For different functions I have five different email accounts: one for this blog, one for my volunteer work, one for research, one for most business, and one for secure banking that has on other online presence at all. I had to set up the last two on my notebook, because I have a new ISP. But for the first three, my main computer has them configured as IMAP accounts, but on the notebook, they were still configured at POP3. I have a king size mess on my hands, and most of my research material just went up in smoke. AGuess what I’ll be doing most of today? ARGH!! Tomorrow, I’ll be gone most of the day getting my MRI, so expect a Personal Update at most.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:27 (average 6:32). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: While Wisconsin Governor and likely Republican presidential candidate Scott Walker is a favorite among business leaders looking for favors and wealthy Americans keen on slashing government to the bone if they can shave a quarter-point off their effective tax rates, among the evangelical crowd he’s a bit of an also-ran. What’s he done for them lately?
So Walker is off to do some fence-mending and appropriate knee-bending.
Next week, the Wisconsin governor will travel to Capitol Hill to hold a private meeting with influential evangelical leaders, some of whom are expressing deep reservations about his track record on issues near and dear to them. Pointing to his past statements, and even his hire of a top campaign aide, they are openly questioning whether his views on abortion and gay marriage align with theirs and whether he’s willing to fight for their cause.
There may once have been a time when there was more to having religion than an obsessive policing of other people’s sex lives, perhaps there was a bit of caring for the sick or feeding the poor or loving thy neighbor in there, toward the back, but no more. Support all the wars you want, give your personal thumbs-up to the death penalty and to state-sanctioned torture, tell impoverished Americans or people without health insurance that you’re very sorry for their plight but you’ll be dead in the cold ground before your government does a damn thing for them—it’s all fine. But you’d better have the right opinion on abortion and keeping the gay people in line.
I have no doubt that the Fartfuhrer of Fitzwalkerstan will goose-step with the Republican Party’s most rabid Supply-side pseudo-Christian hate mongers.
From Common Dreams: Today’s verdict does not reflect the values of the majority of people in our Commonwealth. The ACLU of Massachusetts has been disappointed from the start that the federal government sought the death penalty in Massachusetts, which has rejected capital punishment. The last execution in the state of Massachusetts took place in 1947. Even in this case, Massachusetts opposition to the death penalty has been reflected in public opinion polls, in the pleas of religious leaders, and in statements by victims’ families and survivors. In a Boston Globe poll conducted this April, Massachusetts residents—by a four-to-one margin—overwhelmingly opposed the imposition of a death sentence for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Massachusetts religious leaders voiced their opposition to seeking his execution. Victims’ families and survivors in this case asked that federal prosecutors take the death penalty off the table and, instead, accept a sentence of life in exchange for no possibility of appeal or parole…
This statement came from the MA ACLU. I agree. I certainly will not argue that Dzhokhar is not a monstrous person, who "deserves" the death penalty. In this case, the death penalty is working exactly as it was designed to work under ideal circumstances. However, the most important objection still remains. Whether or not we strap this man down and kill him is not about who he is or what he did. It’s about who we are and what we are doing. By imposing the death penalty our federal government makes is all just like Dzhokhar.
From Think Progress: For thousands of years, religious people have gathered together in houses of worship to sing songs, celebrate sacred rituals, and lift up prayers to God(s) on high. And on July 1, a new religious group in Indiana intends to do just that — but with a lot more emphasis on the “high” part.
A little more than a month from now, the newly-formed First Church of Cannabis is scheduled to hold its first official gathering, where worshippers plan to test the limits of new religious freedom laws by “filling up” the sanctuary with marijuana smoke while observing a sacrament.
“It’s going to be a standard service,” Bill Levin, the group’s leader and self-proclaimed “Grand Poohba and Minister of Love,” told ThinkProgress. He explained the ceremony will last around 45 minutes, complete with music and teachings, but will conclude with an unusual benediction: “At the end of the service … we will enjoy cannabis, because it’s how we enjoy life.”
This is clearly a false religion. I have no problem with them getting high, but the source of all blessing is the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb. May the Orb shine its holy light upon you! 😉
Cartoon:
13 Responses to “Open Thread–5/17/2014”
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5:01 average (still) 6:32. Nothing to eat, and a good chance of stabbing your gums trying. You'd think they'd come up with something more appetizing for Sunday dinner.
Daily Kos – If I try to say anything about Scott Walker it will be incoherent or profane, probably both at once. But did anyone else get far enough down in the comments to follow the link to this?
http://www.pointlessplanet.com/2015/05/frc-stand-for-marriage.html#.VVjkXVJFDL8
Common Dreams – I personally am not at all certain that Dzhokhar is a monstrous person (nor am I at all certain that he is not.) I don't see sanity here, and therefore I consider myself in no position to judge. If I am going to try to make a case that someone is a monstrous person, it will involve someone a lot more like Dan White. Or Scott Walker. But I surely do agree the death penalty is not a solution to anything – and that be using it the government, whether state or federal, makes us all as bad as or worse than the person who is executed.
Think Progress – It certainly makes as much sense as many religions and a lot more sense than the way most religions are practiced (as opposed to doctrine). I wish them well. Indiana clearly deserves to be steamrollered by them.
Cartoon – Yes indeed. It's a bloody good thing the Supreme Court that decises it was not the current one.
Sad the degree of unmade progress in equal education and regarding respecting states' rights when it comes to capital punishment.
Would like to see Walker showing the religious right that they are not helpful for major candiates or else that he's been rattled by how close he is to indictment.
another name for this church might be "Church of the high and mighty"
Good luck retrieving your information. How do you keep up with all those passwords?
Daily Kos: This is sickening. They act so pious as they try to force their views on the rest of us, can't they see they are no better than those who try to enforce Sharia law? Walker should fit in well, I still cannot understand how he got elected twice.
Common Dreams: Yes, Dzohkar is despicable, but we are still murderers when we impose the death penalty. If he is actually executed, he will become a martyr for others who want to do the same thing that he and his brother did.
Think Progress: It should be interesting to see how the State Of Indiana handles this one.
Cartoon: and we are still fighting the same battles!
4:30 Try and eat that Puddy Tat! I got the points of it all!
4:19 I know the colors are pretty but you would definitely hurt yourself if you ate these tacks.
I guess this gives new meaning to eating "something that sticks to your ribs"!
Haven't got time for the Open Thread right now. Slept in and have teaching session in 20 min. See you later.
ARGH – so sorry your reseach data went up in smoke – is it retrievable? I am very glad that you have the ability and know-how to mend the problem, although it will patently take hours and hours…. poor TC!
Common Dreams – as others have so rightly pointed out, to execute a terrorist automatically makes them a martyr and is playing into their hands – they would be thrilled to bits to be a martyr, and those who sent them/encouraged them in their cowardly work would be thrilled too (whilst crying crocodile tears).
Daily Kos – why do people vote for these reprehensible individuals???
Think Progress – oh dear – there have been many research projects (as well as skads of anecdotal evidence) saying that extracts of cannabis are very good for treating various illnesses (without the bit that makes people 'high') – but they stand almost no chance of being prescribed worldwide whilst people like this are grabbing all the publicity and playing to stereotypes. Sad.
Tom, I just wrote a note and it disappeared. Was saying I do not know how you keep up with all those E. Mail accounts. I can barely manage one. Not computer savvy at all. Haveing problems now and that is why I have neglected your excellent articles.
I hope your MRI went feine today. Good luck with your research retrieval.
Daily Kos ~ We already know that Fartfuhrer Walker will kiss anyone's arse in his efforts to hold public office.
Common Dreams ~ By imposing the Death Penalty on Tsarnaev, they will be making him into the martyr he wishes to be. So stupid!
Think Progress ~ More power to them. Freedom of religion, and the freedom to practice your religion is guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. It doesn't matter if it's bogusif they established as a religion.
Cartoon ~ How long will it be before someone tries to have this overturned like the Voting Rights Act?
Puzzle — 4:30 Try and eat that Puddy Tat! I got the points of it all!
Daily Kos — "I have no doubt that the Fartfuhrer of Fitzwalkerstan will goose-step with the Republican Party’s most rabid Supply-side pseudo-Christian hate mongers." — I agree but with one cavaet, when it suits him and suits his goals. I think they all are so 2 faced!
Common Dreams — So, what is the purpose of the death penalty? Is it to seek revenge? Is it set to deter others from the same acts? Other? In this case, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has been found guilty of the Boston bombing and sentenced to die for his acts. But in killing him, will militant Muslims raise his name as a martyr, shout Allahu Akbar, and call on the promised 72 virgins for him (BTW, there is considerable conjecture as to whether the 72 virgins "exist")? The ideologue extremists will beat their chests! If his death is for revenge, there can be no revenge when victims and their families don't want the death penalty. And if there is such a thing as being entitled to revenge, only those directly hurt can claim it, and they do not want the death sentence. Why give him what he wants when he can be removed from society to languish in jail for the rest of his life? The prosecution should be listening to the families and to the public.
Think Progress — This one is going to come back and bite someone in the ass . . . but who . . . the state of Indiana or the First Church of Cannabis?
Cartoon — A big win for civil rights at the time! But it seems that things have gone backwards ever since! Just look at what the Kochroaches tried to pull in North Carolina, segregating schools in one particular area during the past 6 years. It was wonderful to see that little fiasco fall apart!
Since there is no Personal Update, I am trusting that you are OK and just totally wasted from your trip for the MRI. I hope all went well other than being totally bagged.
When you say most of your research went up in smoke, how much was it? Having lost some research notes for a major paper years ago, I know what that was like . . . it really, really sucks!
Hugs. exhausted.