Last night my shoulder was so sore that I got almost no sleep, so all I have today is this article and the holiday article. I’m current with replies, however brief. Tomorrow appears routine.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:31(average 5:07). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From MoveOn:Here’s What Some In Congress Were Doing While Ignoring Our Pleas For Jobs
Choosing Republican rule is its own punishment.
From National Geographic: Speaking to a packed audience Wednesday morning in Geneva, CERN director general Rolf Heuer confirmed that two separate teams working at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) are more than 99 percent certain they’ve discovered the Higgs boson, aka the God particle—or at the least a brand-new particle exactly where they expected the Higgs to be.
The long-sought particle may complete the standard model of physics by explaining why objects in our universe have mass—and in so doing, why galaxies, planets, and even humans have any right to exist.
I suppose Republicans will now make a move to outlaw Physics, because the God particle does not justify hatred, dishonesty, and greed like Supply-side Jesus (not the real Jesus) does.
From Bend Bulletin: Campfires, fireworks and even lit cigarettes can spark wildfires. In the tinder-dry West, there is growing concern about the threat from guns.
This year, officials believe target shooting or other firearms use sparked at least 21 wildfires in Utah and nearly a dozen in Idaho. Shooting is also believed to have caused fires in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico.
While I believe in the right to bear arms, I also believe that a shooting license could guarantee that an individual has had training in how to use guns safely. It’s not about taking away anyone’s guns, just like a drivers license takes away driving a car from only those who cannot demonstrate knowledge about vehicle safety.
Cartoon:
14 Responses to “Open Thread–7/4/2012”
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3:59 I think the sore shoulder slowed you down.
Happy 4th, TomCat!
Whoops! My time was actually 3:37.
5:12 I couldn't even beat the average today. I'll blame it onthey bad rotator cuff in my right shoulder.
One for Jerry!
Thanks Patty for letting me be 3rd today. WOW!!
Sorry about the rotator cuff. I've had that problem and it really sucks! I take it though that you are ambidextrous and were able to enjoy a cold one on the 4th using your left?
Happy 4th of July (and I hope you get to feeling better, TC).
Being in the KCMO Metro, I'm (like millions of others) stuck in our nation's sauna. Fortunately our power is on, but we did have water restrictions yesterday when a pumping station went out. It's fixed now, so I ended up spending the day moving the sprinklers around to water the lawn – so I don't end up with a grass fire when the teens across the street shoot off their fireworks (they're legal here) tonight for our block party.
I'm amazed at how hungry the birds are in this heat! I usually only have to restock the feeder once a week, but since the heatwave it's been at least every other day! And I do have to refill – not refresh, but refill – my birdbath every morning. It's like the busiest water-cooler in the neighborhood.
Condolences. Nameless. Our heat wave begins today, so you'll have another soon.
Lets see spending the last 4yrs trying to get Obama out of office will not get them in the White House. It's going to be their punishment. Happy 4th everyone
May it be so!
Top picture looks like science-fiction characters at a convention — a robot, a man with a tribble on his head, a Klingon, and the Blob.
It's perhaps a sign of the times that the Large Hadron Collider which discovered the Higgs boson was built in Europe. Just try getting funding for something like that in the US nowadays, when some guffawing Earth-is-6,000-years-old Republican Congressman would give it a "golden fleece" award for wasting money trying to understand things he can't even spell.
They certainly do belong on the Post Office wall.
Infidel, if memory serves, we spent millions starting to build a collider bigger than CERN. Congress defunded it in 1993.
Puzzle — 4:40 Not very far behind you. You must have been slowed down by your shoulder if I'm so close. Actually, I woke up with a severe sugar low this morning and have been fighting it all day. I'm a little groggy (slept a lot today) but amazed my time is where it is. Well pussy cats do like their sleep!
MoveOn — A picture that belongs on the Post Office wall! Caption: Wanted for Crimes Against the People!
Isn't the caption on the picture so true! 3.5 years of obstruction; 6 months of saying how Mr Obama did nothing! Oh, the perfidy of these 'Benedict Arnolds'!
CERN — I saw some news on that and thought it was great! Very exciting news! The CERN project would never be able to function in the US, particularly with a Republican/Teabagger régime. The scientists at CERN are a team formed of scientists from all over the world and they know how to play nice in the sandbox. Knowing Republican/Teabaggers, to get around the word 'God particle', they would probably insisted on calling it the 'Ray-gun particle'. that's if they could even be convinced it existed!
Guns — Personally, I do not support the right to bear arms, but then I'm Canadian and my opinion in that regard doesn't count. There are far too many hand guns coming across the border and being used in crimes. Originally, I heard that 80% of guns used in violent crime here were from the US. Apparently it is actually over 90%. However, if you are going to have a gun, I think a mandatory license should be required before buying a weapon. In order to get that license, a certain number of hours or training in shooting, safety and maintenance should be obligatory. Up here in BC, we need fishing licenses, hunting licenses, ATV licenses, drivers licenses, power boat operators license etc. It's all about safety and knowing the rules.
Cartoon — Happy 4th to all my American friends!!!!!
Good one, Lynn.
Amen to that!
Shhh… Mention Ray Gun, and they'll want to call it the Reagan particle.
That's why I think we should require shooting licenses.
Thanks!