It’s still pretty chilly at the CatBox and I’m going to work through this morning, breaking for lunch of course, until I finally complete the Monthly Report. I don’t want to wait on that, as we have a major heat wave coming. UGH!
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:29 (average 4:58). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Politico: First lady Melania Trump attended the Ford’s Theatre annual gala on Sunday evening, paying tribute to President Abraham Lincoln’s legacy. It was one of her first public appearances since surgery last month.
"Tonight reminds all of us about the power the arts have in cultivating the American voice," the first lady, who served as the honorary chairman, said in a statement. "Thank you to Ford’s Theatre Society for tonight, and your continued dedication to education and leadership in the arts — the impact they have on society is invaluable and something we will continue to cherish throughout time.”
I can’t help but wonder, if the significance of Ford’s Theatre is wishful thinking on her part. If so, who could blame her. RESIST!! VOTE BLUE!!
From Huffington Post: A future without net neutrality is here. Well, almost.
The Federal Communications Commission will take away the rights of internet users on Monday. Officially, the repeal of the 2015 net neutrality protections ― a repeal that FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, a Trump pick, had pushed for ― will take effect.
That means that internet providers like AT&T, Comcast and Verizon will be able to block, throttle and otherwise interfere with online content without any real legal consequences.
Pai, a former Verizon lawyer, bucked the law, ignored public opinion and twisted the facts to make his ill-advised case for handing control of the internet to the anti-competitive cabal of giant phone and cable companies that control broadband access in the United States. In a moment of Orwellian arrogance, Pai said he did it to “restore internet freedom.”
The reality is quite the opposite: Pai is attempting to usher in an online regime that would resemble the internet in China. In that country, a powerful alliance between the central government and national telecom companies has created a digital dystopia, where websites and online services that fall out of favor load so slowly as to render them unusable. Others appear in a flash, thanks to cozy ties to the powers that be….
…You can be sure that Pai and his cronies in the phone and cable lobby will declare victory on Monday, but the expiration of the 2015 rules will be only a temporary hiccup. The fight is far from over in Congress, in the courts and across the country.
We must all refuse to give up the fight for Net Neutrality and inform others to do the same. RESIST!! VOTE BLUE!!
From Daily Kos: …we can be extraordinarily confident that no substantive progress will be made towards the theoretical Actual Damn Point of the Trump-Kim summit, the suspension of North Korea’s nuclear ambitions in exchange for, presumably, an easing of the international sanctions against them. This is because nobody on Trump’s staff has any concept of how to draft such a deal, what the specifics ought to be, and most importantly what measures are sufficient or insufficient for ensuring long-term verification of that deal. Trump nixed the disarmament treaty with Iran because he listened to longtime conservative hawks who simply wanted it gone, regardless of expert conclusions that the deal was working; he cannot hope to draft one on his own, at least one not written in the diplomatic equivalent of crayon, for the same reasons. And this, even without hardline neanderthals like John Bolton looking to sabotage the talks at every opportunity.
This is not to say the Donald Trump team will not be eager to broadcast some supposed “deal” in order to make our nation’s most successful traitor momentarily look good. Trump is under enormous pressure, at the moment, to accomplish even the most minor of diplomatic tasks without falling over his own feet. But don’t be surprised if didn’t fall over his own feet is treated, by his team, as a herculean accomplishment unmatched by any modern president, real or fictional, since Bill Pullman fended off interstellar invasion in his fighty-shooty jet.
The actual disarmament part? That would require an expertise nobody in this White House has—or can even put up with.
You can also be sure that Trump will demand a Nobel Peace prize, if he and Kim just share the golden glow of the same Russian hooker. RESIST!! VOTE BLUE!!
Cartoon:
18 Responses to “Open Thread – 6/11/2018”
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4:47 Well, I may catch the train – if I don’t stumble getting to the door.
I wish I could think of an article – well, other than glurge – that this video wouldn’t fit into these days. (I would take Jim Henson as a spiritual adviser over Jim Dobson any day.)
Politico – For a minute I thought I was reading Andy here.
HuffPo – So important indeed.
DKos – Hunter is so knowledgeable I often don’t read him in full because of the technicality. This article, however, is highly readable, though (or more likely because) dripping with sarcasm.
Cartoon – I’m not sure I’d want to look too closely into the actual wording of those prayers …
PS – RIP Dorothy Cotton.
Politico: Maybe she needed to get out of the house. lol.
HP: RESIST! RESIST!!
DK: I agree with that nothing will be gained by this summit, poutus will want a parade after coming home. I worry more about Bolton being there, and what he feeds to dt. than anything.
*Joanne, great video!
Cartoon: SAD.
Hope that you get your rest, and relax. Take good care, and Thanks, Tom.
*Dave: Yes, Condolences to her family, and may she Rest in Peace.
Dorothy Cotton is one of the most important unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Movement and her accomplishments are a testament to the essential but often overlooked role of women in that and other liberation struggles
Her most important work was the development and leadership of the Citizenship Education Program, training disenfranchised people in the importance of civic and political participation and the organizing methods for voter registration and non-violent protest. This program was one of the most effective but least well-known components of the movement. We lived in the town she was born in for a short few years.
https://www.dorothycottoninstitute.org/about-dorothy-cotton/about-dorothy-cotton-biography/
*Joanne: oops…sorry about that.
Your comment re: Dorothy Cotton
Pol: Reminds me of the joke in which a student is asked what message he would give to Abraham Lincoln if he had he power. The lad responded, “I’d advise him to not go to the theatre.”
HP: I’ve done my little part, signing petitions and leaning on my Congress critters. This morning I sent a petition with nearly 40,000 signatures to my Representative. I hope that he takes notice – neither of my Senators did. P*ss on them – they have both lost my vote. Actually, they lost it some time ago.
DK: Trump is being blatantly overt in his fishing for a Nobel Peace Prize. In a way he reminds me of Emperor Nero, who demanded – and won – prizes for contests that he didn’t even participate in. Jimmy Carter at least was a lot more subtle; in addition, he actually did some good.
Cartoon: Ain’t that the truth!
You do have two Godawful Senators, and the sympathy of everyone here. I assume your Congressman is not John Lewis, or you would sound more optimistic.
Voted trump;
Which of the following is more disrespectful to Ivanka Trump?
Votes Samantha Bee called Ivanka a feckless cunt in political comedy against her father’s policies. 0% 0 Donald Trump told Howard Stern it’s OK to call Ivanka a nice piece of ass, while talking smut.; 81% 21 Neither was disrespectful. 8% 2 Both were equally disrespectful. 12% 3 26 total
Politico: Yes, I almost thought it was Andy, as well. Ironic that she is showing support for the president who ended slavery, while Dumpy, Pence, and any GOPIG playing along with them (most) have been trying to move “Those people” into electoral irrelevancy!
HP: Orwell would easily recognize “Newspeak!” Pai will have accomplished exactly what Dumpy had in mind when he nominated him, and the GOPIG congress supported that nomination!
DK: Dumpy will return from the visit chest-pumping like crazy! Virtually none of what he says will have any real substance. Faux News will throw him its very own ticker-tape parade, and he will quickly turn the event into an opportunity to claim, for the millionth time, that it is really time, now that he is the most wonderful entity ever created, to stop Mueller’s witch-hunt! Then, when he does not get the Nobel Peace Prize, he will start a twitter rant against Sweden!!!!!!!!!!
Poll: Dumpy was talking about his very own daughter, and that was out of bounds, by far!!!!!!!!!!
Politico: Who did Melania plagiarize this time? She wouldn’t be so stupid to parrot Michelle Obama for a third time, would she?
HP: Our news and the NYT mentioned that the majority of states have held on to net neutrality. “As of late May, 29 state legislatures had introduced bills meant to ensure net neutrality, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.” This fight is far from over.
DK: Nothing to add to this except that it’s early days yet and we don’t know how hard Drumpf is going to land on his face.
Cartoon:Too true.
Update summit
Korea agrees with the ‘complete denuclearization’ of the Korean peninsula and the US gives security guarantees to the country. The leaked details of the final agreement between Trump and Kim raise many questions according to experts. ‘This is a very general declaration of intent’. North Korea has promised this before and nobody knows what it means.
Pundits here say: “Summit between North Korea and USA is ‘a successful publicity stunt’ “, making both leaders look good to their base.
Remco Breuker (Professor Korean Studies): I ‘m flabbergasted: Trump had driven North Korea into an awkward corner with his sanctions. There was room for Pyongyang concessions (okay, not the nuclear weapons, but still). But the agreement is completely empty. Where is that famous deal?
We can be sure that Drumpf will milk this empty udder to the fullest.
Look out N Korea! Drumpf does not honour his “agreements” and is more likely, with his régime in tow, to stab Kim Jong-Un in the back!
“But the agreement is completely empty.” — But what can anyone expect from an absolutely empty vessel!!!
WRT the Cartoon:
Speaking as a proud, card-carrying “Librul” – I think we believe LIVE kids matter more than gun rights.
Nameless, how are you doing?
I lit a candle last Sunday at church for you and I asked my congregation for prayers for you. So if you feel warm and protected, part of that is coming from my congregation. I know that several people have said that they will continue to pray for you in their ongoing daily prayers.
Take care!
Thank you – and your fellow congregants – very much. I appreciate it.
I’m doing very well, all things considered. I can’t say it was unexpected, given all that he’s been through. When you get admitted six times in 3.5 months it’s an indication that something is certainly going on – and it’s not good.
My brother’s Memorial Service will be this coming Monday. Fortunately his son and daughter-in-law have been able to handle the bulk of it, with some help.
Puzzle — 3:59 A train to nowhere?
Politico — LMAO!!! Funny you said that because I was thinking the same thing as I started reading.
Huff Post — Like Lona mentioned, I too heard that over half of the states had net neutrality laws so the fight is still on. I wonder if the Drumpf régime will try to take each of those states to court to quash their laws. It would not surprise me since he is trying to repeal the ACA through the courts. Again I ask, are the courts arbiters of the law or congressional lawmakers?
Daily Kos — Great article and the noted NY Times article is also good. I read through some of the comments and these two caught my eye:
I will follow with the Treasonweasel (love that name) will only support what is good for himself, and he must not receive the Nobel Peace prize.
Cartoon — Too true that Republicans think this way!
Sorry I have not been here the past few days. I had no internet connection . . . again. I tried usual “pull the plug from the router” but that did not work. I finally called Telus and they were able to get me up and working on my desktop with Windows 7 but not on my laptop. I finally reconnected the wifi and I am up. It was the router again and it is the current Telus model and only installed 7 months ago. Boy did I ever feel cut off, especially with the Drumpf G7 debacle!
Congrat’s Squatch!
Thanks all. Very Tired Hugs!