Today is the last day, before I start mistyping dates again. I’m waiting for the grocery store to deliver in the next 3.5 hours. The rental bed company should be here between Noon and 1:00 PM. The company delivering my own hospital bed should be here shortly after 2:00 PM. This is today’s only article, mostly because I’m busier than a Republican stealing poor children’s food.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 3:15 (average 5:31). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Upworthy: This short interactive film, titled "Act in Paris," immerses the viewer in a 360° tour of Alaska’s gorgeous melting glaciers.
Don’t worry — you don’t need one of those big clunky virtual reality helmets or Google Cardboard or any other extra-fancy tech to enjoy the experience.
As with all YouTube 360 videos, you can use the directional buttons on the screen or the arrow keys on your keyboard to guide your way around the glacier while you listen to the mellow tone of Leto’s voice.
While outdated, this presentation was too powerful not to share.
From Daily Kos: On June 20, 1979, solar panels were installed on the roof of the White House. It was the first time any president had done so, back when solar energy was just a concept. John Wihbey with Yale’s Climate Connections writes:
"For President Jimmy Carter, it had been nearly three years of tough fighting for clean energy. After a long rollout of green tax credits, the creation of a nascent Energy Department, and a pledge to conduct the “moral equivalent of war” (at the time, spoofed by critics as “MEOW”) against an energy crisis, Carter had built up scars. And there would be more to come. He had had battles with Congress and with his political enemies over green issues. But he had some victories, too, and this day brought one more, a small moment of symbolism."
According to President Carter, the solar energy had, “the power of the sun to enrich our lives as we move away from our crippling dependence on foreign oil.”
And who took them down? It was Saint Ronnie Ray Gun!!
From Alternet: In the nearly seven years since President Obama ordered Guantánamo’s closure, Republicans have blocked him at every turn. Now a new report sheds light on another obstacle in Obama’s way: his own Pentagon. According to Reuters, military brass have imposed bureaucratic hurdles to keep prisoners locked up and prevent foreign governments from taking them in. Scores of prisoners cleared for release have remained imprisoned for years as a result. We are joined by two guests: Charles Levinson, the Reuters reporter who broke this story, and Omar Farah, the lawyer for a Yemeni prisoner who was cleared for release five years ago but remains behind bars due to Pentagon interference.
Haven’t lefties been blaming Obama for this for too long?
Cartoon:
12 Responses to “Open Thread–12/31/2015”
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Enjoy the New Year Celebrations with Family & Friends.
Hugzzz, Jim.
3:59 (5:11) That actually went pretty smoothly – which leads me to believe it just takes me that long to manipulate (mousipulate?) the pieces.
Upworthy – It's too bad we can't send all the REpublican climate deniers to live in a colony right on the cutting edge of this melting.
DKos – Of course it was Saint Ronnie Ray-gun who took them down. He was the next occupant. Of course they wouldn't wait. Republicans just love spending other people's money.
AlterNet – I thought you would be on this. As a veteran it makes me furious. Everyone in the Pentagon from Major or GS-9 up should be in prison for sedition right now. Yes, I know that would be impossible. I agree with you Obama does not deserve the blame he has been getting. What do you think would have happened if he had made the sedition public right from the get-go?
Cartoon – Honey, you have to put some IN before expecting it to come OUT!
3:38 I know what you mean, Joanne. If I grab a piece too fast or move the piece to fast, I drop it.
3:14 I have the same problem. I thought it was just me!
1 sec.!!
More on Gitmo:
Happy New Year, folks.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/01/us/pentagon-curbs-use-of-psychologists-with-guantanamo-detainees.html?smprod=nytcore-ipad&smid=nytcore-ipad-share
Pentagon Curbs Use of Psychologists With Guantánamo Detainees
By JAMES RISEN<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/r/james_risen/index.html> DEC. 31, 2015
You have a very, very busy day ahead. Hope all goes good.
Happy New Years, All !!
Thanks, Tom.
Sounds like you had a busy day. Get some rest!
Upworthy: I hope the Climate talks in Paris actually show some improvement for us. It was warmer in Alaska yesterday than it was in New Hampshire.
Daily Kos: Jimmy Carter was one of the worse maligned presidents in my life time and this is an example of why. He advocated for what was right instead of what was politically expedient. Reagan just had to smile and they fell at his feet to worship. I will never understand this.
Alternet: Guantanamo is and has been a disgrace to our country since its inception. Is there no recourse for these people who are held for no good reason?
Cartoon: Those days are long gone in this house!
Happy New Year! May we have peace and hopefully prosperity.
I hope your 2016 started with everything in order, your food on the shelf and in the fridge, your beds swapped and ready to be slept in and you with the feeling that you're ready for the coming election year, TomCat. Because there's still 12 clowns in the car and Donald is setting his sights on Democrats soon, so we aint seen nothing yet.
Upworthy: I know the glaciers are melting fast, but these videos have to wait till I get a faster connection.
Daily Kos: Jimmy Carter was a man and a president ahead of his time on many different levels.
Alternet: It's again too obvious that Obama may be Commander in Chief but that doesn't mean the Pentagon isn't going out of its way to make any promise Obama has made, and which involves them, absolutely impossible to fulfill. The Pentagon works for Republicans only, that much is clear. It's utterly disgusting how both Congress and the Pentagon have ruined the lives of so many people just to cover up the mistakes of the previous, Republican, president and have tried to turn Obama's presidency into a failure. Sadly they seem to have won on Guantanamo.
Cartoon: The new year is already a day old here.
We'll your groceries are likely in and away, the old bed is gone, and you're sleeping in your comfy new bed! "…busier than a Republican stealing poor children’s food." Amen! But please don't be a Republican!
Puzzle — 3:14 I have the same problem. I thought it was just me!
Upworthy — Very cool photography, but very distressing that these beautiful glaciers, lifeblood of the planet, are schrivelling up before our eyes.
Daily Kos — Reagan was an idiot! He didn't know putty from shit. The White House should set an example with solar panels, especially now that the technology is further along.
Alternet — It seems that the Pentagon is playing politics, but that is not their function. I agree with JD.
Cartoon — Have you been a naughty Puddy Tat this evening?
Thanks all. The only problems were that I didn't get the sheets nthat were supposed to come with the bed, so I'm sleeping on a bare matress, and my helpere friend couldn't come. I'm pooped. Hugs and thanks!
rest well TC . and i guess no sheets on the matress is better than 3 sheets to the wind .hope you have them soon . be well T C