I’m writing for tomorrow, day 168. I planned to slee3p late, but did not realize that the Portland marathon started at 7 AM two block from my home. The runners didn’t make much noise, as they passed under my window, but the hour of accompanying drums was a deal breaker for sleep. I’m waiting for services in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb to begin. Tomorrow I have a routine CT scan that will take most of the day so there will probably be only a Personal Update on Tuesday.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:26 (average 5:50). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Religious Ecstasy:
Short Takes:
From Upworthy: 35,000 walrus just came ashore in northwest Alaska. Yes, 35,000. With three zeros. That’s an unprecedented number, and it’s all due to a lack of sea ice. The images are almost too unreal to believe.
They call this the "brink of catastrophe". I’d say catastrophe is here. Click through for more pics.
From Daily Kos:
Eclectablog first brought us the story of the lows to which Republicans will go to this election season: sending out a mailer telling voters to call a Democratic candidate’s dying mother to complain about Obamacare. Michigan’s traditional media has picked up the story.
The mailers, which were paid for by the Michigan Republican Party, urge voters to call John Fisher, a candidate for the 61st state House District, and "Tell him hard-working Michiganders are being hurt by Obamacare and the health care policies (Democrats) support."
Fisher’s campaign acknowledged it had no issue with past Republican mailers that told voters to call him at his personal number, but the candidate said Republicans took it too far by directing citizens to call Fisher at his mother’s number. The number is registered under Fisher’s name, but is a direct line to his mother’s room at Tendercare Portage, where Isabel Kramb is currently receiving hospice care for congestive heart failure, said Fisher’s campaign manager David Topping. […]
"To direct people to call a suffering woman who deserves peace and comfort is beyond the pale," Fisher said in a prepared statement. "Their lack of ethics and contempt for personal privacy is just another reason for people to question what–or better, who–the Republican Party stands for, so that they can make a wise decision at the ballot box on Nov. 4."
Of the sliding scale of negativity, we have distasteful, sleazy, outrageous, evil, and lowest of all, Republican.
From Buzzfeed: When the light turns green and the person in front of you doesn’t go.
This is just one of 26 Hillary Clinton reactions to everyday situations. Click through for the other 25.
Cartoon:
21 Responses to “Open Thread–10/6/2014”
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Good luck with the scan TC, hope all is well.
Upworthy – I agree, climate change is already up us with Global Weirding happening all over the world …
Daily Kos – this is utterly disgusting and all of a muchness with the other Right Wing tactics – his opponent tried to blame other people (don't they always) ….
Well, I'm leaving this morning for Illinois so I can be there when the Auction Director comes to Mom's home tomorrow to do his inventory in preparation for her move to an Assisted Living facility.
They're also going to move the things she's keeping to the facility, so hopefully we'll have a better idea when that happens in late October or early November. Her auction is scheduled for November 16th, so we've got some time yet.
The one huge blessing is that it was HER decision to make the move. She'll be 98 y/o this coming Veteran's Day, and living in a two-story home (even w/ a Health Aide that comes in 5 days a week for an hour) is just getting to be too much for her. (She made a very wise decision IMO.)
Wise decision but not easy while being implemented. I wish strength to you both, and no unexpected snags.
Your Mother is a wise woman. Too many leave the decision to their children or grandchildren thereby heaping guilt upon them. I wish her well and hope the facility is top-notch.
I am so glad that SHE made the decision. It gives her a sense of control that is so important. My grandfather at ~95 made the decision which made it easier on my father and aunt. On the other hand, my mother was not completely capable of making that decision when she was diagnosed with dementia. It took a lot of listening to her, cajoling etc but she finally agreed to try out assisted living. Had she not agreed to try it out, I would have made the decision for her because her safety was at risk. Of course she was a lot younger than your mom . . . 79 . . . which may be part of the issue.
Good luck with everything. Say "hi" to your mom from me and a "meow, meow" from my 3 cats.
Upworthy: Imagine how terrified these animals are, having only this space to winter since most of their habitat is gone. I am sure the Climate deniers will find some way to blame this on the President.
Daily Kos: And we thought they couldn't sink any lower. This is despicable behavior and should have some basis for prosecution.
Buzzfeed: I clicked through and wish I hadn't. This is just another way to denigrate Hilary Clinton, who happens to have a very expressive face. I don't like candid pics of myself, either, because I move and wiggle my face with emotions that are not always attractive.
Sorry you got my reply to TC. I wanted to tell you how happy I am for you that your Mom made the decision herself. My mother has consistently refused, and now has dementia that is getting progressively worse. I will probably have to use my POA to have her moved eventually. She will hate me and I will feel guilty forever.
Edie, never, I say NEVER feel guilty about that probable eventuality. When all is said and done, if you do have to make that decision for your mother, it will be for her comfort, safety and because you love her. I know . . . I was at that point. My mother was very very resistant. I was within a whisker of making that decision, and it was only after going over and over with my mother that she relented. Also, assisted living will be better for your health. You are 7 years older than me and you will have more energy and a better perspective when you are with your mom. You are NOT abandoning her. You are loving and caring for her by also caring for yourself. And your mom won't hate you. Once my mother was in assisted living, she couldn't wait to call me and tell me about bingo and all her winnings! If your mom is past the assisted living stage and in need of full nursing care, you will still see her. I won't lie to you, it will be tough at first, but hang in there. I've been there, and I know what it was like. You know where I'm at if you want to talk more. Namaste my friend
Thanks, Lynn.
Indeed! Have a good trip!
6:00 You would thimk an average of 5:50 earlier could hardly go up, but it did, to 5:53. Guess the flower name is appropriate.
Upworthy – Those poor, poor beasts. And as in any natural disaster, it is the elderly and the children who will suffer the most. And I fear it will not get enough attention because walruses are not "cute." Would it help humanize them, do you think, to pass around some of the early LOLrus memes?
http://cheezburger.com/355204864 or http://cheezburger.com/4108345856
This is much worse than having his bukkit stolen.
Daily Kos – Yes, I did see this with horror. If you haven't, do click through and read his opponent's non-statement – I say non-statement because he doesn't disavow the advertising, nor does he apologize. He merely, as Pat A says, blames others and the net tone is "Tough s**t." Arielle (Care2) makes a good suggestion, assuming he has a mother, and he hasn't killed her yet. But he may have been spawned on a stagnant pond.
Buzzfeed – I might think this funnier if it were more common for male public figures who might run for office to be featured like this. Then I might not have the nagging feeling she is being singled out because she is a woman.
Cartoon – What JL (Care2) said.
3:47 The jasmine tried to torture me but I beat it down.
4:04 I got tortured.
3:32 Ah! The sweet smell of jasmine!
FF ~ Congratulations on your fantasy game. I have to stop listening to the gurus. whenever I do, I lose. Your Broncos really played well this week, too..
Upworthy ~ What? Global warming? Watch the deniers stick their heads in the sand again.
Daily Kos ~ Absolutely vile sons of Satan!
Buzzfeed ~ I agree with Joanne D.
Cartoon ~ I wonder if St. Ronnie's CIA had anything to do with this…
There is nothing to say that global warming is not here already! The walrus’ have made that clear!! It is going to be a hard winter this year. Either it will be not enough ice for the walrus or way too much. I’m betting it will be too much. The climate swings are going farther and farther on that pendulum!
For someone to put out a phone number and tell the people to call it to gripe and bitch about imaginary ACA shortfalls to the mother of the candidate who is receiving hospice care at 98 years old is ABOMINABLE!!! Total disregard for privacy and just plain-old good sense!! I don’t know how to phrase it any harsher without cussin my head off!! And I don’t want to put all that on TC’s blog. But trust me, I have a lot of choice words for ANY PERSON that would stoop so low as to harass someone that is in failing health and close to death!! That is UNFORGIVABLE!!
UPWORTHY: Unbelievable! The mass gathering of Walruses in one place! Global warming is here and has been for quite awhile. Many different species of animals in nature have been signaling us (people) for years. This is the latest example of nature trying very hard to tell us something…
CARTOON: Anwar el-Sadat, former President of Egypt and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize was assassinated on this day, October 6. 1981.
And the slow spiral downwards began for Egypt…
If Hillary becomes President, political cartoonists will have a field day.
Upworthy: Imagine how terrified these animals are, having only this space to winter since most of their habitat is gone. I am sure the Climate deniers will find some way to blame this on the President.
Daily Kos: And we thought they couldn't sink any lower. This is despicable behavior and should have some basis for prosecution.
Buzzfeed: I clicked through and wish I hadn't. This is just another way to denigrate Hilary Clinton, who happens to have a very expressive face. I don't like candid pics of myself, either, because I move and wiggle my face with emotions that are not always attractive.
Puzzle — 3:32 Ah! The sweet smell of jasmine!
FF — Well, looks like I beat Mitt's Magic Jock by a handy margin. That makes me happy to take down the thus far #1 in the Lefty Blog league. For me, this is certainly better than last year when I had 1 win all season.
Upworthy — A related video at http://www.upworthy.com/a-bunch-of-young-geniuses-just-made-a-corrupt-corporation-freak-out-big-time-time-for-round?c=undefined goes through what is happening in Boulder, Colorado with renewable energy. Very interesting and they are now going up against Xcel; Energy which of course does not want the renewable energy group to win. Things like this will help the walruses in time.
Daily Kos — This sums it up perfectly:
Buzzfeed — Is it me, or does Hillary look just a tad frumpy in some of these pics?
Cartoon — I liked Sadat and I remember feeling like the Middle East, if not the world was going to explode. It took a few more years, but explode it did.
Thanks all. Overslept intentionally. Heading back to bed.