It’s another sweltering day. Even in my apartment, the only way to stay cool is to sit directly in front of the A/C. Only minor relief is in sight, and that, not until next weekend.
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 4:10 (average 6:11). To do it, click here. How did you do?
Fantasy Football Recruiting:
We still need one or two new players for Lefty Blog Friends, our fantasy football league. We’re trying to get Viv in, but are not sure if it will support her smart phone. How about you? For more information, click here.
Short Takes:
From NY Times: Mrs. Clinton has made support for gay people one of the cornerstones of her presidential campaign. Two days before the Supreme Court ruled last month that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right, her campaign released a video that featured a montage of same-sex weddings.
A lot of us, myself included, may not be altogether happy with Hillary, but just try to imagine this video coming from any of the hateful bigots in the Republican Clown Car.
From Liberals Unite: Actor and social justice activiest George Takei slammed Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas during an interview with Fox 10 this week in Phoenix.
What else is there to say? Teabag Thomas should take Scalia with him!
From Robert Reich: President Obama is said to be considering an executive order requiring federal contractors to disclose their political spending. He should sign it immediately.
But he should go further and ban all political spending by federal contractors that receive more than half their revenues from government.
Ever since the Supreme Court’s shameful Citizens United decision, big corporations have been funneling large amounts of cash into American politics, often secretly.
Bad enough. But when big government contractors do the funneling, American taxpayers foot the bill twice over: We pay their lobbying and campaign expenses. And when those efforts nab another contract, we pay for stuff we often don’t need.
This is especially true for defense contractors – the biggest federal contractors of all.
Click through for more from the Reich on the left, as he demonstrates why the Republican Reich, the Reich on the right, is wrong.
Cartoon:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Happiness of Pursuit.
35 Responses to “Open Thread–7/5/2015”
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6:20 (average 6:11) and surprised it wasn't longer. Lots of ambiguous pieces. I don't know what kind of cactus it is, so I don't know whether its juice is any good, but watch out for the needles.
NY Times – Yeah, agreed. I toook a quiz at http://www.isidewith.com/political-quiz thanks to Infidel753, and found I am in agreement with Bernie 96% (it may actually be more as I out in a few comments which would have been tough to machine score). And with Hillary 85% – but that may be less as I am not sure how sincere her answers were.)
Liberals Unite – George does tell it like it is! But now watch him get slammed by the right as a racist.
Robert Reich – I think he has a petition out there under his own name, too, which I can't find now but Jim probably has handy.
Cartoon – named after the atoll where the atomic bomb was tested. Probably something you have to be a guy to understand.
I tried to locate a petition from Robert Reich but was unable to locate one. I do not think Reich writes petitions but other people, organizations do it for him based on his observations, political and economic theories and acumen.
Reich has authored a couple of petitions, but I doubt it's what you're looking for – and not sure if they're still active
This one may be close – denouncing what the Koch Brothers have wrought:
http://robertreich.org/post/90063603940
This one a plea to NOT cut Social Security, under the MoveOn aegis:
http://www.petitions.moveon.org/sign/mr-president-please-do-1?source=mo&id=65506-15400088-o0C8v1x
And this one for a fair minimum wage:
https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/posts/656945064318093
… And now I've met my Three-Link-Max
Thanks for the MoveOn links for Reich's petitions. Those two are still active as I signed both of them. Not on FB and not signed.
I believe the suit was named anter the way Islanders dressed.
NY Times: While the gay rights may be high on Hillary's list, she should reconsider her other positions on certain issues like Monsanto, Walmart and others if she wants to have the full support of the progressives as well as the liberals. Hillary needs to be reminded that over 85% of the people want labeling laws of GMOs in their foods. The "Equal" video was fine and serves its purpose.
Liberals Unite: Thank you George Takei for labeling Clarence Thomas as "A clown in blackface". Takei's description made me laugh. Professor Anita Hill was right about Clarence being a terrible mistake for the Supreme Court. And he still is.
“Without election spending disclosure, contractors are left unfettered to influence the 2016 elections in the hope of receiving payback,” he continued. “Federal contracting, which should be based on a level playing field, is riddled with cozy relationships, backroom deals, and pay-to-play arrangements. Congress, which depends on he same spigot of campaign cash, is unfortunately part of the problem.” From The Hill:
http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/234437-obama-urged-to-impose-rules-on-campaign-spending-disclosure
Petitions: an executive order requiring federal contractors to disclose their political spending. Several petitions can be found at this link. Sign those you feel comfortable:
http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=Petition:+an+executive+order+requiring+federal+contractors+to+disclose+their+political+spending.&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8
On Robert Reich's web site are the ten + two videos on economic politics. In case you missed the short but very informative series of videos presented in PP not too lone ago, they are here on the right hand side of this link: http://robertreich.org/post/123138820185
Cartoon: Seems this debut of the bikini should go one step further – Debut of The Thong in the late '80's on Baywatch. lol.
Thanks Jim–I've signed several petitions on this from different folks, including this one.
Thanks, Jim, I signed the petitions.
Thhanks, Jim, I think I have signed all of those. I have no idea what I was thinking. It was after I posted here that I saw the one I mention below (#6) so it wasn't that that distracted me (although I think it would have).
Thanks for the petitions.
I agree than many of Hillary's positions arew flawed. My point was that, at her worst, she is far superior to all Republicans.
Today is finally cooler here and staying so for the next few days.
Hilary remains good on the safe issues most know about and the polls say the majority favor her position; not so good on more complex issues like the financial implosion, etc. Takei continues to do good work in all areas of his life.
I'm glad to hear he truly is finally considering the executive order–should have been a slam dunk weeks ago.
I'm envious.
5:37 I got stuck by this puzzle.
3:32 I received a few pointers from the cactus! . . . unfortunately, none of them were about how to deal with the heat! 34 C (93 F) with 14% humidity.
At least the humidity is low.
3:46 I knew I couldn't beat you on a purple puzzle.
That Sasquatch got my cactus!
I was going to use it as a suppository for Republicans.
In that case, take it! PLEASE take it! When I threaten to kick a person's butt, I remind them that I often wear shoes with velcro closings and velcro hurts when I extricate my foot!
We are still having Oregon weather here. High today was 75 and it rained all day. We have flash flood warnings out tonight. I am so glad I moved to higher ground ten years ago.
I will support Hillary if she gets the nomination, but she is not my preference. As much as I agree with this video, it will probably do her more harm with the conservatives.
Liberals Unite: I love George Takei, as you said, there is nothing to add here. He is so right.
Robert Reich is always right. I wish more people would listen to him. I shared this one on Facebook, too. That is the biggest problem with our government right now, too many lobbyists having too much control over our legislators, or should we call them "paid spokesmen"?
Cartoon: One of the worst things that ever happened to well endowed women!
I didn't say all of this on the site, but I want to call attention to the petition reached through http://www.care2.com/news/member/253562703/3893000. This is personal to me. When I left the Marine Corps in 1976, I settled in the San Luis Valley, whose western exit is Wolf Creek Pass. I met and married my husband there, and we drove over the pass as part of our honeymoon. I know some who think here have already signed it, and I thank you for that, but if you haven't, and can see your way to doing so, I would be grateful. I did cite C W McCall on that site – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6LzWZYWpOU (Unfortunately it's part of a play list; not even a McCall play list.)
Thanks Joanne, I hadn't seen that one yet, so signed it now.
Signed the Wolf Creek Pass petition.
TY TC
Puzzle — 3:32 I received a few pointers from the cactus! . . . unfortunately, none of them were about how to deal with the heat! 34 C (93 F) with 14% humidity.
NY Times — There is zero chance that a Republicanus/Teabaggerum Clown Car occupant would promote this video. Great video.
Liberals Unite — Well said George! Thomas and Scalia, at the least, should be impeached but sadly that won't happen.
Robert Reich — "He [Obama] should ban all political activities by corporations getting more than half their revenues from the federal government. " — Amen!
Cartoon — With a body like mine, I'd be arrested for "indescent exposure" if I wore a bikini, so I don't wear one. Notice though that the bottom piece is much bigger than today's version! Remember this one . . .
"One, two, three, four, tell the people what she wore
It was an itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie, yellow polka-dot bikini
That she wore for the first time today
An itsy, bitsy, teentie, weenie, yellow polka-dot bikini
So in the locker she wanted to stay
Two, three, four, stick around we'll tell you more"
"
Referencing Lynn's comment on the …"itsy, bitsy, teenie, weenie…" from above:
On the Dick Clark Show, he presents Brian Hyland "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini". After the song was finished, I went tripping down the "old memory lane" with other big pop hits of the '60's. lol. I ran into Nancy Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'". While listening to this song, I kept thinking that these boots should be walkin' all over those pesky GOPers. LOL! Yeah… I'm that "old".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ge9Ou3-YyqU
I'm that old too, Jim. Maybe even older. 🙂
Oh that brings back memories. Growing up in Atlantic City I enjoyes the Happiness of Pursuit ofr many bikinis.
Count me in on the "oldness" factor! I had a 45 of "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" and sang along as long as my mother wasn't around (no modern music for her). I also had a 45 of the Royal Guardsmen doing "Snoopy vs The Red Baron". Here it is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oxzg_iM-T4E
Cartoon ~ Now this would just be called a 2 piece bathing suit. It wouldn't qualify as a bikini.
I still have too much pain to concentrate. Have a good day, everyone.
You say "po-ta-to" & I say "po-tah-ta" … always wonder what the difference was between the two.
Hope you get to feeling better soon!
The amount of fabic . . . aka coverage!
I hope you feel better soon.
Our heat spell broke after some very heavy rain storms literally around the place I live (my garden hasn't seen a drop of rain in weeks), and our temperatures were down to a nice 23-24 °C (73-77 °F) today, but once falling unable to stop until far below normal, with 16-17 °C (61-62 ° F) predicted for Thursday. I'd describe the weather as bipolar and sure way to catch a cold.
NY Times: She left the video to the very last minute, but she did release it so Kudos to Hillary for that.
Liberals Unite: Takei is absolutely right of course, "slaves having dignity" is so much more disgraceful coming from the mouth of an African American justice on SCOTUS, one who knows full well that only he could say something like that without being impeached for being racist. I was wondering about this being aired by Fox10, though. Did they have ulterior motives or is this station just Faux by name but not by "gospel"?
Robert Reich: Wouldn't you like to see Obama ditch all his current advisors and take Robert Reich on instead, TomCat?
Cartoon: Hmmmm, I'll think I'll better pass on that one.
Lucky you!!
Hugs to all!!