Open Thread – 12/14/2020

 Posted by at 11:33 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Dec 142020
 

It’s a Republicitis day here in the CatBox.  I just spent 45 minutes on the throne and cast an unbelievable number of electoral votes, among other things.  Speaking of Republican feces, we just passed 300,000 Americans murdered by Donald Trump* and the Republican Reich with their plague.  WWWendy is coming tonight.  I want to get as much rest as I can this week, because Thursday is a Hospital/Infusion day, followed by a will notary appointment, followed by a WWWendy day all on the same day.  Expect exhaustion.  Oh God, it’s Monday!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:31 (average 4:48).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Cartoon:

Religious Ecstasy:

1213Broncos32-Panthers27

And a glorious, wonderful Orb it is!

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: One of the great strangenesses and perversions in the QAnon conspiracy theory is that part of what Donald Trump—a man who was good friends with convicted child molester Jeffrey Epstein—is doing in his fight against the “deep state,” is to clean up a vast child-sex human trafficking cabal. The idea that there are powerful people engaged in illegal human sex trafficking that involves underage children is very believable. In fact, Donald Trump seems to have intimately known some of those people, and even hired the former Florida Attorney General Alexander Acosta—one of the main guys who cut a deal to let one of those human traffickers off with a hand slap.

Anywhos, QAnon theorists have evolved the Hillary Clinton and Pizzagate and whatever else anti-Semitic globalist bullshit theory that makes them feel like they know what’s going on. It’s like chemtrail conspiracy theory with a touch of sex and child abuse because QAnon is even more of a religious cult than Pizzagate was. And religious cults usually help define themselves by saying other groups of people do terrible things to children. And guess what? Republican QAnon conspiracy theorist and failed Louisiana candidate Ben Gibson was just pulled into custody on Wednesday and charged for … yup: four counts of possession of child pornography “involving juveniles under the age of thirteen.”

I’m not surprised. Republicans are not original enough to invent new crimes and perversions for their conspiracy theories, so they fall back on their own behavior for reference material and accuse Democrats of doing it. We call this projection.  RESIST!!

From NY Times: In Michigan, Democratic electors have been promised police escorts from their cars into the State Capitol, where on Monday they will formally vote for Joseph R. Biden Jr.

In Arizona, state officials are holding the vote at an undisclosed location for safety reasons, far from what is expected to be a heated hearing on election integrity issues that Republicans will conduct in the Statehouse.

Even in Delaware, the tiny, deeply Democratic home state of the president-elect, officials relocated their ceremony to a college gymnasium, a site considered to have better security and public health controls.

For decades, Electoral College voters have served as the rubber-stamping bureaucrats of American democracy, operating well below the political radar as they provided pro forma certification of a new president. Despite its procedural nature, the role has long been considered an honor, bestowed as a way to recognize political stature or civic service.

This year, the Electoral College is another piece of routine election mechanics thrown into the cross hairs of President Trump’s sustained assault on voting integrity. After five weeks of lawsuits, recounts and Republican inquiries into unfounded claims of fraud, Americans will turn to the 538 members of the Electoral College to provide a measure of finality to Mr. Biden’s decisive victory.

And as small-town electors face harassment and more prominent figures adapt to increased security measures, a duty long considered a privilege has also become a headache.

I find it shameful that these people have to perform their civic duty under the threat of death and violence from the Republican Reich!  As of now 168 Biden votes have been cast.  RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast of Christmas): Frank Sinatra *☆* Adeste Fideles * (O’ Come All Ye Faithful)

 

Believe it or not, I first learned to sing this carol in Latin, as an assignment for sixth grade Latin class. Ah… the memories! HUGS!!

36 Days Until the Big FLUSH!!

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Open Thread – 12/13/2020

 Posted by at 11:19 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Dec 132020
 

It’s another busy day here in the CatBox, and my back is in a lot of pain.  Tomorrow is a WWWendy day, but she won’t come until late afternoon, so I’ll be in the saddle.  Last I heard my Broncos were winning 13-7.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:12 (average 5:26).  To do it, click here.  How did toy do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Alternet: Progressives are pushing for Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to use Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution to avoid seating any Republican House members who have publicly supported President Donald Trump’s attempt to steal the election from Democratic President-Elect Joe Biden.

That’s because Section 3 of the 14th Amendment literally says that anyone who has tried to rebel against the Constitution after having pledged to protect it can’t hold political office. This would include any GOP House members who signed onto an amicus brief supporting Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s bogus Supreme Court case seeking to toss hundreds of thousands of votes in four swing states, so that Trump can steal a democratically decided election.

The Section reads: “No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. ”

It would be fully justified, and Pelosi ought to do it, but she won’t. No tiene los cojones!  RESIST!!

From NPR: Immigration activists are gearing up for a fight to push President-elect Joe Biden to do more to counter the measures taken by President Trump that made life more uncomfortable for the 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the county.

But they may find they get less than they hope for from the Biden administration, which finds itself having to balance the demands of activists with the inherent limits on executive powers.

Biden pledged during his campaign to use those powers to reverse many of President Trump’s most controversial actions. His plan includes a 100-day moratorium on deportations, restoring protections for young immigrants brought to the country illegally as children, and eliminating Trump’s restrictions on asylum seekers.

But some immigrant-rights groups like the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, Movimiento Cosecha and United We Dream want more.

Personally, I think we should happily accept whatever help the Biden administration gives immigrants and refugees. Then we should fight for more.  RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast of Christmas): Nat King Cole – O Little Town of Bethlehem

 

Ah… the memories! HUGS!!

37 Days Until the Big FLUSH!!

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Open Thread – 12/12/2020

 Posted by at 11:37 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Dec 122020
 

It’s another sore day here in the CatBox, but better today than yesterday.  I plan to be in the saddle tomorrow, but Sunday is often a slow news day.  Time will tell.  It’s also a holy day in the Church of the Ellipsoid Orb.  My Broncos are playing the Panthers, but the game won’t be televised here.  Have a fine weekend.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:24 (average 5:48).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Cartoon:

They would again, if they had the slightest excuse.

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: After World War II, Germany was subject to a round of de-Nazification. When Saddam Hussein was routed, Iraq underwent de-Bathefication. When Joe Biden moves into the White House, there’s no doubt the whole government is going to need a serious round of de-Trumpification to clear the lobbyists, zealots, and simple incompetents that Donald Trump has spread around federal agencies. But before any of that can happen, Biden is calling in the cleaners to scrape away the heavy coating of Trump-shed coronavirus.

As Politico reports, the General Services Administration (GSA) is bringing in a private contractor once Trump has been escorted off the premises. The specialist will go over every surface in both the East and West Wing. The plan is to “thoroughly clean and disinfect” everything from doorknobs to desks before anyone on the Biden team has to touch them. The GSA will also bring in a commercial mister to kill viruses in the air and on fabrics. It is not known whether this will remove the odor of Filet O’ Fish or clean up orange stains that could be either nacho cheese or excess “bronzer.”

I’m having a triple size helping of my infamous green-cloud chili, normally used for fumigating the Sasquatch. I will allow federal staff to compress several clouds for use in fumigating the White House. RESIST!!

From Crooks and Liars: Suddenly Rush Limbaugh doubts two different outlooks can exist in the same country while ignoring that he has stoked the fires of hate and division for decades. In the end stages of lung cancer, not only does Rush argue this dishonest point, but he also argues for secession. We just can’t all get along anymore.

Here’s where it begins (transcript courtesy of Media Matters):

I thought you were asking me something else when you said, “Can we win?” I thought you meant, “Can we win the culture, can we dominate the culture.” I actually think — and I’ve referenced this, I’ve alluded to this a couple of times because I’ve seen others allude to this — I actually think that we’re trending toward secession. I see more and more people asking what in the world do we have in common with the people who live in, say, New York? What is there that makes us believe that there is enough of us there to even have a chance at winning New York? Especially if you’re talking about votes.

For 240 years or so we’ve had plenty in common with one another, or at least we DID until the likes of Rush Limbaugh came along and began pointing fingers at “The Other.” Then suddenly it’s time to secede because God knows we couldn’t get along with New Yorkers.

LimBarf Bag Alert!!

 

Actually, secession might not bad idea. Remove everything of value from a few acres of wasteland somewhere, build a wall around it, call it the Confederated National Socialist State of Bullshitania and let Rush Limbarf be the pied puker to draw the Republicans in.  RESIST!!

From YouTube (Liberal Redneck Channel): Buttercream Dream / Liberal Redneck MASHUP

 

Trump is a symptom. How many times have you seen me say that? On a scale of one (low) to ten (high), give Trey a fifty for this one!  RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Supreme Court Derails Trump Legal Fight And FDA Clears Vaccine

 

These are the two biggest stories of the weekend. I only wish we would get rid of Trump’s* Republican plague as well as we seem to be succeeding in getting rid of Trump*!  RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast of Christmas): O Holy Night (1968 Version)

 

This is my favorite carol. In my younger days, our choral group did a medley of carols in which each of us sung one as a solo. This was mine. Ah… the memories!  HUGS!!

38 Days Until the Big FLUSH!!

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Open Thread – 12/11/2020

 Posted by at 11:06 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Dec 112020
 

It’s a painful day here in the CatBox.  I overdid it yesterday when pitting groceries away.  WWWendy is coming late this afternoon.  I will be in the saddle tomorrow.  To give you a heads up, next week will be gruesome.  Happy Hanukkah!  Thank God it’s Friday!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:36 (average 7:51).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From The New Yorker: A furious Donald J. Trump attempted to fire the Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, sources report.

According to the sources, Trump was so irate about the Supreme Court’s dismissal of his election challenge on Tuesday that he phoned Barrett directly to inform her that she was “history.”

“I hired you to get a job done, and you didn’t get it done,” Trump angrily informed Barrett. “You’re out of here.”

Sources say that Barrett had the unenviable task of informing Trump that Supreme Court Justices are appointed for life and therefore cannot be fired, a revelation that left Trump “flabbergasted.”

Dang, Andy! I thought this was satire, until the part that Trump* didn’t know that it’s a lifetime appointment before Injustice Amy Coney Bullshit told him. Now I believe it.  RESIST!!

From Alternet: Rep. David Byrd (R-TN) made a post on Facebook [Fakebook delinked] this Thursday saying that he may be soon placed on a ventilator due to coronavirus, and asked people to pray for him.

“I really need a miracle today!!” Byrd wrote Thursday. “My doctor said if my oxygen level doesn’t improve then he has no choice but to put me on a ventilator. So please pray that God will breathe His healing spirit into my lungs!!”

Byrd was flown by helicopter from Wayne County Hospital to St. Thomas in Nashville, where he still remains. According to the Tennessean, he was among the nearly 70 House Republicans who attended a caucus meeting held in the House chamber on November 24. A week and a half later, he was hospitalized with the virus. Reports say he was seen on the House floor without a mask. Just days before, he hosted a dinner for dozens of his fellow caucus members at a restaurant.

I’ll tell you what infuriates me. Because he’s a Republican pseudo-Christian Nazi who helped his Fuhrer spread Trump* virus to dozens (if not hundreds) of innocents, he will get special drugs and special treatment not available to those who deserve it. That is so sick!  RESIST!!

From Daily Kos: After the Electoral College presumably votes Monday to affirm Joe Biden’s win, some Republican senators are reportedly preparing to acknowledge the de facto truth that never should have been in question: Donald Trump lost fair and square.

Many Senate Republicans have viewed the Dec. 14 vote both literally and figuratively speaking as the moment of truth, according to CNN. After electors in state capitals across the country finalize the certified results, those same Republicans are realizing they may have to actually part ways with their whiny, rage-y, delusional Dear Leader.

Now that’s a shit storm I can’t wait to see!  RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast of Christmas): Bing Crosby – Silent Night

 

As a small child, this is the first carol I ever learned.  Ah… the memories!  HUGS!!

39 Days Until the Big FLUSH!!

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Open Thread – 12/10/2020

 Posted by at 11:12 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Dec 102020
 

It’s a busy day here in the CatBox.  Store to Door will be coming to deliver groceries.  When they do, I have to unpack and put them away.  Tomorrow is a WWWendy day, but I’ll be in the saddle.  She won’t be here until late afternoon.  I hope you have a fine day and enjoy the joke below.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:48 (average 12:14).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Cartoon:

A Joke from Mitch: (Ours, not BBMM)

Have you ever wondered who first uttered the phrase,

“You Gotta Be Shittin’ Me?”

Well, it just so happens to have originated through the Father of America , way back when George Washington was crossing the Delaware river with his troops. 

There were 33 (remember this number) in Washington’s boat.  It was extremely dark and storming furiously and the water was tossing them about.

Finally, Washington grabbed Corporal Peters (remember this name) and stationed him at the front of the boat with a lantern.  He ordered him to keep swinging it, so they could see where they were heading.

Corporal Peters, through driving rain and cold, continued swinging the lantern back and forth, back and forth.

Then a big gust of wind and a wave hit and threw Corporal Peters and his lantern into the Delaware.   Washington and his troops searched for nearly an hour trying to find Corporal Peters, but to no avail. All of them felt terrible, for the Corporal had been one of their favorites. 

Sometime later, Washington and his troops landed on the other side, wet and totally exhausted.  He rallied the troops and told them that they must go on. Another hour later, one of his men said, ‘General, I see lights ahead.’ They trudged toward the lights and came upon a huge house. 

What they didn’t know was that this was a house of ill repute, hidden in the forest to serve all who came.

General Washington pounded on the door, his men crowding around him. The door swung open, and much to his surprise there stood a beautiful woman..

A huge smile came across her face, to see so many men standing there. 

Washington was the first to speak, ‘Madam, I am General George Washington and these are my men.  We are tired, wet, exhausted, and desperately need warmth and comfort.’

Again, the Madam looked at all the men standing there, and with a broad smile on her face, said, ‘Well, General, you have come to the right place.  We can surely give you warmth and comfort.  How many men do you have?’ 

Washington replied, ‘Well, Madam, there are 32 of us without Peters .’

And the Madam said, ‘You gotta be shittin’ me!’

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: Remember the experiment monoclonal antibody that Donald Trump received during his own bout with the novel coronavirus? Trump promised to make that treatment free for every American. But despite Trump repeating that claim several times, the government has actually only ordered 300,000 doses—not enough to administer to the Americans who come down with COVID-19 on any two days of the last month. Also it’s still not free. Actually, it’s still not even available. 

On an all-too-similar note, when Pfizer first announced the results of Phase 3 trials of their coronavirus vaccine in mid November, Trump was quick to proclaim this a win for “Operation Warp Speed” and to insist the vaccine would be available before the end of the month. But all of that is just another round of Trump’s claims, not the truth. The truth is Pfizer was not part of Operation Warp Speed. And when the United States had an opportunity to put in a big order for their vaccine … Trump passed. Other nations didn’t. As a result, it will be at least June before one of the two most successful vaccines so far is widely available.

I bet Trump* was seeking against Pfizer for refusing to give him a free lifetime supply of Republicans’ favorite party drug.  RESIST!!

From Crooks and Liars: Jenna Ellis, an attorney for Donald Trump, on Monday explained that she had religious reasons for trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

During an interview on Fox Business, Ellis was asked how she maintains a positive attitude amid setbacks in court and Rudy Giuliani’s COVID-19 diagnosis.

Barf Bag Alert!!

 

Actually, her god is Republican Supply-side Jesus, the exact opposite of the real Jesus. Republicans invented Republican Supply-side Jesus to justify their National Socialist gospel of hate, lies, greed, and lust for power.  RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): 17 States Say Texas Should Decide Swing States’ Elections

 

This has to be one of the most absurd scams yet. When even Cornhole Cornyn says it’s BS, it won’t get any worse. I don’t think even Injustice Amy Coney Bullshit will back this.  RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast of Christmas): Ring Christmas Bells

 

I’ve always loved the harmony and syncopation this song offers. May more bells of joy and celebration ring all over the world in 40 days!  HUGS!!

40 Days Until the Big FLUSH!!

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Open Thread – 12/9/2020

 Posted by at 10:56 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Dec 092020
 

It’s a lazy day here in the CatBox.  I did my research and rested for an hour and a half for my back.  Tomorrow I’ll be in the saddle, but it will be a grocery delivery day.  Happy Hump Day!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:32 (average 5:51).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Cartoon:

Short Takes:

From Crooks and Liars: Dr. Rebekah Jones built her own COVID-19 dashboard to track Florida infections and deaths after being fired for accurately reporting that data as part of her job with the state.

Since then, she’s been reporting COVID stats on her own from her own hardware in her own home. Until today. (WARNING: The video in her first tweet is triggering):

 

She is guilty of truth-telling. If the Republican Reich is not destroyed, they will continue to fight to make opposition to Republican lies a capital offense.  RESIST!!

From NPR: The federal government on Monday released detailed hospital-level data showing the toll COVID-19 is taking on health care facilities, including how many inpatient and ICU beds are available on a weekly basis.

Using an analysis from the University of Minnesota’s COVID-19 Hospitalization Tracking Project, NPR has created a tool that allows you to see how your local hospital and your county overall are faring. (Jump to look-up tool.)

It focuses on one important metric — how many beds are filled with COVID-19 patients — and shows this for each hospital and on average for each county.

This is a handy tool. Click “(Jump to look-up tool.)” above to use it.  RESIST!!

From YouTube (Robert Reich Channel): The Biden Administration: Who Will Hold the Power?

Of course the Reich on the left, Robert Reich, is right, and in this case, most informative!  RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Chris Hayes: The Rot Won’t Go Away With Trump

Of course you know that I’ve been saying this for years. Trump is not the cause of the National Socialism in the Republican Reich. He is the reflection of it. They are turning on him now, because he is a scapegoat to blame for who they are and what they have done. The only you to make the rot go away is to destroy the Republican Party.  RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast of Christmas): Nat King Cole – Away in a Manger

I pray this season brings peace and beauty to you and yours whether or not you celebrate Christmas.  HUGS!!

41 Days Until the Big FLUSH!!

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Personal Update – 12/8/2020

 Posted by at 11:06 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Dec 082020
 

It’s a busy day here in the CatBox.  WWWendy is doing chores, and I an de-stunk.  Please pardon my pit stop.  Tuesday is Flush Your Republicans day.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

today’s took me 3:47 (average 6:07).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Cartoon:

From an actual Republican pseudo-Christmas card

Short Takes:

From YouTube (Parody Project Channel): THE ORANGE DEMON WENT TO GEORGIA – a parody

 

Beautifully done, Don, but do you honestly think you’re being fair? After all, although demons certainly are evil, in that regard they can’t hold a candle to criminal Fuhrer Trump*!  RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast of Christmas): Do You Hear What I Hear?

 

This is another I used to perform in a choral group. I here the sound of the Republican Reich fading. Do you hear what I hear? Hugs!!

42 Days (6 Weeks) Until the Big FLUSH!!

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Open Thread – 12/7/2020

 Posted by at 10:39 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Dec 072020
 

It’s a comparatively lazy day here in the CatBox.  Tomorrow, please expect no more than a Personal Update, because WWWendy is coming in the morning to destink the TomCat, cook, and do chores.  Oh God, it’s Monday!

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:31 (average 5:40).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Cartoon:

Religious Agony:

1206Broncos16-Chiefs22

The Broncos played a hell of a game, but I have to admit that, having watched pro ball since the 1950s, the Chiefs today are the best team I have ever seen.  Beware of Nameless.  We may see some swollen head syndrome.

Short Takes:

From Crooks and Liars: Well, it looks like COVID has yet another trick up it’s sleeve: Long term erectile dysfunction. Yes, that pesky problem that men take little blue pills for to allow them to continue … you know, having sex. Well, it looks like COVID causes vascular problems that are now being shown to cause ED! Even “mild” cases of COVID are causing this issue.

So your cousin/coworker/GOP politician who says “it was just like a little cold” may actually be wrong.

 

Hmm….. Is this sufficient cause to tell Republicans to attend super-spreader events without masks?  RESIST!!

From YouTube (MSNBC Channel): Why Trump’s Imprint On The GOP Is Likely To Remain

 

Considering the influence criminal Fuhrer Trump* will have on the future Republican Reich is a premier reason that the demise on the Republican Reich is imperative.  RESIST!!

From YouTube (a blast of Christmas): Mary’s Boy Child

 

The man’s voice rings like a bell!  Hugs!!

43 Days Until the Big FLUSH!!

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