I’ve been writing for tomorrow in spurts, while preparing a chicken, rice, broccoli, beans, onions, and chili dish. Beware downwind!! :-) I’ve also been boiling water, as the city water is infected with e coli. We have a boil water alert on until further notice. In all the years I’ve lived here, that’s a first. I’ve also cat napping. I started this morning, and it’s now evening. Yesterday’s prison meeting went quite well. It was the second half of the annual banquet, and my role was quite similar to last month. The pride my guys take in introducing their families just puts a smile on my face. Day 32.
Late (early) Update: That last cat nap was a doozie!
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:38 (average 5:14). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Upworthy: Some of the best practical advice, or just one of those things that we all eventually learn? Either way … wise words, Louis.
He’ll never make the Republicans on Parade list.
From The New Yorker: In response to the international uproar created when he reportedly compared Russian President Vladimir Putin to Hitler, His Royal Highness Prince Charles today issued the following letter of apology to the Russian people.
My dear Russians,
Yesterday, it was reported that I compared your President Putin to Hitler. If by making this comment I have in some way offended you, I am deeply sorry. Adolf Hitler was one of the horrible villains in world history, and comparing President Putin to him was uncalled for.
What I should have said, and what I say to you now, is that this Putin chap can be a bit Hitlery at times.
Let’s take, for example, his penchant for taking territory that doesn’t belong to him and then adding it to his country and so forth. Would you call that behavior Hitlery or not Hitlery? From where I sit, it’s more like something Hitler would do than something he wouldn’t do, and so the verdict must be, yes, the chap is being rather Hitlery when he does that…
LOL Andy!! But you messed-up! GOP-Pootie is more like Mussolini. Hitler’s follow-on will be announced at the 2016 Republican Convention.
From Daily Kos: This might just be the most ridiculous thing Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has said during the entire 2014 campaign:
Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell says he would try to repeal the Affordable Care Act if he’s elected Senate majority leader.
But the veteran senator won’t say what would happen to the 421,000 Kentuckians who have health insurance through the state’s health care exchange.
McConnell told reporters Friday that the fate of the state exchange is unconnected to the federal health care law. Yet the exchange would not exist, if not for the law that created it.
If Mitch wants to say he’s for Obamacare repeal, he’s got to acknowledge what repealing Obamacare would really mean, and that includes dismantling things like Kynect, the new health care exchange created because of Obamacare.
Is it time to change his name to "Bought Bullshit McConArtist", or should we just keep "Bought Bitch Mitch"?
Cartoon:
29 Responses to “Open Thread–5/24/2014”
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I've been fortunate enough to have walked across the Brooklyn Bridge twice – going each way once – while visiting my Big Apple friends.
The first time was from Manhattan to Brooklyn (came back on the Manhattan Bridge a little further north). And the second time, from Brooklyn to Manhattan. (Got to Brooklyn by walking the Manhattan Bridge).
Hopefully heading back this fall to take in the 9/11 Museum. Went to the 9/11 Park last fall (the lines on a cloudy, drizzly weekday were HUGE – took over 90 minutes just to get inside the Park – and that's with the "Express" ticket that you can buy), but the Museum obviously wan't open yet. I've read they have exits scattered throughout the exhibit, because they knew it'd be just too overwhelming for a lot of people.
6:10 Which is why I don't race.
Upworthy – More and more, we are getting our ethics from our comedians – and nothing but (black) comedy (no offence to black people as I'm sure all know) from our "statesmen" and so-called religious leaders. Of course back in the day, court jesters did use to be the voice of truth to power – but then, power occasionally listened. Not any more.
New Yorker – TC, you are really, really good at history if you can tell the difference between Hitler and Mussolini – besides the mustache, that is. And maybe the trains. I'm impressed. What's your take on Franco?
Daily Kos – I like the rhyme, and it makes him stand out. "Bought Bullshit McConArtist" could be McCrory, Ronald McDonald, etc. In fact, without the "Mc," it could be anyone.
Cartoon – Chris Christie must have thought he actually bought it.
Excuse if I am short and grumpy. After a 6 hour drive for a 5 hour visit and then getting home just in time for a 7 hour power failure, I think I am entitled. Back to bed for me.
Hitler and Mussolini were similar, in that both were fascist distators and extreme nationalists. Both conquered foreign lands. The difference is that Hitler was the senior partner aznd Mussolini the sycophant in his orbit. Franco on the other hand, wsas a domestic fascist dictator. He had no interest in joining the quest for more territory.
I believe that the bombing of Guernica, carried out by Hitler's and Mussolini's troops, was invited by Franco (sure, try out your new toys on my turf, this here's a good target) so I have a special place for him in hell in my mind. You are right, of course, he just wanted Spain. Dead.
3:12 I raced to the finish line. Is it fast enough?
3:59 My pit crew screwed up.
2:45 Zoom! Zoom! Not quite fast enough! Look out! Kitten in the driver`s seat!
Bigfooted!
5:39 – Puzzle 😆
Upworthy ~ This man will ,however, make Pope Francis' good people list.
New Yorker ~ Annexing other countries is what Hitler did though which would make Andy correct in his comparison.
Daily Kos ~ Next McTurtle will take credit for setting up the Exchange in Kentucky.
Cartoon ~ A beautiful work of engineering. It wouldn't have ben possible without public funding. The cities of Brooklyn and New York each contributed to the cost. They wern't yet borroughs then. Amazing what public works can do when politicians work together.
Oh TC – that dish sounds lovely to eat, but may have repercussions later(!) …. seriously, I am so glad all went so splendidly at the banquet!
Joanne – In Australia last week some religious leaders of various persuasions went to sit in Tony Abbott's office to pray for him – and they got arrested and taken to court….. where the magistrate (God bless them forever) dismissed the charges! It is such a relief to know that some good peaceful people will put their liberty on the line to try to help others – and to demonstrate to the world that their leaders are wrong…
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/may/19/church-leaders-arrested-for-asylum-prayer-vigil-at-tony-abbotts-office
TC – many thanks for those Upworthy pictures – I missed them somehow – a lesson we all should be taught with love! Absolutely brilliant!
Daily Kos – I do like the 'Bought Bitch' soubriquet – it is most memorable, every time I see his picture it comes to mind!
Pat A – thanks for the great link. I do know there are great religious leaders which is why I said "so-called" in my first comment. I'm glad they drew a magistrate with common sense. Does anyone know whether Tony Abbott of Australia is any relation to Greg ("Barefoot and Pregnant Ken") Abbott of Texas?
Your link made my point. Thanks!
Louis C.K. is funny and a Good actor too…. 😆
GOATS RULE! Hamsters Help in Their Coup
Shortly after the disastrous "Operation: American Spring" fiasco at the National Mall last week, the Teabaggers retreated to their Facebook webpage to console each other. Soon afterwards, we "Libtard" Trolls invaded – including a bunch of hamster. The comments apparently got so funny mocking them that it drove the Teabaggers to their alternate backup Facebook page.
But now the backup one has been taken over by GOATS! TOO FUNNY!
https://www.facebook.com/OperationAmericanSpringbackup
But my favorite (so far) isn't of a Goat. It's a fat, naked drunk guy carrying a rifle, face-down in the snow holding his bottle. And the caption reads:
"Operation American Spring …"
"Because a well-regulated militia and ignorant hillbillies are KINDA the same thing, right?"
Hilarious, bit Baggers are never well regulated!
Glad your prison day went well. I bet your guys are always happy to see you. Catnap as much as you need.
Upworthy: This is excellent! If more parents would teach their children this we would have a better world.
The New Yorker: I agree with your comment TC. Andy is so entertaining while being educational!
Daily Kos: A poll tonight showed Mitch 55%, Grimes 45%. Apparently, his ads linking her to Obama are working, as well as causing his followers and Fox news addicts to not realize the ACA and Kynect are the same thing. Living Blue in a Red state is not easy.
Cartoon: Our politicians, aka Mitch, are adept at selling a bill of goods.
Puzzle — 2:45 Zoom! Zoom! Not quite fast enough! Look out! Kitten in the driver`s seat!
Upworthy — Not only will he not make a Republicans on Parade list, he won`t even make a Republicanus/Teabagger foot soldier. He appears to understand the real Jesus, not the pseudo Christian suppy-side Jesus.
The New Yorker — I don`t know if GOP Pootie is like Mussolini. The way he has marched into Crimea rather looks like Hitler taking over the Sudetenland and Czechoslovakia. As to the Republicanus/Teabaggers, you`re correct in that we`ll have to wait until 2016 to see who their next "Hitlery" leader will be.
Daily Kos — McTurtle = a lean, mean lying machine!
"got to" really should be "should" because we all know that the McTurtle (on the half shell) will do whatever he wants to get his way . . . cheat, lie, half truths, obfuscation, misleading . . . whatever it takes.
Cartoon — What is it with Republicanus/Teabaggers and bridges? They keep trying to sell the Brooklyn Bridge, and Pignocchio Christie tries to block the George Washington Bridge. And of course, there was the I-W35 bridge over the Mississippi River at Minniapolis that collapsed in 2007 on the watch of state Republicanus/Teabagger Tim Pawlenty and federal Republicanus/Teabagger Baby Bush.
Thanks all! Another late cat nap did me in.
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