After 6 hours of heavy cleaning and everything else, I’m completely pooped, so I’ll be brief.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 2:53 (average 5:17). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: Some are calling Robert Minjarez Jr. the Latino Eric Garner. Sadly, the comparison is uncanny—including the failure of the system to indict the officers who killed Minjarez.
For about five minutes, the report said, Minjarez is heard on dashcam audio screaming, "Help! Help! Help me! Get off! You’re going to kill me!" The report also quotes him as saying "You’re going to suffocate…" and "I can’t breathe" three times. He cried and screamed, his voice becoming "increasingly muffled, hoarse and strained" while repeating "I can’t breathe," the report added.
About five minutes after he was restrained, the report said, Minjarez groaned and gurgled, and an officer said, "You got 265 pounds on your back, you’re not going anywhere." The suspect groaned "and no more sounds are heard from him," the report said.
The report from the Lafayette, Louisiana, coroner lists the cause of death as "compressional asphyxia due to face-down physical restraint by law enforcement officers."
As was the case with the officers who killed Eric Garner in Staten Island, New York, the grand jury proceedings in this case are sealed and prosecutors are not obligated to say a single word.
Republican Florida cops are making sure that Latinos get their fair share of police murder. They are equal-opportunity racist Republican criminals.
From Upworthy: FIFA World Cup gets red-carded by John Oliver for the death, slavery, and bribery things.
The US guy did have one thing going for him. He put his cat up in Trump Towers. Convict the guy, but reserve funds to keep the cat where he is.
From The New Yorker: Just hours after the United States Senate voted to reverse key provisions of the Patriot Act, former President George W. Bush said that he regretted that the law had been partially repealed before he ever got a chance to read it.
“At the time when it was being passed and whatnot, people around the White House were saying it was a really good law,” Bush said at his ranch in Crawford, Texas. “I remember saying to myself, ‘I really need to read that.’ ”
Bush said that right after he signed the Patriot Act into law, “I wrote on a little Post-It note, ‘READ PATRIOT ACT.’ So it was definitely something I was meaning to do. But I guess it was one of those things I never did get around to.”
Now that the law has been partially reversed, Bush said, “I suppose it’s a little late in the game to start reading it,” but he indicated that he still “might check it out just to see what all the fuss was about.”
I trust Andy realizes that no Senator or Representatives has ever read it either.
Cartoon:
32 Responses to “Open Thread–6/4/2015”
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UPDATE: Evan Young, Valedictorian
THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2015
Colorado Congressman Calls for Probe into School Cancellation of Evan Young’s Graduation Speech
http://www.democracynow.org/2015/6/4/colorado_congressman_calls_for_probe_into
Without even looking I knew that would be Jared Polis. He's a little light blue for me, but not bad. For a state which was pushing an anti-gay amendment, what, twenty years ago?, we've come a long way. I had no idea Jared was gay. His own Congressional district probably does, but I doubt if many people in the rest of the state even care. Evan Young is a better person than anyone else involved in the story and will, I hope, meet with success in life, which he deserves.
3:40 average (was then) 5:12. Catnip tea, anyone? Looks like enough to go around.
Daily Kos – I gather this was before Sepp-baby resigned? So does he think that will save him from prosecution? It will be interesting to see. WRT the cat in Trump Towers, I suspect it would be happier in a real environment. But someone that Republican couldn't understand a cat. I'm astonished he even has a cat. It must be a trophy animal. Has anyone checked that its head is still attached?
New Yorker – Bush would need it translated into Seuss-speak before he could possibly read it (and as Ted Cruz has shown even that can be diffivult to grasp if you're a Republican.) I suspect Bernie may have read it.
Cartoon – I also remember that but I remember Kent State more vividly, being the generation I am.
Sorry I got things mixed. Just woke from a catnap.
Some thoughts on Blatter viv a vis Hastert:
http://sojo.net/blogs/2015/06/04/duet-demise
I also am puzzled about a Republican with a cat. No instant adoration or obedience? Not happening.
Even when owned by a Republucan, it has to be a DemoCAT!!
3:36 I broke the pot.
2:35 A spot of green apple tea anyone?
3:21 I would love a cuppa.
I was goint to make nip tea. 🙁
Per Pat B. story link in C2:
Tate County, Mississippi Superintendent Jay Foster has filed a criminal complaint against the Walker family; they're facing real jail time and hefty fines, all for cheering their loved one on at graduation!
This is a classic example of Black communities being overcharged for seemingly innocuous offenses. Superintendent Foster's actions are part of a law and order mentality that's focused on controlling and criminalizing Black people for "stepping out of line." Enough is enough.
Join us in demanding Superintendent Jay Foster drop the charges against the Walkers family.
Petition against Superintendent Jay Foster:
http://act.colorofchange.org/sign/graduation/?t=2&referring_akid=4408.1735051.x89Fi7
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/547/661/119/dont-jail-this-woman-just-for-shouting-her-daughters-name-at-a-hs-graduation/
Please call and email Superintendent Jay Foster and let him know how you feel:
PH: 662-562-4897
Email: jfoster@senatobiaschools.com
Thanks Jim! Have signed both.
Have to wonder if Foster would have come down so hard on a white family. I think not!
I signed both petitions!
Signed both petitions, thanks Jim!
Thanks for the petitions, Jim. I signed both of them too.
Thanks Jim.
Thanks Jim, signed both, and Lynn, no wondering about it. That's an easy call.
I hope you got some rest after all that cleaning. I feel your pain.
Daily Kos: I think there should be a national registry of killing by cops. A small town near here, with maybe a pop. of 4000 people, had a man tased to death over the weekend. He was arrested for having expired tags on his car. The authorities are saying they have no evidence of misconduct by the police. Yeah, right.
Upworthy: Looks like their house of cards is tumbling. I would not be surprised if they investigated the NFL and NBA that they would find more of the same.
The New Yorker: Andy is on point as usual. How could our Congress possibly have time to read bills they are passing when they have so many fund raising events to attend?
Cartoon: This still makes me sick. They slaughtered so many, with no repercussions from the rest of the world.
See today's Open Thread for that registry.
Thanks for that TC, but notice it is not an American newspaper. And never will be.
Puzzle — 2:35 A spot of green apple tea anyone?
Daily Kos — There are good and bad constables the world over . . . fortunately the good significantly out number the bad. But the US certainly has more than its fair share of the bad. Or is it that, living in North America, we hear more about the bad. This not withstanding, there is absolutely no place for racism and bigotry within the police forces. All such, including systemic raism and bigotry, must be eliminated.
Upworthy — John Oliver is too funny! You're right JD, this was done before Blatter resigned. All of the FIFA players should be convicted of their crimes including complicity.
The New Yorker — Ah, Crawford Caligula! The village idiot! I didn't know he knew how to read!
Cartoon — 26 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday! Shameful!
On top of all this, it is my Auntie's 92nd birthday today. She is hale and hearty yet!
A very Happy Birthday to your Auntie!
Ditto Patty!
Daily Kos – the story of Robert Minjarez Jr is just appalling – were those officers so high on adrenaline that they didn't care what they were doing? How can anyone do that – particularly someone who is supposed to be in law enforcement?! The report by the Coroner must have got him/her under pressure from the Right – it specifically indicts the police officers – good for the Coroner for caring about truth and justice.
Upworthy – video not available.
New Yorker – very good Andy – none of them read it did they?
Pat, ihe video is working. I just tested it.
Daily Kos ~ I can't understand why the good policemen don't go after the dirty cops. The few who are rotten are destroying the reputation of all the good ones.Are they afraid of them? Or are they mostly bad and there are only a few good ones? I hope not.
Upworthy ~ This proves that American sports don't have a monopoly on corruption.
New Yorker ~ Good one, Andy! He didn't read it because there were no pictures and the words were too big.
Cartoon ~ A Red State! LOL
Thet are afraid that if they go after their "brother" cop, that other cops won't coner their pack if they are in danger.
They really made life hard for you yesterday, TomCat, so get back to bed and catch up on some rest, please.
Daily Kos: It's very sad, but I think these cases in which heartless, bigoted cops take the lives of innocent people will be in the news for quite a while yet. The terrible thing about this is that it shows how much of this has happened and is still happening, but the good thing that now the cesspool has blown its lid, nobody can put it back on and try to cover it up a again. Things can get better only when these things are brought out into the open and this systemic festering is cut out at the base.
Upworthy: John Oliver is incredibly funny and spot on as usual, though he might regret this show when he has to drink this Budwiser lime, keeping eye contact with the cameraman, because Sepp Blatt has already resigned on Tuesday, probably under pressure of these sponsors. Poor John.
The New Yorker: But Andy, people around the White House and in Congress are still saying it is a really good law, but nobody has ever bothered to read it.
Cartoon: A red state?! That's that is called a "double entendre", isn't it? I'd be LOLing if the massacre wasn't such a terrible event.
There is little difference between Red China and any other Red State.
Thanks all. I'm big time pooped. Hugs!