After physio, teaching and then taking my student shopping, I finally arrived home at 19:45, exhausted and in pain (my knee). As a result, there was no post yesterday. But a good sleep did wonders, and after leaving what felt like 5 kilos on the hair salon floor, I feel great! Tomorrow is more physio and then back to the keyboard.
Short Takes
Raw Story — On Monday, the nation honored Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, the slain civil rights leader who changed America by leading a movement to end legislated racism. ut it seems some on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood had a confused idea of who King was and even how campaign endorsements work.
A little dose of humour to keep your engines purring . . . either that or you will cry at the lack of knowledge some people have. Saints preserve us!
Huffington Post — Kris Kobach's efforts to make voters prove that they're citizens aren't going so well.
A district state judge declared Friday that Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach has overstepped his legal authority by implementing a dual voter registration system.
The federal voter registration form only requires a sworn statement, under penalty of perjury, that citizens who are registering are U.S. citizens. Kobach introduced a requirement that residents of Kansas seeking to vote must produce documentation of citizenship, like a passport or birth certificate. The requirement took effect in 2013.
In his ruling last week, Judge Franklin Theis wrote, “The Secretary is not empowered to determine or declare the method of registration or create a method of 'partial registration' only.”
When I think of the amount of time and money spent for such frivolous lawsuits, lawsuits that try to disenfranchise people, it annoys me. The time and money could be put towards education or a multitude of other worthwhile endeavours. But then, that's not how Republicans work. The votes to repeal Obamacare is yet another example, this time at the federal level.
CBC — A Quebec City patient has died with the assistance of a doctor, in a Canadian legal first.
A spokeswoman for the authority that oversees health care in the Quebec City region confirmed to CBC News that one patient has received medical aid in dying and a second request is being considered.
Annie Ouellet of the Quebec City Integrated University Health and Social Services Centre would offer no further details on the patient or the circumstances.
It is the first known case since the province's assisted dying law came into effect on Dec. 10, 2015.
From a related CBC article,
In its Feb. 6, 2015 ruling, the court [Supreme Court of Canada] struck down the ban on physician-assisted dying on the grounds that it violated Canadians' charter rights. Justices then gave the federal and provincial governments 12 months to prepare for the decision to come into effect.
The Conservative government of Stephen Harper did very little in drawing up the federal guidelines for physician assisted dying before he lost the election on 19/10/2015. Trudeau's new government now has a 4 month extension to get the rules and processes in place. In the interim,
The court [Supreme Court of Canada] also ruled that, in fairness to Canadians outside Quebec, those wishing to exercise their right to die with the help of a doctor can apply to a superior court [provincial Supreme Court] in their home province for "relief in accordance with the criteria" set out in the high court's ruling last February. The ruling noted this was the first time the Supreme Court had been asked to grant individual exemptions of this kind.
In my view, this is good news. We show compassion for animals when they are suffering or terminally ill by euthanising them. Should people not have that same right? Some argue that a doctor's oath which says "do no harm" prevents them from assisting. But I question this since there may well be a greater harm, a greater suffering for the patient if they live. It is complicated, and there need to be processes in place to prevent abuse.
Huffington Post — As the agreement reached its “implementation day” with the removal of international sanctions following Iran’s compliance with the deal, Netanyahu was quick to credit Israeli efforts for preventing Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. According to the Times of Israel, Netanyahu opened his weekly cabinet meeting by stating, “If it weren’t for our efforts leading the way in enforcing the sanctions on Iran’s nuclear program, Iran would have had a nuclear weapon long ago.” …
The fact that the international community, and the United States in particular, was willing to engage with Iran has left Netanyahu "licking his wounds," but with Implementation Day, even Netanyahu has made a subtle pivot towards pragmatism. Bibi may still hate the agreement, but his response this past weekend reflects a slight shift from the past as he seeks to leverage the deal for Israel’s political and strategic interests.
Just like Netanyahu build himself and Israel up . . . when he didn't get his way, he inserted himself into the solution.
My Universe —
I wish I had the password to the on-line poker site!
6 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread 19/01/2016”
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Raw Story: Good Lord. Unbelievable!
HP: ''In response to the ruling, Kobach said that he plans to appeal.'' Waste of time, effort & money, imo.
CBC: I agree, Lynn. I don't believe that TX has any laws re: this, however, if I were terminally ill, I would certainly consider this option, at least to ease the hardship of my family members.
My Universe: I love the picture, how adorable.
Glad that you are feeling refreshed, I enjoy resting and reading now, it's my new hobby. lol. Take care, and enjoy your day, and Thanks, Lynn.
Kimmel – OK, barf bag alert.
HuffPo I – There is quite a bit of competition for the worst governor in the country. There is virtually no competition for the worst state Secretary of State in the country It is Kris Kobach in a landslide.
CBC – "Do no harm," well intended, has caused a world of hurt over the centuries. Many of our laws are written with some kind of "nor, through inaction," clause, and I believe it is time for the Hippocratic Oath to be updated to something like "Do no harm, nor, through inaction, allow harm to occur." I believe Hippocrates would approve.
HuffPo II – Oh good grief. Not that virtually everybody doesn't do the same. It also happens regularly outside of public life.
Universe – Heaven defend us from cats with poker faces!
Sorry to hear about your knee, Lynn, but sleep seems to have gotten you over the worst of it. No more shopping after physio I expect 😉
Raw Story: Shove a camera and a microphone in people's faces and they'll start talking, gibberish if need be, common sense having gone out the door as soon as the interviewer appeared. LOL
HuPo: Isn't it about time Korbach started to pay for all these lawsuits and appeals out of his own pocket? SCOTUS already told him to lay off in 2013 because what he was doing was illegal, then he came up with this two tiered voting system to circumvent that decision, which is now kicked out as illegal by a judge who was also angered by their backhanded way of quickly registering the plaintiff without his knowledge in order to get the case thrown out, and what does Korbach do now? He's going to appeal it! Will someone tighten all the screws and bolts in his head, please? Some of them have come lose.
CBC: That is good news for Canadians, Lynn. The Dutch have legalized euthanasia in 2002, but it had been tolerated some years before that under well thought out protocols which have been carefully adapted over time. For example, only recently underage children have been given the opportunity to ask for euthanasia if their parent(s) agree. A doctor may refuse to assist in euthanasia on personal grounds, but has to work with the doctor who will. From personal experience (my father asked to be euthanized, so did a sister-in-law) I can only say that it was a blessing for both of them and for all their loved ones. Both died when they'd decided it was time, before the pain became unbearable, when they were still fully aware of their surroundings and with enough dignity left. Knowing their choice would be honored when they were ready has also given them great comfort during their illness.
HuPo: Netanyahu has disrespected president Obama by accepting the Republican invitation to speak before Congress, mainly against the then future Iranian nuclear deal, and now he's trying to make Israel and himself believe that his efforts were crucial in the outcome. How low can you go? Pathetic.
My Universe: Your kitties are very smart, Lynn. Great picture.
I sure hope your knee does not keep acting up.
Dang!! Ihave two worries anout those people. They might vote. Scarier atill, they might reprodice.
Kobitch needs a Saguaro suppository.
I favor death with dignity, as long as it cannot be imposed by relatives ane especially, by government.
Butcher Bibi had Republicitis.
LOL!
Unfortunately it will. Much of the pain and swelling is caused by osteo-arthritis. Monday's pain was enough to almost have me in tears. The other part is meniscus issues.
know all about the osteo-arthritis , Lynn . both knees , hips , and left shoulder . i am so greatful for my oxy . and i don't think i want to comment any more on republicians for now or for that matter Bibi , they are like having an STD , that you can't get rid of no matter what you take .you think maybe it might be a little scary for Kitty to have a poker site password ? be well , glade to hear you doing better . be well .