Well, it seems that after a 2 day rest, my DVD player works again. I had tried quite a few DVDs and all were "bad disc". Right now, only one of those discs is not coöperating. Go figure. I arrived home earlier than normal as they put mum to bed at 18:30, right after dinner. She was out cold before the aid left the room, but I went and sat by her bed for about an hour anyway. She looks so at peace, relaxed, and thankfully in no pain when she is sleeping.
Short Takes
Alternet — In 2015, Young released his 36th studio album, The Monsanto Years, a concept-based criticism of multinational agrochemical and biotechnology giant Monsanto, the world’s biggest seed company. A collaboration with Willie Nelson's sons Lukas and Micah, the album also condemns other industrial agriculture giants like Syngenta, Dow, Dupont and Bayer — corporations that, like Monsanto, have garnered control of global seed production.
By creating patents for genetically engineered seed, these firms have taken away farmers’ right to save their own seeds.
“Monsanto wants to sell the farmers the seeds and they want to license the seeds,” said Bob McFarland of the California State Grange. “So the farmers can only use those seeds for one cycle, then they have to go back to Monsanto and buy the seeds again.”
Click through for the complete article. Following are 2 petitions for your signatures. Of course there are many, many more out there.
Help STOP GMO's from being produced U.S. GMO Foods Petition
Warren’s timing, judgment and courage are all now being challenged. It’s not enough to be independent, articulate, and passionate from the bully pulpit. Achieving leadership’s full capacity inevitably involves taking a stand that is by nature risky, but all the more necessary because one’s deepest convictions will not allow any other course of action. One feels compelled within to seize the moment. Whatever the risks of taking a stand, the risks of letting the moment pass are greater. However, unconventional the action required is, that action remains the most obviously impactful.
If destiny offers someone like Warren the opportunity to swing the tide of the nation toward a more honest and just governance and they hesitate, well then ultimately they weren’t the leader we hoped for. Warren has had this opportunity served up to her by Bernie Sanders in the most admirable way. There is no room for her to pretend the moment of decision is not upon her.
Click through for this opinion piece. I agree that Bernie and Elizabeth Warren are a good fit. I also think that she should take a stand on just who she supports. However, I didn't think that decisions about VP candidates were made until after the nominees were chosen.
Mother Jones — At a campaign stop in Henniker, New Hampshire, last week, Ted Cruz was asked what he'd do as president to combat climate change. Cruz's answer—an eight-minute rant that you can watch below—was essentially that he would do nothing. Because global warming isn't happening. It's "the perfect pseudoscientific theory" to justify liberal politicians' quest to expand "government power over the American citizenry," he said.
Like Cruz, the two GOP front-runners in the state—Donald Trump and Marco Rubio—reject mainstream climate science. Trump has repeatedly called global warming a "hoax," and Rubio has said, "I do not believe that human activity is causing these dramatic changes to our climate the way these scientists are portraying it." John Kasich, who's been rising in the New Hampshire polls in recent weeks, has made a number of contradictory comments about climate change.
Barf Bag Alert!!! Barf Bag Alert!!! Barf Bag Alert!!! Barf Bag Alert!!! Barf Bag Alert!!!
Listen to Cruz's rant. I had to laugh when he tried to make the point that liberals changed the wording from global warming to climate change when they realised that the globe isn't warming. As head of the senate science committee he called scientists to testify about climate change and the anthropogenic effects. What he doesn't say is that he cherry-picked the scientists so that he got what he wanted. Republicans are such idiots when it comes to climate change.
Alternet — … myths are built on half-truths, white lies and downright fabrications. So it is with the American presidency. Presidents lie, even our most admired ones. Some of them were really good at it, like Franklin Roosevelt. Others, like shifty-eyed Richard Nixon, were just pathological.
When we got a president who promised never to lie to us, as Jimmy Carter did in 1976, many thought he was not particularly effective and voters tossed him out on his ear in 1980, for a master Machiavellian prince named Ronald Reagan. Republicans pounced on President Obama when, pushing the Affordable Healthcare Act, he promised Americans that if we wanted to keep our current health insurance, we could. That turned out to be not completely true, and surely Obama knew it even as the words were coming out of his lips. Still, for President Obama, the end—a broader, fairer healthcare system—justified the means. His signature accomplishment in office, Obamacare, might not have passed had he been totally forthright.
Click through to see who the biggest liars were. It has always bugged me that one of my family names is Nixon. In the past I'd always add "no relationship to Tricky Dicky".
My Universe —
Pillow talk!
5 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread 07/02/2016”
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Alternet: Love Neil Young, from way back….good to bring the awareness to the people. Signed both petitions, too.
Common Dreams: I would love to see Ms. Warren as VP . Time will tell if she steps up though. She has done well speaking, and bringing awareness on several topics regarding social, economic, and international issues, and my favorite…big corporations and Wall Street. It's her time, but ultimately, her decision. What a GREAT team, if she does!!
MJ: What a jerk!! Of all people, he should know how the climate change effects the environment, here in Texas. He's a denier when it comes to this. He's been out in hot sun too long, lol.
AlterNet: I was overseas, in the military and voted for George McGovern. Unfortunately…we know where that went after Nixon became President.
My Universe: Every day can be whatever day I want it to be…since I've retired. Most days are Fridays to me. 😉 Sounds like you had a great visit with your mom. Enjoy your day, Thanks, Lynn.
Does your DVD have a reset button, Lynn? It sounds like a software glitch to me, and a reset may do it some good. Sorry you didn't get to really visit your Mum, but sitting by her bed while she slept was good for you too. She was in no pain and much more your Mum than when awake.
Alternet: Kudos to Neill Young and the people around him for drawing attention to the evil Monsanto and the other four players in the game, Syngenta, Dow, Dupont and Bayer do to this planet, its people and their own customers, with a whole new album and the going out to promote it. What an excellent way to get people to listen and involved.
Both petitions signed.
Common Dreams: This discussion has come up before, and while Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren would make a good team, they would do so based mostly on economical issues. And while it would be good for Liz to make a choice and support Bernie, if he is going to be the next president, he would be best served with Liz in congress trying to get the other Democrats to support him on his (and her) plans and not as a VP next to him, but out of the loop where she does her best work.
Mother Jones: What Cruz calls Al Gore's inconvenient truth is of course a convenient Republican lie. And so are all other of his assertions, like: the polar ice is growing, not melting. A pity that this son of two scientists never was brought up to stick to the facts and the truth and not meddle with the data so it suits him and his cronies. All Republican candidates attest to Climate Change being a scientific hoax, but strangely less and less of their own base believes it is. Too many of them still do, but Republicans need to step up their attack on scientists and Climate Change, like Cruz, if they want them to keep on believing it as their master demand of them.
Alternet: Isn't it strange how Americans have such fond memories of presidents who lied to them (with the exception of Tricky Dicky) and even dislike the ones that promise not to lie? The general dislike of Nixon points to two additional stipulations: the president has to be a good, convincing liar and/or he shouldn't be found out during his terms. Oh well, I haven't said this in a long while: only in America.
My Universe: My Monday is nearly over, time for some pillow talk soon.
AlterNet – I am the choir he is preaching to. Signed both petitions.
Common Dreams – I have said it before and I will probably have to say it again – WE NEEED HER IN THE SENATE. Just as much to the point, BERNIE needs her in the Senate. If we do not sweep a supermajority in both house and Senate – and I don't see how we can – then Bernie's policies are only partially going to be put into effect. And what parts succeed is going to depend heavily on who we have as progressives in the Senate and in the House. And if the nominee (and next President) is Hillary, theen we are going to need her in the Senate even more! Yes, I wish she would make an endorsement, but she is between a rock and a hard place here. Like a kid having to choose between Mom and Dad going through a divorce. I realize that is not even close to the situation, but emotionally, she has ties to both – think about it.
MoJo – I've seen enough of Uranus Inspector, thank you, and I don't need a good barf. Lord, protect us from these fools!
AlterNet II – Am I prejidiced to think I discern a difference in these lies as to whether they are self-serving or for the good of the country? Once I would have thought time will tell, but if we keep being poisoned through our air, water, clothes, furniture, food, we will eventually ALL lose the ability to discern fact from falsehood, maybe even right from wrong.
Universe – Very astute, and very sweet.
Probably an intrmittent short.
Been there. Signed those. Prefere seeds from crops.
Amen!
He TRUSed with his head.
I'm surprised!
Monday is HERE!
Alternet: I signed both petitions. Saving seeds can also be a reason to be prosecuted! My family has done that for generations. I try to grow a few veggies each year, organically, of course, but I don't have room or energy to grow all we like to eat, and I would like to know what is in the food I buy. I don't want to eat frankenfish, either.
Common Dreams: She should have made a decision by now!
Mother Jones: Even Cruz should be bright enough to see what is happening to our climate!
Alternet: I was not surprised by most of these, but Lincoln's lies really did surprise me. I have always admired President Carter, he was too honest to be a politician. So sorry you have Nixon in your background.
My Universe: Loved both of these.