I’m writing for tomorrow, day 165. I’m about to leave for my physical, and will finish filling out this section after I return, so you can have more than just a Personal Update.
All things considered, except for Lady Vampira’s drilling, the trip was pretty painless. Nevertheless, I’m feeling quite tired and am ready for some extra sleep.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 2:49 (average 4:24). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: This clip of Rep. Cory Gardner from from Denver’s KDVR TV is nothing short of amazing because he spends nearly two minutes trying to claim that legislation that he co-sponsored—the federal personhood bill—does not exist:
In the video, Gardner repeatedly claims that "there is no such thing as a federal personhood bill" when KDVR’s Eli Stokols asks him to explain why he was willing to flip-flop on his support for Colorado’s personhood measure but not the federal bill.
It’s a convenient answer for Gardner because by denying the existence of federal personhood legislation, he doesn’t have to explain why he supports it while claiming to oppose a state-level measure that does the same thing. The only problem is that it’s a transparently and utterly ridiculous claim.
Barf Bag Alert!
I’m amazes this was aired at a local Fox station. No way would it have ever been shown on the Republican Reichsministry of propaganda, Faux Noise. This Republican is doing what Republicans virtually always do when called to account for his verifiable behavior. He is lying.
From The New Yorker: Iraq’s new Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, has cancelled a scheduled visit to the White House, citing “concerns about the security situation there.”
Speaking to reporters in Baghdad on Wednesday, Abadi said that he had been looking forward to visiting the White House but that recent reports had “given me the willies.”
“They really need to get on top of things there,” he said. “Until they do, I’m better off staying in Iraq.”…
Can you blame him, Andy? The White House just isn’t a safe place to visit, let alone live there.
From TPM: Nate Silver acknowledged that he was doing something a little unusual in a Sept. 17 blog post when he called out fellow forecaster Sam Wang of Princeton University. But it also appears to have been the culmination of a long-simmering — if largely under-the-radar — feud.
"I don’t like to call out other forecasters by name unless I have something positive to say about them — and we think most of the other models out there are pretty great," Silver wrote. But he then labeled Wang’s model "wrong" and provided a detailed argument (with footnotes) to explain why he thought so.
And it didn’t stop there. Periodically over the last week or so, Silver has continued to take shots on Twitter at Wang’s forecasting model, which has consistently been more optimistic about Democratic odds of keeping the Senate than Silver’s (or any other forecaster).
I doubt that Silver would be taking such umbrage, if Wang’s model had not outperformed his own in the last three national elections.
Cartoon:
20 Responses to “Open Thread–10/3/2014”
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Oh dear TomCat – you don't look very happy on that table in your photo! So glad you survived it after all!
New Yorker – that really sums up the security situation at the White House, doesn't it – well done Andy!
TPM – now we know which forecast to watch, don't we – I expect he didn't really think he would be giving his rival so much extra air time!
Daily Kos – the Repuglicons continue to make me despair – they are completely incapable of admitting their own mistakes and their own behaviour, there just doesn't seem to be any way to get through to them even when the proof of what they did is staring them in the face!
That's why the Republicans must go the way of the Whigs.
4:24 which is also still the average. How time flies when you're having fun.
Daily Kos – Oh, yes. He is a co sponsor of the Federal bill. And he can't remove his name from it even if he wanted to (which he doesn't) because he could only do that while Congress is in session. Which it won't be for a while. What kills me is that he is ahead in the polls. GET OUT THE VOTE !!!!!!
New Yorker – Priceless.
TPM – I follow the Daily Kos Election Digest myself, which acknowledges all the polls and comments on the models. I just wish I were happier about them.
Cartoon – Poor baby. Get some rest and hope for helpful results.
Because I was a aresearch professional, I understand most poilling models. Wang's is quite esoteric and completely over my head, but Rachel seems to like him.
3:00 I got stuck under the bridge fighting off the trolls.
3:30 I fell off the bridge trying to get down to help Patty with the trolls.
2:58 I swear, that damn cat has water wings!
I had to get the fishies, before that Critter could!! 😉
Daily Kos ~ He means what he says unti he says the opposite. then he means that. He wants to have his cake and eat it too. Sorry, Cory.
New Yorker ~ It probably is safer for him in Iraq. I wonder how much better the security in the WH would be if it was a white male TeapublicanT in there.
TPM ~ I thought Silver was being touted as the be all and end all of poll sitters.
That'sa why Silver hates having competiotion.
KOS: A definite Barf Bag Alert. Liar, liar, pants on fire! lol. Pathetic Rep. Cory Gardner
NEW YORKER: Andy sums it all up quite nicely regarding the SS in the White House. Since the SS revelations about its poor job, the SS has undergone a major house cleaning in my opinion with more to come.
TPM: I too follow the Daily Kos Election Digest and quite frankly, I am discouraged, disheartened by what I read in it. I do understand about loyalty but the people need to look deeper and see what the GOP/TP have done in recent years, The people need to get away from the ass & titty, Hollywood, sports, Faux News shows and start educating themselves with politics and issues. They need to up their 5th grade mentality. I can only guess that I’m not being realistic in that respect…
CARTOON: What is an A1C?
ADDED BONUS: Koch Bros.
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Everything you never “wanted” to know about Kochs is here in one place.
Recommended reading if you can stomach it. lol. It is “enlightening” including the latest Rolling Stones reporter and comments back to the Koch Bros.
http://www.boycottkochbrothers.com/
Jim, an A1C test is actually a hemoglobin A1C blood test that measures blood glucose levels over the previous 3 month period, the approximate life span of blood cells. Here is a link: http://www.webmd.com/diabetes/glycohemoglobin-ghb
In addition, diabetics test their own blood (or should) at least once a day if not 3-5 times per day, depending how stable they are. I know I usuallly test once a day unless I feel something is out of whack . . . and believe me, if my blood sugars are too lower, I know it. That's why I now have a cast on my foot . . . I collapsed during a low and managed to get multiple avulsion fractures in my right foot.
I test twice daily.
Thanks, Jim, I bookmarked the link and share several of the graphics on Facebook. The Koch bros are insidious.
Thanks to JL A of C2 writes that A1C is “The Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) Test for Diabetes”.
Puzzle — 2:58 I swear, that damn cat has water wings!
Daily Kos — "…the only thing that doesn't exist is Cory Gardner's credibility." — Now ain't that the truth!!!!! As a matter of interest, Gardner was Asshole of the Day for 01 Oct 2014 for this very reason, and after watching the video, he deserves to be Asshole of the Day, of the Week and of the Month!.
Only a rabid Republicanus/Teabagger or a total moron would vote for this slug!
The New Yorker — Good one Andy!
TPM — Seems to me that Nate Silver was on the mark in 2012, if I remember correctly. That not withstanding, nobody really knows the results until the fat lady sings, and she doesn't even start warming up until the polls close.
Cartoon — Gotta love those A1Cs! My last one in August was 7.6 so not too bad. I only do the fasting sugars2 per year, but A1C every 3 months.
Now get some rest dude!
My last was 7.1, but that was several months ago.
I hope you got your extra sleep!
Daily Kos: And he doesn't even blush as he lies! He is a true Republican!
The New Yorker: Sad, but true/
TPM" I tried to read his blog, totally confused. I think you are right, he doth protest too much.
Cartoon: Love any cat pics, but don't understand the meaning of this one.
One of the blood test our dude had yesterday was a fasting A1C. See my reply to Jim above re A1C or Hemoglobin A1C.
I was afraid Lady Vampyra would start looking for a vein under my tail!! 🙁