I’m writing for tomorrow, day 25. It’s a good thing I did my research early, because, except for a three hour cat nap, I haven’t stopped since 1 AM. Tomorrow is a prison volunteer day, and Thanksgiving cooking starts Wednesday. Color me scarce.
Late (early) Update:
Just woke up. Ugh! It looks like Darren Wilson may get away with murder.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:02 (average 4:38). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: Koch industries and its subsidiaries are expansive—their holdings include everything from gas stations to pipelines, paper products for everyday use, greeting cards, chemicals used to make materials, and the fabric that makes your clothing.
With an interest in almost everything and status as the number two privately held company in the country–behind Cargill—Koch industries is a behemoth that is hard to avoid.
But knowledge is power and your dollar is your vote. We can become informed purchasers and refuse to support their political agenda by refusing to purchase their wares.
Don’t suck nevermind! Click through to sign the pledge and for a complete list of Koch Brothers Products to boycott.
From VOX: A new poll from finds that 89 percent of Latino voters support President Obama’s executive actions on immigration.
80 percent of Latino voters say they’ll oppose any attempt by Republicans to block Obama’s executive actions
Worryingly for the GOP, that includes 60 percent of Latino Republicans.
I have the same question for Latino Republicans that I have for fay Republicans. Are you a billionaire or a masochist?
From Alternet: Making the Highest Profit Margin in the Corporate World — And Demanding a Tax Cut
The trading volume on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) reached $1 quadrillion in notionalvalue [sic] last year. That’s a thousand trillion dollars, about ten times greater than the world economy.
With the collection of transfer fees, contract fees, brokerage fees, Globex fees, clearing fees, and surcharges, the company achieved a profit margin (54%) higher than any of the top 100 companies in the nation from 2008 to 2010, and in the past three years it’s risen to nearly 60%.
Despite being the most profitable big firm, CME complained that its taxes were too high, and they demanded and received an $85 million tax break from the State of Illinois.
This is just one of the seven biggest corporate rip offs of this year. Click through for the other six.
Cartoon:
What I need!
10 Responses to “Open Thread–11/25/2014”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
3:03 You beat me here, TC. But I got you in FF last night.
Don't you know it . . . you kicked some puddy tat butt in FF! A nail biter, but it was your's.
3:37 Everything was too slippery. I could not get any traction.
3:11 I became dizzy from looking up so much!
Darren Wilson got away with murder. There is no justice for an unarmed black man.
Daily Kos ~ I've already signed and the list of companies they control is etched in my memory and I avoid them in stores like the Plague.
VOX ~ They are obviously not all millionaires. Therfore, they must be masochists or just plain stupid.
Alternet ~ Sorry. I can't read this. It makes me sick. I don't want to have to use a barf bag so early in the day.
Cartoon ~ Get some rest! You will wear yourself down otherwise.
4:27 average up a few seconds. What an exceedingly attractive assemblage of colors and patterns. The wall pieces in particular looked like veined colored glass until you got the parapet and steel in. Of course the other building is glass, which added to the illusion.
Daily Kos – I've been boycotting Koch a long time. It is possible to buy things with spandex (the generic name) that is not Lycra (the trade name), and it's usually the cheap stuff, which suits me fine. Dacron is tougher, but I must say, in the 70's it was a really high-fashion fabric including in designer men's suits; it's kind of a hoot that it's been relegated to fiberfill. I see there's even a recycling logo in their list. And the gasoline – the brands are so interconnected (suggesting the word "incestuous" even) that the diarist doesn't even begin on them. Shell wants to drill in the Arctic and Chevron wants to read all my emails, so I try to avoid them.
VOX – Billionaire? Masochist? Or resentful of what they think are freeloaders? We really need to get big corporations, millionaire tax dodgers, and financial planners identified as "welfare queens." Or come up with a better phrase with a better story attached and make it really high profile, which might actually be easier, because the original term is so entrenched in the collective consciousnoess.
Alternet – And this is exactly the problem. Could Jon Stewart's, Stephen Colbert's, and Bill Maher's writers get together and write some stories for Elizabeth Warren maybe? And/or Bernie Sanders? Both are saying the right things, and forcefully, but there is an element, maybe the lowest common denominator, missing, which keeps their quotes from being on the lips of evety American.
Cartoon – I'jm not sure whether that's just kitty exhaustion or also a kitty facepalm – but Republicans do both to me too.
P.S. – on the ecard – I usually read it AFTER I read Politics Plus. I have your news page bookmarked. I first bring up freekatlitter.com and click, then freekibblekat.com and click, then go to bookmarks and so to you.
P.P.S. – Since this is an open thread, and since I can't find any very current article on the great barrier reef, but you mentioned it a couple of says ago, I thought I'd share this:
https://files.wwf.org.au/imgs/nemo_obamas_are_coming.png
Puzzle — 3:11 I became dizzy from looking up so much!
Daily Kos — Signed. I already watch for Kochroach brands although many are not here in Canada. But I do have a new one to add to the list . . . American Greetings! Even if it is a cute pussy cat on the card, I'll say "Get behind me Satan." and walk on by!
.VOX — Latino Republicans? There is a real disconnect there! I wonder if they know that these are not your daddy's Republican party? Must be masochists!
Alternet — Disgusting! It is past time that the powers that be who design the tax laws that allow mega big corporations to "skip to da loo" where they can piss all over everybody else, get in the game and put the country first. As Elizabeth Warren would say, they didn't get to that profitability by themselves. They relied on all sorts of services that taxes pay for.
Cartoon — Are you hiding your face in shame because you were eaten by a Monster in FF? Or perhaps, as JD said, you're doing a facepalm over the coming Alternet article about 5 Republicanus/Teabagger outrageous statements last week? Or maybe it is just time for a good old fashioned cat nap? I was so tired and cold today (raining cats and dogs today), I had a cat nap with my little girl!
Take another catnap before you start cooking!
Daily Kos: I signed the pledge and shared it on Facebook.
Vox: I agree with you, why would a Latino or a Gay become a Republican? I hope the large percentage of Latinos who suppor the President will help in our next election.
Alternet: I clicked through for all seven and it makes me angry. I bookmarked "Fleecing Uncle Sam" which I will read and share. For a CEO to make more than the company paid in taxes is unjust and should be illegal. It is past time for the tax system to be reformed and for all to pay their fair share of taxes. Inversions should be illegal, too.
Cartoon: That is what I wanted to do when the alarm went off this morning. Didn't though I wish I could have.