I’m still feeling considerable pain and can barely walk, but I have to be up waiting for Store to Door to deliver groceries, so here are a couple quick articles.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 2:27 (average 4:16). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Upworthy: But there’s a four-letter acronym that allows food companies to pretty much add what they want to foods without FDA interference. It’s known as "GRAS" and refers to food additives "generally regarded as safe."
Horrifyingly, this practice has allegedly led to at least one death — that of 11-year-old Miles Bengco, whose story is featured after the video below. He thought he was eating just a burger, but his family didn’t know it had an additive related to fungi in it, something they otherwise would have avoided given his preexisting respiratory problems.
This loophole clearly needs to be closed, but Republicans stand in the way. Click through for detail on how this corporate criminals murdered Miles Bengco.
From Daily Kos: Sweet Cakes By Melissa is the Oregon bakery whose owners refused to bake a same-sex couple’s wedding cake. The couple took the owners to court and won the case. Oregon is one of the states that provides civil rights protections for gay folks. The judge in the case has proposed a settlement of $135K. So, a GoFundMe account was set up to help raise the funds. However, now GoFundMe has cancelled the account.
From The New Civil Rights Movement:
Friday, after nearly two years in court, an Oregon judge recommended Aaron and Melissa Klein be fined $135,000 for discriminating against a same-sex couple. The Kleins, who own Sweet Cakes by Melissa, had refused to bake a wedding cake for the couple.
On their Facebook page yesterday, the Kleins posted a link to a GoFundMe fundraising campaign set up for them. In just four hours it had reached over $20,000. It quickly increased to a reported $109,000 before GoFundMe canceled it.
Why?
GoFundMe says it does not allow money to be raised on their site for people who have been found to be in violation of the law.
And you say I don’t bring you GOOD news. 🙂
From The New Yorker: As Justice Antonin Scalia weighed in on same-sex marriage at the United States Supreme Court on Tuesday, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg interrupted the proceedings by announcing, “Someone wake me up when he stops talking.”
There was stunned silence in the courtroom after the pronouncement by Justice Ginsburg, who had been visibly nodding off during Scalia’s remarks, her head jerking upward violently at various junctures.
“Look, it’s not like he’s going to say anything on this subject that I haven’t heard him say nine zillion times before,” she said. “I’m gonna get me some shut-eye.”
Andy should also note that is she had chosen to sleep until Injustice "Teabag" Thomas actually says something, she would sleep through her own funeral.
Cartoon:
17 Responses to “Open Thread–11/29/2015”
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3:16 My butt got caught on one of the leaves.
2:34 I stopped a little too long to admire the artistry of the Corinthian column.
3:09 I kept sliding down the column.
Dang! Nothing to eat there!!
Sadly our National Guard may again be called in to protect our right to vote using the GOP's weapons.s
Also with sadness it appears some of the wrong judges sleep or hold silent at SCOTUS per AB.
I like OR's approach as well as GoFundMe's policy.
Reminds me of unknown sulfates on salad bars who sickened droves of people before public health and consumer protection regulations were enacted–clearly similar is needed on far more foods than we now have.
Hope there were some good kitty treats in those groceries.
Always! 🙂
3:51 average still 4:16. It doesn't look tasty – in fact it looks like it might break a jaw.
Upworthy – This is also pertinent to GMO labeling (thank all the powers that be that Vermont won one). GRAS canot and does not take into consideration all food allergies. Any food which is modified with DNA from an unrelated species may well be introducing an allergen, and with no labeling, expect incidents up to and including death. Yes, I'm saying that labeling needs to include not only that a food is genetically modified, but what organism the modifications are from.
Daily Kos – Agreed, good news. The owner attributed the action to Satan at work.
New Yorker – Priceless. (Teabag Thomas probably doesn't want to call too much attention to himseld for fear of being lynched if they actually look at him)
Cartoon – Yup.
Off topic – I pointed to the PEN earlier this week for a faxed petition (and you get a free bumper sticker). Well, they have written a new open letter to President Obama on the TPP, specifically directed at his recent remarks, and I don't know whether to giggle hysterically or choke. It's unusual to say the least. Worth reading whether you choose to send it or not. http://www.peaceteam.net/mr_president_stop_lying.php
Thanks for the link!
I am so GLAD to see that GOFundMe has a conscience! They did the RIGHT thing for once. The fact that it grew so fast and to that amount is troubling. That shows there are still too many whackdoos out there!
The “GRAS” will be growing under our feet for a long time before there will be GMO labels, I’m afraid!
I hope you are feeling better. Take care of yourself.
Upworthy: This is horrifying. I shared it on Facebook, and sent an email to one of my nephews who has a ten year old son with peanut allergies. I tried to comment on the FDa page, but was not successful.
Good for gofundme!
The New Yorker: You are giving Andy competition, your summary was funnier than his.
Cartoon: That is their preferred method, for sure!
Puzzle — 2:34 I stopped a little too long to admire the artistry of the Corinthian column.
Upworthy — What's in a name? Sometimes a lot, and sometimes not! But whatever, we have a right to know. Perhaps the CEO and the Board of Directors should be forced to eat their own product daily and see what happens!
Daily Kos — JD said "The owner attributed the action to Satan at work." They must have been looking in a mirror! Sweet Cakes is getting its just desserts! And GoFundMe appears to be taking a stand on the basis of law. But what happens if a state allows such discrimination? Would GoFundMe have the moral bearing to stand up to a law that is unjust?
The New Yorker — I`m more than a bit concerned about the pending SCOTUS decision. Kennedy recently made remarks that this issue has been around for years and he doesn`t think that rushing into a decision is a good idea. He is partially correct in that homosexuality has been around since the beginning of the human race. However I hardly think that people need to think more about it, or about marriage equality. To me, that is just being an ostrich and sticking your head in the proverbial hole in the sand. If we ignore it, maybe the problem will go away on its own? Yeah right, and I am Santa Claus!
Cartoon — Ballots for bullets, or bullets for ballots? Either way, when it involves Republicanus/Teabaggerum, it is never good!
Good question about GoFundMe.
I hope you feel better soon.
Upworthy ~ Always read ingredients. If something contains more than 5 ingredients or you can't pronounce them, avoid that "food".
Daily Kos ~ Kudos to GoFundMe!
New Yorker ~ Good one, Andy!
Cartoon ~ i wish the NRA would just go away.
GRAS are not on the label.
New Yorker: Andy's comment about Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg made me laugh out loud. One of Andy's better ones at poking humor of the SCOTUS..
Thanks all. Hugs!
TY TC.