I’m writing for tomorrow, day 28. It’s a busy day, but that describes any day I write a Monthly Report, I also had to go out in the cold to run errands. The temperature did not reach 32°, F until after I returned, so needless to say, it’s also a bad air day.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:15 (average 5:08). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Fantasy Football Report:
Here’s the latest from our own fantasy football league, Lefty Blog Friends.
Scores:
Standings:
Oh how the mighty hath fallen! Because this coming week is the last before our playoffs begin, our resident sasquatch, Lynn Squance, a Canadian woman, is invincible for the regular season title Congrats and kudos to Lynn and her Size 9 Stompers. In two weeks the playoffs begin and everyone has a chance to win.
Short Takes:
From The New Yorker: Republican congressional aide Elizabeth Lauten said on Sunday morning that she “deeply regretted” her attack on Sasha and Malia Obama because it “completely overshadowed the vicious insults I hurled at their parents.”
Appearing on Fox News, Lauten said, “If I had to do it over again, I’d leave the girls out of it so that the horrible things I said about their parents would have had a chance to shine through. I’m kicking myself about that.”
Saying that she had “learned my lesson” from the incident, she added, “I put a lot of work into crafting malicious insults about Barack and Michelle Obama, and those insults have largely been ignored. That’s the real tragedy here.”
Dang! What will it take to get Andy back to comedy? But seriously, I bet she quit to parley her fame for hatemongering into cash.
From Daily Kos: How Walmart’s owners give thanks and give back
Could anything be more clear? This is the Waltons’ Republican vulture philanthropy to go with their Republican vulture capitalism.
From Upworthy: Kim Jong Un Would Really Hate For You To Watch This, Which Is Exactly Why You Should.
What a courageous young woman. Her story about Kim’s extreme right-wing dictatorship needs telling. We also need to take care that Republicans never get enough power to make this a similar place, ruled by the .01%.
Cartoon:
16 Responses to “Open Thread–12/3/2014”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Upworthy: Watch the video as it is well worth viewing and listening. I hadn’t realized just how bad human rights were in North Korea until I viewed this video. Human rights are far worst in North Korea than in China. Can you imagine a mother being executed for watching a Hollywood movie…? The speaker says that “No humans deserve to be oppressed just because of their birthplace.”
5:28 average unchanged. Always wise to approach an unfamiliar dog slowly.
New Yorker – And you expect what else from a shoplifter? (Which you first read here thanks to Nameless.) I realize "ad hominem" is not a valid logical argument – but it is so satisfying to use it on one whose offense is "ad hominem" insults.
Daily Kos – Well, that is 6 of the top 9. I'd like to see the graphs for the other three – provided the Koch Brothers didn't insist on counting buying NPR as charity when it is actually spin (and that's a "for example.") The ninth is Zuckerberg.
Upworthy – Well, she says signing petitions can help. Here's one specifically to call on China to stop repatriation, which is what she specified, and it's still open:
http://www.nkfreedom.org/News/Sign-the-Petition-Calling-on-China-to-Stop-Repatriation-of-North-Koreans.aspx
Signatures have been delivered, but it's being kept open so more can be delivered at a future date. This is the only one I could find that is open. What does that say?
Cartoon – I could use some when dealing with or reading about Republicans.
Petition in Joanne’s comment box above signed.
Thanks for the petition.
Thanks JD. Signed
Here is a petition that Pat A sent me that, like so many things, has global ramifications and needs to stop.
"I just signed this petition at SumofUs.org. Energy company Vattenfall is suing Germany for phasing out nuclear power and replacing it with renewables. In a secret court, the company is demanding a whopping 4.7 billion Euros in compensation.
Will you show your support by signing the petition: http://action.sumofus.org/a/vattenfall-lawsuit/?sub=mtl "
I have also posted it to FB.
Vattenfall Lawsuit petition also signed. Germany has become a leader in the world on renewable energy.
Thanks Lynn.
Same thing is happening here in USA. Fracking companies are suing for "loss" of profits from NOT being able to drill.
There are a few states already charging solar customers extra for using solar energy panels and not the usual coal, gas and oil produced energy. Example is in the Oklahoma's Anti Solar Law per this Rachel Maddow VIDEO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXrw3f0qqO4
This "suing" has to be stopped in its tracks now. US needs to get renewables, sanctioned if necessary, in this country and USA is already lagging, falling behind as a "leader" by the usual greedy profiteers like the Koch Bros.
Signing the petition.
Signed Vattenfall, thanks.
Thanks, Joanne, signing the petition.
I'm old enough that I can remember (back when I had my hearing) Alka Seltzer's two catchy commercials: "Plop Plop Fizz Fizz" and "I Can't Believe I Ate That Whole Thing"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iENQXIQ8wH0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZKg-GYsvtg
So precious Nameless! I so much remember the "plop, plop, fizz, fizz" ad, such that as I read your comment, I started singing it. I can also well remember "I can't believe I ate the whole thing". That phrase has become iconic.
Thanks for the memories!
2:58 Good advice JD! Apparently, if you see a dog on a leash with a yellow ribbon, use caution and don't pet it as this is an indicator that the dog is not at ease with strangers.
Both petitions signed (thanks Joanne). CA just got the largest solar operation in the world going–9 million panels–in an area that does have fog roll in from the ocean and other non-sunny days. Time for states to stop penalizing good public policy actions.
Has the statute of limitations run out on that shoplifting charge? Hmmmmmmmmm–integrity in journalism?
The way management treats associates is exactly how the associates will treat the customers.
Sam Walton
Share your profits with all your associates, and treat them as partners. In turn, they will treat you as a partner, and together you will all perform beyond your wildest expectations.
Sam Walton
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/s/sam_walton.html#tFkE3pv01MfmIQez.99
Wal-Mart Charity Evaluated
Critics question company’s motives
http://reclaimdemocracy.org/walmart-charity/
"The company that the legend built also holds the title of being the Largest Corporate Cash Contributor in America as recognized by the Chronicle of Philanthropy."
http://www.facesofphilanthropy.com/sam-walton-philanthropy/
The children certainly differ from their parents.
JL, the blog's spam trap automatically holds all comments with over three links for approval. I released it when I saw it, but breaking a reply like that down into two or three comments will avoid that.
Congrats to Lynn for her win. We all know she is a winner and a keeper in more ways than one.
The New Yorker: Andy;s posts are sounding less than satire, more like straight news. I do hope the 15 minutes of fame, or infamy for Lauten end soon. So many of these buffoons just keep hanging around.
Daily Kos: As stingy as the Wal Mart heirs are with their employees, I would be shocked if they gave more to charity than they do.
Upworthy: I have a pain in my heart listening to this young woman describe the hell her life has been simply because she was born in N Korea. No one should have to live this way. There are girls in many other countries being exploited every day. I wish I knew a solution. The world needs to unite and protect these innocents. TC, I think you are right, the 1% would like to have that kind of power over us. If people don't wake up and pay more attention to what is happening to our government than they do to the Kardashians, it could happen to us.
Cartoon: This is one invention that I am really thankful to have.
Puzzle — 2:58 Good advice JD! Apparently, if you see a dog on a leash with a yellow ribbon, use caution and don't pet it as this is an indicator that the dog is not at ease with strangers.
FF — So the slate is wiped clean after this week! Let the fun begin!
The New Yorker — I agree that she might just turn this episode into a stepping stone to professional hatemongering getting her PhD in Bullshitology along the way. My initial thought was that she'll turn this episode into something about her and show up in the camp of another Republicanus/Teabagger ready to explode about how Malia and Sasha made things difficult for her. Andy sure does like reporting the news, eh?!
Daily Kos — I wonder where the Koch brothers fit in? As for the Waltons, they could start giving back by raising wages etc for their workers. As far as I am concerned, the IRS should recover all that SNAP money etc that WalFart employees are paid because their wages are so low. I know that Gates is very much into various charities globally as is Warren Buffet, and that is to be commended.
Upworthy — Listening to this young woman, I just wanted to reach out and put my arms around her to support her as she spoke. She is 21 years old yet has lived through enough horrors that she should be 100 years old. Nobody, as she said, deserves to be oppressed. WOW!
Cartoon — Good thing for the Democrats that Speedy Alka-Seltzer doesn't distinguish between self inflicted and non self inflicted!
Thanks all. I need to run and eat. Great links!