I’m writing for tomorrow, day 192. Yesterday's CoDA meeting in prison went very well. The guys dug pretty deeply into personal issues. I mostly listened, and I can’t get into the things they said without violating their confidentiality.. Groceries are delivered and put away. My attention is divided, because it’s the bottom of the 5th, with 2 outs. Tomorrow I have to be ready to leave bright and early for my pulmonologist’s appointment (routine), and will probably not be back until mid afternoon, so my most likely posting for Friday will be a Personal Update and a holiday greeting. Here’s hoping.
Late Update: Condolences to Nameless. It was a good close game.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s tool me 3:24 (average 5:33). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos (Hat-Tip JL A, Pat B, and James Maynard, all from Care2): Living with a cat for the first time, you quickly pick up on its behavioral quirks, many of which are common among other cats. What you soon find out is that cats aren't Republican. Here are 12 reasons why not:
1. Cats are curious about what you do in your bedroom, but they don't try to legislate away your freedom to do it.
2. Cats may take away your cushion, but they'll give it back to you with a gentle push.
3. Cats give you attention and sympathy when you're sick.
4. Females are treated with importance in the cat world.
Click through for the other eight. I'll add number thirteen. Even a neutered cat has more integrity in his kitty dingles than there is in all Republican officeholders combined.
From The New Yorker: \With just one week to go until the midterm elections, a new poll indicates that billionaires are likely to retain control of the United States government.
The poll, conducted by the University of Minnesota’s Opinion Research Institute, shows that the proxy candidates of billionaires are likely to win ninety-eight per cent of next Tuesday’s races, with the remaining two per cent leaning billionaire.
Although the poll indicates that some races are still “too close to call,” the fact that billionaires funded candidates on both sides puts the races safely in their column.
Andy isn't that far from the truth. Fortunately, most of the billionaires backing Democrats are not plutocrats.
From Upworthy: Fact: The political system in America is completely broken. And a huge reason it's gotten so bad is the influence of the almighty dollar. Understanding how we got to this point is both fascinating and utterly maddening.
This is an excellent video except it paints the problem as much more bipartisan that it is, in fact. The vast majority of corporate money, especially secret corporate money, is spent on behalf of Republicans. Even McConJob joined his fellow Republicans and voted to block the DISCLOSE Act, supported by Democrats.
Cartoon:
20 Responses to “Open Thread–10/30/2014”
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Congrats to the Giants – and Bumgarner in particular, who practically single-handedly won it for them.
Losing the World Series is not the worst thing that's going to happen to me … and if it is, I'll be damn lucky!
But I have my doubts I can wait another 29 years for the next try.
List of Major League Baseball franchise postseason droughts
This list made for fascinating reading.
The Chicago Cubs have the longest drought in baseball at 108 seasons. The SF Giants were 55 years before they won in their first in 2010. Quite a few teams have never been to a world series, much less having won a championship.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Major_League_Baseball_franchise_postseason_droughts
I don’t follow sports anymore. I do, however, support a home team if and when it reaches championship status in playoffs. The last time I followed any team was with the SF 49ers and Joe Montana. Not having a TV or a radio helps. lol.
Like I mentioned, my Mom is a DEVOUT & DEVOTED Cubbies fan. In fact in preparation for her move to assisted living I learned that she listened to EVERY cubs game on the radio (which back then were ALL day games) and wrote down in that strange baseball heiroglyphics every play on an index card so that when her two older brothers (my uncles) came back from working in the fields they could enjoy what happened
I thought I was a Luddite by only having cable internet, with just rabbit ears for TV – but you trumped me w/ NO TV or radio.
3:26 TC saw a Diner and pushed me aside.
3:39 I got pushed aside two times. I hope they have some food left.
Daily Kos ~ This was a great article. The reasons are all true and I like the thirteenth reason you added.
New Yorker ~ So sad!
Upworthy ~ Utterly sickening! Trying to stop politicians from pandering to big money is almost impossible. They tried to stop it by doing the "check this box if you want to contribute to campaign financing" on IRS Tax Returns. That didn't work out too well because people were mad at Nixon.
Cartoon ~ Only fetuses have rights in this country anymore.
6:26 average unchanged. Sometimes it doesn't feel as slow as it is, but today it was so draggy it felt like 10 minutes.
Daily Kos – Yes, one commenter says some of her best friends are Democats, while one poor fellow lives nexr door to a Liberterrier. π
New Yorker – Oh, Lord, more straight reporting.
NY Times – It was a little long for me to get through this morning (I will eventually), but when the media try to explain money in politics, and when they try to explain gridlock, they are always too non-partisan. Of course, if they were actually accurate, the right would be after them in lynch mobs with real nooses, so that may be a motivator. Plus, "both sides are at fault" sounds so reasonable. But sometimes both sides just aren't at fault.
Cartoon – Ain't that the truth. I have been getting surveys from right wing Catholic groups which I have been sending back with honest answers – and telling them they are going to hell if they don't lighten up. The last one I said "Just remember when you face Our Lord and He says 'Depart from Me, I never knew you,' that some one who cared tried to warn you."
Good for your guys. Hey, we certainly don't want you to break confidentiality. We just care – about them and about you.
Thank you for your continued service to others. Your #13 is a worthy addition.
plu·toc·ra·cy
noun \plü-Λtä-krΙ-sΔ\
: government by the richest people
: a country that is ruled by the richest people
: a group of very rich people who have a lot of power
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/plutocracy
Wanting vs. not wanting a plutocracy is indeed a world of difference.
The video reinforced how much Nixon is the role model for so many current GOP elected officials for their ethics (and not anything like what Reagon did/didn't do in terms of money in politics).
Cartoon is reminiscent of constitutional rights as they were and were not a century ago (before women got the right to vote and children were protected from abuse and horrific slave-type labor conditions). That seems to be the "when" some wish to return the country IMO.
Personal update — Confirmed I have a nasty lung infection and I'll be out for 5 days, although taking antibiotics for 10 days. Off to bed!
Sorry you have this on your plate–take good care of yourself Lynn.
Take good care of yourself, and get well soon!
Take good care of yourself, we will miss you.
{{{HUGS}}}
Be well quickly!
Hurry back Lynn. I miss getting stomped on.
Poor Lynn – I have had many of these in the past, so I sympathise entirely – make sure you have enough vits and mins (not just in a multivitamin tab) to help you fight infection – esp Selenium, Manganese, Magnesium and Zinc (and Vit C of course). Take care of yourself!
Daily Kos: I agree with all of the, especially your number thirteen.
My Dad always said we had the best government that money could buy. I understand what he meant now. Everything has been for sale since 2010 when SCOTUS made their infamous decision.
Cartoon: You are exactly right. The only time Republicans are interested in a human is when it is in the uterus. After it comes out, they don't care what happens to it..
Thanks all. Pit stop.
Upworthy — Excellent video! There's a reason they call Nixon "Tricky Dickie" and info in this video pretty much sums it up. The historical beginnings of Citizens United (?) which returned with a vengeance. I loved McCon Job — railing against the evils of money in politics and the SCOTUS for allowing Citizens United a permanent purchase in US politics. Now of course he is on the other side . . . or was he always there. Is his show of righteous indignation just that a show to con the people? I think so . . . this his name McCon Job.
Sorry TC – very poorly too – only just found this – all my joints are aching and it feels as if a couple of them are raw bone grating on raw bone – not nice at all!