Well today was one of those days when I was hoping to get something done . . . like laundry! So that didn't happen but I did manage a nap of several hours. I hear the rain so I think that is my clue to go to bed and snuggle with my babes! Tomorrow is physiotherapy with the promise of neck traction and exercises I missed earlier because I was sick. Update — It's Friday at 5:30 pm and I just arrived home after a full and tiring day. I awoke with a blood sugar low (I am diabetic) which prevented me from getting the article up before going to physio. Sorry about that!
Puzzle — Today’s took me 3:12 (average 5:42). To do it, click here. How did you do? Did I mention that I used to swim competitively in high school? No umbrellas, but lots of lane markers!
Short Takes
Common Dreams — "The conference of Presidents decided that the Sakharov Prize will go to Saudi blogger Raif Badawi,"said Martin Schulz, the Parliament’s president. "This man, who is an extremely good man and an exemplary good man, has had imposed on him one of the most gruesome penalties that exist in this country which can only be described as brutal torture."
Schulz then went further, calling on the Saudi king "to free him, so he can accept the prize."
"Freedom of expression is the air that every thinker breathes, the spark that lights his thoughts. Over the centuries, nations and societies have only progressed thanks to their thinkers."
—Raif Badawi
I have signed many petitions for the safe release of Raif Badawi who has a home in Canada, where his wife and children were given asylum, when he is released. Sweden announced some time ago that an arms deal with Saudi Arabia was cancelled. Afterwards there were many apologies. I am hoping that the new government in Canada will step up diplomatic efforts with Saudi Arabia. Following are four petitions calling for the release of Badawi, some of which you may already have signed.
Amnesty International, UK with over 1 million signatures
Amnesty International, Canada with almost 92,000 signatures
IBT — Celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain has become the latest in the restaurant industry to show his dislike for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and his controversial position on illegal immigration. During a recent interview on SiriusXM's StandUp With Pete Dominick, Bourdain defended undocumented immigrants in the US and took a shot at The Donald. … According to Eater, Bourdain would go on to say that if Trump won the general election and fulfill his promise to deport 11 million undocumented immigrants in the US, "every restaurant in America would shut down."
I wonder if Trump will try suing Bourdain like he is suing two other chefs. Mind, they pulled their restaurants out of a Trump Hotel project. I wonder, if Trump should ever become POTUS, would he ever put all his business dealings and assets in a blind trust? Nah! . . . and I don't think he'll be POTUS!
Huffington Post — The new EU proposition specifically asks countries to "drop any criminal charges against Edward Snowden, grant him protection and consequently prevent extradition or rendition by third parties, in recognition of his status as whistle-blower and international human rights defender."
Will the EU member countries stick to this or will some cave to US extradition attempts should Snowden leave Russia? Will Russia allow him to leave if he chooses? Some unanswered questions for now.
Alternet — … debates took place in an alternate reality, where facts are made up on the spot and history doesn't matter.
Here are some of those lies, distortions, and misrepresentations.
1. The fake “forced…socialism” of Obamacare.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA) said that the Democrats “forced Obamacare and socialism down our throats.” That ignores the fact that the Affordable Care Act is far from socialist; it was based on a plan implemented by Republican Mitt Romney in his state, and mirrors a proposal from the conservative Heritage Foundation. After all, Obamacare is based on expanding care through private health insurance plans. It's worth noting that we do have socialism in our system; the Veterans Administration and Medicare, and Americans love both.
Click through for the other seven lies and distortions. With all the demonising of CNBC at the 3rd debate, word has it that the campaigns are plotting a revolt against the RNC . . . "to plot how to alter their party’s messy debate process — and how to remove power from the hands of the Republican National Committee."
My Universe —
9 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread 30/10/2015”
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5:30 (average 5:55 when I did it) Too cold for this at this hour of the morning.
Raif Badawi – Amnesty International USA also has one, in conjunction with Care2:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/876/091/285/
No need to be a Care2 member to sign. It's being heavily promoted as of about the last two weeks, so Care2 members probably have signed it, but it's worth checking.
IBT – And just just restaurants. In fact, we might all starve. Not that The Donald would care. Just takers. No problem.
HuffPo – Good for the EU. Good luck to Snowden.
Alternet – The most discouraging thing to me is that most if not all of these lies have been floating around for so long that they g=have achieved the status of Fox viewer and Tea Party truth (as in, a lie repeated often enough becomes the truth).
Unoverse – Oh, poor Fluffster!
Looks like it is just you and me for the puzzle . . . 😀
Lynn, I don't know how you do all that you do, but am very grateful to you.
Common Dreams: I signed all three petitions, thanks for sharing them. I hope he gets some clemency, but doubt he will.
IBT: Bourdain is probably right, but I am not one of his fans. My husband, the eternal channel surfer, brought up his shows a couple of times when I have been present. I was sickened at the animals he cheerfully killed for entertainment purposes.
Alternet: I shared this on Facebook. Just read that the RNC is banning NBC from their next debate, they did not like the questions asked at the last one. Jindal is an oaf, and I believe Louisiana will get rid of him soon.
My Universe: Thankfully, none of mine have done this yet!
Right now I rely heavily on Lona's cat naps, Edie! . . . and by daytimer.
Common Dreams: Hope that all the signatures do well for Mr. Badawi. I wish him well. Have signed all petitions.
IBT: Personally, I don't like Bourdain, like Edie said above, he happily eats the animals he chooses to eat, it's rather sickening to watch his show, imo. Trump is a blowhard of course.
HP: I wish nothing but success for Edward Snowden, I wish him well.
Cartoon: Poor kitty.
Went to the dentist, and my little town got flooded, by the torrential rains yesterday. People didn't get federal assistance from the wildfires (a couple weeks ago), and I doubt we'll get anything for the floods and mudslides. Most unfortunate for those with houses burnt, or flooded.
Don't apologize for taking care of yourself, it's what a person needs to do. Look after your needs too! Hope you have a good day, take care, and Thanks, Lynn.
Poor Fluffster? That's me trying to get into my jeans!
You shouldn't be apologizing for being late with a post , Lynn. It's wonderful you're doing this at all, despite having flu, coping with the effects of being diabetic, having lots of physiotherapy, giving lessons and caring for your mother whenever you can. I'm sure we all, including TomCat, appreciate anything you post, no matter what time.
Common Dreams: Like you, Lynn, I've signed every petition to free Raif Badawi, and giving him the Sakharov prize will mean so much to him, but I fear that actions like these work like a red flag on bull Saudi Arabia. Last time Badawi came in the news the Saudis started te mete out 50 of the 1000 lashes given to him as punishment and raising the number of years in jail and the amount of the fine too. They have stopped lashing him after that, but they are now threatening to start the flogging again, because he now, suddenly, has "healed" enough. For Badawi, the most promising may be the change in Canadian government. If Trudeau is willing to negotiate behind the screens and find a way to free Badawi without the Saudis losing face – which is all important for them – Badawi may have a chance to survive his ordeal.
IBT: Bourdain is right of course, most restaurants in the US would have to close down if Trump would deport 11 million illegal immigrants, not only because of the huge number working in the restaurant business, but also because the restaurants would have no fresh produce left, like for instance tomatoes, to serve their clients. And that is exactly why Trump will NOT become POTUS.
Huffington Post: I'm sure Snowden welcomes the new EU proposition with open arms, but the only country he can be sure about not to cave in under American pressure still is Russia. This proposition is a clear signal to the Americans to reconsider their standpoint on Snowden, but sadly no more than that.
Alternet: These lies, distortions, and misrepresentations are only possible if you have an audience that is uneducated, i.e. "dumbed-down" enough, and closed off from what is happening in the rest of the world. This process of dumbing-down has been so successful that these candidates are true representatives of their rabid base. In Dutch we would say they are too stupid to dance for the devil, most of them (half) believe these lies, distortions, and misrepresentations themselves and are not above giving it some additional spin to make it all theirs.
Give that poor cat a bigger cat flap, please.
Dreams: All four petitions signed at one time and another. Resigned them all again.
Congrats to Raif Badawi on the Sakharov Prize. Petition in Joanne's comment box above also signed.
IBT: Not only would many restaurants close down, so would many other sectors of the economy would also suffer if Trump were elected and carried out the deportation of immigrants. Trump isn't all that smart. He is most certainly a racist, a bigot.
HuffPo: All charges against Snowden should be dropped by US. As for Chelsea Manning, Chelsea should be released from prison.
Alter: Jindal is despised by his home state in LA as Christie is much hated in NJ. Jindal's political career is over. Term limits in Louisiana means he cannot run for governor again. Both Jindal & Christie are on the verge of being out as candidates.
If the people who do watch these debates and actually believe these candidates, they should NOT be allowed to vote. They are ill-informed on political matters.
The GOP debates are a total farce and enough time has been wasted on them all!
Universe: Kitties do the most diddly-squat things. lol.
Thanks everyone!