Day 95. This is going to be a busy week, because tomorrow is haircut day, Tuesday is a volunteer day in prison. And Wednesday is grocery delivery day. I also just learned that a close personal friend has breast cancer, so I’m spending some time on the Johns Hopkins site to learn enough to listen intelligently. Thoughts and prayers, please.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:42 (average 4:53). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: It’s all so easy if you’re part of the one percent.
(Reuters) – I asked a financial services executive recently how our retirement saving system can be considered a success, considering that all but the highest-income households are approaching retirement with next to nothing saved.
His reply: "They don’t have any money while they’re working, so why would they have any money in retirement?"
It’s just that simple. If, like 45 percent of Americans, you’re of working age and you don’t have a retirement plan, well that’s your problem.
This is how Republicans REALLY care for the rest of us.
From Haaretz: Beware: Republican Jews on the warpath
A campaign of intimidation is underway to stop Democratic lawmakers from skipping Netanyahu’s upcoming Congress speech. God, save us from our Jews.
Note that this is an Israeli source. Israelis should also beware Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians, whose support for Israel stems from their desire to inspire an apocalyptic conflict and see all but 144,000 Jews transformed into crispy critters in their premillennial tribulation.
From Politico: The Republican 2016 presidential field includes three politicians — George Pataki, Jim Gilmore and Bob Ehrlich — who last won election when the flip phone was hot technology. Also making moves to run are John Bolton, who is best remembered as an architect of George W. Bush’s WMD strategy and has never held elected office, and Peter King, the longtime Long Island congressman who’s made his biggest headlines hitting conservatives.
And don’t forget about former Hewlett-Packard CEO and failed California senatorial candidate Carly Fiorina — another accomplished figure who’s perceived to have next to no chance of becoming the Republican standard-bearer.
Bring on the clowns! All aboard!!
Cartoon:
The Republican Party thinks it still exists.
24 Responses to “Open Thread–2/8/2015”
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Kudos on 95!
You are a good friend and I trust you discovered that treatment recommendations will vary based on the type of cancer it is (estrogen sensitive or not, et al). I will add you both to my prayers.
I read where at least 40 had publicly stated they would not be there for the speech–including Biden who will be elsewhere on an official trip. And I read where an Israeli politician believes it might ensure Bibi is not re-elected.
Carly failed to get money beyond her own in her failed election–so who'd want to fund her now? Hope that is true of her peers mentioned who also do not deserve media attention for anything positive.
Your cartoon reminds me of the huge sign for Jeffersonia someone has on their property on one of my primary routes…sigh
3:32 I'm not a fan of the colour. I orefer the bright hues of the begonias.
3:06 I tried not to dally at the dahlia.
3:01 I loves me some flowers!
Last! 🙁
5:03 average still 4:53. Dahlias are often named after people, a fact Agatha Christie used to good effect in "The Four Suspects," a Miss Marple story in the "Tuesday Club Murders." TC, you are indeed a good friend, and JL's advice is perfect. I will send thoughts and prayers of my own though.
Daily Kos – And that, ladies and gentlemen, is why I never earned (and never will earn) the CPCU designation. I passed seven of eight courses with fine scores. But I knew I could never pass the Personal Financial Planning course because it just plain turned my stomach. (If you use a personal financial planner, you have probably made a deal with the devil. Just keep an eye on your soul.)
Haaretz – God, save us all from Republicans. But I think I know a few Democrats who won't intimidate very easily. In fact, they bite back. Politely but pointedly.
Politico – The fact that these names are being mentioned at all shows, I believe, that Republicans know what deep kim chee they are in when it comes to their "front runners."
Cartoon – I guess I never realized that West Virginia was not a separate state then. Always something to learn here – and that's a good thing.
From Wikipedia:
"The U.S. state of West Virginia was formed out of western Virginia and added to the Union as a direct result of the American Civil War (see History of West Virginia). In the summer of 1861, Union troops under General George McClellan drove off Confederate troops under General Robert E. Lee. This essentially freed Unionists in the northwestern counties of Virginia to form their own government as a result of the Wheeling Convention. After Lee's departure, western Virginia continued to be a target of Confederate raids, even after the creation of the new state in 1863."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_Virginia_in_the_American_Civil_War
Daily Kos:
Do away with chained CPI. Increase COLA. Strengthen Social Security, Cap on the highest wage earners in receiving SS, Raise the minimum wage, Equal pay for women. No SS moneys into Wall St. (They'll steal it). raise SS deductions. Learn how to save.
Haaretz:
Let those Congresscritters sort themselves out. Let their own conscience guide them all, whether they be Demos or GOP'ers. Butcher Ben must not be allowed to disrupt the diplomatic talks between USA and Iran.
Politico:
Let the circus train begin… The clowns are running amuck! And each one of them will be flailing off, one by one. There are no viable candidates to represent the GOP/TP/Koch Party.
Cartoon:
Is it the Confederate Party or the KKK..
I witness this moving from Maine to Florida.
I agree Jim, Scrap the Cap on Wealthy. 😆
Posted to Newsvine… 😆
You really do have a busy week ahead. Thoughts and prayers for your friend.
Daily Kos: I shared this one on Facebook. It really is the way they think of us, and the way our ancestors were thought of when they worked for bread crumbs and were told to be grateful for them. That is where the one percent want the rest of us now.
Haaretz: I tried to read the whole article but couldn't without subscribing. I hope, if there is such a campaign that it does not succeed. Any Democrat who doesnt boycott this should switch parties. This is nothing more than a ploy by Boehner to disrespect the President.
Politico: That is a boat load of potential candidates, none of whom have a chance. It would be nice, though, for those of us who vote blue if one of them got the nomination.
Cartoon: I am especially proud that Kentucky was not one of them. Although, our citizens were divided and fought on both sides, our legislature did not secede.
A possible work-around for Haaretz:
When visiting a site that has a paywall or wants you to subscribe or limits the times you can visit in a month,from a direct link at another site (like here) – simply do a Google search, and use THAT as a resource link. Most sites will give full access to Google searches.
I put in my Google search window, with quotes as shown:
[haaretz "A campaign of intimidation is underway to stop Democratic lawmakers from skipping Netanyahu’s upcoming Congress speech. God, save us from our Jews."]
… And got to view the whole article. I know it works for Washington Post and New Yorker (although I subscribe to the New Yorker).
Puzzle — 3:32 I'm not a fan of the colour. I orefer the bright hues of the begonias.
Daily Kos — An observation from this Canuck — Too often as I am out and about on the internet, I come across an American attitude that goes something like this "I've got mine. You're on your own." Now this same sentiment seems to be everywhere, not just the US. But it also seems to be much more prevalent in the US. When legislators lead the charge like the Republicanus/Teabaggerum do, it calls into question the whole concept of community, fairness and justice. The playing field is not even, especially with so much money in politics. Until the people are ready to make fundamental changes, the working and middle class will always be cut out.
Haaretz — This whole diplomatic and foreign relations quagmire, had Boehner not gone outside the bounds of protocol, would not exist. As this debacle grows, I am becoming more convinced that Boehner had a plan, right from the beginning, to separate American Jews from the Democratic party. It would seem that if they can't get more minority voters or more women to side with the Republicanus/Teabaggerum, then they'll go after the American Jewish vote. And Bibi's desire for stopping Iran plays right into this whole charade. As I said in another thread, Boehner and Bibi, they both have their heads so far up the other's ass that they will never see the light of day again!
Whether the fault belongs with Boehner or Bibi it doesn't really matter. There are 2 willing people, one to deceive and the other to be deceived, both with their own agendas. The deception occurs where their agendas intersect.
Sorry about cutting off . . . computer issue and I was afraid of losing eveything.
Politico — The Republicanus/Teabaggerum party needs more than this.
And here comes the clown car now!
Cartoon — February 8, 2015 . . . and they're still here! 154 years and counting.
Thoughts and prayers for your friend is without question.
What is her first name or nickname?
Looks like you're a busy little beaver this week. Don't overdo it! Thoughts and prayers for your friend. Take time to smell the catnip.
Daily Kos ~ They could care less about the little folk. We are only needed to perform their menial tasks and they wish they didn't have to pay minimum wage. Do you think that's why so many hire illegals as nannies, gardeners, etc?
Haaretz ~ They are starting to bow out of attendig the speech very slowly. I really hope none of them go. I subjected myself to Morning (Jewish) Joe today. I do that once in a while. He was begging Dems to skip the speech because he thinks it will hurt them in the next election. I seriously doubt it.
Politico ~ Let the Circus begin!
Cartoon ~ They still think they won the war, don't they?
So sorry about your friend TC – have added them to my prayer list. (NB these days even a few men can get breast cancer….).
Daily Kos – patently the heartless man quoted was also a sociopath.
Haaretz – you are correct TC – all the Far Right seem to have an obsession with bringing on an apocalypse/the Rapture – I do hope the security services are watching them and are ready to stop them – but their record so far does not inspire much confidence.
Politico – another lot of weirdos – but why don't the Right Wingers see it?
Oh TC, please forgive me, I quite forgot – there is a truly excellent site called Breast Cancer Choices – it doesn't promote anything, just puts out some possibilities.
http://breastcancerchoices.org/
Also lack of various minerals and vitamins have been implicated in the appearance of cancer – particularly lack of iodine and lack of selenium and lack of magnesium – most of us lack these with our modern diets and high stress lives…. I have heard of many people who have conquered cancer by adding these three (and a few vitamins) in sufficient quantities to their diet.
One excellent woman, Stephanie Buist, is now a Naturopath and conquered thyroid cancer after her third treatment failed (she had had radioactive treatment etc) – and she then went to look at alternative treatments and found that Lugols Iodine was a marvelous way to get iodine into the body and she is cancer free and has been so for many years. This is her account http://steppingstonesliving.com/about/
Thank you Pat A, Wonderful story… 😆
Bless you Rixar!
Add one more to the clown car. (of REpug.nut cases).
Tom Tillis. North Carolinas very own TYPHOID MARY!!! I know that there are ignorami. in every state BUT who in hell voted for this block headed idiot!??? (see his comment on hand washing!.)Hope that he never has to have surgery.performed by an M.D. of the same opinion.
That is good Avril – 'Typhoid Tom' or 'Typhoid Tillis' – that should be popular (whereas I do hope he won't!).
Thanks all. Hugs to all!!