Yesterday, I saw Virgil, and we had a good visit. I left about a half hour before closing, being concerned about the light. This was probably the last time until March I will be able to stay even close to the full time allowed – within two weeks we will be back on Standard time, and I will be checking the online almanac every visit, aiming to depart between 2 and 2 and a half hours before sunset – whatever it is that day. I can manage driving in what they call “civil twilight,” but what they call “nautical twilight” is too dark for me to feel safe.However, even for a while before the Solstice, sunset starts getting a littl later each day insead of a little earlier, and after the solstice for a while sunrise heeps getting later – giving sunset a boost on being later. So that will help. I can’t really plan departure times ahead – I just need to check every time I visit. I already said in a quick comment that Virgil returns all greeting with thanks, but I don’t think it will hurt to repeat it.
Cartoon – Scary enough for ya?)
Short Takes –
Huff Post – Buckingham Palace: Queen Elizabeth Should ‘Rest For At Least The Next Two Weeks’
Quote – The monarch returned to work ― albeit virtually ― on Tuesday, and took part in her first scheduled engagements since hosting a reception for the Global Investment Summit at Windsor Castle on Oct. 19. But later that day, Buckingham Palace announced that the queen wouldn’t attend a reception for the United Nations climate change conference, called COP26, in Glasgow on Nov. 1. The palace said that she would instead pre-record a video message for attendees.
Click through if you care to. I care because I’m a long-ish married person myself (about half as long as she was, but I started later.) I startted to worry about her when I heard of Philip’s death. Of course, the fact that she has a very imposrtant (and very visible) job complicates things. She is married to the nation also.
Democratic Underground – Biden, other G-20 world leaders formally endorse groundbreaking global corporate minimum tax
Quote – President Biden and the other national leaders gathered for the Group of 20 summit formally endorsed a new global minimum tax on Saturday, capping months of negotiations over the groundbreaking tax accord. The new global minimum tax of 15 percent aims to reverse the decades-long decline in tax rates on corporations across the world, a trend experts say has deprived governments of revenue to fund social spending programs.
Click through – it’s a combination of a Washington Post article and a Reuters article. Nice of BumRushDaShow to post them together for us.
Truthout – Minneapolis Set to Vote on Dissolving Police Department
Quote – Currently, state law requires licensed police officers to perform certain duties, and the charter amendment would not change current labor contracts with police, according to a city memo. Still, Question 2 could allow Minneapolis to replace police with other public safety professionals over time and reinvest resources back into neighborhoods, a process [Sheila] Nezhad [a mayoral candidate] said must involve high levels of community input.
Click through for story. Truthout can be crazy radical, but this appears to be straight reporting, not opinion, just information on a race worth watching.
Food for Thought –
8 Responses to “Open Thread for October 31, 2021”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Glad that all went well w/your visit. I can understand your timing on driving back home too, I don’t drive at night anymore either.
Cartoon: Yeah. Boo!!! Hiss!!
HuffPo: She is a beloved monarch, imho, and I too, watch her comings and goings. Lovely and sweet lady, inside and out.
TruthOut: I hope that it gets passed re: public safety for all. People and neighbors looking out for one another. That’s a community that steps up and cares.
FFT: Good one!
THIS JUST IN: TJI – “Telling the pope “god love ya” is maybe the most peak Biden thing I’ve ever seen?”
~ Katie Rogers ~
2. “People of color made up 95% of Texas’ population growth, andthe Hispanic and white populations are nearly equal in size. But white voters will have disproportionate control of elections under the state’s new political maps.” ~ Elvia Limon ~
3. “I am FULLY vaccinated, but if science says I need to get a booster shot I will! Will you?” ~ Jon Cooper ~
4. “I’m proud to have served #Illinois for six terms and look forward to what’s next. I’ll continue to fight for truth and transparency, for principled leadership and proven solutions, for hope and opportunity. Thank you for this great honor, #IL 16. Here’s to the next chapter!” ~ Adam Kinzinger~
5. “If you’re afraid for your safety and you essentially side with a virus that’s killed 750,000 and not a vaccine that’s killed zero people—your response isn’t based in reality or common sense. Fear is understandable and acceptable. Defiant ignorance that endangers others, isn’t.” ~ John Pavlovitz ~
TJI #1 – LOL! I would love to have seen the Pope’s face at that moment I would like too think that the initial startle was follwed by a lovely smile. I was so happy to read that he told Joe he is a “good Catholic” and that he should continue to receive communion. Not that that will make all the flak disappear, but it will help his confidence.
TJI #2 – Sigh. Of course, that is provided it survives in Court. Even undern SCOTUS’s newest terrible ruling it shouldn’t, because it is clearly on race lines rather than on party lines. But I fear it will. And, even if by some miracle it doesn’t, it will be too lae.
TJI #3 – I will. And now that the science is firm on the timing, it will be After January 12, 2022.
TJI #4 – There’s more on this in the video thread. Those who knw him say he is 100% serious about continuing to fight.
TJI #5 – Clear enough. I would think even for MAGAts … ut probably not. He will probably get called every name in the book for saying this. Though it’s not as if he isn’t used to it.
Just received this from “Black Voters Matter” (BVM) –
Wonderfully done. Poe’s The Raven lends itself so well for this. “To the ballot – evermore” indeed.
Comment from Mitch –
Glad you had a good visit.’Toon: Who’s that Benito Trump?
HP: I wish her well.
DU: Nice! Now we need to see if it is put into effect!
Truthout: We will see. It would be a nice first effort, could lead the way to others, if it works. Of course, if it passes you can bet that the bozos on the right will have their pants in flames about it.
FFT: I love it!!
Mitch
Thanks Joanne–I drive less in the dark but a lot of the why is because best watering new plants hours, especially during drought, are with the dawn and twilight by hand and getting sufficient sleep inbetween.
I was worried when she stayed in the hospital. I sometimes think her presence keeps international events more civil.
Not sure the minimum corporate tax will work out any better than CA’s carbon credits did.
I lived in St. Paul, not Minneapolis. Their police dept. reputation is worlds different from Minneapolis even though the twin cities have very similar demographics and immigrant populations. Community leaders, including presidents of my alma mater, have participated in groups for decades striving for improved community-police relationships, less racism, etc. without getting anywhere in Minneapolis and the last departing college president said it was because those with power wanted to keep all their power. I see this initiative as chipping away at some of the unwarranted power the police dept. has had to prevent change. The group that fought efforts to stop the initiative deserve alot of kudos with how they removed the various roadblocks people tried. How this is written will allow for responding the DOJ’s pattern investigation and probable routine civil rights violation eventual requirements much faster if it passes. I’ve read that there is alot of misinfo/disinfo about it being spread around to influence voters. Oakland, CA is engaged in some similar efforts as are some OR cities (one has had mental health response teams for 32 years)–it works in a lot of places already and is saving lives.
Hoff Post: Heard about her the last couple of days on the evening news. She’s such a powerful woman and has done so much. I too hope she gets to feeling better.
D.U. Great if it follows thru. It’s something we certainly needs.
Truthout: Hope it’s done, keeping safety in mind for the people/neighborhoods.
Food for Thought: Creative. Is this one of your new ones?
Glad you had a nice visit with Virgil and that he’s doing well. I hope your visor comes soon, so you’ll have it in time for your next visit.
I’ll be seeing the doctor Tuesday afternoon, to get the bandages off. I can still feel pain where the incision is. I didn’t get the pain pill for two days after, since they drug store didn’t process it properly. It’s doesn’t really do much for where the pain is anyways.
Hope you have a nice evening.
Take care. Thanks Joanne
I’m glad you’re planning your visits to Virgil so carefully, Joanne. Driving in the dark is dangerous on remote, unlit roads and so is driving at dusk with the sun in your eyes.
Cartoon: Benito was made of the same cloth as Adolf.
HP: As Elizabeth II also is the Aussie’s queen, this made headlines here. I think she should abdicate now like Beatrix of the Netherlands did when she was 75 and her mother, Juliana, did before her. She can give herself some room to grieve her husband of so many years and finally give that poor sod of a son a go at “reigning” a few years before he can abdicate himself at 75. (You may gather from my remarks I don’t care much for money-gobbling royalty)
DU: 15% tax is a laugh and no, it isn’t better than nothing. We should continue to push for more AND for it to be put into effect.
Truthout: If this “break-down completely and start all over again” proposal gets the vote, it would be truly revolutionary. Minneapolis has the vision that restructuring would come to nothing and that starting from scratch is the only way forward. I hope it gets a chance to put it into practice and show other cities how it’s done.
FFT:
