Jun 062015
 

Forty-nine years ago today, I graduated from High School.  There are bands and festive floats passing under my window, but I don’t think they are there to celebrate me.  It’s the Grand Floral Parade, the second and last of the Portland Rose Festival.  Unfortunately, it’s blocking my access to prime kitty basking in the sun.  By the time it’s over, it will be too hot.

Jig Zone Puzzle:

Today’s took me 4:42 (average 10:02).  To do it, click here.  How did you do?

Short Takes:

From MoveOn: Ten Ideas to Save the Economy: Raise the Estate Tax

Inequality slows economic growth. To prevent the rise of a new aristocracy, we need to raise the estate tax.

 

The Reich on the left is right. America does not want a privileged aristocracy, but those are the ONLY people Republicans, the Reich on the right that is wrong, actually represent. This is the eighth video in the series. Please click through to MoveOn, and share it from there.

From TPM: A panel of federal judges on Friday ruled that Virginia lawmakers must redraw the state’s congressional map because it places too many black voters in one particular district at the expense of their influence in other districts.

“Because plaintiffs have shown that race predominated in Virginia’s 2012 plan and because defendants have failed to establish that this race-based redistricting satisfies strict scrutiny, we find that the 2012 plan is unconstitutional and will require the commonwealth to draw a new congressional district plan,” the judges wrote in the 2-1 decision, as quoted by The Roanoke Times.

…The panel of judges ordered the Virginia House of Delegates to redraw the map by Sept. 1, which The Washington Post points out would force the state’s General Assembly to hold a special summer session. But the state’s Republican congressional delegation is likely to appeal the latest decision, according to the newspaper.

Republican attempts to steal elections never end!

From Think Progress: The Norwegian Parliament voted Friday to remove coal investments from the country’s $890 billion government pension fund, which is considered the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world.

Under the new policy, power and mining companies whose activities or revenue are at least 30 percent coal-related will be removed from the portfolio.

Kudos to Norway. May this mark the start of an international landslide.

Cartoon:

0606Cartoon

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  20 Responses to “Open Thread–6/6/2015”

  1. 8:07 average 10:02.  Well, that was nice of them to put it up on a Saturday when most of us don't have to go to work.  I guess.

    MoveOn – This is an issue that really can be used to bring out how much privilege the wealthy already have.  They all think that did everything on their own and no handouts.  Well, if they REALLY wanted their kids to do everything on their own, no handouts, they OUGHT to be supporting an estate tax of 100% (or at least, 100% on everything over, say, $100,000.00).  Ever met a Republican who would go for that?  I didn't think so.  (TPL group member found a great graphic on privilege – see http://www.care2.com/c2c/groups/disc.html?gpp=32991&pst=1922985)

    TPM – "Republican attempts to steal elections never end!"  No, but judicial take-downs of these attempts do end, too many times.  So I was glad to see this.  (And if they don't want to work in the summer, they shouldn't have drawn up such despicable maps in the first place.)

    Think Progress – Scandinavia again leads the way.  I agree in hoping many follow.

    Cartoon – D-Day always brings Charles Durning to my mind.  I never met him, but I enjoyed him for years on National Memorial Day Concerts ( and in other things) and I was so glad he finally was able to share his own story, of D-Day.  It turned out to be the last year he was well enough to appear.

  2. 4:05  Well that was a piece of work!

  3. Sage Advice FROM Joe Biden TO Joe Biden on the Day of His Son's – Beau Biden's – Funeral …

    (Personally, I needed a kleenex handy just to read it)

    In a candid 2012 speech to military families and friends who had lost a loved one in action, Biden spoke about the anger, crisis of faith and wounds that don't really ever heal….

    BIDEN:"There will come a day, I promise you and your parents, as well, when the thought of your son or daughter or your husband or wife brings a smile to your lips before it brings a tear to your eye. It will happen.  My prayer for you is that day will come sooner or later….  But the only thing I have more experience than you in is this: I’m telling you it will come.”

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/05/31/joe-bidens-heartfelt-thoughts-on-grief/

    • My heart goes out to the whole Biden family, there is always a gaping hole in your heart when you lose a loved one.  I can only imagine how horrible it would be to lose your child. 

    • Very wise indeed!

    • Kleenex alert absolutely justified.  And keep it around if you go on to read the article on why Joe asked Barack to deliver Beau's eulogy.  I mean just reading it.  I didn't think I had enough Kleenex for the video.

  4. I hope you enjoyed the marching bands!

    Move On.org:  Reich is correct as usual.  The Republicans are framing this in such a way that most middle class Americans think it is benefiting them, sort of like the "right to work" laws.

    TPM:  Blatant attempt is an understatement!  Glad they had judges who cared and reversed this.  If it had been Texas, well nevermind.

    Think Progress:  As an environmentalist, this is good.  As a Kentucky resident in an area that depends on coal for its main income, I worry.  So many are all ready out of work here, and the coal companies have seen to it that no other major form of business could exist here.  We will probably see another migration to other states similar to the ones in the 50's and 60's.

    D Day:  Great graphic! 

  5. Puzzle — 4:05  Well that was a piece of work!

    MoveOn — The working and middle class Americans who vote Republicanus/Teabaggerum really need to listen to Robert Reich.  Why should they be supporting the 1% financially?  Why can't the 1% support themselves? Greedy bastards this 1%.

    TPB — What's that sound?  Oh it's Republicanus/Teabaggerum knuckles dragging!  And then the noise will be whining because it is 2016 and there isn't enough time to get the redistricting done before the election.  Another election stolen!

    Think Progress — And that is the way it should be!  There have been a number of funds that have divested themselves of questionable investments like fossil fuels.  It is past time to have ethics in investments.

    Cartoon — The beginning of the end of the Third Reich!  Yet today we talk about the Fourth Reich.  Have we learned nothing?

    Personal — I will try to do the lead article tomorrow morning.  I went up to see my mother for the first time in 6 weeks because of the cat bites and a cold this past week.  I am exhausted and sore so I am off to bed.  Good night.

     

    • Good to hear that (apparently) the fierce infection inflicted on you by the filleting from your ferocious feline fomite has finally fled your flesh.

      Bad, kitty … Bad BAD kitty!

      • Such exceptional alliteration, and so early in the morning!

        My ferocious feline fomite didn't really fillet me however he did bite me a good couple of chomps!  I think that the infection is gone, well after 25 days of antibiotics, it should be. However there is still considerable swelling in my lower leg and the skin is pinkish as opposed to pasty white like the other one.  My podiatrist says the residual soreness and skin pinkness is likely a result of the extreme swelling, but I will be seeing my GP later this week.

        Kitty isn't bad.  He was merely defending himself after I stepped on him in the dark at 3 a.m.  He still loves me and I him.  Lots of purring going on in the house!

        • I m glad you are getting better. Much as I love my cats, their bites can play havoc on us.  My mother spent five days in hospital last year from a bite from her cat, which she concealed from us until she was really ill. 

    • So glad you are getting better – what a horrid time!

  6. TY TC (problems continue here) – Think Progress – isn't the Norwegian Government news wonderful – may blessings be heaped upon them!

     

  7. Another day of basking in the sun by the Rose parade, what a pity, TomCat. But this one isn't going to keep you awake all day and night, I gather, so I hope you get enough rest, albeit without sun.

    MoveOn: Reich makes it all sound so simple and straight foreward again, but the trouble is America already has an aristocracy and that aristocracy has bought itself an excellent representation on all levels of government. It's not giving up it's ill-gained privileges easily so there's only two things for it: either vote each and every one of their representatives out of office or start buying pitchforks.

    TPM: It never ceases to amaze me how brazenly Republicans steal votes from black people or other minorities, other than their own, of course. It is nauseatingly obvious what they are doing, that even a panel of federal judges can't see it any other way than unconstitutional. Yet Virginia is going to appeal this decision, to SCOTUS of course. "Because of the special nature of redistricting challenges, appeals from three-judge panels go directly to the U.S. Supreme Court. The justices are required to summarily affirm or reverse the decision or accept the case for full briefing and argument." Sigh…wasn't this SCOTUS responsible for effectively striking down the heart of the Voting Rights Act because in its opinion racial minorities no longer faced barriers to voting in states with a history of discrimination? I'll give you one guess what's going to happen.

    Think Progress: Kudos to Norway, but to be absolutely honest, this wasn't the most difficult decision to make as only 3,3% of electrical power generated in Norway comes from fossil fuels, 1% stems from wind power, 0,5% from thermo bio fuels and the rest from hydro power as they have an abundance of fast running water.

  8. Thanks all!  I'm hurrying.  And I am getting rest.  Hugs!

  9. Well said by everyone!

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