Oct 122015
 

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving here  in Canada.  I visited my mother and fed her a turkey dinner with all the trimmings today . . . although for her, it is all mashed as she can't chew well.  I usually sit between my mother and another resident alternating feeding.  It helps the staff to have another set of hands and eyes.  By the time I went home, I was exhausted.  So here I sit finishing the tail end of the Open Thread having just swallowed the last of my dinner.  I am thankful for many things but I am especially thankful for TC and everything that he has taught me; for the friendships of Nameless, JL and Joanne; and for all of you that keep me going.  Thank you.

Puzzle — Today’s took me 2:50 (average 4:23). To do it, click here. How did you do? For those that don't know, we always do the 48 piece classic.

Upworthy — In recent years, we're seeing more and more artists explore new mediums that reduce their environmental impact, like salt, ice, and even trash. It's leading to some incredible work.  

Joanna's medium of choice?  Fallen leaves.

Having majored in fine arts in high school and been accepted to study fine arts at university, I feel I know a thing or two. Joanna's work is exceptional.  Read more at Upworthy.

Mother Jones — Perhaps realizing that Cruz does need to grab some early-state mojo, his campaign has decided to focus more on Iowa. Starting next week, Cruz will blast through the state with 20 campaign stops in seven days.

Is that enough? Robinson suggests that if Cruz wants his rivals to implode, he might have to start explicitly attacking candidates in his brackets, such as Carson, who has a strong presence in Iowa and major support among the evangelical voters whom Cruz needs. Instead, Cruz is acting like a front-runner, setting up a "firewall" and avoiding direct clashes with his primary rivals.

"What signs are there that these [other candidates] are just going to be a flash in the pan and Ted Cruz is going to pick up the crumbs?" asks Robinson. "I don't see any evidence of that."

So, how's it going for you, Cruz?  My prediction: Cruz won't last because his non plan is a bust.  Read more at Mother Jones.

Think Progress — USHCC President Javier Palomarez challenged the Ohio governor on the fact that women in his state working full time are getting paid roughly 78 percent of what men make — according to figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau. For Latina women across the U.S., the gap is even greater: just 54 percent of what men made in 2014.

Palomarez pointed out that Kasich has daughters of his own, and asked how he explains this disparity to them.

“Well, a lot of it is based on experience,” Kasich replied. “A lot of different factors go into it. It’s all tied up in skills. Do you not have the skills to be able to compete?”

Kasich really knows how to step in it . . . and right up to his neck!  This is the same Republican candidate vying for the nomination to run for POTUS. This is also the same man that on 09/10/2015 said to a New Hampshire audience member that he would "get over" cuts to Social Security payments as a result of his reform plan.  A most despicable little man. Read the rest at Think Progress.

My Universe — Mornings can be a bitch. Especially Mondays.

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  12 Responses to “Squatch’s Open Thread 12/10/2015”

  1. Thanksgiving and Harvest Festivals are a thing long in the past here, but the idea of contemplating what this year has brought us in a positive way, speaks to me. I'm thankful for TomCat being on the road of recovery and for your work keeping his site alive and kicking until his return. I hope you, and Nameless, JL and Joanne can keep it up the way you do. Thank you.

    Upworthy: Some really great stuff there, originality both in medium and content. Love the bright colors on those leaves.

    Mother Jones: Cruz on 20 campaign stops in 7 days, that's going to give his base some fireworks, right? Poor Cruz, being one of the most mentally inflexible candidates, except when it comes to denying things that have caused damage or didn't turn out well for him, there's just no other way for him to proceed. His ego won't allow him to come up with another strategy than that of a front-runner – which he never was – and it wont allow him to present himself in any other way.  Too bad for his base who thinks there's probably is more to the man than just an over-inflated ego.

    Think Progress: When they're on the road and getting a little tired, the mask of many a candidate comes off, and so does Kasich's. Instead of the reasonable alternative he likes to present himself as in debates, on the road he's just as misogynistic as the rest of them, belittling (young) woman in the audience and now on a national scale. He's completely devoid of empathy and belligerent instead, telling old folks in a home, who are worried about what little they will have left  from a fund they've been paying their dues to all their working lives, "to get over it" when he'll cut down their Social Security even further. A true Republican weasel.

    My Universe: Yes, a catnap can do that to you.

  2. Upworthy: A young lady who is going places, and so gifted. These pictures are beautiful.!!

    Mother Jones: I'd love to see a matchup with Carson & Cruz. One is driving the clown car, and the other is running alongside. lol.

    Think Progess: Kudos to Jerry Brown for signing the Equal Pay bill into law. "The  unprecedented measure will require employers to pay men and women the same for “substantially similar work,” not just those who have the exact same job title, unless bosses can cite differences in productivity, merit, or seniority." I don't see Greg Abbott working on this at all, unfortunately!

    Happy Thanksgiving! You are a thoughtful daughter in visiting your mother, I know that she appreciates and loves you. Thank YOU to you, Nameless, JL, and Joanne, for keeping the posts coming, and much love to TC and prayers for his continued recovery. Have 3 full days of volunteering this busy week. I will feel like the kitten in the picture by next Saturday. lol. Take care, and Thanks, Lynn.

  3. Cow Charolais puzzle time; 4:35. I have read Paris Match articles about agriculture shows. They have beautiful farm animals with looks that are so exotic. 

    That's it Crus acts as if he is a front runner but his chances are slim. 

    I love Wirazka's leaf art. 

    I hope Tom Cat is getting better. 

  4. 5:00  The cow is supposed to be placid, not me!

    Upworthy – Indeed, her work is amazing.  I am fond of the dark backgrounds setting off the explosions of light.  I didn't study any of the fine arts unless one wants to consider music one of them, but I have worked ina framing gallery.  I can visualize some lovely treatment, but none whoch would show as much respect fort he environment as her choice of "canvas" does.  More work needed!

    MoJo – I seldom-to-never make predictions about Republican candidates, not because any of them shows originality, but because all predictions devolve on the choices of Republican voters, and they are impossible to predict.

    Think Progress – Kasich is the stuff of nightmares.  Literally.  I woke this morning from a nightmare regarding work, pay, and even hanging on.  What a way to start a Monday!

    Universe – Faceplant!

  5. Think Progress: John Kasich: In addition to his sexist, misogynistic and equal pay issues, he has these other facts on him:
    Factoids:

    1. John Kasich has been governor of Ohio since 2011, but he earned his reputation as a short-tempered and divisive figure in the republican party long before that. 

    2. Kasich was a member of congress for nearly 20 years, and he helped orchestrate the bloody government shutdown of 1995. Kasich called it "one of the greatest moments of my career." 

    3. As governor of Ohio, Kasisch made drastic cuts to the state budget, slashing $1.8 billion in public school funding, gutting funding for local governments, and signing tax cuts squarely aimed at helping the wealthy. 

    4. But Kasich hurt the middle class even when he wasn't an elected official. He called his tenure at Lehman Brothers, one of the biggest companies responsible for the 2008 economic crsis, "a fantastic time." 

    5. Kasich has an impressively divisive record on issues beyond the economy. He signed some of the most restrictive abortion regulations in the country, speaks out against marriage equality, and once told an african american legislator that he didn't  "need your people" in his cabinet. Yikes! 

    6. Kasich tried to strip teachers and unions of their collective bargaining rights. Public employee union reforms overturned by voters. 

    Kasick has been compared to Governor of Wisconsin, Scott Walker, as similar in political doings and actions. 

    Universe: That is me at times. Creeping ageism… sigh…

  6. 3:11 ~ That's no cow; it's total Bull!

    Upworthy ~ That leaf is definitely a work of art! beautifully done.

    Mother Jones ~ The pundits on Morning Joe think Trump and Carson are going to fade and the 2 left standing ar going to be Cruz and Fiorina. Me? I'm stumped because the Rethugs are as crazy as the candidates and they will vote.

    Think progress ~ I think Kasich believes that the people just have to deal with their problems. It's not his concern.

    My Universe is the same.

  7. Amazing art.

    Cruz and Kasich not as nice filling for this sandwich with two such wonderful slices (bread?)

    Kitties always welcome.

  8. Thanksgiving has ALWAYS been my most favorite Holiday!

    And ~ 20 years ago we got to extend that favorite Holiday to later in the year when our family elected to switch from gift giving at Christmas (it was just an exchange of shopping lists) to each select a chairty to donate to instead.  So it was just like Thanksgiving with family, friends and great food – but just better decorations!

    And now we get to extend in the other earlier direction w/ incorporating a celebration of Canadian Thanksgiving!

    Cool!  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

    (Just please tell me it does NOT traditionally include Poutine!)

  9. Happy Canadian Thanksgiving, Lynn. And, we are grateful for you!

    Upworthy:  Beautiful work!    I tried to share it on Facebook but the link did not work.

    Mother Jones:  His plan goes along with the rest of his actions, dream, dream, dream.  Surely the voters won't  fall for this.  As ridiculous as some of the other Rep. candidates are, they still outshine Cruz.

    Think Progress:  Kasich is so behind on the times he should have run in the fifties, when his ideas would have resonated.  I feel sorry for his daughters.

    My Universe:  My sympathies with this kitty. This is the way I felt when I had to get up two hours earlier than usual this morning, to make a trip to Lexington with my husband for a dr. appt.

     

     

  10. Kasich needs to live on a SS check every month for about 10 years with no savings to start with! See if he has the same speech after that! I bet he won't be singing the same tune after 5 years of having nothing left from month to month!

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