Day 71. I’m writing for tomorrow and have been working like a 
, since I woke up, because there is so much going on. I’ll be posting more articles that normal. Tomorrow, I have a grocery delivery from Safeway, because Store to Door is closed for the 4th.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 2:59 (average 5:34). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From NY Times: Just weeks before Blackwater guards fatally shot 17 civilians at Baghdad’s Nisour Square in 2007, the State Department began investigating the security contractor’s operations in Iraq. But the inquiry was abandoned after Blackwater’s top manager there issued a threat: “that he could kill” the government’s chief investigator and “no one could or would do anything about it as we were in Iraq,” according to department reports.
American Embassy officials in Baghdad sided with Blackwater rather than the State Department investigators as a dispute over the probe escalated in August 2007, the previously undisclosed documents show. The officials told the investigators that they had disrupted the embassy’s relationship with the security contractor and ordered them to leave the country, according to the reports.
Now known as Academi (formerly Xe), Blackwater, aka the GOP SS, remain the heavily armed thugs that Republican leaders keep ready to unleash upon the American people, as they did during Katrina, should Republicans ever regain the White House.
From Daily Kos: Last night, Bill Maher had a New Rule about the current conflict in Iraq, boiling it down to revenge.
I planned to show the video, but it has already disappeared, so I removed it before posting this. Click through for the transcript.
From The New Yorker: A ten-year European plan to gradually phase out American football in the United States and replace it with soccer is “very much on track,” a spokesman for the European Union confirmed today.
The E.U. spokesman, Alf-Jergen Holmboe, said the replacement of American football with soccer was the third in a three-step plan to transform the U.S. into a European country.
“The first two steps were electing a socialist President and instituting national health care,” he said. “Once soccer replaces football, our work will be done.”
Dang Andy! This will show up on Breitfart, World Nut Daily, and the Republican Reichsministry of Propaganda, Faux Noise, as real news.
Cartoon:
19 Responses to “Open Thread–7/1/2014”
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4:06 No excuses!
3:46 I wasted time looking for the M&Ms.
3:34 You'd think this would be easier the 2nd time around!
Wooo Hooo!!
NY Times ~ Where is the House investigation about this? None needed because it was Chickenhawk Cheney's brainchid. Lawsuits? Nope! They keep changing their name. Now they sound less intimidaing. don't they?
New Yorker ~ It's a Socialist plot!
Cartoon ~ They try to screw everyone except their puppet-masters.
The plot failed. Belguim won.
5:42 I'm not sure this picture doesn't constitute enticement. Especially before breakfast.
NY Times – How in the world did this story even get into the Times? That is a fairly majpr outlet, even though it fires women who have the audacity to want pay equal t men's for the same job. You don't suppose they were trying to distract from the SCROTUS decision? Oh, God, please don't let me start thinking like a Republican! But Patty is right, no investigaion in the House, unless they can find a way to blame it on Obama.
Daily Kos – Yes, HBO is pretty anal about Bill. If you go to HBO home, you can see the "Overtime" segment for free, but you have to join and pay to see the whole program. I did see the transcript in Daily Kos (I subscribe to their highlights email) and of course he is right, as he usually is when he is not talking about "political correctness."
The New Yorker – What is really amusing to me is that, you are right TC, right wing news would eat this up as real news in a heartbeat. What makes the satire obvious to sane people is that Obama is far from a socialist and the ACA is far from national health care! But try to tell them that!
Cartoon – If Clarence had admitted he screwed women before he was confirmed, he wouldn't have been. Anita Hill TRIED to tell us.
That is the double entendre that gave the cartoon its element of humor.
Oh, I did get what you were saying; in fact, I was trying to underline it. I read and commented here before I read the dedicated article. I might still have phrased it this way or maybe not.
Blsckwater was given the "GO AHEAD"by the Cheney administration ,and was on many occasions operating as a death squad.(Still waiting for the flowers being thrown at "OUR"feet!). When I see the ongoing tragedy in Iraq, re. ISIS and AL Queada I think "thank you Mr Bush and friends," Millions displaced, thousands killed,I cannot imagine how any in that administration can sleep at night.!.
I could really go on re. the "SUPREME"court.but it strikes me that America is the most backward and uncivilized country on the planet,If you had gone for single payer then this current nonsense would NOT have happened.( and unpaid leave would have been the norm (as in Western Europe. )but the public lets this Government lie,cheat and steal and still votes for the corrupt gang. HOW SAD.
Sorry but today,s news is enough to give anyone a downer..(or should be!)
I agree.
A graphic illustration to what SCOTUS deems protecttion as a person ..
(And for those who can't view the graphic – a descriptive summary:
Fetus – PERSON
Corporation – PERSON
Women – Meh
https://twitter.com/bakerbk/status/483642132750553090/photo/1
The Republican Right to life ends at birth.
TC, you got a serious amount of work done today. I have been on here an hour. Good work!
NY Times: Blackwater and companies like them are a disgrace and should be immediately fired by our government, they certainly do not meet the rules of the Geneva Convention. How did our country get so far from the basis we were formed on? Every one needs to get to work trying to convince those who still believe the crap the Bush administration and Faux news have foisted on us, that they are lies and dangerous lies at that.
Daily Kos: Yes, Malikie excluded all those who did not agree with him, sort of like Hitler. No wonder the Iraqi's are furious. This is now a civil war and they have to decide who wins, not us.
The New Yorker: No doubt some of the right wing will think this is true, it fits all their conspiracy theories.
Cartoon: If this Scrotus meets, I guarantee you someone, other than millionaires will be screwed.
Today too!
Well, my Winnie is home which we all like. So far, no fights. His brother and sister realise he is not well so they are giving him space and cuddles. It is going to be togh for the next week or so. He has to be fed every 2 hours but only a teaspoon of wet food at a time so that his tummy doesn't expand and blow his stitches on the inside. He sure is hungry though. He wants to eat his kibble and wet food, while the other 2 are intrigued by wet food which they have never had before. It is going to be a long week trying to keep the 3 apart during meal times!
Puzzle — 3:34 You'd think this would be easier the 2nd time around!
NY Times — Blackwater, part of the Bush/Cheney bag of tricks in Iraq. They all should be charged with crimes against humanity and in prison for life!
Daily Kos — "Revenge is a dish best served cold."
The New Yorker — "Breitfart, World Nut Daily, and the Republican Reichsministry of Propaganda, Faux Noise" — They have absolutely NO sense of humour!
Cartoon — A picture of Republican Constitutional VD! The only cures I know are impeachment of the Injustices (those are the guys with the red swastikas on their robes), retirement or death.
Hope Winnie feels better!!
Glad Winnie is home and doing better. Good luck with the feeding. I have two who are seriously over weight, one normal weight, and the most recent addition who looks like an ad for starving cats. I am trying to get a balance, but really have a hard time getting the fatties to not eat so much while trying to fatten up the skeleton.
Thanks TC