Yesterday was another quiet day – and also cooler, which was nice. I pulled together what I’ll be wearing Sunday
Cartoon –
Short Takes –
HuffPost – Militia Leader Gets 53 Years In Minnesota Mosque Bombing
Quote – Hari made a brief statement before she was sentenced, saying, “For how blessed my first 47 years of life were, I can’t complain about what the last three have looked like … considering my blessed and fortunate and happy life, I can’t ask the judge for anything further.” She also said the victims who testified during Monday’s hearing have been through a “traumatic ordeal” and she wished them “God’s richest blessings in Christ Jesus.” Frank said he was prepared to recommend Hari, who is transgender, go to a women’s prison, but said the Bureau of Prisons would decide.
Click through for story. Long in coming … but it looks like justice. 47 + 53 = 100, which is a healthy expectancy even for someone who is not trans.
ProPublica – THE SECRET IRS FILES
Quote – Taken together, [the collection of documents] demolishes the cornerstone myth of the American tax system: that everyone pays their fair share and the richest Americans pay the most. The IRS records show that the wealthiest can — perfectly legally — pay income taxes that are only a tiny fraction of the hundreds of millions, if not billions, their fortunes grow each year.
Click through for lots more. The link I’ve provided takes you to the cover page with a list of – and links to – all the articles that are related. The quote is from the lead story.
The Hill – How lawmakers aided the Afghan evacuation
Quote – The Hill spoke to nearly 20 lawmakers and staffers in both parties about what their offices went through over the fraught two weeks between when Kabul first fell, on Aug. 15, and the last U.S. military flight, just before midnight Aug. 30. The mission was personal for many of them: Some are veterans, or relatives of veterans, of the 20-year war, and some had even worked with local interpreters whom they considered key to their survival.
Click through for more. Traditionally, a part of every Congressperson’s job is to step in like an ombudsman for oppressed constituents. This is what that can look like. And, yes, it can be heart-wrenching. But it could also have been so much worse.
Food for Thought –
7 Responses to “Open Thread for September 17, 2021”
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Cartoon: Stunning and beautiful. Took the family (years ago) to view the Dam. I was amazed, and in awe.
HuffPo: As well she should receive this sentence. Hate was in her heart. Thank the Lord that no one was injured or killed in this attack.
PP: How it pays to be wealthy. Good for the rich, difficult for the folks who work for a living, month by month, year in, year out though.
The Hill: Those who fled can start a new life here, and to airlift those left behind hopefully. So heart wrenching.
FFT: Yep. AMEN !!!
Glad to read that you got your outfit ready for the day! Safe travels too!
This just in: “On 9/15 @Simone_Biles, @McKaylaMaroney,@MagsGotSwag12, and @Aly_Raisman again courageously shone a light on the culture of complicity, exploitation, and abuse of power they experienced. They are right to demand better from the FBI, USA Gymnastics, and the Senate. ~ Senator Mazie Hirono ~
2. “To be clear, I blame Larry Nassar and I also blame an entire system that enabled and perpetrated his abuse,” Simone Biles gives her opening statement at a Senate hearing on the FBI’s handling of theLarry Nassar investigation.” ~ Simone Biles ~
3. “We honor the contributions that Latinos make every day to this country by delivering meaningful change to their lives That’s why—under my leadership—the Senate will continue to fight forHispanic and immigrant families I wish everyone a happy and healthy #HispanicHeritageMonth. ~ Chuck Shumer ~
4. “The Supreme Court’s FAILURE to stop Texas’ attack on women’s reproductive rights is a slap in the face & if legislators in Texas think women will abide by this disgusting law, they’ve got another think coming. We aren’t your objects & we won’t be silenced. Our bodies, our choice! ~ Congresswoman Maxine Waters ~
5. “Happy Hispanic Heritage Month!” ” The destiny of our nation is intertwined with the destiny of the Latino community like never before. So as we honor the enormous contributions Latinas and Latinos have made, let’s keep working to accelerate future Hispanic success.” ~ Julian Castro ~
***Just wanted to get this out here, read this this morning…..a great read. *pb*
6. “Anonymous defaced the Texas GOP Web site by replacing references to “Help Texas Stay Red with “Texas: Taking Voices from Women” to promote the theocratic erosion of church/state barriers, the group also added “donate” links to reproductive health care non-profit Planned Parenthood.” ~ Ax Sharma ~
link:
https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2021/09/anonymous-leaks-gigabytes-of-data-from-epik-web-host-of-gab-and-parler/?fbclid=IwAR0G0PmE1utaGO-669PkTBhPH8axng4_iz4LjTkd4HQ3R_oU1gDls0A83fI
I’m glad you got to see the dam years ago. I understand it’s no longer in the best of shape.
If I don’t put the outfit together – physically together – in advance, I risk loding time looking for things. And that early in the morning I am very bad at looking for things. That also applies to whatever else I might need.
TJI #1 and 2 -So painful for them to have to re-live it … but it’s good that they are now being heard, and hopeful it may lead to change.
Priceless! I had read about Anonymous taking down Epik … but I didn’t know about this troll of Texas Republicans. Brilliant!
TJI #3 – Amen!
TJI #4 – Preach it, Auntie Maxine!
TJI #5 – Amen, amen.
TJI #6 –
TJI #4 – Just another (in a long, LONG list of) reasons to love Auntie Maxine!
TJI #6: Brilliant. And the next best thing about it is that Epik is denying it, obviously unsure if they can take it to the authorities and have them look into all the shady websites they host. Not reporting it reduces the risk to the hackers of psosecution Wikileaks and Snowdon stile.
HuffPost – Militia Leader Gets 53 Years In Minnesota Mosque Bombing
In all honesty, it took me a bit to sort out the players is this tragedy.
If there was any doubt I previously had that transgender people can’t be just as evil as the rest of us – it’s now been disabused.
I’m thankful that she (like the rest of us) is at least thankful that no one was injured.
The Secret IRS Files: Trove of Never-Before-Seen Records Reveal How the Wealthiest Avoid Income Tax
I have virtually NO enmity for these mega-billionaires who have only taken advantage of the tax laws designed and approved by Rethuglicans to aid their wealthy friends.
HELL – I (and I believe alll of us) would do exactly the same thing.)
But even Warren Buffett along with others say it’s past time to CLOSE THE LOOPHOLES FAVORING THE WEALTHY!
https://www.industryweek.com/finance/software-systems/article/21939845/buffett-tax-me-and-my-megarich-friends
How lawmakers aided the Afghan evacuation
Not sure how to sort this one out.
That said, there’s blame enough to go around.
Cartoon: Stunning. I remember my parents going there, bless them both, when I was in my twenties.
HuffPost: Good, like you point out, that she be for life. I too am glad to read that no one was injured.
PP: Despicable that the rich gets out of paying their fair share of taxes. I’ve been signing all sorts of petitions in favor of making them pay.
The Hill: It has been hard in so many ways getting everyone out. Glad they’ve been able to get them out of there. I know many cities/states, including mine, has been helping them get places to live, food and other daily essentials.
Food for Thought: Sad but so true.
Hope your day went well. Nice to see you’re already getting ready for your trip.
Take care. Thanks Joanne
Must be nice to look forward to visiting Virgil on a regular basis, Joanne. Have a good trip and visit.
Cartoon: I was very much impressed when visiting it, but I never realised it was that old. Is it still safe? I suppose nowadays lower water levels in the Colorado River would prevent overtaxing its structure.
HP: For someone responsible for a mosque’s bombing to wish his traumatised victims “God’s richest blessings in Christ Jesus” a near lifetime sentence of 53 years seems very appropriate.
PB: The fact that the myth continues and evidence for the opposite needs to be collected from secret IRS files shows how broken the tax system is and how powerful those rich Republicans are to keep it broken in all the right places.
FFT: Sadly, Republicans won’t think again on these premises.