I have some good news today that will be better news tomorrow. Today is forecast to be the last day of the longest and worst heat wave I remember in 36 years as an Oregonian. Friday’s high is forecast at 82° and Saturday’s at 77°! It’s taken much too long to end.
Care2 Cares:
Most of you know that I share the articles I post here at Care2. One of their features are Butterfly Credits that you get for various activities. You can then spend these planting trees, offsetting carbon, helping animals and other socially conscious things. Because I had been there over 100 days in a row, I was getting 100 credits a day, just for showing up. I don’t think I’ve missed a day since I went to the hospital in 2013… until Tuesday, when I was so sick. That reset my daily credits to 1, requiring me to work my way back up. I mentioned this in the card I sent friends yesterday. Care2Support left the following comment on my profile:
Hey there, cool cat! I’ll get your Butterfly Rewards Totals and Daily Streak back online for you today. Hope you are doing well my friend!!
Thank You! I am most grateful.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:14 (average 4:49). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Fantasy Football Recruiting:
We still need one or two new player for Lefty Blog Friends, our fantasy football league. Viv ans her Hillbilly Lefties are now onboard. How about you? For more information, click here.
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos:
According to Fuel Fix, Shell has discovered a ballast hole leak in the hull of their 22 year old icebreaker, the MSV Fennica.
The 22-year-old icebreaker has since returned to the port in Dutch Harbor and is being examined by marine experts, but it is uncertain how quickly the breach in its hull can be repaired and whether this will delay Shell’s hopes to begin drilling an oil well in the Chukchi Sea later this month.
The Fennica is just one of the 29 vessels in Shell’s Arctic fleet, which includes another icebreaker, the MSV Nordica, and at least two other anchor handlers tasked with helping to keep ice away from the company’s drilling site. But Shell’s contracted Fennica is unique in that it is carrying a critical piece of the company’s Arctic containment system: a capping stack designed to fit on top of a damaged well in case of a blowout or other emergency.
Shell spokesman Curtis Smith said the company does not believe the Fennica damage will delay the company’s planned Chukchi Sea operations.
“Any impact to our season will ultimately depend on the extent of the damage,” Smith said.
This is not good news for Shell. They had hoped that with the Obama Administration approving their permits to drill for oil in the Chukchi Sea they would finally be able to destroy the arctic ecosystem in order to make a buck for their shareholders. But problems have somewhat delayed their mission in the Arctic.
While I would certainly not want any fatalities, I’m sorry the damn thing didn’t sink!
From NY Times: Medicare, the federal program that insures 55 million older and disabled Americans, announced plans on Wednesday to reimburse doctors for conversations with patients about whether and how they would want to be kept alive if they became too sick to speak for themselves.
The proposal would settle a debate that raged before the passage of the Affordable Care Act, when Sarah Palin labeled a similar plan as tantamount to setting up “death panels” that could cut off care for the sick. The new plan is expected to be approved and to take effect in January, although it will be open to public comment for 60 days.
This is a good and necessary part of medical care. Patients will get to decide for themselves what heroic measures should be taken under what circumstances, with explanation of the terminology by their own doctors. When the death panel cries come from Republicans, as they surely will, remember one thing. The proposal to include this service originally came from a Republican, before they all became drunk on InsaniTEA.
From Alternet: A video of two gay men in Morehead, Kentucky calling the police after being refused a marriage license by Rowan County went viral last night, mounting over 327,000 views in less that a day.
It takes about 7 minutes before the action starts. You might want to jump ahead to that point.Denting them the license was illegal. The complete disrespect these Republicans showed while doing so is intolerable.
Cartoon:
I first posted this cartoon four years ago today. It saddens me that it is still valid.\
35 Responses to “Open Thread–7/9/2015”
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3:56 (average then 5:01) It's gone back to cool-to-chilly here (Wednesday am my heat even came on). But it's going up again tomorrow. Not to the stratosphere, but up.
Care2 – Eric isn't always right, but he does the best he can, and he is loyal. 🙂
Apparently this is the 60th anniversary of the (Bertrand) Russell-(Albert) Einstein manifesto, and Roots Action Network has written an updated one (to include climate change – I mean, who's going to improve on Russell and Einstein otherwise?) If you are interested, see http://diy.rootsaction.org/petitions/manifesto-on-the-future-of-war-and-climate-change
Holy Will-Wonders-Never-Cease Batman! http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/boehner-wants-review-of-confederate-symbols-in-us-capitol/2015/07/09/ddbe6fba-264a-11e5-b72c-2b7d516e1e0e_story.html
Daily Kos – Couldn't happen to a nicer company.
NY Times – I do see both sides of the respect for wishes – it is very important to get this clearly into writing before it is needed, and even then, of course, your wishes may not be respected, but without anything in writing, your wishes will surely not be respocted.
Alternet – I don't think I can bear to watch the video, it's bad enough to read about it – but I cannot say I am surprised.
Cartoon – Indeed and indeed.
Thanks JD–I already signed the petition
Sorry this is so late, but my email did notcome in until almost 5:30 MDT and I thought this was worth a look –
http://news.stanford.edu/news/2015/june/water-splitter-catalyst-062315.html
Fantastic News!
A tad off-topic, but relates to a former thread and Jim Wallis's article start is too good not to share:
"Donald Trump: Narcissist in Chief
Donald Trump is a real estate mogul for whom the word "egomaniac" is an understatement. But when America’s narcissist in chief says he also wants to become commander in chief, the country pays attention. And that’s what Trump wanted to have happen. Here is what Trump said in his announcement that he is running to add the presidency to his list of successes:
"When Mexico sends its people, they're not sending their best. …They're bringing drugs. They're bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people."
When challenged on the inaccuracy, outrageousness, and viciousness of his remarks, "The Donald" characteristically doubled down and claimed to be the nation’s only truth-teller, then attacked everyone who dared to challenge him.
Nice of Trump to assume, I thought, that some of the 11 million undocumented immigrants who live such vulnerable lives in this country might be good people. But obviously Trump doesn’t know any of them.
Jesus talks about immigrants when he refers to welcoming "the stranger," and says that how we treat them is how we treat him (Matthew 25:31-46).
But everything about Donald Trump’s life indicates that Jesus is a stranger to him, too."
https://sojo.net/articles/donald-trump-narcissist-chief
Another good one:
Sarah Palin's subscription channel goes bust
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/08/1400406/-Sarah-Palin-s-subscription-channel-goes-bust?detail=email
And a very sad birthday today with a worthy petition:
President Obama has an opportunity to make a difference for the people of South Sudan who are suffering a terrible war and are living under the threat of genocide. On July 24, the President heads to Africa. Join me in asking President Obama to make peace in South Sudan his #1 priority during his trip, demand accountability for those behind the killing and support an arms embargo: http://bit.ly/1LUg52F
Thanks for your support and willingness to speak out for peace in South Sudan. We are so glad to have you with us.
Sincerely,
President,
United to End Genocide
Tom Andrews signature didn't make it through the paste–my apologies
Signed JL.
The woman to whom I am teaching English is from South Sudan. She and her husband fled years ago to Uganda where their 1st 2 children (ages 14 and 16) were born. He still has bullets lodged in his body from the civil war, and she bears some scars from beatings and attacks, something fortunately her children will never experience. She has her mother and a sister with 6 children still in Sudan. But her sister's husband has not been seen in several years, and is presumed dead.
Thanks for this jla – such good news!
Argh – have just seen the above comment appeared below another – I meant 'such good news about Sarah Palin!'.
Thanks for all of that. Jim Wallis is always right on. There is another article on the Sojo blog, same day, about confessing one's own white supremacy that I think is very good. Very nuts and bolts.
Excellent articles and good news.
In an Open Thread, there is no such thing as an off-topic, first-level comment.
care2 support is an excellent resource…..Eric seems to be very good and judicious at what he does
studies have shown that most non-physicians have unrealistic expectations w/r "end of life care" including code status……..based on watching TV too many in society believes that cardiac arrest has a "great" (80% chance) of full survival w/out any deficits……wrong, it usually 5 to 10% survival and many of them with deficits (cognitive) and high short-term (months) morbidity and mortality
Thanks,and KUDOS to Eric and his wizards at Care2 Support! So happy to see that you have regained your STREAK!
Yeppers! Too bad ALL of the ice-breakers SINK!
And the “death panels” are being used again?!?! This is SO NOT the reasons for people to discuss this with their doctors! End-of-life choices are supremely the choice of each and EVERY individual person! Along with their doctor’s advice, they choose whether to be put on life support or not! That is just about the only thing that can surely make your death easy or hard. When you put the “DNR” on your records, it takes all of the pressure off of family members and doctors!! If you don’t want to be kept alive artificially, then it should be YOUR RIGHT!!!!! And if you want everything possible done to keep you alive, THAT SHOULD BE YOUR CHOICE!
3:53 The parasol did not keep the sun out of my eyes.
3:34 I'm still squinting.
The heat wave ends, and now I get the umbrella?
Nope. It was Squatched.
Care2 knows a goody guy when they see one. Happy you have your credits back TC!
2:56 Even a parasol won't keep me cool! Here, I see many people carrying open parasols (umbrellas) on sunny days to protect against the sun and UV rays. It was something started by many of the Asian immigrants and it has expanded.
Puzzle — 2:56 Even a parasol won't keep me cool! Here, I see many people carrying open parasols (umbrellas) on sunny days to protect against the sun and UV rays. It was something started by many of the Asian immigrants and it has expanded.
Daily Kos — Too bad the damn thing didn't sink with no loss of life or damage to the ocean from leaking fuel. Perhaps Shell should take this as an omen that Arctic drilling should be a no-no! After all, Shell also had problems with a rig that it was towing north last year . . . it broke from its tow and went aground in Alaska.
NY Times — End of life care is a necessary conversation that everyone should have with their famillies and doctors. And doctror's should be reimbursed for those discussions. I've had mine with my neice and my doctor. My mother had it with me and her solicitor when setting up her healthcare representation agreement. And that gets reviewed each year with her current doctor when we have our annual care conference.
It is interesting that the Republicanus/Teabaggerum like Palin should claim "death panels" when they decry Obamacare in favour of Republicare which is "die fast" as Alan Grayson put it. Nice piece of projection, eh!
Alternet — And how many more states/counties are going to defy the SCOTUS decision? The die was cast when SCOTUS handed down their decision, a correct decision in my view, so Republicanus/Teabaggerum state and county staffers better tow the line! The 2 men had a letter from the governor, albeit a Democrat, and a copy of the SCOTUS decision to support their position but the staffer was rude and ignorant. She should be fired for denying these men their rights. l wonder if there will be a law suit that will eventually end up before SCOTUS?
Cartoon — They should never have gone! They are not deployed to defend American freedom, but rather to defend American influence and greed.
Care 2 — I had a similar situation a while back when my computer would not connect to Care 2. It lasted a day but Eric at Care 2 Support set my streak on course. I have been in everyday for the past 1,376 days for sure, and probably more. He is a great fellow . . . and he likes virtual beer!
OK, I'll bite – how does one send virtual beer?
Try this …
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apps4you.virtualbeer
(Not sure WRT iPhone apps. And as always, "YMMV" … or maybe "YS/GMY – "Your Sips/Gulps May Vary")
OK, that last "Y" in "YS/GMy" is supposed to be a "V" – "YS/GMV"
It's true, isn't it? There really is NO POINT to a punchline if you have to explain it …
*sigh*
Add *beer* to your message and a smiley will come up waving a big glass of suds!
I often send a dozen or two for after work relaxation.
Ah! That still works for comments in groups, but alas, in the PM system one now has to use the picture tool and the URL http://dingo.care2.com/c2c/emoticons//beer.gif – if it doesn't automatically go to 68 x 51 it won't look right and one must cancel it and start over. I am adding it to my short list however.
With virtual pretzles, of course.
I' m glad you are getting better weather, and glad that Care2 recognized what a valuable member you are.
Daily Kos: I hope it takes them a looooong time to repair the ship and I am still upset with Obama for approving their drilling.
NY Times: This is a good thing. My mother signed a "living will" five years ago, at her doctor's suggestion. Not everyone has that opportunity. We should all have a say in what happens to us at the end of our lives.
Alternet: I didn't need to watch the video since I have seen it several times today on our local news outlet. Another county court clerk met with our governor today and demanded that he not be required to issue marriage licenses to same sex couples. He was also on the news tonight, whining that the governor told him to do his job or resign. I think that should be the response to all of them. They are government employees, not religious advocates. I am happy the governor is responding the way he is.
Cartoon: I agree, it is sad that the cartoon is still valid. Apparently, we will always be at war somewhere.
TY TC – glad you got your butterfly points back – good for Eric! Sorry – back to bed with a pounding headache …
It would appear that you all have had more luck with Eric than I have. I will say no more. Am enjoying the coolness here in Seattle also. It really has been insuferable, the heat. I would like to see Care2 show all gifts given instead of the most recent 500. As a member since June 2003, I would like to see the fruits of my laboe. If I knew how to start a petition, I would.
Thanks all.
On Eric, I never asked for help, and the idea that he could restore my streak never ocurred to me. Sohis hewlp was service above and beyond.
Glad you're getting some of the weather I'm finally seeing, too.
Glad the doctors will be reimbursed for care instructions finally–makes the stress on patients and families far less.
I hope this affects believability of Shell's emergency capacity in those seas.
Kudos to the KY men!