Yesterday’s dental appointment was most disappointing. The filling fell out of two teeth, because they had been decaying underneath them. With only three teeth in my mouth, none of which matched up, saving them would not be worth it, even if I could afford root canals. He had to dig out roots, so I’m hurting pretty bad, but the pain would be just as bad, were I doing something else. I took one of my Oxycodone to sleep last night, but doubt that I’ll need one tonight. One tooth left. Today is busy and unusual. I can’t be here for Store to Door tomorrow, so I ordered groceries from Safeway.com. They are delivering later this morning. WWWendy has to work late tomorrow night, so she’s coming tonight and Saturday this week. I have to leave for my appointment at 7:15 AM tomorrow, so my Personal Update will be late AM or early PM.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:24 (average 4:59). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From YouTube (CNN Channel): Elizabeth Warren: Get rid of the Electoral College
I agree with Liz on every point except the need for a Constitutional Amendment. It would take many years, and Republicans can block it easily. We need to take over enough states to pass the National Popular Vote. RESIST!!
From YouTube (Robert Reich Channel): Robert Reich: Why Unions Matter to You
Of course the Reich on the left, Robert Reich, is right. The Reich on the right, the Republican Reich, is wrong. The only union those Koch suckers support is the union between what’s left of your wealth and a billionaire. RESIST!!
From The Daily Beast: New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has vowed to starve the Christchurch mosque attacker of the infamy he sought by refusing to ever say his name aloud. Appearing in parliament for the first time since Friday’s shootings, which left 50 dead, Ardern opened with the Arabic greeting “as-salaam Alaikum.” She went on to say: “He sought many things from his act of terror but one was notoriety, that is why you will never hear me mention his name… He is a terrorist. He is a criminal. He is an extremist. But he will, when I speak, be nameless. And to others, I implore you: Speak the names of those who were lost rather than the name of the man who took them. He may have sought notoriety but we, in New Zealand, will give nothing—not even his name.”
I agree. Refer to him using a title instead; call him “the Republican”. RESIST!!
Cartoon:
14 Responses to “Open Thread – 3/19/2019”
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5:13 I wouldn’t call the pink dolphin, or any wild species, “endemic” any more. We’re losing all of them.
If you remember Everyday Erinyes #136, you may be interested in this story from Mother Jones about a real-life application.
Liz – Three more states just passed it, including mine (Colorado) as well as New Mexico and Delaware. My gov signed it and I believe so did both others. We are now over 180 votes – we need 270. But we may as well also pursue a Constitutional Amendment. Republicans use overkill, so we can too.
RR – The exception would be law enforcement unions. That’s where the abuse it. I’m not sure why there’s so much resistance today among people who would benefit the most. As far back as medieval guilds, unions have sustained the middle class (in fact, they pretty much created it.)
TDB – There are some who have a need to know – those investigating him looking for accessories, his family deserves to know what happened to him, and I’m probably leaving some out. But I don’t have a need to know.And I don’t care, as long as he is not running around loose.
Cartoon – Certainly not!
Today is the day when the swallows traditionally return to Mission San Juan Capistrano (though with climate change, who knows). Not sure why they’d want to keep coming to a Mission built to honor such a jerk anyway. The day, however, is sacred to St. Joseph, who seems to have been decent.
Ugh, TomCat – wish I could send you some nice craft beer to deal with your troubles.
People who have paid their debt to society should be allowed to vote. I can hear the chorus of nincompoops howling “You want criminals to vote?” If you’re so worried about criminals, stop voting for them! Indeed – every vote matters! Yes, just get rid of the electoral college, do it by dint of law.
States with strong unions tend to have higher wages – which means more buying power, and more stimulation of the economy. Listening, fat cats? Or do your dirty ears hear only the jingling of filthy lucre?
Good for Ardern! You know that creep slaughtered those Muslims not just for the sake of hate, but for the sake of becoming a household word.
Cartoon – yep, men who are anti-choice can just [ahem!] beat it.
CNN: Hey, I’m all for this!! I don’t see Gov. Abbott getting on board with this though..unfortunately. Case in point here in this state….”In the 2016 presidential race, Republican Donald Trump received 52.2 percent of the Texas popular vote, but won all of the state’s 38 electoral votes.” *Texas TribuneI did sign…..to change and pass the National Popular Vote bill. Hope it works.
RR: As always, RR is on point! Good video!
DB: Such a heartfelt speech, my heart goes out to those murdered by this nameless person.
New Zealand students honor shooting victims with haka dances
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=hmVjMdutQrc
Cartoon: OOOOOh, H to the NO!!
I’m so sorry to read about your dentist visit !! I can feel your pain all the way over here in TX. I hope that you start feeling better soon. Hope that you get a chance to rest, and take it easy today/evening. Take good, good care, and Thanks, Tom.
I was touched by this moving part of Sen. Warren’s Town Hall where she shared her family’s plight during economic tough times.
The first one is CNN’s own – but it has TERRIBLE CC. So I found another one w/ really good CC. They’re the same except for the CC – so I’ll put up both since someone else might need the CC option.
CNN: I would love to get rid of the electoral college and go straight popular vote.
RR: Spot on again. Video shared.
DB: Prime Minister Arden is brilliant by keeping the terrorist’s name out of the news. We need to do the same here when it comes to mass murderers and terrorists. She is also enacting stronger gun laws. What a genius idea for a country after a mass murder.
I so sorry about your horrible dental experience and pain that you are in. Please take care of yourself and rest. Thank you for all you do TomCat.
Sorry to hear WRT the dental visit.
Did your dentist recommend a prosthodontist? I hope so.
https://www.1dental.com/dentures/
Dentures need a ridge to grip. Poorly done extractions years ago destroy too much bone in my mouth for dentures to seal. They would have to be surgically attached to my jawbone, a procedure that would cost over $20,000. I’m gumming from now on.
Man, you don’t get a medical break, do you? Well, yeah, you did, you’re still kicking…at least with one leg!
CNN: Ridding ourselves of the electoral college, a ploy to give those in control a handle on maintaining it, would be wonderful.
RR: Unions brought us the middle class, and since St. Reagan’s days, as RR says, it has been coming apart, and the fools who vote GOP, have no idea of the connection.
DB: How about scumbag? Works for me.
‘Toon: Gee, maybe we should have Lysistrata do some seminars around the country.
3:16 These beautiful animals shouldn’t be made to perform for people, but return to the wild where possible, so I’m freeing it.
Sorry for making a joke about your visit to the dentist yesterday, TomCat. I didn’t know you had such terrible dental issues that you’re now down to one tooth. I hope my pictures showed my best intentions, though the oxycodone will have worked better than the ‘kiespijndruppels’ in the picture. Hope you can do without any more oxycodone, though, especially after reading The small-town doctor taking on the billionaire family blamed for America’s opioid crisis
CNN: Spot on, Liz. Sadly it won’t be for the coming elections, so expect a lot more tampering to keep a terminal GOP and its geriatric front man in power.
RR: Of course Robert Reich is absolutely right. But if things have gone in America the way they went in a lot of countries, some in the top of the large Unions couldn’t resist the lure of money and power and ended up as corrupt as their (political) opponents. It was then easy for the Right to blacken the names of all unions and now they all need to rebuild the trust of working America. And that is terribly hard when the Right excels in one thing only and that is mudslinging and defamation. I’m glad America has Reich to stand up for unions and help them win back the trust of their workers. I wish you could clone him for all those other countries which need a champion for their unions too.
DB: Kudos to Jacinda Ardern! It takes a woman to unite her country and its politicians in a stance against hate and terrorism. It takes a woman to have the sensitivity not to politicize it and refuse to give that Republican what he is asking for: attention and ten minutes of fame. I hope she succeeds in turning it in a long dark road of nameless infamy for that piece of waste.
Sadly some heads of state use the footage of the shooting for their own deprived advantage: Turkish President Erdogan airs mosque shooting video at rallies, threatens New Zealand, Australia. Deplorable.
Cartoon: Not welcome anywhere!
Sorry to hear of your Dentists visit, but you will soon be out of pain.
Take it easy and relax, Thank you for the Video’s
CNN: Wouldn’t it be great to get rid of the Electoral college? We’d be so lucky.
RR: Speaking truth as usual.
DB:Bravo Jacinda Ardern!. She show who comes first and is important…the people of her country. Sure wish we had a leader like that here in the U.S.
So sorry to read of all he pain you had to go thru at the dentist. visit. ‘I hope that what Debra posted is something that you can check into and maybe get.
Puzzle — 3:54 Lona to the rescue. No dolphin for the Puddy Tat!
CNN — Change as she noted is definitely needed, and needed badly. But a constitutional amendment? That is a never never plan with so many red states. Certainly there won’t be any change before the 2020 election, but perhaps with a progressive Democrat House and Senate, and a Democrat POTUS, legislation is possible. Wouldn’t that be fabulous!
Robert Reich — I have never been a union member because I was always considered management. But my stepfather was a union man in the pulp and paper industry. My mother was in the Provincial Public Employees union as a Justice of the Peace and County Registrar. Union wages and benefits made it possible for them to restart their lives in BC and eventually retire with dignity.
Daily Beast — AMEN to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s suggestion to not use the murder’s name. According to the article in Lona’s comment, Turkey’s President Erdogan is calling on New Zealand to reinstate the death penalty for the slug. He also said that there is a global attack on Islam. I disagree with the reinstatement of the death penalty — that is New Zealand’s business, not Erdogan’s — but all nations must come together with respect for each other. It actually seems like Erdogan is trying to refight the battle of Gallipoli from WWl.
Cartoon — Damn straight!
I am sorry to hear about your travails at the dentist. I hope you were able to get some good sleep on Tuesday night. Lord knows you had to be up early this morning. Take care Puddy Tat! We have been having temps of as much as 20C (68F) the past few days. I wonder how long it will last.
Thanks all. Tired Hugs!