Open Thread – 10/10/2018

Posted by TomCat at 11:51 am Open Thread, Personal, Plus, Politics

Oct 102018

It’s a hectic day here in the CatBox. I had some paperwork I had to get done early, so I got started over an hour late. Then my Internet connection went down for about an hour. I caught up by skipping my morning nap. Store to Door should deliver groceries in a little over an hour, after which I’ll need to unpack and pout them away. Next I’ll prepare and eat lunch. And this evening, WWWendy will come to destink the TomCat.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:46 (average 7:09). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Activism:

1010PatBeto

Kudos to our resident beauty queen.

Short Takes:

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Swift Results: Voter Registration Spikes After Star’s Endorsement Of Democrats

Love it! Republicans thought they owned her! RESIST!! VOTE BLUE!!

From CNN: A terrifyingly powerful Category 4 Hurricane Michael was poised to become the strongest hurricane to hit the Florida Panhandle in recorded history Wednesday, its rapid strengthening catching some by surprise and leaving anxious officials telling those who didn’t evacuate: It’s time to hunker down.

"This is the worst storm that our Florida Panhandle has seen in a century," Gov. Rick Scott said Wednesday morning. "Hurricane Michael is upon us, and now is the time to seek refuge."

The extremely dangerous Michael is expected to make landfall in the Panhandle, perhaps near Panama City and Laguna Beach, in the afternoon, CNN meteorologist Chad Myers said.

If you are in range of it, please attend to your safety! RESIST!! VOTE BLUE!!

From The New Yorker: In a setback for the newest Associate Justice on his first day at work, Brett Kavanaugh said on Tuesday that he was “very disappointed” to learn that the Supreme Court does not have a happy hour.

Kavanaugh told reporters that he made the horrifying discovery as the clock ticked down to 5 p.m. and “everyone was still in their offices working and stuff.”

“I mean, I couldn’t believe it,” Kavanaugh said. “I had been busting my tail for six hours, and I needed to blow off some steam.”

Ruth Bader Ginsburg was the member of the Court who delivered the bad news to Kavanaugh. “When she told me, I guess I started crying a bit, which I now regret,” he said. “She just kind of closed her office door and went back to work or whatever.”

Oh Andy! Poor Kava-Nazi! Now he’ll have to get an alcohol IV. RESIST!! VOTE BLUE!!

Cartoon:

Open Thread – 9/28/2018

Posted by TomCat at 1:05 pm Personal, Plus, Politics

Sep 282018

Here in the CatBox it’s another hot muggy day. I don’t feel well, so forgive my brevity.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:20 (average 4:35). To do it, click here. Hoe did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Trae Crowder Channel): On Brett Kavanaugh and His Dream Job

Kudos to Trae. If such allegations disqualify for a college job, they disqualify for the most powerful job on the country! RESIST!! VOTE BLUE!!

From Crooks and Liars: Brett Kavanaugh was questioned by Senator Amy Klobuchar during his followup SCOTUS Job Interview Hearing and wow, he got nasty with her. She was exploring questions about his drinking and not only did he dismiss her questions, but he threw her questions back at her. Here is the exchange:

I consider it possible that Pervert Kavanookie was so drunk that he does not remember this single victim among the many he has assaulted. Insecurity over that may be the reason he bullied Klobuchar and other Senators. RESIST!! VOTE BLUE!!

Cartoon:

One Year Old.

Open Thread – 9/22/2018

Posted by TomCat at 1:10 pm Open Thread, Personal, Plus, Politics

Sep 222018

It’s a cool day here in the CatBox, but it’s way too muggy (79%). It’s another busy day. Tomorrow is a holy day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb. My Broncos are visiting the Ravens in an early game. Sadly, it will not be televised here. May the Orb bless your team with it’s holy light, unless they drop Baltimore bird shit.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:33 (average 4:21). To do it, click here. How did you do?

A Time to Equalize:

Thanks to National Geographic:

May your equinox be Republican-free. RESIST!! VOTE BLUE!!

Short Takes:

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Beto O’Rourke And Ted Cruz Trade Jabs At Fiery Senate Debate

Barf Bag Alert!!

How could anything cost Ted "Uranus" Cruz his dignity? What dignity?!!? The race is now a dead heat. Go, Beto! Go!! RESIST!! VOTE BLUE!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): NYT: Rod Rosenstein Discussed Secretly Taping Trump And 25th Amendment

There is bad blood between McCabe and Rosenstein, so that may be the issue here. Furthermore, I think Rosenstein was using a technique to solve a problem called "brainstorming": you say whatever comes into your head, no matter how absurd, go over all those ideas, and act on your choices. There is nothing illegal or unethical about this. RESIST!! VOTE BLUE!!

From YouTube (Samantha Bee Channel): Sam Delivers Some "Sexy" Lines

Dang! Sam and her new set sure get a "Hottie Alert!" from me! RESIST!! VOTE BLUE!!

Cartoon:

Republican Supply-side Jesus is NOT the real Jesus!

Now We Know Why!

Posted by TomCat at 1:16 pm Plus, Politics

Sep 142018

Some thought that Trump picked Kavanaugh because he always rules for the rich. Some thought it was because of his prejudice against people of color. Some thought it was because of his homophobic hatred of LGBT folk. Some thought it was because he will either overturn or eviscerate Roe v. Wade. But at last, now we know why. Both are pussy grabbers!

The senior Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee referred information involving Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh, President Trump’s nominee to the Supreme Court, to federal investigators on Thursday, but the senator declined to make public what the matter involved.

Two officials familiar with the matter say the incident involved possible sexual misconduct between Judge Kavanaugh and a woman when they were both in high school. They spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the matter.

The statement by Senator Dianne Feinstein of California came a week before the Judiciary Committee is to vote on his nomination. “I have received information from an individual concerning the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court,” Ms. Feinstein said in a statement. “That individual strongly requested confidentiality, declined to come forward or press the matter further, and I have honored that decision. I have, however, referred the matter to federal investigative authorities.”

The information came in July in a letter, which was first sent to the office of Representative Anna Eshoo, Democrat of California, and accuses the judge of sexual misconduct toward the letter’s author, a person familiar with the letter confirmed… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <NY Times>

Lawrence O’Donnell covered this story in two segments. Here’s the first:

And the second:

Late this morning we learned more about the contents of the letter. Kavanaugh committed attempted rape. He held the girl down, covered her mouth with his hand to muffle her screams, and tried to force himself on her. She fought him off.

Senate Republicans are trying to cram the nomination through, before the story becomes widespread enough to trigger #metoo responses, in case Kava-Nazi has other victims.

I trust Clarence Thomas is polishing the furniture at SCROTUS (Republican Unconstitutional VD) in gleeful anticipation, and Trump is preparing to nominate Judge Roy Moore to the next open seat.

RESIST!!

VOTE BLUE!!

53 DAYS!!

Open Thread – 9/10/2018

Posted by TomCat at 1:07 pm Open Thread, Personal, Plus, Politics

Sep 102018

Today’s articles are a little skimpy. A few days ago, my Chrome blew up. Firefux was driving me crazy so I took the time to remove Chrome, download and install it from scratch and customize it. I had the A/C off all morning, but the sun hit the wall during lunch. I might be able to leave it off all day, a couple days this week. OGIM!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:18 (average 5:07). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Religious Ecstasy:

0909-Broncos27-Seahawks24

A win is a win, but few things are tastier than Fricassee of Seachicken!

Short Takes:

From YouTube: Hurricane Florence latest track – details you need to know (September 10, 2018)

Please take care. Dear Florence: target Trump. RESIST!! VOTE BLUE!!

From Media Matters: Picture this: A controversial, deeply unpopular president mired in scandal makes a Supreme Court nomination that his party is desperately trying to jam through the process before virtually anything is known about the nominee. Then, in the middle of it, an anonymous senior official in the president’s administration pens an op-ed in The New York Times that lays out serious questions about the president’s fitness for office and the dangers he poses to the country. You’d think that conversation in the media would focus on the fact that this president — who is so unstable that his own senior staff members are sounding the alarm — is about to make a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.

You’d be wrong.

Click through. I cannot understand why more respectable journalists aren’t tearing their hair over Kava-Nazi! RESIST!! VOTE BLUE!!

From CNN: US national security adviser John Bolton announced Monday that the US will use “any means necessary” to protect its citizens and allies from prosecution by the International Criminal Court.

“United States will use any means necessary to protect our citizens and those of our allies from unjust prosecution by this illegitimate court,” including tariffs and prosecution, Bolton said in a speech to the Federalist Society in Washington, DC.

Bolton blasted the ICC as “ineffective, unaccountable,” “outright dangerous” and “contrary to American principles,” and said the US “would respond against the ICC and its personnel to the extent permitted by US law.”…

…Bolton also hailed the closure of the PLO office in Washington and said the US “will not allow the ICC, or any other organization, to constrain Israel’s right to self defense.”

What Bolton calls self-defense is violent attrition in violation of treaty. Butcher Bibi is the only Jew Trump Nazi’s like. RESIST!! VOTE BLUE!!

Cartoon:

Open Thread – 7/15/2018

Posted by TomCat at 11:57 am Open Thread, Plus, Politics

Jul 152018

It’s the hottest day of the week with forecast high in the low 100°s. UGH!! I’ll stink soon after my shower. WWWendy is coming this morning. I expect her in 30 minutes. The plan is to exert myself as little as possible.

Wendy just left. Most of my shower was cold water by choice. The AC is barely holding it’s own.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Todays took me 3:48 (average 4:59). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Robert Reich Channel): Robert Reich: The Fog of Trump

The Reich on the left, Robert Reich, is partially right. Trump’s antics distract from what the Reich on the Right, The Republican Reich, are doing to damage our nation. They have been trying to do all the awful things Robert listed for years, before they put Trump on the pedestal. RESIST!! VOTE BLUE!!

From LA Times: California Democratic Party leaders took a step to the left Saturday night, endorsing liberal state lawmaker Kevin de León for Senate in a stinging rebuke of Democratic icon Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

De León’s victory reflected the increasing strength of the state party’s liberal activist core, which was energized by the election of Republican President Trump.

The endorsement was an embarrassment for Feinstein, who is running for a fifth full term, and indicates that Democratic activists in California have soured on her reputation for pragmatism and deference to bipartisanship as Trump and a Republican-led Congress are attacking Democratic priorities on immigration, healthcare and environmental protections.

De León, a former state Senate leader from Los Angeles, received 65% of the vote of about 330 members of the state party’s executive board — more than the 60% needed to secure the endorsement. Feinstein, who pleaded with party leaders meeting in Oakland this weekend not to endorse any candidate, received 7%, and 28% voted for “no endorsement.”

Kudos to CDP! I add my endorsement of DeLeon! RESIST!! VOTE BLUE!!

From Alternet: It’s all right there in the indictment — day by day, hack by hack, theft by theft — how agents of the Russian intelligence service, the GRU, set out in the spring of 2016 to steal the election for Donald Trump. When you track the actions taken by Russian intelligence in the indictment with statements made by Trump and actions taken on his behalf by members of his campaign, the picture is as clear as an iPhone photo. Agents of the Russian government coordinated with members of the Trump campaign and took cues from Trump himself in order to influence the election of 2016.

In announcing the indictment, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein may have refused to point to a victim of the Russians’ crimes other than to say it was America itself, but the intent of the Russians was clear. They took active measures over a period of at least nine months to aid the campaign of Donald Trump and to damage the campaign of Hillary Clinton. They stole the election for Donald Trump, and he helped them do it.

The author concludes that the evidence in the indictment renders the Trump Presidency illegitimate. I fully agree. RESIST!! VOTE BLUE!!

Cartoon:

As Seen From Afar 04/10/2018

Posted by Lona Goudswaard at 10:35 am Plus, Politics

Apr 102018

DUTCH COMEDIAN ARJEN LUBACH URGES US TO FOLLOW HIM IN SAYING ‘BYE BYE FACEBOOK’

Perhaps you remember Arjen Lubach from an an earlier As Seen From Afar 2/4/2017, in which I described how his parody skit on President Donald Trump’s “America First” slogan, called “The Netherlands Second,” went viral, ending up with more than 26 million views on YouTube, and triggered dozens of copycat videos in other countries.

This time Lubach is going international again with this season’s last episode of his satirical television show “Sunday with Lubach,” which has more than 400,000 followers on Facebook. Lubach announced his program would delete its account on the popular social media site coming Wednesday, 04/11/2018, at 20:00 hours local time, joining a string of high-profile entertainers and tech executives who have urged users to do the same.

Although it’s impossible to know how many will follow through, 14,000 of Lubach’s Facebook followers said on the Facebook-event which Lubach has created for it that they would join him by deleting their accounts.

Watch the video of Lubach’s call below:

Facebook is under fire because of a privacy scandal. Recently, the company announced that the private data of possibly 87 million people (90,000 in the Netherlands) have been harvested by Cambridge Analytica – a political consultancy that worked on U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign. With this data profiles were created to send targeted information.

The #deletefacebook hashtag that resulted from this disclosure has gained prominence, and many celebrities have shut their Facebook pages, but the company itself maintains #deletefacebook has not had any meaningful impact on users to date and financial analysts say the controversy has had little impact on advertising or user engagement on the Facebook platform so far.

Lubach’s call may not have a massive impact either, but his skit explains rather well and in detail how Facebook, and others, works by gathering personal information to allow their advertising customers to send targeted ads and this and the event seem to have scared Facebook a little. Lubach has written on Twitter that the Bye-Bye-Facebook event is hard to find using Facebook’s search engines. Facebook has declined to comment on either the event or on the search engine problems.

Bill Maher from 4/6

Posted by TomCat at 12:30 pm Plus, Politics

Apr 072018

It’s that time of week again, and I’m happy to share five fine video clips from Bill’s show last night. Enjoy!

Monologue: Trump the Riffer

“No one knows what is happening anymore.” He sure got that right. Melania won’t speak. She’s too busy spending Trump’s money.

Geraldo Rivera

I’ll bet a buck that Geraldo will not pay when he loses. It’s unfair that Trump has the worst press since Andrew Johnson. Trump is FAR worse than Johnson.

Louie Anderson