I just gave my grocery order to Store to Door for delivery tomorrow. I have lots od housework to do, and I hope to sit outside for a half an hour or so, as it’s the last nice day before crappy weather returns. I slept poorly last night, so I’m fading.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:50 (average 5:27). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: Instead of resisting calls for reform, Ron Smith—the head of the Seattle Police Guild is trying to lead Seattle police in a more positive direction—even if he has to do it the hard way:
Last week, however, the union called on members through Facebook to be careful on social media after officers were caught posting racially inflammatory comments online, warning: “Times have changed and we must also change to adapt to societal expectations.”
Asked by the Stranger to elaborate on those comments, Smith said: “If you don’t like the politics here, then leave and go to a place that serves your worldview.” He said this was a message that new recruits were now reminded of when they enrolled with the union.
“There are more than enough places across this country that are hiring law enforcement that have a different political landscape than here. And I don’t know why [disgruntled officers] don’t just go there,” he added.
Kudos. That move needs to be repeated across the country.
From Upworthy: Underrepresented actors often have been complicit in creating ethnic stereotypes in the media. For my own part, I rented out my Asian face to Jerry Lewis back in the day.
Now we’re not only speaking out, but creating, writing, and portraying who we are — as we are — in our great, dazzling diversity. As we contribute our authentic selves, the comedy becomes specific and real, the drama is distinctive and identifiable, and our society grows enriched and involving.
Hollywood and the media now have the opportunity to actively engage with the talented diversity that comprises our entire society. But is it "to be or not to be? That is the question." — George Takei
George is so right, and this is so true. Of course, if minorities are not presented stereotypically, the studios lose the entire Republican audience.
From Think Progress: …A lawsuit called King v. Burwell would take health insurance away from millions of Americans, returning them to the world that existed before Obamacare. The case relies on a few words of the law that, if read out of context, seem to deny tax credits intended to help people pay for their health insurance to people who live in the wrong states. Once those words are read in the context of the entire law, however, it becomes clear that tax credits are available in all 50 states.
A brief filed on behalf of multiple public health scholars and the American Public Health Association, estimates that “over 9,800 additional Americans” will die if the justices side with the King plaintiffs. It reaches this conclusion by starting with an Urban Institute study showing that 8.2 million people will become uninsured in this scenario. As other research examining Obamacare-like reforms in the state of Massachusetts found that “for every 830 adults gaining insurance coverage there was one fewer death per year,” that translates to between 9,800 and 9,900 deaths if the justices back the plaintiffs in King.
Another method produces slightly less grim numbers, although it still indicates that thousands will die unnecessarily if the Supreme Court does not uphold the tax credits at issue in King. The Harvard study mentioned above concludes that there were “approximately 44,789 deaths among Americans aged 18 to 64 years in 2005 associated with lack of health insurance.” It also states that, at the time of the study, “46 million Americans lack health coverage.” The 8.2 million people who will lose health care according to the Urban Institute equals just under 18 percent of 46 million. Thus, assuming that the pool of 8.2 million people who could lose health insurance in King has a similar mix of healthy and sick individuals as the 46 million examined by the Harvard study, that suggests that approximately 8,000 people will die every year if the King plaintiffs prevail.
King could not be a more obvious decision. The question comes down to this. Will all the Fascist Five Injustices value breaking the law to coddle extremists enough to murder thousands to do it?
Cartoon:
21 Responses to “Open Thread–2/24/2015”
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4:15 I spent too much time looking at the flower.
3:29 Looks like the sunshine we had all day today!
3:58 I was blinded by the brightness!
Good job, Joanne!
It didn't look very tasty.
Thanks, Patty. Mostly blind dumb luck. I knew Lynn would get in there too.
3:48 average still 5:27. Tough plant indeed.
Daily Kos – Some commenters on the site pointed out that it would lead to some of the worst PDs in the country getting still worse. But I think that would be s temporary thing. Eventually those worst-and-getting-worse PDs would self-destruct.
Upworthy – Of course George is right, and particularly in movies and television, where the emphasis is SO visual. My experience is that in opera, and, after that, in classic theatre (Shakespeare leaps to mind but other playwrights that old are also still being performed) there is more diversity. On March 23, at least in Colorado, at 1:00 p.m., PBS will air a re-broadcast of "The Barber of Seville" with a black Count Almaviva. Of course the singer happens to be one of only three reigning tenors of the Bel Canto style! Them Morgan Freeman presented (in the background series on Shakespeare) the Taming of the Shrew and included clips of when he played Petruchio in an "Old West" setting (along with clips of several other productions). I hope some day the rest of the world catches up – and goes beyond.
Think Progress – I wish I thought the SCROTUS would act rightly on this, but, alas, I do not.
Cartoon – And the principles were right. And, like all principles, unfortunately are subject to distortion. Sigh.
WRT Kink v Burwell I'm a tad more optimistic.
I just don't think Roberts wants his legacy to be that he pulled the plug (sometimes quite literally) on millions of people now receiving much needed healthcare.
Then again, he IS a Rethuglican, through-and-through.
If a PD would self destruct, because its officers were not permitted to abuse their power, that PD needs to be rebuilt anyway.
Exactly.
Good on the Seattle union!
Allowing real diversity helps audiences understand real life.
Would SCOTUS four even recognize the blood on their hands?
From Wiki:
Marbury v. Madison, 5 U.S. 137 (1803), was a landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the Court formed the basis for the exercise of judicial review in the United States under Article III of the Constitution.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marbury_v._Madison
If they caused the blood, I don;t think they'd recognize it, but deep down… people know.
Hopefully, Roberts will see that he actually could be replaced if all the people that lose their healthcare campaign for him to be impeached. That would be something!
Sadly, that's easier said than done. It would take supermajorities of 2/3e in both the House and the Senate.
I am envious that you got to sit outside today. We have 2 to 4 more inches of snow predicted for tomorrow. We have had more snow in the last two weeks than we usually get all winter!
Daily Kos: How great would it be if all police chiefs acte this way! Good for him.
Upworthy: The world is diverse, our media and entertainment need to be, too.
Think Progress: I am very afraid the Five Injustices will do just that.
48°and showers now.
Well it is official, I saw a lot of blooming narcissus yesterday, and managed to see a lot of daffodils that are ripe to bloom within the next week. The trees don't have leaves yet but the buds are thickening and very visible. Lots of sunshine today but rain is on the way for Thursday I think. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted.
Puzzle — 3:29 Looks like the sunshine we had all day today!
Daily Kos — "…Smith said: “If you don’t like the politics here, then leave and go to a place that serves your worldview.”"
Maybe there are openings in Russia for certain types, although, the worst of the worst should just be terminated. Their thuggery is not fair to anyone.
Upworthy — In Liberation Theology, pictures of Jesus were often drawn as a person of colour (black, aboriginal) not the accepted "white bread" version of Europe. When you consider Jesus was Aramaic, his skin colour would not be white. I am sure that we have all heard of stories and seen pictures of African American Santas defying the "white bread" notion of Santa. This diversity challenges people to see in new ways. Diversity in casting is no different. Stereotypes do more harm and uphold untrue images.
Think Progress — The SCROTUS Injustices have shown themselves able political activists for the conservatives, no matter they twist and destroy the constitution in so doing. This is nothing more than a political game to the Republicanus/Teabaggerum. The only problem, it isn't a political game to the millions of people that now have health insurance that didn't have it before. I really don't know how these yahooes sleep at night.
Cartoon — SSDD! Some things just don't change.
I have no doubt that this warm spell will screw up the spring bloom.
Lynn, enough snow melted today for me to see that my daffodils are frozen so badly that I probably won't have any blooms. They are my favorite spring flowers.
I envy you for being able to sit outside toady. I suppose I could brave the snow and cold because my deck is cleared off. But, I don't want to risk pneumonia. I guess I'll just be patient and wait.
Daily Kos ~ It's too bad he couldn't discipline them in some way. What he said is a start. Some cities hve Gestapo-like PDs and I'm sure they would welcome more KKK members on their forces.
Upworthy ~ It's sad that in order to make a living, some people have to portray stereotypical images of themselves. I don't think it will ever change.
Think Progress ~ I think Roberts will side with the Sane Four Justices.
Somehow I trust that, on your deck, it's not a bikini day.
TY TC