I’m running quite late today. Yesterday afternoon, my helper friend and I made six meals. Last night I filled two barf bags, trash can, my coffee cup, my shirt pocket, and George. Today Jeannie (shower-aide) left me with soft shiny fur. Arvilla (PT) gave me a hard workout including a toilet transfer with my quad-cane, without using the disabled rails. Then I walked around 225 ft. with my walker. That’s almost double my previous best. Then I did exercises, and maneuvered from the sink, paste the range, past the counter, to the refrigerator and back without my chair or my walker, using the surfaces for support. I’m pooped!! TGIF!!
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:19 (average 5:41). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: The FBI has released video tonight of the shooting death of LaVoy Finicum to dispel any rumors that he had “had his hands up” and was trying to surrender to police. The FBI’s Special Agent in Charge Gregory T. Bretzing held a press conference to explain the events surrounding the arrest of Ammon Bundy (and others), along with the fatal shooting of LaVoy Finicum. Finicum can be seen running from the initial stop in his pick-up truck, with passengers Ryan Payne, Shawna Cox and a woman the FBI declined to identify. The video was captured by aerial camera and shows Finicum driving into a snow back, barely missing a law enforcement officer. He immediately jumped from the vehicle, at first with his hands up as he yelled at law enforcement, but then clearly reaching into his pocket multiple times, where the FBI says he did have a gun (update: a loaded 9 mm semi-automatic handgun.)
Here us a shortened, edited clip instead of the 26 minute clip included with the article. No significant parts were removed.
I have no doubt that the Republican terrorist was going for his gun, based on his previous statements and the loaded 9mm semi-automatic pistol in the pocket. The officer was fully justified in shooting him. However, I would like to have seen a faster response time to try to save his life, if possible, after he was down.
From Media Matters: Student loan debt in America has reached a staggering $1.3 trillion, surpassing even credit card debt. But right-wing media figures have criticized efforts to combat student loan debt by pushing misinformation and blaming students for pursuing higher education…
…Blaming students for the student loan debt crisis ignores the facts and distracts from finding real solutions to America’s skyrocketing student debt burden.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Students should be able to pay for their education with their choice of military, national, or community service.
From NY Times: WHILE presidential candidates from both parties feverishly pitch their legislative agendas, voters should also consider what presidents can do without Congress. Agency rules, executive actions and decisions about how vigorously to enforce certain laws will have an impact on every American, without a single new bill introduced in Congress.
The Obama administration has a substantial track record on agency rules and executive actions. It has used these tools to protect retirement savings, expand overtime pay, prohibit discrimination against L.G.B.T. employees who work for the government and federal contractors, and rein in carbon pollution. These accomplishments matter.
Whether the next president will build on them, or reverse them, is a central issue in the 2016 election. But the administration’s record on enforcement falls short — and federal enforcement of laws that already exist has received far too little attention on the campaign trail.
I just released a report examining 20 of the worst federal enforcement failures in 2015. Its conclusion: “Corporate criminals routinely escape meaningful prosecution for their misconduct.”
Amen! Click through for the rest of this fine editorial by American National Treasure. Elizabeth Warren, and be sure to read her report.
Cartoon:
Republicans want to take your money and give it to the 0.1%
14 Responses to “Open Thread–1/29/2016”
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4:39 (5:41) What is it with Mother Nature and sixes? Did anyone else think it looked a little like there was a black-legged insect rolling around in there?
Quote from comment on Daily Kos today:"I like to say that liberals are part of the free thought movement and conservatives are part of the thought free movement."
DKos – Don't get me wrong, I am EXTREMELY glad they released this under the circumstances. But isn't it interesting how fast the video gets released when the cops are telling the truth?
Media Matters – Rising tuition + falling Pell grants and scholarships + drops in real wages = Student debt. For-profit schools don't help (and are giving a bad name to private not-for-profit scools). Why is this so difficult to grasp? Oh, wait. It's Republicans. Never mind.
NY Times – Cool! A new Warren Report! And one that is extremely illuminating and constructive. I have "printed" it to a pdf on my hard drive for future reference.
Cartoon – Well, of course. Was there ever any doubt?
Great quote!
MM: While my two children served in the military (GI Bill for both), the college cost then, was high, plus having to find a job that helped them pay off their debts. One even graduated 3 years vs. 4, and the loan(s) is still staggering. Blaming children for going to college??? How offensive and insensitive can the Repugs be?? UGH!
NYT: Great article by Ms. Warren. Love how she writes, to get the info out there. Bookmarked to read her report also, and passing this on to friends too!
Cartoon: Yep!!
Good for you!! in having a busy day! Wow, you are accomplishing a lot in getting around. Now it's time to just catnap and relax. Enjoy your evening, take care, and Thanks, Tom.
Tom, serious workouts are good forthe body, and the mind…kudos to you!
Media Matters: Blaming students for pusuing higher education is just right down the GOPigs alley. Thy prefer an uneducated, and unable to think straight populace! Then, I saw Joanne's great DK quote…nice!
Finicum shooting: Sad, but I also expect he was going for a gun.
Does Jeannie, your shower aide, come AFTER your PT workout?
From the paces you describe Arvilla (PT) puts you through, I'd be sweating buckets. (I mean, you could grow rice!)
But very, VERY encouraging about the progress you are making! Keep up the good (and hard) work!
Before.
3:31 Tip toe through the tulips . . .
Tip-toe my ass! You foot-flattened the flower bed!!
Glad you helper and your shower aide showed up, you seem to need them both. It sounds like you are making really good progress with George. Phillip had his hand surgery on Monday and didn't lose any whole fingers, but lots of tips and two joints. He is determined to be well enough to play golf in the spring. Sounds like you two are much the same in your determination.
Daily Kos: I am so glad this video was available because they are claiming he was just shot down. Of course he was going for his gun. I don't want anyone to die, but I also don't want this group to have a martyr.
Media Matters: I am still having sound problems on the new computer so couldn't hear the video. But, we all know how awful the student debt burden has become. The student loans are now a for profit industry and the interest rate is reciculous. Back in the Stone Age of the sixties you made one payment a year and paid the whole thing off in ten years. Yes, I had student loans and that was how i paid it back. I also only paid $10 per hour, and $300 a semester for room and board. Today's kids are seeing hundreds of thousands of dollars for a degree from almost any university, including the state owned ones. This has to change because we are falling behind the rest of the world in educating our kids.
Ny Times: Warren is so right, but how do we, as the electorate change this? By getting involved and trying to inform others who only watch faux news. Jamie Dimon should be in prison instead of receiving this sinful raise.
Cartoon: Yep, and get plenty of campaign contibutions from his 1% friends for not raising theirs.
Puzzle — 3:31 Tip toe through the tulips . . .
Daily Kos — I really don't understand the criminal mind. Had Finicum heeded law enforcement's directions when they first stopped him, rather than deciding after almost 5 minutes to speed away, he would likely still be alive. On top of that he almost hits an officer when the truck goes into the snowbank, then exits the truck trying to run and reaches into his pocket. When looking at the tape, it might appear that he has his hands up when fleeing the vehicle, but I believe that was a natural reaction to snow covered uneven ground and trying to maintain his balance. IMO, he was the author of his own death, not law enforcement.
Media Matters — When I started as a teller, a high school diploma was enough and you could climb the ladder etc as I did. Now, banks want people with university degrees on the front lines, and that is to start. For these right wing talking heads to say "if you can't afford tuition, don't go to college" is disingenuous since will be the first in line to say "you should have a college education rather than being a lazy bumb".
NY Times — A phrase from my auditing days . . . Inspect what you expect. In other words, if something is to be done a certain way, ensure it is done by physically inspecting it. If it is lacking, then take remedial action to ensure compliance.
Cartoon — SSDD!!!!!
And the teller with a diploma back then, had more purchasing power than the degreed teller today.
You're making tremendous progress, TomCat, and that is also because you allow yourself to be worked that hard. Kudos to you. I'm sure you enjoy your shower that little bit more after working so hard.
Daily Kos: As I've said before, the media will do anything to turn Finicum into a martyr, but fortunately the FBI has the attempt to arrest him and his death on video. This video shows that Finicum at no point was going to surrender on his own accord, they had to block him from going any further after he attempted to run after the first stop. It'll never be clear what he had on his mind, but his behavior after this blockade was very ambiguous indeed and certainly wasn't giving the impression of surrendering. Sadly he was shot at very close range and with an undoubtedly heavy weapon to take him out, so he never stood a chance to survive it. I doubt that any immediate first aid could have saved him.
Media Matters: I fail to understand how the Republicans can think that a record breaking student loan debt can be good for the economy in any way. Even if these students find a job after they finish their education, they have to pay so much back that they still can't spend any money on other things, let alone buy a house and start a family. And rhe economy used to be all about spending, but Republicans probably think economy is how much money the banks have in the vaults to play around with on the stock markets and they're worried a bit that they're never going to see that debt plus interest returned to them. Of course students have to be blamed for bringing the banksters in this predicament.
NY Times: Excellent work by Warren. It will be interesting to see which Democratic candidate will pick up on her report first, Hillary or Bernie. My bet is on Bernie, because this is very much in line with his campaign. If he does, it may be the reason Elizabeth Warren is willing to endorse him.
Cartoon: And if my plan fails, I have plan B: to raise YOUR taxes.
Your progress and accomplishments are inspiring, TC – keep up the good work.
NY Times: I remember Bill Clinton saying how much easier it was to get things done when he was no longer President – I suspect Obama will keep at his goals and continue to do things that irritate the Republicans. We can hope, right?
Thanks to everyone, who has praised my progress. The way I see it, it's just what I have to do to survive.
Hugs to all!!