I have a cold or the flu. I’m running a fever and have nasal congestion in addition to severe COPD. I got it from chilling myself outside a bureaucrat’s office. On the other had, it could just be what I get for turning 67 on Friday the 13th. Obviously, this is today’s only article. Some of the material is slightly outdated, but, as bad as I feel, it’s the best I can do.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:22 (average 4:52). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From The New Yorker: Stating that “their continuing hostilities are a threat to world peace,” Iran has offered to mediate talks between congressional Republicans and President Obama.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, made the offer one day after Iran received what he called a “worrisome letter” from Republican leaders, which suggested to him that “the relationship between Republicans and Obama has deteriorated dangerously.”
“Tensions between these two historic enemies have been high in recent years, but we believe they are now at a boiling point,” Khamenei said. “As a result, Iran feels it must offer itself as a peacemaker.”
He said that his nation was the “logical choice” to jumpstart negotiations between Obama and the Republicans because “it has become clear that both sides currently talk more to Iran than to each other.”
He invited Obama and the Republicans to meet in Tehran to hash out their differences and called on world powers to force the two bitter foes to the bargaining table, adding, “It is time to stop the madness.”
I’m afraid it won’t work Andy. Some terrorists are just too far gone for Iran to be able to help.
From Media Matters: Sean Hannity lectured criminal defense and civil rights attorney Tamara Holder about former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s impact on women’s issues, telling Holder, "let me educate you."…
…Hannity’s lecturing became so egregious, his female producer challenged him, asking if he was treating Holder this way because she is a woman:
If women follow the advice Hannity is giving, they will have nothing to do with him.
From Daily Kos: Six years too late, media call congressional Republicans ‘traitors’
Now Republicans are claiming they were just being "cheeky". That’s the truth, if the cheeks in question are the ones, between which their heads are inserted.
Cartoon:
23 Responses to “Open Thread–3/13/2015”
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Oh, TC, sometimes, birthdays are just dates on a calendar. The important thing is that you start to feel better and that you stay with us for say, another 50 years or so….
When we read your posts, it's not because we need to know there are a lot of crazy people out there doing stupid things – it's because we care about YOU and love YOU. You make us smile, you make us think, you make us want to make the world better.
So, drink your liquids, sleep a lot, and save a big celebration for another day when you're perkier. No dumb flu is gonna keep a good man down for long and besides really good birthdays last all week….
I totally agree with you, Arielle!
Things don't have to be celebrated on specific dates–celebrate on a day after you've recovered and are up to celebrating.
AB says it too truly and the research says Hannity's producer probably was right:
http://jezebel.com/women-at-work-were-doing-all-the-office-housework-too-1684271715
Love the petitions asking signers to withdraw their signature and McCain claiming in effect that he didn't know what he'd signed.
I have just read Arielle's post, and I couldn't agree more! Please keep yourself safe TC, no-one (least of all you) wants you to end up in hospital again. (Query – surely if one is born on the 13th of the month, that must mean that the 13th is necessarily lucky!)
Oh yes – I saw on Daily Kos that Rand Paul was saying the letter was supporting President Obama(!!!) – that man couldn't tell the truth if his life depended on it, could he?
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/12/1370441/-Rand-Paul-claims-Iran-letter-was-to-strengthen-Obama-s-hand?detail=email
Please forgive me and my fellow Kentuckians who voted against him in the Senatorial elections for not fighting harder to get Jack Conway elected!
Rand Paul is pathetic in his feeble back-pedalling commentary. And he wants to be POTUS… Is he delusional or what…
4:13 average down to 4:43.
New Yorker – Great idea, actually. The quotes from Iran indicate they are much more rational than Republicans. Except they are probably brown and that will only cause Republicans to become more irrational. Oh, well. It COULD have been a great idea.
Media Matters – Yeah, tell me about it. Been there, done that, had it for lunch, bought the Tshirt. Times like this it's good to be retired.
Daily Kos – Gee, I thought Republicans were so insular (oops, that term is a reference to Britain – make that isolationist) that they wouldn't even understand a British slang word like "cheeky." What, did comeone watch a half an episode of "Downton Abbey" or something?
Cartoon – So, so sorry. I didn't know I was being prophetic when I sent a card that begins "Whenever life gets you down …" Else I wouldn't have done it.
Comments – Can't improve on what Arielle said.
The New Yorker: Yep. Nice idea, AB. Iran mediating. Too far gone for Iran to help. That's exactly right, TC. lol.
Media Matters: This should be labeled as a "barf bag" alert. Hannity kept interrupting so much that the interview became worthless to listen. I quit listening at about half way through. Why I even bothered to listen to it in the fist place is beyond me. Hannity is awful. Why is Hannity on the air in the first place!
Daily Kos: Detailed graphs. Too bad that the media has been so terribly slow in recognizing that the GOP/TP/Koch Party, especially Faux Noise, has been undermining Obama at every turn they could.
Cartoon: TC: Only "67"… You're a young spit-o-fire… lol.
Added Bonus: From Alternet: Tom Cotton (R) Author of The "LETTER" to Iran.
10 Horrifying Facts About GOP Senator Tom Cotton
One of the worst bullies in the Senate?
http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/10-horrifying-facts-about-gop-senator-tom-cotton?akid=12890.176640.aNBhOO&rd=1&src=newsletter1033204&t=10
This tells me that Arkansas has a worse senator than Kentucky. Pitiful, isn't it?
ALL the advice above WRT your natal day has been spot on, so I can't add anything more.
But that won't stop me from wishing you a …
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
It seems silly to say I hope you had a good birthday, when you obviously didn't. Mine is Sunday, the 15th. I will be 70, that means I have lived in 8 decades, what a sobering thought. I just hope you feel better soon.
The New Yorker: Too bad someone can't arrange this meeting to stop the Republican aggression! Andy should address their agenda for Hilary, too, she is really worrying them.
Media Matters: I didn't listen to the video, it is too late for my blood pressure to go up. Hannity is a Fox toy and either has not sense or is totally without morals. Glad his producer called him out. I bet she gets fired.
Daily Kos: Where has the media been during the last six years? I kept waiting for some network or newspaper to call out the Republicans, none did. Wonder why they are doing it this time?
The White House Petition-
File charges against the 47 U.S. Senators in violation of The Logan Act in attempting to undermine a nuclear agreement.
TOTAL SIGNATURES ON THIS PETITION is now at 281,148.
March 13, 2015 @ 11:03 PM.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/file-charges-against-47-us-senators-violation-logan-act-attempting-undermine-nuclear-agreement/NKQnpJS9
Yay! Thanks!
3:07 That's a damn big toothpick!
Puzzle — 3:07 That's a damn big toothpick!
The New Yorker — Ayatollah Khamenei's reply to the 47 Republicanus/Teabaggerum senators who had the gall to write him. With the way the Republicanus/Teabaggerum have been behaving of late, what with inviting Netanyahu to speak before the Congress and now 47 rogue Republicanus/Teabaggerum senators daring to dabble in foreign relations, Khamenei may be the only one capable of setting these neanderthal politicians straight. But I wouldn't blame him for saying "No way!" Andy is always a good read.
Media Matters — Hannity on women? What a joke! This bombastic, sorry excuse for a human being is in many ways just like the countries he is decrying . . . he sees a woman's place as "barefoot, pregnant, in the kitchen and incapable of any cogent thought". This is why he should be declared "Asshole of the Day".
Daily Kos — Hang them high!
Cartoon — So you're having a Crappie Birthday . . . at least you're having fish! Hapee Birday TC!
I hope you don't have what I am still getting over now, and it's been 4 weeks. Starts as a sore throat and head cold with some flu like symptoms. About the end of the 2nd week or beginning of the 3rd you feel better except for the racking cough. The whole thing lasts about 6 weeks according to my doctor. I will start week 5 on Monday. Best thing in the first 2 weeks is lots of rest (I slept 20 hours one day near the beginning) and lots of fluids like water, tea and juice. I hope you get the rest your body needs and you ditch this bug faster than I am.
Going for my "Pi Day" time stamp of 3-14-15:9:23 [3.1415923] – but not sure what time zone TC uses – SO I may be back
Rats … PDT
Oh, well – in the meantime you'll get a kick out of this eBay post because they're SELLING THE STATE OF ALABAMA, and the Description section is hilarious!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331504239076?ssPageName=STRK%3AMESELX%3AIT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649
I'm not an eBay person, so I'm not sure of their level of sense of humor. Who knows, it may be taken down by the time you click on it.
"This listing (331504239076) has been removed, or this item is not available."
I originally saw this on DailyKos, and at that tiime I (dmhlt 66 … SEE, I DO have a name) posted a Comment saying that I grabbed Screen Shots of it because I thought it might be taken down – and it was.
But as it turns out, a fellow Kossack (5280native) was the eBay prankster, AND w/ a few changes demanded by eBay was able to re-post it. So it's now back up:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/State-Of-Alabama-/331504956357
PLUS I'm going to get my "Pi Day" 3.1415923 time stamp after all. YIPPEE!
That is priceless Nameless! But on behalf of all self respecting Canadians, any attempt to import Alabama to Canada will be met with slapshots of frozen hockey pucks at the border . . . and we have an endless suppy of frozen hockey pucks! We are also well supplied with idiots of our own . . . don't need or want more!
TC – look at the Jigzone for Saturday – it is entitled 'Cat Agnese' – but it looks very much like a TomCat we all know and love – and only a day after your birthday! Hope you might be feeling a tiny bit better – take it easy in any case.
Thanks all. Still sick.