Yesterday was pretty busy with paperwork catch-up and a long chat on the phone with my quit coach. However, I managed to get a long nap in and slept well, so I have another article for you today. Please take extra care, when travelling this holiday weekend, and have a great one in the process.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:01 (average 4:45). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From MSNBC: Lets be kind to our friends from the land of ‘eh’. 😉
Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
That pic of the mayor could have easily been altered.
From MoveOn: The Robert Reich Reality Check All Of Your Friends Need To See
While we have not been living beyond our means, the 1% have been living beyond our means to maintain their greed with welfare.
From NY Times: The partial collapse here on Thursday night of a heavily used river bridge on Interstate 5 caused no deaths, but as the long holiday weekend began it underscored the vulnerability of a transportation system that hinges not just on high-profile water crossings and tunnels, but on thousands of ordinary and unremarked components that travelers mostly take for granted.
A 160-foot section of the 58-year-old four-lane steel truss bridge, which crosses the Skagit River about an hour north of Seattle, crumpled around 7 p.m., apparently after being struck by a truck carrying an oversize load, state officials said. Three people were injured, none of them seriously, when vehicles went into the river.
But the ripple effects of the collapse could be huge — for commuters, freight haulers, residents and businesses around the bridge on detour routes and for politicians in Olympia, Washington’s capital…
How many more bridges need to collapse before Republicans stop sabotaging their repair by blocking infrastructure legislation?
Cartoon:
Republicans still support the verdict.
19 Responses to “Open Thread–5/25/2013”
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3:49 It's probably not fast enough to soar with the eagles today.
2:43 Soaring with eagles today I think. Love the feeling of air beneath my wings!
3:26 I think Lynn had a jet pack on today.
I do believe you're right, Jerry. Those size nines had no trouble at all getting off the ground.
Bigfooted and last!
One article per day is enough for a while. your health is the priority here. Quitting smoking is another big one. It's been a little over a year for me now. I quit May 18, 2012 when I went into the hospital for emergency leg surgery and went cold turkey after my discharge. I had the patch for 5 days in the hospital and then nothing. I think my pain might have been so intense that I couldn't think about anything else at the time.
MSNBC ~ When watching this last night I couldn't help but laugh. Even the "iffy" news organization wouldn't buy the video after seeing it. It was probably phot-shopped or something like that.
MoeOn ~ Just paying for food is "living beyond their means" for some people. Forget shelter. That's why there are so many homeless.
NY Times ~ Why fix the infrastructure when the 1% don't really need it? Nothing will get fixed until it affects them directly like the sequester affected the air flights.
Cartoon ~ I can hear them saying: "I am not a monkey!" Although I question whether some of the deniers ever reallly evolved.
Congrats, Patty!
There is a ring of TEAbuggery to it.
Indeed. I see it every time I leave home.
What's stupid is that the 1% do need it, because the economy needs it.
Republicans are prood of devolution.
Yes, Tom. The economy does need it. But they will still be rich and will not care what happens to simple things like roads and bridges unless they are in their direct line of travel.
I was thinking more along the lines that a crumbling infrastructure will interfere with their ability to consume and to make money.
It appalls me (and most of Europe too as far as I know) that the religious Right in America don't believe in evolution – I remember when I first heard it on the news, it was so shocking. Yet one hundred years later people there are still choosing to disbelieve the more than abundant proof. Thanks TC.
I love the Robert Reich clip – exceedingly good and a very good way of spending 2.5 minutes! If we could all fix the tax and wealth distribution problems caused over the last forty years, we might be able to stop more bridges collapsing like the one over the Skagit River earlier this week. Thank God no-one was killed – and I desperately hope people are checking other bridges.
How shameful that is for America! It's not fun to be the laughing stock of the civilized world.
Reich is indeed most excellent!
I smoked for 35 years, the end result was very bad COPD. I can't walk ten yards without stopping and taking minutes to get my breath back. As I wrote you once I need supplemental O2 24/7. I tried Zyban for years and I cut down to five/seven butts a day. Then I went on Chantix and immediately cut to 4 puffs once a day. In the beginning the side effects were strange, but they went away after a few weeks. One day I smoked more and I gave myself a dressing down, I had already ruined my lungs and I had been on O2 for years, I went back and stayed at 4 puffs. I stayed there for some months, then I chose the 21st January 2007 as my end day, that was my 31st sobriety from alcohol anniversary. I did it and went off Chantix after a few more months. It is not an easy addiction to conquer. With alcoholism you see yourself falling apart, with tobacco you really don't.
You've started to do it, keep it up and you will be successful.
William, I'm so sorry, but am glad you were successful. You're slightly worse than I am. Thanks for the support.
After smoking 2 packs a day of Camel straights for 40 years, quitting smoking was the hardest single thing I have ever done. Marva and I quit at the same time. The fact that we are both still alive and still married is one of life's minor miracles. Hang in there, and use every resource available to you. The craving never completely goes away, but it does get easier to handle. Eventually, it rarely sticks it ugly little head up, and when it does, it feels really good to be able to swat it back down.
NY Times – I spent the majority of my adult working life taking things apart with explosives, my specialty was bridges, so I have a pretty good background in what can go wrong with them. If we don't do something, and do it soon, the incidents of bridge collapse will become more and more common. When the bridges start to go, so does the Interstate.
I believe it John. If I had a buch for every time I've tried, I'd be a 1% Republican. Thank you.
And you are in a position to know.
Puzzle — 2:43 Soaring with eagles today I think. Love the feeling of air beneath my wings!
MSNBC — From the land of 'eh', I am here to tell you that now a story about Ford's brother, who is a City of Toronto municipal councillor, is ciculating that he is accused of selling hashish in the 80s. Rob Ford does not have a great reputation as a mayor even without the current accusations. But to have two brothers accused at the same time is in my mind suspect, but certainly possible.
Actually, we Canucks in the land of 'eh' are trying to show you Yanks that you're not the only ones who can do up scandal in style! Personally, I'll wait to see what comes out through official channels and not in the circus world of yellow "journalism".
MoveOn — Robert Reich is so good at uncomplicating complicated subjects for people. I like his ideas. Of course they will never fly with a recalcitrant Republican/Teabagger dominated Congress. Too bad!
NY Times — Well I heard that the bridge did not collapse on its own, this time — it had help from a Canadian freight driver. However, if I heard correctly, the bridge was inspected in 2010 and found to be deficient then, and yet nothing has been done. The Congress really needs to get the lead out of their asses and work on infastructure. An interesting statement on the news, the truth of which I don't know, but similar accidents happen here but rarely is the bridge damaged significantly — supposedly Canadian bridge building standards are higher, but I don't know.
Cartoon — It seems they tried to make a monkey out of the law, but the law won! Hell, it seems the GOP is still trying to try Scopes!
Grrrrr! 😉
If it was about Harlot Harper, I'd beliebe it.
Too bad indeed!
Perhaps Canadian bridgwes are not better built, but properly maintained.
Scopes was convicted for teaching evolution.
The people who need to see Robet Reich's piece will never watch it. So simple, but impossible to get Congress to do.
Glad you are better, and happy you are back. Edie
Thanks Edie, I agree.