Today turned out not to be as busy as I thought. My ESL student is sick so cancelled our class. That gave me a chance for a short Lona cat nap after physio before finishing this post. The nap didn't last long as there were fire trucks and ambulances in the street below my window. I am blessed with the local hospital across the street to the east, and the main fire hall across the street to the west. No matter their proximity, the truck engines and sirens were wailing away keeping me from a nap. At least I managed a good sleep last night.
Puzzle — Today’s took me 3:28 (average 6:17). To do it, click here. How did you do? For those that don't know, we always do the 48 piece classic.
Daily Kos — … Stewart also offered a "warning" to the first responders as they prepared to trek the halls of Congress. "Today, on [Capitol] Hill, you will be exposed to possibly toxic levels of bulls**t and arrogance," …
Now isn't that the truth! As Jon said (paraphrase) to a gathered group of first responders, when the need was there, you jumped in right away to do what you were trained to do. Why should you have to push to get the benefits needed as a result of your heroism? Jon is so spot on, and we know where the problem lies . . . with Republicans!
CBC — "Today, I believe that I am being called to lead by helping to clear the field in this race so that a positive conservative message can rise to the top of the field. With that in mind, I will suspend my campaign immediately," Walker said at a press conference in Madison, Wisconsin.
"I encourage other Republican presidential candidates to consider doing the same so the voters can focus on a limited number of candidates who can offer a positive conservative alternative to the current front-runner," Walker continued. "This is fundamentally important to the future of the party and more importantly to the future of our country."
Read the rest of the story through the link.
Well, the darling of the Koch set has pulled the plug on his 2016 presidential aspirations. I wonder how the Kochs are taking it? A while back, I distinctly had the impression that the relationship between Walker, the Fartfuhrer of Fitzwalkerstan, and the Kochs had significantly cooled.
Here from the Huffington Post is a series of tweets from Liz Mair, a former aide to the Fartfuhrer describing why he couldn't win the White House in 2016.
Alternet — … The drug, called Daraprim, was acquired in August by Turing Pharmaceuticals, a start-up run by a former hedge fund manager. Turing immediately raised the price to $750 a tablet from $13.50, bringing the annual cost of treatment for some patients to hundreds of thousands of dollars. … Shkreli claims that the higher cost for the drug is necessary for his new company to develop better treatments for toxoplasmosis, a claim which doctors quoted in the Times article call hollow as the side effects for Daraprim are manageable and there is no "clamoring" for a substitute. Interestingly, Shkreli's is the same type of claim pharmaceutical companies made in response to efforts to allow Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices.
Read the rest. I find it inexcusable for such price increases. Ultimately, it hurts everyone and will lead to greater loss of life.
My Universe — h/t JL — Ah, the humble toilet paper roll that every cat parent understands! My little Annie has shredded one or two, but her favourite is the famous paper towel roll. She renders them useless . . . totally useless!
26 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread 22/09/2015”
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Puzzle ~ 4:00 These wily wolves escaped me.
4:49 I was never in the hunt.
Ah! I won! Amazing! Do worry though, I'm not like TC . . . I won't be having wolf fricassé or wolf steaks! 😉
Daily Kos ~ Agent Orange and the rest of the toxic bunch are holding it up now. "As of Wednesday, 39 House and Senate Republicans had signed on with 147 of their Democratic caucus colleagues to co-sponsor the reauthorization. But House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio – who was opposed to the Zadroga Act in 2010 and, as of May, remained so – could hold up the bill in the House."
CBC ~ The pundits all said he was running out of money so must be the Kochs have cut their favorite son's allowance. who are they backing now? Jebby or Carly? Or is it Dr. Ben?
Alternet ~ Martin Shkreli should be prosecuted for price gouging. This is despicable.
I lived in Your Universe quite a while ago. I had a broken back and wore a torturous brace in which I could barely move. I had just gotten a kitten and left the house for a doctor's appointment. On my return their was tP all over the house in one continuos roll. He had gone from room to room in and out doors pulling it. 1,000 sheets spread out over the entire apartment.
Oh Patty – what a naughty kitten! And your poor back clearing it up!
I read yesterday that Martin Shkreli has incurred the wrath of a lot of people. The backlash is so fierce that he is backing off. He didn't announce the new price . . . said it would take several days and I haven't had a chance to look yet.
6:28. Seemed unusually diffivult to me. Not sure I wanted to catch 2 wolves, though. Like a dawg chasing a car. If he caught it, what would he do with it?
DKos – Jon is living authentic Christianity and he isn't even a Christian. No wonder "religion" is so confusing.
CBC – I think he is still following Koch orders. I think pulling out WAS the Koch order. Still a good thing though. Sure hope the indictments go through before 2020.
Alternet – "A start-up run by a former hedge fund manager." What else do you need to know? Pure evil.
Universe – Serves the human right for leaving a roll out off the holder. Or maybe having an insecure holder.
Mahatma Gandhi once said: I like your Christ. Your Christians are nothing like him.
We are capable of some Christ like actions.
Need to share hat-tip credit with my friend Ted and his friend Carol again.
I have signed many petitions, some from the Congressional leaders sponsoring the legislation who understand their oaths of office unlike Boner and his ilk–Stewart is on target.
I hope the Perry-Walker order indicates that money is drying up for those at risk of criminal convictions based on publicly known investigations; that should make Christie next.
Both Bernie and Hillary have proposals to limit consumer drug costs–this example underlines why it is so important…in the US we pay more for every drug than the companies charge in any other country-and a significant component of why we pay more for a lower quality of health care.
Some people weight in on the TP question of over vs. under based on ease of their feline housemates performing this Universe.
I never thought of the over/under in that way, but under would work better providing the cat doesn't use her claws to dig impenetrable holes.
When I had cats I used to have a roll add-on that held the roll in fairly hard plastic, so one could put it on over but tuck the end into the gadget, and it was next to impossible for a cat to get it started.
Daily Kos – as always Jon Stewart is exactly correct – wouldn't it be nice if they didn't have to face such horrors….
CBC – I thought that was Andy freelancing for a moment!
Alternet – Methinks the previous Hedge Fund Manager is lying his socks off!
My Universe – so funny…. when it isn't happening to you! (My rescue dog shreds all paper she can get, but loves kitchen roll…. which she doesn't often get these days – I give her lots of cuddles to make up).
DK: As of Wednesday, 39 House and Senate Republicans had signed on with 147 of their Democratic caucus colleageues to co-sponsor the reauthorization. It's a no brainer here. Do the right thing, and pass the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act !!! Love Jon!!
CBC: Good riddance, Wisconsin doesn't want you either.
AlterNet: Heard about this on the news…unbelievable! High cost to us, as people/babies will suffer. I hope there's a generic pill out there for folks.
My Universe: That's happened to me also. lol.
Have a great day, relax, and take care, all.
Oh! I can relate 28th your meme!!!!! Little rats!! I have come into the bathroom and it looks like a confetti cannon has been fired in there!! They take it from one end of the bathroom to the other and the noise they make when they are playing with it is enough to wake you from a sound catnap!
Only the bathroom? Mine have knocked the roll down the stairs and into the kitchen and/or livingroom. One cat, Bosely, would go into the bathroom cupboard and take out the sanitary napkins. I found them all over the house! If you tried to take one away, he growled.
Sorry to hear that my catnaps have weakened a bit from laying on the shelve too long and didn't prevent you from waking up from the hullabaloo in your street, Lynn. I'll send a fresh batch over immediately.
Daily Kos: Jon Couldn't be more right of course. The Republicans are sewing the most frightful load of BS to try and confuse people enough to accept there not getting it, or at least stop pursuing their representatives for what is rightfully theirs. How much longer are people going to this crap from the GOP?
CBC: Don't you hate it when a presidential hopeful without any talent, intelligence, knowledge, leadership, political views or any other asset that would make him suitable to become the next president of the US of A – not even the Koch money could do that – bites the dust as he should, and then tries to turn himself into a martyr/hero by making it all about "being called to clear the field and make room for a positive GOP message of just a few, but excellent candidates" (my paraphrasing). So Scott sees himself as a hero now because he put the future of the party, and the future of the country above his own interests. LOL.
Gotta feel sorry for the people of Wisconsin who are stuck with him until 2018.
Alternet: There's three reasons why pharmaceutical companies make drugs. First for the money, then they do it for the money and we shouldn't forget the third reason: for the money. Forget: to fight disease, or find a cure or help mankind, these vultures have only on thing on their minds…
Your Universe: The paper towel roll was (and probably still is) a serious affliction with Q, the cat I trusted into the excellent care of my sister-in-law after hers died of old age. The bigger and fluffier, the more fun, hugging one end with his front paws and turning his back legs into the most efficient shredder known to mankind on the other. I've already warned my sister-in-law.
With relation to the Alternet post, there is a petition on Care2 that needs your signature. Let's get this petition moving. Lower the Cost of the Drug Daraprim
signed
So did I. Thanks, Lynn.
Anyone else wonder if Snotty Walker cut a deal w/ some other candidate for consideration as VP or Cabinet post if he throws them his support – and more germane, the Koch brother$ moola?
NOTE to Walker: Haven't you been a stellar example of the Peter Principle enough already?
From my mind to your keyboard, Nameless.
I hear that the lion's share of his fundraisers went to Rubio's camp.
As to the Kochs, I was wondering if they had asked him to step down so they could buy a more viable candidate. Certainly a deal for the VP position is the kind of thing that the Fartfuhrer would do.
Another opportunity for diplomacy vs. war petition in Syria:
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/back-international-talks?source=c.em&r_by=1135580
Signed. Thanks JL
Done. Thanks JL.
Thanks everybody for all your support!