Yesterday brought a lot of frustration, because I spent most of it fighting with the Care2 Glitch monster, who insisted that I would not distribute my articles. The heat wave has arrived in full force with 100°+ highs forecast for both today and tomorrow. Tomorrow I have to go out in it to get my routine quarterly foot surgery. I will be gone from early morning to middle afternoon, so expect no more than a Personal Update, and that late in the day. ARGH!
Jig Zone Puzzle:
Today’s took me 2:59 (average 5:06). To di it, click here. How did you do?
Short Takes:
From The New Yorker: For I will consider my Cat Cherie
for she is the very apotheosis of Cat-Beauty
which is to say, nothing extraordinary
for in the Cat, beauty is ordinary
like the bliss
conferred
upon us
in the hypnosis
of purr-
ing.
She has been known
to knead her claws
upon a sleeve.
And on a knee.
And on bare skin,
sharp claws sinking in—
just a warning.
For she is of the tribe of Tyger
and eyes burning bright
though cuddling
at night
until you wake to discover—
where is she? Cher-ie?
Don’t inquire.
Since we cats are infinitely worthy of homage, I have shared the first verse of a homage to cats. It’s purrrrfect, in my opinion. Click through for the rest.
From Daily Kos: Walter Palmer, the man who allegedly shot and killed Zimbabwe’s world-famous lion, is upset over the backlash:
In a statement to the Guardian, Palmer confirmed he had been in Zimbabwe in early July on a bow hunting trip. “I hired several professionals and they secured all proper permits,” said Palmer. “To my knowledge, everything about this trip was legal and properly handled and conducted.
This is so hideous. Honest disclosure demands that I share that I hunted in my youth. However, I was hunting for food, not trophies. I never killed anything I didn’t eat. Also, at least I hunted in the wild. This was a canned hunt where "guides" bring trophy animals to the lazy rich guy, who wants to kill it. As a measure of Palmer’s character, guess who else likes canned trophy hunting?
From NY Times: A veteran House member from Philadelphia, one of his staff members, a lobbyist and two others were indicted Wednesday by the federal authorities in connection with bribery schemes and the misuse of hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal, charitable and campaign funds.
The representative, Chaka Fattah, a Democrat, spoke with members of the executive and legislative branches in 2008 to help the lobbyist get an ambassadorship or appointment to the United States Trade Commission. In exchange for his efforts, the F.B.I. said, Mr. Fattah received $18,000 from the associate that had been disguised “as a payment for a car sale that never actually took place.”
Mr. Fattah, 58, who ran for mayor of Philadelphia in 2007, also took funds from his mayoral and congressional campaigns to repay his son’s college debt, the F.B.I. said. In that scheme, Mr. Fattah and his staff member had his campaign pay a political consulting firm, which in turn made 34 payments on the loan for about $23,000.
Sadly corruption also exists on our side of the aisle, especially in cities known for big political machines, like Philadelphia and Chicago. The best things Democrats can do is root out the corruption within our party, instead of protecting corrupt politicians like Republicans do.
Cartoon:
25 Responses to “Open Thread–7/30/2015”
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I like the corrupt and unethical theme of today's posts TC and the homage, mrreow. I an hiding out from that kind of heat myself at the moment.
I bring some good news that should be replicated as many places as possible to fight the GOP's efforts to the contrary. I got this email from Demos this morning:
"I’m writing to share an important agreement we reached today with the state of Oklahoma that will bring comprehensive voter registration opportunities to citizens throughout the state.
This effort began last summer when—on behalf of the Metropolitan Tulsa Urban League, the League of Women Voters of Oklahoma and Metropolitan Tulsa, and YWCA Tulsa – Demos and partners notified Paul Ziriax, the Secretary of the Oklahoma State Election Board, that it appeared Oklahoma’s public assistance agencies were not offering clients a meaningful opportunity to register to vote.
Under the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (the NVRA) state agencies that provide public assistance must ask clients whether they want to register to vote, offer them voter registration materials and help them complete registration forms. We gathered evidence showing that in Oklahoma these services weren’t being provided.
The number of voter registration applications reported statewide by Oklahoma public assistance agencies dropped 81 percent since the initial implementation of the NVRA in 1995. At the same time, the average monthly participation in the SNAP program, just one of the programs covered by the NVRA, nearly doubled. Only 61 percent of Oklahoma citizens in low-income households were registered to vote in 2012, compared to 81 percent of those in affluent households.
A significant percentage of agency clients we interviewed said that they received no voter registration services. Under the NVRA, they should have.
Oklahoma officials responded by immediately demonstrating a commitment to improving voter registration services. Together, we amicably worked to create a robust roadmap for providing voter registration services across the state’s public assistance agencies. This landmark agreement in a Republican-dominated state shows the bipartisan importance of ensuring the right to vote, and will undoubtedly serve as a model for the region.
You can read the full settlement here.
Through this agreement, Oklahoma has exemplified the principle and promise of the NVRA: States must do their part to bring all Americans into our democracy.
Thank you,
Jenn Rolnick Borchetta,
Senior Counsel, Demos"
Wish I had more time to comment, but I haven't so I just wish you all the best with the foort surgery tomorrow, TomCat I know you need to have it done on a very regular basis, but the heat wave on top of it must be a real pain in the neck, uhm….foot.
4:29 (average 4:29) Seriously. I have no idea how I did that.
New Yorker – I love Joyce Carol Oates and am not a bit surprised that she is channeling Christopher Smart (cat Jeffrey) and that her cat Cherie is channeling Prufrock. Live free or die! Yes!
Daily Kos – Nancy W asks on Care2 when trophy hunting started. My dear, it has been in existence as long as there have been humans. To be fair, long enough ago and with certain animals, the part of the animal not included in the trophy was used for food. Yes, it is a rich person's amusement and always has been. For one thing, only the rich could afford the weapons needed. For another, only the rich could afford the taxidermy to preserve the trophy. (If you want to be appalled at what people have though was approriate or even cute, Google "taxidermy" sometime [disclosure: when I was stationed in Okinawa in the early seventies, I brought back a taxidermied mongoose-habu encounter. They were common; I did not order it. My cat Archie rightly thought it needed killing and did so.]) It was only in the 1970's and early 1980's that trophy hunting started to be disapproved of, although its heyday was really the Gilded Age. Prior to that, it was perfectly respectable to society. Sherlock Holmes, in "The Adventure of the Empty House," captures a villain who has been a big game hunter, and describes his own (Holmes') techniques to the captured villain in big game hunting terms.
NY Times – As you say, anyone can be corrupted. Democrats at one time, and especially in cities as you say, were more corrupt than Republiblcans. That changed with the exodus of the Dixiecrats and the passage of Civil Rights legislation. Gee, you don't suppose there might be a connection, do you?
Cartoon – Now that is an ass-teroid.
"ass-teroid"? Love it!
I love it, too!
Question, TC: Do you think there is any building in the downtown area that is tall enough that one could view the St. Johns Bridge? (It's the bridge the Greenpeace folks are using to stop Shell Oil icebreaker from going to the Artic.)
I know it's about 7 miles from where you live as The Google flies, but wondered if it's visible from a building downtown.
The action is being followed on Twitter according to a post on Care2:
http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/07/30/federal-judge-slaps-hourly-fine-climate-activists-forming-last-line-defense-fragile
Don't think I'd go outside to a rooftop for this with 100 degree weather–roofers get challenged by it.
Good point WRT the temp – WAY too dangerous.
It's quite a large bridge (~400+' tall), and was just curious if it were even visible from the downtown.
Thanks
I'm sure there is. I saw it this morning from the Burnside Bridge, which is three blocks north and 4 blocks east of me. It is so high that it is the only bridge on the Willamette River that ships can pass under it without raising it. See today's personal update.
3:31 I lingered to smell the flowers.
2:47 So it was the flowers that started me sneezing today! I should have known!
3:30 I was right next to Jerry, smelling the pretty flowers.
I enjoyed the company, Patty.
Daily Kos:
OMG!!
I'm blind! I'm blind! I'm blind and my brain just fried.
Please don't blind me and other C2 & PP kiddies with a giant picture of that well known psychopath ever again…
Amen to that one Jim! I tossed my cookies on it!
LOL!
We are sharing your heat wave here in Seattle, but not as quite as high on the temps. No A/C. Good excuse to go to the air conditioned mall or a restaurant.
I heard on the radio that some churches in the upper Sacramento Valley are offering escape from the heat hospitality–counties sometimes arrange places, too. If too many days, malls and restaurants can become pricey. Hope Seattle comes up with something.
I went to Politics Plus to get your posts yesterday since I didn't get a card. I am stalking you! LOL Good luck tomorrow!
The New Yorker: And that is why I love cats. I tried to share it, unsuccesfully.
Daily Kos: I understand that Palmer has gone into seclusion, wise choice. l will never understand how anyone can take joy in killing. And, he spent $50,000 to do it. Think how much good that money could have done for a Hunger Pantry or Animal Shelter. I signed a petition to Zimbabwe?(sp) to stop these hunts, hope they do.
NY Times: My Dad always said that we have the best government money can buy. He would be appalled at how deeply the corruption runs in Congress today. While I prefer the Dems to the REps, there is corruption in both parties. Most of them are voting for their purse, not our well being.
Cartoon: I wish!
Puzzle — 2:47 So it was the flowers that started me sneezing today! I should have known!
The New Yorker — Cat-licious poetry! I love how what is known as "man's best friend" is relegated to the status of a swear word! Being a crazy cat lady, a kitten at heart, I have immense appreciation for cuddley felines. This could be Cherie! I did this in 2:44 average 5:56.
Daily Kos — The following question from the article: "WHY? What motivates someone to kill endangered species?" I ask what motivates someone to kill any animal, especially for sport, which is in my opinion, a misnomer. I am not a vegetarian but I have meat free meals about 70% of the time.
BTW, why wasn't there a "Super barf bag alert" before the picture of "He who cannot be named" except as warmongering asshole?
NY Times — I hear the clang of the jailhouse door! Such corruption, no matter the party or the person, reflects badly on democracy, such that it is.
Cartoon — Oh look! It's a falling star. Either that or falling space trash. Whatever, even the universe doesn't want it! May it burn up completely during reëntry!
Heat wave indeed! Today was 30 C (86 F) and the coming days a bit hotter, but we are still behind Portland. This is a long weekend in most of Canada previously known as the Civic Holiday. In BC, it is now known as BC Day. I will not be going anywhere but will be going to Costco with my ESL student and afterward spending some time with her 8 year old daughter continuing to read Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Amazingingly, her youngest child who 15 months old, called me Grandma on Wednesday which rather hit me in the heart in a good way.
The New Yorker — Sorry, I forgot to put the puzzle link in.
http://www.jigzone.com/puzzles/E6055D4FAA32
New Yorker – lovely poem. I remember reading lately that according to DNA evidence, our beloved house cats are really 99% tiger!
Daily Kos – poor dear Cecil the lion – to my joy one petition to get Palmer to face charges in Zimbabwe had over three quarters of a million signatures on it! I do hope cowardly Palmer faces jail time – and is extradited if necessary! (He is also an idiot [as well as all the other things] – he said “To my knowledge, everything about this trip was legal and properly handled and conducted. " – that means that HE checked and is thus responsible. )
NY Times – how I wish corruption was only on the Right.
Cartoon – if only!
New Yorker ~ Just lovely!
Daily Kos ~ The coward is in hiding. I loved this satire published in the UK. I had a good laugh yesterday. http://newsthump.com/2015/07/29/tony-the-tiger-shoots-dentist-while-on-holiday-in-minnesota/
NY Times ~ I think there are still a few honest politicians left. Sadly there are too many rotten apples in that big barrel.
Cartoon ~ Which ass will be the first to flame out?
Thanks all. Pooped hugs.