I’m writing for tomorrow, and feeling quite exhausted after being up all night recovering my computer. The file that trashed it got through my firewall, while I was on Care2. The management of Care2 is in no way at fault. Nobody can maintain a site of that size and complexity without an occasional security glitch, and for the volume of traffic they have, they do an excellent job. So fell victim to either a random hacker or a Republican hacker. Given the pain I cause them, I suspect latter, but have no evidence to prove it. Tomorrow is a High Holy Day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb, and my Broncos will worship with the Patriots for the AFC Championship and a trip to the Super Bowl. You can guess what I shall be doing.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:00 (average 5:06). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From TPM: On MSNBC’s “Up with Steve Kornacki” this morning, Hoboken, N.J. mayor Dawn Zimmer offered an extraordinary account of her dealings with the administration of Governor Chris Christie concerning federal Hurricane Sandy relief aid. She described an effort by top state officials – the lieutenant governor and a cabinet member – to coerce Hoboken’s city government into fast-tracking approval of a proposed redevelopment project by withholding Sandy aid from the government and residents of her city. That project, she says she was told, was “very important to the governor.” And if she worked to get it approved, “the money would start flowing to you.”
It just so happens that the proposed project in question is situated on three blocks of land owned by the Rockefeller Group, a client of the law firm of Wolff & Samson. That firm was founded by Christie confidante David Samson, a former state attorney general who Christie tapped to head his transition team in 2009. In 2011 the governor appointed Samson to become the chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, where he remains today.
Here are two of the videos from Steve’s show
There can be no excuse here. PIGnocchio is using Sandy relief funds to blackmail Mayors to favor billionaires. This is a crime.
From Raw Story: A federal judicial panel revealed on Friday that a former federal judge’s email suggesting President Barack Obama’s mother had sex with a dog was one of hundreds showing “disdain for African Americans and Hispanics,” the Billings Gazette reported.
The March 2013 report from the Judicial Council of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals traced Richard Cebull’s proclivity for sending racist and sexist material back to 2008. Cebull, a former U.S. District Court Judge, was appointed by former President George W. Bush.
The probe discovered that Cebull violated the second and fifth canons of the judicial code of conduct barring judges from political activity, as he sent several emails “related to pending legislation or an issue that could come before the courts, such as immigration, gun control, civil rights, health care or environmental matters.” Other messages contained “inappropriate jokes relating to sexual orientation,” particular “disdain” for undocumented Latino immigrants, “certain faiths,” and “liberal political leaders.” Other emails focused on “sexual topics and were disparaging of women.”
This is what we get when we do not exercise our right to vote or waste our votes on third party Presidential candidates.
From Alternet: Food stamp recipients will have their grocery store humiliation compounded by having to show a photo ID in order to buy food if Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) gets his way.
Under a bill Vitter introduced Wednesday , beneficiaries of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) would be denied their food if they are unable to show a photographic identification card at the register. For millions of low-income Americans who don’t have an official photo ID and can’t necessarily afford to buy one, Vitter’s bill would mean being cut off from their primary food source.
Diaper Dave strikes again.
Cartoon:
17 Responses to “Open Thread–1/19/2014”
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It seems as though people are going to have to wear wires when dealing with Mr Christie or his representatives – this story is utterly shocking and reprehensible – and just the sort of thing that 'big business' does as they have absolutely and utterly no care or concern for ordinary people. Vote this blighter and his cohorts out!
I'm very glad you managed to recover your computer TC, and that you knew what to do! I do hope it didn't take too much out of you – perhaps watching the Broncos later will restore you a little…
The story about Richard Cebull's activities makes me utterly disgusted and nauseated. Please prosecute this man for disseminating such filth!
Well, Vitter, I think people should have to show a photo ID before they visit their whorehouse.
You should be wearing your usual diaper outfit in the photo – but I suspect you're such a frequent customer, they'd just give you an EZ Lane Pass.
OK, that was supposed to be a "thumb up" smiley.
3:54 I'm locked out of this one.
3:37 I think TomCat locked all of us out today. Even his Broncos won. It must be his lucky day!
3:51 Well, that's not a lock!
Poor Chris Christie. His Presidential campaign might be in the toilet before it even got started.
5:56 Not opening that lock any time soon.
Those of you who think Christie is on the way out, I deeply admire your faith. I wish I could share it.
Cebull will not be prosecuted. We would be very lucky if someone could be removed from his judgeship for this, but I don't see that happening either. Come on, the investigation was last March, and still he would sit, had he not chosen to retire.
Photo ID, photo ID, photo ID, for God's sake. Way. way too many well meaning Americans have absolutely no idea how much of being able to access a photo ID comes from PRIVILEGE. How many people currently alive were born in the United States and their birth was not recorded. How many people's birth records have been destroyed by fire and other disasters. And I am now just talking about not having the substantiation – I haveint even started on the expense. I would have thought the recent debacle in Texas would have opened a few eyes – a law designed to keep out the riffraff (which is unconstitutional) was worded in such a way that a former Speaker of the United States House of Representatives was unable to vote at his first attempt. Had he waited until Election Day he would have been unable to vote, period. But apparently this made no impression. And I have been speaking of well-meaning people. Mr. Vitter, being from Louisiana, I strongly suspect of knowing full well exactly the people who would be target by this injustice, and bearing malice towards them.
6:12 – I find it difficult to post puzzle with additional information, all apologizes.. 😥
Tom, I am following your Broncos. Soon will be watching my Niners play the Seahawks. Of course I have no one to watch it with and these Seattleans are rabid. Lived in the Bay Area too long. Watched them win 5 Super Bowls Hope you are with me!!
I am … oops – "WAS"
Like all us Cubbie fans – there's always "Next Year"
Puzzle — 3:51 Well, that's not a lock!
TPM — Chris Christie is like mould . . . even when you don't see it, it is spreading it's rot from one place to another, one wall to another. Eventually, it is so prevalent and so destructive that there is no way to defeat it other than to excise it completely along with healthy wall. I hope I am right . . . Chris Christie is toast!
Raw Story — OK, fortunately Cebull is a former judge. But how many of his judgements are tainted by his pernicious views? And what about other judges out there? We know the SCOTUS has been infected.
Alternet — If SNAP recipients do not have to have picture ID to receive benefits, why should they need to have it to spend it? In addition to the indignity, Diaper Dave is transferring responsibility for policing the SNAP programme to the stores. What a crock!
Cartoon — Let it go . . . and take Texas and few other whiners with it!
Mr. Vitter, We require (from you) a photo ID and substantiation of "live" birth of a human.
As of today (the A.M. news) the U.S. Attorney's office is investagating Gov. Christie's arbritary dispensing of "Sandy" funds.
Hey, TC, my Hawks will be playing your Broncos.!…Hope you have recouped from fixing you computer…hopefully the game helped.
Cubbies fan …you have company…born Chicago..1st Cubs game with Grandfather…age 3yrs…Never outgrew 'em….My Hero: Ernie Banks.!….Yes…"Next Year".
Congratulations on the Broncos win!
TPM: More and more is coming out on Christie's bullying and this is a prime example. I think he can kiss good bye his aspirations for president.
Raw Story: How disgusting. Too many have been appointed to judgships based on political affiliation and not qualifications. This seems to be one of them.
Cartoon" Will they do it again?
Glad you got your computer problems solved, was surprised to find you here tonight. I gave my left wing son, who is also a newspaper editor your link tonight. YOu may be seeing another Belcher on your list. At least, I can hope.
Alternet" How much more humiliation are these people going to be subjected to before the Republicans are satisfied? l hope people are aware of this and other wrongful things they are doing to the poor and middle class and vote the bums out.
Thanks everyone!
The evil Seachickens are DOOMED!
No! The evil horses are headed to the glue factory!