Jan 052015
 

I’m writing for tomorrow, day 61.  It’s a slow news day, and the Dulcolax has not cured my Republicitis yet, so this is tomorrow’s only article.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 5:37 (average 6:19).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Upworthy: The Biggest Problems Of Our Times All Come Down To This Word That Starts With ‘E’

 

I teach prisoners the art of cognitive empathy as part of my volunteer work, so I found this video most interesting. I also actually do try to find common ground to talk to Republicans. The problem, with that is that any time I demonstrate that reality differs from what they have been seeing on Faux Noise, they react with personal insults and threats. If the empathy museums the video suggests were at all effective, Republicans would outlaw them, because empathy and Republican policies are mutually exclusive.

From Media Matters: A “Donate” Video, but a good one

This is their 2014 recap of the Republican bubble machine. Given that Republicans think this is real, is it any wonder that act as they do?

From NY Times: Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas, announced Saturday night that he was ending his cable talk show and would make a decision about a presidential bid this spring.

Mr. Huckabee, a Republican, used his weekly Fox News program, “Huckabee,” to reveal that he was leaving the network as he considers a second campaign for the White House.

I see this as a very positive development, because Upchuck Huck can help force Republican extremists, that pretend to be moderate, such as Strike Three and PIGnocchio, to reveal their true agenda to get the nomination and make themselves unacceptable to voters in the process.

Cartoon:

0105Cartoon

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  42 Responses to “Open Thread–1/5/2014”

  1. I started to work on putting together a contest for naming all those little dots out in the huge Oceans and Seas.  So I clicked on the ClusterMap to get a bigger one that I could use to number the dots – BUT THEN I scrolled down and noted that there's already a list providing nations, states, provinces and even cities.

    It'd be just like an open-book test, and not worth it.  Although I did find it very interesting to peruse the geographic list of your visitors.

  2. 4:23 I needed this to keep the wind from blowing me away while I was out shovelling 8 inches of snow off the deck. It's still coming down fast and furious too.

  3. Upworthy ~ I believe you need to possess a heart and sould to feel empathy, neither of which Rethugs have. They wouldn't be caught dead in an Empathy Museum. Good idea though. I'm sure it works for your guys.

    Media Matters ~ Yes it does. Sorry, I don't donate except to small local orgnizations.

    NY Times ~ Let the clown show begin!

    Cartoon ~ How dare you suggest such a thing!

     

  4. Very good video on empathy – and brilliant cartoons!  And I agree with you so much TC that the Repugs do seem to react to anything that might 'threaten' their beliefs or the tripe they have been fed by right wing media with violence, whether verbal or physical – you'd think that would give them pause if they realised, but they don't seem to have any self-critical abilities at all.

    Sorry TC – have hurt my back and the painkillers aren't working….

     

  5. Puzzle — 3:58  Does this mean we are all part of a chain gang?

    Upworthy — Interesting video.  When I was much younger, I was always trying to understand how things came together and worked.  That curiousity has lead me to try to understand and appreciate people, where they are, what they do.  I have been fascinated with different cultures and religions which has lead me to dialogue for example with my physiotherapist on Islam and to learn about his life in Iran, why he came to Canada, and to learn some Farsi.

    There is a First Nations proverb so I am told that goes like this: "Never judge a man until you have walked a mile in his moccasins." 

    Likewise, there is a line spoken by Atticus in the book 'To Kill A Mockingbird' that says: "You never really know a man until you understand things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it" 

    Media Matters — It certainly is a good video to highlight all the right wing nutjobs that take to the media.  I must admit I was feeling the need of a barf bag alert.

    NY Times — And the Republicanus/Teabaggers accuse Obama of dividing the nation?  Look at these potential Republicanus/Teabaggers possible presidential candidates . . . they do it themselves.

    Cartoon — Just goes to show who is definitely quality challenged! . . . but then we already knew that Republicanus/Teabaggers are not quality politicians/people.

  6. 5:18 average unchanged.   Which is amazing, because I kept stumbling trying to get a foothold.

    Upworthy – "Empathy marketing" – I think we have just found the new poster child for oxymoron, beating out "military intelligence."  Beyond that, I have said in the past, and need to go back to saying it, that it is not true that Republicans have no morals; they just have different ones.  And different priorities.  OMG, do they have different priorities.  That was the thrust of that Kevin Drum article from Mother Jones which I passed on the TC and he used on 11/23/14.  And there is a trmendous amount of food for thought in "The Righteous Mind:  Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion" by Jonathan Haidt (There's a 20 minute TED talk at http://www.ted.com/talks/jonathan_haidt_on_the_moral_mind?language=en which oversimplifies but might give an idea.  Although the comments show how wisely it can be misinterpreted).  The empathy museums he describes – Republicans wouldn't have to outlaw them, just withhold funding, for the same result.  I think they might be effective, but the challenge would be to get people there who would need them – assuming they could get built.

    Media Matters – I think you may have forgotten the barf bag alert.

    NY Times – I agree with you, TC, this may help us in the long run.  Short term pain – well, anyone the Republicans can possibly consider is going to cause us pain trying to listen.  Incidentally, there was a bottom-bar on the page that said "Allies Say Willingness to Talk to Anyone … Defines Scalise."  Oh, come now.  All Republicans will talk to anyone.  It's not who you talk to, it's who you listen to, that counts.

    Cartoon – Of course "quality" is linguistically neutral.  There can be good quality, and there can be bad quality.  Or, high or low.  Taking it as good – yeah, Republicans think they have it but…

    Patty, OMG, eight inches?  With wind?  I believe that's technocally a blizzard.  So sorry!

    Off topic, I am pleased to report that Charles Dickens is more optimistic than I am.  In David Copperfield (chapter 52) he wrote,  "It may be profitable to you to reflect, in future, that there never were greed and cunning in the world yet, that did not do too much, and overreach themselves. It is as certain as death."   Wow – I sure hope he is right.

  7. Upworthy: 
    Excellent video. Well worth listening and viewing. Published on Dec 3, 2012
    Introspection is out, and outrospection is in. Philosopher and author Roman Krznaric explains how we can help drive social change by stepping outside ourselves. 

    The concept of outrospection is very interesting and certainly doable. In other words, outrospection is similar to "Walk A Mile In HIS Shoes". I'm emailing this video to friends later this AM.

    "Building on the RSA's 250 year history as a beacon for enlightenment values, our events promote new ways of thinking about human fulfilment, capability and progress, and address key contemporary issues from the fields of education, science, technology, environment, arts, economics, politics, society and international affairs."

    Find out more about 21st century enlightenment
    http://www.wearecognitive.com/#welcome-to-cognitive

    Media Matters: 
    This is definitely a BARF BAG ALERT but worth listening and watching to this short compilation video as it does show just how bad the Faux News Propaganda Machine really is. Just be prepared! Better start stocking up on barf bags for the upcoming 2015 political year. Normally, I ignore anything put out by Faux Noise.

    NY Times: 
    Mike Huckabee may leave Faux News Propaganda Machine soon as he is considering a run for nomination to become President of the United States. Let him waste his time and money as the public has already rejected Mike Huckabee as a viable candidate. Moreover, time to "Bring On The GOP/TP Clowns".

    Cartoon:
    GOP/TP men would not understand "Men of quality respect women's equality" as the statement is definitely over their heads stuck in their asses. lol

  8. Cognitive Empathy – Putting yourself in someone else's shoes. 😆

    • Cognitive empathy — giving the hopes, wishes, needs and goals of others the same level of importance that you give your own. 🙂

  9. The cartoon drawing above for the video RSA Animate – The Power of Outrospection, Empathy, The Ultimate Art Form comes from Star Trek.

    The Enterprise is dispatched to a mining colony that is being terrorized by a mysterious monster that can move through solid rock.

    Season 1  Episode 25 | Aired on 03/09/1967 | TV-PG | 50:23 | CC
    The Devil in the Dark

    http://www.hulu.com/watch/283855#i0,p24,d0

    You can watch Star Trek, the original series for free on Hulu.

  10. This list of potential candidates for the Office of the POTUS may be a bit early or not. This is in reference to Huckabee's pre-announcement of his candidacy. Here is the current list.

    Possible presidential candidates, 2016

    This page will follow the top possible 2016 United States presidential candidates, according to media attention and public comments made about the presidential election. The page will be updated to reflect current news and any new candidates.
    Top potential candidates

    Based on media attention and public comments on the 2016 election, Ballotpedia believes the following candidates will be involved in the 2016 presidential election.

    http://ballotpedia.org/Possible_presidential_candidates,_2016

    Democrats:

     Joe Biden
     Hillary Clinton
     Andrew Cuomo
     Kirsten Gillibrand
     Amy Klobuchar
     Martin O'Malley
     Bernie Sanders
     Brian Schweitzer
     Mark Warner
     Elizabeth Warren
     Jim Webb

    Republicans:

     Jeb Bush
     Ben Carson
     Chris Christie
     Ted Cruz
     Nikki Haley
     Mike Huckabee
     Bobby Jindal
     John Kasich
     Peter King
     Rand Paul
     Mike Pence
     Rick Perry
     Mitt Romney
     Marco Rubio
     Paul Ryan
     Brian Sandoval
     Rick Santorum
     Scott Walker

    • The list of Republicans made me shudder.

    • That's quite a who's who of Republicanus/Teabaggers!  A veritable smorgasbord of misery, misogyny, and mayhem!  But where is the Coultergeist?

      • Not Ann Coulter.

        Coultergeist
        An evil entity that wants to destroy America and hates us for our freedom.
        The Coultergeist wants to destroy Democracy and turn America in to a Corporate Theocracy.

        Are you referring to the Koch Bros… lol.

        • No to the Kochroaches.  They do their best work in the shadows, beyond public scrutiny.  I meant Ann Coulter aka the Coultergeist.  She's the one that likes the limelight where she can be outrageous.

    • The Republican list demolished my barf bag supply.

  11. I hope your Republicitis is better now.

    Upworthy:  That was a very thought provoking video.  I thought I had a lot of empathy, but realize I have very little for those in power.  My background and work experience have both exposed me to those who are in financial need, and my interests in animal welfare makes me empathize with them.  I had not thought of the perspective of empathy for the rich and powerful.  I suppose we all have baggage.

    Media Matters:  Yes it was a good video showing the complete insanity of Faux news.  UGH!

    NY Times:  I agree with you, TC, about this being a positive development.  The three of them would throw in enough insanity that even a Fox News devotee should be able to have second thoughts about voting Republican.

    Cartoon:  Too true!

     

  12. The list of candidates above is significant in this respect.

    Of the 11 candidates, 4 are women for the DEMOS. 

    Of the 18 candidates, only 1 is a woman for the GOP/TP.

    Should I read anything into this…? Anyone…?

  13. There are very good reasons for practicing empathy toward Republicans.  For starters, if you aren't even willing to look at what makes them tick, how do you think you will every get them to listen to a word you say?  I don't mean people like the Koch brothers or Jamie Dimon, I mean the way more than 1% on the country that votes Republican.  Even if their reasons are not something we would agree with, even if they are flat out based on lies, they have reasons.  Yelling at each other across the abyss, "Your reasons suck!" is not going to accomplish anything.

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