Politics Plus

The four of us who have been working both in front of and behind the scenes (Lynn [aka “Squatch”], JLA, Joanne D, and myself, SoINeedAName) are now glad to add a fifth person who has been very helpful in providing us first-hand information.  It’s someone TC has worked with related to his prison program, and she has had the opportunity to actually visit him in the hospital!

We know we still all share your desire for as much information on TC as possible.  But we will continue to respect his privacy, and recognize the hospital has an ethical and legal obligation by HIPAA to also protect his privacy. 

I had the good fortune to have a 15 minute discussion with TC’s nurse last night.  (I know I’m a tad late sharing the good news – but I  have out-of-town guests, so it’s a bit difficult to break free.)

Folks, the good news just keeps coming!  TC no longer requires any mechanical assistance with his breathing!  He still remains on supplemental oxygen – but he was on O2 for his COPD even prior to his hospitalization.  And they have been able to gradually titrate his O2 requirements down!  So there has been some very definite and encouraging improvement from his respiratory status.

Additionally, TC is now able to communicate with the medical staff, although not as fully as they or he would like.  But they’ll be working on that this week according to the nurse.

In addition to the chaplain being a regular visitor, he’s also had several friends stop by to visit – which is always good for the psyche.  In fact Lynn has called hoping to be able to speak to him, but the nurse has said he’s too sedated at the times she’s called.  But they are working at weaning him off his pain meds, so down the road maybe …

While I don’t want to be a “Debbie Downer” – I will repeat my caveat from Update #4 that for all of you in the medical profession, as well as anyone who has been critically ill themselves or had a family member who needed ICU care, know – there will always be bumps on the road to recovery.  Some of them may be anticipated, and some unanticipated.  It’s just the nature of the beast.

But for now, we're able to share some very good news on several fronts!

Lynn has graciously offered to serve as a point source to relay cards you would like to send to him.  This is from her earlier post:

A reminder for those wishing to send cards to TC, please address them as follows:

"TomCat"
c/o Lynn Squance,
436 Lehman Place, 
Port Moody, BC
Canada 
V3H 3Z6

For US residents: Please note: International Postage required!

http://www.stamps.com/usps/postage-rate-increase/

For other International residents: please check locally for stamp rates

For Canadian residents: please use “oversize” letter rates if applicable (applies to many but not all cards):https://www.canadapost.ca/cpotools/apps/far/business/farLetter?execution=e5s1

We’re definitely enjoying how the GOP is worried sick about dealing with all the Frankenstein monster candidates they have created – but none more so than the Koch brothers.

The Kochs are beside themselves with anxiety, having their own Frankenstein, Scott Walker, drop out of the race.  But fear not – for they have a “Plan B”! 

They want to create a NEW IMPROVED Frankenstein by deviously stitching together the parts of Marco Rubio that they like with the parts of Jebya! Bush that they like.  They’re ecstatic with the political results! 

BUT they got a YUUUGGE problem with the name they’re going to end up with …

Rubbush!

Today is not only the first full day of Pope Francis – a pope who has taken a stand on so many issues that drives the republicans crazy, so God Bless this pope – on American soil, but there are other significant moments.

Yom Kippur

Yom Kippur – or Day of Atonement – is the highest holy day of the Jewish year.  It began at sundown yesterday and is marked by fasting for 25 hours.

Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) is the day of repentance, the most holy day on the Jewish calendar. Described as a Shabbat shabbaton (Shabbat of solemn rest) in the Torah, Yom Kippur is a day of fasting, prayer, and reflection. Yom Kippur is the culmination of a period of time during the month of Elul in which Jews are required to take stock of their lives, to ask forgiveness from friends and family, and to take steps toward self-improvement for the year to come.

Since it’s a day of reflection and repentance, it is not appropriate to wish someone a “Happy Yom Kippur”.  The most common greeting is "G'mar Chatima Tovah" – which literally means “A good final sealing”, or idiomatically, “May you be inscribed (in the Book of Life) for Good”

You may also wish them a “Tzom kal” – an “easy fast” which began last night at sundown.

To learn more, here’s a pretty comprehensive reference:

http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Fall_Holidays/Yom_Kippur/yom_kippur.html

Eid al-Adha

Eid al-Adha, the [Islam] Festival of Sacrifice, is observed on from the evening of Sept. 23 to Sept. 24, 2015 in North America. One of two feast festivals celebrated by Muslims, Eid al-Adha falls on the 10th day of the Islamic calendar’s last month, Dhu al-Hijjah.

Eid al-Adha falls within the annual pilgrimage to Mecca known as the hajj. Determining the exact date of Eid al-Adha is a point of contention and some wait for an official announcement from the authorities in Mecca.

The actual date varies depending on your location around the world, because it’s based on the sighting of the moon.  To learn more:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/eid-al-adha-2015-muslims-observe-the-feast-of-sacrifice_560183b6e4b0fde8b0cfe45c

http://www.when-is.com/eid-al-adha-2015.asp

Autumnal Equinox

And today is a day that we can ALL celebrate – the First Day of Fall!  It began at 4:21 AM (ET) – so start warming up your rakes.

(It’s also my neighbor’s Birthday – but you don’t have to do anything special for that one.  But I’m planning on popping a few balloons to celebrate.)

I’m channeling my best Rep. Joe Wilson (R-Dumbfukistan) to borrow his “YOU LIE!” scream – only this time it’s True.

We all recall the grisly rant of Carly Fiorina’s (R – Failed CEOs) last Wednesday during the GOP debate.  She, along with the rest of the misogynist republicans, are clearly out to destroy Planned Parenthood – even if it takes outright lies.  So just for a reference record, I want to archive a few Links to document that what Fiorina claims she saw and heard on a video does NOT exist:

“No video has surfaced showing the scene Fiorina describes taking place inside a Planned Parenthood facility.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/wp/2015/09/17/fact-checking-the-second-round-of-gop-debates/

“… the scene Fiorina “dares” others to watch is not present in any of the Planned Parenthood videos.”

http://www.factcheck.org/2015/09/factchecking-the-cnn-republican-debate/

There is nothing in the videos made by CMP, either in the edited or full-length versions, that has anything approaching images of legs kicking or hearts beating.* 

http://www.slate.com/blogs/xx_factor/2015/09/16/watch_carly_fiorina_s_lurid_rant_about_abortion_and_planned_parenthood_at.html

“That video relies solely on the interview and does not include footage to support her claims.”

http://www.politico.com/agenda/story/2015/09/wrongometer-cnn-gop-debate-000246

“But the things Fiorina describes — the legs kicking, the intact "fully formed fetus," the heart beating, the remarks about having to "harvest its brain" — are pure fiction.”

http://www.vox.com/2015/9/16/9342165/carly-fiorina-planned-parenthood

“What she says happens in the Planned Parenthood video simply does not exist and she’s pandering to the extremist element of the Republican Party.”

http://reverbpress.com/politics/fiorina-uses-planned-parenthood-hoax-video-shock-value/

“… that what she chose to say in that moment is false.”

https://www.yahoo.com/health/fact-checking-carly-fiorinas-debate-statements-on-183132587.html

Take home message to Fiorina:

Given your history, if you REALLY want to destroy Planned Parenthood, you should become its CEO.