I’m writing for tomorrow, the summer solstice, or Litha to our Wiccan friends. I guess the universe is waiting for me to make the days shorter. ;-) Actually, I need a few longer ones, because my helper friend stood me up again, and I have to do all the back housework I was going to pay her to do. ARGH! :-( Day 61.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:19 (average 5:27). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Upworthy: First impressions are lasting, and that certainly applies to scientific topics. I think if more sciencey things were introduced with this much pizzazz and humor, we would have more kids shooting for the stars — literally.
Ellen got it wrong. A black hole is infinitely dense, because it’s the space between a Republican’s ears. But they wouldn’t listen to her anyway, for another reason.
From The New Yorker: Congressional leaders left the White House on Wednesday “deeply frustrated” that President Obama had not found a swift resolution to the conflict between Sunnis and Shiites that began in the seventh century A.D.
After meeting for more than an hour with the President in the Oval Office, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell expressed disappointment that Mr. Obama “came up empty” when asked for a plan to heal the rift between the two religious groups, which began in the year 632.
“All we ask of this President is that he do one thing: settle a religious conflict that has been going on for a millennium and a half,” McConnell said. “What did he offer today? Nothing.”
LOL, Andy! If Obama actually did it, they’d call it a Muslim, Kenyan conspiracy to take away their rahts and freedumbs.
From NY Times: When he was the leader of Republicans in the California State Assembly — an ideologically diverse group of lawmakers often choleric toward both Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the Democrats who controlled the Legislature — Kevin Owen McCarthy [the New House Majority Leader] was known as the guy who could help bring a bill across the finish line. Gently, almost as if no one could see it.
“We negotiated a pretty difficult budget in 2004,” said Fabian Núñez, the California Democrat who was the Assembly speaker at the time. “Kevin said to me, ‘I have six votes for you,’ and then he went back and delivered the six votes. It was not so much that he would step out of the Republican ideological box, in fact he would rarely do that, but he was a man of his word. If he said, ‘I can’t go there,’ he could not go there. He was always trying to negotiate for something better.”
Cantor has been one of House’s chief obstructionists, responsible for torpedoing many deals there. Because he is a Republican, I have my doubts about McCarthy, but I’ll hold my peace, until I see what he does when August comes.
Cartoon:
11 Responses to “Open Thread–6/21/2014”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Sounds like you need a new "helper friend".
I agree. They are hard to come by.
5:27 Not sure why anyone would want to put urns outdoors like that. It must mean something different to them than it does to me.
Upworthy – The other thing about black holes is that anything near them gets absorbed in the blackness and is never seen again. Which explains why Republicans have been able to control the conversation for so long.
The New Yorker – This may be Andy's most brilliant column of the year to date. The simplicity!
The NY Times – While it's true there are things we don't have much time on, we also need persistence and consistency when we do start. In other words, I would put up with obstruction until November (OK, December) if that would gain us Democratic control of Congress. So I am actually frighened by this news. Like you, TC, I'll just have to wait and see.
Cartoon – Have a heart! It's only just this week it has started to be warm here!
3:22 Somebody locked me in the urnjust as I was approaching "That Darn Cat"!
Wooo! (too pooped for the Hoo!!)
Puzzle — 3:22 Somebody locked me in the urnjust as I was approaching "That Darn Cat"!
Upworthy — "Ellen got it wrong. A black hole is infinitely dense, because it’s the space between a Republican’s ears. But they wouldn’t listen to her anyway, for another reason." — I disagree. Why do you think Republicanus/Teabaggers walk around with signs on their foreheads that say "Space for Rent"?
The New Yorker — Coming up with solutions should be a team effort. And what did McTurtle contribute to the conversation about a solution? Oh that's right, his job is obstruction not solutions.
NY Times — This should prove interesting amongst the Republicanus/Teabagger ranks especially. It is always interesting, and occasionally tough breaking in a new pair of shoes.
Cartoon — The longest day of the year is today. It's all downhill from here until 22/12/14 when we start that uphill climb again! Not much to command puddy tat . . . Mother Nature has it all pre-programmed.
SHHHHH!!!
Sounds like you need a replacement helper, especially if you are paying her.
Upworthy: If Ellen had been teaching my college Physics class, I might have gotten a better grade. That was the most boring confusing class I ever had. Could we find a black hole that would accept the Tea Party?
The New Yorker: Andy hit it. So did you. No matter what this president does, it will be wrong for the repubs and their friends. Who really did not know that this conflict would happen?
NY Times: I trust no Republican these days, they are all too terrified of the TEa Party.
Cartoon: Any one who lives with a cat "gets" this one. Loved it.
Commercial services vcharge $60 – 70/person hour. She called and said she thought it was Monday. She says she'll come Monday.
Thanks all. I'm, still bleary having just awakened from my post laundry crash.
6:13 – Puzzle
Today I reached the big 58…. 🙄