ARGH! The best laid plans of mice and men. Before leaving to my doctor’s appointment, I swapped in my last unused O2 bottle to meet my needs during the trip. It was empty, and with no oxygen I cannot go. I called and left a message. I just hope I don’t have to pay for a missed appointment. ARGH! That is why I have this for you today, albeit late.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:33 (average 4:33). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From NY Times: Since the American-led invasion of 2003, Iraq has become one of the world’s top oil producers, and China is now its biggest customer.
China already buys nearly half the oil that Iraq produces, nearly 1.5 million barrels a day, and is angling for an even bigger share, bidding for a stake now owned by Exxon Mobil in one of Iraq’s largest oil fields.
“The Chinese are the biggest beneficiary of this post-Saddam oil boom in Iraq,” said Denise Natali, a Middle East expert at the National Defense University in Washington. “They need energy, and they want to get into the market.”
Instead of the issue of 4 US deaths in Benghazi, shouldn’t we be still be asking about 4,000+ US deaths in Iraq. It is ultimate failure that $1 Trillion+ and all those irreplaceable lives spent on Bush’s Republican War for Oil and Conquest has brought Oil for China and a new client state for Iraq.
From Alternet:
In football terms, "piling on" means jumping on a player when he’s down. In the economic new normal described by Bernie Sanders, it means taking most of the wealth and all of the income, moving profits and jobs overseas, and making impoverished people pay the bills.
1. Taking ALL the Income
Charles Koch said, "I want my fair share — and that’s all of it." He’s been getting his wish lately. In the first two years of the recovery, the richest 1% seemingly impossibly captured 121% of the income gains, while incomes for 99% of Americans declined, with the median household income dropping by 7.3 percent.
More and more people are working in respectable but low-wage positions in food service and retail. Low-income jobs ($7.69 to $13.83 per hour) made up one-fifth of the jobs lost to the recession, but accounted for three-fifths of the jobs regained during the recovery.
I urge you to click through to see three more ways in which the 1%, aided by their Republican lackeys, are screwing the rest of us.
From Crooks & Liars: Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) on Sunday said that Washington should stay out of the business of ensuring equal pay because "what women want" is just to be "recognized."
During a panel discussion on NBC about a recent Pew report that found women had become primary source of income in 40 percent of U.S. households, Blackburn said that it was "up to companies to make sure there is a level playing field and that women are not shortchanged as they try to get on that latter to success."
It’s up to companies to ensure equal pay for equal work, just like it’s up to foxes to ensure safety for the residents of hen houses. She says that recognition is more important for women that equal pay. TEAbuggery!! Companies recognize the value of workers through pay and benefits, because the only language spoken in corporate America is $$$.
Cartoon:
Republicans are already trying to ban what they consider degenerate art. Notice any similarities with how Republicans portray Obama?
19 Responses to “Open Thread–6/3/2013”
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3:59 I think I have a leak in the boat or my rigging is faulty!
2:46 Looks like smooth sailing ahead.
3:13 Can I go saiing with you, Jerry?
As long as you bring a bottle of wine.
DANG! That's worse than Critter Crunched. It;s Critter crapped.
6:00 – Better than first ones… 🙂
Before long, you'll be battling for the lead.
Puzzle — 3:59 I think I have a leak in the boat or my rigging is faulty!
NY Times — Issa? Partisan? No, say it ain't so! Benghazi is a tragedy, no doubt! But Iraq was an even bigger tragedy that was clearly preventable. It was an illegal attack on a sovereign nation on the pretense of WMD when actually is was about OIL. Oh, and did I mention it was unleashed by the Republican/Teabaggers of whom Issa is a member! We certainly don't see the Republican/Teabaggers calling for the heads of Baby Bush, Chickenhawk Cheney, and the rest of neocon warmonger team! I wonder why? Assholes!
Alternet — Does this mean that the richest 1% are actually the anti-Christ of the pseudo Christian religion?
Does he also include Republican/Teabaggers in this? I do not consider obstruction of the people and pandering to the corporate and 1% elite, work.
Crooks and Liars — Ms Blackburn is only qualified to speak for herself. I agree that women want to be recognised with equal pay for equal work. But too often, men make and enforce the rules which are too often slanted against women. Obviously, she thinks she is grossly over paid. I'd like to see the look on her face when she has her salary recalled.
If that is the case, Then Ms Blackburn should return her exorbitant salary and perks, and work for minimum wage while her male colleagues receive the standard rate. Personally, her male colleagues of the Republican/Teabagger stripe should be paid minimum wage at best for all the obstruction that they engage in rather than getting the people's business done.
Typical Republican/Teabagger bull puckey!
Cartoon — The only degenerates I see are Republican/Teabaggers!
Maybe we should vote on congressional pay levels. After all, they are supposed to work for us.
Bigfoot hair gets waterlogged. 😉
Bingo!
Them may be the Supply-dide Jesus of pseudo-Christianity. If Antichrist at all, it would be of authentoc Christianity.:twisted:
By oner who is not willing to work, they mean someone who works overtimde and still quzlifies for food stamps.
Typical indeed.
Of course. If they can establish it, the Fifth Reich will not be that different from the Third.
You must not be twisted enough to get the smiley! 😈
Me neither I guess. I think the twisted smiley is busted! 🙂
Looks like I have a bug to find. This one will be a bitch, so it may take a while.
NY Times ~ The RepublicanTs don't care about 4,000 + deaths because they were caused by bush's failures. They only care about the "Black" President. Issa will go down swinging.
I have nothing more to say today. I'm getting sick of the "Do Nothing but blame Obama for everything bad" Congress. I'll be back with more comments after a brief respite.
Amen Patty!
Have a good burnout recovery day! 🙂
Excellent Alternet article telling painful truths on how the richest families are tightening their stranglehold on us all. (I tried listening to the Rep women video but couldn't take it – sorry!). What is the world going to do when Bernie Sanders retires? How I wish more people were like him.
So sorry your oxygen supply had run out TC – and I hope the doctor's office doesn't charge you – if they do we'll all write in your support!
I don't blame you.
Thanks Pat.
Take good care of yourself, Tom. We need you in this fight!
What's frightening about the republicans is that anything critical of them will be "degenerate." Stopping dissent in this country is always one of their goals, although anything they fail to understand will be fair game also. One wonders – what kind of art do republicans like? Sad clowns with tears in their eyes on black velvet? Walter Keane paintings? Old campaign posters that attempt to make Romney look semi-human? Or this:
http://wonkette.com/474218/here-is-a-painting-of-ghost-andrew-breitbart-as-a-nordic-knight
Thanks Angie!
LOL @ Ghost Breitfart!