I’m writ5ing for tomorrow, day 145. It’s late in the day. After doing my research early this morning, I scheduled routine medical appointments through the middle of next month, cooked and cleaned, and took a cat nap. Tomorrow I have some errands to run in the morning, but they should not interfere with blogging.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 2:40 (average 4:30). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: There is a diary on the Rec List about a Wall Street Journal article detailing how those making $400,000/year can still feel like they are “just getting by”. http://www.dailykos.com/…
I am glad the WSJ is giving comfort to its target audience, reassuring those well within the 1% of annual income that it is okay if they feel they are struggling to get by. The purpose, IMO, is to assuage any potential feelings their readers might have toward those with less, because they, the members of the 1%, have it rough as well, so that the 1% can be justified in their dissatisfaction with how little they have.
Of course, what the article actually does is prove to us, those who are way down the income scale from these 1%ers, how little the WSJ actually cares about the vast majority of this country, and how as a newspaper its editorial purpose is to be a fluffer to the 1% and keep them insulated from the realities that most people in the country live with every minute of every day.
But the corollary story that the WSJ won’t touch is this: if it families making $400,000/yr are feeling like they are struggling, then how must 150 million people getting by on less than $50,000/yr feel? Where is the WSJ chart showing us the typical distribution of expenses for a family making less than $50 grand a year? Show us that chart WSJ, and then explain to us, since you advocate for cutting all programs that benefit or help support these people, exactly where the fat is in their budgets?
Is anyone surprised? Didn’t we all know that, when Murdoch took over, the WSJ would become the Republican Reichsministry of Propaganda, Faux Print?
From Upworthy: Just so we’re clear, alcohol and tobacco, which kill thousands of people every year? Legal. Marijuana, which has never killed a single person ever in recorded human history? Illegal. OK then.
Personally, I quit smoking the stuff over 30 years ago, but I have no objection to those who choose to smoke it. Smoking InsaniTEA, on the other hand, is hazardous to your nation.
From YouTube: How catnip gets cats high
See? Humans have pot, but we have our nip!!
Cartoon:
13 Responses to “Open Thread–9/13/1014”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
5:24 Well, dry dock is a good place for me to stay.
Daily Kos – Everyone knows Murphy's law and most remember the Peter Princlple, but Parkinson's law seems to be unfairly forgotten. The original law was "Work expands to fill the time allotted," and as a retiree I can testify that he is right on the money. But there is also a corollary that expenditures expand to consume income. It's actually quite difficult to budget in a way that you don't feel like you are just making it. So I don't need the WSJ's charts to understand why those with a $400,000 income feel like they are just making it. I don't doubt that those with a $4M income also feel like they are just making it. But that says nothing about the income. Nor does it mean that those making $40,000 or less don't need a hand. I would call the article a piece of fluff, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Upworthy – I smoked too much tobacco when I was smoking to be interested in smoking anything else. I'd consider tea, like Lona's (Care2) father. Or gluten free brownies. Speaking of Lona, when you start googling for pitchfork manufactuers be sure to specify garden pitchforks or you will be looking at golf equipment. There seem to be 6 companies in the US that just make the handles, but they are heavily concentrated in red states. How ironic is that!
YouTube – If memory serves, about 70% of cats do respond to catnip. (Oh, sorry, 75) The others apparently get no effect from it. Again like humans: not everyone is an alcoholic.
Cartoon – Indeed she was of a time when Republicans had principles. I mean, principles besides "Just say no."
The poor 25%!! 🙁
Daily Kos – whilst I know what Joanne means, I can't help getting annoyed with those who are so rich making out that they are struggling to pay the bills like others! The WSJ should do a similar exercise for those families making less than $50k per year – but they won't, they will obey Murdoch.
Re Marjuana – does anyone know how legalising it has affected things in countries that have legalised it some years ago – has crime gone down or up or stayed the same, is it truly a 'gateway drug' or does legalising it have beneficial effects…? Re the video – marjuana to smoke isn't at all the same plant as that used to make rope and canvas – you could try and smoke an entire field of the latter and not get a buzz at all! (I have never tried it and never smoked).
Thanks TC!
I am unaware of any detrimental effects in countries that have legalized it's use. Benefits? Perhazps more smiles.
3:03 I guess I'm no ship-builder.
3:24 I fell over just like that boat.
3:15 Hey! Where did they get that picture of me? . . . tilting and up on "sticks"!
Wooo Hooo!!
Daily Kos ~ Murdoch's minions won't touch a story how the rest of us are just "getting by". Because we're not. we're struggling to survive.
Upworthy ~ God Bless America!
YouTube ~ I have a patch of nip in my yard for the twins private use.
Carton ~ Who would have guessed it of conservative Maine?
The twins are clearly loved!
Daily Kos: Poor, Poor, Pitiful Me. I only earn ten times as much money as the average American, and I may not be able to afford another designer dress. I suppose every thing is seen through your own perspective. You are right, TC, Murdoch bought the WSJ so he could pour out his hatred for those with little money. I am sure Mitch is a fervent fan of his.
Upworthy: Somehow, I went through the sixties and seventies without ever trying marijuana. I am not sure how that happened and my brother would never believe me when I told him I had never tried it, still haven't. That being said, I have no problem with the drug being legal. Just as the article says, it has many beneficial uses. My mother in law had mesothelioma and really suffered with nausea during her chemo treatments. At the time, one doctor in Lexington, Ky. was authorized to prescribe a pill with TH3. We got it for her, and she refused to take it because she believed all the nonsense spread by the churches and our government. Our prisons are full of people who got caught with marijuana, this is ridiculous. Ky. got permission to grow hemp at the University of Ky farm this year. It was an uphill battle to get approval because so many churches fought against it. Both hemp and marijuana grow well in Kentucky, and this would add to the economy if both were legal. I am all for it.
YouTube: Oh my gosh, I am a pusher! I grow catnip in my yard and bring it in to my cats. They love it and almost tackle me when I come inside with it. My neighbor's cat comes over and rolls in it. None of them have ever acted like the cats in this video, though. Catnip is good for their tummies. Helps with hairballs, too.
Cartoon: Wonderful woman! I bet no one ever matches her feat. .
Long live the nip!! 🙂
Puzzle — 3:15 Hey! Where did they get that picture of me? . . . tilting and up on "sticks"!
Daily Kos — $400,000 per year and they feel like they're "just getting by"? That is absolutely outrageous! Try pealing back not only the expenses, but the expectations too! The WSJ, just another tool for the rich fools who bemoan their lot in life. I would so like to see these fools live on minimum wage and come to understand what "just getting by" really means. This pissed me off big time!
Upworthy — Pat is right. The hemp plant is the marijuana cousin that rope, cloth, paper etc are made from. The seeds are also a great source of fibre, protein etc but the chemical that gives marijuana its "buzz" is virtually missing from hemp. In one sense, it is too bad that marijuana has to be smoked inorder to tap its medicinal benefits. I don't smoke and wouldn't be able to get the hang of inhaling marijuana's benefits. Good video and informative.
YouTube — I call catnip "pussy cat marijuana". My 3 go bonkers with it. Even big cats, tigers and lions, will go bonkers if they are susceptible.
Cartoon — A strong woman entering the old boys clubs. Where are they now?