I’m writing for tomorrow, day 40. I’m still down. It’s halftime.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:52 (average 5:24). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Religious Ecstasy:
Short Takes:
From The New Yorker: The banking giant Citigroup announced on Friday that it would move its headquarters from New York to the U.S. Capitol Building, in Washington, D.C., in early 2015.
Tracy Klugian, a spokesperson for Citi, said that the company had leased thirty thousand square feet of prime real estate on the floor of the House of Representatives and would be interviewing “world-class architects” to redesign the space to suit its needs.
According to sources, Citi successfully outbid other firms, including JPMorgan Chase and Goldman Sachs, for the right to move its headquarters to the House floor.
The Citi spokesperson acknowledged that the extensive makeover of the House is expected to cost “in the millions,” but added, “It’s always expensive to open a new branch.”
Explaining the rationale behind the move, Klugian told reporters, “Instead of constantly flying out from New York to give members of Congress their marching orders, Citigroup executives can be right on the floor with them, handing them legislation and telling them how to vote. This is going to result in tremendous cost savings going forward.”
I bet Andy thinks they’ll wallpaper with $100s.
From Daily Kos: A member of the Open Carry Texas rallies that have seen members marching through restaurants, grocery stores and other businesses with assault rifles has been arrested after two people were found dead in their home.
Veronica Dunnachie, 35, was arrested without incident 11 miles away at Millwood Hospital on North Cooper Street, a mental health facility. She is facing a capital murder charge. […]
Family members who arrived at the scene identified the victims as Russ Dunnachie, Veronica’s husband, and an adult daughter of his.
Dunnachie has been active in the Open Carry movement.
The problem with Republican Ammosexuals carrying guns is their tendency to use them.
From NY Times: After moments of high drama, dry process and acrimony, the Senate passed a sweeping $1.1 trillion spending package Saturday night, abruptly ending several days of chaotic legislative maneuvers and clearing the bill for President Obama to sign.
The legislation, which will fund most of the government through the fiscal year that ends in September, passed in a bipartisan vote, 56 to 40, after a turbulent process — a fitting coda for a governing body that has often failed to govern.
Here are the Democrats with the courage and integrity to vote no. Thank them.
|
Member |
Party |
State |
|
Richard Blumenthal |
D |
CT |
|
Cory Booker |
D |
NJ |
|
Barbara Boxer |
D |
CA |
|
Sherrod Brown |
D |
OH |
|
Maria Cantwell |
D |
WA |
|
Al Franken |
D |
MN |
|
Kirsten E. Gillibrand |
D |
NY |
|
Tom Harkin |
D |
IA |
|
Mazie K. Hirono |
D |
HI |
|
Amy Klobuchar |
D |
MN |
|
Carl Levin |
D |
MI |
|
Joe Manchin III |
D |
WV |
|
Edward J. Markey |
D |
MA |
|
Claire McCaskill |
D |
MO |
|
Robert Menendez |
D |
NJ |
|
Jeff Merkley |
D |
OR |
|
Jack Reed |
D |
RI |
|
Jon Tester |
D |
MT |
|
Elizabeth Warren |
D |
MA |
|
Sheldon Whitehouse |
D |
RI |
|
Ron Wyden |
D |
OR |
Now, excuse me, please, while I go puke, because it passed.
Cartoon:
19 Responses to “Open Thread–12/15/2014”
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Sent an email to Senator Barbara Boxer thanking her for voting NO on the current budget.
Good idea Jim–just tried to send Boxer TY twice–something weird with the website this morning. Hope one got through.
Email for a petition this morning asking for an investigation of corruption related to Dimon's calls and votes.
Duh…more guns=more shootings.
Glad the Orb brought you joy.
Oh, Andy, there you go, speaking truth once again….Citi may not have the deed yet, but they sure do own the building and most everyone in it.
Any way we could just give Texas back to Mexico? It's really much more trouble than it's worth, don't you think?
I'd say, "feel better, TC" but with all the (ugh) great news, I don't see how you could.
4:38 average up a couple of seconds. Hope those jawbreakers are not too hard on your kitty teeth. Dental problems would be the last thing you'd need.
New Yorker – I'm going to vote with Gloria p. here. They won't move. They'll see it more like a new branch. They will put a lot of employees there, at leasr 870.
Daily Kos – And at least one fellow gun activist cannot find a way to memorialize, even recognize, the deaths of two people, other than posting on Facebook, "Antigun groups are gonna go to town on that one." All a question of what's important, isn't it?
NY Times – Bernie Sanders also voted no – not being a "Democrat" he wasn't on that list. But several of my favorite people are. As well as several who are not my favorite people but who I would still rather see in office than Republicans. Congratulations to Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Oregon, all of which managed to scode BOTH Senators. TC, puke if you must; but you will have to eat again eventually in order to have nutrients in your body – can you afford to waste any?
Cartoon – Yup. Get used to it. They are.
Good for the Holy Ellipsoid Orb.
Hard candies are what keeps the counter going up.
Pleasantly shocked, I was, to find my Sen. Claire McCaskill on the "Nice" rather than the "Naughty" list.
And nothing captures the true spirit of Christmas like having your child getting his/her picture taken with Santa while he's packing an AK-47 …
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/georgia-gun-range-feature-firearms-photo-shoot-santa-article-1.2042506
Santa with AK-47 – Rolling eyes.
3:32 ~ Did Patty get her groove back?
3:29 Yes Patty, you got your groove back, but for this puzzle, I was a little groovier.
Oh, what a win! Way to go, Broncos!
"I bet Andy thinks they’ll wallpaper with $100s."
Oh, they will, but it will be our $100 bills they use, not theirs.
Anyway, T.C., this is my last post here until I can figure out how to make Wi-Fi work for me. Comcrap raised my monthly rate for high-speed Internet to over $90, effectively pricing me out of the market, so until I can put together an affordable option, I'm basically incommunicado. Take care, my friend, and carry on. You rock!
We will miss you, Phil.
Phil, you can get wireless from Clear for about half that.
I am so sorry you are still sick hope you are better soon!
The New Yorker: Are you sure Andy is writing satire? This sounds real to me.
Daily Kos: This is what happens when a gun becomes a family member. My Dad, who owned lots of guns was an advocate of gun control for this reason. Too many are murdered by people who are unstable to begin with, and unbridled gun carrying invites violence.
Thanks for the list. I was surprised to see that Manchin voted no, since he has been a dino lately. Now I am not sure if I am ownedc by the Koch Bros, or Citi Bank.
Cartoon: If you could just add a barefoot pregnant woman to the page it would be perfect.
Edie, the barefoot pregnant woman is there, but she is in the kitchen making milk and cookies for Santa, so you can't see her. Very Republican.
Thanks all. I'm still mostly down, but I'll have three tomorrow.
Hugs to all!
Puzzle — 3:29 Yes Patty, you got your groove back, but for this puzzle, I was a little groovier.
FF — My oh my! My players really let me down! I lost to the 8th place team. For that matter, 2nd and 3rd place in the season lost their first playoff games too. And here I was hoping to win so I'd have another chance to kick some puddy tat butt for the third time.
The New Yorker — Why is Andy so fixated on straight news reporting? With all the Citigroup alums currently in the government, it stands to reason that Citigroup would move their headquarters to the Capitol building. But I don't think it is to be closer to law makers. I just think they found this currently unused area to be more than adequate.
Daily Kos — I saw an article online about 15 things that might indicate poor parenting. One of those was a little girl maybe 3 years old, all cute in pink and a little ponytail on the top her head, squatting down looking through the sights of a weapon on a wide spread tripod. I was shocked and disgusted to say the least. And then the boy in your cartoon . . . IMO, the US gun lobby and the fixation on guns has become so out of control that something has to be done to rein it in. More and more people will die.
NY Times — OK, there are 21 Democrats here. Who were the other 19 'no' votes? Let me guess. . . Republicanus/Teabaggers that voted 'no' because it wasn't a straight Republicanus/Teabagger version of the bill?
Cartoon — This cartoon repulsed me last year, and now this year. The 2nd amendment reads:
"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."
There should be regulation as written. The way things are now, it is open season. I don't think that is what the founding fathers intended. Open carry, military grade weapons, weapons possession without so much as by your leave are, IMO, outside the context of the founding fathers.
Corporations are people… NOT…!