
Cartoon: My ancestors seem to have come in a little before Ellis Island or have gone another way. The one who was here the longest fought for the Union in the Civil War. But I really don't know much about him. My second cousin is the genealogist in the family.
At least I beat somebody!! 😉
Yup!
Thst is FOUL play!
Thanks!
We'll be talking lots about voting machines nthis year.
He fought for the Union? No wonder Baggers don't like you!!
Thank goodness for Judge Mary S. Scriven of the United States District Court in Orlando.
Carbon emissions – I do my part but China is another story… 🙄
6:13 –
I do mine too!
I hope you had a good holiday dinner.
The New Yorker: Andy knows how to slice and dice and make us laugh.
Upworthy: Until all of us work together the earth is going to continue heating up. Although that is hard to imagine here tonight. It is 15 degrees now, expected low to be 10. Two inches of snow on the ground and howling winds. Ugh. I hate winter.
NY Times: Scott is a typical Republican, anything he does is for his own benefit
Cartoon: I am sure the Republicans would have reacted this way.
Thanks! It wqas great!
Indeed!
Global warming does not prevent winter.
…or that of the 0.1%
Bingo!
What truly frightens me is that the Koch-sucking media down here in Florida keeps claiming that Scott is doing okay and has a lot of supporters for his re-election. In no way, shape, or form should this monster be re-elected.
Angie, I fully agree. We must get the truth out, because the media won't.