Well today was turkey day! I say "was" because I have already consumed a wonderfully moist turkey dinner with all the trimmings and a piece of pumpkin pie. I am satiated! I can still smell that turkey! So now to finish up with that smell firmly planted in my mind.
Puzzle — Today’s took me 4:40 (average 5:51). To do it, click here. How did you do? For those that don't know, we always do the 48 piece classic.
Short Takes
Upworthy — Kids try to tell us things all the time that they don't know how to describe.
They don't have the words to say it. Or they're embarrassed, or terrified, like the child in this video. (And while the stat at the end of the video is specifically about India, I've included a look at other countries and here at home below.)
It pays to be very aware of what is going on with kids. Listen to what theysay, and don't say.
Alternet — Why is Ryan likely to take the bait and become the next speaker? As he wrote in 2012, grousing about compromise after compromise that he had to vote for, “Taken together, these experiences taught me valuable lessons about how the House and Senate operate, and I came away with an even deeper appreciation for the role of congressional leadership. Who holds the top post really matters because the decisions they make at the outset determine the votes that ever member has to take and how much good we can achieve for the country and our fellow citizens.”
What follows are six examples of the “good we can achieve” if Ryan becomes speaker.
Read the entire Alternet article to get a flavour of Ryan's “good we can achieve”. I don't think that there will much of any good coming out Washington with a severely conservative Congress. November 2015 is the time to make some changes at the state and local levels. 2016 is the time to make big changes in the Congress for a more balanced Congress, a progressive Congress.
Huffington Post — Iran's parliament passed a bill on Tuesday supporting a nuclear deal with world powers, signaling a victory for the government over conservative opponents of the agreement and clearing the way for it to be implemented.
Many lawmakers strongly opposed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that President Hassan Rouhani's government reached with world powers on July 14, and Tuesday's vote removes an obstacle to putting the agreement into practice.
The article goes on to state that if sanctions are not removed as per the agreement, Iran will resume its nuclear activities. With saber rattling by Sunni Saudi Arabia towards Shite Iran and Russia, there is more chance of a bigger war in the Middle East. All parties must stick to the deal. Spend some time reading The Historic Deal that Will Prevent Iran from Acquiring a Nuclear Weapon .
My Universe —
10 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread 13/10/2015”
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Candy jar puzzle time; 6:14.
I am awfully upset because the debate is on CNN so I can't see it.
You are doing a wonderful job Lynn, thank you.
6:38 I knew before even starting that this one would put me in a coma. I'm lucky to have escaped to tell the tale.
Upworthy – it is hard for an asult who didn't ecperience abuse as a child to see the signs in their own children or children around them. For one thing, it seems unthinkable – until it is out. One thing, if you think this is a problem which is getting worse, think again. Child sexual abuse has been happening for centuries, even milennia. What's happening now is that we are starting to learn about it. I say "starting" because as yet we are only taking baby steps – all that is possible because no one knows what strides would look like. We are all feeling our way in the dark.
Alternet – OK, yes, it's possible. And if it happens, it will be terrible. But I think, though he is a con man, he is not conned – he knows if he takes the speakership now he will be torn limb from limb by Congressional savage beasts. One of his close associates recently stated he doesn't want the speakership because "He's not a f***ing moron." It's easy to think, because his platform is moronic, that he is. But platform is different from self-interest. I don't think he will accept it, any more than Elizabeth Warren would accept the Presidential nomination.
HuffPo – Qualified good news. We are still walking on eggs, though. Or land mines. Maybe we need some Gambian pouched rats. http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/19/opinion/sunday/nicholas-kristof-the-giant-rats-that-save-lives.html
Universe – Hard to believe he didn't see that coming.
Sorry my take on Paul Ryan and the speakerships partly overlaps with your, Joanne. I'didn't see your comment untill I had submitted mine.
Your Thanksgiving meal sounded delicious, Lynn. Thank you for sharing your enjoyment with us; I hope you were able to savor the taste and smell long after.
Upworthy: Child sexual abuse is one of the most difficult things to pick up on for parents AND professionals. It is very, very difficult indeed to find the right balance, and to pick up on ALL cases of sexual abuse but not at the expense of wrongly accusing innocents of abusing. The numbers are horrifying and we all must be more alert, we simply can't be alert enough, but we also need to verify what we have picked up on with others and with professionals before we start pointing fingers. Fear in general is driving most communities now and this fear in some cases tends to let people either completely ignore signals or to overreact to wrongly assumed abuse. In either case people are damaged by the consequences. By all means, be more alert, but as soon as you think a child is or has been sexually abused, don't start "interrogating" the child, but get professional help on how to deal with it.
Alternet: No doubt with Paul Ryan as the new speaker, Democrats would be wishing for the days of Boehner to return soon. But it seems that we don't have to worry about that unless Ryan sees his quest for the presidency aborted (yes, pun intended) in the next few weeks. Speaker of the House is apparently a dead-end road for career politicians like Ryan: Why doesn't Paul Ryan want to be Speaker? Says pal, 'Because he's not a f**king moron'. But then again: BREAKING: Paul Ryan now saying he's considering running for Speaker of the House. He sounds just about as wishy-washy as Boehner, doesn't he. Perhaps his "sponsors"have let him know they're pulling the plug on his presidential campaign?
Huffington Post: It looks like the Iranian parliament is made up from the same elements as the American House is, but thank goodness with just a few more sane and realistic law makers in their midst. Is there no one among the Democrats willing to point out that it is the conservatives on BOTH sides who disagree with the nuclear deal and continue their belligerence? I'm glad the Huffington Post also speaks of the deal with world powers, making it very clear that American Republicans are the only ones who are still trying to make it come undone now all other world powers have agreed to it, including Iran. Give it a rest, Republicans, America was only part of the solution, but is now all of the problem.
My Universe: Simon and all others who are owned by a cat and have a Desktop PC/laptop, live in the same universe. I just had to go and feed my fu(r)ries after picking one of them of off my keyboard for the third time.
The first US Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act was passed about 50 years ago–we should no longer be saying we are just starting to deal with it.
It appears Ryan is in a lose-lose situation looking for an option where he won't lose.
There is none so blind as those who will not see and apparently conservative politicians in many countries are good at blinding themselves.
Upworthy: This is such a tragedy. When I worked at the school(s), counselors gave us pointers to look for, in cases of abuse. Social Services, CASA, fostering children is a step in the right direction towards helping a child emotionally, as well as advocating for their rights. I pray that these children get the help they need.
Looking forward to the Debate tonight.
My Universe: Mine likes the 'clacking' of the keys, but loves a rolled up paper ball better.
Happy Thanksgiving, enjoy the rest of your day. Thanks, Lynn.
Loved the Simon flick! But that's one thing I've never had a problem with. Then again, there's ALWAYS some dry cat food in the bowl for him.
But Nike is obsessed w/ twistie ties. He'll hop on the counter (when I'm not there) and work them off the holder they're wrapped around. (How he manages to unloosen them to get them off, I'll never know.) And then they almost always end up in his food bowl.
Good to have a hobby, I guess.
Upworthy: This is heartbreaking. I shared the article on Facebook, maybe someone will read it who needs to know. I have a cousin who was sexually abused by one of his many "stepfathers" and his mother would never believe him. He has had a miserable life.
Alternet: Paul Ryan as Speaker of the House, will be our worst nightmare. He is such a hypocrite, having benefited from Social Security benefits himself, he now wants to gut it for everyone else. Reports show that charter schools are less effective than public schools, but no one is making a profit off public schools. I sincerely hope he is not the next Speaker.
Huffington Post: I bookmarked this article to read later, up too late tonight.
My Universe: I love Simon's cat. I have had some of these same experiences. Gracie is currently asleep on my feet.
Thanks, Lynn. TC will certainly appreciate all you are doing to keep his blog going.
We are going to our son's house for Thanksgiving this year. Probably no turkey, but lots of health food.
Upworthy –
"4. In the United States, a child is raped about every two minutes.
5. Every eight minutes in the U.S., child protective services responds to a report of sexual abuse."
– a brief look at those numbers says that three quarters of those abused can never manage to speak out about what happened.
Huff Post – God grant that there is peace and the agreement holds.
Bless you for everything you do for others Lynn both on the net and in real life, but especially for 'Simon's Cat' – that hasn't actually happened to me, but it has to a friend of mine. We all need cheering up now and again, and Simon's Cat is lovely!