It’s another comfortable day here in the CatBox, and I have a busy weekend coming up, so I plan on being as lazy as possible. Pray that Mueller does not imitate me.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:04 (average 5:20). To do it, click here. How do you do?
Short Takes:
From YouTube (Inequality Media Channel): How to End Partisan Gerrymandering
The Reich on the Left is right. The Reich on the Right gerrymanders! Amen!! RESIST!!
From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Bill Gates Dishes About President Donald Trump Meetings In Exclusive Video
I have many bones to pick with Bill Gates, but for now, TomCat hears that Trump is an incompetent pervert. What’s the difference between HIV and GOP? The latter is far more deadly! RESIST!!
From Alternet: It was noon in early 1942 as Johann Grüner approached the ‘German House’ in the Polish town of Nowy Targ for lunch. As a mid-level Nazi bureaucrat in occupied Poland, he enjoyed the privileges of power and the opportunity for career advancement that came with duty in the East. The German House, a mix of cultural centre, restaurant and pub, was one of the privileges enjoyed by the occupiers. As he entered the building, he could hear a boisterous celebration within. At the front door, a clearly inebriated Gestapo official passed by, a beer coaster with the number 1,000 written in red pinned to his blouse. Addressing Grüner, the policeman drunkenly bragged: ‘Man, today I am celebrating my 1,000th execution!’
At first glance, the incident at the German House might appear to be a grotesque aberration involving a single depraved Nazi killer. However, such ‘celebrations’ were widespread in the occupied Eastern territories as members of the notorious Schutzstaffel (SS) and the German police routinely engaged in celebratory rituals after mass killings. In fact, among the perpetrators of genocide, heavy drinking was common at the killing sites, in pubs and on bases throughout Poland and the Soviet Union.
Republicans are planning a venue, where such celebrations may be held at taxpayer expense: Trump Towers.
Cartoon:
The morning it blew, I walked into the office from the jobsite, covered in wet ash. Our secretary asked if I was planning to join the NAACP.
11 Responses to “Open Thread – 5/18/2018”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
5:24 Onion family, aren’t they?
IMC – Democrats over the past 242 years have not been 100% innocent of partisan gerrymandering, but that has not been true – I’m going to say at least since 1980 – because there has been no NEED to. Democrats HAVE a majority, and fairly drawn districts will reflect that if allowed to be used. An example is Iowa – a pretty dark red state, but one which has strict legal requirements for drawing districts. Steve King is from Iowa. Joni Ernst is from Iowa. It would not be hard to gerrymander Iowa totally red. But they haven’t done it. They have three districts which are +1 one way or the other, and District 2 has a Democratic reporesentative. District 4 (Steve King) is a +11 Republican district, and I’m afraid that’s a valid reflection of the constituency. I am not a big fan of Iowa politics, but I have to grudgingly give them that they don’t gerrymander. My gut feeling is also that Colorado isn’t badly districted, but also that it could be much worse, so I do have my eye on it – and particularly on the upcoming gubernatorial.
MSNBC – It would be fun of certain others would be so candid. I would love, for example, to hear – or read, since he wouldn’t use English and it would have to be a translation – Pope Francis. (In case anyone is so healthy that you don’t follow the terms, HIV of course is AIDS. HPV is genital warts.)
AlterNet – I wondered whether you would pick this up. (A barf bag alert would not be out of place.) This attitude can certainly be seen in the US today, for example in Charlottesville. With or without alcohol. And then there’s that “genetically superior master race” photo from reddit, which I won’t show because I’d need to provide brain bleach, but which can be seen HERE. Seriously, doesn’t that woman look like she is having an orgasm on her own “superiority”?
Cartoon – There was a silver lining, though. Or should I say a green lining. I have a couple of these gems in earrings.
For Santa Fe Texas:
IMC: No truer words by RR: “THIS is our Democracy. It’s up to US to make it work!” Word!!!!
MSNBC: Insightful re: the Führer, the helicopter story is hilarious, imho.
AN: How awful. Absolutely horrifying!!
Cartoon: Scary/frightening. There’s no recourse either with living there while it’s going on either. Look at what’s happening in Hawaii now….
Hope that you have a relaxing evening, take care, and Thanks, Tom.
At least being an incompetent pervert is better than being a competent one.
Good point!
Gerrymandering is one of my pet peeves. Unfortunately, Democrats are just as guilty as Republicans; they have had fewer opportunities as of late, though. And how can you be sure that a party hired to redraw the district map is truly non-partisan? Aye, there’s the rub.
Here in Oregon, Republican redistricting plans are always badly skewed, Democratic ones have been fair. Every tome it has gone to court, the court has adopted the Democratic plan, unchanged.
Good one Bill Gates, he just moved up a few notches for me!!!
IM: Another great video by Robert Reich: easy to understand, easy to grasp where it goes wrong, easy comprehend to what can be done about it: take responsibility for democracy in your state/district and demand an end to partisan gerrymandering. And do it before the next election, otherwise your (progressive) vote may never be acknowledged.
MSNBC: Bill Gates takes the high road and doesn’t badmouth Drumpf, but lets Drumpf make an incompetent fool of himself by recounting his behaviour. While for his whole audience it was crystal clear that Gates was thrashing Drumpf in subtle way, that subtlety would be impossible for Drumpf to pick up on.
Alternet: Drumpf doesn’t drink, so how is he going to celebrate, i.e. hide being drunk on power?
Enjoy a very comfortable weekend, TomCat!
Our hiking group was returning from a trip to Hawaii and we flew through some of it on our flight to Chicago. We could see the haze to the north and actually smell the smoke in the cabin – but it didn’t last very long.
This is when I still had hearing, but I honestly don’t remember than making a detailed announcement.
Thanks all. Tired hugs!
Puzzle — 4:25 Have to love the colour!!!
I am coming in late as I have been watching the royal wedding! A beautiful couple tying the knot on a beautiful sunny day. They are touring the town in a landau. Because of the time difference, I am watching/listening to the CBC recording.
Inequality Media — AMEN!!!
MSNBC — “What’s the difference between HIV and GOP? The latter is far more deadly!” — AMEN!!! And I might say that the treatment for GOP is more expensive!
AlterNet — Brain bleach indeed, JD!!! The “master race” . . . unwashed, uneducated, unacceptable!!! And these would rail against abortion etc. Too bad abortion was not available when these were hatched. Only the deeply disturbed and deplorable would celebrate their role in genocide! I recall tales of celebration of the horror that unfolded in Rwanda during the Tutsi genocide too. The human animal has the capacity for so much good, but also so much bad!!!
Cartoon — I remember that day very well. I was living in Victoria and ironing some clothes to wear for church when there was a huge wind that blew in the curtains. It was a beautiful day and there was not even a breeze. I wondered what had happened and then heard on the news. We had a bit of ash but WA and south eastern BC got a whallopping! I feel for the big Island in Hawaii right now because the effects are more severe because people are so much closer.
It is definitely cooler but it is muggy here . . . and cloudy. Some rain is in order.