Open Thread–11/24/2010

Yesterday I replied to comments and returned visits.  We’re having a cold spell in Portland, and the temperature change is setting off my COPD, so I felt drained and breathless most of the day.  However, I did take the time to try to help an author friend with a video trailer for her book and to call one of this blog’s most loyal readers, who had been feeling down.  Today I hope to keep up, but I have some work to do preparing tomorrow’s turkey dinner, which will be sharing with a woman in my biulding who is more disabled than I.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today it took me 3:32 (average 4:51).  I had an unfair advantage.  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Lefty Bloggers Plus:

Remembering the religious aspects of the holiday the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb will hold televised services tomorrow from Detroit and Dallas.  Players, be sure to set your lineups.

Short Takes:

From Raw Story: Fox News has declined to air an ad advocating for repeal of the "don’t ask, don’t tell" policy that bans gays from serving openly in the military, a source at the public policy think tank Palm Center informs Raw Story.

The 30-second spot by the Center, called "Business As Usual," includes testimony from military leaders of NATO allies arguing that lifting the ban on gay soldiers is a "non-event" and does not diminish combat effectiveness.

"Fox’s reason was that the policy is ‘on hold’ so plans for repeal are ‘incorrect’," Cathy Renna, a spokeswoman for the Center, told Raw Story.

What a BS excuse!  I have seen plenty of corporate campaign ads on MSNBC, even during the progressive shows, but MSNBC presents a broad spectrum of views.  Foxtopia, on the other hand, shows once again that they are the Republican Reichsministry of Propaganda.

From The Vile Plutocrat: Despite a stubbornly sour national economy congressional members’ personal wealth collectively increased by more than 16 percent between 2008 and 2009, according to a new study by the Center for Responsive Politics of federal financial disclosures released earlier this year.

While some members’ financial portfolios lost value, no need to bemoan most lawmakers’ financial lot: Nearly half of them — 261 — are millionaires, a slight increase from the previous year, the Center’s study finds.

Perhaps the reason Congress is so inclined to support the rich is class loyalty.

From Right Wing Watch:  

Randall Terry to Run for Presdient So He Can Air Graphic Anti-Abortion Ads Nationwide.

This is the guy behind so much of the violence against clinics and doctors that privide this service.  Networks, by law, cannot refuse to air or edit ads from candidates for public office.

Cartoon:

What’s on tomorrow’s menu?