I’m writing for tomorrow, day 64. I’m also waiting for Store to Door to deliver groceries. I missed sleep because of street noise, and cannot catch it up until my groceries are here and stashed, so I’m feeling quite tired.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:29 (average 5:09). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Reuters: Hooded gunmen stormed the Paris offices of a weekly satirical magazine known for lampooning radical Islam, killing at least 12 people, including two police officers in the worst militant attack on French soil in decades.
One of the men was captured on video outside the building waving his arms and shouting "Allah!". After dozens of shots rang out, two assailants were seen calmly leaving the scene. One police officer was seen being shot as he lay wounded.
What a horrid crime! My heart goes out to the surviving victims and to all the victims’ families and loved ones. Remember that these violent reactionary right-wingers are not authentic representatives of Islam. Also, contrary to the Republican Reich rumors that have already begun, this attack has nothing to do with Barack Obama.
From Upworthy: Honestly, I think what the Waltons do to people who work for them is criminal. But let’s hear more about that from economist Robert Reich.
Than goodness Robert Reich is the Reich on the left. The Walton family supports and is represented by the Reich on the right, the Republican Reich.
From The New Yorker: In a troubling sign for the 114th Congress, a new poll released on Tuesday indicates that the day-old legislative body is the most hated in the nation’s history.
According to the poll, conducted by the University of Minnesota’s Opinion Research Institute, only eight per cent of those surveyed approved of the job Congress is doing, a scathing indictment of the legislators’ first day on the job.
The 114th Congress started the day on a slightly more positive note, garnering a ten-per-cent approval rating, but after the House of Representatives reëlected John Boehner (R.-Ohio) to a new term as Speaker, the number sank to eight.
On the Senate side, Joni Ernst (R.-Iowa), newly elected to the most despised Congress in American history, said that the low approval number was no cause for concern.
LOL Andy!! Give them time. They’ll get it much lower than that.
Cartoon:
Being the Nevada Leg Hound can be dangerous!
20 Responses to “Open Thread–1/8/2015”
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TY TC. Sorry about the C2 glitch monster.
It is simply appalling about the murders in Paris, and you are of course quite right that this is the work of reactionary right wingers, not decent muslims. The important thing, it seems to me, is for us to keep calm and stop our governments (and individuals) from over-reacting – as this would play into the hands of the extremists by creating martyrs – and help their violent cause not ours, which is one of decency, truth, justice, moderation and tolerance.
Upworthy – doesn't the US government basically give the Waltons billions of dollars every year as they deliberately pay their employees far less than a living wage for working hard all week – they (the Waltons) disgust me – they should pay their way, not be billion dollar welfare queens.
New Yorker – Andy is always good – but it still staggers me that Joni Ernst (pig castrator – according to her ads) got elected.
3:47 No prizes for me.
3:27 I slipped in just before TomCat.
3:13 That is just a tad bit of a prickly situation! I agree with JD "What a way to treat a poor innocent cactus which can't have done anything to deserve it."
Reuters ~ Cartoonists all over the world are standing up for the dead and attacking the terrorists with their mighty pens. Je suis Charlie!
Upworthy ~ The Walton Family and the rest of the uber-wealthy cannot be bothered with facts.
New Yorker ~ That's right, Tom. Just give them time and their approval rating will sink even lower. They think they're doing just fine though. McTurtle thinks the economy recovered because of them. He ignores the stock market dip their first day in office.
Cartoon ~ The Rethugs had plenty to say about how Harry got hurt.
Sorry, but WRT your "cartoon" – I think you could have shown a bit of compassion for someone – anyone – who suffered what is clearly a serious and painful injury.
After all, compassion is one of the virtures we liberals are suppose to have in our favor.
You're right. I wasn't thinking of his pain. I was thinking of the hundreds of times I've thought, "One of thesae days a Republican is going to kick the Leg Hound off the leg, and I had a knee-jerk reaction. It would have been more appropriate for me to wait until after he healed.
Anyone who knows TC knows how compassionate he is. Sometimes when one is intensely compassionate for the underdog one will speak carelessly about those who put the underdog under. I do that myself. I did once on SPLC and was so treated that I will not go back. Furtunately for all of us, TC is a better human being than I am.
4:14 average up a whole second LOL. What a way to treat a poor innocent cactus which can't have done anything to deserve it.
Reuters – So true that it's horrid, and so typical of the far right wing all over the world to kill twelve people because they didn't like one. I have seen "Je Suis Charlie" graphics already and hope and expect to see more. I don't know how one can possibly keep up with all the right wing bombings.
Upworthy – But the Waltons are too engaged in buying the US government to spare a thought for the people who make their success possible.
The New Yorker – I thought the 113th Congress made it down to 3%? Lower than cockroaches? That wasn't on their first day, though. Oh, yeah, it will go down.
Cartoon – Nothing to add.
Regarding traffic noise, yeah, some is white noise; some is not, like sirens. I still swear by my white noise generator – it doesn't need to be very loud to mask noises louder than it is – but if anyone is worried you might sleep through a fire alarm, trust me, you won't. I found a ratings page that looks pretty unbiased at http://www.sleeplikethedead.com/sound-machine-white-noise.html and I would add the tip that noise is pretty much noise – the ones for babies seem to sell the cheapest and no one has to know you use a baby one. Also they have links to information on other ways to cope. My C2/PP friends are way too important to be losing sleep unnecessarily.
Reuters:
French massacre was simply appalling… I have no words to express myself. "Charlie Hebdo is renowned for lampooning ALL radical religion and politicians from left to right." Charlie Hebdo aka "Je Suis Charlie" was expressed throughout the World last night.
Bill Maher on Paris massacre: ‘There are no great religions — they’re all stupid and dangerous’ VIDEO:
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2015/01/bill-maher-on-paris-massacre-there-are-no-great-religions-theyre-all-stupid-and-dangerous/
Upworthy:
The Waltons & Walmart – The biggest welfare queens of all time!
The New Yorker:
GOP/TP don't care about the numbers nor the hatred spewing upon them. All they care about is getting their agenda done.
Joni Ernst has earned a new title of being a female ammosexual person. She carries a gun in her purse. She also believes in standing your ground. Hmmm… wonder how the Secret Service and police officials are going to "womanhandle" her… lol.
Cartoon:
Interview with Harry Reid beginning at 7:40 into video on 1-06-2015 along with the 1st day of the "new" Congress. Yes, Harry really does look like the picture in the cartoon. We need you Harry even with your "humping leg maneuver". lol. http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show
"When it comes to cost, Costco scored a 5 while Sam's Club got a 4." I will be switching to Costco in a few months. 😆
Puzzle — 3:13 That is just a tad bit of a prickly situation! I agree with JD "What a way to treat a poor innocent cactus which can't have done anything to deserve it."
Reuters — I have had this situation in France on my radar all day. It is the act of fanatics. On Care2, one commenter who lives in France said: "Wrong title of this post. It should read: Criminals killed twelve people." The post title is 'Gunmen Kill Cartoonists in Name of Islam'. Here is a petition committing to stand in soldarity with the French people against this last attack. https://secure.avaaz.org/en/stand_with_paris_g/?bfRGrab&v=50953
From news1130.ca "Krieger [Bob Krieger, Canadian political cartoonist] says he was touched by one colleague’s response, in which the man said he did not feel hate toward the perpetrators, only sorrow for those killed." Amen!
TC, when you commented "…contrary to the Republican Reich rumors that have already begun, this attack has nothing to do with Barack Obama.", no please say they aren't that stupid! I went to Right Wing Watch and there was Pat Robertson and reporter Erick Stakelbeck rebuking Obama for failing to blame Islam for the Paris murders. Stakelbeck went on to say “So you have a big problem here when you can’t acknowledge the enemy because the enemy is actually advising you.” OK, the nut jobs are out!
Upworthy — Imagine, $15/hour, 40 hours/week = $31,200 per year. Still not a lot, but if food stamps are no longer needed, then taxes could come down leaving more for individuals. And if other tax scams enjoyed by the Waltons were shut down, the benefits like reduced personal taxes to ordinary Americans would increase the effective money for people to put more back into the economy. And it doesn't need to stop with the Waltons, although that is probably the best place to start.
The New Yorker — Hey Andy, what would the approval rating have been if Louis Goh-merde had been elected Speaker? . . . -40%? That's really a cold statistic.
Cartoon — I didn't think that Harry was that much of a fitness fanatic! At 75 years, he'll have to be more careful.
AVAAZ petition signed in Lynn's comment box above.
Click on the hot link to sign.
"As global citizens from across countries and religions, we stand in solidarity with the people of France in the face of the attacks on the Charlie Hebdo magainze office. We choose to respond by calling for more tolerance, hope, and free speech."
Lynn, the right wingers blame everything on Obama.
I agree in principle, but will not sign avazz petitions becvause of their previous disrespect of my privacy.
TC, you need to take off a full week and ignore us and all your other followers, just rest!
Reuters: It is hard to keep remembering that these people do not represent Islam when so many of them are actively killing other people who do not follow their beliefs. I am trying.
Upworthy: This burns me up, three people with that much money who won't pay a living wage to their employees! They came into our small town twenty years ago and put all the locals out of business. Too often, there is no where else you can find what you need. I avoid them as much as I possibley can and hate it when I run out of printer ink, because the nearest other place I can by it is two hours away. I shared the video on Facebook.
The New Yorker:: Yes, Andy, this Congress will fall far lower than the last one!
Cartoon: Blush!
I'd go nuts!
I sincerely believe you would.
You might go nuts, but you would be a rested nut!