I’m writing for tomorrow and resting up for what is sure to be a boring, frustrating day. Because of being away from home almost the entire day tomorrow getting a useless test, it is probable that I shall have an Open Thread at most to post on Tuesday. They say that confession is good for the soul, and especially since Lynn is blackmailing me with a pic from the motel’s hidden spy cam (She wants all my catnip for her cats!), I suppose I’d better share that pic of how I got in trouble on my trip. Day 49.
What can I say? That was some excellent catnip!!
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 2:52 (average 4:39). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From Upworthy: It’s easy to assume that when you’re super successful, it’s because you earned it. There have been many times in my life when I thought that, too. But here’s one successful man who knows otherwise. He wrote a book that got turned into a Brad Pitt movie, guys — he KNOWS about success.
I agree with him, as far as he goes. Fortune does indeed play a role in success, and the fortunate are morally obligated to help those who are not. What he does not cover so well is the degree to which we all contribute to the success of those who are fortunate by providing the environment in which success is possible.
From TPM: President Barack Obama is prepping new executive steps to help Americans struggling to pay off their student debt, and throwing his support behind Senate Democratic legislation with a similar goal but potentially a much more profound impact.
Obama on Monday will announce he’s expanding his "Pay As You Earn" program that lets borrowers pay no more than 10 percent of their monthly income in loan payments, the White House said. Currently, the program is only available to those who started borrowing after October 2007 and kept borrowing after October 2011. Obama plans to start allowing those who borrowed earlier to participate, potentially extending the benefit to millions more borrowers.
This is clearly a good step, but what we really need is education-for-service plans. Graduates spend X years after graduation teaching, nursing, doctoring, etc. in an underserved poor community, and the feds (we all) pay off their student debt.
From Raw Story: Thousands of bicyclists, many of them stark naked, poured into the streets of Portland, Oregon on Saturday night for the 11th annual World Naked Bike Ride, a protest that promotes bike riding as an alternative to driving cars.
Nude cyclists with lights flashing in their tire spokes rang bells as they barreled down avenues lined with cheering spectators, while a naked, apparently pregnant woman rode in a bike trailer.
“This is a party, but it’s also a protest,” said Carl Larson, a ride spokesman. “It is about oil dependence, cycling vulnerability and body” image.
Cyclists showed up in Normandale Park an hour before the ride, shedding garments according to the ride theme “as bare as you dare”.
The rides are held in more than 75 U.S. cities and in more than 20 other countries, but Portland’s is believed to be the largest, with more than 8,000 participants last year.
But unlike events in other cities, the Portland ride works with local police, being considered as a protest. Officers direct traffic during what is generally a trouble-free event.
This is one parade that did not pass under my window.
Cartoon:
13 Responses to “Open Thread–6/9/2014”
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Every country should have this idea of yours, TC "This is clearly a good step, but what we really need is education-for-service plans. Graduates spend X years after graduation teaching, nursing, doctoring, etc. in an underserved poor community, and the feds (we all) pay off their student debt." The community as a whole would benefit, not just the 1%.
Forgot to say – loved the picture of you TC – but indulging in the catnip did something to your fur colour!
4:48 "Rustic appearance." Hmmmm.
Blackmail – Not sure why that picture was so embarrassing. We all know you are full of mischief. As my now-long-deceased cat Princess used to say, Tee-hee.
Upworthy – I am probably a cynic by now on this topic. I always assume success like that is NOT deserved. That it's 100% luck based. "Fortuna imperatrix mundi." I didn't listem to the whole speech, so I can't say what was left out. But if we could really get across the concept of "Noblesse oblige" into everyone's minds, hearts, and bones, so that the suddessful would be searching for what and where they need to give back, I think all our roles might become more obvious. I read that J L Rowling has given enough away to remove herself firmly from the rank of billionaire. I don't know to whom or what she gave it, but she apparently went looking.
TPM – Do student loan deferments exist any more? When I graduated, there were certain career fields that if you went into, your loan was deferred as long as you were working that job. Teaching was one. So was the military. I don't remember medicine, but it might have been. The loan accrued no interest while deferred. Of course loans were smaller in those days too. I like your idea a lot.
Raw Story – OK, that certainly is a "raw" story. Too bad it didn't come under your window – maybe. Remember, what once has been seen cannot be un-seen. Tee-hee again.
Cartoon – I have long wished the Republican Party would scrap their elephant symbol in favor of this rattlesnake, or something like it. It's confusing trying to save elephants in the wild while also trying at least equally hard to eradicate them fron politics Maybe we could convince them that the fact that elephants are a symbol of good luck in Asia proves that all their success is based on luck and therefore not earned?
3:25 What's with all these dowgs lately? You're scaring my kitties. They just ran outside.
4:26 This old dog could barely move.
3:18 Yea, me too! I've started to bark in my see which has traumatised my 3 puddy tats!
typo, yet again . . . 'see' should read 'SLEEP'
Wooo Hooo!! 🙂
That must have been as good as the catnip I have growing in my yard.
Upworthy ~ Noblesse Oblige existed during the great construnction periods of our country.Libraries were built, highways, railroads and bridges were built. A lot of private money went into that AND the rich paid taxes too. Imagine that! Now they don't even want to pay taxes. They feel a sense of priveledge but no sense of having to give anything back to society. Too damn much greed!
TPM ~ I agree that they need a break from the userers. I really think they should be able to pay for their education by service. They would gain experience while doing good and paying for their educations.
Raw Story ~ Maybe, as Joanne said, it's better that it didn't pass under your window.
Cartoon ~ This would be a very appropriate flag for the RNC.
Loved the Kitty picture, but for real fun see what a pair of orphaned Raccoons did in my bathroom Took a hold of the TP. and ran the length of my house. (yes I take in abandoned creatures.) Hilarious!.
Your Cartoon Great, as they do say. "many a true word spoken in jest.!"
re the American Corps man helping the homeless in L.a. Took up some space in B.B.C. news this am.
What is wrong with America? not a positive comment.
Puzzle — 3:18 Yea, me too! I've started to bark in my see which has traumatised my 3 puddy tats!
Upworthy — I think part of what he is saying is much like Elizabeth Warren said during her last campaign . . . good on you if your company is successful, but part of that success is due to the roads you use to get your goods to market; the educated workers you employ; the utilities and the police and the fire services that are available to you if you need them; and to the people who buy your product, etc. Your success was helped along by things outside your control . . . and part of that is luck or fortune. And as Warren said, you should therefore be paying taxes for those roads etc, the responsibity of your good fortune.
TPM — I just received an e-mail from DCCC with the following: "President Obama is right: we shouldn’t bury students under a mountain of college debt, while millionaires get special tax breaks — and thousands of our supporters agree." If the Republicanus/Teabagger dominated Congress isn't going to look to the future, then Obama has to take control any way he can, and executive orders work for me when applicable. Student Debt should never be an issue. When I think of student debt here, wouldn't it be great to have doctors willing to go to rural and out of the way places that are underserved in exchange for the forgiveness of their debt in full or in part! That to me is a win-win situation.
Raw Story — Well, good on them for standing up for . . . er . . . sitting down for the cause.
Cartoon — I've seen that snake before. Oh yea, it and it's brothers were in the Republicanus/Teabagger caucus in Congress.
Love the graphic, one of my cats used to love the TP roll. I hope you are not exhausted by your trip tomorrow.
Upworthy: Noblesse oblige seems to be a thing of the past. too many successful people forget that they had a leg up, either from luck or inheritance. We seem to be a nation of "I got MIne" you can get yours if you try". That old saying, you can't pull yourself up by your bootstraps if you don't have boots" is certainly true.
Raw Story: I have never heard of this before. Naked bike rides would not go well in my area.
Graphic: Love it, so true.
Thanks all!! Good night!!