It’s a tired day here in the CatBox. WWWendy and I got everything done yesterday, and I did get a morning nap this morning. However, I’m already ready for another. I had a cheeseburger and eggs for breakfast. Tomorrow please expect no more than a Personal Update from me. It’s a WWWendy day to destink the TomCat, cook and do chores. TGIF!!
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:16 (average 4:59). To do it, click here. How dis you do?
Cartoon:
Short Takes:
From NY Times: In his urgent demand on Monday that President Trump condemn his angry supporters who are threatening workers and officials overseeing the 2020 vote, a Georgia elections official focused on an animated image of a hanging noose that had been sent to a young voting-machine technician.
“It’s just wrong,” the official, Gabriel Sterling, a Republican, said at a news conference. “I can’t begin to explain the level of anger I have over this.”
But the technician in Georgia is not alone. Far from it.
Across the nation, election officials and their staff have been bombarded in recent weeks with emails, telephone calls and letters brimming with menace and threats of violence, the result of their service in a presidential election in which the defeated candidate’s most ardent followers have refused to accept the results.
There is a single word that best describes such heinous threats of violence to intimidate honest workers and keep them from doing their jobs: Republican! RESIST!!
From NPR: President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday said he has asked the nation’s top infectious disease expert, Dr. Anthony Fauci, to become his chief medical adviser and said he plans to call on Americans to wear masks for the first 100 days of his administration.
In an interview with CNN, Biden said he’ll urge Americans to wear masks starting Jan. 20 to reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Biden said he would use his authority to require masks in federal buildings and on interstate transportation.
“Just 100 days to mask, not forever, 100 days. And I think we’ll see a significant reduction,” Biden said.
I think Fauci is an excellent choice. If super-spreader Trump* had followed his advice, America would be far better off. 100 days of masks is just the beginning of policies Biden should implement. Another is extensive contact tracing. RESIST!!
From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Canadian Premier Makes Emotional Holiday Plea
Kudos to Brian Pailister. The US needs a Grinch like him in charge of every state. RESIST!!
From YouTube (CNN Channel): These Trump supporters say big tech is biased. Here’s why they’re on Parler [Twitter for GOP Sheeple]
A commenter on YouTube Said it best. The universe is made of protons neutrons, electrons and morons. To that I add, on Parler the morons are Sheeple whose intelligence echoes BAAA-A-A-A-A-AAADLY!! RESIST!!
From YouTube (a blast for the planet): The Yardbirds – Shapes Of Things
This will be the last in the BFTP series. The Yardbirds knew the shape of things to come many years ago. Is it too late to change it? RESIST!!
46 Days Until the Big FLUSH!!
9 Responses to “Open Thread – 12/4/2020”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Cartoon: Yep. More! More!! More!!!
NYT: And they think this is normal?? Sickening! Good grief, how despicable!
NPR: Great! Excellent action to take, can’t come soon enough for President Biden w/be in the WH.
MSNBC: Awww….what a great video! Good timely message too!
CNN: Good grief! I don’t know anything about Parler, that’s the new one? None of those interviewed, btw.., wore masks, either.
BFTP: Awesome song! Loved these guys!
Glad that you got your chores done and got a nap in, even! Good for you! Tell WWWendy HI for me too. Hope you have a good rest of your day, take good care, and Thanks, Tom.
*This just in: Because many of us need a laugh – Democratic Underground
“Snow White, Superman and Pinocchio are out in town for a stroll one day. As they walk they come across a sign “Beauty contest for the most beautiful woman in the world.” “I’m entering”, says Snow White. After half an hour she comes out and they ask her, “Well, how did you do?” “First Place”, says Snow White. They continue walking and they see a sign: “Contest for the strongest man in the world.” “I’m entering”, says Superman. After half an hour, he returns and they ask him, “How did you make out?” “First Place, says Superman. “Did you ever doubt?” They continue walking when they see a sign: “Contest! Who is the greatest liar in the world?” Pinocchio says “This is mine.” Half an hour later, he returns with tears in his eyes. “What happened?” they ask. “Who the hell is Donald Trump?” asks Pinocchio. ~ William Parkinson ~ H/T Joanne D.
2. “As we see more breaking news about presidential pardons…remember that this is all happening at the same time that the outgoing Trump administration is rushing to execute as many people as possible right up to the eve of Inauguration Day!” ~ Sister Helen Prejean ~
3. “How did we get to the point where one senator can single handedly thwart assistance that’s desperately needed by tens of millions of Americans in the worst public health crisis in a century and the worst economy since the 1930’s?” ~ Robert Reich ~
4. “My uncle Donald really thinks he won the election. He’s the only person I’ve ever met who can gaslight himself. Probably the most central part of his psychopathology is the need to deny any reality that paints him as a loser or as somebody who is weak. He’s a deeply damaged person.” ~ Mary Trump ~
TJI #2 – I can’t guarantee that everyone executed will be innocent, but I can guarantee innocent people will be executed.
TJI #3 – And the fact is, even if we can get past this, there is absolutely no guarantee that it won’t happen again. A more urgent question is “How can we prevent it?”
TJI #4 – And we think WE have crazy uncles.
TJI#1 is great!
TJI#2 is sad.
TJI#3 is also sad.
TJI#4: Weird Uncle of the century!
Personal update should be fine. If there’s a late Friday news dump, one of us should catch it. Best to WWWendy.
Cartoon – They definitely “get” that one.
NYT – I really don’t know who would do it better. And I like it for another reason than just suitability. It shows Joe is willing to honor those who, only through truth and honor, fell afoul of the Trump* administration. Such as, for just one example, the Vindman brothers. But there are so many. I have been grieving for all of them and hoping for vindication for them all.
NPR – Good. I note that Joe knows the limits of the power of his position. Where he has power, he uses it. Where he only has persuasion, he uses that to the best of his ability. This is how it is supposed to be.
MSNBC – One reason this is a no-brainer for me is that I had to grapple with this so many years ago. I have always (well, as long as I can remember) believed that God speaks to us, not only through the Bible, but also other ways, two of which is through circumstances, and through other people who know truth that I don’t (for instance, scientists.) So when I was diagnosed with allergies, including allergies to chemicals in colognes and perfumes (which become airborne when worn), I had to decide whether on not God wanted me to continue to go to church (where scents are commonly worn.) God wants us to commune (if you like, socialize) with others of the faith for good and obvious reasons. But God also forbids suicide. I still miss being able to go to church. A pandemic presents the same dilemma, except that it presents it to everyone, not just one person. Most haven’t had to think about it before. I had.
Y/T – It was supposed to be pronounced “par-lay” from the French for “to speak.” But – morons –
Blast – Pretty straightforward.
‘Toon: “Steal? Steal? If taking from others is in our DNA it doesn’t equate with stealing, it’s just what we do.”NYT: I saw the fellow presenting his appeal. In the days when decency meant something he’d have had a very different response from the GOPIGGIES, but, because of who they’ve become I’m sure it had no resonance with them.
NPR: A Canadian friend wrote to say it was sooo good to see real leadership in action, again. Sure was! Keeping Fauci on is great, IMHO.
MSNBC: Wonderfully put, and, yes, enact of love.
CNN: Morons,and more morons. Free speech is only good if it is used responsibly, simple.
BFTP: “Fallin’ into your passing handsPlease don’t destroy these landsDon’t make them desert sands.” Turning the planet into desert sands, would not bother the GOP, and its corporate supporters, whose CEO’s would be living in their own expensive gated oasies.
Cheeseburger and eggs for breakfast, there are days – well, years really – those are not on my menu, TomCat. Enjoy it, my dear friend, I do not begrudge you your breakfast in the least.
3:11 Someone took the colour enhancer too far.
Cartoon: If you do not steal and enrich yourself, you’re not one of the boys in the GOP church.
NYT: His followers are taking their cue right from their Führer who can only get things done by intimidation and harassment. Of course, the equally cowardly but anonymous followers will take it further and will throw in a death threat or two. I hope this will only strengthen the resolve of the election officials and their staff to continue to do a fair and honest job. Kudos to them and hold on, it’ll soon be over.
NPR: For now, while managing the pandemic, Fauci is an excellent choice for Biden’s chief medical adviser. Biden is showing what his priorities are when coming into office. One hundred days of mask-wearing isn’t bad at all and Biden and his crew have that from their first-hand experience. I hope he can get governors to make it mandatory, provided there are enough (preferably free) masks.
MSNBC: Kudos to Brian Pailister and Kudos to Morning MSNBC for showing this clip on their program.
With just a handful of active, but traced and quarantined, COVID-19 cases in the country, Aussies are going for X-mas like there’s no tomorrow. Borders are opened, large gatherings permitted, families reunited after 9-10 months…all bets are off.
In Europe it is bad. Yesterday evening I had a phone call from a friend informing me that my former neighbour in The Netherlands, a man in his 80s, had succumbed to the virus after being infected by his children or grandchildren…
CNN: Those Parler-users gave me some food for thought, so bear with me.
The main attraction of Parler for most in that video was that it serves as an echo chamber where they can voice and share their opinions uncensored, and for some that seems enough because they do not see or use it as a means to incite hate and action in the real world.
To be honest, that is why most of us come here to PP too, isn’t it? To share more liberal ideas while knowing we’re preaching for the choir? The main difference is that we want to stick to the truth of reality and try not to create our own reality of disinformation, bigotry and lies. But I think most Parler users would say the same of their own intentions.
The main difference between the platforms is that forces from Alt-Right and White-Supremacy do use Parler to (covertly) rake up the fire and send out their disinformation while PP would never allow extremists from the left to infiltrate should they be so inclined. And since our connection with Care2 has been severed, we hardly see any trolls from the right like the guy who didn’t think much of Parler because there weren’t enough lefties to “discuss” things with, i.e. rile up. We’ve become a very small ‘élite’. 😁
BFTP: Excellent song. I think in any era people have seen things coming but it wasn’t acted upon enough to keep it from happening. The difference now is that if we all don’t take action, it’ll be too late to change things for the better.
Cartoon: Something they’re good at.
NYT: Really despicable to see this type of harassment/threats going on, all because someone loss the election. What I don’t understand is why tRump and all the others involved with him, can’t be prosecuted for threating innocent people?
NPR: Great choice, Joe. Dr. Fauci has kept on top of the pandemic all this time. Too bad the flipping leader in office ignored his advice all along.
MSNBC: Great video. Appreciate his message to us.
CNN: Agree with Joanne and Mitch’s comments.
BFTP: I remember them very well. Good song.
Glad you and Wendy got so much accomplished yesterday. Plus that you were able to take your naps.
Sounds like you had a nice breakfast. Hope your afternoon/evening is restful.
Tell Wendy “hi” tomorrow. Hope you both have a nice Saturday.
Take care. Thanks TomCat
Cartoon — That’s their motto! Want to bet that Ben Carson takes the dining table etc with him when he leaves.
NYT — All these death threats against people just doing their jobs is pure, unadulterated BS! This shows that the right wing has turned the US into a banana republic. My condolences to all the good people of the US!
NPR — Dr Fauci is an excellent choice! From AlterNet:
MSNBC — What you probably don’t know is that Brian Pallister is a Conservative, our version of a Republican. Manitoba is one of the 3 Prairie provinces (east to west — Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta) and their COVID case numbers are through the roof right now. The three provinces have a smaller population than Greater Toronto but the per capita infection rate is at least twice that of Toronto. If I remember correctly, Manitoba’s positive test rate is 13+. The national infection just crossed 400,000 and the deaths are are about 12,000 as of 30/11/20. There are people holding parties etc in BC in contravention of Public Health Orders. When broken up by police, a fine of $2,300 is handed to the host and individuals attending can also be fined $200.
CNN — There are limits to free speech — if one yells “fire!” in a crowded theatre, one has crossed the line. These guys are dumber than a sack of hammers. I personally have no use for idiots like these.
A big part of my physio therapy was with a tenz machine on my back, arms and knee. Over time it worked well. Perhaps Wendy could put the patches on for you and then leave them on. Then disconnect the leads from the machine when you are not operating it. When you shower, Wendy removes them and then re-attaches them afterwards.
THanks and Hurry Hugs to all!