As Seen from Afar 05/02/2020

Posted by Lona Goudswaard at 10:53 pm Politics

May 012020

Oscar-winner Emma Thompson stars in new Extinction Rebellion film

This As Seen from Afar will take the form of a ‘short take’ of an article published on the euronews site by Marthe de Ferrer *

[Yesterday has seen] the release of a new short film starring Emma Thompson about Extinction Rebellion. The film depicts a fictionalised version of the protests held by the activist group last April, which culminated in the UK becoming the first country to formally declare a climate emergency. [Italics mine]

The double Academy Award winner took part in last year’s climate protests, which saw parts of the UK’s capital grind to a halt during a fortnight of continuous civil disobedience. It was during this time that the short film, entitled Extinction, was shot.

The 12-minute production tells the story of a group of climate activists meeting with the Environment Minister in the midst of an ongoing rebellion.

Emma Thompson explained the importance of both the piece and the movement more generally, saying, “Everything depends on what we do now. In a crisis, you have to convince people to take positive and immediate action. The suffragettes taught us that. You have to be active in your disobedience.

YouTube: Extinction – Starring Emma Thompson

“How we respond to the coronavirus crisis is a test run for how we need to respond to the climate crisis, and we see the same forces attempting to obscure and to undermine science in pursuit of perpetual growth and private profit. Whatever happens next, we can be sure that ‘business as usual’ is no longer tenable.” Film Co-writer Sam Haygarth

* https://www.euronews.com/living/2020/04/30/oscar-winner-emma-thompson-stars-in-new-extinction-rebellion-film

Open Thread–2/17/2020

Posted by TomCat at 8:45 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Feb 172020

I want to rest all I can today, because tomorrow is shove a camera down my throat day. Please expect only a Personal Update. By the time WWWendy gets me home it will be supper time. Depending on how I feel I may or may not be able to publish Wednesday. I’ll update you as soon as I can. Oh God, it’s Monday!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:56 (average 5:27). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

This is how white supremacists used to steal elections.

Short Takes:

From Crooks and Liars: Trump’s newest Medal of Freedom winner was apparently terribly concerned about presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg kissing his husband on stage during an ugly rant on his radio show last week, where he said this during his attack on the former mayor’s sexuality:

Now, there may be some Democrats who think that is the ticket. There may be some Democrats who think that’s exactly what we need to do, Rush. Get a gay guy kissing his husband on stage, to ram it down Trump’s throat and beat him in the general election. Really. Having fun envisioning that.

Buttigieg was asked if he wanted to respond to Limbaugh’s remarks this Sunday by Dana Bash on CNN’s State of the Union:

Now Mayor Pete is not my 1st choice, but when it comes to Rush Limbarf and Republican homophobia, I could not be more on his side. RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Slick Lobby: Velshi On How Fossil Fuel Is Buying Your Vote

I’m sure none of my regular readers are falling for this Republican bullshit, but we need to educate others: Corporations are NOT people. Money is NOT speech. Fossil fuels are killing YOU! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): I Think We`re Alone Now – Tommy James & The Shondells

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Good vs Evil

Posted by TomCat at 9:56 am Politics

Jan 222020

Since I summarized it in today’s Open Thread, I’m going to take a break from the impeachment trial of Putin’s Pollution Pervert, Fuhrer of the Republican Reich, Resident Donald Trump. Instead, I’d like to give you an extreme example of good, followed by an extreme example of evil. Then I’ll contrast the two.

The Good:

Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg inveighed against the sowers of “climate chaos” Tuesday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, offering a view of the world that stood in stark contrast to President Trump’s.

In two speeches at the conference, the 17-year-old Thunberg renewed the call to “start listening to the science” on climate change. The world, she said, needs to “treat this crisis with the importance it deserves.”

Thunberg’s remarks echoed her warning in Davos last year, when she told world leaders: “I don’t want your hope. I don’t want you to be hopeful. I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. And then I want you to act.”

The Swedish teenager’s activism helped inspire a global climate action movement, which earned her Time magazine’s Person of the Year title in December. …

Inserted from <Washington Post>

Greta Thunberg Tells Davos: You’ve Done Nothing On Climate Change [Full Speech]

The Evil:

President Donald Trump’s speech in Davos was not what many attendees wanted to hear.

At a conference dedicated to multilateralism and earnest discussion of the world’s most pressing problems, the American president used his keynote address to reel off a laundry list of his domestic accomplishments, promote the US economy and dismiss climate activists as “prophets of doom.”

He didn’t take questions from his host, World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab, or the elite audience of leading executives, bankers and politicians.

This year’s Davos meeting is focusing heavily on how business and the economy must change to save the planet. But taking the stage just hours after Greta Thunberg admonished world leaders for doing “basically nothing” to reduce carbon emissions, Trump touted America’s role as the world’s biggest oil and gas producer and dismissed climate activists as prophets of doom…

Inserted from <CNN>

The Contrast:

Trump and Greta Thunberg clash at Davos over climate change

Could anything be more obvious?

RESIST!!

Open Thread – 1/12/2020

Posted by TomCat at 7:09 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Jan 122020

It’s a queasy/busy day here in the CatBox. I managed to keep the last three very small meals down, but not without discomfort. It’s also another High Holy Day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb. WWWendy and I shall be meditating between chores. Good luck to both Pat and Nameless. Please don’t fight, you two. Have a great Sunday.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:49 (average 5:38). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Back in those days, even the Democrats were Republican misogynists!

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Daily Kos Channel): Rep. Steve King blames Democrats and George Soros for his racism on the floor of the House

There’s one and only one reason people accuse Steve King [R-KKK] of racism on the floor of the House. The son of a bitch (apologies to dawgs) is a damn Republican racist! RESIST!!

From YouTube (Elizabeth Warren Channel): Elizabeth Warren: No One Should Go Bankrupt Over Medical Problems

Nobody has to tell me how medical mayhem can drive a formerly prosperous person to economic distraction. Liz could not be more spot-on! RESIST!!

From CNN: Australia’s beleaguered prime minister, Scott Morrison, has admitted there were things he “could have handled much better” in the bushfire crisis and will propose a royal commission into the disaster.

The prime minister has been heavily criticized for his tone-deaf interactions with fire-ravaged communities and inaction over climate change.

From what I have surmised, based on comments from Aussies, the biggest mistake was made by Morrison’s father. He should have worn a condom. Kudos to the firefighters from Oregon and all over the world helping to fight the fires there. RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Paul Revere & The Raiders – Indian Reservation HQ Sound

Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

As Seen from Afar 01/04/2019

Posted by Lona Goudswaard at 8:59 pm Personal, Politics

Jan 032020

ICONIC CLIMATE CHANGE PICTURE?

Cath Bowdler and Jack Egan lost just about everything when their North Rosedale home, south of Bateman’s Bay in coastal New South Wales, went up in flames. ABC NEWS 4 December 2020.*

After a few harrowing hours during which they didn’t know if the other had survived the ordeal, they returned to where their home had stood to survey what was left of their property after the blaze that hit on New Year’s Eve.

The pair made it through the emergency alive, but their home was reduced to a mass of warped iron, scorched wood and ash. Only a sign Mr Egan made to campaign for climate action somehow survived the blaze.

“I didn’t expect the sign to make the point so strikingly as it does now,” Mr Egan noted and he had asked Ms Bowdler take a photo of him by the sign with the remains of their home in the shot to make a point.

I think this foto may well turn out to become the most iconic and poignant Climate Change picture of 2020.

* Bushfire destroys couple’s North Rosedale home but climate change sign survives

Update
I know there’s a limit to how many NYT articles you can read per month, but I can highly recommend this opinion article: Australia Is Committing Climate Suicide. As record fires rage, the country’s leaders seem intent on sending it to its doom. By Richard Flanagan, a renowned Australian author.

Open Thread – 12/30/2019

Posted by TomCat at 8:44 am Open Thread, Personal, Politics

Dec 302019

It’s a busy day here in the CatBox, and the year is almost over. How much I have for the rest of the week will depend on two factors: my health and the availability of good material. Oh God it’s Monday!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:28 (average 6:39). To do it, click here. How did you do?

Cartoon:

Religious Ecstasy:

1229Broncos16-Raiders15

What a wild finish, with ballsy moves by both teams. It’s a pity that someone had to lose.

Fantasy Football Report:

Here’s the final report of the season from our own fantasy football league.

17Playoffs

Congrats to Vivian, WWWendy, and Patty Monster for winning their games.

Kudos to Vivian, me, and WWWendy for taking the first, second, and third place trophies. I’ll be in touch with our players in late spring/early summer with reminders for what we need to do for next season. In the meantime, we desperately need one or three more players for next season. Colleen? Pat? Anyone? Please?

Thank you all for a great season. We had a blast!

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Parody Project Channel): 24 MONTHS OF TRUMP’S MESS (2017-18) – a New Year Parody

Thanks Don. Frankly, I thing that border wall is a great idea. Build it around Trump*, Bought Bitch Moscow Mitch, pseudo-Christian Pence, Faux Noise, and more! RESIST!!

From YouTube (NBC News Channel): Australians Flee Devastating Wildfires As Thousands Of Koalas Feared Dead

Tears and prayers for our Aussie friends. This is the cost of ignoring climate change! RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast from the past): Abraham. Martin, John & Bobby

This one still brings profound sadness. Ah… the memories! RESIST!!

Vote Blue!!

Beware the Bomb!

Posted by TomCat at 9:48 am Personal, Politics

Nov 272019

Everyone except greedy polluters, Republicans, and other idiots realize that man-made climate change is reaching catastrophic proportions, bringing us weather conditions that are often dangerous. When that happens over a four day holiday weekend, I can’t help feeling concern for your safety, if you will be in its path.

Hurricane-force winds, blizzard conditions, heavy snowfall — and a “bomb cyclone” on the West Coast: Those are the dire predictions of weather forecasters, who are warning Thanksgiving travelers to be cautious and prepare for delays as two powerful back-to-back storms hit the western and central U.S. this week.

The National Weather Service’s U.S. forecast map is draped in alarming shades of pink, purple and red, reflecting winter storm warnings that are in effect from California to Michigan. And the bad weather is expected to last: The winter storm warning posted by the NWS office in Las Vegas will remain in effect from 5 p.m. PT Tuesday through 4 a.m. PT Friday.

The warnings come as Denver and other cities are already coping with heavy snowfall from a winter storm that is hitting the southern and central Plains region. The NWS office in Cheyenne, Wyo., reported getting more than 12 inches of snow by midday on Tuesday. But elevated areas west of Fort Collins, Colo., reported more than 30 inches.

That storm is still developing and is expected to dump up to a foot of snow in a broad region by Thursday as it moves from the Plains to the upper Mississippi Valley, across the upper Great Lakes and into northern Maine, the NWS says. It adds that heavy snow could affect travelers at airports from Denver to Minneapolis-St. Paul…

Inserted from <NPR>

Here’s more from one of my local forecasters.

What is a bomb cyclone?

So my friends, if you’re thinking of travelling into the paths of either of these storms, please take extreme care, or better yet, stay home, You are far too valuable to waste!

RESIST!!

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