Yesterday the computer tech did a great job. He cleaned up the horrible bird’s nest of wires behind my computer that I cannot reach. He got my screen working on the original DIV cable, and used the HDMI output on the video card to send computer images to my TV. He scanner on my laser printer configured so that it works with the laser printers control center software. And he set my notebook computer up on the network, and installed a utility that allows me to control my home computer from a remote location over a secure encrypted connection. I’m very pleased with him. Portlanders, he’s Peter from Bolt Computers. Store to door is delivering a grocery order today and I’ll need to unpack and stow them. Later, WWWendy is coming to destink the vile TomCat and help with cores. In short, it’s a busy day here at the CatBox.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:24 (average 5:43). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Bill Maher: If We Don’t Impeach President Donald Trump, Where Is The Bar?
Amen Bill!! I almost always agree with him, except for when he proselytizes for his religious faith in atheism. RESIST!!
From YouTube (NY Times Channel): Who Is Kirsten Gillibrand? | 2020 Presidential Candidate
I like her, and I’d love to see a bevy of qualified women and men competing for the nomination in an atmosphere of mutual respect and integrity . This time, if your candidate is not chosen, PLEASE don’t help elect Putin’s candidate again. RESIST!!
From NY Times: After suffering the worst parliamentary defeat in modern times over her plans for leaving the European Union, Britain’s prime minister, Theresa May, endured another day of turmoil on Wednesday, when she is to face a vote of no confidence in her battered government.
On Tuesday Mrs. May lost by a crushing margin, 432 to 202, when Parliament voted on her plan for European Union withdrawal, or Brexit, as the clock ticks toward March 29 when Britain is scheduled to leave.
Lawmakers spent much of Wednesday debating whether Mrs. May’s government should continue in power before voting at around 7 p.m. on a motion that could, in theory, lead to a general election.
That is an unlikely outcome, analysts say, because many of those who voted against Mrs. May’s withdrawal plan, including hard-line pro-Brexit rebels in her Conservative Party, and a group of 10 lawmakers from Northern Ireland’s Democratic Unionist Party, have said they will support the government on Wednesday.
We should remember that British Republicans, aka Tories, were suckers for Russian propaganda (Brexit) before US Republicans. I’d love to see Labour kick their Bridiot butts! RESIST!!
Cartoon:
21 Responses to “Open Thread – 1/16/2019”
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5:26 Not racing.
That’s quite a testimonial to Peter. I have my own guy … but that doesn’t help you.
Good news – hopefully it will stand
From Colbert, based on an old ad for McDonald’s.
Bill – The FBI is not going to turn Mueller’s findings over to Congress, and the Republicans who have been “investigating” have suppressed evidence, even from Democrats on the committees, and certainly from Congress as a whole. So we need evidence, we need to hold investigations, and we need to do this it publicly. We may not, though this process, collect enough Republican Senators’ votes to convict … but we certainly aren’t going to get those votes any other way. And, whether we do get those votes or not, when we have the evidence to move, we are going to have to do so.
KG – I liked Gillibrand a lot when she first got national attention. I joined her book club and attended some phone meetings. I don’t like her quite as much today, but if she is the candidate, I will be behind her.
NYT – Mmmm – they were basically suckers during the same time frame (and, alas, that time frame has not yet ended) – but their vote came earlier, so the world saw it earlier. Unfortunately, that vote didn’t scare us – or not enough of us – as much as it should have.
Cartoon – Despite all the cute memes suggesting otherwise, catnip has never been a controlled substance. Thank heaven. Oregon growers grow some of the best catnip in the world, BTW. (And organically.)
RESIST AND PERSIST !!!
The more I hear about Gillibrand, the more I like! Her changing attitudes on immigration and guns show that she is open-minded. She comes across as a genuine Progressive, not a wishy-washy moderate DINO. It may be too early, but please hand me my Gillibrand 2020 bumper sticker!
Bill M: Everything he says, I’m in agreement with him. Great vid !!!
NYTC: I like her too, and sounds like a worthy candidate.
Cartoon: Isn’t a glass of wine supposed to be good for you?? jw. (I can’t stand the taste).
Kudos to your computer tech, Peter! Sounds like he did an awesome job for you!! Hi, WWWendy! Hope that you get all your chores done. Enjoy your day/evening, take care, and Thanks, Tom.
*This just in: “A shutdown falls on the President’s lack of leadership. I mean, problems start from the top, and they have to get solved from the top. A shutdown means that the President is weak.” ~Donald Trump 2013 ~
*Joanne, loved the video, thanks!
*This just in — Priceless! Straight from the asshole’s mouth! I wonder what spin he’ll put on this?
Wonderful news WRT your computer guy, Peter.
I checked him out on Angie’s List and he got an “A” rating – but only based on 3 glowing reviews.
(At least I’m pretty sure: Bolt Computers: 1033 SW Yam Hill St Portland, OR 972050
If you want me to, I can add another review reflecting your thoughts, but they’d be identified as from a friend.
While I like Gillibrand a great deal, I don’t think she endeared herself in the way she handled Al Franken.
I think it wise politically to wait until the Mueller report comes out (one way or another … and it WILL come out). But unless it totally exonerates Twitler (just joking) it raises the question: If not these treasonous acts, then what? If not Trump, then who? If not now, then when?
Here’s CNN’s Running List Tabulation of Number of People Sent to Prison; Number Convicted; Number Pleading Guilty; People/Entities Charged; Total Criminal Counts.
KG – The Al Franken thing was one thing. Another was that the last book I was in her Book Club for was Sheryl Sandberg’s “Lean In,” and my reaction to that was “Oh brother.” And she’s still working for Facebook. I realize she lost her husband suddenly and unexpectedly, which was a tragedy, but that doesn’t make everything you write wonderful. Gillibrand’s own program, “Off the Sidelines,” is much better, and more likely to get us good candidates at all levels of government.
WRT impeachment, certainly the Mueller report would be nice to have, but we are now in a position to do our own investigation, and should, and if we find enough evidence for ourselves, I see no reason not to do it. Impeachment and indictment are teo separate processes with different goals and – well as you sometimes say, why not both?
Fully agree there should be NO impediments to the House completing a full investigation of Twitler’s multitude of malfeasance.
Just want ALL the ducks lined up in a row before initiating any action. Too critical to botch his impeachment (if not conviction).
Just doubt the House can complete a complete investigation before Mueller’s report.
Bill: Love the video. Sounds all good to me. I can hardly wait to see what he has to say this Friday when he returns.NYTC: I also like K. Gillibrand. Look forward to seeing more of her in the coming months.Like the cartoon…cute.So happy that the technician did such an outstanding job for you.
Bill: I am in total agreement with him
NYTC: I like her but not as much as Elizabeth Warren.
Yay for the great job your computer tech did. Thank you for the articles. Tell WWWendy hi.
Atheism doesn’t involve faith. Faith means belief without evidence. Atheism isn’t a belief, it’s a lack of a belief.
C. S. Lewis tackled that question, and, in my opinion, demonstrated that disbelief can be as strong, and as much a matter of faith, as belief. He gave this conversation as an example (because silly illustrations can be very clear):
Atheism is not disbelief, it is the lack of belief.
Atheism is a belief in the value of verifiable evidence, rather than hearsay. Whatever soothing purposes religion fulfills, it is essentially hearsay. Dale Evans old song said, “How do I know, the Bible tells me so.” That’s not evidence, that’s hearsay. Thus far, there is no evidence for any of the major religious perspectives. Things, beliefs, that people have killed for, and died for, in order to “defend” their religions have been found wanting. Arguments, once serious theological arguments, about “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” have melted away to nothingness. One is left with circular, tautological un-reasoning.
Atheism Is Not Faith, It’s Reason. Thor Benson.
It is far better to grasp the universe as it really is than to persist in delusion, however satisfying and reassuring.
Carl Sagan
Whether or not atheism involves faith depends not on the characteristics of atheism but on the character of the person espousing it. If the person espousing it does not proselytize, it is not faith-based, but when o feel the need to shove their views down the throats of those who disagree, then there is no difference between the atheist and the most rabid Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christian. Most of the atheists I know don’t act like that, but Bill Maher is so aggressive about it that his atheism is evangelical.
Agreed. Lewis felt the same, but I couldn’t find all the quotes.
IMO it is agnosticism which is the absence of belief. If you think of religion and atheism as numbers, agnosticism is zero. Religion is positive numbers, atheism is negative numbers. All are still numbers. (As TC points out, most do not have as large an absolute value as Bill.)
MSNBC: I’m with Bill, and expect that Drumph is more than an unwitting accomplice, or stooge.
NYT/U-t: I like Gillibrand and her present stances. I don’t like the almost 2 year campaigning. We’ll see.
NYT: May survived, for now. I’m glad toes that you mentioned the Russian involvement in the Brexit vote. Putin must be grinning so intensely that’s jaw is about to burst!
‘Toon: a day that Al Capone would certainly be happy to celebrate. An, as seen at the gym, Tuckerputz “Takes on a marijuana supporter.” He, and the Faux News people can not tolerate anything new, novel, even if beneficial, as it means change. “Opinion Done Right,” they claim: that is inherently absurd.
Pee-pee tape!!! ? i like the new ad!!!
Thanks and tired hugs!