Yesterday my COPD remained very severe, so today, I’m limiting myself to this and the Presidents Day greeting. I’m current with replies and hope to be back tomorrow.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s 100k me 3:14 (average 4:58). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From MoveOn: Surely, ‘Rambo’ Is All For Assault Rifles, Right?
The problem here is that Republicans, especially those in the InsaniTEA wing of the intended regime, think THEY are Rambo!
From The New Yorker: The chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology said today that the committee would hold hearings next week “to settle the question, once and for all, of whether meteors exist.”
“The media has been in something of a frenzy recently on this whole topic of meteors,” said chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas). “I think it’s irresponsible of them to frighten the public about something that, at the end of the day, may be about as real as unicorns.”
Of course, this is satire, but were Republicans to actually do this, it would have to compete for space with several of their equally absurd positions.
From NY Times: President Obama’s second Inaugural Address used soaring language to reaffirm America’s commitment to the dream of equality of opportunity: “We are true to our creed when a little girl born into the bleakest poverty knows that she has the same chance to succeed as anybody else, because she is an American; she is free, and she is equal, not just in the eyes of God but also in our own.”
The gap between aspiration and reality could hardly be wider. Today, the United States has less equality of opportunity than almost any other advanced industrial country. Study after study has exposed the myth that America is a land of opportunity. This is especially tragic: While Americans may differ on the desirability of equality of outcomes, there is near-universal consensus that inequality of opportunity is indefensible. The Pew Research Center has found that some 90 percent of Americans believe that the government should do everything it can to ensure equality of opportunity.
That also proves that Republicans oppose equal opportunity, simply for the reason that Republicans oppose EVERYTHING that 90% of Americans support.
Cartoon:
19 Responses to “Open Thread–2/18/2013”
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Wasn't it just a couple of weeks ago that your "severe COPD" turned out to be pneumonia? Maybe it is time to see the doctor again? You are not still smoking, are you? I know, nag, nag, nag!
I don't think so, Jerry. Today, it's much better. I am still at 4/day.
3:28 TomCat flew off before I got here. I wonder if anyone can catch him?
3:19 I clipped my wings on a leaf just before getting to TomCat! Arghhhhh!
Patty hasn't been seen for a few days. Does anybody know if she is alright? I hope she's OK and not back in hospital.
I was wondering about Patty this morning when I did the puzzle. I hope she is not back in the hospital with more clot problems.
5:35 I haven't even gotten out of my cocoon yet! No hospital, just computer problems. Got a new laptop this AM but it's not all set up yet. Maybe tomorrow. Then the Patty monster might be back.
Good Patty. I am glad that it is only your computer, and you are not having more health problems.
Now, that said, I am sorry you are having computer problems and had to replace it. Computer, while a lot cheaper than they use to be, still are not what I would call cheap.
Amen! Glad to hear you're ok. I did the computer thing in December and still have some issues to work out.
Wooo Hooo Patty!
You'll all be peased to to know that I did as bad on today's, as I did good on yesterdays.
Hope you're OK Tom. I stopped smoking about 6 years ago, but I have chronic bronchitis from decades of puffing
Interesting Rambo quote, and accompanying piece.
I am, Mike.
Thanks!
Puzzle — 3:19 I clipped my wings on a leaf just before getting to TomCat! Arghhhhh!
MoveOn — I saw an interview with Stallone in which he expressed this very sentiment. I have never been a Stallone fan, and I am still not, but I have great respect for him with his stance on an assault rifle ban.
The New Yorker — I had this in my inbox and laughed myself silly.
Lamar Smith (R – TX) and "scientific skeptic" — now there's a non sequiter! How can he be a "scientific skeptic" when he doesn't believe in science period?
Lamar Smith “That theory would also have us believe that there were dinosaurs.” — What proof does he need of the existence of dinosaurs? He just has to look at the Republican/Teabagger side of the Congress and he'll see all sorts of dinosaurs!
NY Times — An excellent article that hits home a number of truths.
Gee, doesn't that just sound like something Mr Obama said in Roanoak, Va on 13/07/12, which of course was taken completely out of context by the Republican/Teabaggers:
Had I been advising Mr Obama, I might have changed the wording at the end to "Somebody else helped to make that happen."
Cartoon — Sad when you think that Abby Hoffman and Jerry Rubin passed away at such young ages. I think the rest are still around, of course in their 70s, 80s and 90s now. Those times certainly changed how life was viewed by many, but unfortunately not by everyone as today's conservative movement demonstrates.
Close.
I agree. His stance is not in the character of his roles, so this hurts him with the hate monger set.
Smith on Science is like Batshit B on Intelligence.
Agree fully.
Two survive. All were acquitted of conspiracy, but five were convicted of crossing a state line to incite a riot. In addition, the pig judge found all guilty of multiple counts of contempt. Two years later, An appeals court overturned the contempt citations. The appeals court in a separate hearing overturned the convictions, ruling that the conflict had been a police riot. not one caused by demonstrators.
5:35 I haven't even gotten out of my cocoon yet! No hospital, just computer problems. Got a new laptop this AM but it's not all set up yet. Maybe tomorrow. Then the Patty monster might be back.
Today, I'll be easy to Monster Mash!
I hope you get better soon, Tom. It's a hard row to hoe.
Beback tomorrow to test out the new laptop. a
Thanks Patty.
So sorry you are still ill TC! Glad Patty is OK.
I didn't know Stallone was against assault rifles – am amazed!
Thanks Pat. I'm better. 🙂