It’s official. The NWS has issued an excessive heat warning for Portland through Wednesday evening. It’s a good thing I rescheduled those medical appointment, because I accidentally avoided the surprise heat wave. On the other hand, I’m sure I rescheduled them to coincide with the next surprise heat wave. ARGH!! I slept most of the evening, so I was up moist of the night. I’ll need to hunker down under the A/C soon, but I have a ton of volunteer work to get done.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 2:20 (average 4:40). To do it. click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Daily Kos: Living with a cat for the first time, you quickly pick up on its behavioral quirks, many of which are common among other cats. What you soon find out is that cats aren’t Republican. Here are 12 reasons why not:
1. Cats are curious about what you do in your bedroom, but they don’t try to legislate away your freedom to do it.
2. Cats may take away your cushion, but they’ll give it back to you with a gentle push.
3. Cats give you attention and sympathy when you’re sick.
4. Females are treated with importance in the cat world.
5. Cats make use of solar power, often all day long.
6. Cats lick their own problems and take care of other cats too.
What purrrrfect logic! I shared six reasons. Click through for the other six. 
From TPM: As we move closer to next month’s vote on the Iran nuclear deal, I wanted to note some parts of the story that are not getting sufficient attention in the mainstream press. Even in Israel, where the the P5+1 deal is quite unpopular, there is increasing concern, at least among elites, at just how far Benjamin Netanyahu is willing to go in damaging US-Israel ties in his war against the Obama administration over the Iran deal. As JJ Goldberg aptly puts it, the campaign of incitement and maliciously phony charges of anti-Semitism against the White House are "effectively turning American Jews into Netanyahu’s cannon fodder" in war against Obama.
Too true.
As Goldberg notes, charges that the President is a crypto-Muslim or an anti-Semite have remained until now at the very fringes of American political discourse. But as the anti-deal forces have struggled to make their case on the merits, they have now resorted to pulling the anti-Semitism canard deep into the mainstream, with almost comically tendentious claims that the President is "dog whistling" or Jew-baiting in his campaign to win support for the deal in Congress.
The big irony here is that the same Republican Supply-side pseudo-Christians, who are screaming anti-Semitism loudest, are campaigning to bring about the "end times". They preach that 144,000 Jewish witnesses, 12,000 from each tribe, will be saved. Other that those, they preach that all Jews, everywhere, that had not converted to follow Republican Supply-side Jesus, prior to the big-poof, will become crispy critters! It speaks volumes that “Butcher Bibi” (R-IS) is willing to ally himself with these Dominionist Republican hypocrites.
From Crooks ands Liars: [Jeb Bush keeps forgetting] That outside the wingnut bubble (and outside the Beltway Media bubble that enfolds it) not everyone has agreed to go along with the fairy tale that history began on January 20, 2009.
Kudos to Rachel! Believe it or not, I made today’s cartoon several hours before seeing this. With Strike Three having advisors like "Any Lie for War" Wolfowitz, I think I’m spot on!
Cartoon:
27 Responses to “Open Thread–8/17/2015”
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4:00 Maybe fish in the water?
It shocked me this morning that this petition had fewer than 800 signatures. That may have changed by now – I hope so. http://action.groundswell-mvmt.org/petitions/tell-bloomington-city-attorney-sandra-johnson-to-drop-charges-against-black-lives-matter-protesters
A couple of days ago we were discussing the drought and water harvesting. Mother Jones just drew my attention to a story on it: http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2015/07/rainwater-harvesting-drought-california Basically, two things: it's only illegal statewide in Colorado (naturally) though there may be local laws, and – there are two plumbing codes used as the basis of plumbing codes nationally. One includes water harvesting, one does not. If the code where you live covers water harvesting, follow it. If it doesn't, you may have to apply for a waiver.
DKos – There are Republicats – we had one who tried to kill me a few times – but certainly most are Democats.
TPM – It's clear, and has been for some time, that Bibi is a Dominionist – just not a "Christian" Dominionist. And of course ISIL are all Muslim Dominionists. I could go on but I'm sure everyone will recognize others without any help.
Crooks and Liars – The problem is, of course, that they think they were absolutely right and deny all facts to the contrary, and Faux Noise gives them a platform, and people who know no better then believe them. Talk about a big lie.
Love the kitty list.
I read this morning that the intial UN verification of Iran's nuclear supplies had been done. I like those that provide me the growing list of supporters in Congress–Feinstein is one and she usually aligns with Israel's preferences.
Another email let me know about war having become illegal in 1928, not that our war mongers care about international law.
I signed this morning Joanne–I followed the original story via MN press and was outraged and supported several local efforts, that appear to have had partial success related to the most absurd charges. Nothing happened in that demonstration that required them to close the mall, especially with how huge it is compared to the minority of the open space used for the protest.
I know people who have their washing machine water dump into their garden–need to be sure you are using water softener or bleach, etc. and only eco-friendly detergent.
Probably need to insert a "NOT" in there
"… you are NOT using water softener or bleach …"
Dang! Soft white catnip?
3:45 I went for a swim. The water was so nice, I just floated around for a while. It was too nice to worry about where "The Cat" was.
3:33 I was more concerned about getting to some shade than to messing with Puddy Tat!
Cats? Sorry TomCat. <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/61687.html">Here</a> is another opinion.
Sorry about the link. Try this one:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/61687.html
I will try again to embed it <a href=-"http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/61687.html">HERE</a>.
Oh well, I am messing up something. Must be caused by a cat.
You put a "-" after the "=".
Politico has a lot of Republican propaganda. It seems they have taken uo dawg propaganda too.
Of course Republicans think cats are Republican. In their fantasy world, they don't see themselves as the sheep that the Top Dogs herd. But you notice they don't want to be around them. They are terrified of any creature that doesn't simply do what it is told.
Crooks ands Liars:
Rachel is right: Wolfowitz, O'Hanlon, Dick Cheney, George W. Bush (Strike 2), Rumsfeld, Rice and all other architects of foreign war policies should be barred from ever holding any political, cabinet office again. If anything, they all should be taken to the Hague for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
"Jeb Bush heckled over Iraq at Iowa State Fair". Jeb Bush (Strike 3) is saying that he is getting some advice from Paul Wolfowitz and other people from the last two GOP administrations. He tried to spin his way out of it but awkwardly.
What really gets me is that US leaves war weapons behind saying that it costs too much to ship them all back to US. Maybe if we didn't leave war weapons behind, the enemies there would have nothing fight wars with meaning no weapons. Is USA foreign policy, military that dumb to leave weapons behind for the enemy to scoop up and use them against us and other countries…
Our foreign policies have often been dictated by corporate interests which have given USA a bad name around the world. At most times – They suck.
Our country, USA, simply cannot afford to have another bush in the White House.
Cartoon: Appropriate for Jeb Bush's foreign policies – more war!.
Very good graphic on the cartoon!
Scary … very, VERY scary – but well done!
Thank you. Getting the faded face just wrong (nothing about him is right) was difficult.
I hope you found housing for your guy. Surely the heat waves have to end. We are back in monsoon season. Rained all day today and is to rain the rest of the week. Not supposed to happen in August!
Daily Kos: I love this one. I have lived with cats and Democrats all my life and these rules fit both. Another thing that is not on here, cats will care for each other when they are sick. At least mine have. I lost my 21 year old Corky while my boys, Oreo and Sparky, were about three. They were so careful around her, would go over and wash her ears and make small sounds. You could tell she appreciated it, too.
TPM: It appears that Bibi will do anything he can to hold on to his power. Boehner and his crew are probably encouraging the anti-Semite charges. They disrespected the office of President and still do. I am so tired of all the rant about Obama's religion. According to our constitution, he could be an atheist and still be eligible to be President. Why don't any of them actually read the words used to establish our country?
Crooks and Liars> I agree with Rachel. The only thing Wolfowitz, Rumsfeld, and Dubya should be deciding is what pillow to use on their jail cell cot. They lied and lied and lied, and nearly destroyed our country in the process. Now they scream about Isis, which would never have existed had we not invaded Iraq. War mongers should be isolated from the rest of our community allowed only to spew their ideas to each other.
Cartoon: I am afraid that if Jeb gets elected, this cartoon will be for real!
I cleared a path. If both trhe guy and his PO follow it up, he'll have a place.
Thank you.
Jo this isn't the guy you told me about.
Puzzle — 3:33 I was more concerned about getting to some shade than to messing with Puddy Tat!
Daily Kos — . . . with a few amendments . . .
1. Cats are curious about what you do in your bedroom, but they don't try to legislate away your freedom to do it. . . . BUT THEY WILL OFTEN INSIST ON PARTICIPATING AS WELL!
2. Cats may take away your cushion, but they'll give it back to you with a gentle push. . . . AND SOME ADDITIONAL CUSHIONING ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE WEARING BLACK!
3. Cats give you attention and sympathy when you're sick. . . . BUT IT IS EXPECTED TO BE RECIPROCATED!
4. Females are treated with importance in the cat world. . . . I KNOW I AM TREATED WITH DEFERENCE!
5. Cats make use of solar power, often all day long. . . . HOW CAN I HOOK MY CAT UP TO THE POWER GRID?
6. Cats lick their own problems and take care of other cats too. . . . AND YOU THOUGHT MOUSIE BREATH WAS BAD!
7. Cats don't blame black and brown cats for their troubles. . . . OF COURSE NOT! THEY BLAME THE DOG!
8. Cats know how to ration their resources. OF COURSE! IT'S EAT, BATHE, POTTIE, SLEEP AND THEN SART THE ROUTINE AGAIN! SLEEP TAKES THE MOST TIME.
9. Fat cats are not at the top of the cat hierarchy, are not cat role models, and have more trouble surviving and thriving, not less. . . . UNFORTUNATELY TRUE, BUT THEY'RE STILL BETTER AT SURVIVING AND THRIVING THAN DOGS!
10. While Republicans blindly follow authority, it is said that getting Democrats to act in unison is like herding cats. . . . DAMN NEAR IMPOSSIBLE!
11. Cats don't foul their own nest. . . . BUT DON'T PISS THEM OFF OR THEY'LL LIKELY FOUL YOURS!
12. Cats are popular and well-liked on the Internet and elsewhere. . . . AMEN!!!
TPM — I for one am tired of "the anti-Semitism canard". I read a peice in the Huffington Post which tries to explain what anti-semitism is and is not. http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/tyler-levitan/handling-of-antisemitism-_b_7984600.html And I agree with the author, Tyler Levitan, who is the campaigns director for IJF https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Jewish_Voices_(Canada). One could I suppose, argue that Butcher Ben is anti-semitic in his willingness to sacrifice Jewish lives first before giving diplomacy a fair chance.
Crooks and Liars — Great rant by Rachel!
At the very least, they should all be taken out behind the wood shed for a good old fashioned and long whooping!
Cartoon — JEB's foreign policy in one easy picture!
If anything at all, they (Wolfowitz, O'Hanlon, Dick Cheney, George W. Bush (Strike 2), Rumsfeld, Rice) all should be dropped into the black abyss of the crapper, in the outhouse, never to be seen nor heard from again. But, the world needs to see justice served and done much like Saddam Hussein, Bin Laden and many others including those from the Nuremberg Trials.
The Cost of the “Good Deal” Jeb Bush Says Americans Got for Ousting Saddam Hussein
"Don’t take Jeb Bush with you when you buy a car. You’re likely to come home with a rusted Yugo." "Clearly Jeb Bush is not much of a negotiator."
http://www.allgov.com/news/us-and-the-world/the-cost-of-the-good-deal-jeb-bush-says-americans-got-for-ousting-saddam-hussein-150817?news=857214
Amen to all. On #7, ofr course we do! It's always the dawg's fault!!
TY TC
Sorry to hear about a new heat wave, TomCat. Felines are just not equiped to function well in too much heat, so try to keep as cool as possible and go into survival mode.
Thankls all! Heat hunkered hugs!
TC, as usual, the cartoon pretty much says it all. And let's ship the Bush Bad Boys off to the World Court. They don't like them any more than we do! They wrecked the entire world's economy!
Thanks Beth!