Mar 052015
 

This is today’s only article, because I’m about to leave to exchange my cell phone.  The store isn’t far, but it tales a bus, a train and a half mile on foot to get there.  I’m ready for some rest.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 3:15 (average 5:10).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From Daily Kos: Last week at CPAC potential Republican candidates were invoking President Ronald Reagan ad-nauseam. Ed Schultz asked Bruce Bartlett, former adviser to Reagan, how would Reagan have been treated at CPAC.

 

Republican Saint Ronnie Ray Gun is as much like the real Reagan as Republican Supply-side Jesus is like the real Jesus: not at all.

From Upworthy: He was upset when the police stopped him the first time. But by the 30th time, there was an ironic reason why he was downright embarrassed.

 

Somehow I suspect that the problem there is nowhere near as bad as it is on this side of the pond.

From The New Yorker: House Speaker John Boehner has scheduled a joint session of Congress in April to hear an address by Kevin Laggett, a man who is on record as having hated President Obama in high school.

Boehner, who personally extended the invitation to Laggett, said that he did not consult with the President before contacting his high-school nemesis.

“This has nothing to do with the President,” Boehner said. “Many of us in Congress are very interested in what Mr. Laggett has to say.”

According to a source who attended high school with both men, Laggett’s antipathy for the President began when Obama was chosen over him for the post of sports editor on the school newspaper. “Kevin has totally despised him ever since,” the source said.

While I would not be surprised, if Andy’s satire were true, Agent Orange had far more devious reasons for inviting Butcher Bibi.

Cartoon:

0305Cartoon

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  34 Responses to “Open Thread–3/5/2015”

  1. What kind of phone you getting?  Seems to me that any trip that requires a bus AND a train AND a half-mile hike is what I'd call FAR.

    Not being an Apple/Mac person, I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 and it's 2.5 years old.  Samsung just came out w/ the S6, and it looks pretty good performance-wise.  But the S5 is waterproof (or at least water-resistant), and the new S6 is not.  Plus the S6 doesn't allow you to change the battery or the SD card, which the S5 does.

    I got the Otter protective case for it, and have been disappointed in how it's stretched out and is floppy fitting now.  My brother got the Body Glove protective cover, and has been really happy w/ it.

  2. I was going to put this on yesterday's BiBi article but I see the new Open Thread is up so here goes. Everyone should listen to Earl Blumenauer OR (D)'s response to Bibi's speech.

    http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4530019/earl-blumenauer

  3. 3:38 ~ I grow these in my yard. I'm longing for green grass and flowers to reappear soon. I can't wait to dig in the dirt again.

    • 3:39  The tickling of those hairy "legs" slowed me down.  I was out driving about today in the 16 C (~61 F) clear sunny weather and noticed that a lot of magnolia trees are out in full bloom, along with flowering plum and cherry trees, forsythia, daffodils, crocuses, narcissus, and snow drops.  I saw several willow trees thick with buds and a row of another tree that given about a week will be totally green leaves.  But no hairy "legs" that I have seen.

  4. Daily Kos ~ The TeapublicanTs are a terrorist organization who would denounce Reagan even though he started their favorite economic policy.

    Upworthy ~ I think it's not as bad over there too for the simple reason that only about 20 Bobbies are armed. They are armed for a reason. They go into high crime areas for specific reasons. They aren't all armed to the teeth like our police are.

    New Yorker ~ I wouldn't put anything past Agent Orange anymore. Although I do think this is total satire. Have you read Andy's latest about Hillary taking money from the State Dept.? Too funny.

    Cartoon ~ The sick results of mountain top removal for mining.

     

     

     

  5. Make a note to set your alarms for 9:26:53 (AM or PM) on March 14th of this year.

    Why?  Because that date will be 3.14.15.9:26:53.

    Confusing?  Sit down and enjoy a piece of "pi" to mull it over …

    • And a happy Pi Day to you too, Nameless.  Have you heard the one about the two math professors, the waitress, the bet, and the integral?

    • Very good Nameless!  But perhaps more importantly, if you live in a time zone that changes to daylight time, make sure you set your clocks forward Saturday night, otherwise you'll be late for church or what ever other activity you are involved in!  Time to spring forward!

      • Having spent most of my summers as a youth working on the farm, I've never been fond of Daylight Savings Time.  I'd be very happy if they ever dropped it!

        • My youth was also spent on a farm. I remember asking my grandmother why we didn't change the clocks like people in the city. Her reply ~ "Because the cows can't tell time."

    • Will you share a piece of π?

  6. 4:51 average still 5:10.

    Daily Kos – Yes indeed.  Ed has his head in the right place.

    Upworthy – Right now I can't see it here or on YouTube, but I expect the story is this one:
    http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/duty-black-Leicestershire-police-officer-stopped/story-22788704-detail/story.html
    I hope that isn't a spoiler for anyone.

    New Yorker – Facepalm.

    Cartoon – and isn't THAT the truth. 

    Since this thread is open, I see the DOJ Ferguson report is up
    http://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-findings-two-civil-rights-investigations-ferguson-missouri
    I quote the paragraph on why it is so da**ed difficult to get any individual results in an investigation like this: "The standard of proof is the same for all criminal cases: that the defendant committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt.  However, unlike state laws, federal criminal civil rights statutes do not have the equivalent of manslaughter or a statute that makes negligence a crime.  Federal statutes require the government to prove that Officer Wilson used unreasonable force when he shot Michael Brown and that he did so willfully, that is, he shot Brown knowing it was wrong and against the law to do so.  After a careful and deliberative review of all of the evidence, the department has determined that the evidence does not establish that Darren Wilson violated the applicable federal criminal civil rights statute.  The family of Michael Brown was notified earlier today of the department’s findings."

    And I thought this was worth sharing from Daily Kos: "Mayor Rahm Emanuel is out with his first runoff spot, and it strikes a different tone than you might expect. Rahm speaks directly to the camera and acknowledges, "I can rub people the wrong way, or talk when I should listen." Rahm then describes how he's fought for the city's future. In other words, Rahm wants the audience to know he's an asshole, but he's their asshole."  Well, it had me chuckling.  I hope it doesn't work.

    • At least Darren Wilson and the city of Ferguson are going to get their a$$es sued by Michael Brown's family.

      The bar is much lower for a civil lawsuit than a criminal one, so I'm hopeful the Browns prevail … with LOTS of zeroes in the judgment!

  7. For those of you who cannot access the Upworthy link, here is the correct link:  

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=6uAcwD3rD9c

  8. I'm tired so I'll just say I hate the fact that ignorance of the law is a defense for the police in a federal investigation.

  9. I hope you got home safely and not too tired.

    Daily Kos:  I love to hear a Republican call other Republicans stupid!  He is right, though, the Tea Party would definitely support Reagan.  I didnt suport him when he ran either, and he started the degeneration of the middle class with his union busting.

    Upworthy:  Somehow, I thought things were better in the UK than they are here.  I cannot imagine how terrifying it would be to be stopped and searched or questioned just because my skin is the "wrong" color.

    The New Yorker: I am sure Boehner would stoop this low if he could.  I still think he should be charged with treason for his previous actions.  The visit with Bibi did no one any good, unless the Israelis were impressed and vote for him.

    Cartoon:  That is what they have accomplished and are still doing in Eastern Ky.  I feel the pain of my neighbors who depend on the coal industry for their livelihood.  Many of them are unemployed due to the fact that coal is much more expensive than natural gas.  McConnell has convince them that this is all Obama's fault.  Much of our area looks like a bomb went off and the natural beauty has been destroyed, as well as our drinking water and air.

  10. Puzzle — 3:39  The tickling of those hairy "legs" slowed me down.  I was out driving about today in the 16 C (~61 F) clear sunny weather and noticed that a lot of magnolia trees are out in full bloom, along with flowering plum and cherry trees, forsythia, daffodils, crocuses, narcissus, and snow drops.  I saw several willow trees thick with buds and a row of another tree that given about a week will be totally green leaves. But no hairy "legs" that I have seen.

    Daily Kos — I think Bruce Bartlett says it well "They [Teabaggerum] are really rather stupid and not very well read."

    Upworthy — If one person is denied his human rights, all are denied their human rights.

    The New Yorker — Boehner is an elephant's ass and like Patty, I wouldn't put anything past him.

    Cartoon — So that's mountain top removal.  I was thinking it might be tar sands.  Either way, they are both environment holocausts, blights on Mother Earth.

  11. I think that Reagan and Thatcher started the degeneration of society with all their crushing of groups that try and protect the little person, and their praise (remember in the 80s – 'greed is good' – [barf!]).  We are still living with the children of that nasty little 'philosophy' today – and the children have outdone the parents, and how!

     

  12. Erratum – sorry – 'their praise' should have read 'their praise of all that is greedy and unscrupulous'….

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