I had hoped to include a second article today, but there is not enough time to get it done, because I have to go to a community meeting and then go to coffee with my friend with cancer.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 2:33 (average 4:51). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From NY Times: New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, a golden boy of American sports and perhaps pro football’s biggest star, was suspended Monday for four regular-season games without pay by the N.F.L., which said he had deliberately and secretly violated league rules.
The N.F.L. also fined the Patriots $1 million and took away two prized future draft picks, including a first-round choice in 2016, saying that the team, and Brady, schemed to improperly deflate footballs in the A.F.C. championship game last season on the way to securing New England’s fourth Super Bowl victory.
A deflated football is said to be easier to grip, especially in the cold and wet conditions that the Patriots faced at home against the Indianapolis Colts on Jan. 18.
I fully support this decision. Although I am a fervent devotee of the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb, I think NFL executives and players have gotten away with far too much for far too long. This will hurt Brady and the Patriots where it counts. In the wallet. May the blessed Orb shine its holy light upon you all.
From Upworthy: See what researchers found when they tested a bottle of Fiji Water against a glass of tap water.
The only thing you can be sure about is that the bottle is pollution. I treat tap water with filter pitchers, and carry it out with a permanent drinking bottle.
From Daily Kos: Bill Maher did not pull any punches in his justifiable ridicule of Texans in this week’s Real Time. It was his turn as Jon Stewart had his turn earlier this week. He was discussing the Jade Helm 15 military exercise conspiracy theory that has metastasized within the Texas right wing.
Bill Maher ridicules Texans reaction Jade Helm… by ewillies
"White Somalia" ranks with his other creation "Ammosexual".
Cartoon:
15 Responses to “Open Thread–5/12/2015”
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3:11 I thought it was a colorful squid.
2:46 Pretty flower. Looks like TC is going to gobble it up unless Lynn stops him.
2:59 Sorry Patty, couldn't do it! On the other hand, maybe Puddy Tat wind will smell better.
Eau do kittyfart!
NY Times: Football – The Daily Show With Jon Stewart – The Fresh Prince of Ball Air
http://www.hulu.com/watch/789466
Upworthy: Love The Story of Stuff series. They are well made and easy to understand graphics and the taking person. The hardest part, for me, was that
USA is shipping the used plastic bottles off to India as waste. Yes, there are people throughout the world who do not have access to clean drinking like we have here in the states. They are the ones who need expert help in obtaining clean water from reliable sources.
I use tap water for all my drinking needs. Think I'm going to waste my money on bottled water. Nope.
Daily Kos: Good one for Bill Maher and his expose of Jade Helm 15. How about renaming Texass as "White Somalia"… or the Lone Star Lunatics. lol.
Loved this part: ""In today's Republican Party you can't call out nutty people for being nutty," Bill Maher said. "Because they are not a small group. In the Republican Party crazy is a constituency.""
Jon Stewart had his say about Jade Helm here for those who cannot access the link in PP. In the Hulu link, the, the commentary of Jade Helm 15 appears about half way through.
The Daily Show With Jon Stewart – To Shoot or Not to Shoot & Fear and Absent Danger
http://www.hulu.com/watch/787897
NY Times ~ The first team they play when Brady comes back is the Indianapolis Colts. It should be interesting.
Upworthy ~ I have an Artesian well in my yard. I use a Pur pitcher and carry water in one of my many reusable bottles.
Daily Kos ~ Bill Maher was hilarious talking about Texas governernor's conspiracy theory.
Cartoon ~ It was about time this happened.
3:23 average (still) 4:51. Lobelia was also the name of one of the hobbits in "The Lord of the Rings," probably not surprising because flower names for girls were extremely common among hobbits.
NY Times – I did think at the time Rachel was too easy on them (she did admit she ws partial). This is actually not the only thing they have done right recently – they also announced they are going to pay their taxes (i.e., voluntarily giving up tax exempt status). I was amazed. But delighted.
Upworthy – After I bought the house I am currently in, I did a little research and bought a reverse osmosis filter which cleans at the home's intake point. They are very low maintenance, nothing to change, and self cleaning (you can push a button yourself periodically or put it on a schedule). When I called my plumber to install it, he said, "Those make your water almost too clean to drink." But of course there's no such thing as too clean to drink if you have allergies. Before I had this, I also used filter pitchers. and agree they are the next best. And permanent drinking bottles – those too. I prefer stainless steel. Yes, they can be pricey. But you can actually design your own if you like. Cafe Press already has at least one with Bernie – they have over 32000 political bottles and not all are progressive so I didn't go through all. http://www.cafepress.com/+berniefightcrd_stainless_water_bottle_10l,1075334296
Daily Kos – You can always count on Egberto. Yes, this is priceless. It is also priceless (probably not to her) that there is actually a woman in America whose name is "Jade Helm." Technically Jade is her middle name and Helm is her married name, but that hasn't kept her from being annoyed. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/05/07/meet-jade-helm-the-woman-with-the-unluckiest-name-in-the-world/
Cartoon – and on May 12th of some year or other, Nikita Krushchev walked out on a summit conference somewhere. Hence, in social bridge, a trick containing four honor cards is (or used to be) referred to as a "Summit Conference, and one with three honor cards and one non-honor card is a "May Twelfth." Or used to be. I am pretty old and it has been a long time since I played.
I'm with you WRT Brady.
BUT I'm sure he'll appeal … AND I think they'll appoint and arbiter … SO I suspect his punishment will be reduced – but NOT by THAT much
Now I'm on record WRT Brady predictions.
NY Times: The whole NFL needs to be investigated, and they certainly should not be tax exempt.
Upworthy: I quit buying bottled water years ago. I have a filter on my tap water and on my refrigerator and I have a permanent water bottle that I carry with me. Most of the bottled water is more polluted than our tap water.
Daily Kos: I did not think they could come up with any crazier conspiracy theories but I was wrong. Now that I know Rand is investigating it, I can sleep, (sarcasm)
Cartoon: About time!
The NFL is relinquishing their Tax-Exempt status
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/nfl-relinquishing-tax-exempt-status-174911280.html
Puzzle — 2:59 Sorry Patty, couldn't do it! On the other hand, maybe Puddy Tat wind will smell better.
NY Times — I was thinking that the Patriots should have the Super Bowl championship taken away and given to Seattle but the League had control of the balls for the championship and Seattle was not affected. I hope the penalties stand because this is such a high profile incident, if the penalties are reduced there may be others who try illegal tactics. There need to be severe consequences as an example to young players.
Upworthy — I am guilty of drinking bottled water . . . Perrier for the fizz! I have permanent water bottles for the times I drink tap water on the go. And I ALWAYS recycle my bottles. Here, when you purchase bottled water, pop, or many juices, you are charged 5 cents for containers 1 litre or less, and 20 cents for containers over 1 litre. These fees are refunded when we take the bottles back. In addition, we are charged an enviro fee of 3 cents per bottle that is not refundable. After watching the video, I am now wondering if the bottles really are recycled.
Daily Kos — "The Republican Party in Texas is in a turmoil where logic is in short supply." Short supply? I thought that logic in Texas had been put on the endangered species list as almost extinct after Perry ran his course! I love the "white Somalia" comment . . . it is so descriptive.
Cartoon — About time too!
After Much Criticism, N.F.L.’s League Office Drops Tax-Exempt Status
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/29/sports/football/nfls-league-office-to-drop-its-tax-exempt-status.html?_r=0
Thanks all. Pooped and rushing!!
Yeah! It’s about time that the NFL gave up their tax-exempt status! They should have done that in the 70’s or early 80’s at least! When they started making the mega-bucks off of ticket and jersey sales, THAT should have been the tipping point! AND Brady deserved a lot more punishment than he got! THAT IS POCKET CHANGE FOR THEM!
I have had a permanent drinking cup since back in ’02! I had some chemo that had me drinking so much water every day that I had a cup permanently attached to my hand! And since than, I have been drinking my well water and mostly nothing else, unless I went out to eat. Then I had tap water! My well water is so good, I haven’t found any other water that is bottled or filtered that matches it!
Bill Maher and Jon Stewart thoroughly skewered the Texass is idiots enough to keep me till next Friday!
Sorry TC – v poorly.